Friday 26 October 2018

Nothing new under the sun

The weather continued to be unseasonably warm into the second week of October (and beyond!) and thus short sleeves remained the order of the day.

The Crimplene frock I'm wearing here was recently found for € 4 at Think Twice, who were having yet another one of their famous sales.

It's been a while since the shops yielded anything even remotely interesting as lately most of their stock is predominantly 1980s leaning toward the - gasp! - 1990s. Not exactly my thing!


I know from experience that it pays to have some patience, as it's usually during their sales days that the really interesting stuff is starting to appear on their rails. As most of the bright young things frequenting the shops do not seem to care one jot for anything 1970s or earlier, the shops consider these only worthy for being sold at ridiculously low sales prices. Which obviously is fine by me!

The days when everything sells for € 4 are my favourites, as it's then that I usually luck out. After that, in the final days when prices go down to € 2 and then € 1, chaos reigns, with heaps of discarded clothing everywhere and endless queues at the totally inadequate two fitting rooms.


I zoomed in to this Crimplene mod dress with its groovy print and vertical pocket tabs with chunky buttons the minute I walked in. I wasn't going to brave the queues, but judged it was my size and took a chance. I must say I'm getting to be quite good at measuring with my eyes!

You might recognize the poodle brooch, as it's from my latest flea market haul. The necklace, which looks as if it was made of holly berries, was charity shopped, while the glittery plastic ring is an old retail buy.


On second thought, the necklace's cluster of little red beads are quite reminiscent of the Cotoneaster berries which currently seem to put our garden on fire.

They are competing with the slowly diminishing blooms of our Fuchsia magellanica bush. You can see both of these garden champions as a backdrop for some of the outfit photos in this post.

The perennial plants in our garden have started their slow process of decay, gladdening the heart with their spectacular Autumn colours, before dying and feeding the soil for next year's growth.



But let's show you some more of my Think Twice finds.

What about this Crimplene two-piece? At first sight, you might be forgiven in thinking it's a dress, but it's actually a skirt and top. Again, I was initially drawn to its funky print, but on closer inspection, I was even more smitten. The skirt is just short of a pencil shape, without being too tight fitting. And then there's the top! What can I say? It closes with a back zipper, has two little slits at the front for additional comfort and a rolled collar finished with a little side tie. I'm swooning!


If the explosion of colourful flowers in the print of this maxi frock wouldn't have been enough to convince me it had to come home with me, then the attached little capelet would certainly have clinched the deal.



Here's a peek at the back to see the capelet in its full glory!



This deliciously strokable chocolate brown velvet maxi skirt, with its eye-catching print, is waiting for the perfect Winter's day, when I'll be grateful for its warmth. When that day comes, I might be wearing something warmer on top but for now, I thought this plaid print pussy bow blouse, an earlier Think Twice find, looked perfect with the skirt's almost holographic print. Even my camera lens got a bit confused when I tried to capture it.


My penultimate find was a black circle skirt, which looks virtually unworn. It shouldn't come as a surprise that it was the pink rick rack at the hem and the two panels of green and pink embroidered flowers which piqued my interest!


I was trying to make the most of the early evening sunlight and pose for outfit photos in the garden when I got home, but the truth is that on some days I have just enough energy left for kicking off my shoes and flopping down on the sofa.

October tries to trick my mind into thinking it's still Summer, but failing miserably, in spite of regaling us with temperatures in the high twenties.

Nature speaks otherwise, her Autumnal sights, sounds and smells filling our senses.


Amid the juxtaposition of Summer and Autumn, I am wearing yet another transitional short-sleeved dress, in jersey polyester this time. The low but dazzling evening sun almost bleached out the yellow, but I included some close-ups for a better look at the print.

And what better than blue, the very colour of the late Summer sky, to accessorize it with? The brooch is once again from my latest haul. I've been trying to wear them all before storing them away in my brooch boxes.



More Crimplene on Friday. It's been a while since I last wore this olive textured polyester shift dress. Last time, in October 2016, I combined it with pink, but now I took the cue from the two brown buttons at its dropped waist to wear a beaded necklace in the same colour.



