Wednesday 30 November 2016

Go slowly

Second hand shopping cannot be hurried. I call it slow shopping. It needs time, patience, and a certain amount of dedication. There's no quick fix or instant gratification. Of course, everything can be found online nowadays, but that doesn't work for me. I love hunting for things "in the wild", to coin Goody's phrase ... The pleasure of finding the unexpected or finally stumbling upon one of your "holy grails" is incomparable!

I'd been looking for a pair of burgundy boots for almost two years. During that time, I did come across several pairs, but none were right.  If they weren't too small or too large, they were made for girls with stick legs, and wouldn't close. The heels were either too high or too low. Or they had too many pesky details. I quite like a plain boot!






Imagine my delight when last Friday, while out shopping with my friend Princess Inez, I came across the perfect pair at last!

They were made in Finland and have a cosy layer of woolly insulation inside.













I also bought this pussy-bow blouse ...


and this brooch ...



... both of which Princess Inez cleverly found for me.

Of course, I already had to wear the boots on Saturday! They went perfectly with my stripy green pussy-bow dress.


The dress came with a self-fabric belt, but it looked rather plain, so I added a burgundy vinyl one.

A dark red cardigan and ditto tights completed my outfit.









Before leaving the house, I grabbed this thick chocolate brown woollen jacket, which is part of a suit I charity shopped last year.













We tried taking photographs outside our garage this time. Although the wall I'm posing against isn't as picturesque as the one inside, I love the little tufts of moss growing on top of the wall and the autumn leaves in the background.


I'd spent the morning sorting out some of the things I brought home with me from my dad's house last week. So, when we went to the charity shop in the afternoon, we took a boxful of no-longer-loved china, glasses and cutlery with us in order to make some much-needed space.

Perhaps because of that, for the first time in weeks the Gods of the charity shops smiled down upon us.










We knew we'd be alright when, just minutes after walking into the shop, we spotted this kitsch Lourdes wall frame for our collection.












A pair of black retro style lace-up booties, a gorgeous dark green velvet jacket and a Pringle scarf came home with me as well.


The jacket actually complimented the dress I was wearing like a dream, so I couldn't resist posing in it when we got home, although the artificial lighting wasn't ideal for taking photographs.









As you can see, I am also wearing the booties ...















On Sunday, we had an indoor flea market in Antwerp to look forward to. As we hadn't been there since last Spring, we were rather excited, especially as I'd read on their website that it was fully booked.


A quick peek at what I was wearing. The dropped waist dress came from Blender Vintage Shop. It was in my "I'm not sure" pile, but I decided to give it another go. I'm still not sure though ... Now, should it stay or should it go?

I've been racking my brain, but I can't for the life of me remember where I bought the brooch.

Speaking of brooches, I was glad to see that the "brooch lady" was having her usual pitch at the flea market. I happily browsed through her stash, which she keeps in folders, and after some debate I decided on these four:


The rest of the flea market was rather disappointing and my only other purchase was this shiny black vinyl handbag. I love its decorative white metal frame.



All in all, not a bad haul at all last weekend.

As I've had quite a hectic week so far, I'm now going to plonk myself down in front of the telly for some mindless entertainment.

See you soon!

24 comments:

  1. Charity shop karma! My most successful shopping trips always start with a sizable donation!
    You're right, us vintage types are all about the slow shopping. Not rushing to buy new just because we fancy something but making do and waiting until the right thing comes along. that's why we love our wardrobes, we've built them over time with love and care.
    Fab jacket, ace boots and great scarf (my Dad's eldest brother lived in Hawick and the family worked for Pringle). You are the queen or brooches and bags, there seems to be far more around in Belgium than the UK!
    Enjoy your evening. A night of TV awaits us, too! xxx

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    1. What a coincidence that you have family who worked for Pringle. I've been wearing the scarf all week, as it has been bitterly cold here. I guess that one day I will be "brooch lady" myself, which is ok, as long as I'm not a "bag lady"! xxx

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  2. I love the green velvet jacket. I see what you mean about that last dress it doesn't seem you somehow....

