Silly trousers

My blog has been somewhat lacking in the whole 'Sadie's Wardrobe' department lately, mainly due to the ridiculously long winter, a shortage of space, and a shortage of time (and a shortage of chocolate-based incentives). However, here in France, May is basically ALL bank holiday, giving me a chance to a) move the furniture around in the flat so I have a place to do my best posing and b) don silly outfits without the risk of The Metro Stare.

On reflection, this outfit isn't even that silly, and I'd put it on in England without batting an eyelid. As for the top half - well, who actually does their hair and make up on a bank holiday? Not me, that's for sure! So I will leave my giant spot and bright-orange-towel-wrapped hair to the imagination.

But outfit photos aren't all lies, don't worry... I do plan to face the commute AND the office in this attire next week.

I bought the trousers for just €5 at 'Vintage Desire' in Montmartre, just around the corner from Abbesses and Tudo Bom. According to the shopping bag, there are actually two in Paris (I think I have been to the other one as well without realising it!).

Addresses:
28 rue Yvonne le Tac
75018

32 rue des Rosiers (right next to loads of amazing falafel places!)
75004

Sadie xxx

P.s. I must confess that my sandals are a new purchase and are not ethical. However, I have made sure that they are excellent quality and built to last, as a sort of justification - and they are my only pair of sandals.

Paris Ethical Shopping Guide: Free'p'star

Free'p'star is one of many little vintage shops that are scattered around Paris, but judging by the fact that it is always swarming with shoppers, it's one of the better ones! The shop has a really odd layout, with two mezzanines on either side that you have to climb up a ladder to access. At the moment, one side is piled high with boots at €5 a pair. If I remember correctly, there was a rather cool pair of platforms up for grabs.

Like many shops in the city, there is a basement too, containing lots of sale items - adding a nice literal dimension to the term 'bargain basement'. Don't be put off by the narrow spiral stairs!

Before researching this post, I was unaware that this shop is actually one of three bearing the same name - which is great news, although I haven't yet visited the others! They are all in fairly close proximity, scattered around the bustling Marais area in the 4th Arrondissement. There is a little map on the Free'p'star website so you can go on a little vintage 'crawl' if you have a spare afternoon.

Addresses:

8 rue Sainte-croix de la Bretonnerie, 4th Arrondissement
61 rue de la Verrerie, 4th Arrondissement
20 rue de Rivoli, 4th Arrondissement

Sadie xxx

Paris Ethical Shopping Guide: Guerrisol

For the ultimate thrifting experience, vintage fans should head to one of Paris' many Guerrisol shops for a good old afternoon of rummaging. After picking up a shopping basket at the door, battle your way through the seasoned Parisian thrifters (people who simply want cheap clothing and hipsters alike) to grab a spot at the edge of one of these huge clothing 'bins', and delve to the bottom to see what treasures you can unearth.

For those are aren't big fans of the vulture-esque 'bun fight' method, there are plenty of shirts and jackets hanging up around the edges, and no shortage of that much-coveted peterpan collar or grungey denim jacket.

The quality and condition of the clothes varies wildly. Previously, I've been surprised to see paint-splattered shirts with giant holes in the armpits cosied up to cashmere jumpers and Comptoir des Cotonniers dresses.

Prices fluctuate throughout the week - sometimes everything is €5, other times it drops to €3, with shoes and frilly 80s wedding dresses (!) selling for a little more. Saturdays are mayhem, but if you pop in during the week you can browse at your leisure.

See this post for a little outfit sourced mostly at Guerrisol, as well as Lyzi's super cute pink skirt found when we met up for a day last summer for shopping with Ella!

Addresses:

19, avenue de Clichy, 17th Arrondissement
96, boulevard de Barbes, 18th Arrondissement
45, boulevard de la Chapelle, 18th Arrondissement
17, boulevard Rochechouart, 9th Arrondissement

For more information: Guerrisol Website

Sadie xxx

Elbow Patches: Repairing my favourite cardigan

The other day I was pretty sad to discover that my favourite cardigan EVER had developed a rather large hole on the right elbow. Before I even had time to get fully upset, another hole sprung up on the other side. I never thought I'd ever have a genuine need for elbow patches, but there you go. Excessive head-on-hand-lecture-listening has taken its toll on this little thrifted favourite.

I popped to a little haberdashery to see what my options were. I nearly went for some teacher-esque corduroy ones, but settled on these faux-suede ones instead. Ridiculously, they cost more than the cardigan itself (£2 vs. €3.50!) but to me, it's well worth it! The cardigan should have been a lot more expensive - it's made from cashmere, and originally from Jaeger!

If you look at this photo, you can see how thin all the surrounding fabric is...

