Velvet + embroidery = my perfect jacket

This gorgeous jacket was a Christmas present from my husband, albeit with a bit of guidance from me. I love embroidery on most things and on this velvet jacket it's a great addition. I have lots of bomber jackets, each different, but all so useful as that extra layer at work for when it's a bit chilly.









I bought this nude pleated skirt in Tesco in December, but have been waiting to find the right pieces to style it up. I also had another (Christmas jacket) in burgundy that would work just as well, so may redo this another time. The blouse was from Topshop (sold out but this is pretty), the vest is from River Island (charity shopped), and the jacket is by Glamorous from ASOS (it's in the sale here). The shoes are from my favourite supplier of brogues, Office, but currently they have nothing similar. And last, but by no means least are my silver glitter socks by ASOS.

I'll apologise in advance if these links don't work. I seem to be having a technology blip at the moment. Instagram decided not to work for the day on Tuesday. Then yesterday my camera went all huffy on me when I was out and about, supposedly to take some shots of the island. The blog links have been a challenge for the past week, meaning I've fought shy of posting a blog in case it keeps happening. Fingers crossed it'll be OK!

News on my staycation is that I'm having a lovely time, thank you. I've just ordered a new filing cabinet to set to with the dreaded task of sorting out my paperwork; filing, shredding and dealing with all the collected clutter along the way. Next week will herald the start of the big clothes cull. I'm going to group into jumble, which will go to the clothes bank on the islands, eBay for anything that's worth selling, and finally the keep pieces which will be checked for any mending or dry cleaning needed. 

Running parallel to all of the bigger jobs are the daily swimming, shopping, tidying etc as well as batch cooking for the freezer so that I don't have to cook at the end of the working day. Yesterday I also went to yoga and had a walk around the beaches as I tried to find the perfect spot for my swim - we've had some wild weather recently, and that means big ground seas leave the beaches awash with huge reams of seaweed (yuk) and also there is a big run of tide that sucks in and out of the beaches, sometimes a 15 foot drag that feels quite threatening when you get caught up in it. 

I've just read Leap In by Alexandra Heminsley which has been very inspirational. The story of her determination to crack open water swimming resonated with me, and best of all she shares so much of what she learnt. Alex traded up her strong breast stroke for a hard-earned front crawl which took her out into the sea as well as tackling river swimming and finally a crossing from Kefalonia to Ithaca. Inspired by Alex I too want to trade my strong breast stroke for the less labour intensive front crawl. My daily efforts at this streamline stroke are handicapped by a poor breathing technique which impacts on the smooth glide and rhythm. All of this is covered in the book and fills me with excitement that I too, may conquer this challenge. The book is a great read, not just for those who swim or want to, but it's more about her dogged determination that shows her true spirit. 




Anna x

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28 comments

  1. Your jacket is gorgeous and I love the glitter socks.I wondered if this link would be of interest to you re crawl technique. I had lessons with someone who taught a similar approach. They have some good videos and are on FB http://www.swimmingwithoutstress.co.uk/ I first discovered them as a good place to get goggles and chlorine resistant swim wear. I used to go thro 3 cossies a year now one lasts for years.(you don't have the chlorine problem!)
    Look forward to seeing the burgundy bomber jacket.
    Have a good week.
    Tessa xx

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    1. Thanks so much Tessa. I've just had a good browse through the website and do wonder if a course may be of use. I'm going to carry on with my daily efforts and see if I can get an improvement. I have a video called Swim Smooth which is useful and I will go back to watch it again sometime this month.
      Have a lovely week too x
      Anna

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  2. I do admire you swimming in the winter! I would love to take up wild swimming, but London doesn't lend itself to it (although I have yet to try the Hampstead ponds and the Serpentine!). I love your outfit and the quirky touches - the brogues and socks. I love Office's brogues too.

    Gail
    www.isthismutton.com

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    1. Hi Gail, I have a friend who swims in the Hampstead ponds and says that in the midst of winter they sometimes have to smash through ice to free up enough water to swim. I think the sea here is cold, but not that cold!
      The socks and shoes really make this outfit my own, so thanks for your comments x
      Enjoy your week x
      Anna

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  3. What a stylish outfit, the socks and shoes add a preppy touch. I do admire you swimming in winter and the author of your book too, amazing that she swam from Kefalonia to Ithaca, (what a stunning island) it's quite some distance.

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    1. Preppy! Thank you Fiona. I chased that word round and round my head and couldn't spit it out. Yes, it's a preppy touch, and one that I like every once in a while. Winter swimming has become a way of life for me now ( I think it's 4 years this spring since I started) but I still like to share snipets with my readers in case they're interested.
      Have a fab weekend x
      Anna

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  4. I've swum in the sea here, when I was much younger - it's lovely! Cold, though! I admire that you do this, Anna.

    Oh, this outfit is so dreamy...perfect for a dreamer! It reminds me of sock hops, and yet is so fabulously comfy-looking and dressy at the same time! Lovely!

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    1. I'm entering into the final throes of winter swimming when it's just gonna keep getting colder, so I have to try to put it out of my mind and just swim.

      Glad you like the outfit. I'm having a pleats thing at the moment.

      Enjoy your week x
      Anna

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  5. such a lovely jacket, and such beautiful embroidery details!. I love this subtle color combo and cool accessories!
    Your shoes are my favorite piece!, silver brogues and shiny socks!! fabulousness!!

