TRY THIS - Chit Chat Among Brica-Braca

I found this Italian-made silk scarf at Ealings's Avenue Vintage & Antique Market, hosted the last Saturday of every month. Lovely Fallon - aka Lost in Retro CLICK HERE - a local 2nd-hand siren set up an enticing stall and this Prada-esque scarf she was offering at just £5 had my name on it. Actually it had the name Osterelli on it. My advice: if a scarf is silk, includes a maker's name, catches your fancy and is less than a tenner, BUY it! Around your neck, tied to a handbag, as wrapping for a gift, framed or fashioned into a cushion, silk scarves are happy, adaptable accessories. 

This Ealing vintage event is a gem, and the organizers should be proud of their efforts to bring quirky, quality 2nd-hand to West London. The sellers are friendly and helpful, many of them local to the area, and the prices are fair. After you've properly perused the stalls, I highly recommend a bacon bap and a cuppa at The Drayton Court, the well-appointed pub, overlooking the market. 

Markets like this are the perfect place to pick up unusual gifts and homewares with personality. Professional and amateur interior designers alike are sure to find inspiration here. Neither will vintage wearers or collectors be disappointed  

Not just a shopping spree, Avenue Vintage & Antique Market is a community gathering. A chance to make new friends, chit chat and connect with like-minded locals. An old-fashioned idea, the market square, that's enjoying a new lease on life in Ealing. But it needs support. Mark Your Calendar: Saturday 28 March you've got a date with your neighbors. 

          

FOUND - Little Secrets, Lovely Style

I found these little ashtrays at the Children's Society charity shop on Pitshanger Lane in Ealing. I'll use them as ring rests or possibly pass them on to a lucky girl friend when a birthday comes calling. I consider these 'fashion curios' - sweet, unwearable objects that are style inspired. I've tried researching my pair of china dolls but have come up empty handed. The repeating graphic pattern around the edge looks to me like a dreidel, a Jewish toy top played with at Hanukkah but it could also be a teetotum, a gambling toy like dice, found in several European cultures. There's a marking on the bottom of each dish but so far it remains a mystery. If you know anything about these tiny trays, drop me a line in the comment section below, I'd love to hear from you. The darling duo set me back 99p. 

TRY THIS - Button Back Spring Green

I found this wool cardigan at the Cancer Research charity shop in Ealing Broadway. The perfect Spring green, this stylish Jaeger staple was Made in England and features all the little details that define the best of the brand. A grosgrain ribbon runs along the inside of the button holes and the buttons themselves are perfect metal petals. 

The great Diane Vreeland of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue always wore her cardigans back to front. Try it, I do, often. Turn them round and wear them like a long sleeve t-shirt - your transformed topper will make a surprisingly stylish exit. I'll pair this one with black crops and pointy flats for a colour block look that's at once contemporary and classic. This richly-hued cardie was a paltry £4.99.

TRY THIS - Travel A Path To Unique Chic

On my recent visit to Whitstable, I found the some half dozen charity shops full of stylish possibilities - tidy, friendly, dare I say enticing. But none more so than the double-fronted shop run by Relate, a charity that provides counseling, support and information for people in a variety of relationships CLICK HERE. This large mother-of-pearl buckle paired with a long swirly scarf and secured around the waist of a black full-skirted dress - that's what I call unique chic. 

But if that wasn't enough, in the same shop I also found this graphically gorgeous straw hat by Laura Ashley. It'll add elegant shade to my black swimming costume or top off a summer sun dress. Picking up stylish bits and bobs while traveling is an easy way to keep your wardrobe fresh without actually taking timeout to shop. Both these stylish accessories were waiting in the shop window for me to see. Together they totaled just under a tenner.

  

FOUND - Anchored to Coastline Style

I found this skirt at Anchors Aweigh Vintage on my 48-hour whirl through Whitstable. It's from Selfridges, not as old as it looks, I'd say 1980s (after 1950s). In mint condition, it is quite simply my dream skirt. Tartan, taffeta and full of swirly twirl-ablity, I can't wait to style this stunner. To keep it from looking like a full-on 50s costume, I'll pair it with a dark, fitted denim shirt and creamy vintage heels. Add an armload of bracelets (naturally) and a tanned leather Gucci clutch, and I'll have an outfit that floats my boat.  

My delight in this skirt is buoyed by the tiny shop where I found it. Located at 65 Harbor Street in the town centre, Anchors Aweigh is a collection of perfectly curated home and fashion pieces - small but neat as a pin.

The owner is chatty, welcoming and helpful. She informed me that once a week she completely changes out the stock - I get the sense she's got stacks of stylish stuff. And according to the marketing flyer, Anchors Aweigh Vintage "buys and sells vintage clothing, accessories and homeware by the sea!" No visit to wonderful Whitstable would be complete without calling in at Anchors Aweigh.

My new favourite skirt was £35 - a vintage bargain at twice the price. The shop is open Monday to Sunday, closed on Wednesday. 

TRY THIS - Branch Out by Wearing Wood

I found this wooden big-bead bracelet at the Barnardo's charity shop in Whitstable on the Kent Coast. It happily joins similar bangles I've collected over the years. Today's contemporary women's style requires mismatching, pattern clashing and competing textures - opposites attract it seems. So to "toughen-up" a feminine look, professional stylists perpetually add biker boots or a black leather jacket to frilly frocks. Frankly it's a choice that's becoming all too typical and to be honest, I've never been able to make biker boots work. But thankfully there are alternatives for ensuring your feminine style-turn stays strong. I like pairing natural materials - like wood - with my girly gear. The rich colour, grainy pattern and over-sized shape of these bangles add an air of "Modern Art" or "Nature's Power" to any womanly wear I pull on. Solid style, courtesy of a beaded bracelet, was just 49p.

TRY THIS - Oysters Fine & Donuts Free

I found my first visit to Whitstable in Kent a 2-day delight. Traveling with my mate Susan (the 'Tramp Poet' above), we luxuriated in the winter sun and sea air. Full marks to The Apartment, where we happily hung our hats CLICK HERE. This top floor flat kitted out in cozy Art Deco flourishes overlooks lovely little Whitstable Castle as well as boasting sea views. Owners Mark and Frances are welcoming, relaxed and helpful. The continental breakfast they sent up to our quarters after our peaceful night's sleep was fresh and filling. Dinner at the Oyster & Fishery Company CLICK HERE, an institution that traces its origins back to the 1400s, offered a warm, comfortable atmosphere along with first class fish dishes. Whitstable's buzzing high street kept us busy with several vintage shops and at least 6 charming charity shops. But surely the highlight of the visit was dockside coffee and FREE donut. The stall owner told me he'd started offering free donuts as a way of thanking the local community for their support. In 16 weeks he had given away 7,000 ring and jelly-filled, doubling his already thriving business. I salute this seaside statesman, making the world a better place through the distribution of free fried, sugary dough.  

Whitstable Week at Huntress London

Fab 2nd-Hand Finds to Follow