I pinned on yet another of my latest brooches and wore my leopard strap watch! I keep hearing that animal print is all the rage now. Could I possibly be on trend? That'll be the day!



And here's the last of my Think Twice finds. 

I can safely predict I'll get a lot of wear out of this 1970s zippered denim jacket sprinkled with embroidered flowers. After having had its first outing, it has now been stashed away until next Spring, when I'm sure I'll be happy to see it again.




As it was a tiny bit chilly in the morning, I left the house wearing a floral print red scarf, tying in with the red blooms on my jacket.


So, that was my fashion fix for that week. A guilt-free and environmentally sane fashion fix, I should add, as there's nothing new under the sun here!

In other news, we have booked another little trip somewhere in November, so there will be another travelogue coming up soon!

Meanwhile, I am joining Tina's Pink Friday linkup Party with my olive and denim outfit!

30 comments:

  1. Oh the joys of your secondhand shopping finds...especially when they are on super sale! When I think of all the many hours I spend searching for vintage in thrift stores and you can walk in and have a whole store for the less than what I pay via thrift it is a steal of a deal!

    I think I might go slightly mad and buy up all the inventory.

    That two piece roll top number is SWEET! I'm also a fan of velvet maxi skirts. Something so luxurious about it.

    Have a great weekend!

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. Oh, I can go for weeks without finding something decent there. The trick, of course, is to go often. And I'm very lucky to be able to do that over my lunch break! xxx

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  2. Think Twice is starting to sound like a vintage shopping destination worthy of an overseas visit-like a pilgrimage. You find the most amazing clothes there, and you look stunning in them.

    I will look forward to hearing about your next travel adventure.

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    1. Thank you Goody, but like thrift shopping everywhere, it takes time and determination. But having 4 of these shops near my office certainly is an advantage! xxx

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  3. you did very well at the think twice sales!
    the green of the last frock is fab and suits you very well - and i´m in love with the cut, print and details of the 2piece. that maxi skirt looks like it was made from a 30s art deco curtain/upholstery fabric - how cool is that print!
    hooray for little trips - where do you go in november?
    hugest of hugs! xxxxxx

    p.s.: i have to darken your *guilt-free and environmentally sane*: with every wash this poly-dresses do shed lots of micro plastic into the oceans....
    just saying. sorry.
    "irgendwas is immer" do we say here. :-(

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    1. We all do our bit in our way, don't we? I like the thought of having a skirt made from a 1930s Art Deco curtain. It's obviously handmade, so maybe that's what it was in a former life? Oh, and we will be following Tina's example and go to Zeeland! xxx

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  4. There's just so much to love in this post, Ann! I love your first dress and your adorable new poodle brooch. That black floral maxi dress is gorgeous. Those two skirts are fabulous and I love that last olive dress too! I'm so relieved that I don't have to choose one favourite, because that'd be impossible! ;) Hope you have a lovely weekend, Ann! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha! I'll never ask to choose a favourite, as I think it's very hard myself ;-) xxx

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  5. Ooooh! The two-piece is gorgeous!! I do love the brown velvet maxi skirt too. So many gorgeous dresses. Your garden is looking very colourful - lovely photographs. I am looking forward to your next travelogue! XXX

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    1. Thank you Linda! You should see our garden in real life instead of just snippets: it's a disaster area! xxx

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  6. Wow I love the two piece find. It is so cute. And this poodle brooch is gorgeous. You look amazing in all your wonderful colourful vintage pieces Ann.
    I wish you a great weekend, with a very huge hug Tina

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  7. Autumn in your garden is looking beautiful, the colours are gorgeous. The same goes for that olive green dress, it really suits you and the wooden beads are perfect with it. Speaking of accessories,the necklace and beads you're wearing with the first dress make it look very special. I do love great accessories.
    Hope you're having a good weekend. xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! Choosing the right accessories for an outfit is one of my favourite things to do! xxx

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  8. What wonderful finds! I am in love with that so ladylike two piece. The swirly print with vertical pocket tabs and the amazing poodle brooch. I am old enough to remember and wear those maxi dress with the added capelets; yours is lovely and I loved the floral print.

