Wednesday: Miss Scarlet

19.10.11

Fru-Gal Challenge

Reworking the 80s.

Before this dress met my sewing machine, it was more than a bit '80s. A few minor alterations later - shoulder pads removed and a few inches off the hem – and I’m in love with it! The dress is vintage Dorothy Perkins, found at last year’s Vintage Goodwood festival. I also found the most amazing '50s prom dress there, which was a great summer wedding go-to. It’s hard to believe that everything in our festival & vintage pop-up shops is first donated to an Oxfam shop but hasn’t sold within 2 weeks so it has to move on. Unsold shop stock is collected, resorted and curated for events and festivals, or heads to our social enterprise project in Africa or to be mattress stuffing.

The red cashmere cardigan, originally M&S, I found on the rails at Oxfam’s shop at Glastonbury, where Oxfam made a whopping £57,700 to help end poverty and suffering. The belt is a huge men’s leather belt which is wrapped around twice and knotted, it’s from Oxfam in Covent Garden. My black shoe-boots were found in Oxfam’s Durham boutique.