Second-hand find: Pleated Peter O. Mahler shawl-top thingy

At first I though it was just an ordinary, boring shawl as it was hanging there with all the other shawls in the Cancer Research Charity Shop in Chiswick. But then I spotted the sleeves and instantly decided to buy it. Price 6 pounds.

This top has a myriad of possibilities: you can wear it with a belt, without – or maybe secure it in the front with an oversized pin. I love it because it reminds me of Japanese designs, it particularly reminds me of something the pleat-lover over them all, Issey Miyake could have made. After a bit of research I found out that the designer on the tag, German Peter O. Mahler, is pretty well-known for his avant-garde garments with extraordinary cuts. And apparently he’s very popular in Japan! I love how second-hand shopping introduces you to new designers.

Read my second-hand shopping guide to Chiswick

Second-hand find: W long black dress with side slit

Photo: Mette Bassett

Forrige fredag gik jeg en tur over til Swiss Cottage for at købe en gave. Jeg skulle i byen om aftenen og anede ikke, hvad jeg skulle tage på og smuttede derfor liiiige ind i en af de udmærkede genbrugsbutikker, der ligger i området. Skulle slet ikke købe noget, bare tjekke sortimentet, men så er det, at der altid popper noget op foran en på tøjstativet. Øjnede denne lange kjole af mærket “W”, som jeg ikke kender. Men den var 100% viscose, og man er jo vild med lange kjoler for tiden. Og den højt skårne slids var så fin (her er nylonstrømper dog et must). Så den røg med hjem, og da den var nyvasket, røg den da også lige på inden byturen. Pris 6 pund.

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Last Friday I walked over to Swiss Cottage as I had to buy a present. Later that day I was going out in East London and after a quick look in my closet I had convinced myself that I had absolutely nothing to wear. So I thought why not pop into one of the rather nice second-hand shops in the area. Just wanted to look, not buy. But that’s how it always goes: when you don’t want to spend any money there are tempting finds everywhere. I spotted this long black dress and really liked the deep side slit (tights underneath is a must though). I don’t know the brand “W” but it’s 100% viscose and very comfortable. Price 6 pounds. As it had just been washed I ended up wearing it that night.

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Second-hand find: Pianoforte di MaxMara dress

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Sort vintage MaxMara kjole fra deres aftenlinje, Pianoforte. Synes den er så fin og elegant med sit silkebånd og broche, og så er den faconsyet med en smule skub-op effekt, hvilket giver mig en smule kavalergang – noget jeg ellers aldrig har. Et andet kæmpe plus er, at der er elastikeffekt i stoffet, så selv om den sidder stramt bliver det aldrig kvælende ubehageligt, heller ikke efter en god middag (husker med gru tilbage på en nytårsaften for mange år siden, hvor jeg havde taget en lidt for stram kjole på og fik det halvdårligt efter hovedretten).

Kostede 30 pund i Trinity Hospice genbrugsbutikken i Chiswick. Så jeg gned mig godt i hænderne da jeg så PRÆCIS den samme kjole i kommissionsgenbrugsbutikken The Exchange på Gloucester Road til 180 pund.

English: Black vintage dress from Italian MaxMara’s evening line, Pianoforte. I think it’s very classy with the silk band and brooch details. And the fabric is stretchy which means that although it’s pretty tight I can still wear it to a dinner party (I still remember a New Year’s party many years ago where I wore a slightly too tight non-stretchy dress and almost felt sick after the main course).

I paid 30 pounds for it in the Trinity Hospice charity shop in Chiswick. Recently I had to pat myself on the back when I spotted the EXACT same dress in the very expensive depot vente/consignment store The Exchange in Kensington: Price 180 pounds!

Photo: Mette Bassett

Photo: Mette Bassett

Second-hand finds: Jean Muir

The clothes in themselves do not make a statement. The woman makes a statement and the dress helps. (Jean Muir)

Photo via http://www.nms.ac.uk

Glem alt om overhypede McQueen og McCartney. Når det gælder britisk designtalent, så sætter jeg alle mine (genbrugs)penge på Jean Muir. Jean Muir (1928-1995) var så beskeden og så fokuseret på sit håndværk, at hun insisterede på at blive kaldt for “dressmaker” i stedet for “designer”. Seriøst forfriskende i disse tider, hvor mange af de store designeres arbejde blot består i at vimse igennem lokalet, hvor deres undersåtter slaver afsted.

Jean Muir startede karrieren med at arbejde for Liberty & Co og Jaeger, før hun blev kvinde i eget designhus. Hun er kendt for sine tidløse designs, gerne i sort og mørke farver med skulpturelt avantgarde-præg og stærk fokus på skulderpartiet. Og så gør det ikke min fascination mindre, at hendes første husmodel og muse var fabelagtige Joanna Lumley, kendt fra serien Ab Fab.

Så mit hjerte banker altid lidt ekstra hurtigt, når jeg spotter hendes kreationer i genbrugsbutikkerne. Her er tre af mine favoritter:

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English: Forget all about over-hyped McQueen and S. McCartney. When it comes to British designers I put all my money on Jean Muir (1928-1995). For her it was all about the craftmanship and she preferred to be called a “dressmaker” rather than a “designer”. Very refreshing and humble and so unlike a lot of today’s big designers who never go anywhere near the actual sewing room.

Jean Muir  began her career working for Liberty & Co and Jaeger before starting her own brand. She loved working with dark colours and there is something timeless, avantgarde and  elegantly bold and sculptural about her dresses and jackets, that often have accentuated shoulders.

Oh, and did I mention, her muse and house model used to be the amazing Joanna Lumley from Ab Fab – how cool is that?

I own three of her pieces and love them all:

Photo: Mette Bassett

Sort uldkjole med fine, detaljerede sølvknapper, fundet til 20 pund i Trinity Hospice i Chiswick.

Black wool dress, bought for 20 pounds in Trinity Hospice in Chiswick.

Photo: Mette Bassett

Karry- (eller safran?) farvet gul jakke med silkefoer og pufskuldre. Kostede 13.49 pund i Oxfam-butikken ved Notting Hill Gate (guide til området på vej).

Curry (or saffron?) coloured jacket with voluminous shoulders. I paid 13.49 pounds for it in the Oxfam shop close to Notting Hill Gate.

Photo: Mette Bassett

Jeg elsker den rundede facon på denne mørkeblå uldjakke/cardigan. Den har slå-om effekt med en lille knap på indersiden, og falder smukt både når den er åben, og når den er knappet. En lille ond møl har dog gnavet et par steder, hvor uldstoffet er blevet helt tyndt, men det ses ikke, når man har noget mørkt under. Fik den for 10 pund i Oxfam-butikken ved Notting Hill Gate.

I love the rounded shape of this dark blue wool cardigan/jacket. The front parts can be crossed over and buttoned as seen on the picture, or just be left open. A nasty little hungry moth has taken a few bites here and there, but it’s minor flaws and they cannot be spotted when you wear a dark top underneath. I paid 10 pounds for it in the Oxfam shop at Notting Hill Gate.