Vintage 1980s Sequins: Is There Anything Better?

Giles Caldicott Photography: Evening wear, Vintage 1980s black sequinned and beaded jacket, baggy black sequinned trousers, black heels | Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Over 40 Style

Those who know me know that I “don’t do” black. It’s not a colour that makes me happy (usually).

However, make the black sequins and I’ve changed my mind somewhat. Add multicoloured beads, make them AND the sequins vintage… and it’s a whole different story.

A very happy, drooling-over-sequins-and-beads kind of story. So in my second shoot with my photographer/Instagram husband Giles Caldicott, we’re bringing you full-on party sequins for no other reason than this jacket is amazing and deserves to be shown off.

 

Photography by Giles Caldicott

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Giles Caldicott Photography: Evening wear, Vintage 1980s black sequinned and beaded jacket, baggy black sequinned trousers, black heels | Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Over 40 Style

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I stumbled across the vintage 1980s Frank Usher jacket whilst browsing Etsy one day, and I fell so hard for it I bought it right there and then before anyone else could nab it. It was only about £65, which is an absolute BARGAIN compared to buying new – I looked, most decent sequinned jackets are upwards of £180. The quality of vintage is usually really good and there’s so much choice.

(Plus you are, of course, doing your bit for the environment by buying secondhand.)

Only when I received it did I realise it was the perfect partner for my black sequinned trousers, and BAM! I had the perfect party outfit right there. Giles has captured the light on all those lush sequins beautifully (the graffitied garage door was his idea/his find) and so we have another set of shots I absolutely love after I featured our first shoot last month.

And, news: If you’ve been following my Instagram stories over the last week you’ll have seen that I went on an amazing cruise with Virgin Voyages last weekend. As the real husband Keith couldn’t go I took the Instagram husband instead, and we really worked hard to produce the most incredible series of photos which I can’t WAIT for you to see.

So you have been warned: there’s a ton of Giles Caldicott photography spam coming your way soon… gird your fashion photography loins!

Have you considered buying sequins secondhand? What’s the best secondhand purchase YOU’VE ever made? Comment below…

 

Stay safe, XOXO

Catherine signature

 

Jacket: Vintage Frank Usher, Etsy (similar)
Trousers: JD Williams (love these)
Heels: Office, old (similar)
Sunglasses: Asos

 

Other vintage sequinned jackets you might like:


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Linking up to… Monday: Stylish Monday, Inspire Me Monday, Ageless Style Linkup (first Monday of the month), My Glittery Heart, On Mondays We Link Up || Tuesday: Style With a Smile, Trend Spin/Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Turning Heads Tuesday, Spread the Kindness, Confident Twosday, Happy Now Blog Link Up || Wednesday: Style Me Wednesday, WowOnWednesday || Thursday: Chic & Stylish || Friday: Neverending Style, Fancy Friday, On the Edge, Fabulous Friday, Fabulous Friday’s Link Up

Evening wear: Vintage 1980s black sequinned and beaded jacket, baggy black sequinned trousers, black heels | Catherine Summers, Not Dressed As Lamb | Over 40 Style
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34 Comments

  1. 8 October 2021 / 9:26 pm

    Wow. That jacket was a steal! No wonder you snapped it up quickly! I love the puff sleeve, the jewels and sequins. The cut is fab on you! It was like it was meant to be with the pants! Wonderful to discover those special pieces that make you feel that way.
    thank you for linking!
    jess xx

    • Catherine
      Author
      13 October 2021 / 10:57 am

      Hehe you wouldn’t BELIEVE how smug I am because of finding the jacket, Jess!! 😉 thank you lovely x

  2. 26 September 2021 / 7:12 am

    I love how you look in this outfit! I always loved sequins … and this year I have added a sequins top in my wardrobe. I dress pretty basic, so I always prefer to admire other people in bold outfits, but sometimes I like to have few different pieces in my closet.

    Have a great Sunday!

    • Catherine
      Author
      18 October 2021 / 3:10 pm

      Thank you so much Sinziana – I think everyone should have at least one sequinned item, I’m so glad to hear you do have a few different pieces… clothes should be nothing if not fun!!

  3. 24 September 2021 / 2:56 pm

    Beautiful outfit, I love sequins 🙂

    • Catherine
      Author
      24 September 2021 / 5:40 pm

      Thank you Claire, I do too (as you can probably tell)! x

  4. 1 September 2021 / 9:38 am

    O. M. FREAKING G, Catherine!!!!!!!!!
    You look absolutely stunning! I’m drooling over the multitude of black sequins here. I am, and always have been, into black in a big way (I was a bit of a goth back in the day) and I have always LOVED anything shiny and sparkly so this outfit is well, it’s the DOG’s Bollocks to put it rudely lol!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!
    P.S I cannot WAIT to see the cruise pics!
    Hugs
    Suzy xx

    • Catherine
      Author
      1 September 2021 / 11:47 am

      Hehe thanks for the lovely compliments, Suzy! I call it the doggy’s doo-dahs if you want a more PG-rated description, lol 😀

      Cruise photos are currently being edited… there are so many it’s taking me ages but hopefully part 1 will be up on the blog today! x

  5. 31 August 2021 / 1:25 pm

    Oh wow! Beautiful photos and what an amazing vintage find! I look forward to seeing the photos from your cruise!