Attaching the elbow patches 

Using iron-on elbow patches is pretty self explanatory, but I needed to deviate a bit from the instructions! Firstly, I had to sew up the actual hole, just to make the surface a bit more even. I also decided to make the patches a bit smaller by cutting off the edges (but leaving the pre-cut sewing holes in tact!). I think these patches are also designed for men's jackets, so are a little too big for women's cardigans.

When positioning the patches, I marked out where the tops and bottoms should go with pins, then made sure they were completely symmetrical before pinning the actual patch on to the cardigan.

Then all you need to do is iron them on, and for extra security, you can also sew around the edge!

 

Repairing old favourites is a great way to be a bit more environmentally friendly. The rest of the cardigan is fine, but cold elbows are no fun!

Sadie xxx

Dusting the cobwebs off the sewing machine

There is something about writing essays for uni that makes me really want to sew. It's probably procrastination, but I also find it really relaxing, and I also love the idea of making things with my very own hands. I'd take fabric and thread over writing out long bibliographies any day!

Now I've finished my first major essay of the year, I'm deliberately giving myself a few weeks off to do things I feel too guilty doing when there is a deadline looming. I brought these three retro patterns back from home after Christmas, and found this salmon-pink fabric for €5 at a vintage shop in Montmartre (living the dream!). It's a bit more pink than it looks in the photo, and I think it'll make a lovely blouse à la this one, but probably with sleeves this time.

I'll let you know how it goes...

What's your favourite thing to do to de-stress? Does anyone else sew or knit?

Sadie xxx

Is it OK to spend a lot on second-hand clothes?

Buying ethically can be difficult when it comes to certain categories of clothes. Shoes are one of them. Once you get past the 'is leather ethical?' debate, you've got to find a pair you like and then make sure they fit, otherwise there is no point in having them anyway. This is a bit of a problem as a lot of 'ethical' shoe shops are online only, meaning you can't really try them on before you buy (important when you have awkward feet like mine!).

One way to solve the leather debate is to buy plastic-y faux-leather shoes on the highstreet, but then you get the supply chain issues associated with fast fashion. Alternatively, you can invest in good quality, usually leather, shoes that are built to last (and actually worth re-soling a few times). At least this second option is good for the environment, though not particularly vegetarian.

Alternatively, and the most ethical source I can think of, you can get them second-hand. My feet have been getting rather chilly in my ballet pumps here, so winter boots were required. I tried out some of the 'investment-style' shoes in some higher-end high street shops, but by chance stumbled upon these in a Dépôt-Vente on the way home from work. Dépôt-Vente shops are sort of like designer thrift shops, stocking quality second hand, where the seller earns a comission on what they sell on behalf of the original owner. I'm pretty sure I've seen similar things in England!

The only issue is, the items tend to be quite expensive. I paid €70 for these Kickers boots, which are in excellent condition but have got signs of wear. I estimate they'd be about €120 new. In cash-strapped student/intern times, is this acceptable as a price? What value should second hand clothes have?

I'm in two minds about it...

(but look, aren't they beautiful?)

Sadie xxx

The Fru-Gal Challenge

Famous in ethical fashion circles for its 'Green Carpet Challenge', Livia Firth's ethical lifestyle website, Eco Age, also plays host to the 'Fru-Gal Challenge'. The idea is this: bloggers, universities and members of the public are challenged to put together an ethical outfit for each day of the week, and take a photo of what they come up with! The site has already featured over 250 outfits, and recently I was lucky enough to get the opportunity to add 5 of my own.

Seeing as a bit of time has now passed since I took part, I thought I'd take this opportunity to post them here!

I'm not used to blogging such huge photos, but I promise it's for blog aesthetics rather than vanity, haha.

Monday: Retro Blouse

I have a thing for retro blouses, and this is just one in my ever growing collection! I love ‘matchy-matchy’ outfits, and retro shirts are just perfect for this: wear one thing of each colour featured in the pattern, and voilà, you have an outfit. This is especially good when it means you get to wear brightly coloured tights.

I bought the blouse from a vintage shop in Bristol, the skirt from a charity shop (shortened a bit), the belt from a carboot and the velvet jacket from a charity shop. The shoes are hand-me-downs from my mum.

Tuesday: Vintage Cardigan

I’m currently catching up on Mad Men (I know I’m a bit late to the bandwagon), and I couldn’t resist this rose-pink cardigan found at a vintage shop in Paris – it reminds me of something Peggy Olsen would wear! I bought the skirt in a charity shop the day before I moved here, and the belt is from my childhood dressing-up box. It’s a bit of a strange colour combination, but I quite like it!

