Antiquing at the botanic gardens

It might be a sign of age, but this year I have fully embraced the antiques fair.  We're quite fortunate to have lots within easy driving distance, but they do vary in the amount, type and quality of items for sale.  I think the term 'antiques' is used loosely at times!  Some fairs have been a wash-out, others have scorched us, and all of them have left us with aching limbs from multiple laps around the site.  On the whole there are some good bargains to be had.  Some have outpriced us, but there's always inspiration to be taken for free.

When we heard that an antiques fair was coming to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, we thought we'd make a day trip of it.  I was last at the gardens back in 2015, and was keen to see them again.  The day started very wet as we headed West, and I feared that sellers might be put off by the poor weather.  We needn't have worried, because by the time we arrived at the gardens, the sun had come out.  Admission was £5, to include the gardens, which was excellent value as it's usually a tenner for the gardens alone.  I was relieved to get out of the bitingly cold wind and into the main giant glasshouse, where sellers were set up around the perimeter.  The stalls then continued in another building, and in a large marquee.  Some brave souls had smaller, market-style pitches outside.  I hope they had their thermals on!

I was very glad of my new-to-me 1960s wool jacket.  It's a glorious green colour, and is by 'Dereta'.  It was a present from my husband, who seems to find an endless supply of vintage jackets for me.  He took great delight in telling me that he'd heard on TV that emerald green was the colour of the season.  (I'll have to make the most of being briefly on-trend, because next summer's fashion forecast by Vogue is that beige will be the in-thing.  To misquote a supermodel, I'd rather go naked than wear beige.)  I was wearing a 1980s peplum blouse underneath, my Bernie Dexter jeans, and some lace-up flats, which to be honest wasn't nearly warm enough an outfit for such a chilly day.  I always try and last as far into October as I can without reaching for boots, knitwear, tights etc., because I know that I won't get out of them again until about May.  Last year I made it until the very end of the month, I was still wearing a skirt and bare legs on our trip to Petworth.

Wearing: 1960s Dereta coat, Clarks flat shoes, Bernie Dexter jeans, Joules bag, vintage blouse.

I didn't have much luck at the fair.  My only purchase was a vintage sewing pattern for a bed jacket, and Chris didn't buy anything at all.  We managed to do two laps of the site in record time, and as it was too cold to really enjoy the outside gardens we decided to head into Carmarthen as we were in no rush to head back home.  There are a fair few independent shops, charity shops and a decent antiques shop, and within an hour we were laden down with shopping.  My main purchases were a saffron infused gin from an old-fashioned bottle shop, and a 1960s black coat from a charity shop, in really superb condition.  It's fairly thick so I can see it being very useful this winter.  I haven't had a chance to take a decent picture of it, but it will be coming to an outfit post soon I'm sure.

It was in the town that I had the pleasure of meeting a reader - shout-out to Liz from Pembroke Dock, thank you for coming to say hello!  It was very amusing being 'spotted' in the street, it certainly made me smile.  I must admit to being glad that I was wearing something half decent and at least had some lipstick on.  The chances of me wearing makeup and co-ordinated outfits has actually increased this weekend, after many months of channeling my efforts elsewhere - I emailed a complete draft of my PhD thesis to my supervisor, for final comments.  Hence the celebratory new gin purchase!  That means a bit of breathing space for a month or so, before I get a list of final revisions and then have to work like a demon to get it done by Christmas.

I'm now looking forward to a bit of socialising and recreation over the next few weeks, including catching up with neglected friends, and taking a short break to Shropshire.  There will inevitably be more antiques fairs on the cards...  I do like to go antiquing!

Linking up with: #iwillwearwhatilike, Visible Monday, Fancy Friday