Slipping into something Seventies

Poynton, the village where I grew up, is anonymously sandwiched between the brighter lights of Macclesfield and Manchester so its own accolades are often muted. However, Poynton is home to vintage emporium Recollections Antiques, and this shop is most certainly a rare gem. Owner Angie Saddington Smith has built up a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous collectables which delight everyone from antique enthusiasts to those in search of a vintage style fix, like me. 

She has also recently added a room of vintage clothes which made my heart race when I first happened upon it. Angie handpicks the items herself (I might try and get her to reveal her sources in an interview one of these days!) So, it was my great pleasure to model some of my favourite garments for Angie on a visit recently. 

 First, I chose this blue 70's style blouse which ties into a big feature bow at the neck, and wore it with a simple black pinafore. The pinafore invites both blouses and long sleeved tops. I'll be wearing it with a crisp white shirt and knee-high leather boots this autumn.

Poring over patterns!

Making a feature of the neckline is very "Seventies secretary!"

The Seventies vibes continued with this sweet maxi dress. It feels quite smart, as if a rather fashion-forward hostess would have slipped into it before meeting her guests for the evening, with canapes and a Bellini.  I actually felt very Margot Ledbetter in this dress - for anyone familiar with 70's hit TV show, The Good Life! 

I wore the dress a few times in the summer with some simple black sandals. In places like Sheffield, a city very positive about individual personal style, the reaction was not one of raised eyebrows, but some enthusiastic compliments. I think now that contemporary fashion embraces the maxi, my Abba tribute was less fancy dress and more "Mamma Mia"!

Angie and I had a lot of fun and I'm sure there are more shoots in the pipeline. Recollections is, in my opinion, South Manchester's best kept secret because its rare to find shabby chic or vintage emporiums with a real heart. I hope it's there for years to come, providing me with fabulous retro clothes.

Summer slips away

I know when Summer is over because it's too chilly to walk back from the swimming pool with my hair still damp.

I also know when Summer is over when I catch myself thinking of how, not long ago it was standard to spend weekends lying in the grass getting too hot, holding my book up to shield away the enthusiastic glare of the July sun.

So, I thought it apt that this first post, as Autumn is arriving with its unsettled skies, is about nostalgia for those weeks of glorious weather this Summer, when the parks were packed and the weather was easy.

Despite being a lot closer to my local swimming pool than rowing boats and secret caves, I channeled Enid Blyton's 50's teenage adventurer this summer by pairing these nylon shorts with innocent shirts and flirty swimwear for my days in the grass.

I love this Cath Kidston swimsuit with its gorgeous scooped back. The bathing shorts are from Oxfam Originals on Oldham street  in Manchester, and the lipstick is Chanel Rouge Coco in 19, Gabrielle.

I've always liked this classic high-waist bathing style; these shorts lean towards nautical and I love how girlish  and coy they are. Certainly no danger of your bum falling out of these, as with most shorts made nowadays!

 The nice thing about this swimsuit is that paired with the shorts and with a light cardi slung over the top, it is a pretty halter top, but now, as the autumn approaches, it makes me feel like it's forever summer when I go to the local pool on a nippy autumn evening.

I also love these shorts because they multi-task; my favourite silk blouse looks so cute tucked into them. Although I fear this blouse may not look as nice as it did a few weeks ago, because it got mixed up with the wrong washing pile - silk is strictly hand wash only, which is why these vintage garments can be quite high maintenance! Worth it though, I feel.

The blouse is M&S from the 70's, when it was still "St Michael" and I got it from Recollections Antiques in my home town of Poynton, which has a fabulous Vintage clothes room. I could happily live there - owner Angie Saddington Smith has an eye for 

amazing stuff.

Oh, for those summer days in the grass! And now I actually have to dry my hair before I leave the swimming pool at night.

'til next time-

The Little Chic.