Well hello there, it's been a while. I would say Happy New Year but that would just remind me of how remiss I have been with my blogging (not having posted anything since December last year).
I hope you have all had a marvellous and memorable start to 2016.
I am writing this while looking out onto what used to be my garden. The relentless storms that we have been blessed with of late are reeking havoc on everything out there from plant pots to fence panels, both of which I seem to have less of since this morning. I made a valiant attempt to return some items to the library earlier and by the time I made it home, I felt like I'd spent 2 hours out at sea. There were only a handful of other seafarers braving the storms, no doubt wishing they had just kept their library books and paid the fine rather than be battered by the elements. We often get blamed by our continental neighbours for being pre-occupied with the weather but you cannot help but talk about it when faced with such extremes. I only passed three people on my pilgrimage earlier but each one of them made a comment as we crossed paths stating their disdain for the downpours.
Not that I am excusing myself, but the weather hasn't helped in my bid to blog lately. The opportunities for dressing up and getting outside are overruled by the necessity to dress 'appropriately', (something I am not a fan of!). It has been a month of rain mac's, brollies and boots and when I have managed to squeeze in some heel-wearing opportunities, I have regretted them due to either freezing cold feet or having them splashed in muddy puddles. Mother Nature has a lot to answer for.
So for this post, I moved to the safety of my hallway to show off some of my latest purchases. The downside however - having to do stupid selfies in the mirror in order to get some photos. They are somewhat cringe-worthy but I thought I would get out of my comfort zone and give it a go. I have to say, it is easier said than done, trying to pose, point your phone and press the damn button all at the same time. The likes of Kendal Jenner and Taylor Swift must have gone on a course or something.
So as these are my first attempts, I am going to label them as my out-takes in the hope that when (if) I do some more, they will hopefully be a little more natural.
I have written about my Anna Karenina coat before, probably one of my top 5 ever finds from a Vintage Fair in Bristol last year. I dug her out though as she is going to accompany me on a family trip to Iceland soon. I have this dreamy notion in my head of some gorgeous arty-farty photos of this coat in the wilds of Iceland, surrounded by glaciers and mountains and the Aurora dancing in the background. Nice idea but the reality will no doubt be somewhat different. Nevertheless she is coming and I shall no doubt annoy various people when I take up about 3 overhead cabin lockers in an attempt to gently stow her for the journey. She will be accompanied with a black fake-fur Cossack hat and black leather gloves. I searched high and low for a black hand muff, sadly to no-avail. That would have completed the look perfectly (and would have been the icing on the cake for John who excels at ridiculing me for my holiday wardrobe choices).
This is my Musketeer cape. Bought with a big smile on my face for £14.99 in the Backwell St Peters Hospice charity shop. Athos, Aramis and Porthos would be proud. Again, another item of ridicule for John who often offers up comments about my blanket while calling out "hey Gringo" but no matter. If Liz Hurley had listened to her mum about not wearing that oh so talked about Versace safety pin dress all those moons ago, she would not have gone on to land a three million pound modelling contract with Estee Lauder. You have to take a leap of faith with fashion - you never know where it might take you (in my case, usually just to the pub but just as rewarding as anything offered to Miss Hurley).
This was my New Years Eve outfit. All very last minute while getting annoyed with myself for actually thinking 'I literally have too many clothes and nothing to wear'. I'm not sure how but I suddenly thought how about pairing a ladies tuxedo jacket with Johns wedding bow tie, leather trousers and a stark white shirt. I was really pleased with the result as there was nothing else exciting filling me with inspiration at the time. All clothes are from St Peters Hospice shops, the Tux was Jaeger and was only £5.99 from our Horfield shop, the leather trousers (a personal favourite) were Karen Millen, £20 from our Downend shop and the shirt £3.99, M&S was from Nailsea alongside the Donna Karen shoes (£15.99). All pieces were incredible finds and I am so lucky to have spotted them.
And finally, my new favourite colour - cobalt blue, I cannot get enough of it. This coat was in our Totterdown shop in the sale. Previously marked at £7.99, reduced down to £3.99. It's a little 'boxy' in style but I like that occasionally. The black edged top was also from the Totterdown shop for £1.99. Great for pairing under jackets and layers.
Just a small selection of some recent loves without any beautiful backdrops sadly, my hallway cannot really compete with the snowy wilderness of Iceland, but no matter, I have tried something new. Something that I was not comfortable with at all but I gave it a go. I salute the young, confident, selfie-taking generation, just not sure 42 year olds can carry it off with the same effect.
Watch this space!
