Here I am modelling it next to my dapper Dad, who's modelling another bargainous jacket, (De Havilland brand, would have been £150) that the other half found in a charity shop for a few quid. My Mother was very resistant to the jacket at first (I believe her words at the suggestion he could wear it on their upcoming cruise were "over my dead body"!), but I think it looks smashing on him.
It turned out to be a coat hat-trick, as the next find was this fabulous as-new faux fur/shearling jacket for just £3 in a charity shop.
The third coat was this super red pea coat, again just £3, and practically new, from the car boot sale. It was a bit windy, excuse the hair across face! I ended up wearing it there and then, as it was a particularly chilly morning and my lightweight trench provided no protection from the wind.
Finally, the other items to add to my second-hand shopping confession list are: a Miss Selfridge yellow dress (£6 brand new with tags), a pair of '70s style leather boots (£5), a pair of floral wedges (£3 brand new) and a kimono top (50p)....
...and a vast selection of brooches and sparkly bits. Some of this is for me to wear, some of it is for gifts, and some of it shall be 'upcycled' into bridal accessories. You wouldn't believe the dust on this one tray of brooches in a charity shop, as if nobody had looked at them for a decade!
I bought this necklace and matching bracelet for £3, in a box it obviously doesn't belong to, only to have the husband-to-be say "Isn't that logo 'Pierre Cardin'?". Well darn me, it is. I don't think it's that old, and maybe it was some kind of promotional set? There's one on Ebay in the States still in the original packaging but the seller had no idea of the age when I contacted them.
So, that's the second-hand shopping. The other half found a green wool Christy's flat cap still with tags on for £1, which he was incredibly pleased with and hasn't taken off since! He bought a £3 coat too but we haven't photographed that yet.
Now for the modern shopping confessions (I know, how can there be any more shopping to confess to?!). Gents, avert your eyes, this is a lingerie confession!
Well, a girl needs new knickers every now and again, so I popped to Marks and Spencer for some '3 for 2's and snagged this gorgeous olive silk set in the sale while I was there. Then I got overexcited when retro lingerie brand Kiss Me Deadly announced they were having a moving sale, and I bought a blue and white set from them too.
There we go. All confessed. Rachel, I'm sorry that I couldn't stick with you for the whole 100 day spending ban, I know you're in your last week or two! But look how lovely (and cheap!) these items are that I've been buying...
On the note of trying to get rid of 100 items, I've been doing well at clearing out - I've taken 2 bags to charity shops, and have put a few things on Ebay (non-vintagey, sorry!). It has felt good over the last few months being able to spend more money on days out, lunches, meeting friends and being social, but blimey the money disappears fast when you eat out! So I haven't put as much in my travel fund as I'd hoped.
Frugal April, anyone?
Charity shopping isn't really spending. It's donating money with a bit of recycling thrown in ;-)
ReplyDeleteThose brooches are fab, especially the blue one in the middle and the clear diamante spray. Aaaaah, diamante! Not so sure I'd accessorize with a cutout owl when I'm parading round in my pants, but it is A Look... (Seriously, those are nice undies. And undies are worth spending money on for decent ones. With cheap ones, the elastic goes, or the straps stretch too much.)
I am with you on buying underwear - it's better to get decent ones that will last a bit. I'd love to know what you currently accessorize with when you're parading in your pants ;)
DeleteA cup of tea and a good book! Essential accessories for every occasion.
DeleteThough I do need to get over to Perfect Fit; I might be dancing on stage in September so my sorry old bras will need replacing. And plastering with diamante.
I agree with Mim, second hand shopping isn't proper spending. You're not only raising money for good causing but also rescuing stuff which would otherwise end up in landfill. A better challenge would be "Buy Nothing New for 100 Days".
ReplyDeleteLove your Dad's jacket and your boyfriend's hat. Jon loves his caps, too. The boots are ace.
As a girl I'm absolutely rubbish, underwear doesn't interest me in the least - like the owl, though! I rarely wear a bra and until Jon treated me to some pants for Xmas I either wore the ones I've had for 7 years or went without. Terrible excuse for a girl. xxx
That's such a good idea, I think I might take up that excellent challenge suggestion, (though I still need a bikini and that's one thing I definitely will buy new). I'm a bit obsessed with knickers, I did a bit of a cull a while back, but I could definitely go for at least a couple of months with my giant stash. I may be a bit carefree on holiday or at home with the underwear, but working in an office I am afraid it would be impolite to go bra-less!! xx
DeleteJust popping back to say I'd be thrilled to be included in your next round-up, what an honour!
