Vintage Liberty Print Skirt

A couple of weekends ago I struck gold on the Walworth Road.

Behold - a thing of a beauty, character and history - an absolute wonder which will never date... a genuine Liberty print skirt. Size 10, for £3.99.

YES. £3.99

To any second-hander, finding Liberty print really is like finding gold. Even in high-end second-hand and vintage shops, genuine Liberty print is hard to find. And the reason for this: Liberty print is so expertly designed that it will be a thing of charm forever. And so, Liberty print items stay in families forever and get passed down between generations and can be worn quite comfortably for years.

I think this skirt is from the 60s because of the chic pencil shape. And as this is the time of year for giving, I will be gifting this find to a lovely friend of mine who I know will absolutely treasure it. Plus, I know it will fit her like a glove, her Twitter profile even says: 'ultra-journalist in Liberty fabrics'. I saw this and thought of her; she has to have it. Sorry for ruining your Christmas surprise, lovely Jasmine. I couldn't keep this from my blog any longer.

Second-hand Elizabeth and James?

Here is an outfit of two amazing charity shop finds to make a chic, androgynous look -

1. Elizabeth and James shirt. I couldn't believe my luck when I found this in Luton for £2.50. I picked it up because of the stripes, and had a closer inspection... Elizabeth and James... in Luton... Really? Yes, the details reveal all, very soft quality cotton, and subtle pleats at the back marked with small 'X' stitches - the shape and fit are beautiful and it hangs divinely. Elizabeth and James is the Olsen twins label (more relaxed than their famous, 'The Row'), it's known for exquisite textiles, pretty details which give this masculine shirt and feminine edge. I love this shirt - what luck!

2. Reiss tuxedo trousers. I found these on the Walworth Rd for £3 or so, lucky me - the fit is excellent and they're one of those 'no brainer' things for when I don't know what to wear. They're chic and effortless.

And who do I feel like when I wear this ensemble? Lauren Bacall in one of my favourite films, How to Marry a Millionaire. What could be better than that?

A word on boots and undies...

I love charity shops and second hand shops so much, but the two things you can't really get in them is shoes and undies. Thanks to my regular low-spend on clothes I can usually afford to spend a little more on quality shoes and underwear which is very important and well worth it!

Undies
A hungover trip to Bravissimo whilst I was at University taught me the lifelong lesson - get a good bra, and make sure it fits perfectly because this makes you stand taller and actually look slimmer. Since then, Freya has been my brand of choice. Equally, good knickers are important for morale and I like the ethics behind Mary Portas's 'Kinky Knickers' (which can often be found at cut prices on ASOS).

Shoes and Boots
Shoes - I like French Sole ballet pumps, they're pricey but Diana used to wear them and they're made of real leather which means they don't make your feet smell like those cheap ballet flats you can get 10-a-penny.

Doctor Martens - the classic boot - practical and awesome. I get mine from the joyful factory shop in Northamptonshire where you can get samples and discontinued lines which won't break the bank.

This gal knows what I'm sayin:

HA:

Here are my one of a kind paint splattered DMs which cost something like £25 - amazing!