Those fallen leaves lie undisturbed now

Blue and brown.

Hmmm.

Not the most dramatic of combinations, you might say, yet I've found myself wearing it a couple of times this week.

As with most colours, it depends how you wear them, I reckon. And you can't go far wrong with some Seventies style.

C&A Clockhouse suede patchwork jacket and boots - Ebay

1980s Windsmoor pleated skirt, 1970s leather bag, hat, jumper and top - charity shopped

I didn't possess a single jumper (sweater) till I bought this one for £1.49 in Barnardo's.  It reminds me of the sort of thing I wore in my mid-teens in the 1970s, especially with a midi skirt.

I should have put my turban on to complete the look.

1970s cape sleeve maxi dress - gift from Vix

Boots - as before

 

I do love a floaty Seventies sleeve.

Look, I'm all misty and autumnal. 

Thank you for all your good wishes and optimism regarding my interview. It went OK, I think, I said what I wanted to say (although it might not have been what the panel wanted to hear, of course). I haven't been told the outcome yet, but I'll let you know when I hear.

 

 

I'm late again for Patti's Visible Monday; fortunately she's a very understanding hostess!

 

xxxx

Fancy

It seems that if you wear anything other than jeans, t-shirt and fleece (or equivalent), you will run into the adjective fancy.

I have received all sorts of comments about what I wear, though I don't much mind what anyone else says.

 In my book, looking fancy is fine. I think it's intended to imply overdressed, but that's fine too.

 

  Yes, I suppose this is a fancy mid-week frock.

But so what?

 I don't know what to do about the hem of this dress.

It's been hacked off and poorly hemmed, but there isn't enough fabric left to let down.

Should I try and find some braid to hide the wobbly hem, or cut the dress to midi length? Or shorter?

Any thoughts?

 I do love the floaty cape sleeves.
Now they are fancy.

But the thing is - I'm not.

I'm a woman of very low standards really.

I am definitely not fussy; I'm not a clean freak, a label whore, or a snob. I'm as happy in a greasy spoon as I am in a swanky restaurant (I'd rather go to a pub and a curry house really), and as long as people aren't rude or bigoted, I don't much mind what they do or say. I prefer a modicum of intelligence, it's true. I like an apostrophe in its rightful place and a well-articulated opinion, but I swear like a navvy, and am perfectly happy with secondhand clothes, low-brow pursuits and cheap laughs.

I'm just not fancy pants at all.
 

1970s cape-sleeve maxi dress and most of the bangles - charity shopped
1960s pendant - flea market
Sandals and hair flowers - retail (sale)


I think some people find the discrepancy between how I dress and how I am a little confusing.

Oh well; they'll live.

What about you?

What do your clothes say about you, and do they ever give a misleading message?

The word fancy always makes me think of this song. I love Bobby Gentry, and even if 1960s country music isn't your thing, you have to admire the way she's poured herself into that catsuit.

Now that's fancy!

PS. Thanks for all the pledges of additional votes for our Vix. She's still in the lead, but Tweedy Man is chap-hopping at her high heels, so please keep asking people to vote!

Here's your one chance, Fancy, don't let me down...

xxxx

                                                  

The Wainwright Stuff

In her recent post, Scarlett of Scarlett Loves Elvis asked what hidden gem we had found while car booting/charity shopping which might be worth a bit more than we paid for it.

I don't know whether it's worth a lot, but I am very excited to have discovered this lovely piece hiding its light on the fancy dress rail of a charity shop.

It's a 1970s black wool maxi skirt by Janice Wainwright. I confess I hadn't heard of her when I spotted the skirt, but I knew the fabric was good quality, the hem is properly edged, and the label looked expensive. So I googled the name when I got home and found some information about the designer here, written by Liz at emmapeelpants, so thanks to her.

The skirt was made between 1970 and 1974, since that's when the Forty Seven Poland Street label existed.

How does it look, 40 years later?

Worn with 1970s silver lurex wraparound top (£5, vintage fair), bangle (from lovely Vix), trashy pearls (charity shop, £1), flash of black bra (free and gratis, you are welcome)

                                          Worn with ancient lurex vest, had it for years.

                                Worn with 1970s lurex cape top (£1.99, I think, Ebay)

This classic early 1970s skirt is obviously demanding to be worn with lurex, and who am I to argue?

Yes, clothes can talk!

Now it's telling me to do a little dance. So I am.



The skirt is in great condition, apart from a few little scuffs on the hem, but there is a down side.

It is soooo long that even at 5'8", I have to wear my killer heels which I struggle to walk in. Though I do love them.

And there's one more thing.

It's too small.

Can't do the damn button up!

Does it matter?

What should I do?

Try Ebaying it? Or wear it, and fashion some sort of loop to hook over the button? Or just leave it as it is, and hope it doesn't fall off at an inopportune moment?

Thanks, Janice. This skirt may not be one of your fancy embellished pieces, but any friend of Ossie Clark and Celia Birtwell is Ok with me, and I'm loving your work.