Bored
Sunday, 24 August 2014
Sometimes I get a little bored being a plain Sue and I remember the days when I used to dress up more and put on a necklace in the morning and a pair of heels and go to work. So what do I do when when I get bored? I jump in to the dress up wardrobe and see what I can unearth and do you want to know what I came up with today?
A gold necklace, a sparkly boho bag and a pair of gold espadrilles!
The necklace and bag are from days of old. Things which I still like but don't see the light of day very often but don't get rid of as I think they have their uses. I confess I'm not sure about the bag - it was a £4 impulse buy and it's probably the handles putting me off but I feel a style hack coming on with this.
The minimalist part of me wants to unpick all the beading but that would be tantamount to stupidity. But never say never.
It may resurface as a clutch - what do you think? Or I could add straps somehow and make it a shoulder bag! And the gold Gaimo espadrilles were an impulse TK Maxx last year which I still love. The squidge factor on the leather is amazing.
And the basics? The navy jumper is a men's Uniqlo cotton linen crew neck from their spring summer range. I bought this in a size XS earlier on in the year and it is on the right side of loose without being overly baggy on me. I tried on some of the womens' knits but didn't get on with them as they tend to make them more fitted around the waist and I don't like anything which clings to the mid section so I started to look in the mens' section instead and bingo - lots of lovely cotton linen knits there to be found. I do have a fondness for cotton/linen knits - I like the slight slubby weave and texture.
And we have to have jeans. A pair of boyfriend jeans today. I'm wearing the MIH Tomboy jeans. A slightly more fitted boyfriend style jean - a slim skinny should I say and these are in the New Original wash. So those are my two basics.
And when I've finished reminiscing - I go back to this ...
Uniqlo Mens Crew Neck, MIH Tomboy Jeans, Pieces Slides
The plainest combination on earth? It's the kind of look a million women out there pull on day in, day out. The stuff that normality is built on. The stuff that my wardrobe is built on actually.
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Last Note :
- I will get round to sorting out the geraniums.
- I'm currently eyeing up the Uniqlo men's merino crew necks for autumn.
- The MIH Tomboy jeans are available on Matches in the same wash as mine but with limited sizes. The new season colour seems to be this but more expensive :(
- The Next Relaxed Skinny are probably the nearest high street equivalent to the MIH's. Donna has done a brilliant review on them here.
Sales Dregs
Friday, 15 August 2014
I knew I was going to kick myself if I didn't order this little jacket just to check it out. It's technically in the dregs of the Zara sale but I thought it had potential.
And I was right!
I took a chance and ordered the size small though I'm usually a medium in Zara sizes. I kind of figured that it wasn't too fitted and being short in stature, I needed to keep the proportions small on top and neat on the shoulders or else I start looking a bit Spongebob Squarepants.
F21 t-shirt, Clarks shoes, New Look Jeans, APC bag
And the fabric is lovely. 55% linen. 45% cotton, with a nice texture and weave. Just what you need in a lightish jacket to see you through the last few weeks of summer.
The other perfect thing - it was only £19.99 and for that price, I get a jacket which fits, is comfortable and needs no alterations and it's not every day that happens!
Yes, I know the geraniums need tending to.
Have you had any good sales bargains?
Well It Would Be Rude Not To ....
Tuesday, 12 August 2014
.... purchase this little number for this silly price, right? £8. Seriously.
I've been looking at these embroidered peasant tops for the last couple of months and never managed to hit the button on one yet. I've not liked the embroidery on some, some sleeves have been too poofy, some have been too long but I think I might get on with this one. We shall see ...
Denim Jackets Revisited
Monday, 11 August 2014
So following on from this post where I declared I would be getting to grips with a denim jacket this year, I bought two.
First in the bag was a little H&M one. I bought it at full price (£24.99) and then noticed that it was on special offer a week or so later online for around half the price. The sales girl I spoke to in store said the online stuff is a separate operation and they do their own thing hence the different pricing online to in store. Well they shouldn't because it's just plain annoying to find different pricing for the same product in the same shop and to make it only available online which means you then have to wait a month before it lands on your doorstep .... if you can be bothered. Ranty ramblings over.
H&M denim jacket, Whistles Ailsa dress
Something which I didn't pay much attention to originally when I bought this jacket was the shorter back as I was so busy checking that the distressing was even and not patchy. The back of it is higher than the front which gives it a slightly cropped effect which I personally am not so keen on. The front is the perfect length, the back is not. I think that sometimes when jackets are cropped up the back, they emphasise your bottom - which is good if that is what you want but I spend a good amount of time hiding mine from the world and a cropped back would have served to emphasise the width of mine. Thank you AnnMarie for alerting me to this. But other than that, it was a good fit, colour and price. Drat.
The next jacket? The WIT denim jacket. I had to ring up and down the country for this one as it sold out after being featured on Laura's blog. I originally went to try it on in store in Leeds to be told that the last one had just been sold to to a fellow blogger Claire. Pipped at the post! So I tracked one down to a London store where I spoke to a charming lady where I asked if they had this denim jacket and in a size 8. She replied "oh yes we do - we have just the one left and it's in my hand". And I asked, is it reserved or anything? And she said "yes ... for you!" Now that's what I call a clever saleslady!
