The only time I read anything about fashion (trends and seasons and all that guff) is either on the occasional blog, or in the Guardian and Observer newspapers.
A cursory glance, usually accompanied by a snort and some eye-rolling, and that's as far as my interest takes me. Thankfully, I don't think anyone comes to this blog for cutting-edge fashion analysis or trend-spotting.
You'd be sorely disappointed.
So I had a little chuckle to myself when I read in Saturday's Guardian magazine (read on Sunday because I am slow) that this season, black and white is trying to be fun.
Just look what I was wearing at the time!
Get me - as on trend (just try and imagine the disdain with which I say those words and the accompanying facial expression) as you like.
Charlie and Min have no idea what all the fuss is about - they always rock black and white.
The dress was bought in a charity shop for £4.
It's easy enough to wear - no ironing required, pull on, add accessories, job's a good 'un.
But something about the shape brought out my inner Regency lady - and who knew I had one of them?
I'm ready for my reticule and poke bonnet now.
What do you mean, poke bonnets are soooo last season?
It's good to know satirists poked (ha!) fun at fashion trends back then too.
Loving those turbans and feathers; and like me, they added a splash of red to relieve the monochrome monotony.
I'm the mistress of the cotillion and the quadrille, the belle(nd) of the ball.
Now throw your hands in the air, and wave 'em like you just don't care.
Those Jane Austen heroes don't really do it for me, although the women have a bit more spark about them.
I always thought Elizabeth Bennett deserved better than sour-faced Mr Darcy, and Emma was in for a life of very proper behaviour but few laughs with Mr Knightley.
Yes, Fitzwilliam, the sun does shine out of your moody and magnificent arse, but when does the fun start?
I've been told black and white is supposed to be fun this season, darling.
Everything charity shopped (even my unseen bra), apart from a bangle from Miss Tania Freckleface, esteemed spinster of this parish.
I hope you all had a most ladylike and elegant weekend.
I will be joining Patti and the lovely ladies over at Visible Monday - you'll spot me, I'll be the one in black and white wearing a bonnet!
xxxx
58 comments:
Oh my, I want to be photoshopped with Colin Firth...how cool! I love your dress, the necklace and the creativity of this post!!
Poke Bonnets ? Ooerr that sounds rude and I'm sure those ladies were frightfully proper. How very clever of you to be 'on trend' without even knowing it and you're wearing my favourite necklace to boot. I'm rather partial to a Jane Austen hero myself, not much fun granted, but sooo romantic. Have you been picmonkeying all afternoon ?
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So funny. I just love seeing you frolicking with all of the Austenians. You would certainly add some spice to those novels. Well done!
LOL! Love your photos, Curtise! I think in this fetching maxi you would rather star in 50 Shades of Black & White than play in the rays of Darcy's arse in an Austen novel. I love this maxi and your red accents. Oops, time for me to get back to my needlepoint and harp lessons. Can you imagine?
Miss Monk, although you have a pleasing countenance, you scandalise the neighbourhood with your unmarried associations and children born out of wedlock! Your dress is most pleasing, I simply adore the demure shape and the black and white pattern... enough of this! I cracked up when I saw the photo of you in a bonnet, that first one is hilarious! I love a bit of Austen, but it was a bit of a staid life wasn't it? The men's fashions were rather sexy weren't they? This post has made my day! Thank you! xxxxxx
Just love dresses that are easy to wear and you dont have iron and so . Love your Photos , glad to not have tomten wear bonnets though!
Hehe! Love the regency photos! It's a great dress!
It's a relief then that we won't be fighting over Colin. Mine, all mine. Love your black and white look and all the fabulous Regency shots too - thanks for sharing it all with Visible Monday! xoxo
I'm very sorry but you can't 'dis' Mr Darcy and Mr Knightly! Oh dear...
Your dress is lovely and the feline accessories delightful! xxxx
You really do rock that black and white dress!
Just as your kitties rock the black and white look too. *hehehe*
Black and white can be really great when paired with fun jewelery!
Oh this is such a lovely cheerful post, Miss Austen, to come to after a looong day. So you are perfect in vintage, but even perfecter in vintagevintage! Life isttoo short for grumpy male lead characters. Is it bad that I prefer Matthew Mcfadyn as Darcy anyhow?
So glad the cats and you are in fashion..NOT! Xxx
A laugh out loud post. Thank you.
You are lovely in your black and white dress with flashes of red. I've heard the whole black and white trend is back this season spiel. To be honest I just don't get it. I struggle to style too much black and white. It just feels to heavy and work uniformy on me.
I loathe Jane Austin but I'd reconsider if you were a heroine. You rock that bonnet and look way better than those simpering twits!