    Shelbee

    • Catherine
      Author
      1 September 2021 / 11:45 am

      Thank you so much Shelbee – editing the photos right now! x

  6. 30 August 2021 / 5:09 pm

    This outfit is absolutely stunning! Gasp and gasp again!!!

    • Catherine
      Author
      1 September 2021 / 11:45 am

      Aww thanks MK – I will admit I kinda gasped when I first thought of wearing the jacket with the trousers I already had and then seeing the full outfit in the mirror… I KNEW it was a winner!

  7. 27 August 2021 / 9:11 pm

    I’m nuts about this look!!! It’s over-the-top- gorgeous!! YOu look incredible! I absolutely- no question about it- would buy sequins secondhand. I do this already! Have a great weekend xx

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 9:23 am

      Lucy thank you!! It’s definitely over the top… glad to hear you buy secondhand, they’re the best in sequins IMO 😉

  8. Lisa G
    27 August 2021 / 7:08 pm

    I so enjoy your blog posts and beautiful photos! You are fearless! And, today, you made me smile!

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 9:24 am

      Lisa that’s such a lovely comment, thank you EVER so much…!! 😀

  9. 27 August 2021 / 2:21 pm

    Wow, what a look. You look amazing!

    Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 9:24 am

      thanks so much Danielle xx

  10. 27 August 2021 / 7:52 am

    Absolutely devine. You look incredible in it. What a shame you only showed two photos. I am used to you showing more.
    I have bought sequinned tops as well, both new and second-hand. The new one was a bit too short for me (should have paid more attention to that in the shop). The second-hand one I still have but I had to sew quite a few sequins that came undone. Oh and I have another one (just remembered). Although sequinned, nothing as fancy as your jacket. Together with the trousers this outfit is such a head turner.
    Greetje

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 9:58 am

      I’m sorry there are only two photos, Greetje… it was a combination of being in a busy London street with everyone zooming past and the car being parked somewhere it shouldn’t be (so we were REALLY pushed for time) and Giles feeling like he “got the shot” straight away. So with him being my photographer now things are going to be a little different, but that’s a really good thing and I’m excited about some of the images we have coming up 🙂

      (Plus it reminds me of the early days of blogging when all we ever posted was one single photo, I quite like the idea of going back to that rather than the 10-ish photos I struggle to edit down these days…!)

      And thank you, I’m so glad you like the jacket… I can imagine it on you actually, hehe x

  11. 27 August 2021 / 7:08 am

    I never shopped at Etsy and never bought sequins! I do shop at Vinted though, love pre loved clothing. They are so much more interesting as you show here. And so are sequins too! Looking forward to see more gorgeous photos!

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 9:59 am

      Thanks Nancy – honestly Etsy is an absolute treasure trove x

  12. JcatD
    26 August 2021 / 11:05 pm

    That is a fantastic outfit – I love sequins!

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 9:59 am

      As do I!! Thanks lovely x

  13. 26 August 2021 / 10:41 pm

    Geez what a feast of the senses Catherine! I’m in both, vintage heaven and memory lane right now. Absolutely adore the photos and of course your enthusiasm for secondhand is what influencing desperately needs.
    Thank you for this call to sustainable action xx

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 10:00 am

      Awww thanks MT… honestly I’m obsessed with buying on Etsy, and it comes with zero guilt. I mentioned to you on IG didn’t I that if I could only choose one shop to buy from forever it’d be Etsy, hands down!!

  14. 26 August 2021 / 8:45 pm

    I love this sequined suit – so fabulous! I completely agree about the vintage sequined garments – they are usually lined (so not scratchy) and the detail is incredible.

    I found this stunning Hong Kong-made late 80s sequined dress in a thrift store for $49.95 (about 25 pounds) last December: https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ISQmuPAsxNg/X9akXm-eKgI/AAAAAAABLws/Vn4toS26LHIdESje3XyxZOu27lqtcL0ZgCLcBGAsYHQ/w302-h640/IMG_0173.JPG (original post here: https://sheilaephemera.blogspot.com/2020/12/bigass-weekend-wrap-up-brocade-brunch.html

    • Catherine
      Author
      30 August 2021 / 10:01 am

      Wowsers Sheila what a dress!! That’s some find… I bet you felt as smug as I did when you found it online, didn’t you?!!

  15. Karen
    26 August 2021 / 7:29 pm

    I have a lovely beaded, sequined sweater that I got from Etsy. Love it.

    • Catherine
      Author
      26 August 2021 / 7:52 pm

      Etsy is just the best for vintage, isn’t it Karen…?!

  16. 26 August 2021 / 7:26 pm

    Oh Lordy, this is so up my street I want to steal it!!! Beautiful outfit and beautiful photographs. You’ll wear that sparkly number for years. Xxx

    • Catherine
      Author
      26 August 2021 / 7:53 pm

      Now how did I know that you’d love this, Lisa?!! Thanks my lovely, I’d say I’d let you have it but you know that ain’t happening, don’t you…! heehee sorry 😉 xx

    • Kelly Novak Montano
      26 August 2021 / 8:22 pm

      I’m drooling! Love everything about this!

      • Catherine
        Author
        30 August 2021 / 10:02 am

        Kelly thank you! x

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