Monday 6 August 2012

A little bit of Yorkshire, and a whole lot of frock

Frocks.

Can one have too many?

Ok, Ok, I hear ya! Of course not!

Although ever-baffled OH did say to me the other week, "I'm not being funny, but have you got a dress for every day of the year?"




Now let me think...




No. But I'm working on it.





The siren call of the Perfect Red Dress cannot be ignored.




Shubette 1980s-does-50s (I think) shirt dress, floral cardigan, bangles and necklaces - 
charity shopped
Leopard print T-bar shoes - Ebay
Hair flower - Boots sale


Don't tell me you would have left this baby, complete with its original belt, languishing on the rail in the charity shop...





...because I don't believe you!



As I have mentioned previously, I am by virtue of heritage a country girl (generations of farmers behind me) but by inclination and choice a city dweller. 

But I like to think I can appreciate a bit of rural charm, so the kids and I headed off to North Yorkshire at the weekend to stay with my dear friend Patsy and her family.





Photo courtesy of Eldest.

We were at the Kilburn White Horse, outside Thirsk, with a whole lot of God's Own Country* going on in the background.

*Lots of places in the world claim this title, probably with greater justification, but in the UK it's Yorkshire!






Littlest took this one.




Seldom Seen Kid and Patsy's daughter were born a day apart.






I know you can't see the horse's head, but you get the idea.


And after the steep climb up to the top and a walk back through the woods...




...ice creams were in order.




We had a lovely weekend. Visiting the country is great.




Just don't ask me to live there!


 Hope you have started the week in good spirits, my friends.

And a great big heartfelt thank you for all your kindness and concern about Littlest after my last post. She and I are touched by your responses. She is doing just fine now. 

  xxx

40 comments:

The Goodwill Fangirl said...

Yowsah! Am I the first commenter? The pole position? What do I do? What do I say?

I'm just gonna let loose the ultimate Southern girl compliment, "Da-YUM, gurl, you look GOOOOOOOOD!" Keep in mind we drawl real slow and this would take about five minutes to get it all out, plus our mouth is hanging open in semi-hushed admiration which seriously undermines any effort to look intelligent.

I do so hope you get a dress for every day of the year - and a blog post to go with :)

Forest City Fashionista said...

That is THE perfect red dress!! I could not have left it hanging there on the rack, that would have been cruel. I have the same feeling about "the country" as you - it's a nice place to visit; I can appreciate the green-ness, the fresh air, and the quiet, but I wouldn't want to live there ;)

Camelia Crinoline said...

You need lots of frocks so you'll have the perfect one for every situation, right? At least that's what I tell myself. That red dress is fabulous and that floral cardigan sends me into fits of jealousy. Looks like a great weekend. North Yorkshire is very pretty (my Grandma lives there). NZers call the whole of NZ "godzone" because apparently we are too lazy to say "god's own country".

Krista said...

Now that is how a red dress should be worn! Curtise you are beautiful in this lil number, and here's to a dress for everyday of the year! I love your sweet family pictures in the country with Patsy. You all look so happy! Here's to all the city girls who can appreciate a lil country! Yorkshire looks lovely but you are lovlliest!
Xxoo

Lynn Hasty said...

Oh my, I am so jealous over that dress! I tried on a red dress today but it was totally NOT the perfect red dress. I left it behind. Now I know why. The perfect red dress was with you!! Lovely, lovely! And the pictures of the get-together with your friend and the scenery are just great! The children are all so sweet and nice looking. Glad you enjoyed yourself!

xoxo
Lynn

thorne garnet said...

A dress for everyday would be fun.The skirt on that one has dance ability! So, that were that chalk horse is. I've only seen it in photos, it would rock to see it in person.

Vintage Coconut said...

"Wow wow wow" You are lookin sexy Curtise. That dress looks perfect on you and I love the cardi you paired with it. They were meant for eachother and you!!

I LOVE the country. I think I would love to live in it.... but since I haven't since I was a little toddler I don't know if I just imagine it to be better in my head than it really would be in real life. *lol* PLUS I wanna live by the sea??!! HMMM I need a farm with a ocean front. Do they have those??? ;)

Unknown said...

Ooh that is the perfect red dress - and you look AMAAAAAAZING in her! I LOVE the first pic with the cardigan - you are SO beautiful! Ever since i read all of the All Creatures Great and Small series as a kid I have been DESPERATE to go to Yorkshire. Plus I quite like Yorkshire terriers. Plus I quite like you. In that red dress. And your gorgeous kids. But mostly you in the red dress. You are splendiferous, amor. Love! Sarah xxx

joyatri said...

