Saturday 21 October 2017

Brilliant trees

The weather's been acting particularly strange these days, with unprecedented mild temperatures for October of well over twenty degrees Celsius.

By the end of last week, I was wearing short sleeved Summer frocks again, when only a couple of days before I'd been thinking of breaking out the warm woollies!

Not that I'm complaining, mind you!

While the temperature gradually kept going up, prices at Think Twice kept going down, until finally my favourite moment arrived when everything is going for € 4.

Prices will continue going down to € 1, but for the best choice of fabulous stuff at rock bottom prices, the € 4 days are your best bet, especially as new things are being added until then.

Over two days, two bags of vintage gear came home with me!



I can't wait to wear this funky dress with its orange and green colour scheme when it starts getting cooler again.



Here's yet another maxi dress to add to my growing collection.

There were skirts too, including a black maxi skirt with a fabulous flower print.



I was sure the flower sprinkled cotton skirt on the right was handmade, until I discovered its size label. But someone has clearly been customizing it, adding to its length by cutting a piece off the bottom and joining them together again with a strip of plain black fabric edged by lengths of braided ribbon.



Although I already own quite a few jackets, I didn't yet have a lilac one, so this warm woollen beauty will be a welcome addition to my Winter wardrobe.

The vibrant red one is made from a crepey fabric and has a multicoloured zebra print lining and the most gorgeous buttons.



I couldn't resist picking up yet another Winter coat. Surely you agree that it would have been a crime to leave behind this classic belted houndstooth coat, with its delightful buttons and buckle detail, for only € 4?

On Saturday, we made the most of the warm, late Summer weather, by having our usual picnic outside.



In between charity shops, we stopped at one of our regular places, the Art Deco water tower, which has conveniently placed picnic benches and tables in its grounds.



How striking is the brilliant, crimson red of the foliage against the deep blue of the cloudless sky.



It's days like these that make my spirits soar! In fact, it was making me feel quite giddy, so that soon I was scooping up handfuls of the fiery red leaves and throwing them in the air like some kind of leaf-shaped confetti.


I was even prepared to overcome my vertigo and take the airy flight of stairs up to the viewing platform at the top of the water tower ... only to find it closed off due to ongoing vandalism. Oh well.
Such a shame, as on a clear day like this we would have been able to see the top of the Atomium in Brussels.



I was wearing a short-sleeved, belted navy dress with a joyous print of what looks like little apples, in pink, blue, green and white.



There was actually no need for the turquoise crepe jacket from King Louie, charity shopped back in June at the bargainous price of € 4, which I wore with a spotty navy belt and a brooch - a posy of pink roses - pinned to my lapel.

Further accessories were pink pearls and a blue plastic rose ring.



But I mentioned charity shops, so I should end this post with our quite unexpected bounty.



The small vintage zip-up suitcase came from shop no. 1, where I also found the brooch and the pink belt. The suitcase has been put to good use to store Jos's flat caps and some of my berets.

Shop no. 2 - this is an all or nothing kind of shop - came up trumps with a purple cardie (no, I didn't have one in that colour yet!), a pair of funky Italian suede and leather shoes, a red necklace nicked off one of the shop's dummies and a plaid skirt in autumnal colours.



And then there was this vintage coat, made from pure new wool in an unusual coral colour, which was hiding in a rail full of the usual modern coats.

Look at those buttons and the half-belts accentuating the waist. The label identifies it as made to measure from a posh shop in Brussels, which was established in 1932 and still exists to this day.


Having bought two coats (and let's not forget the two jackets) in as many days, I needed to free up some space, which I did on Sunday by filling a bag for charity with a coat and a couple of jackets I'm never wearing.

I'm sure that will butter up the gods of the charity shops!

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style!


35 comments:

  1. Oh Ann wonderfull findings! You have a good hand to find wonderful thrifted clothes and accessories.
    You look so amazing on your picknick trip :)
    Much love, Tina

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    1. Thank you, Tina! They say practice makes perfect, don't they? xxx

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  2. Isn't it funny how sometimes you just find things in batches, you've certainly found some really lovely coats here, the purple one is gorgeous.

    The weather's meant to go back up to 22 by the end of the week next week!

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    1. After I found the jackets and the houndstooth coat, I told myself that's it, no more coats! But then I stumbled upon the posh coral one ... xxx

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  3. You did really well finding vintage! The coats are beautiful, and who doesn't need a great pair of shoes? What a shame people feel the need to vandalise-good I guess that it is being repaired.

    Love those photos of you tossing leaves!

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    1. I do hope they re-open the viewing platform, Goody, but I'm not holding out too much hope. First, they closed the toilets, now the platform, what'll be next? It's such a pity, as it's a really interesting site ... xxx

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  4. You did make out like a bandit again!

    Those coats you scored are AMAZING!!! Doesn't it make your heart jump when you find such gems?

    We have also been having incredible weather for this time of year...22 C every day and some days it has been hotter. It is hard to imagine we aren't at the end of September instead of the end of October.