God, I caught up with The Guardian yesterday, can't believe they're still banging on about black and white. It'll be nautical in a few weeks, mark my words.
Love that maxi, the bastard massive pendant and the floral pumps, you gorgeous creature! xxx
Poke bonnets? never heard so funny! love the illustration -
Ya, that B&W shit they are trying to push down our throats, i don't agree, it's so boring- well most people wear black and white except us and your cats of course -
Cats are cute but the B&W crowd is not ...I'm all for colors and more colors! Right?
I love your maxi and the shoes and the lovely pendant -
Looking gorgeous!
love and hugs
Ariane xxx
Ha ha, thanks for giving me such a laugh out loud moment on this Monday evening Curtise! Love the picmonkeyed efforts xxx
As soon as I saw you in my blogroll in that frock I thought, ooooh, I love that. You look gorgeous in it. I love you as a regency lady. What fun you would bring to the proceedings. I'm a total sucker for an empire line.
Thank you for your gracious words, I am indeed a spinster of the parish, but esteemed? That's a promotion.
I AM a fan of Jane Austen, I find her witty and insightful and her turn of phrase poetic. I always feel that her heroines are feisty and they will probably knock the leading men into shape, much as women have done down the ages.
Vix just made me snort with laughter in a most unladylike fashion. It'll be nautical in a few weeks, you mark my words! HAHAHA! Which reminds me of my favourite JA TV hero, Rupert Yummy-Bummy-Jones as Captain Wentworth...xxxxxx
Oh Curtise, that is a lovely dress. I never know what colours are in or out, like you I just wear stuff I like. Maybe you should take to wearing a poke bonnet! Lol. Xx
I thought black & white would be dismal when I saw that piece in the Guardian but it isn't at all gloomy on you. Love your fun interpretation.
And the poke bonnet cartoon made me laugh out loud.
I love this post and the collages are my favourites! Know the trends is know your enemy! Great dress, it's timeless and I believe that there's more style in your combination with the floral shoes than in all the fashion magazines! Now I need a poke bonnet, perfect to avoid people and their intimacy! I want a poster with you and Sir Colin Firth!
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curtise , there's 2 things we have in common. 1. i only buy the guardian and observer.
2. regency dresses are my favourite period style.
i love your dress.
i love the piece about poke bonnets . i never knew of these.
i love the collages.
great post. love lucyx
Oh awesome! You are gorgeous! And hilarious too - I'm with Edie Pop, "on trend" = bad, lol. I'm intrigued by the turbans, fans, and that ermine / puffer fish purse, oooo!
excuse me Guardian, but me and Bella Q rocked black and white last week. Damn, bandwagon jumpers.
I also hate Jane Austin, all that bantering back and forth drives me nuts.
What a funny post! I love your photoshopped pics. How cool! I love this dress and the pop of red that the necklace brings. xxx
I just came across your blog and absolutely love it! The photoshopping is fabulous! And I know plenty of ladies who'd love that dress...it's so fun!
I found you on Bloglovin! Looking fresh and dewy with all your stylish friends on that hillside. Miss you!
I think you are so trendy, baha! Accidently in style say it ain't so! B&W looks good on you and I'll have to see what I can muster up. I love your little floral flats!
Xxxoooo
Matthew McFayden is my fave Darcy, and I'm pretty sure the sun does shine out his arse...Yup.
The Regency pics are hilarious. Poke bonnets seem rather frisky.
YOU are on trend always. I think being gorgeous is always in!
I'm sure one day we will laugh at current fashions! You look lovely - I like the non-black and white elements (of course) like the red necklace.
Kitties! English kitties!
I'll take Ioan Griffud (or however you spell it), although he never played Mr. Darcy, I don't think. He was an excellent Pip. But I digress.
Reticule! Yes, I love that word, and I shall do my best to bring it back into common parlance. We all should.
You look lovely in that gorgeous, fun, on-trend dress, and the floral shoes are divine!
Oh Curtise, what a FUN FUN post!! I am laughing. I just hope I can sleep! It's bedtime here, but my mind is filled with images of bonnets, and men poking their faces underneath brims. I can only have nightmares, I suppose, about what is happening underneath!!! You are just so much fun!!
xoxo
Lynn
Too funny. You really need your own stand-up routine. Maybe the Guardian needs a new fashion correspondent?
Ha ha - loved this post - you are such a talented blogger.
Tee Hee I had a very quick peek at your post this morning and was still giggling when I had to turn the computer of to do something.
Your fabulous Miss Curtise!!!!
The dress is so lovely on you and I think a bonnet would be just perfect too!!!!!