    Oh and SNAP! I have the same little dog brooch.

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    1. Fancy you having the same little dog brooch! Oh, and the dress went back to the I'm not sure pile. You're so right, it's not really me. I guess it will go to charity some day ... xxx

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  3. Cracking boots....they look brand new! Also loving the colourful scarf and sweet Westie (?) and Edelweiss brooches.

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    1. Thanks Fiona, also for pointing out that one of the brooches has Edelweiss in it. I didn't even notice ... xxx

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  4. Love the colour of those burgundy boots. Worth waiting for I'd say! x

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    1. They were definitely worth waiting for, and their warm inside layer is no luxury, as it's bitterly cold here right now. xxx

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  5. I'm not sure I deserve credit for the phrase, but I have no idea where I picked it up.

    The Brooch Lady must have had an astounding collection before she began selling them off. The micro-mosaic one is especially nice.

    I'm glad you found your boots-and that wonderful green jacket.

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    1. Since I picked it up from you, it will always be your phrase to me, Goody! The brooch lady collected for over 30 years and had about 3000 of them before she starting selling them. xxx

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  6. indeed shiny that black bag! trés chic! your newest brooches all are totally my cup of tea - especially the flowered ones. keep the "not sure" dress - i think the folky style is very special - maybe because i love me some folk style designs..... :-)
    gorgeous booties, scarf and velvet jacket - in greeeen! sigh*****
    and you match the colors of the moss and autumn leaves in the background!
    the searching and waiting for that boots payed out! they look fab! and warm lining! <3
    have a wonderful weekend my dear ann! xxxxxx

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    1. I'm still not sure about the not sure dress, Beate. I quite like it, but it's not really me, so the jury is still out ... xxx

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  7. i alsolove 'the thrill of the chase'

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    1. That is definitely one of the joys of thrift shopping ... xxx

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  8. Congratulations on finding you holy grail boots! Likewise, I see the chiffon scarves I love online, for quite the price, when I know charity shops price them at half of that if not lower, but my they are thin on the ground. I have only left one behind and that was a red one as I already have two red.

    How cute is that doggy brooch! I love how cosy warm you look all dressed up to go out xxx

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    1. Thanks Melanie. I'll have a lookout for chiffon scarves in other colours for you here. You never know ... xxx

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  9. I like the term shopping ‘in the wild’ I might have to start using it :)
    The velvet jacket is so lovely, and the boots - so nice to find something after two years! They’re perfect.
    I find that if I have something I’m not sure about it rarely gets worn and I rarely change my mind about it, so I always give those items back to charity, making room for something I know I love and will wear a lot.
    I like the brooches, I think my favourite is the one with the green border.

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    1. I got the "in the wild" term from Goody, and I'm sure she won't mind. I couldn't have phrased it better! That green brooch is micro mosaic, and was a bit more expensive than the others. Then again, it's a real work of art ... xxx

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  10. It seems December is good time for charity shopping - Vix posted recently that she'd had lots of success, and I've had some luck too. Those boots really are fab. How nice to have found them after all this time waiting.

    The green jacket and bag are both ace finds.

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    1. I 've certainly had some luck these past weeks. I even found some vintage paperbacks last weekend ... xxx

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  11. I'm loving all your finds here and am deeply envious of that green jacket. Green is a great colour on you Ann and the red makes it a great combination.
    I've got a pair of red opaque tights that are my favourite at the minute
    Lynn xxx

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    1. I'm glad green suits me, as it's my current favourite colour. However, I'm told blue suits me best ... xxx

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  12. I LOVE your not sure dress - but if you're not, there's no reason to hang on to it! The green velvet jacket and bright wool scarf are both lovely indeed.

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    1. Thanks! I still haven't made up my mind about the dress, though ... xxx

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