    I kind of wish winter would just forget about us completely this year but I doubt we'll be that lucky.

    Loved your layered outfit too.

    Suzanne

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    1. That's it exactly: finding vintage gems just makes me heart sing! It's quite addictive, as I think you know very well ;-) xxx

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  5. You've found a great stash of clothes Ann, I love them all! The maxi dress and jackets are gorgeous, as is the fabulous red coat :)
    Your Autumn picnic looks wonderful in the glorious weather. I love the mugs too!
    What a perfect way to spend the day. xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally. I'm glad you love the mugs, which are from a 1960s range! xxx

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  6. that first dress!! swooooon!!!
    worn with the new brown shoes it will look like a million dollar - and topped off with the "hahnentritt"-coat it´s the perfekt grown up punk attitude. :-D
    p.s.: shame on that hooligans for vandalizing the cool watertower......
    your picnic looks gorgeous - love the photos of you trowing leaves into the blue blue sky <3
    hugest hugs! xxxxx

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    1. I had a feeling you and Vix would love that first dress ... And you're so right: the shoes will look fantastic with it. Thanks for the tip on topping it it the houndstooth coat, I would never have thought to combine the two. I've got so much to learn from you! xxx

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  7. The Bouvy coat and shoes might be my favourites this week but as usual it's so hard to choose when you have found so many lovely pieces! Your charity shops sound very exciting, I'd love to visit them. Let's hope cooler weather arrives so that you can wear the coats! X

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    1. Those coats really are worth having cooler weather for, aren't they? xxx

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  8. woaaa, what a fabulous booty, you get some really lovely pieces, all those dresses and skirts and the cute jackets. A girl can't have too many jackets (or dresses, or colorful cardigans) as I'm concerned.
    Obviously, the houndstooth coat couldn't be ignored (for 4€!!) and the red one is gorgeous!, well, you look gorgeous wearing it too! Such a lovely color.
    Glad that you enjoyed this crazy warm weather, having a picnic!, I love your dress and blue jacket, and those pics of you throwing leaves, so much fun!!
    besos

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    1. Thank you so much, Monica! You're right: a girl can't have too many jackets Etc. And it would have been a shame not to buy them at such crazy prices! Oh, and I just couldn't resist tossing those leaves ... xxx

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  9. I love your little picnic baskets!
    What a shame you couldn't get to the top of the tower. Vandalism makes me so angry.
    What super finds, the coral coat is especially good, and the Italian shoes.
    xx

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    1. Thank you Hazel! The smallest bag is actually a handbag, but I thought it went well with our picnic basket! Vandalism does make me angry too ... xxx

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  10. Great shopping, Ann! Love the floral maxi dress, and I can't wait to see it on you, xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  11. Great finds! I love the coral coloured coat with it's little half belts!

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    1. Thank you Linda! They just don't do half belts anymore, which is such a pity ... xxx

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  12. That red coat is a great find. And E4 is a bargainous price, I can see why you don't wait for prices to drop to E1 and risk all the good stuff disappearing. You've found some very cool stuff there.

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    1. Thank you Mim! As one of the shops is just around the corner from my office, I do pop on the days when all is just € 2 or € 1, and sometimes unearth a gem or two ... But most of the time, it's just tatty leftovers on those days. xxx

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  13. That first dress is lovely, the print looks almost Indian. two fabulous coats, too! Loving the lady in a hat brooch.
    Your picnic looks very stylish! xxx

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    1. I knew you would love that first dress ;-) I thought the lady in a hat brooch was pretty special too ... that was no. 300! xxx

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  14. You did well on the coat front Ann ....and everything else actually! Love the lilac jacket, the houndstooth coat and quality coral number. I'm sure that there must be an abundance of posh shops on an avenue named Golden Fleece?! xx

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    1. It really is a posh neighbourhood, although I'm not sure it being called Golden Fleece has anything to do with it. But together with the Avenue Louise, it IS the poshest street in Brussels. I can't imagine what you'd have to pay for coat there ... xxx

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  15. Gorgeous architecture, trees and outfits too, you're spoiling us! Vandalisim though, really makes me angry, what is wrong with people xxx

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    1. Thank you Melanie. Vandalism really makes my blood boil ... xxx

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  16. What totally fabulous finds you found! Loved your outfit and the brooch in the suitcase is especially lovely. The red foliage is stunning!

    xxx

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    1. Thank you Veronica. I couldn't stop making photos of that fabulous red foliage ... xxx

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  17. I adore that first green and orange dress! Can't wait to see you modeling it! Coats are my soft spot too, so I totally understand your decisions to get a few, never enough coats and jackets for a long cool season. That Art Deco water tower is a welcomed addition to our Modish Matrons link up this month! :)

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    1. I'm happy I'm not the only one who love coats, and cannot understand how people can have just one winter coat! Surely, variety is the spice of life, especially during the long and dark winter months! xxx

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