Peekaboo spring & Wig Wednesday

I bought the vintage-inspired frock that I am wearing today from a car boot sale, it's labelled Monsoon Fusion.

I've never bought anything new from Monsoon, come to think of it I can't even remember ever going into one of their shops. That's not to say I don't like the look of their clothes cause I do, it's just that their prices have always been a little bit prohibitive for the likes of me. Thank goodness for second hand :)

The Monsoon signature style is very folk-inspired often with embroidery and embellishment, what's not to love?!

Labelled UK18 it's way too big for me in the chest region but when teamed with my trusty suede waistcoat, no problem :)

Spring is still playing peekaboo hence the tights and boots. I was actually regretting not putting on a jacket, it was a wee bit chilly today....bonkers!

The Rhododendron is now in full bloom, I'll give it one more week before moving on to another backdrop. It is very beautiful, the flower clusters are reminiscent of those fabulous vintage petal swimming caps.

I bought a "new" pair of sunnies from the car boot sale yesterday, check these bad boys out...

They are from last years MauStein x Asos colab collection. Sunnies in this collection retailed from £45 to £70 a pair, I paid 50p for mine.

Whilst on the subject of collaborations...

When I met Sam, the founder and amazing driving force behind Tangled Wigs at the last Dandy Lion Market, she asked me if I'd be interested in taking part in an event that she was planning for Wig Wednesday on behalf on CLIC sargent cancer charity.

Charity fundraiser, wigs, frocks, hair- and make-up professionals, music, cocktails and the dolly box...of course I want to take part, I mean who wouldn't?!

You can get in on the action too by popping down to Barrio East, 141-143 Shoreditch High Street tomorrow Wednesday the 22nd May from 5.30pm until 11pm. You will be able to raid my awesome Barbie themed rail, try on a wig and have it professionally styled, there's even a professional make-up artist there to make you look even more beautiful than you already are. After all the primping and preening you also get to step into the dolly box to get some photographic evidence of your fabulousness...

I know it's Wednesday and apparently we shouldn't have fun on a school night but rip up the rule book for once and come down and grab a cocktail or five, this is going to be a hoot and a half and what more it is for a darn good cause :)

Huzzah for Wig Wednesday!

Hope you are all doing great peeps :)

Loads of love,

Jennie

xXx

Frocktasia's Mohairy Midsummer

It's been a while since my last installment, just haven't had the time nor the inclination lately :(

However I thought that as it's midsummer already, I'd better do at least one posting before June ends :)

So far summer has been a a story of starts and stops, just when you think you can push the tights & jumpers to the back of the wardrobe temperatures take a nose dive and I'm back sporting my trusty grey beanie.

We have had a few cracking days though so I guess I shouldn't complain too much...this is England after all!

We had planned to get out of London this weekend, pitch our new tent somewhere on the coast and just sit on a beach and chill-out but we decided against it as the weather forecast pretty much spelled rain in bold capital letters for most of the country.

We did go for a wee walk along an urban nature trail to forage some elderflowers and snap some pics instead.

I brought with me a few of my current wardrobe faves and a couple of bits that I have made/revamped recently... 

I love this quirky 80s mohair jumper that I bought on eBay a few years ago.

It's super comfy and it goes really well with my bright orange revamped cut-offs...

These denim cut-offs were made from a pair of hubby's old jeans.

I tie-dyed them with Dylon and embellished them with faux-gems salvaged from a top that I got from the car boot sale.

The kick-ass Steve Madden boots were also a car boot sale buy from a few years ago.

Whilst on the subject of  fabulous car booty buys...

I bagged this frigging awesome camo jacket from the car boot sale a while back.

I absolutely love camo jackets and I love Bob Marley so for me this jacket is DA BOMB!

I bought this refashioned desert camo jacket from a shop in Camden a few years back.

It's fabulously fitted :)

The vintage Moschino belt was a second hand market find, the 80s aviator sunnies where dead-stock off eBay and the funky handmade African earrings were a pressie from my folks.

I made the headdress from a bunch of  deconstructed chiffon scrunchies fashioned into cabbage rose shapes and mounted on a wide padded Alice band...

My trusty grey knitted beanie...

...that I'm rocking a helluva lot more than I should be doing considering it's late June!

Never mind, there is still time for summer to sort itself out and when it does I'll be on the first coast bound train out of here, armed with my tent and sleeping bag, I can't wait ;)

Hope you are all having a wonderful Midsummer weekend.

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx

Ruddy reflections & fabulous frocks

I was so intensely happy to see the back of last week, I could have cried tears of joy on my way home from work.

It was just one of those weeks that dragged on like a vexatious Eastenders omnibus or a jukebox stuck in a brain-numbingly ceaseless loop of Steps "greatest hits".

Friday night was celebrated in a flurry of fajitas and non-alcoholic cider and today we went for a relaxing stroll along the Thames.

We made a quick detour to Brick Lane to take in a few of the vintage shops that are sprinkled in that area but for once I didn't buy a thread which for me is almost unheard of behaviour.

Never mind I've got a car boot sale to go to in a few hours and I daresay I shall not return from it empty handed.

The weekend is zipping past like a blue bottle on bennies and Monday already feels uncomfortably near.

It feels like time speeds up at the weekend and there are so many things that I want to cram into those two gold dust days.

I just never quite seem manage it all & this frankly bums me out somewhat.

Too much running around like a headless chicken to amass bits of paper with some old crone with a crown printed upon them and it's not even as if I've got a well stuffed mattress with mullah...OH NO!

