Fighting the good fight

Welcome to Friday's feature!

Hello again and how are you? Today's title refers to my winter battle with S. A. D. and how I've been using colourful clothes to lift my mood. The grey days have been a battle that's for sure, so I brought out this bright pink trench again the other day to help cheer me up. It's not exactly warm and woolly, in fact I was a bit chilly for most of the day and more than once I remembered my late mother-in-laws comment when she used to chide me when I complained that I was cold. " You need to wear wool!" is what she always said and how very right she is. The next day I donned a huge woolly pullover and felt mighty cosy.

Anyway, here I am suffering for my art as they say wearing this pre-loved pink and checkered trench coat that cost me all of £4 a couple of years ago. Cost per wear must have dropped down to pennies by now. 

Pink with black and white is both a cheerful and smart combination in my eyes. It was a chance to showcase this black all in one by Spense that I've had for ages too. I have mixed feelings about it, as sometimes I feel okay in it and others it makes me feel rather chunky. The cropped and wide legs could have something to do with that perhaps? I bought it in TK Maxx last summer but haven't worn it a lot. Like many of us, I'm still carrying a few post-festive pounds and did wonder if this was a wise choice of outfit accordingly. 

As this was an out and about day of practical chores (moving paintings to and from cottages) I opted for these comfy and practical boots by Marco Tozzi. They're well worn by now as I've found them so useful over the winter months. They add a funky edge to this or any outfit (see another styling here.) The white ribbed polo neck sweater is from Primark and my beloved sunglasses are by Quay Australia.

My favourite bag of the moment is this leather and leopard print delight by Paul Costelloe, my Christmas present from Steve. As we all know, leopard print is to be treated as a neutral shade and therefore goes with anything. The pink leather gloves are all the cuter for those teeny buttons don't you think? I found those while charity shopping in London.

My thanks to Lora for being not only the photographer of the day, but a great assistant to me over the winter months. We have ploughed through a huge workload together and she has indeed been a cheerful addition to my daily life. Working alone during the winter months over these past years has perhaps played a bigger part in my S.A.D. situation than I realised. I'm a big believer in working and hard and playing hard as is Lora and we've made a pretty dynamic duo I can assure you!

                                                                                            Anna x