Two Frocks for FrOctober, Sizing Labels & Bad Photos. That's it!

Monday 29 October 2012
It's like buses, none come and then two come together. I'm not actually talking about buses but the fact that I am debuting my first lot of dresses since August. Yes it has been that long since I had the legs out.

My first one is a very bright red Miss Selfridge Oriental Print Dress. Did you have to avert thine eyes and turn down the brightness on the old monitor?

Aarrghgh - I can't see. 
Put the sunglasses on!

Avril on SchoolGateStyle has been championing FrOctober with her vast array of dresses. And I thought it only right to join in the fun. Well actually, I was in the process of transitioning the summer wardrobe into the winter one when I came across this dress and I never fail to be astounded by how BRIGHT is is! What was I thinking when I bought you? It's the brightest thing in my wardrobe and you feel that all eyes are upon you when you wear it because it's a screaming flaming red. I did see a girl in the street wear it once - she was about 5ft 6 so it was a bit shorter on her but she wore it with such nonchalance as an everyday type of dress that you missed the fact that it was bright bright red- I noticed it because it was a dress I had and it looked lovely and normal on her. But it's not normal and everyday for me. Why is that?


Miss Selfridge Red Oriental Dress (doesn't look very oriental to me)
Olivey brown Jigsaw leather boots (old)
Primark tan belt (old)

This is one of those rather impulsive non explainable, against better judgement but bought it anyway type buys. I also probably bought it because it amused me that I could get into a size 6. That's right - it's a size 6. The fact that the body in it is not a size 6 is besides the point but if you want extreme vanity sizing - you get it here with this dress. If you think I'm vain enough to only buy clothing in certain small sizes, think again. From the same season, I bought another dress from Miss Selfridge. In a size 14. From size 6 to size 14. They had the other sizes but the size 14 was the best fit. What would you have done? Size up and get the fit or get the size you think you should be wearing because you can't bring yourself to go up a dress size or two? I've learnt not to be so vain and besides who can see your label except for you anyway? It's not like someone compliments you on your dress and you reply "Oh, this old thing, it's a size 6".

Draughty neckline calls for a Barbour scarf.
Is this East meets West?

This is the size 14 dress. 


A more subdued dress.

I was going to the pictures today and then out for God-daughters birthday meal so I thought I'd try and leave the jeans off and wear one of the many dresses I have. Luck would have it ... everyone else was in jeans and Uggs. The one time I can legitimately do chill out dressing and I missed it! After the meal, I had to undo my belt two notches. I read somewhere once that you should wear a belt when you are eating out, especially if you are on a diet as the discomfort factor of the belt prevents you from eating too much. Not me - I just let it all out ... and carry on eating. So I don't do diets. Say the word 'diet' and I eat for England. Give me an Eat All You Can Buffet and I say "no thanks". Reverse psychology is under-rated in my books.


Miss Selfridge Heart Print Dress
Topshop Ambush Boots
Black Pashmina Scarf
M&S Black Scarf

I donned a black scarf to stave off the cold (a little) but I could feel the wind whistle up the dress which is absolutely not my favourite thing about dresses and also I feel the need to constantly check that I've not tucked my dress into my tights or knickers. And I don't have a problem with black and navy being worn together - I positively encourage it. Anyway, I tried to get the boys to take some photos of me in full regalia before I set off out the door - this is why I take my own photos which though not perfect are still better than these ...

 
Picture Credit : Ben (not David) Bailey                 Picture Credit : George (not David) Bailey

Question : Who helps you with your photos?


32 comments

  1. No sixties dancing in these dresses? But I suppose the red one is more 70s than 60s.

    I'm strangely immune to vanity sizing. The same size (UK 12/EU 40) across labels usually works for me - any "off" fit has more to do with the cut. I'm also consistently in between sizes at certain labels but it's always between the same sizes...

    I take all photos myself with a timer...always at my laundry space because it has the most light and space for this nonsense and I can balance it on my washing machine, haha.

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    1. Aaah - so that's how you do it. I prefer just infront of the landing mirror as the light is best there and I really haven't worked out the self timer yet and I don't know where the camera manual for it is so I just do point and click and hope it focuses.

      I'm not sure how to to do 70's dancing or else I probably would. I did wonder if any of my friends had one of those floppy JLo hats which I could borrow to accessorise the red dress but I thought that was highly unlikely. If anyone is going to have one it would have been me anyway.

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  2. You are teeny tiny - oh to be that slim! I get what fits but I confess to not liking buying anything bigger than a 10. Vanity or what! I got myself a cheap tripod and use the timer, but am looking into a wireless shutter release as they aren't that expensive. Xx Def wear the red dress - a splash of colour is great during the winter.

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    1. But Claire you are about the same size as me but taller so you are even slimmer if that makes sense. Size 10 on a short person can look a bit squat and size 10 on a 5ft 6 person makes them look positively willowy in comparison and there is always bone structure to take into account. I was always a pear so I always look enviably on those who were born with ballerina limbs. But I am not unhappy with myself - far from it. You learn to make the most of what you have.

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  3. Isabel Marant sizing runs so inconsistent that I've worn anything from a 0 to 3. Heck, I'd say you're a 6 myself. You're so slim! I actually think the red complements your skin tone well. I love the second dress. It's very feminine and pretty. Ack, the hubs and daughter are absolutely useless at taking my photos. Or perhaps, I'm just rubbish at giving good instructions.

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    1. I'm curvy. Got hips and booty to shake. No where near a 6 except when I was 6. The red is a bit out of the norm for me ... sometimes I get possessed by strange notions that I need bright red dresses and then we don't know what to do with them except hang them in the wardrobe.

      I don't actually like asking the Grumps - I feel like a child being humoured so it's easier to persevere with a mirror. And it's so hard doing an authentic fake smile :o)

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  4. Wow - you look lovely in dresses!

    The red one is nice, it's bright but not startlingly so. I do love the black one too, really versatile but not bland. I haven't been into Miss Selfridge for ages, must revisit. Although - if you are a 14 in there I would probably not find anything to fit!!! x

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    1. The dark navy one is easier to wear though I don't like the fact that I have to curtsey rather than bow in it. For some reason, Miss Selfridge did a couple of dresses last year and I have liked nothing since and they do seem to do tiny and weird sizing. I read the customer reviews on the dresses before I bought them and everyone else said the red dress was silly big and the blue dress was silly small. But I bought them anyway.

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  5. I've decided that even as plain clothes-wearers we need something bright and out of character - often we can't understand why we like it! That dress is perfect to fill that need.

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    1. It's a whimsical dress - that's the only way I can describe it. The red is bright but it called to me - I bought and returned it a couple of times before finally succumbing. Now that's perseverance.

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  6. Love the red dress on you, and those Topshop boots are gorgeous!

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    1. Thank you - I'm trying to teach myself to love the Topshop boots to get my wear out of them. Part of me wants to trade them in for something else but for what??

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    2. I love the Ambush boots, and have never understood their bad rep in comparison the the Acne Pistols. I've had mine since they first came out and the quality is fabulous - very glad I didn't throw £300 to the wind in this case. Hoping to keep wearing mine for years to come!

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    3. I do like them but only with dresses for some reason. If I wear them with skinny jeans - it all goes hilariously wrong. I need longer legs!

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  7. So call me crazy, but I like the red one. No scrap that, I'll call you crazy because you think the dress is not normal for you yet you wear it so beautifully.

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    1. School run here I come then! I've just got to treat it as something normal and ignore the fact that it's red. The thing is I know that other people won't even notice - it's just me. I quite like being ignored in the playground weird person that I am but I suppose if I'm going to get noticed, let's make it something worthwhile to talk about. And thank you.

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  8. Never would have known that dress is a size 14, I actually really like the fit on you, and the red one is gorgeous too. I know a couple girls who have done Frocktober, but I don't have 31 dresses to wear one for every day of the month - it is such a great cause though :)

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  9. I couldn't do full FrOctober even if I had 31 dresses. It would be torture given that I haven't worn a dress since August. You make it seem so normal and easy!

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  10. Nobody helps with my photo's that is why they are shit! If I ask OH he is just so useless it is pointless and I take Claudia's for her blog but when I want one, she can't be arsed!
    Love both these dresses on you. I have to confess I don't really have any long sleeve dresses for winter, hate the thought of them blowing up in the wind lol so its jeans all the way for me but I am going to put one on the wish list as you look so nice. Think I will go put a belt on.......

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    1. When the Grumps has tried to help me - it hasn't quite worked out and then I feel bad if I don't use the photos he's taken. So it's just going to be me and my happy snaps for a while longer and .... the gorillapod which arrived today.

      I prefer long sleeve dresses as they are an outfit in themselves - you don't need to find a cardigan or jacket to go with them - they do their own work and hide bingo wings. I'm back in jeans today - I feel like me.

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  11. I wish that i had your skill with scarves, they always look a little contrived on me, never effortless. Love the coat in the last 2 images, and the dresses look fantastic (my fave is the heart print, especially the way you have styled it over all).

