A total portrait with no omissions

                                                       I am going to have to whisper this very quietly.

                                                                                                    Is this outfit too young for me?


It's a good job Vix is away, she'd really be telling me off, wouldn't she? And I do like the look, actually - well, I wore it out'n'about, so I can't have thought I looked too bad.

And it reminded me of a New Wave/Blondie sort of vibe, so I've been singing along loudly with Parallel Lines while typing this. So many memories! I was 14 in 1978 when it came out, and I thought Deborah Harry was one of the most beautiful women ever. Still do, actually. Oh for those lips and cheekbones...

While an abiding love for Debbie Harry is clearly nothing to be ashamed of, thinking I can dress as a homage to her in her prime may be something of a stretch. I'm 47...

Is dressing one's age another rule just waiting to be broken? And how should a 47 year old dress anyway?  I'm 48 in June - should I dress differently then?!

             Oh well, it's too late now.  And it's no good hiding behind the sunnies - they all know it's you!

I've had this little skater skirt for a while but rarely wear it as I think the flared short style isn't good on me. I think it's better with the long waistcoat to streamline the hippage a bit.

Gap skater skirt, stripey top, velvet waistcoat, tights, hoop earrings, 80s Jane Shilton bag (charity shop), over-the-knee boots (Javari, 2010 sale), silver cuff (Brick Lane market), white sunglasses (Her Royal Hotness Queen Helga) 


I have learnt something today. If you want to add deep worry lines to your already lined face and look really cross in the process, take photos looking into the low winter English sunshine. That does the trick. Not such a sunny Sunday Girl!

                                                                  
Of course Sunday Girl was the obvious choice as post title and video, but I had to go with Picture This, my favourite track off the album. Apart from 11.59. And Fade Away and Radiate. And Heart of Glass.

Arc of a diver

It was either very mild earlier this week, or I was having a peri-menopausal hot flush. Good thing I decided to ignore the fact it's January and dress as though I'm on a Riviera holiday in the 1950s.

My inspiration? The beautiful print on a skirt I recently purchased on Ebay.

                                           Yeah, I look just like that when I'm incognito down the lido.

Print clashing again! I found this nautical stripey top this week in a charity shop. Just right for when I visit my yacht.

                                                            Bathing beauties, just like Desiree!

                                                                                    

   

                                                            Skirt and boots (Ebay), bag, belt, scarf, tights, bangles and top (charity shops)


                                                  And speaking of bathing beauties, look at these little darlings.

My mum visited before Christmas, and gave me her old cake decorations. I remember them all from our birthday cakes when my sisters and I were young, they must be over 50 years old.

                                       And in addition to the swimmers poised to dive, we have Billie Jean King...

 

                           ... a selection of ballerinas and a bridesmaid. Choose your role model wisely, girls!

                Well, I can't go en pointe, or hit a volley to save my life, but I can swim! Look, I'll prove it!

                                                                  Come on in - the water's lovely.


I have a house that looks like a filthy squat, a pile of ironing which could crush a small child if it fell over, and a 101 other tasks to do. And I chose to spend the afternoon messing about. No one has a problem with that, right?

 

                                              Pop over for drinkies when the sun's over the yardarm, ladies!
                                                                                xxxxxxx

Let's break some rules!

You've seen this frock before here.

It had another outing yesterday, and always draws comments about being dressed up. Is it because of the gold sparkle, do you think?

I seem to have a print-on-print thing going on at the moment, what with the tartan overload in my last post, and now polka dots and circle print tights. Too much is never enough!

My new leather-look hair flower/brooch is having another outing too. Have you noticed that when I get something new, I wear it to death?

                                     Close-up photos are a challenge I have set myself. I will not be afraid!

                      
                                                                          A noble profile!

1960s black/gold lurex frock (Chesterfield flea market), tights (M&S sale), tan leather bag (Christmas swap gift from Alex), bangles (charity shop and gift from Helga), belt and hair flower (Oasis sale), leopard print scarf (another bit of gorgeousness from Helga!), suede ankle boots (Ebay), faux fur (charity shop), black top underneath dress (ancient)

This blogging business is very interesting; it has certainly given me a different perspective on myself, or at least how I look. As I said in my last post, I rarely wear anything short (ie. above the knee) as I think my legs are a bit chunky. I will not start talking about "cankles", as I particularly loathe the way the media decides to "name'n'shame" parts of women's bodies, just to give us yet more body image-based misery and anxiety. (I like what Hadley Freeman has to say on the subject here.)

However, I have not been immune to the "I can't wear that because I've got fat ankles/knees" crap peddled by the Trinny and Susannahs of this world. Hence wearing an above-the-knee frock, patterned tights and ankle boots is something of an act of rebellion against such rules.

