What a Difference a Day Makes.

Monday 24 September 2012
Yesterday it was chilly but the sun shone and I wore this (with my thermals underneath).


Topshop Maternity Jumper
New Look Straight Jeans (turned up)
New Look Nude Pumps

Something simple and easy for a day at home helping with Ben's homework, making Sunday dinner and just chilling.

Nice detailing

Now for the eagle-eyed, you will have spotted the label under the first photo as Topshop Maternity Jumper.  For the record, I am NOT pregnant (Grumps - you can stop worrying now - there is no number three .... breathe).  I am wearing a maternity jumper but I am not pregnant.  People wear non maternity clothes when they are pregnant, I wear maternity clothes when I am not.  That's just the way I roll and it's a perfectly good jumper to be worn with bump, without bump or a big lunch tum.  I especially like the lace neck detailing but this is also it's downfall. What you don't realise is that there didn't always used to be a dark lining underneath the lace and it was just sheer. All well and fine but it dipped a bit too near the old cleavage and showed just a little too much.  I subscribe to the school of put them away.  I don't mind other people looking busty but busty looks funny on me or maybe I've just got used to being small on top.  I really liked the jumper but as it wasn't working for me, I was going to ebay it until I had a brainwave and decided I could make this one work.  So I found an old navy vest top which I didn't wear - I cut it up and used it to back the lace.  Ta dah!!!!

For those wondering why I used a cream thread instead of a navy - it's because the stitching doesn't show on the cream bits on the outside of the jumper (clever moi? oh well, if you insist).

For once it's what's on the outside that counts!

Anyway lacy jumpers aside, today is Monday and what a difference a day makes - the rainy dreariness is a sight to behold.  It's boot weather and it's cold.  Rain, rain and more rain and the lighting is bad in the house which makes for poor picture quality (well it does if you know nothing about taking photos).  So today I wore this.

Topshop Maternity Jumper (again)
Next Dark Skinny Jeans (old)
Next Black Waxed Biker Boots (old)

I'm basically being kind to myself and reducing my washload and being environmentally friendly by wearing a garment more than once before it hits the wash basket.  But what you will notice is a gradual move over to the dark side.  And because it was cold, I added a fleece - yes people - a fleece before I left the house.  I have no credibility left.  But cold is cold and I'm not a nice person when I'm cold so better warm and unfashionable than cold and narky.

 Grey Tesco F&F Fleece 
(best £10 I ever spent)

And to top it all off, the piece de resistance .......... a rain jacket.  A walking rain jacket of the most unfashionable kind complete with hood.

Sprayway Walking Jacket (old)

I'm sorry - this is real life and it's bucketing down outside.  I would like to say I have a lovely, most becoming waterproof trench which is of a most high fashion calibre but to be honest, this is it.  It works, it keeps me dry and I have two kids to hang on to get them across a busy road to school - I need to be hands free!  Hands are not for holding on to a brollys but to hang on to small people before they try to break the biggest puddle jump record ever!  So am I alone in my mundaneness or is there anybody working a more fashionable and waterproof look out there?

Anyway, this is just a small post - well compared to the last epic, it is.  I have a few projects in mind over the next few weeks - the first of which I am about to embark i.e. I am now going to paint the woodwork in the family room.  If I start wittering away kind of funny over the next few days ... that will be the paint fumes working their way in to my befuddled brain!


21 comments

  1. I can't sew to save my life, so I'm well impressed by your skill. As for your fleece .. at least it matches!! Bucketing down here too, just miserable:( If it helps, for the school run (that'd be drive!) I wore 10 year old brown flat knee high boots, skinny denims from Next and an 8 year old cream parka with hood from Primark. Glamorous? No! Practical? Yes!

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    1. Actually, I took a good look at the mums stood in the pouring rain today and do you know what - I was not alone in my mundaneness. Sometimes you have to go with the practical rather than the fashionable.

