Thank you Sheila!

The world of blogging can be a wonderful place especially when it comes to making friends. Enter stage right, Sheila of Ephmera who was one of the first over 40's bloggers that I discovered prior to starting my own blog. As a friend Sheila gives me great advice, provides me with inspiration and of late has sent me a couple of her hand-me-downs. The first being this shot silk dress. 








Time for a little whooshing about! Check out instagram to see my boomerang clip of this.





Now, if I were as organised as my dear friend, I would have the precise details of when she wore this gorgeous dress. Sheila keeps a record of each piece and when it was worn linking back through all the previous times it was showcased too - how impressive! She was uncertain as to how flattering this dress looked on her, giving rise to lots of comments from her readers. To my utmost shame, I was a bit brutal and said I thought it was maybe a bit short on her and to move it on, adding that I would help her out by taking it off her hands. My motives were completely selfish, but golly, it worked, and here am I thrilled with my new inheritance! The joke is on me however, as it seems that Sheila and I must be the same height. Without the petticoat my knees would have been the rather unsightly focal point. With the petticoat, however, I think it's sensational. Late edit - here's the link to the post.

An additional bit of raving from me has to be about my fabulous new sock boots. Ever since I first saw these, which must be a month ago or more, I have lusted after them. And, may I add, so have many others, meaning that they're virtually impossible to get hold of. You magazine featured them in September (or was it August?), immediately causing a stampede. Within a day the only size they had for sale on their website was a 2.5 and soon even that was gone. My ever resourceful daughter tracked this pair down to eBay (brand new with labels attached) and even though they were twice the retail price, I had to have them. Just as a fish needs water or a bee needs nectar, I needed these boots. 

The dress is a coral colour, but being shot silk, the secondary tone is pink. I decided to go colour crazy by mixing the red petticoat and boots, pink belt and coral dress all together giving this eye-popping effect. My accessories are rose gold in keeping with the warm hues. Sheila, I do hope you can forgive me my ulterior motives, but as you can see, this is a truly joyful outfit that you've helped me to create.

Outfit details - dress: Big Fish, belt: eBay, boots: H&M, sunglasses: Sainsbury's, jewellery: pre-loved.

Linking with -
Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb
Cherie of Style Nudge
Samantha of Fake Fabulous
Anna x

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35 comments

  1. Lucky you! Sensational dress - real show stopper! And can see why you had "boot lust."

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    1. We're all jumping on the fashion bandwagon with the red boots this season aren't we?

      Enjoy your week!
      Anna x

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  2. Wow, that dress looks SO much better on you, Anna! It was too short in the body on me (I'm boobier than you, ha ha!), and then too short overall. I love it mixed with the reds - you are vibrant and awesome! So glad you love it. :) Ulterior motives are fine by me!

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    1. Endless praise as well as a fantastic frock Sheila - how generous of you! The dress really has a the wow factor, I love it.

      Have a great week!
      Anna x

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  3. Stunningly stupendous. You've showcased it gobsmackingly well. That dress has found itself a worthy new owner. You just must link it to Terri's 2nd Loved.
    Thank you Sheila and Anna for sharing the love! XX.

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    1. Cheers Mary! The dress is a dream and will be fabulous to wear any time of year. Am looking at the red boots again to see what I can style them with next time...

      Good luck with your chores this week!
      Anna x

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  4. Ooh...I kind of wish you had the link to when Sheila was wearing it so we could compare : )

    I love the all red/pink look and I think the petticoat is what really bumps this up to "Anna Style".

    The boots look great too. I hadn't seen anyone else wearing them or seen them featured anywhere when I bought mine. I stumbled across them online while pursuing the latest on offer at Zara after Melanie suggested that they had some fun stuff recently. I bought both the yellow and the red when I discovered just how comfy they are. They have quickly become a favourite of mine. Glad you managed to find some for yourself.

    Suzanne

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    1. As you'll see, I've added the link to that post now Suzanne. The petticoat has become a signature piece of mine and seems to come in so handy when I'm struggling to make a skirt/dress behave how I want it to. It adds not only length, but a dash of fun to any outfit.
      The fact that you've succumbed to these boots makes me feel so much better too. I know you'd much prefer to choose vintage therefore these must be something special for you to buy not one, but two pairs. I feel I've not got a license to find another pair!

      Anna x

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  5. Wow! The items in this ensemble work tremendously well together, you have fabulous vision when planning outfits, most of us would stick with 'safe' but you really push the fashion boundaries.
    Btw what is that stunning red bloom behind you? x

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    1. Thanks Fiona. The adage of more is more seems to work for me. In fact, safe drains the lifejoy out of me!
      My husband informs me that the plant is called Fascicularia bicolor subsp. canaliculata - we have a lot of them on the island.

