Recently I went to gorgeous Wallingford in Oxfordshire for a friend's birthday. It was a beautiful day and Wallingford is a truly gorgeous place which I'd love to visit for longer than the time it takes for a birthday meal. As we were leaving the town to make the sojourn home, we pulled up at a red traffic light and naturally, I glanced to my left to find an Oxfam in front of my eyes. With the most perfect looking vintage coat (or so I thought, rightly so!) in the window. It was a Sunday, we had to go. There was no chance I was going to get it (nor did I need it but that's beside the point)
Somehow, I found myself texting my friend curiously mentioning it and wondering if perhaps she might be passing said Oxfam tomorrow. She laughingly returned a message saying that she would be walking into town and would have a look. A phone call the next day, to check on size told me that I had a good eye apparently, as it was a mint condition Jaeger vintage coat that the shop ladies hastened to add was a really good quality buy.
Finally, coat and I met this Satuday at my birthday lindy-hop outing, where K came up to celebrate my birthday! It was just as perfect as I had briefly, for 2 seconds (really, it was only that long- the lights changed) viewed it and fits me perfectly. Pure wool, it kept me wonderfully warm at church on Sunday morning.
I teamed it with my other designer charity shop vintage recent find- the Aquascutum skirt, an H&M cardigan, Warehouse via Charity-shop blouse with vintage pressed flower brooch, Hush-puppies (totally forgot I had these! Thanks mice for making me sort out under the chest of drawers!) and Primark binocular case bag and I felt achieved quite a pleasing (if unironed!) ensemble for me!
We had the most aaaaaaaaaamazing time on Saturday night, it's literally the first time in years that I have had so many people celebrate my birthday (if ever!) - I had one or two incredible dances, somehow managing to get asked to dance by a couple of experts (who I am sure totally regretted it!), lots of my friends danced and laughed lots! On Sunday evening, we went for our first private lesson with Simon Selmon, Mr Swing dance UK which was great, he really ironed out some teething difficulties- he's a great teacher, very kind and helpful! I am so excited and can't wait for our next lesson! If ever there was an less noble incentive not to do any shopping, it is definitely is saving for dance classes as we can only afford a few! We've booked up for the Brighton Lindy festival in April which I am totally excited about! Now got to find somewhere to stay that isn't expensive (eeek!). Totally excited and psyched by lindy possibilities and the hope/yearning to get better/get somewhere with it!!!
Linking up to Visible Monday with Patti at Not dead yet style and a whole host of other lovelies in gorgeous attire!
Ooh, and here are two lovely shots of Wallingford. This is the Thames and there are all sorts of lovely quaint shops and wonderful walks (and a castle!)
