Monday 30 July 2018

On the sunny side of the street

I promised you a break in the holiday posts, telling you about our flea market adventures instead. So, true to my word, here's a little update of what we've been up to.

In addition, I also wanted to show you some of the outfits I've been wearing since coming back from holiday.

Ever since our return, the thermometer has gradually been climbing  towards the high twenties, occasionally flirting with the 30°C mark, until last week we reached quite unbearable temperatures, into the mid thirties and more!

But let's not talk about that, and the resulting head-scratching moments in front of my wardrobe, yet!

Before it got really hot, I was able to give Gisela's frock an airing.

She'd sent it to me back in March, and I immediately envisaged wearing it on a day exactly like this one: a warm and sunny Summer's day, which unfortunately I had to spend at the office!



For one, it's a cool and comfortable cotton! Additionally, I love its fresh green stripes, its asymmetrical closing with the prettiest diamond shaped mother-of-pearl buttons and - last but not least!- its pockets! It is a tiny bit roomy on top, but that's actually a bonus in this weather. I cinched it in at the waist with a bright blue belt and chose accessories in green and the same shade of blue as the belt, adding a sailing boat brooch for good measure. My footwear are the green jellies I picked up in Chester!

Then, two weeks ago on Sunday, there was our neighbourhood's annual flea market. It was the second year we were participating, taking a pitch just outside our front door, rather than just browsing.

I'd been making use of every spare moment since returning from holiday, checking boxes and bags full of redundant clothing and ironing the most crumpled items, as well as looking through my wardrobe for any additional things I was ready to part with.


Doesn't that rack full of colourful frocks, skirts and blouses look enticing? They're just the tip of the iceberg and all I had space for, unfortunately.

I also put together a display (actually a pasta drying rack!) of necklaces and a box full of bracelets and rings.



On Saturday, I weeded out my vintage Barbie stuff, deciding to put most of my vinyl cases up for sale, and making neat packages of outfit doubles. I also included three vintage dolls. Apart from the boxed doll, a Fashion Queen dating from 1963-65, which I happened to have double, the two others were flawed rejects from my collection, which were eventually replaced.

Lastly, we dived into the basement (a mercifully cool place!) to look among the stuff we no longer use or display, for viable candidates to sell.

The day started early: we got up at 5.30 and less than an hour later, we were setting up our stall.



I made quite a substantial sale very early on, when someone picked up my most expensive doll, the  Fashion Queen, who came complete with her original outfit and three wigs on a stand.The same person also bought the two vinyl cases I'd put out on our table. I was being nice and threw in two outfits for free.

In quick succession, we sold our small wall hanging coffee grinder, a child's embroidery set in a cute vinyl case, and some other, smaller stuff, but apart from two blouses my rack of vintage clothes only seemed to be drawing the flea market equivalent of window shoppers.



My friend Ingrid and her husband paid us a visit, at which point I hauled out a behind-the-scenes box full of blouses for her to rummage through, which afterwards I left open at the back of our stall.

After a quick circuit of the market, things seemed to get going at last, with several ladies not only looking through my rack of clothes, but buying as well, often making multiple purchases. When people started taking an interest in the box full of blouses, I had the brainwave of putting all my remaining stock, consisting of several bags and boxes, outside for people to rummage through. Best decision ever!


Leaving Jos to hold the fort, I made two more forays myself, but it was really too hot to browse.

Nevertheless, I still found a couple of things!

This cat tin, a bit worse for wear but delightful none the less, was bought from a lady I used to commute with, who had a stall further along in our street.



I also picked up several necklaces, while the two brooches below were a gift from one of our neighbours, as a thank you for Jos fetching her her daily newspaper. He's got quite a fan base among the village's ladies of a certain age!



Finally, this deadstock pair of leather Salamander shoes found its way into my collection. I think they were well worth the € 10 price tag!



Back at our pitch, a young Dutch girl, who was visiting with her parents, was in seventh heaven after spying my clothes and, encouraged by her Mum, left with a huge bag full of stuff.

Meanwhile, it had become very hot at our little pitch and the garden parasol we'd lent from a friend was no longer adequate to protect us from the sun.


This antique parasol, which we brought back from a charity shop in Wells, Somerset, back in the early noughties, and which has been living in our hallway ever since, brought some solace.

Jos's daughter came along on her e-bike, and was kind enough to assist me when things became a bit mad.

Apart from my vintage clothes, which sold like hot cakes, I couldn't keep up with the vinyl Barbie cases, which almost sold faster than I could put them out.



Near the end, I hopped over to the stall across the road, where a nice lady was presiding over quite a large pitch all on her own. She'd bought a vintage bathing suit from me (this one here), and this is what I bought from her.



