Wednesday 29 June 2011

Pleat Treat

I bought this handbag at a Church fete a couple of weeks ago, from the knitting stall. My friend snagged a sensible chocolate brown one with a tortoiseshell style handle but my £4 went on this beauty. My sister's first words upon seeing it were "That is so wrong. It looks like a merkin."


The bag hate makes me more determined to use it.


If you don't know what a merkin is, Google it. Just not at work m'kay? Well, I for one was very pleased with my handmade, limited edition bag. From henceforth, in a tribute to the classic 'Birkin' bag, I shall call him 'Merkin-bag'.

I styled it with a couple of other bargains snagged from local fairs and charity shops. Light, pleated 80s-style skirts are massively in right now and I was coveting this one from Toppers - but, as luck would have it I found an original for £2.50 in a chazza shop: get in! It is utterly see through when faced with sunlight or flash photography though. It really needs to be layered over another shorter dress or worn with a slip. In fact the only reason I can show you the picture below is that I wore a dress as a vest and thus my knickers remain forever an enigmatic secret.

If you look closely you can see
Snoopy on my thigh: it's not ink, it's me dress.
Scarf: 70s, Fara Charity Shop (£2)
Dress (worn as vest): H&M kids circa 1998 (Cannot remember)
Skirt: St Michael, 80s, Fara Charity Shop (£2.50)
Shoes: New Look Sale 2010 (£8)

The other bargain-basement-buy was a floral, 70s scarf, seen here knotted about my neck air-hostess stylee.
Keep your eyes peeled in future posts for a myriad of neck, waist and torso enhancing scarf tips. It's my new big thing. I want a massive Hermes size (because I've too much of a thrifty povvy type to own an actual Hermes) - if you have one of those, as far as I can see, you don't even need any other clothes.

The whole soft, late 70s-early 80s aspect to this look satisfies me. It has enough about it to give that 'tough chick' vibe of 70s workwear, but without needing the overt, masculine colours, so it's lighter and brighter for summer. The pleats have a delightful swing to them which is cute and sassy without being saccharin. All in all (with a slip) a sound look.

22 comments:

  1. It's the best looking merkin I've seen in a long while. I don't think I could have resisted it either.
    You wear the pleated skirt so well and the scarf is very chic. x

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  2. *snort*

    I love it! The merkin and the rest of the outfit xx

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  3. You said merkin, he he.

    I need some air hostess scarf in my life.

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  4. Merkin. HAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. That is all.

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  5. Lol, Merkin, my innocent self didnt know what a merkin was,hahayy
    well that bag is cute and fuzzy.
    you looking good in your pleated skirt Mamas.

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  6. Hahaha, merkin! Priceless. Helluva funky merkin mind you.
    Love the skirt.xxx

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  7. You have a great sense of humor ... and style! Both the qualities which I really admire! :)

    The pleated skirt look good on you!

    ♡ from © tanvii.com

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  8. I think it's fab!
    Technicolor fuzzy stuff works for me ;) & more to the point it was lovingly hand knitted & not churned out by a machine somewhere in China.
    Take care my dear,
    Jennie
    xXx

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  9. Great outfit, love your skirt. x

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  10. You look gorgeous! I love your skirt, and scarf. I think I need to go shopping with you, because you seem to be the Queen of bargains! :D <3

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  11. That bag looks so fun! I really like how you styled it. You look very pretty!

    Thank you so much for your lovely comment & compliment, and for visiting my blog!! :)

    xo,
    Kirstin Marie

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  12. heheee..... it's a fabulous merkin bag - I think they could catch on!! Loving the outfit too - swit swoo!!

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  13. Teehee! You rock the 70s look so well, love the scarf xx

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  14. Golly gosh and wow. What a bargain in a true sense of the word. Amazing purchases. You have opened my eyes yet again to style - thank you.

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  15. I don't really see the point in sensible when it comes to handbags. Fuzzy merkins are the way forward.

    And yes please for the scarf hints. I have loads but never wear them because I don't know what to do with them.

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  16. Your sisters comment made me chortle. As long as your happy that's the main thing. I recently bought a hat that my other half described as 'astonishing'. But having worn it out on several occasions he has now grown used to it. :-)

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  17. It's so wrong and yet so right :) I love it. Amazing colours.

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  18. Uhooi,
    Wow,, It works great and creative,,

    Uhooi.blogspot.com

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  19. I need to get me a merkin!!!

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Let me know what you think!