Frilled To Bits our SNA challenge for May

Hello there! How are you this fine Bank Holiday Monday? So, here's our Style Not Age challenge for May, as chosen by yours truly. Frills are all the rage with me currently, so why not share this penchant with my style sisters?

Gail from Is This Mutton is sporting her blend of citrus brights - the frilled blouse is from eBay, crops are from Roman and sandals are from ASOS. It's a fab summery look, isn't it!

Jacqui's frilled wrap dress is from Izabel Clothing and fits the bill perfectly. Sage green and paisley print are a winning combination! Catch up with Jacqui's backstory on her blog Mummabstylish. 

I love the pink frilled and pearly top of Emma's! This was a happy purchase when she was in Funchal recently. See more from her on Style Splash blog.

Hilda's frilled dress is from Whistles, a fab thank you for contributing to a recent fashion feature in Good Housekeeping. Catch up with her story on Over the Hilda blog. Hilda's perched on the balcony of her daughter's house during her child-minding stay - what a view!

If you're a regular to the blog, you'll recognise the frilled petticoat as one of my recent sewing successes. I've just altered the length, shortened it, so that it sits better under my orange dress. (See the whole outfit here in case you missed that one.) Today's offering is more vintage than new - the frilled blouse was bought in a vintage shop in Exeter many years ago and the skirt must be at least 20 years old, from good old Dorothy Perkins. 

The boots are new, bought especially to wear while I'm in my pink and orange phase. I found them on ASOS, see here. They're available in three colourways but this one is perfect for my summer trend.

Nothing new today with my accessories. Sunglasses are from Radley, belt is old as are my rings. 

My friend Fiona volunteered to take the photos when I told her about my fab new cowboy boots. We had fun as we always do during these sessions, with me doing lots of bossing about while she heckled from the sidelines. The evening sun was soft and flattering to the skin and the new walkway to the bird hide made a great catwalk. The view from the hide was glittering in the evening light.

Hope you're basking in the early summer sunshine too. Looking forward to seeing you again soon. Please leave me a comment if you've enjoyed today's post.

Have a super week!

Anna x

Wednesdays mean Timeshare party

Hello lovelies and sorry for the tardiness in my posting this week, but this is the reason. I'm in the middle of my latest obsession meaning every spare moment is being spent sewing. I hope to showcase the dress on Monday for our monthly challenge so please do swing by again to see the fruits of my labour.

So, as the title suggests, Wednesday means Timeshare party here at Gallery Tresco and this was me after the event last night. Timeshare and Island Share owners have bought into Tresco life and as such this weekly gathering is one of the perks. It's the perfect opportunity for everyone to get together to chat about all things island as well as comparing what each property has to offer and to boast about who's got the best view!

It may not look like it, but I'm struggling to find things to wear at the moment as I've not yet done my bi-annual clothes changeover. My wardrobe and shelves are still full of winter woollies and boots, but hopefully next week I'll be taking some time off and that will be one of my chores. That said, I did receive lots of compliments about outfit of the day last night which is always a lovely boost to the morale. Nothing new here at all; the suit was a charity shop find in Harrogate a long, long time ago (it was on the men's rail, so do remember to rummage everywhere), likewise the vintage blouse, another charity shop find this time from Exeter many moons ago, the boots were from Diechman just before Christmas and the pink handbag is rather ancient too.

The pink handbag by Furla is my mini Candy bag which unfortunately didn't show up in quite the right colour - it's much more pink than that! Not quite the same colour as my boots but still acceptable fashionista-wise I think. More importantly, it's the only pink bag I have.

Nothing new with the accessories either. Sunglasses are my old faves by Quay Australia, the bejewelled watch was a charity shop buy and only recently rediscovered in a box, the huge pink resin ring was a gift from a friend and the other a charity shop find too. The necklace was a purchase a few years ago from Gallery Tresco and is by Charlie Dodge.

My beaded belt, an Amazon buy, always gets lots of comments. It's so utterly feminine isn't it?

So, you must excuse me, but I've got to return now to my sewing machine. I'm trying to make a pink net underskirt to wear under my orange linen dress, as one does. The slight problem I have is that I don't have a pattern and despite looking at lots of tutorials on youTube I'm really none the wiser. I have no real idea what I want to achieve apart from it being a flash of colour as I walk. 

As ever, thank you so much for dropping by and hopefully I'll see you again on Monday!

Anna x

Gallery Manager once again

Hello lovelies! Yes, here's me back in my normal guise as Gallery Manager of the art gallery on Tresco. It's been a long seven weeks during which time I was seconded to the Cottage department in my role as art curator of the large Tresco Art Collection where I rotated paintings between houses, adding new works when I deemed it necessary. I'm now onto the next step which entails cataloging every one of the 40 cottages with its updated collection. My photographic memory is serving me well as I can walk through every single house to visualise each piece, room by room. 

