I had a whirlwind weekend with two blogger meet-ups and The Toronto Vintage Show.
This post is just about the Toronto vintage show.
I was an exhibitor at this very show about five years ago selling my handmade necklaces which often included vintage pieces like this one below with a vintage brooch in it, currently for sale in my Etsy shop.
This time round I was all about the shopping. We arrived as soon as they opened, spent the full day there and felt rushed to make last minute decisions as they were getting ready to close. We didn’t even sit down to eat or drink! I’m that serious when it comes to vintage shopping. I need an intervention.
We chose to start our shopping on the wrong side of the hall, in booths that were more focused on jewellery and home furnishings. I wasted precious time admiring pieces I had no intention of buying when I should have been on the other side shopping like a mad woman in the clothing section.
Sorry some of the photos are so blurry, I was frantically shopping and taking photos with my old phone at the same time. I’m such a pro. Ha!
I was overwhelmed. There was too much awesomeness stuffed into one building. I’d fallen into vintage nirvana and the clock was ticking down.
I really could have taken home twice as much as I did.
I’m kind of regretting not buying those last two dresses here. I really wanted to take them home.
The bronze one on the right was a slinky, sexy, luxurious knit, but it was going to require a tailor to shorten it ( probably $20) and I was worried it might snag (it was made out of some kind of poly/acetate) and I would probably need to wear Spanx with it. You remember how Spanx have tried to kill me before.
I really, really loved it though. {heavy sigh}
The black wild one…is AMAZING!!! Gah. I felt like a moving piece of art wearing it. I flippin’ LOVED that dress. Sad thing was, (and this is an important vintage shopping tip) when I started to carefully check over the piece before purchasing I noticed the entire back seam had come apart and needed to be restitched. That in itself wasn’t a huge deal, but then I noticed that the lower seam on the hem and the bottom of the hem would also require stitching, which would need to be hand stitched as there was an actual hole. If the dress had been $25 okay…I don’t mind doing all that extra work, but I was only able to negotiate it down to $50 from $75 and I felt like $50 was too much for a dress that would require so much work. Now of course I’m looking back on it I wish I’d bought it. Especially since a bunch of people commented on my Instagram how much they loved it.
Damn you Instagram readers for being overly generous with your compliments!
If I had any events planned I probably would have taken both of those dresses.
My life should be about cocktail parties, red carpets and celebrities but it is really about dog walks, beige carpets that desperately need vacuuming and a diva husband that thinks he is a celebrity.
Okay…enough complaining! Now I get to show you what I did buy!
Why an orange leather jacket? (Factory Girl Vintage) Because I just bought these the day before on super sale!
Yes they are an exact match in colour! Now I will be known as Orange Leather Woman.
That doesn’t sound remotely attractive.
(shrugs)
This piece looks just ho hum on the hanger, but it is a very chic avant guard jumpsuit from the 80’s that is weirdly figure flattering. (See it modelled on Cry Violet Vintage)
It has things that fly out at the hips that look a bit like bat wings. (Just what everyone needs at their hips…bat wings!) I know, I know, you’re thinking I’ve lost my mind, but trust me…it looks really cool on. I had to convince my skeptical husband of this as well.
Remember how I wanted some tall black leather lace up boots? These are the next best thing. They are fur lined, so I will be able to wear them even when the snow falls. I need to get some new laces for them and polish them up a bit.
When I came out of the dressing room wearing this dress (Primetime Antiques & Collectiables) a guy came over and took my photo. I either looked ridiculous or really good.
Either way, it came home with me.
It reminds me of a dress I had as a kid for my Barbie.
I’m living the dream guys!
Wearing my Barbie’s clothes. I’m expecting Apollo or Starbuck any minute to pick me up for our date in their red corvette.
I can remember sometimes my Barbie would go out with both Apollo and Starbuck at the same time because she couldn’t make up her mind. She was a bit of a hussy. I quite liked that about her.
And finally the last dress I bought, a more traditional style 1950’s dress in a fantastic woven print
that fits like a dream and has a wonderful neckline. (Kate’s Vintage Kloset). It is currently in my basement waiting to be hemmed. It came as a suit but I didn’t care for the jacket and Kate was nice enough to offer to sell it without the jacket.
That’s another tip when shopping vintage…just ask!
Every time I bought an item I asked the vendor if that was the best price they could do, and every single time they offered some kind of reduction. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know.
And just because hubby didn’t want to be left out he bought himself a bowler hat (Primetime Antiques & Collectables). Yep…I’m not the only one that loves some good vintage in this house. I really want to see where he is going to wear this. It isn’t going to look good in the corvette.
And here for your viewing pleasure is Orange Leather Woman.
I had to take photos as soon as we got home to make sure the colours were a match.
Bingo!
Now I just need to figure out what Orange Leather Woman’s super power is.
Any ideas?
Linking up with Turning Heads Tuesday, What I Wore, My Girlish Whims, 52-pick me-up, Throw Back Thursdays
That dress that got away! Man, I love it. I hate to tell you but those wild prints are super hard to come by and I think the price was okay. I’ve seen much tattier ones priced at £75 at fairs here.
Love the mad Barbie maxi – I think the 1970s model was my fashion icon, too.