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  2. What a brainwave with the navy insert under the lace - clever you! Looks great by the way. I did read - -'pregnancy jumper' - and think 'is there news down-post?!' x

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    1. Yes - the jumper was driving me nuts - I wanted to wear it but always had to stick a vest underneath it and it didn't look right but where there's a will there is a way - look at you and your boots! Result in the end!

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  3. If you ever find a cool rainjacket that is functional on the school run Id pay good money for it! I too have a ugly rainjacket - but needs must.

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    1. Do you know what - I'm not actually looking for one. Mine has served me about 8 years and it does the job. Better dry than wet, cold and miserable.

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  4. Fantastic Sue...love what you did with the top and so what if it's maternity? I have a food baby most days that would need a maternity smock to cover up! Avril x

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    1. Avril - you having a phantom pregnancy or something? There is no food baby lurking anywhere near you - I saw you in that black dress!

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  5. Hello Sue,
    I always wondered who drew the picture on your profile?
    i like the outfit and the maternity jumper is nice. Just the other day I noticed a very nice jumsuit in the maternity section of MotherCare but decided against trying it as i am not pregnant, but now, afer your post, I think i will have a better look!
    I am hibernating my first fashion post. The main problem is technology not writing, but will keep your updating!

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    1. I drew the picture - great likeness not. I like to doodle and it I really was too shy at the start to put a picture of me on my profile picture. It looks nothing like me - I should change it but I feel it wouldn't be the same if I did.

      Hey - can't wait for the fashion post - go sort out your technology probs now. And there's a subject for you - maternity jumpsuit! A little inconvenient I would have thought as I always running for the loo when I was pregnant and a jumpsuit is not good for such matters.

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    2. Ha-ha, yes there are some problems with jumpsuits. I bought one in River Island on sale and didn't wear it not once, because someone else has to do the button on the back...and I wouldn't ask my colleagues to do it everytime i emerge from the loo!
      I might actually write a post about jumsuits...good idea!

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    3. My first post into fashion domain is posted! I am moving to another blog -you can find me on: http://russianpsychic.blogspot.co.uk/

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  6. ooh hey so i'm not alone in shopping in the maternity section some times - topshop always has great options! basically anything other than the pants (because of the stretchy waistbands) is fair game. if it fits, it fits! i love your diy solution to the lace backing, but i probably would have gone the 'if you have it flaunt it' route :o) enjoy the painting, i find it super therapeutic - which reminds me i have forgotten about my plans to paint our living room wall ;p

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. I have a bit of a hangover mentality about maternity wear. I still take a peak at Topshop maternity to see what I would be wearing if I was pregnant now. And everything always looks more interesting than when I pregnant. Everything is fair game anyway - I shop in the kids section as well. Boys and girls.

      The painting is a job needing to be done. I love decorating but it's not as much fun since I've had kids and time is of the essence! What colours are you considering?

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    2. probably yellow, to contrast with dark grey built ins we have ;)

      steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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  7. LOLOLOLOL!!!! I'll have you know that I secretly shop in the maternity section. I just like the length of the tunics because I want to cover my wobbly belly when I raise both arms. I'm weird like that.

    Wow, that's really resourceful of you to take the bib from an unused top. Your stitches are so neat. Mine...um....okay, time to change the subject.

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    1. I have more sewing coming up. My sister has lent me her sewing machine and I'm about to let loose on some dresses. Fingers crossed and wish me luck.

      I still have a couple of maternity vests which I swear by and can't give up.

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  8. Wow, that top looks fantastic. Great job!

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    1. Thank you. Amazing what one can do when one puts one mind to it. When I took a picture, I was just thinking phew - it's quite neat for me, for a change. Sometimes, it's a good thing no one can see my sewing.

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  9. Love the dotty top so much. Does England these days have as many catalogues as we do? I cancelled them all then missed them. Love the green cords with the blue shirt, but cords in any colour are such a staple so...both?

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    1. I have a healthy amount of look books coming through my door. They all seem to be quite good ones so I don't mind too much - all happy browsing material for me.

      I'm sticking with the damson chinos - my mind's made up now. No going back. I've returned the cords ... the chinos were a better fit. You just know sometimes.

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Susie So So