This vintage Avon scent is prettily packed in a bottle shaped like a hand-held mirror, with an actual mirror at the back.

I was unable to find an exact date but my guess is that it is late 1960s, early 1970s. The bottle is still almost full: I couldn't resist having a little sniff, and it smelled quite nice in my opinion. Not that I will be using it, mind you. I'll keep it purely for display.

In spite of the hot weather, the flea market was a success, so we will probably do it again next year.

I was tired (and sweaty!) at the end of the day, though! But, before hopping into the shower, I wanted to give you a proper look at the maxi dress I was wearing, picked up at one of the newly popped up vintage-per-kilo shops in Antwerp.


As it's buttoned all the way on the back, you either need help or be a contortionist to put it on!

I'd taken photographs of some of my favourite stuff so, the next day, while I was folding it all away, I made note of what was left.

I was surprised that these didn't sell:

Bright floral maxi skirt, floral St. Michael's frock and summery sailing boat skirt

On the other hand, it didn't take long for these three to go:


Before I leave you, I'll show you what I was wearing later that week.



This lightweight, lined frock, with its primary coloured abundance of flowers, was a gift from Vix. With so many colours to choose from, I decided to use as many of them as possible for my accessories.

Apart from the yellow belt, blue plastic ring and blue-strapped watch, all items are either vintage or new-to-me, from various charity shops and flea markets: blue plastic beads, yellow wooden bangle, orange carved plastic bangle, blue faceted plastic bracelet and blue and pink flower brooch.

Surprisingly, I didn't pick anything green ...



Oh, and what does one do when not out vintage shopping? Well, read about all its do's and don'ts in this fantastic book, a most wonderful gift from Lynn!

Taking my flea market frock to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style!

Additionally, I am taking my blue and green outfit to the Modish Matrons linkup, joining Beate, Natalia and Tina for the first time!


38 comments:

  1. What a wonderful post! You look sooo gorgeous in this vichy dress. It's my favorite. I am in love with this sailing boat skirt and no idea nobody buy it. I see you have many fun at the flea market Ann :)
    A huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina! The sailing boat skirt was quite a small size, which might be the reason it didn't sell! xxx

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  2. That book looks interesting!

    I'm happy that your show turned out so well. They can be stressful when you put so much work into them. Nothing like making some cool cash to spur on some more vintage spending! Ha!

    I wish I had been there to rummage through your pieces. I'm sure I'd have bought most of them.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. I'm sure you would have been my best customer! Oh, and that book is definitely worth searching out! xxx

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  3. Congratulations on your successful day. I must admit, your clothes stall looked fabulous with all of those colours and I'm not surprised you did so well. Your maxi dress is rather wonderful too, but most of all I love that multi colour dress you wore last of all - the accessories are just as I would have done - super!

    Anna x

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    1. Thank you Anna! I think we're on the same wavelength when it comes to accessories! xxx

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  4. Looks like a successful, if hot, day, Ann. Congrats on your sales and your new purchases. I remember that Avon perfume! xo

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Thank you Patti! Avon did this kind of novelty perfume bottles so well, didn't they? xxx

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  5. Haha! Loved the picture of you reading that book at the end of your post. My goodness, the red check dress, and your floral dress are so pretty! I would have definitely bought your clothing.

    Congrats for clearing out your excess possessions. It’s a lot of work, but I bet it felt good making a little extra money.

    Happy thrifting ;)

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    1. Thank you! It's good to have a clear out once in a while, and that flea market was a good incentive to do so! xxx

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  6. Congratulations for doing so well with the sale. I'm sure it was hard work. particularly in the heat-you looked great throuigh it all in that beautiful dress.

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    1. Thank you Goody! It was hard work indeed, but it was the heat which made it extra tiring. I don't know how Vix does it ... xxx

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  7. You look so lovely and summery in all of your outfits, Ann! The green and blue is so pretty in the first outfit and I love the new jellies! The red and white maxi dress is gorgeous and the last dress is so pretty! I love how you've accessorised as well. Your market stall looked amazing! I would have gone mad buying rings and the Barbie outfits! ;) Hope you have a great week, Ann! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha! The Barbie outfits were bargains, and still hardly anyone bought them ... xxx

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  8. What a lovely post, everything looks bright and summery and you look gorgeous in every dress!, I love those 'fresh green stripes' and the boat brooch (nothing says summer like sailor stripes!), love your red gingham maxi (absolutely fabulous!) and love the colorful cotton dress from Vix, lots of colors and lots of coolness! (the book looks interesting too, looking forward to read something more about it!)
    And your stall would attract me like a magnet!, so beautiful dresses and cute bijouterie!, and the dolls!!. Glad that you could find some fab pieces too, those shoes rock!
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! You're so right about the sailor stripes, and I'm often attracted to things with a maritime theme, like sailing boats and seagulls! xxx