The boots are the perfect match to that stunner of a coat. the colour is perfect, you look amazing. xxx
Ooohh…!! Beautiful stuff.
wouuu, orange leather fabulousness!!
Actually loving every purchase you did, but orange leather coat has stolen my heart!
And you rock that pretty woven print dress, gorgeous!
besos
oh you let the dress get away!! What a bummer that it has so much flaws in it. I am curious about the leopard jumpsuit, I know you will make it look fabulous!!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see your Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
Love the dress you got, and the one you didn’t get. $50.00 sounds a little steep for something that needs to be resewn though.
When I recently asked friends what they would like their super power to be, one said, to only be surrounded by positive people. Huh. That would be cool.
Oh hey Orange Leather woman – you look stunning. too late to go back for the black print maxi dress, eh? You shopped so well and added gorgeous treasures. Boots are TDF. xo
I love that you had a two-timing Barbie! Hahaha!.
Your super power is that you think of things like two-timing Barbies even as a child.
Yeah, if Sue’s friend’s super power came true for you guys, you’d never see me!
Great haul. That maxi dress! You are forgiven for not buying the other one.
Well clearly, your super power is shopping. You find the most beautiful pieces. What a fun day!
You look amazing in orange leather! Great finds!
Orange Leather Woman, your superpower is shopping!
That huge print dress really is a stunner – I’d have been very tempted, despite it being a fixer-upper… Still, the psychedelic maxi you did buy is pretty amazing too, and the coat and both pairs of boots are fab. Show us the jumpsuit soon, please – I have a feeling you’ll rock it! xxx
Damn, I wish I could have gone to that show! I decided I wasn’t going because it was too close to the time I am going to New York, but as it turns out, I have pneumonia, so couldn’t have gone anyway. Yes, I would say your superpower is shopping too!
Love the shape on those orange boots, and the coat is a perfect match. Too bad about the flower maxi, but generally if something needs repairs, it will sit in a pile for months and not get worn, so I understand why you left it. I can see you rocking the animal print jumpsuit – what a funky shape! I like clothing that has extra stuff at the hips because I don’t have any of my own. Love the pretty colours in the Barbie dress.
I’m so sorry to hear you are so sick! Yikes : ( Sending some healing vibes your way. I do hope you’ll be better in time for your trip.
((((( Shelley )))))
What fun! Thanks for the play by play – next best thing to being there. 🙂
the suede coat that you ‘re wearing on the photo is a vintage must-have!!!
http://www.stylentonic.com
Looks like you scored! I love the first stole, and the necklace you made The orange-red boots and jacket were made for you!
Thanks for linking up with TH Tuesday!
jess xx
wwwelegantlydressedandstylish,com
Amazing post..Well done! I really love your blog. Keep going.
Many kisses
Lady Fur
Please check my last post blog http://www.welovefur.com
I really love all the vintage articles. The last one dress in fantastic and you look gorgeous. Regards
Oh sh*t, that coat and those boots! That hat! Aaaaaaah! So jealous! Hehe. <3
– Anna
http://www.melodicthriftychic.com
You find the best stuff!!
Darlene
Aaaah! I love all of what you bought, especially that last dress and the leather goods (exact match for the win!)
This sounds like so much fun.
And yes, all our lives should have more red carpet events and less vacuuming. It would make fabulous dresses so much more practical 😉
Looking fab Suzanne! I look forward to seeing you in those other beauties!
Perfect, perfect, perfect. I could feel the excitement of the day in your wirds. Thanks for having such good writing abilities. Would have loved to have been there. I have never been to such an awesome vintage sale.
Love all your pieces and yes you should have bought those two dresses (rubbing it in here). What is a little stitching on a cold winter’s evening? Although hurting spanx is not nice.
I think I remember you already possessing a red leather coat; am I right? Not that you shouldn’t buy an orange leather coat. Oh no. If they fit those gorgeous boots so well… then indeed you should purchase it.
I am never too good in remembering the exact colour.
Lovely shopping darling. How are you going to keep warm in that last beautiful dress now you have left the jacket behind? (I agree, would have been a bit much.)
Greetje
I read this with fascination! I adore vintage clothing, it makes your outfits, so one of a kind! I love what you bough including both of your orange pieces of super power leather! That primetime dress is fabulous, as are the boots with the fur lining.
Now, you have to do the painful thing. admit you made a mistake and open up that wallet..
get that wild dress if it is still available, and if it is , negotiate a better price!
Great post! One day we must shop together !
xx, Elle
http://mydailycostume.com
Great finds, Suz. Can’t wait to see them on you!
Superpowers of the Orange Leather Woman? It’s gotta have something to do with pumpkins and it’s gonna be Halloween soon, so be ready to spontaneously do magical things with pumpkins;-).
I should have stayed around for a day. Can I plan now to attend with you next year? I promise I won’t take anything you see first, we’ll just be shopping buddies. Yes, you should have taken home that dress, it looked stunning on you. But I’m so looking forward to seeing the Barbie dress on you, that would have been the dress I dreamed about as a teenager. And those lace up boots, I’m drooling over them. I tried some on when Tori was in town this past week and I’m still dreaming about them. Although they are no where near as fashionable as the treasure you found. Great day you had, my cute friend.