Wednesday 27 November 2019

November odds and ends

I'm taking a brief breather from the travelogue to show you what I've been wearing lately.

Travelling back in time to the weekend before our Zeeland break, this is what I wore to go to our favourite flea market on Saturday, 9 November.

Normally held once a month, this year an extra edition was scheduled, so that it was only two weeks since the last one, and while we never say no to a good flea market, quite a few of the regular stallholders were giving it a miss. Too much of a good thing, perhaps?


I'd recently found the plaid wool jacket in a vintage shop opposite my hairdresser's.  The shop, which used to sell vintage per kilo, but has recently switched to fixed prices, is just a little bit out of my way for a browse during my lunch breaks, but I always have a quick look whenever I visit the salon. 

The jacket has the softest furry collar ever and was a warm and snuggly choice for that Saturday morning as temperatures had entered the single figures.

You've already seen both my pink beret and my brown-and-mauve mix scarf, so only my gloves, a pair of vintage button edged tan coloured ones, need some further introduction here. 


Yes, yes, but what about that maxi skirt, I can hear you think. Well, I'm no longer keeping you in suspense. I stumbled across this swoon-worthy velvet skirt about a year ago. My original plan was to wear it on New Year's Eve, but I changed my mind at the very last moment, and then promptly forgot all about it. Yes, I know!

It's got the most stunning floral print (I've added some close-ups in the collage below), is fully lined with a very swishy maroon fabric and for ease of movement, it has a generous slit up one side, which offers the opportunity to show you my lilac opaques!



The shirt with its psychedelic print, originally from a Belgian high street shop, was a charity shop find, which I topped with a vintage green short-sleeved open weave cardigan in a Dralon wool blend.

A sage green woven belt, white metal pendant and pale pink plastic ring completed my outfit.


But let's return to that flea market we were going to. I don't think we've ever come back empty handed from this particular one, and we certainly didn't this time, even if our finds were less prolific. 

In fact, it turned out to be quite a satisfactory edition, with lots of lovely things on offer, but I guess we already had our trip to Zeeland on our minds!



We'd hardly walked into the venue when we came across this wall plaque at one of the very first stalls. She was marked at € 4,50 but the seller, from whom we've been buying for years, let us have the lovely lady for € 3.

As you might have guessed, she'll soon be joining the wall of heads!


I only found four brooches this time! 

Both the elephant and the leopard came from the same stall and so couldn't possibly be separated. They are both vintage pieces, as is the lady with the outrageous hat, while the green floral one is modern, but nevertheless worth having in my collection. 

But the best was yet to come! 

We were delighted to see that one of our favourite sellers, Ilona, was trading again, and Jos fell head over heels for a mid century plant stand, in the typical shape an colours of the era.


We didn't have time to give it a proper place and decorate it before we left, but last weekend we shuffled around the furniture in our tiny sitting room and then decked it out with some plants and ornaments. We wanted to add another plant, but Phoebe had other ideas, as she kept attacking the poor thing, so that we had to put that one well out of her reach.

The zebra stripe ashtray with the Atomium is original merchandise sold at Expo 58, the famous World Fair held in Brussels in that year. The space age thermometer is one of my most treasured objects, as it used to belong to my parents.

The lamp on the bottom shelf is actually a jar containing a string of battery operated toadstool shaped lights.


Here's a little view of our predominantly 1950s corner, including original cocktail chairs, floor lamp, iconic Tomado book shelves, a Bakelite radio and original EXPO 58 poster, among other things.

But our sitting room is really a mish mash of eras, with even some good old IKEA thrown in. The throws on the sofa and footstool were charity shop finds while the granny square covered cushions were made by my friend Inez's Mum.



I'm time-travelling back and forth between the weeks, as this was what awaited me when we came back from Zeeland on Saturday before last.

It was a late birthday present handmade by my friend Ingrid! Doesn't she know me well? And how serendipitous that I was already wearing a matching vintage jumper!



Apart from unpacking, running a machine wash and catching up with my blog reading, I didn't do very much else that Sunday. 

But I did assemble a couple of outfits for the impending working week, and in order to beat the lack of daylight throwing a spanner in the works on week nights, I cheated and showcased them for you there and then between showers!



First up was my recently acquired flower pot print dress, in the softest of wool blends, which I wore with a charity shopped green cardigan and turquoise opaques, which you can just catch the merest glimpse of.


The green beret - a second-hand find last year - originally had an unsightly patch sewn onto it, which I swiftly removed, but alas its contours remained visible. This usually prompts me to wear it backwards, but then I suddenly remembered this flower pot brooch, which I'm sure you'll agree couldn't be a better match with the print of my dress!

And oh, isn't the dress's label adorable as well? 



