Thursday 8 June 2017

A bevy of bargains

Last weekend was another extended one, with Monday off as well, which was very welcome as, after the week I'd had, I was knackered!

If the weeks heading up to my holidays are always a stressful time at the office, a full system breakdown lasting several days didn't exactly make things any better.

It was a good thing Think Twice was in the middle of another one of their famous sales, so that I could indulge in some guilt free retail therapy.

Over several lunch breaks, I visited each of their three shops in Antwerp, finding bargains in all of them.


First up, another cotton frock. At this rate, I shall have to change the name of my blog very soon!

It's handmade, with the former owner's name tag sewn in (she was called Anne!), and with its funky print it did its best to cheer me up when I wore it to work on Friday.

The dress and I weren't looking our best when we got home, so after washing and *sigh!* ironing it, I let Angelica do the honours.



Then there were two cheerful floral print skirts ...


... and a wayward navy and white pleated one!


This groovy blouse will be joining my holiday wardrobe!

Finally, there was this olive green bag made out of the softest of leathers.



I was too tired to do much on Saturday, so I pottered around the house and ticked a few items off my pre-holiday to-do list.

I chose this sunny yellow and green dress, which I charity shopped back in March, to which I added a yellow belt with a round buckle. My jewellery consisted of a necklace made of small yellow discs (charity shopped) and a yellow plastic bird brooch bought in Cardigan a couple of years ago.

A small yellow handbag completed my outfit.



My hair was due for a cut and colour session (another thing to be ticked off my hectic schedule) so it was looking a bit lanky and lacklustre. I didn't want to wash it just yet (my hairdresser says I have to restrain myself), so I added a hair clip in a bid to draw away attention from the hair itself.

We went on a half-hearted charity shopping trip, visiting only one shop, and not even featuring a walk in the nearby park.



After trawling the clothing aisles, picking up a shirt for Jos and two green cardies for me, I was prepared to call it a day, when I spotted this  gorgeous straw handbag.  Expecting it to have been produced in China or similar, I was amazed to see a Made in Italy tag inside. It's a little out of shape, so I've filled it with empty carrier bags until it starts behaving again. At € 2, it was a steal!



On Sunday, we were in for a treat: a huge flea market with over 700 stalls was taking place in a neighbouring village. While the main part is held on some recreational fields, there are many more stalls to be explored in the surrounding streets.


The weather was perfect for it (last year it was bitterly cold), so I wore a floral two piece and turquoise accessories. The sun played hide and seek with the clouds, and whenever she disappeared it was a bit chilly, so that I was obliged to play an on and off game with a turquoise cardigan.



The best part of the flea market is on the playing fields, offering a good variety of stalls. 

We spotted these Bakelite chocolate moulds, and as they were only € 3 each, we chose two, one with four little acorns and another one with two seahorses. According to the seller, they date from the 1950s.


Although we do not actively collect Bakelite, we pick up the odd piece now and then. Apart from a couple of Bakelite radios and some kitchenalia, we have a some smaller items on display on a shelf of a 1930s cabinet.


These small plaster heads were only € 3 for the two and although slightly damaged, they were too good to be left behind.



It might surprise you that I only bought one brooch, but isn't it a beauty?




I also picked up these two new-to-me tops for € 2 each, which will be perfect for Wales, and which have gone straight into my suitcase. With their retro look, they will cheer up a pair of ordinary jeans no end.


My final purchase, also for € 2, was this vintage dress. This too has gone into my suitcase. I already own a winter dress with the same print but in different colours.

On Monday, I sorted out the rest of my holiday wardrobe and packed it away, ready for take off!

Not long now: just one more week at the office where, I'm glad to report, computer problems have finally been sorted!

35 comments:

  1. That first dress is absolutely fantastic and I love it all the more for being cotton. The retro blouses are going to look fab with your jeans as it the psychedelic swirly one and that checked orange dress is a beauty. All your finds are fab!
    Both the suit and the green dress look the epitome of spring even if the weather isn't playing nicely! I'm keeping everything crossed that it cheers up before you get here.
    xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix! Two days after I bought that first dress, I was in the same shop again and a lady came up to me saying I was wearing the dress she decided not to buy, as she didn't know how to wear it ... xxx

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  2. Beautiful dresses and tops!!! Wishing good weather your way.

    Happy thrifting ;)

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    1. Thank you, and happy thrifting, and some nice weather, to you too! xxx

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  3. The pleated blue and white skirt seems like the sort of thing you'll get tonnes of use from and look great in. Sorry you had such a beastly week at work.

    The candy moulds are lovely. The modern ones are such flimsy plastic things they are difficult to fill, and they crack with use. I never thought to look for vintage ones-but I will now.