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    1. I love scarves and have too many and need to cull as the drawer is no longer shutting. The coat in the very fuzzy pictures taken by my henchboys is the Topshop one which I've been getting quite a bit of wear out of this year. I always liked it and saved it for days out shopping and the like but I'm learning to wear it as and when I like after all what am I saving it for?

      For a non girly girl, I actually succumbed to a heart print dress but I didn't think it looked too twee. It's a really easy dress to wear as long as there are no winds a blowing that day. And the old faithful black opaques are back. I found stick a black scarf on and it will tie all the black bits together and everyone's happy. I confess I have to tie my scarves "just so" so it's a bit of a thing with me. Anal is the word that springs to mind :o)

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  12. Hey...you're right, no one else will notice that the dress is red, only you. It's in your head, woman. ;)
    As for the BB cream, may I just say that as someone who has suffered from acne and as a result has to TROVEL the make up on to look half decent, I am JEALOUS of you not needing anything.
    Anyhow....I do find that I have to use moisturiser under the BB creams regardless of their claims. So I clean the skin, moisturise, put the primer, then the BB cream and then in certain areas something like an EXTREME coverage cement...I mean foundation, then blusher, and then I'm done.

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    1. Wow. I don't know what to say to that except thanks and much appreciated. I never went through the spots and acne thing but I think that has something to do with dry skin but this has come back to bite me now as I have no natural lubrication to fight the wrinkles. I find that my sisters who have oilier skin fare better than me - they like to send me anti-wrinkle creams - not sure if it's because they care or because they like to mock me :o( I will persevere with the BB cream over my regular moisturiser.

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  13. that red dress isn't too bright, maybe because you're wearing a darker one in the second pic which i really like - love the casual foldover of the belt too (where is that from??)

    i like that you've gone for the size 14 because i think the fit is really good as well. i don't care much for size labels, i'm anywhere from a UK 8-14 myself which is sometimes confusing but i think you quickly learn to find good cuts and silhouettes after shopping online for a while (of course i'd rather try something on in person but sydney is sadly lacking a lot of british high street stores that i like)

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. The belt is a very old work belt from Marks and Spencers. It's gone all soft and floppy from years of wear and I took it to the cobblers a while back to put extra notches in it so I could wear it on the waist and do the foldover bit on it.

      I tend to go for fit over size labels these days. In my younger days, I might have been a slave to the sizing but not now. It takes me all my willpower sometimes not to comment when people come out of changing rooms with clothes on too small for them. However, I do compliment someone if I think they look nice. I need locking up! I'm going to be one of those weird old ladies who mumble as they shuffle down the street.

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  14. The red dress is stunning on you!
    I long for a few good day dresses.

    Re size... I don't care what the number says so long as the garment fits... but agree that it's pretty insane that you are wearing a 14. Size discrepancies like this make shopping on the internet so much harder.

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    1. I have a lot of dresses ... I just don't like wearing them that much. However, if I was working, I think my wardrobe would be be quite dress orientated these days. I like to think I would be wearing something like the navy heart dress with a smarter blazer and shoes to bring it into work mode. In theory.

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  15. Love both dresses, Susie! The red is a nice standout color while the Size 14 dress has such a cool pattern. Mmm... I can't wait to start wearing black tights! We keep getting spurts of cold weather but it's gone in a week. So sad. For photos, I have my trusty tripod. I just got a sturdy new one since my other one hit the dust. Once in awhile, Bryan will be oh-so-kind and take some photos for me but other times it's like pulling teeth since he's not interested in photography or cameras in the least bit. :/

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    1. I'm toying with the idea of grey tights but I know that is a road that I should possibly not take and stay on the black and opaque instead. For some reason, when I have black tights on, I feel less vulnerable than in summer with bare legs.

      The weather you are having at the moment, looks like my ideal. Dry but cool. That means I can layer up but stay in suede boots and not get rained on like I did last night taking the boys trick or treating. Drowned rat is a look which is not catching on anywhere fast except for rats.

      I hear you about the other half and photography, except mine used to be into photography and had all the equipment until he sold it this year - even threw in the tripod for good measure! I think he likes taking photos ... just not of me :o(

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  16. OMG that dress is gorgeous! I could find a home for it if it is ever homeless LOL!

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  17. I LOVE these dresses, you look gorgeous in them, particularly the red which looks amaaaazing with your Jigsaw boots. A size 14 on you [shock] I'm guessing my 4 year old niece would look fab in a size 8 then!
    Jane
    http://sickofmystylerut.blogspot.co.uk/

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Susie So So