Monochrome Monday




It's great to have you join me today, especially as we're all a bit preoccupied with other things. So let's just talk (briefly) about the elephant in the room. We're currently in the middle of a terrible piece of history and it's rather scary. The arrival of the Coronavirus has shaken us and we've only just begun. Depending on which country you're living in, we are either ahead of you or behind in the development of the disease, but we're all finding the reality quite worrying. My thoughts go out to the NHS workers who are going to see the worst of it. These everyday hero's will be stretched to the limit in the forthcoming weeks, if not months. I've suffered some anxiety attacks over the past few days, feeling vulnerable at times and then being annoyed when others don't feel the same. But today something that someone said made me stop and see things in quite a different light. A friend told me "I just want to get on with catching the virus so that I can recover and then volunteer at my local hospital, pushing beds around and helping to support the staff." What an amazingly selfless attitude! Her comment has helped me to see the current situation as less of a personal threat and more as something that we're all in together. 




This was Monday's outfit, and all the better for having a bit of sunshine when Lora and I popped out to take these shots. A new week, but nothing new in the outfit at all. I'm happy to be shopping my closet, mixing up high street and pre-loved items to create this homage to the 60's.





The two sizes hound's tooth skirt is pre-loved, as is the black roll neck sweater. I was pleased to unearth these matching tights to pair up with the skirt as it's the first time I've worn these together. 




My New Look ankle boots are a year old now, but still holding out well, considering they only cost me £5 in the sale.




My Michael Kors jacket was at the other end of the financial spectrum, but has been well worth the investment. It's a real showcase piece, weighty, thanks to all of these metal studs and a bit of genuine rock chic (or chick depending on your thoughts).




All of my accessories are old too, as are my favourite sunglasses from Quay Australia.




More than ever, I'd like to think that today's offering has acted as a cheery escape, even if it's only momentary. Please look after yourself and try not to worry too much.

                                                                                   Anna x

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Tartan and fur


Yay for fur coats in February!

I know it's great to have a bit of spring in the air, but I'm still happy to be wearing fur in February, particularly this one that's still feeling new. Sasha bought me this for my birthday last month and I've been wearing it a lot, although not on the blog. So here's my favourite combo so far - yellow fur coat with my two tone tartan jeans. Oh goodness, how I love this look!




The jacket is from H&M and is soft as a cuddly teddybear. My reflex as I stretch my hand into my wardrobe for a coat is to pull this out and that's mostly because it's so delicously soft. I'm not one for repeat wearing so I do have to force myself to skim past it and am limiting myself to once a week currently. However, I'm aware that it's about to be March and wonder if it's a fashion faux pas to wear one's faux fur then? Hahaha, did you like that?




The outfit reads like this today - Quay Australia sunglasses, H&M fur coat (I couldn't find this one but they have a lovely blue fur coat here), green ribbed polo neck sweater from Primark, ASOS tartan jeans, Steve Madden trainers and yellow leather gloves from TK Maxx.




As you can see spring has indeed sprung here on the Isles of Scilly with the jolly yellow daffodils popping up all ove the place. Over my shoulder you can see the white rollers breaking out by Golden Ball. The winter storms have created some wild displays at the North End of the island.













So, this weekend as the UK prepares to be hit by Storm Jorge (pronounced hor-hay) what are your plans? I hope to get out for a walk if the weather allows or even a swim if it's not too wild and then the rest of my weekend will be dedicated to the gradual de-junking that continues (if somewhat slowly).




I finished reading this lovely book last weekend and it's helped to reignite my desire to take control of my shopaholic tendancies as well as my hoarding habits too.  I'll be attacking a particularly messy corner this weekend with shredder to hand as I plan to reorganise my filing and loosely termed paperwork. Wish me luck!

                                                                                 Anna x

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Flower Power - February's style challenge


Welcome to our style challenge for February!

Hello and welcome to our monthly challenge with the Style Not Age Collective. As we hurtle towards March the promise of spring is in the air echoing this month's theme of Flower Power. As usual we've managed to come up with varied offerings, ranging from elegant through to playful as we showcase our very individual style. I do hope we're going to inspire you!




