It's never too late to feel a little more alive

The title of this post I saw as grafitti on a wall and I liked it, thats it. I think it may be a song lyric but I've yet to have a look and find out.

Well a long work, and fun packed weekend lies ahead! Every week without fail I visit a charity shop - I'm obsessed with them. At least one a week sometimes I visit one every day and then there's also finding the time for the specialist vintage stores too, aw it's a hard life! ;-)

This week I discovered a huge two storey charity shop in a random little area on the outskirts of the city. Downstairs all furniture and mirrors and wall hangings and paintings and prints, upstairs vintage, pots, pans sunglasses, curtians, dresses. There's some beautiful mirrors, and some gorgeous 1960s and 70s German pottery I have my eye on!

I bought a mary quant style red pvc rain mac, two gorgeous 1960s swimming suits, and a 60s mod handbag.

I'm still kicking myself for turning my back - for a split second on a mustard taffeta 50s evening prom dress - which a very nice lady bought! Was not happy, but it went to a good home - it was beautiful and tiny and would have fitted me so well! Oh well.

Will upload pics of the items mentioned but to be honest I am loathe to as my camera at the moment is awful and will not do them justice, at all....new camera please!

Last, but not least take a look at the September trip to Berlin I have planned!

Now personally I really don't like the artwork i.e the lady or the colours as it doesn't look mod or 60s to me in the slightest all a little gawdy - but don't let that put you off what looks set to be an amazing weekender!

Look here for more info!

X

Berlin

I love Berlin! I love it's history, the people and it's vibrancy. If you have never been to Berlin, then I highly recommend it! The record shops, markets, and vintage and second hand stores are amazing. My favourite district in Berlin, is Kreuzberg - which is pretty bohemian and is the citys Turkish district. I love the live music scene in Berlin, the graffiti which is lovely and really well done, and all over the city. Despite being German, myself - well passport says German, but more accurately I'm mixed British/German heritage I really don't like traditional German food, blah! but it is better than traditional British food!

My next trip to Berlin, I will post a guide on here to vintage shopping and the music scene! Can't wait. but before then I will be going Paris!

If anybody has any market recommendations, vintage, junk and second hand shops, record shops and galleries in Paris, please let me know! Also - my Germans ok - but I speak no French! Ah! For that I may have to rely on my lovely friend Laura! x

Burlesque, a challenge shop delay, Berlin, cold and snow - not neccessarily in that order.

Hello all,

It's actually my birthday today! yes and Im sat here typing away inside my warm house, as it's just too cold out there! But it's not all quiet - I have already celebrated my birthday a little early at the weekend, with my friends at a lovely burlesque club called the Pitty Patt Club. The Pitty Patt Club was wonderful, really wonderful! If you like old style cabaret from the 40s, 50s and even a sprinkling of the 20s then I can highly recommend this night.

Lots of the guests were dressed in 40s and 50s attire and we even had some 'extra' entertainment provided by some regulars in the crowd who were brilliant at the Lindy Hop and we saw them dance during intervals. The performers were great, and the comperes were really funny! I have always enjoyed and admired burlesque aesthetics and costume and yet this was my first burlesque show and will certainly not be my last, so much fun!

And now for some news -
The website looks likely to be delayed as I have applied for a study scheme in Berlin and if I get it, I won't have time to manage the shop at such a early and vital stage in the business. I am still buying stock and have trips to Dublin, Berlin and Paris planned for this year to source some beautiful items. As for Berlin, well my application has been accepted for consideration so it's now just a small matter of waiting.

A challenge
This year I have promised myself not to buy anything new, I am only buying second hand and vintage clothing. I have so many clothes so this is good discipline for me! The only exception is the basics, i.e underwear, t-shirts, shoes etc and actually, even shoes where I can will be vintage anyway! except I always make a bad choice and they wear out so quickly, when vintage.

Cold!
I don't know what it's like where you are, but here it is FREEZING here! Minus 2 I last heard with ice everywhere! I haven't left the house wearing anything but wellingtons for the past month so as not to slip over! But they are stylish wellies! patent black, and shiny, shiny indeed!