During the weekend of the 17th and 18th of July I was fortunate to have a wonderful time at the Black Country Living Museum 1940’s weekend seeing friends, old and new.
The event was a new one to me and I was very much looking forward to giving it a go.
So, I put on my glad rags and arrived at BCLM on Saturday morning which had been touted as the hottest day of the year.
All Togged Up
Typical.
Anyway, one of the biggest reasons for going to these events is to update and expand the current collection of accessories and millinery.
Many people think that vintage clothing and accessories cost an absolute fortune, and in some cases they really do. However, if you are savvy and sensible you can get a whole ream of items for little outlay.
One of the best examples of this is this stunning brown feather fan which came in so very handy and cost me the princely sum of £10!
Original Vintage Fan
To be honest, it was so hot that I would have probably spent 10 times that amount for the breeze that the fan created.
So, what else did I get at the event?
A Plus Size Fan!
A few handbags, hats, gloves and even a wicker picnic basket.
The handbags I got all from one stall. Sadly I never got the name of the seller, which was very lax of me. Given that I got most of the items from her, I wish I knew who she was so I could namecheck her in this post.
My first purchase was a gorgeous mossy green real leather bag. The interior of the bag was spotless and looked like it had never been used before.
I loved the unusual shade of green and knew I had a few outfits that it would match with so it was a perfect choice for me.
Bags Ahoy
I also got a beautiful little brown bag with ‘crocodile’ accents.
An original Mappin and Webb
Made by the well know company ‘Mappin and Webb’, it was in pristine condition with suede lining that didn’t have a single mark on it.
Pristine Inside
The price tag was £15 for this beauty and I was absolutely thrilled with it. Looking on the internet similar bags are going for anywhere between £65 and £245!
What a result.
My third bag was another leather bag with pale suede lining; a warm tan colour with a gorgeous clasp which gave it a great design. Again, the inside as in exceptional condition and didn’t look like it had ever been used.
Gorgeous Shape
My biggest purchase was the cheap as chips picnic basket with had a double lid opening. Being larger than most baskets, I actually decided to get the basket as I have quite a large bangle collection and have totally run out of space in the Panettone tin that they are currently living in.
Big Bangle Basket
For £10 they now have a large sturdy home and I can fill it up with even more bangles than I currently own!
Bangles Galore
The two hats I purchased were from a well known milliner, Heritage Re-loved, which I intend to do a complete blog on, so I am not going to say too much on this post, but watch this space.
A Sneak Preview
My final purchases were gloves.
I think a good pair of gloves really finishes off an outfit and I do have quite a few pairs. I love to look out for unusual colours, as I have a fair old amount of black and white pairs.
Gorgeous embrodiery
Original vintage gloves can cost anything from a couple of pounds to hundreds a pair.
Opera Length
The four pairs I bought cost just £3 each. A total bargain if I am honest.
Plain and Simple
Navy, off-white, tan and a yellowy/buttermilk colour all went into my basket.
Twisted!
My very final purchase was a lovely boat shaped wicker bag; perfect for carrying over the crook of your arm, filled with goodies.
This basket is absolutely brilliant for any event. Big enough to fit your purse, camera, phone, lipstick and probably a few rounds of sandwiches and a bottle of ginger beer!
Ginger Beer anyone?
In fact, I can’t wait to use it at the next event…. which if I am lucky will be the highlight of the event calendar….
Till next time,
SPSG xxx