Found in Brighton – a Pink Pencil-Shaving Dress & Some Fabric Bargains

Brighton
A couple of weeks ago me and Phil spent a weekend in Brighton. Phil’s dad has recently started running a hotel in Brighton so we got to stay for free (yippee!).

Having not visited Brighton before we did the sights: Brighton Pavilion, the electric railway, the museum and art gallery, the pier, a walk into Hove, etc.

The small fashion section of the Museum & Art Galley is worth a trip. The highlights of their collection are a one-piece bathing suit with bloomer-style bottoms (1920), silk camiknickers with appliquéd ballet dancers (1940), a Schiaparelli dress in a gorgeous printed silk (1936), and a lovely Ossie Clark yellow shirt dress (1969-74). Very nice indeed.

Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is amazing for shopping. As sewing bloggers who have visited Brighton will know, there are a number of sewing and fabric shops.
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
There are also loads of other great vintage (check out Snoopers Paradise), comic, homeware (Utility, Tiger), and charity shops.
Brighton

Brighton
Brighton
In an Oxfam shop I bought a great handmade dress. It’s in an amazing silky pink fabric, with a pencil shaving design. I love the thought of having a dress handmade by someone else. I’d love to know who made it.
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
Brighton
However, the best find of the weekend was a couple of pieces of fabric which I picked up at a car boot sale which we stumbled upon in the car park of Brighton Marina. A stall at the far end of the sale had a huge pile of fabrics on the ground, with everything £1. I picked out a piece of patterned polyester (I think) which should work for a blouse.
Brighton
Even better was a great old curtain panel in a purple floral pattern. I’m planning to make some peg bags & other items for an upcoming craft fair, but if there’s enough fabric left I’ll also be making a skirt for myself from it.
Brighton
Phil was horrified when I picked up the curtain, which, admittedly, was truly filthy and smelt pretty bad but it’s washed up pretty well and I love it!

P.S. Me And Phil realised one day that we’d unintentionally dressed rocker and mod style, which seemed very suitable for Brighton.

Brighton
Brighton

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