Another year older...

So am I allowed to say that I’m getting older? Well turning 24 isn’t that bad I suppose. But I would like to dedicate this blog post to a few of the lovely presents I was given this year. I have in many previous posts rambled about my own little mummy and all the great gifts she has given me in the past. This year mum sent a couple of amazing gifts. One of them was a watch from Octopus, it’s a crazy digital thing with a 60s inspired pattern in green, turquoise, blue and white. The watch looks more like a bracelet to be honest which I like. I’m not the typical ‘watch type’, not that I’m using the sun to tell time but I rather fill my wrists with crazy bracelets, hence why this new watch is ideal!

My little sister Madde bought me a lovely brown leather bag from NEXT and my friend Maria got me this pretty glass bracelet in white, green and turquoise. Rowan and Bobbles got me a vintage looking locket so I need to find some cute photos to put in there.

Scarves!

Since moving to England five years ago, I have lived in about seven rented properties, and every room has lacked storage space for clothes. However, the wardrobes in the big two bed house I am currently sharing with my best friend Minna is a nice treat for anyone with a large amount of clothes and accessories since there are six of them! It’s like taken out of a scene from ‘Sex & City’. Another of my obsessions is scarves, and I have loads of them. So one of the wardrobes is basically filled with scarves.

I have four siblings and they are all spread out around the globe. My sister Mimmi has lived in Hong Kong for the past three years and I went to visit her last year and found a place called Stanley Market. If you ever get the chance to go to HK, go there! It’s very cheap and filled with clothes, accessories, bags, shoes… you name it! There is where most of my scarves come from since I went a bit crazy when I was there and bought a few. My sister knows my love for scarves so she usually brings me two-three every time I see her. Some of them have lovely decorative patterns on them and others are just plain. Pink, orange, green, blue, purple… and so on!

Another one for my MUM

Since my mum is one of the most amazing people in my life, I thought I would keep ranting about her a wee more! Similar to the ‘blue hippie-top story’, there is another item of my mum’s which I absolutely love. If you have read my previous posts, you may have noticed my slight obsession for ponchos and floaty tops.

Mumsie got this lovely dark red knitted poncho maybe eight years ago. It’s perfect in the spring and autumn, and looks ace with a brown or black skirt, tights and high leather boots. My parents try to visit me and my little sister in UK at least twice a year, and they always brings us fun treats. Around two-three years ago, my mum said – I think you’ll like this present Maja! She opened the bag, and there it was; the lovely poncho! My mum is truly amazing and has an ace fashion sense! Looking forward to see what interesting things I can find in her wardrobe this time!

My mum’s bohemian clothing!

Going back to what I spoke in a previous post, about things you can find in your relatives wardrobes. My mum has thrown away most of her clothes from her younger days. However, I think her style is probable more interesting now than it was back in the 60s and 70s. My lovely 50-something mother is an inspiration when it comes to clothing as she can one day wear the most gorgeous bohemian outfit and the next day a smart suite. Both of us love to wear colourful garments and have a slight obsession with scarves.

At the moment I’m on my way home to Sweden to visit my family and friends who I haven’t seen for ages. Every time I go home for a quick visit, I don’t bring too much with me (however, this time I managed to pack six dresses!). The main reason for that is obviously because I prefer travelling light, but also because I always get my mum to go through the clothes ‘she doesn’t really need’. So lets see what I can find this time!

Mum bought this amazing blue tie dye top approximately ten years ago. It looks like a typical bohemian/hippie top and it’s made in a see-through synthetic fabric. It’s a fitted top but it has floaty arms. For years I was borrowing it every other week and begging my mum to give it to me but she wouldn’t! However, one day she gave in and handed the lovely top over to me. To be fair I have worn it a few times a month for the past three years now.

Hippie-Bag Obsession!

I love the colourful so called ‘hippie-bags’! I got my first one from my little sister which she bought in Tanzania. This big bag is made in a thick pink/white tie dye fabric and in this I can basically fit as much as I can in a normal sized backpack. My second bag of this type was bought in Thailand a few years ago by my best friend Emma. Contrary to the bag I got from my sister, this cotton fabric bag has a mustardy-yellow colour and goes well with anything from a flowery skirt to a pair of jeans.

