Tuesday 27 July 2010

A Night At The Opera

 
Although a rather refined English lady, my late Grandmother adored charity shops and jumble sales. She'd pick out elegant evening gowns, fancy hats and extravagant accessories for me and I'd say they were lovely but pointless as I had nowhere to wear them. Grandma would reply, "My dear, buy something of beauty and the occasion will present itself." How right she was. I have an outfit for every occasion and, unlike many of my friends, never have to panic buy for an event I've been invited to.

My night at the opera outfit:



"Young Mayfair" evening gown (Jumble Sale), Vintage bag (Car Boot sale), Velvet opera gloves (Inherited), Gilt & pearl statement earrings (TopShop via Charity shop), Suede platforms (Debenhams' sale), Vintage opera glasses (Car boot sale), Edwardian Ostrich feather stole (Inherited)

The pièce de résistance has to be this 1950's handbag by Dorset Rex of Fifth Avenue I bought at a car boot sale for 50p, I love the lucite handle and the pearl and diamonte detailing.

Now I just need an invitation.

47 comments:

  1. Perfect! It is such a good idea to have an outfit for every occasion as I recently found out. xx

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  2. Glamorous as always, darling!
    Thank you for your kind comment yesterday, it means a lot x

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  3. You look fabulous in that outfit, as always. I think that would be the ideal outfit to pose for in some gorgeous olde worlde sepia photographs... they would look so cool.

    btw - check this out.

    http://www.festival-of-motoring.co.uk/

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  4. Very elegant - love the opera glasses. Got a box at the ballet with 3 friends last Christmas, which was a first for me and good fun. Wasn't dressed anywhere near as glam as this though! xx

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  5. Vix you look so glamorous, you'll have to make an event suitable for the outfit x

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  6. Thats a very chic look and that handbag is an amazing find!!! Lucky you

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  7. oh love the outfit and the clutch is fab xxxx

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  8. what a lovely outfit and the clutch is divine, my dear!

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  9. And when I clicked on the post, there was me thinking you had just dressed like that to head down the shops and I would have been unsurprised if you had. Fabulous as always

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  10. You look so glam. And that little bag is so darling. x

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  11. OMG, you look amazing! Great opera look!

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  12. Dear Vix,
    granny was a very wise woman!
    I am the person friends & family turn to when one of those rare special occasions arise.
    I sorted my sister out with vintage shoes for her wedding & kitted my other sister out with an elegant floor length vintage frock for a posh gala dinner.
    However I still manage to get in to a complete flap myself, when I get invited to something special.
    It's not because I don't have anything befitting to wear but I am faced with the dilemma of too many pretty frocks to choose from.
    The Dorset-Rex bag is divine; I can’t believe you paid only 50p for it, AMAZING score!
    I also adore the dress; it’s simply stunning on you…
    I love how you’ve teamed it with your inherited items.
    I’ve never been to the opera but hubby went to a matinee at the Royal Opera House a few Saturday’s ago & he was muchly impressed!
    I’ve got a wedding & a christening to go to before this year is out & I’ve kitted myself out with a hat for each occasion but no doubt I’ll spend hours deciding what to put on my body…
    xXx

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  13. Oh wow! You look amazing!! you find so many great pieces. x

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  14. Very glam! That bag too - such a find!
    I fit into the latter category - I always panic buy because I am never satisfied with what I have!

    Lou x - craftyandquirky.blogspot.com

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  15. What can I say Vix but that you look perfect in every way! I absolutely adore the handbag and must say that your Gran was a very wise woman.

    I have a friend who gets season tickets to the opera every year. So far the closest I have come to the opera is seeing the stage production of The Phantom of the Opera and the movie too. Gerard Butler...YUMMY!

    xoxo, Bonnie

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  16. Vix, I'm not sure I've come across ANYone who has more "class" and style than you! I'm not sure there would be an occasion where you wouldn't stand out as the Belle of the Ball.

    You have the body, the "eye", the "knack", and the good fortune to come across REAL treasures and wear them with verve and beauty.

