Tuesday 19 March 2019

Oh no, retro!

Although I keep claiming that my blog is my on-line diary, it sometimes feels as if I'm writing a piece of history, as my posts are constantly lagging behind real life.

So, dear diary, this is what I did on Saturday 9th of March!

It was the day of that yearly charity shop event called Retrodag (dag is day in Flemish!), the day all Belgian charity shops are selling the vintage stuff they've saved up in the past year, often at ridiculous prices, creating what someone on Facebook aptly called artificial scarcity with stuff they've been given for free!

We used to make a day of it, starting out early and taking a picnic, driving from one shop to another. Disenchanted with the same old-same old overpriced stuff on offer, we have lost some our initial enthusiasm for the event, and only visit some of our favourite shops.


We were both feeling a bit tired as well, which rather put a damper on it all, but as I didn't want to give in and have my day spoiled, I decided to go for full-on colour therapy.

What about coral? I've had this dress in my wardrobe for absolutely ages, but I don't seem to wear it much anymore, as I've sort of gone off polka dots lately.  Still, it is getting at least one outing a year, and I thought this was the perfect day for it.

I'm struggling what colour to wear with it and always seem to end up pairing it with shades of blue. This colour has clearly got me stumped!



So, blue it is then. I picked cobalt blue opaques, then dug around in my suitcase full of belts, where I found this matching leather one. My beaded necklace and plastic flower ring, both in a similar shade of blue, were flea market finds.



The charity shopped cardigan with its two-tone chequered print provided a welcome contrast to the dress's polka dots. Still staying within the colour scheme, I added an orange vintage brooch bought from the Brooch Lady in November 2016. One of the advantages of blogging is that I can now track down what I bought where, and when!




The first shop we were headed to always has a huge rail of vintage clothing. I picked up armfuls of stuff to try on, eventually settling on a skirt suit, a dress and two skirts.

The handmade skirt suit has a wide flouncy skirt and a short, fitted, wide-lapelled jacket. The main part of both the skirt and the jacket is black sprinkled with tiny red flowers, while an explosion of blowsy Summer flowers adorns the skirt's hem and the jacket's lapels and cuffs.



The dress, with its tropical white, chartreuse, orange and yellow print, is handmade as well. It has three-quarter length sleeves, a V-neck with a neat little collar, which in the pictures is a bit lost in the print, and a single pleat at the front. 


The first of the skirts is a midi length one and has a blue and white flower print on a dove grey background. Angelica is wearing it with a short sleeved yellow knit jumper, to which I pinned a blue butterfly brooch, and a yellow belt.


The second skirt is knee-length and its print has a profusion of moss green, orange-red, white and brownish flowers. Angelica is wearing a coral openwork knit jumper and a sage green belt with it.

While queuing at the till, I spotted this set of jewellery, consisting of a brooch and clip-on earrings.




They are stamped on the back with the words "Il Etait Une Fois" (the French equivalent of "once upon a time"), which after some googling I discovered is a contemporary French jewellery company, established in 1987, which produces pewter jewellery plated with silver or gold.  I paid € 5 for the set, which turns out to be more than a good deal, as I found a similar brooch on its own, priced at € 35, on their website.




Then we drove down to our second shop, where we had a car picnic, after which we decided to clear our fuzzy heads and make a quick circuit of the park.

The groovy boots I'm wearing were actually picked up on a previous Retrodag event back in 2017.

I bought the vintage plaid swing coat at our most local charity shop a couple of years ago and it has been a firm favourite ever since. I love its shorter length and the half belt.

The frilly blue scarf was another charity shop find, and if I remember correctly the beret was from Think Twice.




The weather was another disappointment, which was a first for this event. Looking back at the previous years, which my blog enables me to do, we had gorgeous spring weather for three years in a row.

It was chilly and a fierce wind was blowing - a prelude to the storm we'd be having on Sunday - and the park was looking a bit forlorn, as if it had suddenly been shifted a couple of weeks back in time.



