The Carbootsale Series - Princess May Carbootsale, Stoke Newington

Having moved to a more permanent North London base (and loving it I might add) there are a couple of things I miss about Essex, Car Boot Sales being one of them!

It turns out however that London has quite a few car boot sales, and with this Time out article as a guide I decided to make it my mission to visit as many as possible to find the best of them for vintage bargains, like a Miss Mothball Marple.

Stoke Newington Car Boot Sale 

This sale is held in Princess May Primary School not far from Beyond Retro. I had read that this particular sale was popular with vintage sellers so it seemed like a good place to start.

The entrance fee is £3.00 from 7am-9am and 50p thereafter. I got there at 8am and lots of the stall holders hadn't set up yet so I wouldn't say it is essential to get there for the opening time.

I wandered around a few times as more stall holders turned up later so by the time I had completed one lap there were lots of new stalls to see.

Some examples of the types of items that were for sale:

Vintage wallpaper, Radios, Stratten compacts and various kitch furniture can be found at this trendy bootsale. 

Lots of sellers had heaps of fabric, scarves and vintage linen as well as the more day to day sellers getting rid of unwanted goods. 

Being based in a school the facilities were good and clean although you should take a loo roll with you as there didn't seems to be any provided. 

There was also a BBQ grill (belonging to someone called Steve presumably) I have to say the price of these items is remarkably cheap in comparison to other sales I have been to and smelled gorgeous, although it was a bit early for me to actually try the burgers! 

There is no smoking on the grounds because it is a school (and it makes it much nicer for everyone) but you can get a stamp on your hand and go outside, in fact you can come and go as you please as long as you get a stamp. 

My Haul 

I am always a little envious of some people's Bakelite collections but short of winning the lottery I make do with modern plastics. These bangles were only a pound for all of them and I can mix them in with my other bangles to still get the look I want. 

This brooch is a little worse for wear with it's broken leaves but I think the beautiful flowers make up for it. It was only 50p and I discovered it at the bottom of a box of mixed jewelry. I also picked up this cute plastic brooch which will work well with a tiki look and was only 25p. 

Corde you say? This bag was hanging on the back of a clothing rail when I spied the distinctive Corde style and grabbed it for a closer look. It's in excellent condition and the seller knocked a couple of pounds off her original asking price and let me have it for £8.00. A very similar one on eBay was selling for £68.00 recently so I was thrilled to find this one. I won't be selling it though, it will go into my personal collection. 

 

This plastic shopper is very 50's and I have been after one for ages but was determined not to give in and buy one from H&M who have recently started producing them.  It's just that I don't like the idea of buying new plastic when I can wait a while and buy second hand. This one might be older and a little worn but I actually prefer it. It only cost me £1.00. 

All in all a good start to my carboot sale mission!

Until next time 

Love 

Lucy 

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Eco Sessions - The Crisis of Stuff @ Beyond Retro

This week at Beyond Retro in Dalston an event called Eco Sessions - The Crisis of Stuff took place. There is no way this can be a short post...

I saw this event on facebook and it caught my eye because I would consider my wardrobe to be pretty ethical in terms of how much of it is second hand and vintage, but how ethical is it really and is keeping it vintage the end of it being my problem?

The panel consisted of: 

Kate Black, Author of Magnifeco: Your Head-to-Toe Guide to Ethical Fashion and Non-Toxic Beauty and ethical fashion expert.

Steven Bethellis the CEO of Beyond Retro whose career is well established in the recycling business.

Rebecca Earley -  Director of TFRC at Central Saint Martins , principal and co researcher in TED at Chelsea College of Arts, and a key part of the research consortium work for MISTRA Future Fashion and the EU Horizon 20202 project, Trash-2-Cash. 

Orsola de Castro  Founder of the label From Somewhere, and the Fashion Revolution Day initiative. 

You can read their full profiles here. 

What made this such an interesting panel is that despite all recognising and having a passion for the very real need to address this issue, they all had such differing approaches. 

150 Billion garments are created on a yearly basis (!) and Kate asked us to ponder, as consumers, two simple questions, Do we need it? Does it need to be new? 

At this point I was feeling quiet virtuous, whilst I buy things I don't need (floral tea dress anyone?) I buy very little new. So surely I am rescuing these things right? 

Well it turns out it's not that simple. There are things I buy new, compared to some people they are few and far between but some things are a necessity. For example I don't care how beautiful and authentic vintage underwear is, personally I don't want a garment that has graced someone elses undercarriage in my wardrobe. 

So what about the things I do buy new? Those are the things that I buy cheaply because they are "staples" but I must own 10 black t shirt tops at least (mostly from Primark despite my loathing for the shop) So in answer to the 2 questions - Does it need to be new - in some cases yes but Do I need it - on reflection in most cases no. 

