Morning routines (and the skirt)

An early post! I've been doing some gardening so will spare you those photos, but now to 'make myself presentable'. My favourite beauty / make-up / products with today's perfume (inspired by my garden roses - see below!):

Left - right: Jo Malone Red Roses; Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner; Benefit Benetint; Bobbi Brown eyeliner brush; Body Shop Carrot Moisture Cream (recently discontinued - wail!); Bobbi Brown flint eye-shadow; No 7 Protect & Perfect Intense; Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle; Lancome Extencils Mascara; Garnier BB Cream.

Still pondering what to wear today. Planning ahead yesterday (get me!) I considered my White Company white jeans (below) but it's a bit gloomy today and I feel like something darker... will ponder more and report back.

Here are some flowers I 'pruned' from the garden. Boy do my roses have vicious thorns - ouch! - but they are beautiful. I love pink and orange as a colour combination in flowers :-)

My roses with industrial strength thorns.

So, more outfit considerations for today. I think I have settled on my well loved M&S Autograph bootcut jeans, with my new Primark tan and black striped top. Thought it was tan and navy originally, (but it's still lovely...)  together with my Mulberry tote bag.

I earlier considered my striped breton t shirt from Zara with a Hobbs denim skirt, and a yellow White Stuff belt and bag, but (a) my legs are too white (note to self, crack open the self tanner); (b) it doesn't feel quite right for today and (c) I'm matchy-matchy again....

Maybe plain is best...

It's interesting how many of us seem to wear fewer skirts nowadays. I wonder if it is because of issues like leg 'maintenance' (and in my case laziness therewith?!)

I love skirts but they can seem too formal for day to day life. (With the exception of denim I guess.) I find they just take more effort to wear. What are other people's thoughts?

I have this Zara Guipure lace skirt in my online basket - and as much as I love it, I would probably not have much occasion to wear it. It's so pretty though, and only £15.99...

The leopard print

I have been having a small crisis over the Primark leopard print skinny jeans.

• Can a 40 year old woman really wear this look without channelling Bet Lynch? And...
• The skinnies are not so skinny, (obvious really on my chubby little legs - but there's still surplus fabric there) and that's before any stretch.  I'd sized up as I assumed Primark (being cheap) would not be generous in the sizing - more likely the reverse. I have no idea if that's normally the case. Hmm what to do - change for normal size or abandon altogether....? Any advice here?

I can't decide if they are hideous on me or not. Hubby said they looked better on than he expected (what kind of a backhanded compliment is that?!)  Cardigan - old charcoal/ smoke coloured Jigsaw chiffon trim (fished out at random so the whole look is not quite 'there').  Bag is my lovely Mulberry Mitzy. (Outlet bargain!)

Best thing is the bag!

Earlier in the day I had been wearing my new black Primark capris (bought yesterday) with a nude Primark vest and an old Topshop blush / beige voile blouse with a ruffled front. I love blush / beige and wear a lot of it as it works well with my favourites navy, white, tan and black and (dare I claim it) forms the basis of a good 'capsule' collection for me. Shoes are trusty White Stuff beige suede wedges. 

Capris - Primark; Vest - Primark; Blouse - Topshop (old); Shoes - White Stuff (old)

(Sorry the photos are a bit dark and blurry, unsure why - but they are a lot better that the so called 'enhanced' version iphoto offered me!)

Trusty White Stuff wedges from last year

Also below is a close-up of my bargain Asos gold leather sandals from my post the other day - £7 in the sale and still available on the Asos website here although only in smaller sizes now, I see. They have them in other colours too - see here. (I am considering getting the orange version as well as I like them so much.) 

Asos Fearne Gold Sandals - £7 bargain :-)

  

'Matchy matchy'?

Today I am wearing an LK Bennett silk shift dress with an old Monsoon bolero style cardigan (I like the shape as it shows the fitted shape of the dress), and some White Stuff beige suede wedge shoes from last year.

My handbag is also from LK Bennett - 'Gala' in taupe - a couple of seasons ago,  but I think they still have them in some of the outlet shops.

I do like the dress but on seeing the photos am unsure whether the criss cross pattern is flattering on a less than svelte figure :-0

Today's outfit is also maybe a bit too 'matchy-matchy' for my liking - it's amazing (but obvious I suppose!) how taking pictures can allow you to critique your look more effectively / objectively.

Not being 'worn' today..... but I also wanted to post my lovely new Anya Hindmarch 'Girly Stuff' pouch. I have an ancient polyeurethane (?) version which came free on a magazine yonks ago. I use it to ensure that all my 'must haves' travel stylishly from bag to bag when I change handbags (cards, other essentials, concealer, lip balm, pen etc..) The old freebie one is falling apart, so I've invested in a new 'proper job' as it proved so useful and looked so good.

It looks tomato red in the photo - but is in fact a dark metallic raspberry colour - not my first choice perhaps - but it was on sale at an outlet - so couldn't be too choosy. It normally costs £95 from the Anya Hindmarch website but I paid £50 at Bicester outlet :-)

Anya Hindmarch 'Girly Stuff' pouch

My journey into blogging starts.

And I am having trouble typing, good start!


I am a mum aged 40, and yes even at my time of life, I still need to work out what suits me, clothes wise.I've decided to keep a diary (ok, blog, better 'get with' the correct terminology!) to record my choices.


I can't claim to be stylish really, like so many of the other lovely fashion bloggers, but I do like nice things and have an eye for a bargain (and for an investment buy!)


Now, a somewhat inauspicious start - a rather wonky mirror perched precariously on top of some shoe boxes (oh the glamour I live in!) 

So - my efforts on day one are as above. I am wearing:

• White Stuff Lusine Top (sheer-ish collarless blouse) 
• White Company skinny denim crops (I am a short arse, so on me they look pretty much full length)
• (Just seen) - Gold Isabella Oliver skinny belt
• Red / pink / coral bird print NW3 scarf by Hobbs (Nightingale - from last year)
• Yellow bag by White Stuff (Zest shopper in Mimosa) 
• Finally ..... a great bargain - Fearne leather gold sandals by Asos - reduced to £7. (Having worn them all day I can confirm they are really comfortable, no rubbing.) 

A close up of the scarf

Comments welcome - that is, assuming anyone actually finds and reads this - which is (a) a mystery to me as I know not how these things work; and (b) fairly unlikely given the paucity of the content!


PS I will be honest, even if the finished choice looks pants - as that's the whole point of doing this - so please don't laugh (too much) ;-)