On closer inspection, February's springlike temperatures combined with the recent lashings of rain, had triggered a growing spurt in the park's vegetation.

I was happy to discover a good-sized clump of Oriental hybrid hellebores with delicate pink veined flowers.


There were daffodils in bloom as well: apart from the usual little yellow daffs which were dotted around the park, there was a host of cheerful white, yellow trumpeted, ones.

Pink blossom decorated some of the shrubs which were bare only a fortnight ago, while ground-hugging Vinca minor was sprouting new shoots and opening the first of its violet-blue flowers.




Rain was imminent, so we briefly nipped into the charity shop, but we shouldn't have bothered, really.

Or should we?

Halfheartedly browsing the bookshelves, my eyes suddenly zoomed in on a pictorial travel book with a familiar name on its cover:Victoria. Picking it up for closer inspection confirmed that its subject was indeed Victoria, British Columbia in Canada.



Why all the fuss, you might wonder? Well, I actually know someone who lives there. It's my fabulous blogging friend Sheila, who blogs over at Ephemera! It goes without saying that I bought the book, especially as it's got a chapter on Sheila's castle!

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday over at Not Dead Yet Style, as usual!


30 comments:

  1. You two are the smartest shoppers I know!
    I can't believe how quickly retrodag rolls around. Your outfit of coral and cobalt with those incredible boots so so cool and groovy t would give your Barbie dolls a run for their money!
    Your finds are fab, colourful and totally you. The second buy looks like a West African waxed cotton creation, those colours!!
    I can't wait to see you in that skirt suit.
    How exciting to find Sheila's castle in that book! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix! That dress indeed looks like a West African creation, except for the fabric, which is a bit like towelling! xxx

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  2. I'm curious to know which is Sheila's castle...I used to live in Victoria for a couple of years.

    I'm dying over those groovy boots! Wow!

    That polka dot dress is so fun.

    I'm very jealous of your spring flowers. We had a touch of snow overnight! : (

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. It's Craigdarroch Castle - I live close to it, and can see it from my "stair pictures." I often take pictures of it.

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    2. Thank you Suzanne! Those boots are one of my favourite pairs, although I try to wear them sparingly, in fear of wearing them out. xxx

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  3. why do you moan about retro dag? you found some very pretty clothes!!! the 2 piece is so sweet, the tropical dress a stunner and the skirts are beautiful summer-y....not to mention the funky boots from 2017 :-D :-D :-D
    the storm briefly came to us too - thankfully without demage at our property - but others around us were not so lucky. actually it stormed for a whole week.....
    but now: sunny, calm spring - so soothing.
    hugs! xxxxx

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    1. I was moaning a bit, wasn't I? Well, I did have good reason, as it bothers me (and not just me!) that they are asking these crazy prices, and can't even distinguish between real and fake. It would be much better it they put vintage stuff into their shops throughout the year instead of keeping it for Retrodag. But you're right, I did find some pretty clothes. Good to hear you didn't have any storm damage! Hugest of hugs xxx

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  4. I am in love with your red polka dot dress and I like ist you wear it with blue.
    Great finds on retrodag. Today the sun is shining...eventually, but it is cold in the morning. I am ready for spring :)
    with a very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you, Tina! I seem to wear the dress with some kind of blue every time! xxx

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  5. Victoria!! I went there last year to visit Sheila and LOVE that place! I saw the building on the cover of the book. It's great how making friends expands our world. Someday I'd like to visit your part of town. Oh, and I like the color-combination here.

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    1. I remember your visit to Sheila, Ally, and I remember you even got to see her famous closet! Do let me know if you're ever planning to visit Antwerp, or anywhere else in Belgium. Bruges is picture postcard pretty! xxx

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  6. It's lovely to see spring peeping through in your photos, despite the horrible grey weather.
    Your boots are totally fabulous and I like the unusual earring and brooch set.
    Your new outfits are wonderfully you can't wait to see you in them. xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! I had a feeling you would like that earring and brooch set! xxx

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  7. I love your coral and blue outfit and the little brooch is exquisite. I wish I had a brooch lady like yours... I think green would go with Coral, Ann and you love green, I know.

