I thoroughly enjoyed my morning of coffee, chat and charity shopping yesterday. Joanne and I talked non-stop, and although there was nothing amazing in the chazzas, I did find this dress.
I love a denim jacket - although this summer has been so good I haven't worn mine as often as usual - but since I don't wear jeans, I have no other denim clothing.
This denim shirtwaister was only a quid (Oxfam were having a sale, all clothes £1) so I thought it was worth a try.
I like the 1970s vibe, and it will be good for autumn/winter with boots and layers.
September always feels like a fresh start, it's the new academic year thing.
I want a new notepad with clean pages, a sharpened pencil with an unchewed rubber on the top, pens that haven't yet had the opportunity to go missing. I want to make a good impression, get my work done. I want to go to the top of the class.
I've made lists of jobs, and actually got on with them.
(I predict this won't last.)
I have been through the kids' wardrobes with a ruthlessness I am unable to apply to my own.
What can be passed on to friends for their children has already gone, the rest is destined for charity shops tomorrow.
70s-style denim shirt dress, tan leather belt, bangles and necklace - charity shopped
1960s shopper - vintage fair
Sandals - Ebay
Cream bangle - gift from dearest Tania
Sunglasses - retail (sale)
I am feeling the need to try and be a little more circumspect about my acquisition of clothing.
I was shocked at how many clothes the kids had, and since they always seem to end up wearing the same things, a load of them have hardly been used. Now they are mainly hand-me-downs, or from charity shops and jumble sales, so they don't represent huge amounts of money wasted, but there's no point having stuff we don't use.
I have lots of clothes which I wear infrequently, or which don't quite work for me (the lint magnet black dress featured in my last post is a case in point; it is in the donation bag now). I am a terrible one for saying you never know when that will come in handy and hanging on to things.
(I can hear my mother's voice as I type that phrase.)
As for this dress - well, it's made the cut for now, but I'm not making a lifelong commitment.
Eldest has taken a shine to it, and asked can I have it when you're dead?
She'll doubtless pinch the pennies off my poor dead eyes too.
These are some recent outfits which didn't make the blog, for one reason or another.
Actually, the reason is the same - I didn't like them much. It's completely coincidental that they all feature orange. I love orange.
The giant pants (bottom right) have already gone (they made me look enormous).
The grey waistcoat is too small (and grey); the orange maxi skirt just has waaaay too much fabric and I trip over it; the 1980s-does-50s skirt (top right) is pretty but isn't so flattering on my hips; the orange top and print shirt may be safe...
All accessories are staying!
I don't find this easy, so don't be surprised if you see all these items again on the blog, being given one last chance.
Are you ruthless? If you cull, how do you decide what stays, what goes?
Fit, condition, frequency of wear? Or is your reasoning more emotional (if that's not too oxymoronic)?
Advice, thoughts, opinions, experiences, all welcomed.
Linking up with Jane's Shiny T Tuesday - her theme this week is Inspired, and I have certainly been inspired to take charge of the overflowing wardrobes in this house!
xxxxx