                                                  I'm breakin' all the rules, people, and I just don't care!
 
                                                                          
  
And while I'm not really a big fan of Queen, this video always makes me smile. Roger Taylor-as-Britney and Freddie rocking the thigh-split PVC mini skirt, pointy boobs and a moustache - what's not to love?

Clash of the tartans

I'm not too sure about tartan.

I had a little kilt as a kid, like most children of the Sixties/Seventies probably, and I vaguely remember a short tartan pencil skirt in the late 1980s (long gone) but I haven't owned any other tartan clothing. Ever.

Maybe if I think of it as check fabric, I'll be OK with it. I just don't want to look like Andy Stewart singing "Donald, where's yer troosers?"

Ali and Jules - is that tutting I can hear? Ladies, I am only unsure about the fabric, I have no issues with Scotland and the Scots!

                                 But if you're going to wear tartan - wear lots of it! No point holding back now.

                                                                   So an outfit that started as this....

                                                               ... became this. De trop? No no no!

Balmoral wool tartan dress, Urban Outfitters tartan cape, tan boots (Ebay), tights, brown top and Tam o'Shanter (charity shop), fur scarf (Christmas present from lovely sister)

This dress is much shorter than I usually wear, but the high denier opaqueness of the tights makes me feel a bit less exposed!


Now while we're talking frocks, here's the Susan Small dress I bought at the weekend.

Trademark 1970s fuck-off pointy collar and a wonderful print meets 1950s shape and length - that's a great combination for me.

But I have a dilemma. I bought it at this length, and I like it at this length. However, there is a huge hem where a previous owner has shortened it without hacking off the bottom so I could let it back down to its original full length. And just look at the print that is being hidden away underneath - it's fabulous!

                                                                     What is a girl to do?

                         You don't usually hold back with your opinions, so go on, tell me what you think!
                                                                                   xxxx

A confession, an afternoon and a night out

There's something I have to tell you.

It isn't easy to say, so just listen and don't say anything until I've finished.

You know how I kept firmly to my resolve last year, and only bought secondhand. And you heard me say here that I didn't think I would be shopping on the high street anymore. And here that I had to live frugally this month.

I have sinned, Sisters of the Thrifty Vintage Order.

I only popped into Dorothy Perkins to look at tights (I want some leopard print ones and cannot find them anywhere.)  I spotted this jumpsuit. Heavily reduced in the sale. I bought it.

                                                                        I can't look you in the eye.

After all I promised... I am so ashamed. It meant nothing to me, and I felt so dirty and guilty afterwards. Please try and forgive me. We can get through this.

That said - it's bloody great, isn't it? Completely inappropriate for the weather now, of course, and an LB has to do the buttons up for me at the neck whenever I go to the loo, but hey, whoever said style had to be practical?

On Saturday, we ventured out to the Nichols building, an old grocery wholesalers which has been converted into an antiques, crafts and vintage centre.

I had been meaning to go for ages and finally got round to it, there were lots of lovely things to peruse, not to mention a fine little cafe.

                                                            Eldest LB enjoying the hat section.

I played too. Yes, I realise now I have the hat elastic over my forehead, a fact the LB omitted to tell me.

                                                         Loved this frock but it was a bit pricey.

               Really loved this 1970s Susan Small frock. So much so that I bought it. I know, I am bad.

                                                   Look, it's a Helga porn star chair - woo hoo!

I look mighty shite in these photos  - hair needs washing, pasty face, multichinned. I need more slap on, I think. I should have taken lessons from Karen - pop over to her blog to see her hilarious more-is-more make-up tutorial!

                                              She was very patient but she eventually got a bit fed up....


On to my night out - went to the theatre, darlings, an unusual occurrence these days, accompanied by these 2 lovely ladies.

That's Claire on the left, who bought us the tickets to see "Company" at the Crucible theatre as Christmas gifts. She lives 4 doors away, we went to her house for New Years Eve. And there's Sally on the right, looking as good as she has ever done in all the 30 years I have known her! The three of us shared a house for a year in 1988-9 so we go back a bit.

                                                                         

                                                                       And this is what I wore.

1970s chevron lurex maxi skirt (99p, Ebay - the seller threw in the matching purple top for free), black ruffle top (charity shop), belt and bracelet (Oasis sale), gold shrug (free, clothes swap with friends), silver and gold pendant on leather thong (Greece, another life)


Musical theatre isn't really my thing, but I enjoyed the production, the 1970s costumes and hair were fabulous, and we necked some Prosecco afterwards, while chatting too much to remember to take any more photos. Oh well.

A good day.
Hope you have had fine weekends all. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx