Something Old, Something New

The title surely is the basis of how many people dress, or at least everyone that I know that is vaguely into fashion. The breezy statement of "Oh, I like to mix vintage pieces with more contemporary pieces" is probably people's lazy-go-to answer when people are quizzed about their style and have to pull something off the top of their heads. So it seems a bit strange to label this particular post with a phrase that encapsulates so many of my outfits. However I couldn't hide my giddiness over when an old meets new pairing pretty much fell right into place completely out of the blue. I may even have done a witchy-esque cackle as well as drummed my fingers as though a masterplan had taken a surprising turn. Nothing sinister I can assure you.

Natalie Joos of Tales of Endearment dropped by last week and I introduced her to Alfie's Antique Market. It's well worth the detour to a slightly off-centre hub of Marylebone aka the rail station that I never use though it never ceases to surprise me at how many Londoners have never made it to Alfie's. At Tin Tin Collectibles, where I picked up those cocktail pyjamas which still to this day I get emails about (apparently so does the owner – fess up – did somebody out there call him up and ask him… whether the VINTAGE pyjamas came in other sizes and colours?!?), I lucked out again with a jade green Art Deco patternated silk robe, a shade of green that was perhaps trying to touch that Galliano bit of mint green dream froth as well as buying a 1920s coral embroidered tabard. Tin Tin Collectibles claims another first from me – this is my inaugural tabard unless you count a rather fetching safety one, I had to wear when I was waitressing at Arsenal FC back in my uni days. Leslie Verrinder, the owner of Tin Tin Collectibles seems to have an eye for pieces where some detail really jumps out at you and there's always a quality to the clothes that looks like they need to be properly treasured as well as worn and rejuvenated. On the day I tried on some other stellar pieces that were slightly out of my price range – it ain't cheap but I'd forgo three or four random 70s-90s bog standard vintage dresses for a piece from Tin Tin – but these lightweight nightwear pieces were a little gentler on the pocket.

The rejuvenation process of these pieces kickstarted when a package arrived all the way from Australia from label Shakuhachi, which I have come to know from their fairly wide stockist list as well as consistently well-stocked selections at ASOS and Urban Outfitters (both UK and US). A few pieces from their pre-fall 2011 collection oozed out of the air mail envelope – a pair of gold lame trackie trousers, a terracotta satin draped jacket and cream chiffon and lace dress – all crying out to be paired with Tin Tin Collectibles pieces. The colours and fabrics of everything seemed to suggest something Paul Poiret-ish. I can't quite put my finger on why that is exactly so. I just knew it made good 'old and new' sense to me. Cue cackle and finger drumming.

(1920s vintage coral embroidered tabard, black cotton long sleeved tee, Shakuhachi metallic lame tracksuit trousers, Shakuhachi terracotta satin draped jacket, Irregular Choice shoes)

(Vintage jade green robe with tasselled belt, Shakuhachi cream lace and chiffon dress, black cotton long sleeved tee underneath, Pierre Hardy x Gap shoes)

I'm not sure whether Paul Poiret was what the Shakuhachi peeps were going for with their 'Shoot Me' pre-fall 2011 collection but there's a fair bit of sheer floatiness and draped satin here to do some Kate Bush-esque movements in…

**EDIT** Speaking of lovely Natalie Joos, her mahussive helluva post on me has just gone live and me thinks she's the only one who has properly captured what life in my hovel of an apartment is – a light-catching, cornflakes-filled, walk-in-wardrobe… with a bit of Steve's stuff squashed in at the sides…

She also shot me outside Alfie's trying on some of the beautiful pieces that my pursestrings couldn't stretch out for. Please do check it and the rest of her blog out as I love the candid way Natalie writes too…

24 comments

BEAUTYCOUNTRY says:

2011-03-22 at 7:04 AM

Ah….love the layers abd the colors …AND the maxilength! Perfect 😀
Afra says:

2011-03-22 at 8:34 AM

Amazing! Somehow it reminds me of the virgin suicides… 🙂
Joy D. says:

2011-03-22 at 9:30 AM

I love the second outfit for it’s Poiret influences. I am doing a fashion history paper on Josephine Baker and Poiret keeps popping up!
Ashleigh says:

2011-03-22 at 9:33 AM

absolutely love those lame trackies! So tempted to buy some myself but I couldnt choose between the silver and gold :oS
x
Annataysberg says:

2011-03-22 at 9:47 AM

–ò–∑—ã—Å–∫–∞–Ω–Ω—ã–π –ª–µ–≥–∫–∏–π —à–∏–∫–∞—Ä–Ω—ã–π –æ–±—Ä–∞–∑)
–°—é–∑–∏, —Ç—ã –ø—Ä–µ–∫—Ä–∞—Å–Ω–∞!!!
http://annytaysberg.blogspot.com
Natalie says:

2011-03-22 at 10:03 AM

wow you’re gold pants!!! love love love!
january says:

2011-03-22 at 10:41 AM

i love your orange silky jacket + sheer white dress with lace inserts! beautiful!!
january, x
jessicajanuary.com
SACRAMENTO says:

2011-03-22 at 10:43 AM

Loving your outfit post the best.
I adore the way you mix and match textures and colours.
Thank you Susie.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Katie M says:

2011-03-22 at 10:46 AM

beautiful costumery! embarassingly enough I havent been to Alfie’s yet but i do LOVE Vintage Modes in the Grays Antiques Mews. I bought a gold silk middle-eastern style handmade dress with matching silk tassle scarf and its the best thing i own (well apart from my forthcoming wedding dress!).
its really beautiful, here’s the link to it if you wanna see:
http://thearchitecturalbody.blogspot.com/2011/03/wardrobe-picks.html
india says:

2011-03-22 at 11:36 AM

Great post!!! Je t’ invite √† aller d√©couvrir mon nouveau blog qui d√©voile et d√©crypte les dessous du milieu du mannequinat
Voici le lien: http://www.indiasinsights.com
SJ says:

2011-03-22 at 12:16 PM

SO amazing! Just seen your Topshop guide, I love what you said about your fun with fashion and having themes and dress-ups, thats what I’ve been doing altho it isn’t paying off it’s what I love! 🙂 Thankyou for being an inspiration! xx
Anniefiddle says:

2011-03-22 at 12:20 PM

Love the green robe. Wish we had vintage stores of that calibre here in Glasgow.
inside my head and wardrobe says:

2011-03-22 at 2:07 PM

i love the block of orange your wearing and also love those giold trousers ! great look suzie
http://myheadandwardrobe.blogspot.com/
Copper Etiquette says:

2011-03-22 at 4:10 PM

I love the looks especially the coral one!
http://www.copperetiquette.wordpress.com
Emma C-M says:

2011-03-22 at 4:13 PM

love it. how did you snag a pair of pierre hardy shoes before their release date? im saving to buy they are my must have.
E x
http://ecorbinmckenzie.blogspot.com
susie_bubble says:

2011-03-22 at 4:22 PM

Emma C-M: I was lucky enough to get a preview pair… they’re quite a classic shape for me but actually I’ve found them to be very versatile…
Emily says:

2011-03-22 at 9:53 PM

Another great post! I especially love the Shakuhachi jacket! Great choice!!!
Those see through skirts and dresses that are in fashion lately are gorgeous but should only be worn at home I think (I am only talking of the black one from the look book not of yours).
Have a great evening/night 😀
Emily
Shakuhachi
Olive says:

2011-03-23 at 2:36 AM

You look fantastic in those pieces! so chic as always 🙂
Thebeadgirl says:

2011-03-23 at 1:26 PM

I LOVE this look! especially on you! It’s so feminine and trendy. Love the way you put it together….
SARAH says:

2011-03-23 at 9:44 PM

i must know where the dress is from that you wore above (shot cropped dsc-0237) and on the tales of endearment GORGEOUS!
susie_bubble says:

2011-03-23 at 10:25 PM

SARAH: The dress is vintage from Tin Tin Collectibles in Alfie’s Antique Market in London
nana says:

2011-03-26 at 2:28 AM

Love how you styled this look! Wish I owned every piece you were wearing for the second look!! 🙂
http://avecdeslunettes.blogspot.com/
tayler says:

2011-03-26 at 7:28 AM

you make everything look so chic!
http://www.styleinterplay.com/
milohaknu says:

2011-06-03 at 9:01 AM

–ö–∞—á–µ—Å—Ç–≤–µ–Ω–Ω—ã–π –≤–∑–ª–æ–º –Ω–∞ –∑–∞–∫–∞–∑ –±–µ–∑ –ø—Ä–µ–¥–æ–ø–ª–∞—Ç.
–ü–æ–º–æ–∂–µ–º —É–∑–Ω–∞—Ç—å –ø–∞—Ä–æ–ª–∏ –æ—Ç –ø–æ—á—Ç–æ–≤—ã—Ö —è—â–∏–∫–æ–≤, –∞ —Ç–∞–∫–∂–µ –æ—Ç
–∞–Ω–∫–µ—Ç –Ω–∞ –æ–¥–Ω–æ–∫–ª–∞—Å—Å–Ω–∏–∫–∏.—Ä—É –∏ –≤–∫–æ–Ω—Ç–∞–∫—Ç–µ.—Ä—É http://www.zakaz-xak.com

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