Style Spash Emma has created a chic look with this black and pale pink dress, topped with a stylish felt hat and fur scarf that looks soft and cosy. The big blowsy blooms of the frock are offset by the teeny dotty pattern play. Do please keep me in mind when you're ready to pass this one on Emma!




Jacqui from Mummabstylish looks lovely and also very summery in her offering this month. She carries off this pastel hued outfit with a girlish flair - adorable eh? 




It was Hilda's turn to choose a theme and how fab this choice turned out to be. We're seeing a fair bit of the 70's influence amongst us and Hilda's embracing the look perfectly. See more of her backstory on the her blog Over The Hilda.




This month we're welcoming back the familar face of Gail of Is This Mutton blog. If you're a regular reader you'll remember she was involved in our monthly style challenge called 5Over50, the last one of which is shown here. After spending some time away doing her own thing, Gail was keen to rejoin our monthly collaboration and we are very happy to have her back on board. Gail is featuring her favourite floral bomber jacket with an almost identical print top underneath. Do swing by her blog for a catch up when you get a moment.




Fiona and I had to take refuge indoors this week to capture these photos, out of the wild weather that storm Dennis brought to the island. Bright sunshine was at least a help to lift the atmosphere as we made use of the space within the Pavilion in the middle of its face-lift. 






Even though the wind was blasting across the sea, the view from here was still stunning.





With no musical backdrop, I hummed some inane tune to counter the echoing of my footsteps, dancing around creating fun as is my way. Fiona struggled with fluctuating light levels, blurry shots and backlighting slowing down the process as I sashayed around, oblivious. Point a camera at me and I'm in my element!














Flower Power to me stirs up thoughts of those teenage years when I was enjoying my first forrays into fashion, spending my hard earned pocket money on mini skirts and skinny rib tops, hot pants and suede long fringed waistcoats and tent dresses worn with knee high wet-look boots. This homage to those days was quick to pull together from my wardrobe; the dress was a second hand buy last year, the New Look ankle boots were in the sale last spring and the tights are from a huge cache I have of all sorts of colours and designs.




I've featured this floral tent dress (Zara) on the blog before (see here) and I must admit it is indeed a thing of joy to wear. I recall wearing a similar dress - white cotton in a light waffle fabric, with discs of pink, yellow, orange, purple and lime green with three quarter length sleeves and a ring pull zip up the front -  when I was only about 10 years old. We were going to a family wedding and the psychedelic dress was one of the first fashion buys that embedded itself into my memory bank. It captured my imagination and fired up a lifetime of passion for clothes.








All of today's accessories, including handbag and floral necklace and matching bracelet are second hand. 




The finishing touch for today's look was this ditzy print coat (pre-loved) by Kew. The 3/4 length sleeves and thigh high hemline make this a versatile jacket that looks equally good over jeans.




I'll leave you with this final shot of the view across to Bryher and Samson islands. White tops on the sea show how wild these sheltered waters have been lately. We must count our blessings however, that we're not suffering floods like so many regions of mainland UK are. Let's all hope for an improvement this week!

                                                                                     Anna x

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Spots and culottes


Hi, hello and welcome!

I've been wanting to showcase this spots and culottes outfit for weeks now. In fact, this is the third time I've had it on, ready for the blog. The first two times I spent most of the day waiting for my photographers to turn up and both times they forgot me. I suppose family can get away with that, can't they? We had a good laugh at the end of the day at least.




Even this photo shoot had it's problems with too much wind on one side of the island and then too much sunshine when Lora and I finally found a sheltered corner. Anyway, here we are with a double dose of spots; the mustard blouse is from Primark and the culottes are a hand-me-down from Sasha from a couple of years ago (purchased in Thailand when she was on her travels). She had a big clear out when she was moving house and I inherited a bundle of clothes which have trickled onto the blog ever since then. The culottes are pleated and swooshy as well as having a half elasticated waist at the back, making them comfy as well as rather lovely. My winter coat is by Covent Garden, from TK Maxx.




My sock boots from Zara are wearing well, as I'm sure this is the second winter I've worn them as well as throughout the spring and autumn too. I'm trying to ration myself as to how often I feature this Paul Costelloe bag in case you tire of it. In fact I'm using it as my winter handbag regardless of whether it goes with the outfit of the day, such is my love for this exquisite piece. I tend to leave it inadvertantly in the gallery window on display or at least on the front desk so that anyone passing during these bleak/wild days can share in my pleasure.




