Vintage Nation - Brighton Racecourse

Rather delayed, but The Mister and I got papped while at the Vintage Nation event held up at the windy, and very cold racecourse. Having to keep the posts rather short for the moment due to crappy hands again, please excuse! The majority of the day was spent indoors due to the blistering cold weather we had, and sadly only 5 classic cars turned up with us in the end, but there was plenty to keep us warm and busy on the inside, including shopping shopping shopping, a bit of dancing and at least the one ginger beer at Crabbie's, yum yum!

The lovely Mat from Southern Retro took a few snaps of us shivering outside with Tilly Triumph, which then appeared here on VintageBrighton.com:

And appearing for the first time ever on here, let me introduce you to my Mister. That jacket was a labour of love and has taken many years of car shows and collecting of patches to put together. You will find him wearing this at most classic car shows, including the big grin on his face! Tilly is his pride and joy, and the other woman in our relationship ;)

I do hope they put this on again next year, but perhaps a little later in the season, and with the upstairs floor used for something so it's not so weather dependant. Would recommend it though for a rummage around the stalls!

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Raspberry Print Bargain!

Yesterday, the Mister and I, joined by Charlie Beagle, popped along to the Vintage Pop-Up Fair in Hassocks to see what bargains we could snap up. Mum and Dad tagged along, which was a new but very fun experience!

Mum and I took a Vintage Pattern Cutting class for a few days up in London at the V&A in February, and now Mum is on the hunt for some inspiration for a vintage style dress to make for me (I am a very lucky girl!). More posts on her progress on that, and I also want to show you what sewing projects I've been working on recently!

Anyway, back to the fair and our bargains. I managed to pick up 2 dresses, a mink headband, a 3 piece matching set of suitcases, and a little Beagle figurine.

One of the dresses had a super cute raspberry print, and means I can now clearout a few pieces I don't realyy wear anymore. I love this dress, and it is so comfortable to boot. The lady I bought this from said she has a few more pieces lying around at home and will email me some pictures to see if I'd like any of these too!

Looking a little rained on after taking Charlie out for his walk, but wanted to put it on right away anywyay.

This morning we got up bright and early to take part in a Classic Car Run around Sussex, and took the car out in the sunshine (we were very lucky as it only rained on as we drove home!)

Teamed it up with one of the Mister's jumpers to keep out the cold, and took the opportunity to pose on Tilly to show off the dress, and my bright green petticoat underneath!





Hope you all had a lovely weekend too. Anyone picked up any new treats? Or come across any new Vintage Events you'd recomend?

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx



Brighton Marina Boot Sale Bargains!

brI think I may have just found the best way to spend £11 on a Sunday Morning in Brighton. By making my way down to the Marina!

Every Sunday, the top floor of the Marina Car Park is turned into an Antiques and Car Boot Sale. People come from all over the place to sell their unwanted bits and bobs, and there are antique furniture dealers who come along on a regular basis too. Although prices are usually a bit higher than your regular Boot Sale, it is definitely worth paying a visit to.

Most times I come away with one or two small bits of clothing or jewellery, but I have come across an amazing Art Deco wardrobe a few weeks back, but no way of getting it home and I didn't have enough money on me at the time : ( alas, it went home with someone else! Lucky Bugger!

Yesterday, however, proved to be the best outing to the market so far! For the pricely sum of £6, I managed to bag 2 pairs of gloves, never worn, 15 pairs of stockings (you heard right, 15!!!), 13 of which were from a vintage multi pack, still in the box, aaaaand.... a replacement fox for the one that got eat by moths. I have named him T.C., after my very first cuddly toy which was also a fox. All from the same stall! They must have bought a job lot of stuff, as they had a pile up to my waist of old costumes and drama props.

A few stalls down, and about to head off as I thought I'd had my fair share of bargains for the day, I walked past something that looked like part of a spaceship...double take....a vintage hood drier!! I have been wanting one of these for ages but have never seen one and only ever found any online, so when the lady told me she wanted just £5 for it, and that it still worked, I had to have it! 

I've plugged it in and it does still work, and sounds as much like a spaceship as it looks! A bit of spit and polish, and I think she might turn out to be a real beaut : ) Sadly there was no stand, but I have already briefed Dad and informed him of his next project! Cannot wait to settle down into my seat by the TV with a book, gentle toasting away under my Hood! Maybe a celebratory whiskey will be in order?! 

Anyone found anything exciting at a Boot Sale recently?

Much love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Village Vintage

I picked up the Friday-Ad for the first time in donkey's years while house sitting in the countryside near Cuckfield, and came across a little Ad for a vintage fair in Lindfield, Village Vintage.

Held in the quaint King Edward Hall in Lindfield, I didn't really know what to expect. I've not seen it advertised elsewhere, and it proved to be a little gem of a secret.

The hall was rammed full of stalls and it was a bit of a push to get round everything, fighting through the crowds. This crowd, however, were a little different. Gone were the hordes of 20 somethings, the trendies looking for that Maxi dress no one else will have, replaced by a buzzing crowd of collectors, and a vast majority of yummy mummy's. A very different crowd indeed.

But this made for a different collection of stalls too, lots of habidashery, baby clothes, and homeware, with a few clothes stalls wedged in between. A lovely tea room serving home made cakes, and banners hanging from the walls!

I drooled over many a glamorous frock, having to pass them over as I'm on a very tight Budget right now, but I couldn't pass these by.

An 80's, never been worn, white linen skirt. I think this'll do quite nicely for the Summer, rolling round the seaside:

This red and gold striped dress. The lady who sold it to me told me this used to be her Aunts. A very stylish Aunt indeed! and a snip at £12!