Love V
I get quite rattled when I am suddenly 'in fashion' (I hate the term 'on trend'), but it does make it easier to find bits and bobs I like. I love the look of your shoes and the dress is so pretty xxx
LOL. What a hoot. I love the photo of you and Mr Darcy. Maybe while you are distracted I could sneak in and make away with Charlie and Min. :)
you really rock black&white, enjoying your pretty fabulous dress (hurrah for no ironing required!!) and making it look delightfully elegant and decadent, meanwhile disdaining magazines trends!!
besos
this dress is gorgeous on you <3
Dying laughing here--how i love your photo-shops of you in Regency finery!!
I love the dress--black and white has always been "in"!!! The trandy people are just a bunch of idiots!
You look great in that dress!!! I love black and white. So much fun to accessorize. The red necklace is perfect.
So glad things have changed sine Austen's time.
Becky :)
Poor black and white - only now just trying to have fun. What has it been doing all this time? Obviously not hanging out with the likes of us! Your photoshopping adventures just made my afternoon much better. Slap on that poke bonnet and regency dress and jump around!
I hear ya, Curtise! So glad we have blogs like yours to visit for inspiration... and a laugh! :)
Great dress, too. Excellent find.
Teeeheee what a great post sweetheart, I so love the photos of in Pride & Prejudice gear, particularly the loved up shot of you and Colin! Not to mention the amazing bonnet portrait! You're a genius!
Looking gorgeous in that fab maxi dress too. Thank goodness for sunny spring days eh!
I think I have to award this post the best one yet!! (of course I've missed a few, unfortunately) Your dress really is great and I love the red bits, but then as I scrolled down, you took me on a hilarious ride. I'm pretty clueless regarding celebs, but clearly you're fraternizing with some cool people. Also, is it just me but, ahem, that satirical regency illustration about poke bonnets is downright suggestive. Please look at the couple on the left and observe the "handle" that's protruding from him. I'm just sayin'....?!!!
Thank you for my history lesson!! Sorry I haven't been able to keep up with you as much as I'd like, but please know I love you dearly!! Hope your precious ones are well, too. XXXOOOO
I love the photoshop, your photos are so funny. Love your vintage feel and thanks for stopping by.
Xoxo,
Carrie
You are gorgeous in this black and white maxi! I'm mad about the shoes! And I do love the turbans and feathers, and your photo shop talent. Your posts are always full of life, humor and of course the style that I count on when I visit your blog.
I had no idea they were called poke bonnets. Hilarious! You would make a fabulous Bennett sister. You would be the fun one making all the rude jokes about poke bonnets. I love your black and white maxi. Don't ya hate it when you're accidentally 'on trend'?
Black and white done wrong can look like you're dressed as a waiter serving rubbery chicken breasts at a wedding. But you've got Black and White done right here! I love the maxi dress so much. And I love your head photo-shopped onto Emma's body! Inspired!
The dress reminds me a little of my wedding dress.
Love you beyond anything, Curtise. Please do not ever get over photo editing. Over the top has just had its bar moved, and you did it!
However, you are trending all the time. And you look so beautiful ... Darcy should be weeping with devotion and dismay that your trendy maxi-black-and-white-print-mixing self is already spoken for!
So great. I have to stop now and recover from all the fun.
Love the new header for the blog
What a great black and white maxi
Haven't we all pictured ourselves with the Colin Firth, Mr. Darcy!!
Brett
This is my fave black&white post and your cats rock the trend :)
Your dress is so beautiful i wish i would find a nice dress like yours for such an amazing price.
Your pics are so funny and i love the one with Mr.Darcy !
Also your new header is fab!!!
xxxx
I very nearly laughed 'til I cried at your brilliant artiness; I need to know how you create those masterpieces?
Cats are lucky, they just have the one beautiful fur coat!
It's scary that some of my stuff is so old that it's 'trendy' again!
Stuff the trends, in my perfect world I'm all about style!
Z xx
Curtise, what a star you are!
I love the new header and your ingenuity in designing this post. You are so clever, you must be a great multi tasker to fit this in with all the demands of being a wife and mum.
Love from Pam in TX.
Oh yes. Forgot to say how much I love the new pics up top!
LOL! I agree I agree! I love Thorne Garnet's response whenever I blog about this "new trend" So on trend! You and your cats. I love what you wear, why you wear, and how you wear it.
That's a trend I wish would catch on.
BRILLANT!!! This gives me quite the giggle!! I adore this era, and you fit right on in, sweets. I'm sure a bit of rolling about in the grass will be frowned upon, but hey, with an estate as huge as Pemberley, who's going to spot you?! (Apart from me, hiding discreetly in a tree)
Fancy you being right on trend there!!! The cats know it's complete bollocks, as do we all, but it's certainly worth a snigger!
Foxy frock, I do like the way it loving clutches your bosom!
O, the new header is AWESOME-O!
Love you! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
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