Started your Christmas shopping yet?

For me: being both a flapper fan and an aficionado of paper dolls I am coveting these gorgeous prints  from flapperdoodle on etsy or this vintage 1930s travel book The New Meditteranean Traveller from LemonIceBoxPie (what a fantastic name) on etsy complete with black and white photographs and beautiful pull out colour maps, I love maps and not being told that I have arrived at my destination when I am in fact in the middle of nowhere next to a tree…

For friends:  The Spirit of Paris by Frankfort Sommerville, sold by StoriesDivinations on etsy the art deco cover is delicious enough before even opening the cover to reveal the beautiful illustrations…

and I love the War of the Roses renaissance girl print from HiddenSeek on etsy, you should take a peek at her bunny ears rings too.

Pass the mustard will you darling?

For a while now I have been harbouring secret desires for mustard…the colour is wherever I look in interior design magazines that I am also obsessed with, fashion magazines, on models on the net, in vintage stores.  And you have to be discerning in your taste as some of the vintage seventies yellows can look rather dirty and the others are far too bright and happy to be seen or worn without protective eye wear and a public health warning.  However, still being in the process of moving from Greece to the UK and my life in storage any home purchases were out so it was left to me and something I could wear. Being strawberry blonde I was concerned that it might result in a clash of the yellows though and shuddered at the thought of the word ‘bilious’ but I am happy to report that I am utterly thrilled with my mustard purchase which is this cute big pocket shift dress from closet.

It has also converted me to being an avid fan of the line closet, a concession at dorothy perkins, who have some amazing new designers since I last went into a store way back in the nineties I think.  What’s more the dresses are actually designed and made in London,  a rare opportunity nowadays on the high street to support made in Britain.  I’ve already got a little christmas sack of quirky vintage reproduction style closet dresses waiting for me and the next wishlist made.  To make matters worse, just spotted  this beautiful drop waisted twenties style 60s dress on etsy…and yes it’s mustard heaven.

rare 1960s flapper style dress with hand beaded collar from TrueValueVintage

As for the edible variety I have to say I can’t stand the stuff except for wholegrain mustard on a Nigella warm potato salad with bacon and spring onions…yummy.

raining cats and dogs

the little anorak girl has a new shiny z key and is now looking for some things to keep her dry as she heads off to a place where it rains practically everyday. (no, it’s not england) (not seattle either) It’s gonna be hot. it’s worrying how you can lose so much time of your life looking for rainwear…. and how so much of it either fits into the category of scary old lady or fetish.  wasn’t entirely prepared for PVC clear bloomers I must admit but as they say whatever flicks your switch (and it appears that the light is on and burning brightly for clear PVC lovers everywhere).  Did manage to find gorgeous cute polka dot mannittoni raincoat, fitted tailoring, swing coat and love the hood.  Then went vintage and minus model, whose worryingly minus her top, this 60s retro polka dot  is just as cute and in perfect condition…                                                                                                                from ohsandra, san francisco

remember my grandmother having the funny rainhats too but certainly don’t remember them being as cool as these…

  vintage 60s rain hat keyring from MaudeAndLola

and amazing vintage 60s Marshall Field yellow and blue plaid coat and matching hood, from violetvillevintage…can just picture a hitchcock leading lady in this…