The gold jacket (H&M) was another gift, this time from my friend Ben who had seen it in a charity shop window and immediately thought of me. The colour is indeed very me and the fact that it's satin is another plus. The quilted sleeves and plain body are nice feature too.




I do love this spot with spot look but nearly discarded these photos because of the upwards angle. Lora was standing on some steps below me and really tried her best not to offend me with the wattle shots. We did a retake of the ensemble a few days later in a different location but without the mustard blouse but I felt it lacked that bit of punch.





The belt and rings are all pre-loved.



I'll be back again on Monday with the monthly style challenge from the Style Not Age Collective. This month we're all sporting a bit of Flower Power and we have a new member joining our group too, so please do swing by.

                                                                                    Anna x

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Plus two's anyone?


Hello and how are you today?

I hope you're well and having a good weekend. Today's post is quite a contrast to my previous one, but is more seasonal I have to admit. Steve and I managed to find a spot tucked out of the wind last weekend to capture this winter outfit combining old, pre-loved and new pieces. 




The fur coat is quite ancient, but the cut is elegant and classic and the faux suede and faux fur combination is so cosy. The look was built around these pre-loved plus twos. I've searched the net for info on the difference between these and plus fours -  

there is a slight difference between plus twos and plus fours. Plus twos offer a two inch fold just below the knee, whereas the plus fours are very baggy, with a four inch fold over the knee! Generally, however, shooting trousers are designed to offer additional protection against the elements. 




I bought mine in the British Red Cross shop in Truro for the grand sum of £4.50. Today is my first effort at styling these golf/shooting breeks and I'd appreciate your feedback. The coat, as I said, is very old from French Connection and the plus twos are by Pret. The high heeled brogues help to turn these masculine pants into something much more feminine. I picked the shoes up when I was visiting a girlfriend in Portugal a few years ago. The tights are by Wolford and seem to have lasted forever. 




I particularly like the wee front pockets on the trousers. Not exactly functional, but cute no less. The embroidered belt is second hand and the brand is Fatface. The mustard rib sweater is from Primark. 




The statement necklace is from Topshop, rings are pre-loved and sunglasses are from Quay Australia. 






As I was putting this outfit together I was suddenly aware that it was very much all earth tones, and dare I say it's verging on that brown look which challenges me somewhat. Hence the splash of blue in the Argyle tights. I think this acts as the perfect ploy, don't you?

                                                                                           Anna x

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My birthday fur


Hello there and how are you?

Today I thought I'd share my recent birthday present from Sasha - this fabulous fur coat from H&M. It's not only teddy bear soft, but also works as another dose of colour therapy during these winter months. I adore a fun fur and am thrilled to add this new shade to my wardrobe. 






Steve and I chose Carn Near quay as our backdrop for the photo shoot affording us this wonderful vista of islands and sea behind. The white sands are Bathing House beach on Tresco and the islands in the distance are the Eastern Isles.






As usual there's always something I forget and the accessory of the day was a pair of buttery soft leather gloves that match the jacket perfectly, but you'll have to wait until I style this up another time to see those!






The gold sweater is one that Sasha gave me as a hand-me-down a couple of years ago, also from H&M. It's been at the bottom of my cupboard for months and was only unearthed when I was trying to find the right top for this outfit. The Lee jeans were a recent purchase from TK Maxx






The necklace is from Topshop and my old faithful sunglasses are from Quay Australia.






My gorgeous belt is new, by Ted Baker and another birthday gift, this time from Fiona. Both rings are also gifts from other girlfriends previously.












I'm still in love with these fabulous blue snakeskin Chelsea boots from Office. The brand is Ego and they're in the winter sale here if you want to catch yourself a bargain!












I'm so grateful that the blog affords Steve and I the chance to spend some time out and about when we otherwise might just be bogged down by weekend chores. We poke fun at each other in our chosen roles of model and photographer, neither of us convinced that we are the real deal which of course, helps to keep it real. And here's the view that I was facing throughout today's brief session looking out towards St Agnes and the Western Rocks.




Thanks for dropping by and have a lovely week!

Anna x

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