Which brings me to the conclusion that if I didn't buy so many so cheaply the more ethical alternatives would easily be within my price range. 

Impulse buying also comes into it for me, I am guilty of buying a black cardigan in a pinch because I had a date and wasn't up to speed on my laundry. 

What I learnt at the Eco sessions event was that only 1/3 of that garments carbon footprint is in it's production. 2/3 of it comes later, in it's journey through life, to the store, living in my wardrobe and then it's afterlife. 

Rebecca made some very good points which made me warm to her, because she was coming at the topic from quite an academic point of view but then explained how much she had previously loved to shop, of course it's fun, of course we enjoy it, what's not to love?!

Shopping didn't used to be a hobby but these days it's almost like cardio to some and it was nice to hear a human perspective how it's ok to want things, it's even ok to buy things, just think about where and from who you get it before you do. 

This wasn't a session where we were going to be told we were all evil for not growing our own palm leaves and weaving t shirts. It was an honest and open discussion which was refreshing. 

Rebecca also touched on a topic which I have pondered a lot, our consumption habits vs our happiness and the relationship between the two. Everyone I know has something they love but don't need - computer games, books, clothes or in my mothers case tea pots! But they make us happy and who doesn't want to be happy?

The problem, as I see it, with fashion in general and the reason I prefer vintage is because it changes so quickly. As a teenager I would buy the cheapest and latest fashions I could get my hands on. I am harping back to the days when Romford Market had a pound stall. God knows where these garments were made. It didn't matter then though because I would be "on trend" Yes even when cow-print was all the rage (Christ the 90's were shit) but now I know the shapes and styles I prefer and I stick to them rather than worrying about the latest trends. 

Steven was talking about clothes and their relationship to the past which I completely understand, the romaniticism of the clothing afterlife, where it has been and who owned it. He also explained that the work they do at Beyond Retro is only one part of the business. It was fascinating to hear more about the types of initiatives that BR get involved in and I'd love to learn more. Beyond Retro have recently launched in topshop selling very cute backpacks that have been made from repurposed fabric, which is the first time in my memory that repurposed materials have been sold on the high street. However as Rebecca pointed out a shop filled with gorgeous quality vintage is not really the issue. 

The main topics that came out of the discussion were:

• Cheap shit clothes made in large quantities filling the high street
• People disregarding their clothes to landfill rather than recycling/upcycling
• Manufactures having to responsibility when it comes to the end of the products life-cycle 

Whilst there is more demand these days for a quality product and, for some, for the quality of life of the person who made the garment, none of that seems to matter in Primark on a Saturday afternoon. Hell some people don't even care about the person on the other side of the till. Which brings us neatly onto education. 

Orsola spoke a lot about education and the need for people to be more informed in their choices in order to have an impact on this issue. Young people have such a huge buying power these days, and the future of this planet belongs to them and their children. To me it makes perfect sense to educate people in this area. After all, along with food, clothes are the other things that we all engage with in some way everyday for our whole lives. I'll bet people know a lot more about their fairtrade bananas than they do about the shirt they are wearing, myself included! 

Rebecca spoke further about the high street giants, who are not trying to stop anyone buying obviously. However she also said that some things are supposed to have a short life, that there is a rhythm to clothes and that shouldn't be disregarded. In order to understand the over consumption issue we have to understand our human impulses. Amen! 

In my opinion this is so important. People used to own so much less than they do now, in the forties a woman would have had a wardrobe that resembled a trendy "capsual" wardrobe of today. Generally not getting anything new until she had enough fabric to make something or a coupon in order to get one. 

Nowadays we are surrounded by advertising telling us we need new things, we create our own little worlds on Instagram and Pintrest in which we observe, we covet, we are doing it to ourselves to an extent, feeding our own addictions and being able to pick and choose which we look at. Talk about targeted marketing! We aren't rationed or controlled other than by our paypackets, and for everything else there is Mastercard! 

So if we all start buying ethically this issue will go away? 

Rebecca pointed out that we have already over consumed. She compared it to a runaway train when you consider the amounts in which things are being produced, by the second. It's once we are done with garments that we need to think about what happens next. 

My mother used to downgrade fabrics in our house, a t shirt would serve it's original purpose, then downgrade to gym/work out gear, then a nightshirt, it would grace the back of whichever of us were painting/gluing etc. Then finally, shot to shit, that thing would be cut up and used as a duster. 

I can honestly say I have never thought to do any of that. I upcycle things of course, make cushions or drawstring bags, with fabrics that look good. What my mother was doing was actually wearing the thing out which is different. Plus there are only so many cushions the world needs! 