Wednesday: Red and Blue

Here in Paris, there aren’t many charity shops, but I’ve found a replacement for when I just need a good old thrifting session. Guerrisol sells second hand clothes, mostly for under €5 a piece. If you have the patience to rummage, you can get some really good things, like this oversized cardigan which I bought for €3. It’s super warm and super slouchy, perfect for the weather at the moment. I’m wearing it with a People Tree dress and a belt from my childhood dressing up box. The only problem: people here don’t seem to wear much colour so I stand out a bit…

Thursday: My favourite things

This is my all-time favourite dress, which I picked up from the Motel Recycle and Re-invent range a few years ago. Combined with my all-time favourite cardigan (Jaeger, and cashmere, by way of a charity shop!), this is, well… my all-time favourite outfit. I’ve worn the cardigan so much that I’ve made a hole in the elbow, so I think a purchase of some elbow patches is in order...

Friday: Homemade

I’ve been buying up lots of vintage sewing patterns lately, and this sleeveless blouse is one of the things I made. It fits like a glove – that’s the beauty of making things from scratch! The skirt was €5 from the ultimate Parisian thrift store, Guerrisol, and I had to alter it a bit because it was just far too long. I really love sewing, and I would definitely encourage anyone who is in doubt to have a go!

The rose-pink cardigan is from a vintage shop and the shoes are hand-me-downs from my mum.


Want more from Eco Age?
Like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter! The Fru-Gal challenge also have their own Twitter profile.

Sadie xxx

P.S. Millions of thanks to my housemate for taking these photos!

My retro laptop bag

I think I was probably a little bit too much in 'Brighton mode' when I bought this mini retro suitcase on my summer holiday this year, with the intention of using it to carry my laptop into work in Paris. Let's just say I stick out like a really really sore thumb, with the brightest colour in the average commuter's outfit being dark navy. I secretly sort of like the fact that I can feel all eyes (judgemental or admiring) flicking to it, or even outright staring at it for an entire journey.

It's absolutely ideal for my beast of a laptop (forget the sleek iMac blogger look), and once it is lined with a sheet of foam it provides just enough protection.

I bought it at To Be Worn Again, one of my favourite shops in Brighton, and THE place to go if you want to buy vintage shoes (they have an entire room upstairs with walls and walls of shoes arranged in colour order). I actually spotted it in the window on my way out, on our very last day in Brighton, and I had just enough holiday money left over to buy it. Practical, pretty, cheap(ish) and vintage... how could I resist??

I must stop referring to it as a 'vintage laptop bag' though, as I somehow don't think that was its original purpose!

What do you think of it?

Sadie xxx

P.S. I love all of the stationery shops here. I bought this little notebook on the starionery floor at Le Bon Marché (one of the few things I could actually afford, in and amongst the €1000 pens and other ridiculously priced writing paraphernalia...).

Monkee Genes!

When I made the decision to start buying ethically earlier this year, I was a bit worried about how I'd buy

ethical jeans, having not heard of any companies who sold them - or at least, companies who had a choice of more than one or two styles. But Monkee Genes have saved the day with their huge range of design options... with 'Skinny', 'Supa-Skinny', 'Skin', Flares, 'Slim Fit', Shorts AND Chinos to choose from, in the largest selection of different fabrics and finishes I have ever seen (have a look here).

I chose their 'Skin' Fit style, which is the skinniest of all the styles available on their website. And I must say I'm genuinely very very impressed. These jeans use their 'Bamboo' fabric which is made from natural fibres known as Tencel (more sustainable than cotton), making them super soft. But the best thing I noticed about the fabric is that it somehow maintains the shape of the jeans. I've worn them most days since they arrived and they still feel as good as new every time. Nothing worse than baggy knees!

The jeans are made in a factory in Indonesia which is certified by the Soil Association, and has commitment to not using sweatshops and child labour - one of the brand's biggest selling points in my eyes. That, and the fact that they are so well made... I doubt I'll have any trouble with zips breaking or seams ripping after a close inspection of the details.

It's surprisingly hard to model jeans but I hope these photos give you an idea! Thought I'd roll up the legs a bit as it was a sunny day :).

Jeans c/o Monkee Genes, Vintage Lace top: Carboot, Vintage Blazer: Charity Shop, Shoes: Vintage shop in south of France!

For these photos I dared to venture to a public place with my tripod and camera remote. I spotted this location on my university campus a few weeks ago: a strangely 'forgotten' old changing room that is still in use as a ladies bathroom but contains hints of its former use (and décor!). The pipes I'm standing on were still connected to the central heating, and I assume once heated benches under the pegs. As soon as I walked in here I knew it needed to be used as an outfit location... just needed to pluck up the courage to face the risk of people walking in and having to awkwardly explain that I'm a 'fashion blogger', not just really weird...