    A velvet maxi skirt and a knee length circle skirt were amazing finds. Thank God for the sales!

    I loved your outfits. The green dress is gorgeous and the colour is so good on you. You certainly lucked out with your previous brooch haul; at least you still find amazing brooches!

    It sounds like we're having very similar weather; ours has turned cold now.

    Hope you have a fab week.
    xxx

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    1. Thank you Veronica! I can't wait to wear that two-piece, but unfortunately our weather has turned cold now too. I guess it couldn't last ... xxx

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  9. OMG that crimplene two-piece is perfection! I can't wait to see how you style it. So many colours to play with, and a brooch would go just perfectly on the rolled collar above the tabs...

    I always dislike being accidentally on trend, but if you are don't worry, it passes quickly enough, and then all the stuff that's no longer on trend ends up in the chazzas again. Hooray!

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    1. Can you believe that crimplene two-piece made me think of you? And yes, I agree, a brooch would be perfect on the rolled collar! xxx

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  10. woww, I love the crimplene suit with the groovy print, what a fab find!. And the velvet skirt looks really warm, perfect for Winter weather!. Lucky girl!
    And also love all the short-sleeved dresses you've been wearing, so gorgeous colors, prints, textures. Your green dress is so cute!!
    Last week was really warm and now it's shockingly cold!. Autumn is here!
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! I guess it was only a matter of time for Autumn to arrive. It did here as well! xxx

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  11. You did marvelously well with your recent finds and I'm with Mim, that Crimplene two piece is an absolute joy to behold. Can't wait to see you rocking that beauty.
    Considering how Jos isn't into gardening and you have so little time, Dove Cottage's garden is gorgeous. I really need to go out and sweep some leaves ready for the council collection on Wednesday but it's unbearably cold here today - it snowed on Saturday! xxxx

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    1. Oh no, that's quite early for snow, isn't it? It suddenly turned cold here earlier this week. You'd be shocked if you saw Dove Cottage's garden. I keep telling you I'm only showing the good bits! xxx

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  12. Oo, capelets make me weak at the knees! How lovely. And I've never seen a two-piece like that, what a great find. Crimplene weather here already, it's been bitterly cold. Xx

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    1. Oh, I know. If it has a capelet, I have to buy it! xxx

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  13. What fabulous finds! I love the two piece especially, there's something about a rolled collar ...
    I like the olive textured dress as well, maybe that's destined to be your October dress? I rather like the idea of having a rolling wardrobe that changes month by month. I love buying something out of season and finally getting to weather it when the weather dictates, a rolling wardrobe would feel very much the same, only with clothes you already own.
    Well done on all the pre-loved finds. Just think of the environmental impact you haven't made!
    xx

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    1. I thought the two piece was a bit "Mad Men". The rolled collar and the side bow clinched the deal! xxx

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  14. Wow. Hard to pick my favorite here. So many lovely things. None of the thrifts where I live have anything even close to this collection. I rarely come across any cool vintage in them, especially at those great prices! Love the skirts, the two piece with rolled collar, the capelet maxi. Heck, all of it!

    A tip for fitting, I always carry a tape measure in my purse when shopping. That way I can measure the clothing in the store and know if something will fit based on my own measurements.Saves time and hassle of trying on or waiting for fitting room.

    xo
    Theresa

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    1. Thanks for the tip, Theresa. I know I should carry a tape measure and my measurements, but I tend to forget. xxx

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  15. Another lovely post! I love all your new vintage finds, the two piece and dark floral capelet dress being my favorite! You look fantastic, I especially love the green dress on you - it suits your complexion and hair so well! It is one of my favorite shades of green, popular decades ago and harder to find these days. And of course your accessories are always spot on! Love the berries necklace and blue brooch! We have cotoneaster shrub too, such vivid colors it provides!

    Lots of love!

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    1. Thank you Natalia! I'm a big fan of green, and that shade in particular, which is indeed quite hard to find. We never have any berries on our Cotoneaster shrub this late, as they are usually eaten by the blackbirds. But our local blackbird population has been decimated by a virus. Sad really! xxx

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