      Anna x

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  6. The fabric of this dress is thrilling. It's luminescent and reminds me of taffeta, which you don't often see outside of vintage items. I love the site you chose for the pose; that bloom is competing for our attention a bit but you beautifully won my focus Anna!

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    1. Many thanks Jude. I know what you mean about the look of taffeta; this silk dress is vintage I'd say with the same similarity in shimmering effect. I walk past these flowers every day and knew they'd make a great backdrop one day!

      Have a lovely week x
      Anna

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  7. Oops, that was me Anna!

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  8. Fantastic look! I love that petticoat style. And I was to late for the boots, so now I am the opposite color of you: GREEN!😂😂😂

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    1. Aaaah, green - I get it! Thanks so much Nancy, the petticoat is a real bit of fun isn't it.

      Anna x

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  9. fabulous outfit!, it's a stunning dress and it looks even more stunning with a red petticoat (mmmm, now I'm thinking I need one!) and red boots!, you're gorgeous!
    So glad that Sheila sent you this dress, isn't she lovely!?
    besos

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    1. Red is a relatively new colour for me Monica, but I'm making up for lost time now. I would suggest we all need a red petticoat to lift a dress out of the ordinary. Thanks for your lovely comments x

      Anna

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  10. The dress looks amazing on you! Glad your little plan worked... ;-) I think the petticoat and the boots are just perfect with it!

    Have a wonderful week, Anna!

    Andrea
    Andrea’s Wellness Notes

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    1. Thanks so much Andrea! Yes the petticoat and boots are a great pairing - I think you'll probably see them again this season.

      Have a great week too!
      Anna

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  11. What a humdinger of an outfit! Shot silk drapes so well and the colours in the weave of it exude gorgeousness.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Tessa. It's a beautiful dress and yes, the fabric is divine - it really dazzled in the evening sunshine.

      Anna x

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  12. This is a WOW dress, Anna, and I love, love the petticoat with it! And those boots - I can see why they're hard to find. Sheila's a wonderful blogger and friend. xox

    -Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. I'm so lucky to have this gorgeous dress; Sheila was very generous to send it and I'm really grateful for such a splendid gift.

      Have a great week!
      Anna x

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    1. You're so right Vronni - its a beautiful dress indeed!

      Many thanks,
      Anna x

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  14. This will give you an entrance my dear... nobody can ignore you. Which is exactly how it should be. I love silk, I love all the colours you are mixing and I love the mix. So I love the outfit. Great thinking to put the petticoat underneath. Sheila is a darling. I had the fortune of meeting her in Vancouver two years ago. A unique person who is on my list of people I really like. Distance makes it too hard to establish a real friendship, the downside of bloggging.
    As for the red boots.. yes they make everything modern. Saw them on Suzanne as well. I like them on you and Suzanne, I really do but I still have hang-ups over little socks in pumps. So I am not up to speed yet for such boots. I am progressing though 😉.
    Greetje

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    1. Thank you for your lovely feedback Greetje - much appreciated! With legs like yours I think you'd really rock these sock boots. Perhaps when you and the girls get together next time to go shopping, you could try some on and get their opinion? I think you'd be surprised at how comfortable they are. I'm not sure about little socks in pumps either, but these boots are something else completely!

      Anna x

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  15. Banging look, I love it, lucky you to get this stunner, and the boots are gorgeous. Bold and bright - fabulous Anna. x Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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    1. You're too kind Jacqui. It's lovely to have these boots in place as autumn starts - I know I'm going to get as much wear out of them as I possibly can.

      Have a fab week!
      Anna x

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  16. Doesn't it look fab! I've ended up with items by making a comment about something before and then feeling totally guilty when it has been bequeathed to me!

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    1. Hahaha, I love that you've had some gifts too! I'm sure you made the very best of them!

      Have a fab weekend x
      Anna

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  17. I loved this on instagram and love hearing the story behind it now. I haven't tried those boots yet though I've started seeing them around. I love the new way shoes are being transformed. Hopefully we'll start to get stylish and comfortable in one!

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    1. Julia these boots are exactly that - stylish and comfortable, hence they're called sock boots. I think you ought to find some to try out and see if they suit you - it's worth a try!

      Anna x

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  18. I knew I would love the boots! And from what your saying Anna, they are long gone! I bet I wont be able to find a pair. I'm now hunting down three pairs of shoes/boots you have featured. Keeping me on my toes here! xx

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    1. Oh golly, I'm sorry about that Laurie. If it's any consolation, I too am still scouring the net for those orange wedge sandals you wore not so long ago...

      Anna x

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