So... who here hates posing for photos in a public place? I'm never doing it again, haha!

Sadie xxx

P.S. Monkee Genes have kindly offered 20% off for the rest of the month if you enter SADIES1220 at the checkout :). I'd really recommend them if you want to invest in a good quality pair of jeans. And they do half sizes too! Who'd have thought you could buy size 9 jeans?!

Jumpsuit

Lectures were cancelled today, so I got up to some serious procrastination in the form of prancing around in the 'conservatory' of my house, posing with pretty cupboards (?!) and experimenting with upside-down outfit shots. Needless to say, the reason why you don't see many upside down outfit shots is because they are hugely unflattering... Anyway, thought it would be the perfect occasion to show off my new vintage jumpsuit, which is a cross between crazy 80s maternity wear and something that is exceedingly cool. But mostly the former. Nevertheless, it's very comfy, so it's a winner in my books!

And you can do this...

(Out-take: You can never be unhappy in a jumpsuit!)

Sadie xxx

Dungarees

For my birthday, I received a generous £30 voucher from my friends (thanks guys)! I was pondering how to spend it for about a month, thinking I should probably buy something for my impending 'year abroad' work placement, but in the end I came away with these dungarees. I've wanted a new pair of dungarees for ages - I do have an old ill-fitting chambray pair, but these ones are much smarter (very APC, don't you think?). Anyway, after buying them I wore them for 4 days straight. That is a testament to how comfy and easy-to-style they are!

I wouldn't have naturally thought to pair them with this shirt, bought at the vintage shop I mentioned previously for £4, but by some happy accident they found themselves together when I was trying on my 'purchases of the day' to show my housemates. I rather like the combination - I feel like I should be on the set of 'The Good Life', especially with my rather wild-looking morning hair and 70s satchel.

On the subject of hair... I'm definitely due for a hair-cut soon... haha. The reason it's so volumised is because I'd just blowdryed it properly, in a hope that its 'settled state' would be a little less flat than usual. My hair doesn't like to co-operate though.

This may well be the last thing I buy from a proper shop for a very long time... I've had what could be described as an 'ethical fashion epiphany' since reading Lucy Siegle's To Die For, and now feel like I should be doing more to help stop morally corrupt practices in fast fashion production. But more on that in a later post.

In other news, I have just been accepted as an official blogger for Oxfam Fashion - which is basically my dream job!! I am really really pleased and excited about the next few months! If you are interested, you will be able to find my articles here - I'd highly recommend visiting their blog for lots of vintage-related goodness!

And finally - don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Sadie xxx

P.S. I forgot to explain the backdrop to these photos: I live in a large mass of student housing, where builders think it is fine to just chuck all of their rubbish into pathways. Along with the 'classic' stolen traffic cone, I thought it would be a nice unusual setting, to indicate how unglamorous my lifestyle actually is...

Out and About

On Saturday, the boy and I headed into town to have a look around the vintage shops. Digbeth in Birmingham is filled with hidden gems, and on our trip we discovered a shop we had never seen before - a great find as it was filled with extra cheap items (£4 for a blouse... yes please!). I'm a bit fed up with vintage shops charging extortionate prices, so this was a very welcome addition to my list of shopping haunts. The shop had some very pretty displays, including a row of russian dolls keeping an eye on customers from a central table, a pile of retro suitcases, and even an old Biba bag. I love finding places like this on roads I wouldn't usually wander down!

I made a few purchases in Digbeth (no doubt to be featured in a blog post soon!), then we headed to the dreaded Bullring to spend a voucher I received for my birthday. The Bullring is a complete no-go zone on a Saturday... I struggle to comprehend the amount of money that must change hands there in an hour, if the queues for the escalators alone are 15 people long. Seeking a bit of tranquility, we popped down to Selfridges for a nose around at all of the interesting food on the ground floor, as well as a quick look at the really expensive handbags next to the champagne lounge...

Anyway, on our way out, and with the enthusiasm of two excitable young children, we decided to try out a sushi bar! We were watching the conveyer belt go around for a good 15 minutes, waiting for some Vegetable Tempura to pop up, before a kind soul pointed out that you can just request for something if you ask a waitress! Dur. At least the wait allowed me to take (far too many) photos of the conveyer belt. It was very entrancing.

Note to self: brush hair before having photo taken on expensive camera!

If anyone wanted to visit the vintage shop, it can be found at 91 Allison Street, Digbeth, Birmingham. I'd highly recommend it! There is a good little vegetarian café on the same street called Warehouse Café - another favourite of mine.

Sadie xxx

P.S. Stay tuned as I have a giveaway coming up at the end of this week!