    What brilliant buys you made. I loved all the things you bought; such lovely colours and patterns.

    Do you know in my charity shopped they're not allowed to sell home made items (no care labels) in case they are made from non fire retardant material.

    Hope your weather perks up soon - it's Spring!

    Have a great week.
    xxx

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    1. That's funny, I never thought to wear green with the dress. I will definitely try it out next time! I don't think our charity shops even look at the contents labels of clothes ... xxx

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  8. Oh, dang, the internet just ate my reply! As I said...

    I meant to comment yesterday, as my work's server (shhh...I am viewing from work) doesn't display some of your pictures. I can't see your suit, although I am sure it is beautiful.

    I would do yellow or turquoise with your dotty dress.

    I am agog over those wonderful multi-coloured boots (I gasped out loud!), and I love that tropical dress - right up my alley!

    Oh, Victoria! Isn't it a small world? You'll have to come visit someday - we have lovely parks for hiking and rambling, especially along the waterfront. And of course, visit the Castle!

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    1. glad that I'm not the only one who read blogs at work!
      mwhahah

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    2. Oh, poor you! I hate it when that happens ... I've worn turquoise with the dress, but never yellow. Must give that a go! I'd love to visit Victoria one day. Wouldn't that be fun? xxx P.S. I'm also reading blogs at work sometimes. But it's a secret ;-)

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  9. your polka dot dress is stunning and it looks perfect with the blue cardigan, love that it has a pattern too as this creates a brilliant ensemble! And your groovy booties!!
    I think that you've managed to make the most of the Retrodag, as your finds look fabulous!. Love those dresses and the cute skirts that Angelica is styling so nicely (she's so helpful ;D). The jewelry set looks lovely too!. And isn't it serendipity that you found a book on Victoria?. This has put a smile on my face!
    besos
    p/s Sorry that the weather was not collaborating, but the blooming flowers look really beautiful!.

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    1. Thank you Monica! I tried the dress with a plain cardigan in the same shade of blue, but it wasn't that effective. Finding the book on Victoria put a smile on my face as well. xxx

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  10. I have a polka dot jumpsuit in the same colour-I never know what to wear with it-usually go for black. Your hippie boots are magnificent!

    Sorry spring is being so fickle.

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    1. I'm glad I'm not the only one who has a problem with that colour. Would love to see that jumpsuit, did it ever make it onto the blog? xxx

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  11. Your polka dot dress is so pretty and it looks so great with blue! Such a gorgeous colour combo! I think the dress would look great with your fave colour green, too! Those boots are so cool! Hope you have a relaxing weekend, Ann! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha. I will definitely try it with green now that two of you have suggested it! xxx

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  12. You found some lovely things, though I do agree it's annoying when charity shops ramp up the prices on stuff they've been given for free. You got a bargain with the brooch, though.

    I always like coral with blue. I usually pair it with... navy! (Yeah, you're gasping that that revelation!) Your dress looks super with that mid-blue shade.

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    1. I have actually worn the dress with navy in the past, and it did look rather nice! xxx

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  13. Coral dots and blue geometric parents are a fabulously inspired combination. Even though coral, being called living coral by Pantone , is trending this looks classic on you as well as vibrant, I also love the handmade dress and that beautiful gold jewelry suite.
    ❤️❤️❤️
    Elle
    https://theellediaries.com/

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    1. I have to confess that I didn't know this colour was trending, Elle! I've had the dress for years, and it's definitely a keeper! xxx

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  14. Dark blue is the perfect color to go with coral. That outfit is adorable. And I love all those lovely colorful floral prints you picked up at the shop, especially that tropical one. Chartreuse is a fav color of mine. Your gorgeous boots make quite a statement. So unique!

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    1. Thank you Theresa. I should really wear these boots more, but they're quite precious, being vintage, so I'm only wearing them sparingly ... xxx

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