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  17. Beautiful Beautiful outfit!

    So classy and elegant!

    Best wishes from one blogger to another,

    ~Zabrinah

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  18. Look how stunning you are, Vix! This is my favorite outfit yet! XO!

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  19. Lovely blog and great sense of style. I want to follow.
    But I don't like fans of blogs I want to exchange style&fashion tips.

    Check my blog. Let me know if you want to be friends through friendconnect.

    http://dollsfactory.blogspot.com/

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  20. OM bloody G!!!How utterly superlative!!!You look every inch the lady!O,so very glamourous!Bugger the invitation,just do the groceries!!!Or,just get Jon to drive you around,and you can wave out the window at your adoring fans!!!
    Every detail,every item is divine!That BAG!!!
    LOVE Helga xxxXXXxxx

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  21. You look amazing!
    That outfit is totally awesome, every piece of it.


    xoxo
    Psychedelicsister

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  22. Vix dear, you look almost Art Deco in those shots. It makes me want to have you sit for a portrait. xx

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  23. What a bag! Is the belt part of the dress, Vix? I guess it must be.

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  24. @jaljen: It's actually a panel set into the dress of fine net with a gold lace overlay. Very raunchy! xx

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  25. I imagine your wardrobe to be like an amazing vintage shop with and outfit for every possible occasion! I love the handbag and your whole outfit!

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  26. This outfit is so spectacular. I’m in complete and utter awe.
    The bag, the gloves, the earrings...!
    Amazing x

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  27. Very French, my dear! I shall join you at the opera and drink to your grandmother;-)

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  28. I have no doubt you'd be ready for any occasion thrown at you with a super stylish and fab outfit.
    Does it put pressure on the other half to take you 'somewhere special'? :) hehe

    xx

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  29. Beautiful!
    Especially coveting that gorgeous bag

    xxx

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  30. Wow Vix your outfit is amazing and sooo glamourous. The bag is totally divine.
    Dx

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  31. This outfit is so gorgeous xxx

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  32. Just when I think your outfits can't get any better, out comes this beauty. Everything is just amazing but especially that handbag.

    I'd love to see you do a 10 day challenge taking on the 20th century a decade a day. I'm sure your wardrobe would provide many a fab outfit.

    The photo style is gorgeous by the way - suits the look so well.

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  33. I wish I got invited to more fancy, dress-up occassions.

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  34. Gorgeous outfit! Your grandma is a wise woman.

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  35. You look so glamorous, love the earrings!

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  36. Wow, love the opera glasses and bag x p.s. Thanks for the lovely comment on my blog

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  37. An outfit for every occasion and an occasion for every outfit! Absolutely I say!
    This is perfect for a night at the ballet or symphony [I'm not an Opera fan so you can see my bias!!]

    I'm a regular at our Opera House, I am appalled at how casual people have become. People all want 'occasions' but when the occasion presents itself, they get lazy! So I believe it is your civic duty Vix to be aesthetically pleasing!!

    You are FABULOUS. Gorgeous look, LOVE the hair!

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  38. tres classe,tu me fais pensee aux james bond girl ;O)

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  39. Vix, I could have looked at those photos and known exactly where you were 'going' even without the post title! That is such a classy, stunning, quintessentially 'opera' outfit, and it's gorgeous. Love the gold highlight at your waist!

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  40. Love everything about that look, Vix - just gorgeous. Particularly the handbag. x

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  41. Very stunningly put together! Great eye and buys I'll say...

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  42. I need to buy more stuff since I never have anything to wear:-) Love, love ur purse..so old school glamour!!

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  43. I think I might faint from glamour overload!
    Alex's idea is a brilliant one, I'll second her request =) xx

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  44. u r the vintage queen no doubt! the 50's purse/clutch is awesome...

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  45. You look so gorgeous! Those earrings are something :)

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  46. you look so gorgeous with your hair up. you are really living. you are an opera baby!

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Lots of love, Vix