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    1. It's a change for me to wear muted tones, but sometimes it's good to shake things up, don't you think?
      I'm delighted to hear that you love the shoes - these silver ones have been favourites ever since I got them!
      Have a great week x
      Anna

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  6. This is so pretty Anna!
    The colours are delightful...so soft and feminine (it's nice to mix things up) and don't even get me started on that hemline/sock/shoe combo.....LOVE!
    XXX
    Samantha
    Fake Fabulous | Style and fashion, over 40

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    1. Thanks so much Samantha. I thought it was time to change direction for a moment and give the brights a rest. Am so pleased you like it x
      Have a lovely week x
      Anna

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  7. Anna - its so interesting what you said about changing from breaststroke to front crawl. I've always been a breast stroker but have found over the past few years that my neck aches. I know the solution is to immerse my face more in the water but I have tried improving my front crawl and I can't get the breathing right either! I must find this book and read it...

    I love the lovely soft muted tones of your outfit. The jacket is beautiful and goes so well with the elegant pleated skirt.

    Good luck with the decluttering and clothes purge!

    xx

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    1. One of my aims within this holiday period is for me to crack a smooth front crawl. I've got quite a few books now as well as the Swim Smooth DVD, but think the only way I'll solve it is to do some practising in a pool. It's too cold (even in a wetsuit) to stay in the sea long enough to make an improvement. There's lots of info out there including this lovely book, so good luck!
      I'm pleased you like the outfit - it's more muted than usual for me, I know, but I like it too.
      Have a good week x
      Anna

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  8. This is a brilliant outfit!!! You look very pretty and delicate. I like the brogues muchly!!!!
    Glad you are having a nice staycation and are getting to read, etc!
    Ha ha, totally remembering us talking about the sorting and selling of clothes back in August, You will be relieved to know that whilst I have charityshopped many of my clothes, the sell pile is STILL to be dealt with!!!! So time consuming!!!

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    1. I'm so pleased you like this muted look. These brogues do always get a great response too.
      I wonder if all fashion bloggers suffer with this clothes explosion too Kezzie? Finding time to process it all is most of the problem. Good luck with your sell pile!
      Anna x

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  9. Iv'e been waiting to see this skirt Anna! And you styled it in such a "cool girl" way! Just what I expected.Love it x
    www.vanityandmestyle.com

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    1. Laurie, I loved how you styled this and had to work hard at finding my own way with this gorgeous skirt. I'm really pleased that you like it too x
      Have a fab week x
      Anna

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  11. This outfit has a feminine but sporty vibe and for some reason feels like something Veronica Lake (in the 40's) would have worn with a small, pretty, and filmy scarf tied at the neck like a choker.
    I love the jacket, and the brogues are seriously cool. You are just giving fabulousness!!
    OK Anna, you're the mild mannered, sophisticated and beautiful, superpowered swimming goddess with the smoothest crawl on the planet. You are saving the world one smooth stroke at a time!! This, of course, is your "time off heroics" look...

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    1. How lovely to have you back again Judy. It's so good to have this kind of feedback for something that is maybe not my usual riotious self. I'd like to say it's understated, but with those shoes it's far from that I know.
      Your description of me is very complimentary, if a tad exagerated - I'm not sure I'm saving the planet at all, but thank you so much for giving me a great headline, hahaha!

      Hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's Day x
      Anna

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  12. How wonderful is your outfit my dear! I so appreciate the mixing of elements! You look so beautiful!

    I am ever so impressed and motivated by your stories of wild ocean swimming! I am in awe of your ability to do so! I have surfed over the years ... and kayak weekly far into the ocean (we saw 3 whales up very close last week) ... and I still struggle with what might be beneath me! How do you conquer such fears? I am so annoyed with my fears!!

    Thank you for your visit to my blog darling! And for your continued inspiration!! xo

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    1. Dearest Tamera, thank you for your kind compliments.

      My birth sign is Aquarius and I really do feel very at home in the water. But, that's not to say that I don't have the odd fleeting worry about what's beneath me too. I've done a 3 mile swim a couple of times in very deep sea and the only thing I did see were a few seals that swam off as the support boat neared them. On the other hand I can sometimes be swimming in quite shallow water and suddenly brush against something that panics me. You just have to keep going or else you'd never go back. I've just read a great book called "Come hell and high water" by Sean Conway which I'd recommend if you like sea swimming. This guy swam the length of Great Britian! Awesome.

      Wishing you a fabulous Valentine's Day x
      Anna

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  13. Love this soft look on you Anna! I have always loved silver or light grey with pale pink. The jacket is fabulous and I love the "Dreamer" notion.. we all should be right? Sounds like you are busy, and believe me, there are times I want to toss my computer out the window, as I dont have as much patience as my hubby with it.
    The book sounds very interesting and I commend you for your swimming ! I also love the silver brogues, fun and the perfect compliment!
    Have a great weekend!
    jess xx
    www.elegantlydressedandstylish
    thanks for linking with turning heads tuesday!

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    1. Dearest Jess, thanks so much for dropping by and adding your lovely comments. Fashion and swimming are our common bonds and latterly I was also a true redhead, but my colour seems to be fading. I'm holding onto it though, with the help of my dear colourist.

      I'm glad this outfit has been a success and has had such a good response.

      Hope you're enjoying a great weekend x
      Anna

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  14. I'm always looking for a good book and your sea swimming has me so intrigued. When I was younger 20+ years ago I was on an ocean-canoe racing team and really became comfortable in the water. Since then, I'm a bit land-locked not counting the fresh water safe lakes that surround my state. I'll def look into that book. Thanks! xx

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