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  9. You look good in mint and its a lovely cool colour.
    You clearly have a new calling! It sounds like the day was a massive success.
    I notice you bought some wooden necklaces, the particularly caught my eye because that's what I've been making this morning.
    I love the photo of you relaxing in your garden reading vintage, very fitting! ☺ xxx

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    1. I'd love to see some of the wooden necklaces you've been making! xxx

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  10. I'm so glad the sale went well, you clothes rail looks marvelously enticing and what a lovely thing to do, to throw in a few freebies to the lady who bought the vintage doll. We have to look after our fellow collectors, don't we?
    Love Gisela's dress and that fab gingham beauty,too. The cotton floral number looks glorious on you.
    I've got that book, it's a cracking read! xxx

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    1. I almost bought that book in Wales last year, but didn't. Much nicer that it's a present from Lynn! xxx

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  11. I wish I lived on a street where we could just rock up with a stall, it’s a great idea. Nice to see your green jellies again and you look gorgeous in that red gingham frock
    X x x

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    1. It does making participating just that little bit easier. We just stepped outside, put out a table and wheeled out the clothes rack! xxx

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  12. What a fun post! I would have loved to have a good browse through your goodies. I have found that with my clothing giveaways, same as you - people love to rummage through a pile of stuff instead of going through a rack, or nicely arranged piles. My condo has done a yard sale in the past, but L and I haven't participated. Maybe next time! I have a lot of cool things that I think would sell.

    Loving your vintage frocks in these looks! I hope the temps settle down again for you. It's been up to 30 here, but now it's back down to the bearable mid-20s again. Phew!

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    1. I'll certainly be putting boxes of stuff outside next year, as it seems to do the trick! xxx

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  13. LOVE the red gingham frock Ann and

    so pleased that the sale went well.
    What a charming lute brooch, not at all surprised to hear that Mr. S is a hit with the ladies! X

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    1. Mr. S was kind of chuffed when he read your comment! xxx

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  14. I love all three of these dresses. You're on a roll!

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  15. Sales are hard work (and I speak from experience), it is so rewarding that you had appreciative customers who made you happy while you made them happy! What can be better than that, mutual happiness? :) Your vintage rack looks divine! And you look wonderful in all your dresses, dear Ann! The red one is a beauty, so striking and looking very hip at the moment! The light green is another beauty, and the Vix's floral number is gorgeous on you!
    Hope that August will bring some coolness and pleasantness to your country! Things seem to be cooling down here!
    Lots of love!

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    1. Thank you Natalia! I never know what's hip and what's not, but quite a few people commented on the red frock! Last year I sold lots of stuff to a reseller, but I must say it made me a lot happier selling to someone like that Dutch girl! xxx

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  16. congrats to the successful fleamarket!!
    love the pale green dress on you - esp. topped with blue! :-D and your red/white gingham frock is to die for!! those sexy back detail!
    i still hope for some rain und cooling down - 10° less?? would that be nice?!!
    stay cool - lovely friend! xxxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate, and what a coincidence I was wearing green and blue too! xxx P.S. Finally today, it's cooled down considerably! Phew!

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  17. We call these types of events 'street jumbles (sales)' here and I absolutely love them! Unfortunately I missed both of our annual events as I was away on holiday for both but I so much enjoyed reading about yours.

    I'm so glad you managed to sell lots. I am astonished that no one bought the marvellous sailing boat skirt!

    I loved your green striped dress paired with the green jelly shoes and blue accessories. The gingham maxi was fab and the floral dress.

    You made some good purchases too!

    Hope you are managing to stay cool...
    xxxxx

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    1. I love these kind of events too, and we've got quite a few good ones around here! The sailing boat skirt was a small size, which I think is why it didn't sell. I would have loved to keep it for myself, otherwise. xxx

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  18. Your outfits look lovely - you are the best advert for your clothes, and I am so surprised you had any stock left over at the end of the day. I would definitely have browsed your stall. The vintage perfume was a good find, too. Avon used to do such pretty and unusual bottles.

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    1. When I researched that Avon bottle, I saw that these are quite collectible and that there's even a book about them. Well, why am I not surprised? xxx

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  19. I'm so glad you like the dress, it's all very well imagining it is perfect for someone but of course they have to actually like it! I would have bought that cat tin too it's lovely oh and I can't believe the blue sailing boat skirt didn't sell either!

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    1. Oh, I love that dress, Gisela, and it can be worn with so many colours, too! xxx

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