Tuesday 29 March 2016

Who knows where the time goes?

In our house, with its many ticking clocks, you can literally hear time pass ...



For a full-time working girl like me, time is at a premium, so the Easter weekend is a godsend.

Four days of not getting up at the crack of dawn to join the rat race. Time for leisurely breakfasts. Time to tackle some of the never-ending mending pile every wearer of vintage eventually accumulates, for some pottering around the house and for reading a bit more than the 10 minutes in bed every night before nodding off mid-sentence.

Oh, and maybe time to put away the warmest winter clothes and bring out some of the lighter stuff, which has been hibernating in our linen chest since October. It is spring after all, isn't it?


















But you know how it is with the best-laid plans ... On Friday, only the leisurely breakfast part was achieved. I'd just taken out my sewing basket when one of us uttered the words "charity shop" and off we went. After all, that is what the Easter break is for as well: time to visit some charity shops which are a bit further away, and which we only visit a few times a year!




Whether we struck gold or not will be the subject of a later post, but this is what I wore to go charity shopping.

A purple psychedelically patterned crimplene A-line dress with slim fitting bodice and sleeves, which mean you either have to be a contortionist to close the back zip, or need a helping hand.














I accessorized it with vintage olive green plastic beads, as well as a ring which reminds me of those Venetian glass paperweights ... Both charity shopped, of course!


Another one of my cardies came out: olive green with a round collar and three quarter length sleeves. This one is retail and I've had it for many years. The brooch I've pinned to it was bought in a charity shop in Cardigan while on holiday last year.

Out came some old tan boots, which are very comfortable, but which I can only wear in dry weather as they are letting the rain in. They are made of some cheap material which has a distinct smell and which drives Phoebe, our cat, crazy. Nevertheless, I'm not ready to throw them out.

























While I was thinking about which coat to wear, I suddenly remembered this lime green swing jacket. I'm ashamed to say that although I've had it for more than a year, this is the first time I've actually worn it.

I combined it with a prettily embroidered velvet scarf, which I found at a flea market for next to nothing.

Dress and swing jacket: Think Twice
Bag, beads, brooch and ring: charity shopped
Scarf: flea market
Boots and cardigan: retail

Although the weather was unpredictable, at least it stayed dry and sunny for long enough to go for a short walk in the park and to let us have a taste of spring!


So what did you make time fore this Easter weekend?

21 comments:

  1. You are brave, packing away the Winter woolies! Love your purple dress, and pairing it up with olive green works so well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In the end, I didn't pack anything away yet, Claire. But to be honest, I haven't even worn half the stuff, as it has been a mild (but wet) winter. xxx

      Delete
  2. We lost an hour! Like you, I've got a bit of a vintage clock fetish and it's a right old pain to change them all when it's BST.
    Love the dress, its perfect with the long forgotten jacket. You look the very vision of Spring - which it isn't here. Brrrr! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We lost an hour too, and indeed it's quite a job to change all the clocks. It's worse when you have to change them to winter time though ... As for spring, apart from the day the photos were taken, it has been quite cold here too. Looking forward to warmer weather, as my spring and summer dresses are calling me. xxx

      Delete
  3. There used to be these gadgets that looked like a long crochet hook to pull up the back zips on dresses-keep an eye out for them in charity shops. That does seem like a dress worth suffering for-it is beautiful.

    It can be so hard to part with favourite items, even if they leave you with wet feet. Hopefully you'll find a nice replacement for the boots.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will be on the look-out for such a gadget, Goody. As for a replacement for the boots, I already found a similar pair, though I still prefer the old ones ... xxx

      Delete
  4. There used to be these gadgets that looked like a long crochet hook to pull up the back zips on dresses-keep an eye out for them in charity shops. That does seem like a dress worth suffering for-it is beautiful.

    It can be so hard to part with favourite items, even if they leave you with wet feet. Hopefully you'll find a nice replacement for the boots.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I'm with you on the zip thing. I would so have worn all that outfit, especially the dress and I've got similar boots that I too have had for some time.
    I picked up a cardi for £1 last week and have had it on 3 times already. So cost per wear will be nil soon.
    Lynn xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't wear that dress often enough but I should, in spite of the zip thing ... That cardi sounds like a real bargain. I often pick them up in charity shops too. I simply can't resist them, and there's always a colour I don't have yet. A girl needs to be prepared. xxx

      Delete
  6. Oh, good outfit! I wonder what the cat thinks the boots smell of?

    I'm with you on the Easter weekend being a godsend. Four days didn't feel like nearly enough, but it was very welcome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mim! I had so many plans for those four days but it was Monday night before I knew it. xxx

      Delete
  7. oh how I wish the spring weather would hurry up and arrive! Loving the purple and green outfit combo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So do I! I'm in need of some sunshine and I'm getting a bit bored with my winter clothes as well. xxx

      Delete
  8. Hi there! Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog, it is lovely to meet you! What a gorgeous outfit you wore on your charity shop adventure- beautiful brooch and the dress is gorgeous- the pattern reminds me of the Javanese designs I would always see in Indonesia!!x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Kezzie, it's lovely to meet you too! xxx

      Delete
  9. I had four days off over Easter too - bliss!
    I love the colour and print on your dress, what a beauty. Like you, I wear my tan boots all the time, they go with everything!
    I'm definitely ready for some warmer weather now, there was a frost here this morning... Xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Curtise! Those 4 days were over in the blink of an eye ... Surely any day now it will be spring? I'm in need of a good dose of sunshine. xxx

      Delete
  10. What a stunning outfit! Purple + gold/mustard/saffron is one of my favourite colour pairings of all time (I even wore it on my b-day last year). Your brooch caught my eye instantly, too. Is it from the brand Miracle? It looks the part for sure. I just adore a good bevy of different stones (or glass/plastic stones) like that. Fabulous styling, dear lady.

    Many hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jessica! As for the brooch, it was thrifted and no brand name is mentioned. It's got an old-fashioned "C" clasp, so I'm guessing it's vintage. xxx

      Delete
  11. What a vibrant dress! It's lovely on you x

    ReplyDelete