I attended the Toronto Vintage Clothing show with Shelley recently.

You may remember when I did this show as a vendor. I *wish* I could have done the same this year but my helper and main squeeze is on the other side of the world right now so I made due with shopping the show instead.

I know!

Poor me!

Ha!

This was the opportunity for me to pull out all the stops and showcase some of my vintage collection.

I love creating a memorable impression with layers.

Sure this fabulous 1970s lurex dress in gorgeous copper is amazing on its own but I need to prove my styling abilities when I go to a show like this so I added a few pieces and accessories to make it truly mine.

 

First item was a romantic floral tapestry blazer that I thought I was going to sell but then changed my mind.

Oops! I did it again!

Funny how that happens.

 

Since I’m a stickler for showing my waist I added a belt.

I should have used that hack with a mini elastic band to catch the end of the belt so it wasn’t flopping all over the place.

 

Then added a scarf.

This scarf is one of my favourites. Who doesn’t love polkadots?

Only freaks don’t like polkadots.

That’s right. I said it. Deal with it.

 

Now I’m liking what I’m seeing but there is still something missing. Can you guess what it is?

 

My main goal is to leave a lasting impression and a good vintage hat tops off the look, literally.

Did you guess correctly?

If so you win a hug from the pug : )

You lucky dog you.

 

Hats are one of the surest ways I know to separate myself from the masses.

From my many years of working in ice cream parlours I can tell you that this is the difference between an ice cream sundae or a banana split.

One is just so much better than the other.

There is a titch of a Mary Poppins vibe on this outfit but I don’t mind. All I was missing was a massive carpet bag. Although I love big tapestry bags the fibromyalgia hates them so it is strictly small cross body bags when I’m going to be out all day. I save my oversized bags for shorter trips.

Shelley and myself at the show.

Shelley has her posing down to a science.

I need to make a mental note to point my foot out to the side next time and throw my hand on my hip. It accentuates your waist and elongates the body so you avoid looking like you have munchkin legs.

Here is Shelley in action…photographing some of the amazing vintage pieces at the show. Be sure to check out her post on the Toronto Vintage Clothing show.

 

The show was great but I found that I was rushed for time and I didn’t make it round to all the booths I’d hoped.

Funny thing was that people were packing up while customers were still everywhere.

This is not a mistake I would have made. It reflects poorly on the vendor and I personally wondered if they were so flush with cash that they simply didn’t need any of mine.

Here are some very quick pics I snapped of pieces I would have snagged had my budget been more robust.

 

I bought one of the pieces below…can you guess which one?

Here I am showing off just how awful it is to see myself in hideous fitting room lighting.

Scary!

But the dresses are sweet and both made it into my bag.

 

I made it home without breaking my budget and added five new pieces to my collection.

If you guessed that groovy 1970s shirt with the plane on it you’re correct!  That also came home with me. It was too cool and I’d never seen anything like it before. It’s an Italian brand called Nik Nik. The graphics and the colours are wild and will really work with my bright yellow booties. 

I would have loved to have taken home that pretty cardigan too but it was well out of my budget.

Two other vintage dresses grabbed my eye at the last minute and are now taking up valuable space in my closet which I will need to share with you another time.

Vintage shows are a blast to attend.

If you get the opportunity to visit one I highly recommend it. There are one of a kind pieces and interesting people abound.

 

Thanks to Catherine Knoll the organizer for providing entry for Shelley and myself.

 

Have you ever attended a vintage show? Did you enjoy it?