DeleteI'm not sure if it's the same in all Age UK shops but ours has a basket full of brand new bikinis from last season's catalogues, unworn with the hygiene labels attached. Bikinis are essential though, I'll allow that! xxx
Thanks Vix! I will check out my local charity shops for bikinis but could look on Ebay too, that's a super idea x
DeleteI love how when you fall off the wagon you do it in style (literally)! But to be honest these kind of bargains don't count, agree with Mim and Vix. And if you say no to such bargain coats - including that lovely one we now both own (thanks for the shout!) - then there's something not quite right about you, spending ban or no ;) I think you've got some fab buys here and I love some of the M&S lingerie, it's decently priced and some of it is SO pretty, not to mention they cater for my weird bra size every now and then - bonus! CC x
ReplyDeleteIt was a spectacular fail!! But how sweet you're all backing me up and saying bargains don't count!! Lingerie in my size is a bit tricky too, so I feel compelled to snap it up if I know it will fit and it's on sale. I have a bit of a weakness for nice underwear. x
DeleteSeriously, though, who could pass up a bargain like that? I did my own shopping ban a while back and ended up spending $900 on plane tickets halfway through, so you'll get no judgement from me for buying some cute coats and other great steals.
ReplyDeleteThat Pierre Cardin set is so pretty! What a gorgeous find, very classic. Are you planning on talking about how you upcycle the other jewelry that you found for bridal pieces? I would be really interested in hearing more about that.
Absolutely Jessica, I have many how-to posts on bridal accessories to come! They mightn't be published until after my big day though as I need to keep a few things secret until then! X
DeleteWell you outlasted me by about 40 days! LOL
ReplyDeleteYou sure did get some great treasures and I love the photo of you and your Dad. How fun that you can vintage shop as a family!
I love the lingerie as well. I used to buy all kinds of lingerie. Now I'm lazy about it. Or rather, "the thrill is gone." I need to get it back.
I like the idea of buying "nothing new for 100 days" since I agree with Vix. Thrift shopping or vintage shopping isn't the same.
bisous
Suzanne
Vix has all the good ideas - I think it's a challenge a lot of us might have some chance at achieving!
DeleteI think I love Mim even more than I did before for coming up with that explanation, if only that counted for sale items too! I think if you are going to fall of the wagon you may as well go the whole hog. What fantastic things you found, I certainly couldn't have resisted.
ReplyDeleteI never buy undies anywhere other than Marks, mind I'm an odd size so can't always find nice sets anywhere else. What the heck is the owl all about??
Have a look at the Kiss Me Deadly site and you'll see all kinds of odd props!! It's a bit of fun, and much more interesting than the standard soft focus lingerie shots!
DeleteMy heart sings like a violin. :)
ReplyDelete(pardon me, dear - I saw he brooch and my mind instantly got "zinged" on that little gem) - it is NEVER a waste when you buy something extraordinary, something utterly useful - OR when your money goes to a good cause.
Marija
We certainly are supporting lots of local causes, and that's a really important reason not to forget, thanks for the reminder! X
DeleteLasting 51 days is nothing to sneeze at in the slightest. Way to go, dear gal. You've acquired some smashing new pieces since then, with the jewelry (not surprising, I'm sure :D) being my very favourite. I love the pot metal and enamel brooch, it's almost certainly 30s or 40s (swoon!).
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
Do you mean the fuchsia flower one Jessica? I suspected it was that era but I'm not as hot on jewellery as you! It cost 25 pence... X
DeleteIt's one of Exquisite's Birthday series, produced mainly in the 1950s and 1960s, though it *could* be as early as 1940s. Clip-on earrings and necklaces were also available, though in my experience they're harder to track down than the brooches.
Delete(The Scottish heathers were another major line from Exquisite, a Solihull firm.)
Mim, you are a font of knowledge as always! Maybe you should write a book!! X
DeleteNah, it's because I own a few Exquisite brooches myself, so I'd done a bit of digging into them in the past. Interesting that they look like earlier styles from the US, though, I hadn't realised that. I wonder if the moderne-era US ones are smaller; some of the later Exquisites are real monsters and can only really be worn on coats or stiff fabrics.
DeleteHa, you might have failed the challenge, but you found some lovely things! I challenged myself to only buy secondhand or charity-shopped for myself for a year, and managed really well, it wasn't too hard at all. That little fuchsia brooch is adorable, and your coats and boots are all great finds.
ReplyDeleteYour dad is indeed a dapper gent! xxx
Ti be fair they all seem worth breaking it for!
ReplyDeletexx
Amazing finds! I'm afraid I'd have lost the challenge too with all those lovely goodies. :)
ReplyDeleteI started for Lent and hoped I would be able to just continue it but caved 3 days after Easter Sunday (in fact, my current post shows what I caved on and then there's the other vintage dress you commented on AND another skirt which didn't make it into pictures!) Totally understandable, I get you on it, second hand shopping is just SO exciting, it really is, you never know what you'll find! And re underwear I've got sooooo much but knickers wise (since we're sharing), I have lots of really pretty and attractive knickers I never wear because I can't wean myself off simple cotton briefs! x
ReplyDeleteAND the Brooches, OH the brooches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!x
ReplyDeleteLOL You lasted a lot longer on your 100 day shopping ban than I would have! I say good effort! And all those items are such wonderful finds! It would have been a shame to pass them up!
ReplyDelete