And from the same Aunt, this cute little Boater, for just £5:

Also found a bag and some gloves to go with the dress I have now finally finished. I'm waiting for the weather to improve a little, and then I'll wear the whole outfit to take some pics. Quite excited actually!

Gloves, £3:

Bags, £5 & £3:

In other News, the Mister and I had the pleasure of looking after the Beagles, and also popping in on the parents place. The Beagles look rather happy in my dog's old basket, although it was a bit of a squish!

Much Love from Brighton,

L.J.

xxx

Frock Me Vintage Fashion Fair - Brighton

Frock Me returned to the Corn Exchange again yesterday. As if Saturday's shopping wasn't enough, yesterday was sure to prove a little hard to stop myself splurging after having been so good all month.

I'm trying to get over my fear of asking people if I can take a picture of them; I always fear they'll think I'm a tad odd! So I cornered a few people who really stood out to me and made me smile:

the lovely Roxlene

Can you believe, she made the suit herself! One of my many to-do's this year.

I was told these were from Tights for Sore Eyes...I want some!

and their owner!

One of the many exciting stalls this time, very nearly bought a 50s skirt suit from here

I do love people watching, and Frock Me is one of the best places to do so. All the stall holders are great help, and really know their stuff. And it always surprises me how many of them remember the Mister or I from previous shows, and pick out pieces they've thought of for us! I've earmarked THE most amazing dress suit from Harrods I've spotted there for the past 3 events, and I've decided that if it is still there the next time Frock Me is in town, its mine! Quite a bit above my normal budget, but it is amazing. Fingers crossed for next time!!

Stopped for a quick cuppa and a slice of sponge cake (yum!), a second swoop around, and off we went, several bags heavier than we had arrived with.

It was such a beautiful day out, that we decided to take advantage of it and go home via a stroll along the seafront to the pier and back. Here we are messing about on the Pier:

Brighton Beach

The Mister

So on to today's finds! First up, a 40s/50s Wool Day Dress, wore this baby to work today! Fab teamed with a tweed jacket and little brown kitten heels. Not bad for£8!



A little spot on the skirt of the dress, but i'll try and find out how to get rid of it. Any tips?



Next up was a dress labelled up as 80's, but the only thing remortely 80s I could find about this was the shoulder pads! On closer inspection, it looks more like a hand made, silk 40s wiggle dress, for just £10. I can never be bothered to queue to change at Frock Me, so its always a bit hit and miss, but for the last few months I seem to have figured out my size and can take a pretty accurate guess if it'll fit or not....and this fit like a glove! Bit of a contortion act trying to get the damn thing back off again, and then realised I hadn't taken a photo of it on, and it wouldn't fit on the manequin for some reason....

Anyway, here it is, looking rather less glamorous on a hanger:

I know, I told myself I wouldn't buy any dresses as my New Years resolution was only to buy the absolute essentials, and make everything else. So shoot me! How could I resist?

Also picked up a really big feather broach for £3:



I'm thinking hat...or scraf?



And some essential stockings. I get through these far too quickly and always get upset when I ladder them. Need to be less clumsy.

And last but not least, a handy bag for all the Car Shows coming up:

Anyone know how I can rotate pictures? Struggling a little.

On the subject of car shows, if anyone is about on Saturday 19th March, head down to Madeira Drive on the Seafront. For the first time, Ace Cafe will be playing host to InCarNation. Expect to see Classics, Hot Rods, and Bikes galore!

I am so excited, I did a little dance when I spotted and add for it a few weeks ago! I've always loved the Ace Cafe Reunion, in September, but I'm a Car Girl at heart. Bikes are cool, but cars are cooler! So for Ace Cafe to finally be holding a car event...YAY!

You'll find me there, getting far too excited and ducking inbetween the crowds to get a better look at everything.

Did anyone else pop down to Frock Me yesterday? Find anything too good to resist?


Much Love from Brighton

L.J.

xxx



Weekend Rumaging

Hello All!

so what have we all been up to this weekend?

This morning, the Mister and I had a little photoshoot with Mat at Southern Retro. Really looking forward to seeing the results, and it was lovely to meet him! You should go check out his site and see what all the fuss is about!

After about 20 cups of tea, I went down to Frock Me, at the Corn Exchange in Brighton, to see if I could find anything off my wishlist, and I did! 2 new pairs of stockings and finally found a bustier I can squeeze my behind into as well as my boobs! woop woop! this is a very rare thing in vintage undies, and my god, could they make the size labels any harder to understand?! this beaut (I know it doesn't look like much but its all about the shape!) is an old Marks & Sparks one, labelled as a 38B, but somehow fits even though I'm a 32DD....hmmm...not sure how that works. Does anyone maybe have a size guide for vintage undies?

Also bought this cute little brooch, perfect for those spring nautical outfits!

Popped in to see the lovely Miss Amy Phipps at Laste Shoe Boutique for a good old natter. She's come up with some cute designs you can find on her blog and has been telling me all about her plans for this year, and I for one cannot wait to see the creations she comes up with! She is a knitting and crochet machine!

Also, new glasses should be ready to pick up tomorrow, excited! I was a bad girl and hadn't had my eyes tested in 7 years, but thankfully my eyes have got no worse, but I get some lovely specs, and I shall be showing them to you in all their silvery glory as soon as they are mine!

Much Love from Brighton

L.J.

xxx

(I came across these two in the North Laines and they instantly put a smile on my face! Nothing better than a dapper chap who can play an instrument, or two!)