Fact alert: Rebecca said that the technology exists to recycle everything (even clothes, down to the molecular level) we have technologies in which the world will survive without the sources we still use like oil. Science has already got us covered, imagine that! 

What about the big bosses?

In terms of the manufacturers Rebecca said it's not just about rallying against them and telling them to pay everyone more. The fashion industry is an economy and you cannot upset that overnight, it's not that simple. 

There need to be alternative business models for these companies to work from in order to drive their business, after all they aren't just the bad guys but also employers of people too. Rebecca said getting those decision makers around the table, talking about alternatives, was necessary to drive change from the top of the chain. 

Steven raised a very good point, he said that retail is the closest thing to democracy because people vote with their dollar. I wonder how many people would shop in any of these high street shops if behind every till was a live stream of a person grafting in some textile factory was playing on a continuous loop, or a picture of a dump full of rotting textiles with the smell pumped in store?

Steven summed up that there was some merit in three key areas of change but that a combination of education, legislative change, and entrepreneurial drive would be necessary in order to address this issue. 

I am certainly not an expert and this blog is what I took away from the session but I will definitely be looking into what I could do to change my own ways and help support some of these issues as it's hangs in all our wardrobes. 

Many thanks to the panel, Eco Sessions and Beyond Retro. I really hope to see more lively debate sessions like this in London! 

Links:
http://fashionrevolution.org/  #whomademyclothes
http://www.beckyearley.com/
http://magnifeco.com/
http://www.beyondretro.com/en/

Much love

Lucy 
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Product Reviews - Things I use for Quick Vintage Styles

I regularly try out new brands or products so I thought I would share some of my favorites with you...

I haven't been endorsed by any of these companies, all views are all my own. 

Hair 

I am lucky to have thick hair that will form a victory roll without teasing, if it is dirty I don't even have to curl it. The product I use to achieve this quick fix is Schwarzkopf got2b Glued Blasting Freeze Spray 300ml, Superdrug price £3.00. 

This hairspray really lives up to it's name. It has a glue like consistency which helps to mould the hair, it doesn't set fully for a minute or two giving you time to shape the hair and manipulate it and I find it really good for holding a wet set when the weather dictates it might drop. 

Face

I used to have psoriasis and using the wrong products can cause a flare up.  I have been using The Body Shop Oils of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil, full sized £28.00. I got this in a sample size from a beauty box company.  

There was a time when people considered putting an oil on your face insane but the market is now awash with them (pardon the pun) This oil not only smells great but sinks into the skin rather than sitting on top of it. Its extremely moisturising without being greasy and made any dry areas feel smoother without being harsh. 




When I wear a full pin up make up look I do really look forward to getting home, taking it all off and letting my skin breathe. I received H20 Skindulgence Cleanse and Hydrate Balm as a sample size product from a beauty box, full size £42.50. This looks like a lip balm at first glance but it melts with the heat of your hands and removes the make up that often remains deep in the pores or any remaining hard to shift eye make up, it smells wonderful too. 

I use this after using a face wipe to remove my make up and it gets rid of the last traces. It's expensive in it's full size but given how long my sample has lasted I should think it would equate to the same cost as the cheaper make up removers I have used, if you can afford the outlay. 

Body 

As I have said I have to be careful with my skin so when I discovered this Inecto coconut body oil spray, £2.99, in a shop called Savers I decided to give it a go. I use a lot of this so it tends to be greasy on me but those with normal skin would only need a light spray which sinks into the skin to have a wonderful overnight moisturiser.

I only use this before bed and wear PJ's to protect my sheets as it will transfer to some fabrics in the amounts I use. But if Marilyn went to bed smelling of Chanel No 5 then I go to bed smelling like a pina colada! The best thing about it is that if I get a flare up this product will shift it in a couple of days. 


Nails 

I hadn't tried Lottie London nail varnishes, Superdrug price £5.99, and was given

this red one, called prom night, in a goodie bag. I am fussy about nail varnish especially as there are so many cheaper brands that will chip as soon as you run your hands under a tap. I wore this for four days without a chip (I used a nails inc top coat) and was really happy with the pigment as it meant I didn't have to do endless coats. 











Make up 

Eyeliner forms a part of most vintage girls make up bags, I have used this brand since I was 18 and I still love it. Collection fast stroke Eye Liner, Superdrug price £2.99, is my personal favorite. It comes in a range of colours and I always have black and brown to hand. 

It's an inkwell liner with a firm nib which I find very helpful in getting a good winged eyeliner effect. I find it doesn't flake and stays put all day without any transfer. It's so affordable too!  

In a bit of a pinch recently I bought this face powder, Make Up Gallery Smoothly Does It, from Poundland £1.00, and I was dubious but I told myself it was only until I could get my hands on something better. However this powder is lovely, I bought it in the shade Translucent 1 and it's a fantastic colour. Cheap powders are often either to pink or orange. 

