I replied to one of Kristina's comments to say that I used to be called the Queen of Clash. Well what I ommitted to say was that Queen of Clash in my world is very different to hers. Queen of Clash in suburban terms means I rocked it up by putting on a scarf which didn't go with my top or I wore a brown belt with my black shoes. Anyway, Kristina keeps throwing me down these challenges of doing something different - a bit clashy, a bit fun. I had a long hard think and was about to walk away and pretend I hadn't seen the challenge but then I thought, lets give it a shot. What would Kristina wear? This is what I think Kristina would wear.

It took me a while to come up with this because looking through the sea of grey and blue in my wardrobe - I thought this is not going to be very easy. Do I actually have anything which is interesting and quirky? No - not really. You see, Kristina has a bit of Brit cool look about her - very different to my quite safe, pared down dressing. I love seeing her outfit posts . Sometimes she wears a mad skirt, other times she goes a bit 70's. Sometimes she wears cherries on her toes or glittery Louboutins but always with her tongue firmly in cheek and with a devil may care attitude. Brilliant. Its why I like it. It's totally different to me. Go check her out on Kikisparlour.blogspot.co.uk. I had to dig deep in the dressing up boxes before I came up with the Jigsaw sequinned shrug - this is one of those items which just sits there waiting its turn and opportunity to take centre stage.

However ... bearing in mind that I cobbled this outfit up from my existing wardrobe ... maybe I've got a little more in common with Kristina than I think? Maybe there is a little bit of madness and badness in little ol' me?

So, what do you think? And Kristina - would you wear this :o?

And don't you think this is the perfect fun but comfy casual dressed up outfit for New Years Eve? I do!

Can I also just take a moment to thank you for spending some time with me this year and making me feel so welcome to this blogging community - it's been lovely meeting you all ... virtually!

And Happy New Year!

Hi, just taking a couple of minutes out from wrapping the boys presents to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I won't take up any more of your time as it is Christmas Eve and you're all busy but take care, have fun tomorrow and I hope you all receive some lovely presents.


Love

Sue 

The laptop is not fully dead. It's about 87% dead (don't ask how I worked out that percentage). It is taunting me - it switches on, the screen looks the same but only five keys work. Pah! So providing I am good and that I don't have food and drink within a five metre radius, the Grumps is humouring me by letting me write the odd blog post on his laptop.

Last weekend, we went to a friend's birthday party. I took along some macarons :o)

• Mooncakes* are a pastry which are filled with either red bean or lotus seed paste filling which usually contain the yolks of salted duck eggs. They are offered as gifts between friends and family during this festival time. 

I dug out my black French Connection Berrie dress so named because it has da da dah ..... berries on it. I picked it up in the post Christmas sales when it had been reduced from £67 down to £52. Big savings. Not. But £15 is £15 and it's better in my pocket than someone elses. And as I'd been hunting it down, for once when I saw it, I bought it. No snoozing, no losing this time. This is what I call one of my curtsey rather than a take a bow dresses. Bend over in this one and everyone will be choking on their canapes.

French Connection Berrie Dress (old)

So far - looks more day than night.

Black opaques are an essential with the dress. And the boots? These are the Jigsaw Poppy boots which I hankered after for so long. I played the waiting game and scored them in the summer sale - woop woop! What you might not be able to make out in the photos below is that the boots have a hidden platform in the front which makes them that much more comfortable and still keeps them streamlined. This was their first outing and I'm pretty pleased with them.



L my friend was agog that it had taken me so long to wear them but that's pretty much what I'm like - I buy, I hoard, I stroke it, put it back in my wardrobe and then a couple of months down the line (or even years in the case of my Mulberry bag), I finally get it out and decide to wear/use it. It also means you can legitimately use the phrase "What? This old thing?".

And striking gold? I did this in my Hobbs NW3 cardigan.


I think that topped the dress off nicely - a nod to the Christmas spirit with the gold which also helps take it in to the evening. I didn't go overboard - I wasn't out on the razz, I didn't need sparkles and sequins (phew) and I felt neither underdressed or overdressed (which I am usually). The cardigan was a Christmas present last year and I like the fact that it's a dirty metallic (the grunge factor comes to the fore yet again) and you can work it with a dress like the above or with a tee and jeans as below. To be honest - it's the perfect Christmas cardigan but one which can be worn all year round.



So which outfit would you have gone for? I personally prefer the jeans one but sometimes you've just got to take yourself out of your comfort zone and stick on a dress ... all in the name of Christmas.

So, are you in dresses, sparkles, jeans or velvet this year? If I had my own way, I'd be in a pair of joggy bots.



Just a thought.

For the DIY'ers out there. It might actually be possible to do this with an old black cardigan and a can of gold spray paint providing you don't keel over from the fumes first. Just a thought. I dare you!

These wedge trainers were made for shopping!

And that's just what they will do!

These wedge trainers were made for shopping!

And they'll help you shop like you never knew!

Like everyone has noticed, it really is starting to feel a lot like Christmas.  Speaking of which, have I mentioned that little George has decided he would like a dog for Christmas? Probably not. I asked him what he would like for Christmas and you expect an answer along the lines of "toys", "cars", "trains", but I got "dog". "Big dog". "Big white dog". The Grumps is delighted of course as he is a dog man. I however am cat woman (not the pvc clad one). Grumps would happily grant George his Christmas wish except for the fact that yours truly has said "NO" in capitals. "NO" on the grounds of I will be the one walking it and picking up its poo. Thanks but no thanks. But I don't really want a sad George face on Christmas day and I am good at improvising, so we have a barking toy dog for George courtesy of Marks & Spencer. Be it a brown one rather than a white one.

So I have in my possession two pairs of wedge trainers. One black, one grey. 

I confess - these take a bit of work or rather I'm not as comfortable with the way they appear on me as when I wear my ankle boots. They seem only to work with skinny jeans tucked in for me and I'm not sure I'm benefitting from the supposed leg lengthening which is supposed to happen or maybe I just can't see it? Can anyone see how much longer my legs look? No? I thought not. However, on the good side, they are comfortable and I get to wear socks and keep my feet warm during the chilly mornings when I fancy something different from boots. I know this is one trend I need to get out of my system. Black or grey, black or grey? You can see my little brain is going mad with the indecision.

However ..... if you never see them again, it's because I probably took them all back ... again. I like them in my head but I'm not sure I like them in reality on me. But you've got to give me credit for trying haven't you? Just remember - never give up, never surrender!



*  Aldo Grey & Black Anuka trainers available on ASOS at £60 currently. RRP is £80. On Aldo's website, the grey ones are now down to £41 but they don't have all sizes. Off you go!

** The Dorothy Perkins trainers are no longer available on line but it's worth checking in store if they have them in stock still.