Two green dresses

Since both the post-Christmas finances and my secondhand shopping mojo have gone astray this month, I am relying on 

some Old Faithfuls of the Wardrobe to see me through January.

I suppose it's possible that the softer green of the tie-front cardigan would have blended well with the muted, sludgy shades of the 1950s print dress on the left; and the bright green cardigan would have picked out the same shade in the Deco-esque print of the 1970s maxi.

But that's too obvious, right? And I would have felt too subdued in the first version, and overly neon in the second. 

So I wore my greens like this.

And that's the way (uh huh, uh huh) I like it.

1950s dress - gift from Goan beach babe Vix

Cardigan, earrings, bangles and tights - charity shopped

Boots - community fair

Necklace - gift from op shop queen Leisa

There's that peacock feather bangle again. I've worn it so much, the paint is coming off. Thank you, Tania of the Disappearing Blog (and come back soon please!)

I have had a Big Tidy Up. 

It took all day.

And I only did one room, that's how bad it was.

But it looks better, and I have numerous books, games, puzzles and other toys the kids have outgrown to either donate to charity shops, or keep for our next school jumble sale. I should really do the latter, but it isn't till March, and I want that stuff out now that I've gone to the trouble of sorting it.

I figure that if a room takes a day, and assuming (which is foolhardy) that I don't lose my motivation, we could be shipshape by the end of the month.

That's the plan...

1970s DL Barron maxi dress and mohair tie-front cardigan - flea market

Sequin beret, boots, necklace and bangles - charity shopped

Flower - gift from my darling Sarah

Why is it that I find housework so difficult?

I know it's pointless and dull, but I do feel so much happier when the house is in a reasonable state, and I'm not ashamed of it (and myself.)

Actually, during the years when I lived alone, I was pretty organised and tidy. So it's clearly Simon and the kids' fault.

There, that's solved the mystery. An aversion to housework brought on by Other People's Mess. 

(...untill?) 

I may like a 50s frock, but that's where my affinity with a 1950s housewife begins and ends, I'm afraid.

One of my friends dusts and polishes her house every week. Every week. Is this normal?

 

Which are you, a Dusting Divinity or a Slovenly Slackarse? Be honest, now!

xxxx

Cutting the mustard

My, but it's been perishing today.

I got dressed this morning with warmth in mind, since I was heading out with a friend to Chesterfield flea market after we had deposited the little 'uns at school.

Black and mustard! 

These mustard jacquard print leggings were a recent Ebay purchase. At just 99p, they didn't exactly break the bank, but they are more like footless tights than leggings.

Has anyone heard of the brand SuperTrash? I hadn't, so I didn't bid on them because of the label, I just liked the colour.

When I checked out their website, I was astonished at the prices. Their leggings are retailing at £25-40! Is it me, or is that ridiculous?

InWear dress, cardigan, brooch, carved bangle - charity shopped
Metal bangle - gift from dearest Lucy

Boots - retail (sale)

Leggings - Ebay

While I have been telling myself not to buy anything this month, I know in my heart that if I happened upon some marvellous piece of vintage loveliness, I would indulge...

There's no point lying, I know I would.

So maybe it's just as well that the Secondhand Gods have deserted me just for now; I haven't seen anything I wanted in the charity shops, or at the market today.

This month's purchases have been books and clothes for the kids, and that's all.

The outfit's OK.

Don't love it, don't hate it.

But when I saw the photos as I actually spent the day, ie. with my coat on, I laughed my woolly socks off!

I look like I've been parachuted into 2013 from the 1940s, where I had been stoically queuing up with my ration book for powdered egg, an ounce of butter, and a pig's trotter to feed the family for a week.

You see it?

The beret, the tweedy coat, the serviceable boots, and the grim expression...

Or maybe there's a hint of Land Army.

Note the mustard shirt and socks!

My mum was a Land Girl, and used her old, much darned woollen socks as Christmas stockings for my sisters and I when we were kids. 

Paul Costelloe wool/cashmere coat - flea market

Scarf - Christmas swap gift from lovely Sophie

Hat - charity shop

Leather gloves - gift 

Serviceable.

It's not a look I really strive for...


I blame the cold weather!

The clip is from Horrible Histories.

Their songs are genius!

   xxx

True colours shining through

I couldn't choose a favourite colour.

I don't think there is any colour which doesn't feature somewhere in my wardobe (though I have tried to eliminate beige.)

I do find that I can be drawn to the same colour over and over again for a while, as though my colour wheel gets stuck.

I seem to be in my orange period at the moment.

I know some people have all sorts of rules/guidelines about pattern mixing. I'm not especially analytical about it, I just felt that the bits of orange in the frock would "go" with the orange flowers on the cardigan. So I wore them together. That's all.

 This 1970s crimplene maxi dress was an Ebay purchase for £4.99. It was listed as a UK size 10 (it's not, or it wouldn't fit me) and described as twee. What an odd word to pick for this big bold splashy colourful print! Twee is an overdose of bunting, cupcakes and kittens, not a 1970s crazy chrysanthamum print.

And the cardigan is from a charity shop (£3.25) as are all the bangles.

I received a parcel of delight from the zombified perky-boobed artist's muse who is Sarah Misfit this week. She's obviously feeling the orange love too!

She sent me a wildly colourful 1970s frock, a wooden bracelet (already dubbed the pencil bracelet and pinched by Littlest), a fuck-off daisy brooch, fabulous sunnies, and a helpful tome on Understanding the female orgasm.

Published in 1973, the blurb says;

 Seymour Fisher

 records the results of his own attempts to discover, with the help of some 300 married women, what things help or hinder a woman to attain orgasm.

I'm sure those married women (he wasn't interested in the likes of us unmarried types then) were happy to help, in the name of science and discovery. Do you think Seymour had sex with all of them? Oh Seymour...

Thank you Sarah. You are an idiotic darling.

Oh and if anyone wants to read the book after me, let me know, and I'll pass it right along. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Orgasm, anyone?

Lets get back to orange, for goodness' sake.

Look at all the orange gorgeousness in my wardrobe. I think it might be impossible to feel grumpy when you wear orange. 

You might even have better orgasms. I wonder if Seymour knows?

Nope, not working yet...

Now you're talking!

Hope you are having plenty of orange orgasm action this week!

    xxx

In which I have listened and learned

Thank you for your suggestions for reducing the frump factor in my nautical outfit.

I knew you ladies of style and substance would have some words of wisdom for me!

I would love a red beret set at a jaunty angle - but I don't have one. Nor a red cardi or jacket.

But I've added a little brooch, tucked in the end of the belt, unearthed some red tights, and lightened the trotters with white T-bars.

And I have turned up the hem of the skirt by about an inch, only pinned as yet, might take it up a bit more yet.

I feel better. Can you tell?

It's not odd that I dressed up again in the same outfit, but with your suggested adaptatons, is it?
I knew you'd understand.

This is what I really wore today.

 1970s Lerose maxi dress (Ebay), InWear mohair wrap cardigan (flea market), Jones boots (Ebay), Jennie's necklace (again), beaded charm bracelet (birthday gift)


The dress was too big on the top (not a problem I often encounter) so I took it in, but very shoddily, hence it can only be worn with something over the top. I told you I was slapdash.

Look, I'm showing you my skirt, right, and if you don't like it, I'll have this face like a slapped arse for the rest of the day.

                                                            Twirly whirly. 

I love how you darlings are full of ideas and constructive styling advice. I trust your judgment, and I will doubtless be calling on your expertise again.

Who needs Trinny, Susannah, Gok or anyone else when you've got the blogging community to help?


You rock! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx