I’m not sure what was going around Paris amongst the fashion folk but myself and others I know have come back with a nasty flu. I woke up feeling feverish, muggy and not being coherent enough to say ‘I am ill…’.
I did however have to drag myself out of bed (I was practically clutching my duvet around me trying to fashion it into a dress so that I didn’t have to leave it behind…) to go to the pharmacy to pick up some much needed drugs. As I don’t get the chance to do the day-to-day charity shop thing on a weekday, I popped into North London Hospice that always rewards me with something because the German lady who sorts through the stuff there has a bit of an eye…
Rewarding indeed as I came away with two purchases of two different sorts. There was the all-in-one complete outfit. A green Valentino dress that had these shoulder caps curved enough to give it shape but don’t scarily jut out. It’s not a shade of green that I usually buy into but I was slayed enough by the snug fit of the dress and the shape of the diagonal collar to be convinced. At ¬£10, for London charity shops (sadly, ¬£1 dresses just don’t exist anymore in the rising prices of London charity shops…), it was still a steal. This is the kind of charity purchase that fortunately doesn’t need a lot doing to it in its original state so again, you’ve saved a bit of dough on the extra materials needed to alterate and update.
Then there is the item that needs an eye and a bit of a push. It’s a Danish paisley merino wool skirt that on its own doesn’t really say much but I was thinking of globalised mish-mashed looks that I talked about a few days ago and knowing what was in my wardrobe at present, the skirt was workable/doable. At ¬£3, again, this was more of a bargain than the dress but then perhaps I might need to buy something more to augment it and show it off in it’s most covetable state. In any case, I had to pile more on (nubby navy tweed blazer, various scarves, obi belt, burgandy tights, chunky curved heeled shoes) to rev up the skirt.
Just looked up and realised I typed two chunky paragraphs about charity shopping. The fever has clearly burnt the brain a little. Apologies for ramblings but it’s nice sometimes to dissect the simpler things in life like a wander to the charity shop.
I adore the second outfit, but I could never pull it off.
The green dress is a great buy, and the colour is my favourite shade of green. Charity shop prices are definitely rising, i went into one the other day and the lowest price thing was £7.99, I know thats not too much for a dress, however I get a great buzz when I used to get dresses for like £1 or £2, anyway enough of my moaning, I hope you get better soon.
i take issue with one point– that skirt is awesome in itself! love the paisley, and those orangey stripes are great! get well soon. 🙂
Wow! The Valentino dress fits you like a glove.
The green dress is stunning. Everyone I know is sick, including me!
Wow, Susie, those are amazing finds! I’m an avid charity-shopper, but find it so hard to get through all the Primark castoffs to find any real gems. Might I ask which North London Hospice shop you went to?
The green dress with the latex leggings is just grand! I usually find the black latexish leggings stupid looking, but the way you did it, it toned it down.
Very DIY Balenciaga, I love it.
Also.. I can’t believe that you picked up that green number in a charidee shop! Pfttt, London!
S xx
It would be impossible, absolutely impossible to find something like this in Germany! Congrats, I adore the green dress.
Wonder what my boyf would have said: Being ill and still taking the chance to go shopping. lol But it feels so good, doesn’t it? Almost like a remedy itself.
Get well soon!
Totally love the green dress! In fact, I want it! I think it would look great on me too! 😉
xox Girl and the City (in Paris, but not sick, even though I did attend lots of fashion shows, parties, etc)
http://girlandthecity.wordpress.com
Love how you styled the skirt, i’d have struggled to know what to do with that one myself, but you’ve made it look fabulous….i envy! and, to repeat what Wendy B asked, which Hospice store has the keen-eyed German lady in? I’d love to know (personally, i’m super possessive of the rare cheap and good N.London charity shops that i know, but maybe you’re bigger hearted than me!) hope you feel better soon 🙂 x
Oops, my bad, it was Ambs not WendyB who asked….
I would have stared at both pieces and probably passed them by..if I did get them I’d be loving the paisley skirt but have no idea what to do with it. You look amazing!
Feel better soon!
Too bad you’ve been ill…do take care of yourself and get well soon.