My final outfit of this post is one I wore later that week and which was built around one of my all-time favourite frocks found in a local charity shop about three years ago. It has already made more than one appearance on the blog as, even if it hasn't been worn the elusive 30 times yet, it is still being worn several times a year during the cold weather season.



A Diolen delight in a lovely bottle green and with the grooviest of prints, it was love at first sight. The only thing that bothered me were the buttons, which were promptly replaced by more fitting ones from my stash of vintage buttons. 

Taking my lead from the dress's print, I used yellows and a dash of orange for my cardigan, opaques and accessories.

Surely nothing beats some bright colours on these grey - or at best mediocre - November days!

I will be cracking on with the travelogue in my next post. Do come and join me again then.



42 comments:

  1. Where to start when there are so many lovely outfits? The first one is so lovely. I love that plaid wool jacket and it is a great pairing with that floral maxi. Aren't maxis with slits practical? In this case we get to see your pretty boots but they also make walking easier. Great look! Always lovely to see a mix of prints.
    The birthday presented your friend knitted for you is so pretty and so great you found a matching vintage sweater for it.
    How nice you visited that fair and found a trader you liked. I really like the new to you vintage plant holder. It looks lovely. I can see why Jos was taken with it, a charming things. Not surprised about the cat attacking plants on it, sometimes they need time to get adjusted to changes in their home, they're very territorial.

    Your outfits with printed dresses and colourful cardis are lovely. The green cardi and beret match so well together- and with that dress too. I also like the yellow belt with the matching yellow cardigan---and that gorgeous green dress.

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    1. Thank you so much Ivana! It's true that cats are very territorial, but Phoebe was quite OK with the other plants, it was just that particular plant she didn't like. xxx

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  2. Such lovely frocks and always so beautifully coordinated with your accessories and complementary colours. Lovely. I absolutely loved your velvet maxi skirt; the colours, the pattern...beautiful!

    I loved your newly acquired head and the lovely brooches. My favourite was the floral one. I loved your plant stand and I remember them so well.

    Your sitting room is fab; colourful, comfortable with lots of quirky bits - and books. Books do furnish a room; in my opinion!
    xxxx

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    1. Thank you Vronni, and I'm completely with you on that books do furnish a room. Those racks you see are just the tip of the iceberg, though. xxx

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  3. I do like that velvet maxi and of course the wonderful flowerpot print dress and green geometric wonder. The knitted turban really suits you, too - what a clever friend!
    That little plant stand is lovely and so it that fabulous zebra ashtray although I'm somewhat distracted by the fantastic Bruxelles 1950s poster! Truly amazing.
    Cross posting - great minds think alike! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix. That poster is a treasured possession. They commanded crazy prices in 2008 at the Expo's 50th anniversary, but we were able to snap this one up from a friend's sister. xxx

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  4. Oh the plant stand is gorgeous and the zebra ashtray fabulous. I will be missing out on a fantastic second hand market in Arnhem this weekend! Damn.

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    1. Thanks Nancy, and sorry to hear you missed the second hand market. xxx

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  5. Aren't quirky vintage labels the best?

    Oh I'd have fought you for that velvet maxi! Wowza!

    I must admit my favourite of all your finds though is that groovy plant stand and how you accessorized it perfectly. What a cozy spot!

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. They are, Suzanne, and yes, I could definitely see you in that skirt! xxx

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  6. OMG, that velvet (VELVET!) patterned skirt is to die for! I love the pattern, and it's lined in maroon? Be still, my heart! I also love your other dresses/looks, but my eye keeps going back to that amazing skirt.

    Oh, Phoebe, what a little monkey, going after the plant! She sounds like Vizzini, right down to that smug look on her face! I love that plant stand; my grandparents had a similar one back in the 70s. Sigh. Long gone, now, unfortunately.

    I hope you stay warm, Ann! Have a lovely weekend!

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    1. Thanks Sheila, I did have a feeling you'd fall for that VELVET maxi :-) Phoebe does a smug look very well! xxx

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  7. You had some great finds and I really like that maxi skirt - what a stunning piece! I think the last outfit is my favourite though, you know I love yellow :)
    Hope that your week is going well :) I had a Christmas night out with friends last night, it was a lot of fun!