This sets my make up well without sitting on top of it. I would definitely try more products from this range, don't judge a powder by the price tag! 

Until next time 

Lucy
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Family, Fling and Fun

Well I haven't been able to take the pictures for the blog post I wanted to get out yet, sometimes life gets in the way, in the meantime...

I have moved house (again) but hopefully this time will be more permanent and I wont be moving for a while. I am slowly making it like home and now that I have much more space I can have all of my vintage homewares with me which makes me really happy. I can't wait to blog about it once I have some cash to spruce it up fully!

This month has called for some outfit planning, I love getting ready and try to make an effort every day so here were some of my favorite outfit moments of the month.

Brexit

Ok so this was not my favorite moment as such but I am not getting into politics here. I combined this high waisted royal blue stretch skirt with this cute yellow vintage short sleeved knit, in a nod to the day (and to my vote which is clear from the pictures). The lady at the polling station was most impressed!

I was reminded of the patriotic brooches, often in red white and blue, that were worn in WW2. Historically women have found ways of communicating through their clothing and accessories and it's an area of fashion history I find fascinating!

The Mid Century Market - Cecil Sharp House www.cecilsharphouse.org - North London

Not only is CSH a fantastic local venue with so many different activities going on (check out their website!)  it also houses the Mid Century Market  which I had been meaning to go to for such a long time. I met with Catherine of Vintage Frills as we had planned to make a day of it.

I was just browsing really but it is a really great quality market for those who want true vintage, they are very selective in who their sellers are and the variety is excellent. After shopping we had a little wander around Camden and then went for a seriously delicious Nandos as a treat.

I wore a vintage tea dress which is actually 80's, with vintage gloves and a 1950's bag. The shoes are from Clarks. I wore my hair in a Gibson roll using a rat which kept my hair neat and out of the way all day.

Safety pin selfie

Horrified by the increase in reported racial abuse post Brexit I read about the safety pin campaign with interest. I wasn't sure it would take off at first but soon social media and the powers that be at the Huffington post and Guardian made sure it was getting the promotion it deserved.

 I loved the idea of wearing a symbol of solidarity so I rooted through my sewing kit until I unearthed my safety pin collection (don't ask!)  proudly pinned one to my top, and have done so since.

I found myself wearing tops that would make it stand out, I wanted to be part of this, was proud to wear one for the values it was standing for. As I said I don't want to get too much into politics but these are very interesting times. Again I am reminded of the 1940's when symbolism and a sense of belonging were a cornerstone of society, if you were in the WVS you proudly wore a uniform, undertook the necessary actions and above all maintained the associated values.

The safety pin might seem small in comparison to the voluntary work from the past but in my opinion it comes from the same need, in times of strife, to belong and to maintain your own values, linking with others who share them. It's about community.

The Fling Festival Chelmsford.

The fling festival is a family day out for us and we have been for the past 3 years. It's a one day festival and I think the best way to describe it is alternative. There is something for everyone and everything in between. My personal favorites were:

Cabaret tent: The burlesque performance by Vicky Butterfly blew me away! As many vintage enthusiasts can appreciate burlesque is more than semi nudity and Ms Butterfly has some seriously strong song choice and costume game going on. If you want to be transfixed then check her out.

The Imagination Station: We make a point of going to this puppet show for adults every year as it is just hilarious, Aunt Sarah will lead you through a tale that will curl your hair and there is nothing funnier than a masturbating puppet. Check them out here

Music: My favorite band of the day were Salvation Jayne I made a point of going to see them after listening to them on youtube and they didn't disappoint, the lead singer has a filthy voice with more power than a JCB on Viagra. Check out their youtube channel and I will definitely be on the look out for their next gig!

Photos: The fairyland trust were also on hand to make sure we got the most hysterical picture of the day. For a voluntary donation you could dress up from their selection of costumes and have your picture taken in front of their fairy backdrop. Being a proper grown up I shunned all the sexy fairy outfits and went full dragon, well it would have been rude not too!

As for my outfit I went for a very casual rockabilly style outfit with my trusty cowboy boots, a headscarf and my aging leopard print cardigan.

The final event I went to was my lovely grandma's birthday, She had a great day and as we were going out to a restaurant I wanted to wear something that wouldn't be too tight once the cake was served. I opted for this striped shirt dress which was actually a 50p bootsale find, my cowboy boots with black tights as the weather was changeable, a stack of wooden and marbled effect bangles and my yellow bakelite earrings.

I hope to be able to bring you more outfit posts in the near future. I've just started walking to work from my new house and it's proving challenging to maintain a vintage style on top of this, maybe it will make it into a blog post soon!

Until Next Time

Lucy
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