Oh, my. I've been out of the blogosphere for a week and see that you've joined the circus, become a bordello girl and now are enjoying wholesome N. Yorkshire air. I can't keep up with you.

The red dress is wonderful. Lookin' tres chic with the cardigan and shades.

Vintage Bird Girl said...

You are a vision in red! Fab frock & it looks gorgeous teamed with the cardi. That Yorkshire countryside looks beautiful. I am counting down till we see the Kiwi mountains again in 2 weeks time! Xx

Melanie said...

So glad littlest is doing fine now! Well done if that phrase can apply here...

Siren red, m'dear! Absolutely gorgeous! It warrants a super twirl. The T-bar shoes, cardi, and of course the flower are divine as accents.

Nothing like living in the country for a while to make me fall in LOOOOVE with the city every time I come back home to it.

Anonymous said...

A knock-out frock on you! Way back when, my mother had a dress just like it in hot pink. I remember my sister sitting on her lap getting tickled and the next thing I knew she peed all over my mother's lap! I still to this day can see the huge wet spot. ;)
It's super duper flattering on you too. and those t-bar shoes are my favorite style. I usually use the phrase t-strap when I do searched on eBay but now you've given me a new search phrase. Hope I get lucky!

Trees said...

That is really the perfect little red dress!!

Vix said...

That is indeed the perfect red dress and June from Second To None would be delighted, she used to be Shubette's house model! It makes your waist look so teeny!
What a coincidence about SSK and Patsy's daughter having just one day between them, that's unless you first met on the maternity ward.
I'm not a countryside fan either, all those squashed animals on the roadside and the baleful look of desperation on the cows' faces just makes me sad plus not being able to walk into town would kill me.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

You are so beautiful in that dress, love the belt and the full skirt and it looks perfect with the cardigan!!
Your weekend seems lovely, your kids are so happy and the place is wonderful, I'd love to live in the country, maybe because my town is not a metropolis and in this case I prefer nature and clean air!
So glad that littlest is feeling better now!!
Lots of love to you and your wonderful crew!

OP SHOP MAMA said...

Great red dress. YOu siren!

That looks like a hearty healthy day in the countryside!
x

Lakota [Faith Hope and Charity Shopping] said...

Ooh it is gorgeous, you do find great things on the rails round your way. BUT...how many dresses DO you own? I think we need to be told.

I can never decide between country and town. I'd probably go for living in the country, but it would have to have a SUPERFAST rail link back to the smoke! Or else I need enough money to have a Kirsty and Phil style 'crashpad' kept up in town.
x

two squirrels said...

Oh Curtise you look just STUNNING!!!!!!!!! That red is so beautiful on you. If you had left that behind the vintage universe would have cried!!!!!!
Now I might just be that little monster who does have a dress for every day of the year. Sshhhhhh!!!!!
I need help!!!!!
The pics of you, friends and kids are so happy!!!! What a lovely time.
Love v
Happy wee poppet is feeling better.

Kylie said...

Sooooo, just how many dresses do you have Curtise? Really, truly, no fibbing, I want to know. I have seven. And that's no lie.

Yorkshire looks beautiful x

Kaffesoester said...

That outfit needs a dance floor! The colour of the dress is fantastic, and the silhouette is so elegant!

After growing up in the country side I still love visiting friends and relatives - but I could NEVER go back to live there! I don't have to live in the inner city, but I do need people and noise around me!

Delighted to hear Littlest is doing fine again!

Unknown said...

O wow you look gorgeous i think this has to be my favourite outfit on you you look stunning. Red is def your colour and i love the shoes with it that swing on the skirt is lovely such a beautiful cut to the dress and it just enhances your lovely figure. Ahh its lovely when you meet up with friends your trip looked lovely just look at those beautiful views ;-)) You all look so lovely and happy. dee xx

Kitty said...

Umm well yes I would have left that frock on the rail my dear...because I think it was meant for you!!
You are totally rocking it.xx.

Anonymous said...

What a stunning frock!! and you look incredible in it!! i love it with the cardigan. If i had seen it on the rail and could've stuffed my big butt in it--we would've had a cat-fight over it!!

Yorkshire is gorgeous--and the littles are adorable!!

I am definitely a country gal. born in the boonies but lived 30 years of my life right outside Washington DC. HATED all the traffic and congestion.
Moved to a small (like 700 people) town in Western Maryland a few years ago. close enough to small "cities" for my needs but far enough away for my sanity!