Well I have to say, I liked this one too. It has a slightly ombred effect with it being darker near the shoulders and fading down the body but ever so subtly. In some pictures I've seen, the effect looks quite stark but in real life the effect is much more gradual. Again - a lovely fit, a lovely colour but not so nice as a price as the H&M one. And there was no short back which was a huge bonus.
Me trying it on with different things and having a play
And I kept trying them both on and then I also tried on my old original one and do you know what? There wasn't actually that much in it with respect to the fit. I think I was being a little bit harsh on my poor old jacket. So I decided ....
..... to return both the new jackets and stick with the old. After all, I still don't think I really get on with them and if I've managed for 10 years not worrying about them so I think I can do another 10 years with the one I've got. It's a lot cheaper anyway ... polish denim halo!
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Last Note :
- The Jigsaw collarless denim jacket goes in and out of stock so keep checking back if you are interested or alternatively, ring round a few stores. They are super helpful at tracking down items.
- I bought the Jigsaw jacket in a size 8 rather than a 10 though I am usually a size 10 in clothing. The 8 was a perfect fit across the shoulders and flattering through the body but I couldn't fasten it comfortably. I personally don't have a problem with this as it would have been unlikely for me to wear it fastened anyway and I find that some jackets when bought in the slightly larger size, lose their shape and make me look boxy. Sounds silly but it all makes perfect sense to me.
A Quick Trip to Anglesey
Monday, 4 August 2014
Menai Strait
The only greeting I know in Welsh is "bore da". Which means "good morning". I've asked Welsh friends before what "hello" is in Welsh but there seems to be no definitive answer, just like there is no proper "hello" in Chinese. When people ask me what "hello" is in Chinese", I kind of shrug my shoulders and say "har-lo" in a Chinesey kind of way and they seem happy with that. What they're not happy with is when I say there is no real "hello" - that get's them all in a tizzy and then they need to argue it out with me. Big sigh.
Moving on ....
Our friends arranged for us to go for a surfing lesson in Rhosneigr in Wales. Or should I say, they arranged for the Grumps and Ben to go for a surfing lesson and put me on child watch for George. Not that I was complaining one jot. I can't swim for a start.
So it was a literal jump on the motorway on a Friday afternoon, to make an early dinner booking at Dylans restaurant in Menai Bridge, a popular restaurant with fab food and lovely terrace views.
Photo Credit : The Grumps
Did you know you can use an empty mussel shell as "pincers" to pinch out mussels from their shells?
Views from the restaurant terrace.
Followed by a little evening walk to watch the world go by.
The Grumps taking videos to for his little "movie" of our trip.
Me - happy and well fed.
And the next day at Rhosneigre ....
Tootsies!
And being unprepared for George's decision that he wanted to go in the sea (I thought I would be sitting in a nice cafe with him enjoying a cup of Earl Grey), I had to kit out the young boy.
Fat face shoes £7. Fat face shorts £14. Bucket & Spade £6. Total cost £27.
Little boy's joy. Priceless :o))
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Last Note :
- Thank you for all the lovely recommendations from everyone who follow me on Instagram and realised I was in Wales heading towards Anglesey. Keep the suggestions coming, I've a few more visits planned that way!
Birthdays and a Love Sam Lace Top (aka Buffet Top)
Thursday, 31 July 2014
Time is marching on and I am now going to 50th birthday celebrations. Whoa - how did that happen? I remember celebrating friends' 30ths and 40ths but now we are hitting the 50's. Whoa - life slow down please!
The flowers were for the birthday girl and Leeds Market came up trumps again with some lovely hydrangea heads and lilies. Turned out they were the birthday girl's faves! Result.
As we were making a day off it with some shopping thrown in, I changed from the intended tan sandals to my more walking friendly leopard mid heels.
H&M Sandals (not good for shopping)
M&S Leopard Shoes (slightly better for shopping)
And I wore my black Love Sam top.
Love Sam Top, Zara Jeans, H&M Bracelet (in store but sold out online), Mulberry Araline Bag
I call this style of top, a buffet top. An eat all you like kind of top and I have Eileen to thank for alerting me to this when I spotted it on her Instagram feed. I stalked it for a while on Shopbop as the sizes kept coming and going and when my size popped up - I pounced but they seem to have a fresh batch of them again and I'm now thinking do I need the white version too??? Hmmm? Anyway, I don't have much for going out in and this is the perfect kind of dressed up dressed down look I feel comfortable in. I think this is much more what I was looking for when I brought home the Kate Moss boho top which I eventually returned.
And it was just as well I wore this buffet top as it meant I had loads of room to squeeze in lovely stuff like salted caramel hot chocolate, banana loaf, chocolate croissant and scone and cream (shared of course).
#nomnom
And a small champagne cream tea à la Harvey Nicks.
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