On the upside, you now have two gorgeous new items of clothing to wear, and I can’t decide which one I love more- the green one (I love green) has such an amazing collar and shoulder detail, but the way you’ve styled the paisley skirt actually looks a bit Balenciaga AW07-08-ish (I’m obsessed with that collection, sorry! Even though I know printed scarves and cool jackets have existed long before it…). Good going.
that dress is stunning
Wow! I love the green valentino dress!
Feel better soon!
i love both outfits! really good finds. and the second one really reminds me of the fall balenciaga collection (which i adored btw).
Dear Susie,
I’m sorry to keep bugging you with this, but your comments would really add to this LFW overview I’m doing. Unfortunately, the deadline is very soon and, if you don’t mind contributing, it would be great if you could jot down your answers and get back to me please. Here are the questions:
1. Highlight of the week:
2. Designer of the week:
3. Collection/show of the week:
4. Personality of the week, maybe a new person you’ve met:
5. Disappointment of the week:
6. Personal inspiration of the week:
7. Your wishlist – what item from the LFW collections you want to see in your wardrobe & cannot live without?:
8. A trend/silhouette/accessory you’d like to see more of:
9. A trend/silhouette/accessory you wish you didn’t see at all:
10. LFW rules because…:
Thank you so much!
Looking forward to your comments!
Julia
That Valentino fits you perfectly. What a find!
That Valentino dress is fabulous, the shoulders are definitely my favorite part.
i been looking for charity shops in london, but where can i find them?!
love the green dress 🙂
You look so fresh and adorable in the green dress!
The structure of the leggings and long sleeves add an element of
structure to it that i really like,
might I suggest tiny french plaits on the either side of your fringe
with the ponytail? It would look fantastic.
And the layering of patterns in the second outfit is impeccable.
I have to add that I raided Etsy last night and couldn’t help thinking that you would wear these listings so creatively when I scrolled across the pages:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=7291732
A combination of acid-wash denim, ruffles and pencil skirt
I’ve never really come across before, but works.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6842042
I went to Amsterdam in autumn, the thick knit and the sequin leaves remind me of it at night again :]
That green dress is a really wonderful gem and I like the styling of the 2nd outfit a lot.
Get well soon!
-h of candid cool
Hope you weren’t off work ‘sick’ when you were charity shopping – on way to pharmacy?? If it was me, I dont think my manager would be best pleased to see me posting how chuffed I was about my new ‘ill’ purchases! LOL
hello, never commented before. Love you blog and your enthusiasm on fashion. You have great taste. The Valentino fits superb. Only one thing semi bugs me. You over over accessorize, that it makes it all look cheap and a bit trying to hard. Its like you want to mix prada, mcqueen, and boombox gareth pugh all at the same time. Take it from coco and always take one thing off b4 leaving. Everytime I get dressed i say to myself. WWCD. What would Carine do, or any of the french voguettes really. I mean I love Isa Blow and all the eccentrics. But unless the outfit has one piece that uber expensive. It all looks like a bowl of chatchka. Cheers…I live next to slow and steady in NY, would love to send you some glasses!!!!
Thanks for the comments on the finds!
I really was just on my way to the pharmacy (and to feed myself as the kitchen is bare…).
The office can’t blame me for wanting to feed/remedy myself!
Ambs: Ooh…will I have to be elbowing you out of my way to get to the good stuff? East Finchley…
Zoe K: Nice picks but I’m all Etsy-ed out this month…spent WAY too much.
Fan: Perhaps I have no qualms about looking cheap, over-accessorised or in fact chanelling that mix of designers (though that wasn’t the intention….). Each to their own. Glad you like the blog but I suggest you look away from any Susie Styles category post. 😉
I’ve also discussed this phrase of ‘trying too hard’ and how I furrow my brows at it…
I’ve also also discussed how I could never be a French voguette…
Sadly, I’m afraid you’re stuck with cheap, over-accessorised, try-hard me…. je suis desolee…
i luv ur valentino
Hi its me again! no…my previous comment wasn’t a dig at you, stop be so paro. Just wanted to say that Valentino dress is a interesting find, is it late 60s? or an early eighties design…?
Susie you rule! I love the green dress.
in the pic with the green dress i mistook your lamp for a hat and it was great!