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    1. I'm not sure if those moulds would be easy to use. I'll keep you posted on that one. For the time being, they are purely decorative ... xxx

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  4. excitement! the holidays are in sight!! :-)
    sweet collection of "outdoor" blouses - much better then the boring stuff the other tourists wear!
    did you recognize that you wore the same colors over satur- and sunday? only different weighted.... will you made pralinés with the moulds? ....belgian pralinés.....hhmmm.... :-D
    happy holidays! xxxxx

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    1. I agree that Belgian chocolates (pralines) are absolutely divine. Oh, and I never even noticed I wore the same colours until you pointed it out! xxx

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  5. Woo, that first dress, the print is fantastic! It reminds me (in a good way) of the curtains my middle school had in the hall. I bet they're still there too!). Those skirts are pretty too. The darker one reminds me of a two piece I was made when I was little, it was a skirt and matching bolero style waitcoat.

    I must say, I'm rather liking the door the handbag is hanging on!

    How zingy is your Saturday outfit! I don't think I own any yellow dresses, though I still think back fondly to one I had aged eight, which I'd happily wear now. xxx

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    1. I don't think my school had such groovy curtains! Of course, if they are still there, they might look past their best by now. I'm now thinking that my dress might have been made from curtains ... The door the handbag is hanging on is the entrance to my magic wardrobe! xxx

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  6. I love that cotton dress and flowery blouse, the dress in particular. As much as I love my Crimplene, cotton definitely feels nicer on really hot days, so it'll probably come in handy over the summer.

    I'm now trying to imagine getting chocolate out of Bakelite moulds... it must be a tricky job.

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    1. I agree that Crimplene isn't the best choice for a hot day *breaks out in sweat even thinking of it* ... As for the Bakelite moulds, I'll let you know how I get on if I ever decide to actually use them! xxx

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  7. You found some fantastic clothes, I love the shape of the blue printed skirt.
    The brooch and Italian straw handbag both caught my eye, they're great finds.
    It sounds like you are well prepared for your holiday. I hope summer returns by then! I think the forecast is improving slowly.xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! The straw handbag needs a minor repair before I can start using it, but I can't complain for € 2, can I? xxx

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  8. You find so much amazing stuff! I would have snapped up that first cotton dress too (I'm a cotton countess rather than a polyester princess!), and that olive bag looks fab. Those sort of round handle bags are really on trend this year too. xx

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    1. Cotton Countess would be a great name for a blog! I'd no idea those round handle bags were on trend. I might even look fashionable ... xxx

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  9. Oh my goodness what wonderful finds! They'er all lovely but the brooch is stunning - I thought they were real grapes at first!

    I loved the floral skirts and the two short sleeved blouses. The dresses are brilliant and what wonderful bags you found; I particularly loved the soft green leather bag, wished I'd found it!

    I remember system crashes from my working years; nothing can be done, can it? It's quite frightening to see how reliant we are on systems and/or the internet. When our system went down it was always a welcome chance to get a book out...

    Have a great weekend and make sure you tick everything of your list...

    xx

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    1. Thank you Veronica! I love that green leather bag too, it's a colour I didn't have in my collection yet. And Porcelina has just commented that it's on trend as well. Whatever next! xxx

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  10. I love the last dress and as ever perfect bag purchases!

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    1. Thank you Gisela. I hope I have a chance to wear that dress in Wales ... xxx

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  11. What a fantastic find that first dress was! I love the colours. I love you style and your colourful blog! xx
    www.vanityandmestyle.com

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  12. I am crazy about the print on the first dress

    Kate Kitsch
    https://timetravelwithkatekitsch.wordpress.com/

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  13. wouuu, so many delightful pieces to comment!, fabulous purchases! the cotton frock is amazing, love that pink and green print!, and also love those skirts, the straw bag (such a beauty) and all those fabulous shirts which you've planned to wear with jeans!, lovely!!
    Your sunny yellow and green dress looks amazing and lovely accessorized!
    I think that your suitcase would be full of colorful and fabulous pieces!!
    besos

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    1. I love pink and green together, so that dress really was a no brainer. You should see my suitcase: I have to sit on it to be able to close it ... xxx

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  14. Ah the first dress, what a beauty! For a relaxing weekend you certainly packed a lot in. I hope you have a good week at work and a lovely time in Wales!

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    1. Thank you Hazel! Well, we did have a three-day weekend! We did pack a lot in but it was all nicely spread ... xxx

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  15. You had some super buys there Ann and its great how the name tag matches your name (minus the 'e'!). I love the red retro top and the yellow and green dress, so vibrant and cheery! xx

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    1. Funnily enough, I only noticed the name tag when I got home, Liza. I have another dress from a label called "Duchesse Anne". That should have been "Princess", but never mind ;-) xxx

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  16. The first frock is a real beauty, what a gorgeous print. Am amazed at the prices paid for your blouses and other frock. €2!!! Insane... and too good to resist at that giveaway price. Xx

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    1. Thank you Fiona. That frock is certainly getting a lot of love. I loved wearing it too. I know, those prices were absolutely crazy ... xxx

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  17. The first frock is a real beauty, what a gorgeous print. Am amazed at the prices paid for your blouses and other frock. €2!!! Insane... and too good to resist at that giveaway price. Xx

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  18. Oh wow! You've been making out like a bandit!

    That first cotton frock took my breath away. Why don't they make groovy patterns like that anymore?

    I'm also loving that wicker handbag.

    You found so many great treasures!

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. It took my breath away too, Suzanne. It's a wonder it hadn't been snapped up yet! xxx

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