As quick as I can make them, some other fecker claims them...tax, rent, bills, bills, bills!

I wish I could live outside this detestable loop, break free from the perpetual hamster wheel & move

somewhere nice with lots of trees, far far away from Starfucks designer coffee shops & groTesco.

Anyway enough of my rantings, here are a few snaps taken during our lovely riverside stroll...

I'm wearing: Vintage 60s psychedelic paisley day dress, DKNY longsleeved top, ribbed tights, vintage 80s cowboy boots, wide leather belt, vintage 70s camera bag & vintage 80s sunnies.

Here's my lovely hubby wearing a folksy top that I bought for him at last Sundays car boot sale. In the background you can see 'the shard' or Mammons butt plug as I like to call it.

FROCK ON!

In my last post I showed you some of my latest frockquisitions & I'll end this post with some pics of the rest of my recent frocking loot...

Have a fantastic Sunday peeps ;)

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx

Spring Mourning

The weather here in Ol' Blighty has been pretty friggning dreadful for weeks now.

The sweet fragrance of lilacs that usually fill the warm spring air on our balcony have been overpowered by the dodgy smell coming from a clogged drainpipe next door. 

Our drainpipe kamikazeed off the wall during a ferocious rainstorm last week, so now when it rains we have a waterfall display from the roof onto the balcony & into the kitchen if you happen to leave the door open.

Och, grumble grumble!

Despite it being a dreich and grey morning, I still braved an excursion to the car boot sales yesterday and I am very happy that I did cause came back with vintage dress treasures galore, every cloud has a silver lining as they say!

Last night I spent taking pics for my upcoming eBay auctions and today I played dress-up with all my new purchases :)

Besides frocks I bought a stunning gothic maxi skirt that I wore today.

Opening the curtains this morning and peering out onto yet another day of dreichness made me feel decidedly morose, so I decided to wear something to mourn spring...

Vintage 70s maxi length underskirt, sequin cami top, metallic swirl patterned mesh long-sleeved top, Demonia heels, leopard print tights, Frocktasia PVC headdress and DIYed chiffon & sequin cape poncho made from an Indian hippie skirt. All clothing items were purchased from various car boot sales bar my wig that came from PAKcosmetics.

Here are some gratuitous shots of some of the gorgeous garb up for grabs in my current eBay auctions ;)

SIZZLING REPRO 50S PIN-UP STYLE LINGERIE DRESS:

 FUNKY 90S CLUBBING MINI DRESS:

 

AWESOMELY HOT 90S BLACK VELVET MINI DRESS:

 

 TRIPPY TRIBAL PRINT MINI SHIFT DRESS:

 

SENSATIONAL VINTAGE 80S HOT PINK COCKTAIL DRESS:

VINTAGE 80S SCARF PRINT DRESS:

I'll leave you with a little of my eBay auction inspiration ;)

Hope you will all have a fab week!

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx

Bringing you boot sale bounty, whatever the weather!

It's been a long day for me as I was up with the lark to go hunting for treasure.

When I looked out the window this morning I have to admit that I was rather doubtful as to wheather or not it would be worth my while but thankfully I was pleasantly surprised.

The seller numbers always dwindle dramatically when the weather is crap but sometimes it's nice to have a more manageable number of stalls to peruse.

In the summertime when the fair-weather booters are all out in force this particular boot sale can be quite daunting and you are usually totally shaggard from rummaging after only going round half of it.

 The car boot sale season is still in its winter lull but come next month it should start getting much busier.

One of the sellers decided she'd had enough and left a whole heap of damp shoes behind.

Thankfully it wasn't pouring down but it did drizzle ceaselessly. 

Everything was a bit damp but that doesn't bother me cause I mostly buy clothes & fabrics that are washed when I get home anyway.

The HARDCORE car booters...they'll rummage to the bitter end, whatever the weather!

So what did I come away with?

Well, well...some pretty neat stuff actually!

A couple of decorative brass dishes, an awesome vintage 70s kermit green jumpsuit, a vintage Delroy Fabrics catalogue, a vintage 60s psychedelic print mini dress, a pair of vintage 70s flared jeans, vintage 80s leather boots, an African print shirt & some African print fabric.

I'm very happy with my scores, especially the funky-ass jumpsuit ;)

Two more things to share before I sign off for this time, namely another outfit...

DVF floral silk blouse, Vintage 70s dress labelled 'St Honore', Crushed velvet booties, DIYed necklace & Indian earrings

I got this lovely Diane von Furstenberg silk blouse from last weeks car boot sale and the quirky cut dress I bought from my vintage dealer friend.

Last but by no means least, look what I got through the post yesterday...

My "diving license" certification card, yay!

All I need now is a holiday to somewhere warm that has reefs & fish in abundance ;)

Have a great start to the new week peeps.

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx

Cavorting in Coventry

Last weekend hubby & I paid a flying visit to Coventry where my little brother is studying at the moment.

We went to the transport museum and had mooch around the cathedral ruins.

Here are some of the pics that I took...

Room without a nice view! What was I expecting, eh?  "The Sydney Opera House, perhaps? The Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically across the plains". For £27 a night, I'll suffer the view & the 80s decor.

Coventry Transport Museum

Lil bro & I

We went to check out my brothers student digs, I almost got cabin fever!

We had a gander at the new cathedral and the ruins of the old one.

Coventry was badly bombed during the second world war.

We only stayed one night and we were back home in time for me to take in two markets on Sunday morning. 

Hope everyone is having a good week ;)

Lot's of love,

Jennie

xXx