A wee bit Givenchy

I've finished my exams, and yesterday I went op shopping to celebrate. I found some badass 1970s platforms and a (sort of) designer hat. Things that were said to me while I was op shopping included, "You remind me of my mother. She had a coat just like that." and "You remind me of me when I was a little girl. We wore coats like that and ribbons in our hair like that." I was wearing a 50s dress and coat, and had a scarf in my hair. It's quite funny how people either think I dress like a little girl or an old lady.  

70s platforms are one of those things that I know existed, but I had never found a pair in an op shop. I'm not sure why because I find 70s dresses and homewares everywhere. Maybe people just wore them to death and then threw them away.

      

They make me so tall. And by 'so tall' I mean like average height.  

They were made in NZ and have old style leather soles. The heel is about 11 centimetres but they are surprisingly comfortable because of the platform.   

PLATFORM SHOES

For your amusement, here's a funny video I found from 1977 about the health hazards associated with wearing platform shoes. I can't get it to embed properly but if you click on the picture it will take you to the site where you can watch it.

When I was looking at the hats the lady at the op shop showed me this one.  It's made of lovely green velvet.

And when I looked inside, I saw that it was, "An Adaptation of Hubert de Givenchy Paris". I don't normally get excited about designer labels, but Givenchy designed some pretty iconic costumes for Audrey Hepburn films in the 60s. I'm assuming that 'an adaptation' means that it was made by Reggi of Wilshire under some sort of licensing agreement with Givenchy.   

Now, I'm off to read the two hundred-odd items that have managed to pile up in my google reader while I've been busy studying and sitting exams. 

Garage Sale

Last week, I went to a garage sale at Brumby's place. She had an assortment of fabric and vintage clothes (my version of catnip). I came away with two bags of stuff including a gorgeous 50s bag and two pairs of vintage shoes. Since I have trouble finding new shoes in size 5, I always snap up any vintage ones I find in my size. A salesperson at the shoe store once told me that if by some miracle they actually make a particular style of shoe in size 5 the store only ever buys one pair. Weirdly enough, I quite often find vintage shoes in size 5 or smaller. They seemed relatively common in the 50s/60s. I find this fascinating. Did people just have smaller feet then than they do now?



I also got some fabric. See the two different red vinyls? Perfect for making some more bow belts. The mint green gauze-y fabric is so pretty and there's enough to make a dress.


I got a dress and a wicker basket too but forgot to get a picture of them.

Me-Made-May Day Two

For day two of Me-Made-May I wore a me made dress to the Shabby Chic Market. There was some great stuff there so I had to limit myself to only three things. I saw two lovely and really reasonably priced vintage swimsuits but I stopped myself from buying them because I already have a gorgeous one (and I hardly ever go swimming). I did buy a broderie anglaise back button blouse, some red shoes and a layered petticoat. I was quite surprised about how reasonable the prices were, these only cost me $23 altogether.

Loot!

My Mum has come to stay with me for a few days so we spent all day today op-shopping. I got 3 pairs of leather gloves for $2 each. The ones below have never been worn and were still in their packet.

Zips and bias binding. I love getting sewing supplies at the op-shop because they are always unbelievably cheap. All together these cost me less than one zip usually costs from the fabric store.
A really cute cream, felt hat.

Lace-up boots which will be handy considering all the rain we've been having lately.

Op-shopping kismet

Another day, another dollar (or ten) spent. I go op-shopping way too much but I justify it to myself by only spending about ten dollars each time I go. This week I spent my money on 2 pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of stockings and also some cardigans.

I was wearing the seamed stockings above while my friend and I were shopping and one of the ladies at the Sallies told me she hadn't seen anyone wearing stockings like that for years. She also said that during the war they used to get so excited when they got a new pair of silk stockings. I love having these kinds of conversations. Quite often my stockings elicit comments from sweet old ladies like this.
As we were about to leave I looked in a drawer and found the bag below. I thought they were just odd stockings rather than pairs because they were all different colours but I got them anyway (for $1).



When I got home I discovered that there were 4 pairs of fully fashioned seamed stockings. I was so excited to find vintage seamed stockings and for only $1 as well.