    Away From Blue

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    1. Thank you Mica! It seems you started Christmas celebration early though. Have you put up your tree yet? xxx

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  8. maxi skirt has indeed a gorgeous print!
    seeing your fab finds, i really need to go to a flea soon - not that i need something, just to soak up the athmosphere - and m a y b eee.... find a little treasure ;-D
    hugs! xxxxx

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    1. Thanks darling! I just love going to flea markets just for the atmosphere. The finds are optional :-)))) xxx

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  9. So many fabulous outfits, Ann! That velvet skirt is gorgeous! It looks great with that funky purple top and green cardi. That flower pot printed dress is so pretty and I love that brooch on your beret. Fantastic! That last dress is fabulous too! I love that bottle green colour with the yellow. I really love your style, Ann! ;) Hope you're having a great week. XXX

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  10. Wow so many amazing styles. This maxi skirt is the hammer :))
    So many wonderful finds, this plant table remember me my grandmother. She had such a table.
    a very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina, I love that you find the maxi skirt "the hammer" :-)) xxx

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  11. woww, so many fab outfits!. And your maxi skirt is such a gorgeous piece, those floral motives, the velvet, the colors, everything rocks!. And it looks so cool with the green cardi and the purple-magenta shirt!.
    Also loving your flower pot print dress and the cute beret with the perfectly appropriate brooch.
    But my favourite is the last one!. The groovy print and the fab colors put a smile on my face!. Loving everything and loving your fabulousness! gorgeous!
    Totally in love with your plants stand and how stunning it looks in your 50's corner!, totally groovy once more!
    besos

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    1. Thank you so much Monica! That green dress with its groovy print is one of my absolute favourites. xxx

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  12. I love your green outfit with the beret. It looks especially fantastic amongst those gems.
    Your sitting room is wonderful, I love the colours and the Bruxelles poster looks fantastic against the wall. xxx

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  13. We obviously have kindred spirits when it comes to flea markets. Every Sunday we are out the door by 6.30am to go to our favourite one. Love every part of it: the hunt and the thrill of finding something you love.

    What exquisite finds! That wall plaque looks adorable and I'm sure you'll put all those gorgeous brooches to good use. That plant stand is such a great piece too and looks right at home in your BEAUTIFUL sitting room. What a gorgeous corner! Obviously your good taste extends into furnishing your home. Clearly Phoebe loves it too!

    Adore every outfit in this post. I'm sure your wool jacket will prove to be so versatile with all those beautiful colours in it. Both dresses have gorgeous patterns on them and as usual you are the accessory queen. However it is that STUNNING velvet maxi skirt that is worth crossing oceans to come and steal. LOVE, LOVE IT!!!

    Isn't it lovely to have kind friends bestowing us with gifts. Have a great weekend. We are off on a river cruise tommorrow if this sunshine stays put.

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    1. Thank you Suzy! I think you've got some rivals out there wanting to come and steal the velvet maxi :-)) xxx

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  14. Per usual your post is chock full of fab outfits, prints and colors. You never disappoint! The velvet maxi. I'm swooning! Your flea market finds are amazing. I've been wanting one of those plant stands for ages. Over here the ones I've seen are way over my budget. So the search is still on for one I can afford. Your room is so colorful and inviting. And I like the idea of mixing eras. If you can do it with outfits, then why not decor as well? You certainly have a great eye for styling.

    Theresa
    wwww.vintagestylefiles.com

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    1. Thank you Theresa, and I think mixing eras does make sense. Hardly anybody in the 1950s had a totally era appropriate interior, I think. People just added bits and pieces to what they are already had, which is what we're doing too. xxx

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  15. That's a spectacular maxi skirt! Love the green hat as well, and the brooch does indeed match your dress very well.

    That is the plant stand of my dreams. What a treasure.

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    1. Thank you Goody! We'd been dreaming of such a plant stand for ages, but never saw one we liked at the right price! xxx

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  16. November hasn't been as bad. We had a few streches of sunshine. However, the days are very short. Because I am very tired, my students recommended yesterday I shouldn't come out of my pyjamas today. So sweet! ;-) Have a nice weekend! Regula

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    1. Thank you so much Regula! We usually take one day between Christmas and New Year when we stay in our pyjamas all day :-) xxx

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  17. Oh how I love your outfits, Ann. The way you put colours together is just lovely.
    And the plant stand is just marvelous. I’m also adoring your 50s corner- how special. X

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  18. I love your pretty fashion style <3

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  19. I have a feeling Melanie Folly Bird has a plant stand like that, though I might be misremembering. It's really lovely, so beautifully midcentury, and your 1950s corner is brilliant.

    I love that maxi skirt - velvet is so sumptuous, and then with that print too...

    See you in your next post for the travelogue!

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  20. What a great idea to plan your outfits. I don't think I could ever be that organised, but then I work from home, so if I don't know what to wear I can simply go to work in my PJs :) (and I often do!).
    I love the new yellow buttons, they're delightful, so happy looking.
    Your new plant stand is lovely, it fits in perfectly. I'm afraid we couldn't have something like that as my boy cat would most certainly climb it like a flight of stairs and sit on the top, knocking off anything that happened to be in his way!
    xx

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    1. Thanks Hazel. I often plan a couple of outfits to start the week with, saving myself some time later on. And I guess we're lucky that Phoebe is quite a "mature" lady by now :-) xxx

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