When okay just isn't good enough

This is far from my best post, but I thought for the sake of honesty and realism I ought to share it with you anyway. Sometimes my outfits just hit middle ground or middling to okay, but even this wasn't quite good enough in my eyes.


Today I really ought to have shown a bit more patience and this shoot perhaps would have turned out better. I wanted to take some photos of this new dress and decided to do a tour of the island to find a good backdrop. The wind had shifted, leading me to this sheltered spot at the Ruin Beach Cafe which is closed for the winter. 


But really the problem started even before I left home. I was guilty of trying to fit too much into my Sunday off; I wanted to have an afternoon swim too. In the rush I didn't really do a good job to the styling of this dress and ought to have spent more time trying other options of tights, jacket and shoes.


Even now, when I look at this I know the tights are wrong (black or brown would have been better) and I wonder if my long velvet trench might have been an improvement too. And boots, why didn't I try on some boots? But no, I charged about grabbing the first thing that came to hand!


On top of the photo shoot and the swim, I was also cooking a family meal for this evening to celebrate my daughter's 29th birthday so I had quite a lot on my plate. But this is just typical of me; I'm greedy for life, always wanting to do as much as I can.


The beach I normally go to (Appletree Bay) is having some repairs done to the nearby wall, meaning I have to consider tides and winds every day as I try to find another place to swim. The stormy weather we've been having has brought reams and reams of seaweed onto our shores and I really don't like sharing my swim with all the maggots and flies it harbours. So all in all, it's quite a palaver - just to get a swim.



I have a green corset belt that may improve the outline of the dress enormously. It looks pretty shapeless, although that may just be the style. I bought this in the Zara sale and when I tried it on, I absolutely loved it. Seeing it now, I think I'll have to work a bit harder for the next time I wear it.


Can you see the shirred waistline? I think that corset belt would be ideal. Next time eh? I also have brown knee high vintage boots that could work too... 
Outfit details read like this, dress: Zara, jacket: Next, shoes: from Portugal, tights: old, necklace: Sasha's, camisole: Primark, rings: old, sunglasses: Quay Australia.


Anyway, now that I've got all that moaning done, I have to tell you that within half an hour I was back here, swimming on this very beach. The wind direction was perfect and there was hardly any seaweed and what there was, was high and dry at the top of the beach. 


As I stood on the water's edge rinsing my goggles preparing to get in, I could see a man strolling down the quay, and I could almost hear his disbelief at the sight of me in my cossie - he, all wrapped up in winter coat, scarf and hat. His pace slowed as he kept turning towards me to see if I dared... Yes, clearly the local madwoman!


This was a little family returning to St Martin's with a tiny child wedged between mum and dad. It was such a lovely day to be out on the water having an island adventure - very Swallows and Amazons, eh?


Appletree Bay - the road and footpath as well as the supporting wall were all washed away as a result of storm Eleanor. Luckily we had no other damage to the fabric of the island nor was anyone hurt, so I suppose you could say we got off lightly compared to some places in Europe.


Those of you who know the island will understand the impact this has on our beach. The upper wall has been undermined too. However, the good news is that work is already being done and hopefully will be all put to rights in time for our season opening in March.


I forgot to mention that there's a webcam located above the decking where I did my shoot today. I've no idea if anyone was watching as I got out of the sea, but I gave a wave just in case my friend Angela was checking the view, as I know she often does. Hello!!! And didn't I look pink?

Anna x

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15 comments

  1. I like seeing the "misses" in bloggers' outfits - it's reassuring to know they don't always style everything perfectly. If we get elements wrong, we just pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and try, try again! It's a cool dress, but the pattern is just overwhelming to the eye (a problem with the 90s-inspired patterns that this is riffing on). Your island is so lovely!

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    1. Thanks Sheila. I agree with you that the pattern is overwhelming, but I will be back with another reprise once I've come up with something better.
      Throwing in a few island photos is a clever ploy of mine to impress readers some way or another!

      Anna x

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  2. You could be right about the belt Anna but I wouldn't worry too much because I like your outfit
    https://lookingfabulousat50.blogspot.com.au/

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    1. That's so kind Anna. And yes, I have to remember that we're all different, meaning we all see things differently too.

      Anna x

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  3. I think you're onto something with the corset belt. You look fine we're just so spoiled in seeing you look fantastic! amazing! brilliant! Can I say it's so hard to believe it's winter there and cold when I see palm trees and blooming flowers in your pictures? Looks downright tropical to me! Love these photos of your island as always!

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    1. The corset belt may just sort this dilemma out for me. Looking fine, hahaha! Yes, I'm guilty of always setting my sights so much higher than fine, but maybe there's a lesson to be learnt here.
      The world famous Abbey Gardens, located in the heart of the island, are classed as sub-tropical so you're not far wrong in your description.

      Anna x

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  4. Your new dress is really beautiful Anna! I actually think you did a great job of styling everything with the exception of the boots. If they had been a tad longer...perfection!
    You never cease to amaze me with your relentless zest for life. Maggots and flies oh my! I think the seaweed parted just for you! :-)

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    1. Oh yes, it's such a beautiful dress, you're right, but the rest still leaves me lukewarm. I'll bring this back once I've cracked the problem.
      The latest, is that swimming is on hold again as we have high winds blowing across the islands. Gales will rage until the end of the week, so I'm high and dry for the next couple of days. Hey ho!

      Anna x

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  5. Oh that happens to me too! And then aftherwards I think:oh it would been better with this or that! I hope you show the dress again with the belt and boots! Because the dress is fabulous! And that jacket too!

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    1. I'm so pleased to hear that I'm not the only one like this Nancy! The dress is fabulous, but just needs better styling next time. So yes, you'll definitely see it again!

      Anna x

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  6. Gosh that is a lot of damage to the wall. What a shame!

    I can see the dress has lots of potential and I lobe the colours and pattern. I think it looks fab with green tights but all your other suggestions sound good, too.

    I picked up a dress with a shirred waist from the 1.00 box in a charity shop on Monday thinking it was a shirt. I looked like a sack of potatoes in it so i exchanged it for a skirt today!

    Well done you for keeping on with the swimming despite the changes due to the sea wall damage.

    Have a great week!
    xxx

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    1. The dress has loads of potential, you're right Veronica. I just have to work out how best to show it off. I'm quite envious of you being able to just pop back to your charity shop so easily. I often fall out of love with something by the time I've travelled home and that means it ends up in a black sack for months until I work out what to do with it.

      Enjoy your week too!
      Anna x

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  7. Sarah, sweet memories if our photoshoot in that location!
    No surprise that you had Eleanor damage there too, the sea was exceptionally powerful eh?
    The dress is a super addition and you can have a great playaround with tights, camisole and shoes ready for more outfit fun with Polly!
    Hugs, x.

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  8. I think it's a beautiful dress, very versatile, and I like the spring-like vibe. For sure you're going to style it in different ways, using different colors, boots, jackets, whatever. Lots of possibilities!. Sometimes it takes more than one try to get all the fabulousness you're used to!
    So gorgeous landscapes, even after the storm!. Glad there were not big problems!
    besos

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  9. I really like the dress, and I think you're being too harsh on yourself! I too have been guilty of exactly what you've done! Rushing around trying to get everything done and then not liking the outfit that's been produced! Glad you got your swim, shame about the nosy onlooker! Jacqui
    www.mummabstylish.com

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