Anonymous said...

Of course I wouldn't have left that beaut on the hanegr - look at the cut and the colour - nice!

Sarah Jane said...

You're so right, there is nothing quite like a red dress. I can't believe you found that one in a charity shop - it's a beauty! I really wish I had more dresses.

Yorkshire ("Yorkshire, where is Yorkshire?" Sorry, Mighty Boosh reference!!)looks beautiful. I'm a city girl born and bred but I find myself longing more and more for the beauty and tranquility of the countryside.

So glad to hear littlest is feeling better. Sending hugs xxx

Miss Simmonds Says said...

I am SO jealous of this dress but it's so perfect on you I can't be too envious. It really looks stunning - you can't beat 80s does 50s - they really got the look down to a T, but with better sizes! Such a fantastic outfit! A girl can never have too many dresses - my cupboard is positively heaving with them but I still want more. Lovely photos of Yorkshire - I've never been. It looks like the kids had a great time too. It does look like a gorgeous place but obviously my heart belongs to The Chilterns. I'm a country girl like you but I need to be in the city now and again. Did I mention you look amazing? You just need to be sashaying along a Paris sidewalk swinging a matching back wearing a bit straw hat!! xxx

Monica - Colour makes people said...

Wow, that red dress looks so becoming on you :) im a countrygirl myself and still live in the countryside, on a farm actually . :) But the city is only a 15 mins drive away, so I get to cater for my shoppingneeds. :)

Nea Jokinen said...

pretty in pink <3

Louise Mc said...

I'm a city girl by birth, I was born and raised in the city by city born parents but lord what I wouldn't give to move to the country, especially North Yorkshire. I love this red frock, its delightfully 50s, especially with that cardy. This could be my favourite dress. Xx

Fiona said...

Seriously Curtise, you look bloody amazing in this ravishing red frock. It also looks fabulous with your rose print cardi too. There is no way you could have left that in the chazza shop, whatever OH says.
Glad you had a lovely time with Patsy in Yorks. Great pics. xxx

Helga said...

OMG OMG OMG!!!
Thank goodness you didn't have s enior moment and leave that frock behind!It's seriously fantastic,and you are seriously one hot mama in it!AND with that cardi?!Jaysus,I'm palpitating!And rather jealous!The siren call fo the red frock........perfect! I have been looking for the perfect one for years,and have one that's close,but I think I'm over obsessed by the whole idea.
Anyway!YOU LOOK GORGEOUS!

Nice visit to the country,yes,but I'm so glad there was a last look at you in that red frock!
EEEEEEEK!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Clara Turbay said...

Beautiful expressions of taste.

doradadama said...

Amor,
You and that gorgeous red dress were meant to be , red is certainly your color. Look at your waist!
That floral cradigan is sweet and t bar shoes are sweet.
I reckon you have enough dresses for each day of the week.
Yorshire is beautiful, but I am a city girl at heart.
Your little chicks are always looking adorably happy.
Brsios

Anonymous said...

Curtise--this dress is an amazing find--I love the color, the flow of the skirt. And, I especially like how you styled it with the cardigan.

I would have to say that some of those photos do indeed look like "God's Own Country"--it's something about the sun and the clouds.

Annie said...

I'm an urban animal, but I love to visit the countryside, and North Yorkshire looks wonderful.
The dress is gorgeous, and the style looks great on you. The cardi is a perfect match.
Btw, isn't God's Own Country doing well in the Olympics all on it's own!!

Unknown said...

That red dress is a stunner, fabulous! no you could not leave that dress you had to buy it!
That color looks good on you -
Littlest is good with a camera!
English countryside is so so pretty! I have seen enought in films and other blogs - Yes you are right it is god's country!

For us God's Country is the Charlevoix region -

Please let me know again your e-bay vendor name, i lost it

Send me an e-mail -

Ariane xx

Fran said...

Lovely dress and lovely countryside. A visit to the Isles is on my bucket list. I am glad to have found your blog and am following now.

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

Yup, it is the perfect red dress and you wear it to perfection. I like the cardigan with it, too. I love the way you look so citified even in the country. Looks like a gorgeous visit.

Jake said...

I just love the way that dress falls.

Ivy Black said...

That is a stunning red frock! It falls beautifully and really suits you.
Stunning scenery too. How gorgeous is rural Yorkshire...the only reason I still watch Last of the Summer Wine re-runs!
xxx