While browsing online shops the other night for some summery floaty clothes, I came across some beautiful ‘hippie-bags’, I want to buy them all but may have to decide only two:

The first and second bag in the series of pictures can be found at one of my favourite shops - Shared Earth. The first one is a felt bag with multi-coloured balls while the other one has been put together with embroidered patchwork. Shared Earth is great for anything from recycled cards, boxes and frames to colourful skirts and tops.

The third bag can be purchased at the American psychedelic shop Sunshine Octopus. I love this vintage cotton patch bag with its hidden outer pocket and adjustable shoulder strap.

At the bohemian shop Soul Flower I managed to find the fourth bag, which is made in stone-washed cotton and has earth-tone patches. It’s definitely worth the $28!

More Recycled Treats

I want to pick up where I left in the previous blog post and show another couple of garments which I managed to find at the Leeds Community Clothes Exchange .

I had for at least a couple of years been looking for something like this beautiful bolero, and there it was just hanging in the top section at the June clothes exchange. As I often wear dresses but don’t want to bring a long-sleeved cardigan everywhere I go, I believe that this type of clothing is an excellent solution.

This old-pink crochet bolero only goes half way down my back, which is perfect if when wearing my purple dress that has a little bow which ties half way down the back. This way it allows the bow to stay visible and not just looking like a random lump underneath a standard cardigan. This garment may not keep me warm but it’s pretty and it’s a smart choice when going for dinner parties.

Next up is this knitted light pink cardigan with its interesting shape. It has long sleeves and is longer in the back. As there are no buttons, I instead clip my blue fabric flower to it. This is another great option when wearing a smarter dress or top.

Recycled Treats

One of my highlights is to go down to 25 spaces in Leeds for the monthly ‘Leeds Community Clothes Exchange’. One of my friends works there and I will hopefully soon be volunteering there. It’s usually the last Saturday of each month. However, thanks to a grant, the space is currently being refurbished.

It’s a great concept where people bring their clothes and accessories down to this little place and then exchanges them with other people’s items. This does not only enhance the community spirit but also fulfills the aim to ‘reduce consumption and raise awareness of unethical consumer habits’ as written on its Facebook fan page.

Since moving out of my last house and going through all my hundreds of garments, which I never really use, I managed to get a whole bin bag full of clothing. So I will be dragging that down to the August clothes exchange.

First time I ever went, about a year ago I think, I managed to get this amazing knitted blue/turquoise poncho that I wear all year around. It’s convenient when sitting around a late evening fire as well as when going shopping.

Last month I brought four garments (one of my favorite dresses which was too small, two tops and a tang-top) and obviously got to choose four new ones. I got this lovely 60s inspired dress with a lovely pattern in white, black and yellow. What I like the most about this dress is that I can wear one of my short lace skirts underneath it, which makes it look like a tutu. Also, I do love the neck line which makes me look a bit slimmer on top.

Nana's Wardrobe

The best place to find a stylish vintage garment that no one else has, is your mum’s wardrobe from the 50-80s, or in my case; my grandmother’s wardrobe. My 80 year old nana from a small little village in Sweden had the greatest fashion sense of all time I would say. I have many times rummaged her wardrobes for shoes, bags, dresses and so on. Although, my nana was really skinny (and still is) and had a great figure, while I am stuck with my plus-size curves, therefore, I couldn’t fit in all of it.

One of my favourite findings is a beautiful long-sleeved black dress with green flowers on it. This dress, with its high collar and green buttons all the way up to the neck, is made from a very elastic and thick fabric. Unfortunately, the tag is long gone so I won’t be able to describe the fabric better than that.

I have used this dress hundreds of times since I found it, around 16 years old of age, therefore, it’s been washed many times, but it still looks the same.

A few years ago I told my nana that this is my favourite garment and that I would cry if I lost it. Nana then laughed and told me she bought it between the 60s and 70s for a funeral! Now, I was a bit shocked since this is a very short dress and if you undo the buttons, frankly, I think it’s a bit too revealing for funeral. Well all I could say was “good for you nana” and thanking her for not throwing it away and letting me find it 40 odd years later!