My outfit of the day is made up of old and new, as is my wont. The jacket, I inherited from my daughter many years ago, was from H&M. The brown jumpsuit came from TK Maxx last year, but this is the first airing on the blog, worn with a thrifted orange leather belt to go with the chunky orange necklce (old) and my new and rather fabulous orange boots from ASOS - see them here, now reduced in the sale! 

None of my accessories are new - the brown across the body bag with orange trim was a charity shop find. Rings are preloved and sunglasses are by Radley London.

The sun has returned as have the holiday makers, all descending on the islands in time for Easter. I'd forgotten how busy the island can get! 

                                                                    Anna x

Slowing down fast fashion

Hello again! Today's outfit is all about slowing down fast fashion. Every so often I get an attack of the guilts about fast fashion and so this is my attempt to prolong the life of one such item. The piece in question is this pair of black and green joggers by Shein which I bought in a charity shop, a move that I can of course applaud myself for as this is step one in affecting a change. 

Step two, for me, is to customise an item, hence making it not only more unique and so the very opposite of fast fashion, but also to prolong my love affair with it as it becomes much more individual and therefore more likely for me to retain and love it for years to come. When I bought these joggers (for only £3!) the one thing I found lacking was pockets. After wearing them once I decided to rectify this by adding my own. It was easier than I expected as I first scavenged two pockets of similar material, but beautifully contrasting pattern, from an old silky dressing gown that I keep as best, therefore never wear. I carefully opened the side seams of the joggers and simply stitched the satin pockets in place. I tested the materials on the sewing machine, but they puckered as they are different fabrics so I sewed them by hand in a tiny stitch first one direction and then back the other to give it strength. Et viola! 

The marriage of joggers and boots is indeed a perfect and very happy one. I'm thrilled to find yet another reason to wear these fab, comfy and trendy boots (TK Maxx, but see similar ones here from ASOS). This was a work outfit from last week. I'm currently updating art in many of the holiday cottages and these photos are from a trip out to the Sea Garden Cottages. Check out the view from Nautilus below - 

Stunning eh?

The rest of my outfit is all old, some preloved, such as the roll neck sweater. The studded jacket is by Michael Kors, a purchase from TK Maxx many years ago, but still much worn. We all love a classic jeans jacket and this one simply has a bit more bling than usual!

None of my accessories are new; the sunglasses are by Radley, rings are thrifted and my Vivienne Westwood pendant is quite a few years old now, but more precious than ever since her recent death. 

For my birthday last month I was given this beautifully comprehensive tome of Vivienne's legacy to the fashion world, one that will be a source of inspiration to me especially when I look to customise clothing in the future. There is nothing that she didn't make and no fashion rule that she didn't break. Bold and brilliant, her designs were cutting edge, her lack of respect and perversity were legendary. The most memorable photo I saw of her was outside Buckingham Palace after receiving her OBE from the Queen when she flashed her knickerless parts for the press. The book catalogues her wit, her passion and all of the models who flocked to be part of her world.

Thank you for joining me for this week's round up. I hope you have a great week and look forward to seeing and hearing from you again soon!

                                                                                Anna x

January Blues, our Style Not Age Challenge

Hello lovelies and welcome to January Blues, our Style Not Age challenge. The third Monday in January has the ominous title of Blue Monday, publicised as being the most depressing day of the year which fell on the 16th this year. My daughter's birthday is the 15th, a fact that I'm to blame for, of course. Now that she's in her 30's she takes the matter in hand, planning things well in advance so that hers isn't a blue birthday. This year she is touring the South Island of New Zealand and is having the best month ever; she spent her birthday out on a boat whale watching eclipsed only by swimming with dolphins the following day. Paragliding, skydiving, sunrise hiking and daily sea swims are all keeping the adrenaline rush going.  No January Blues for her!

Gail from Is This Mutton has shopped her closet for this very fresh spring coloured outfit. The aqua scarf and jeggings are a perfect match, worn with a lemon top and white jacket both from Kettlewell. Her great style tip is to check out the children's shoe section which is what she did for these fab gold boots from Boden.

Emma from Style Splash has given herself a lift in the January sales, finding all sorts of lovely bargains at M&S. This blue teddy coat was reduced to £41, the jumper £15 and her fab pale blue trousers only £9! Catch up with Emma over on her blog now.

Hilda chose this month's theme and is showcasing this classic wrap dress from L K Bennett, a recent purchase from a nearby Village Outlet. You really can't go wrong with a wrap dress, can you, for that flattering feminine fit. M&S suede boots in tan work well with her designer handbag and her Mango hat is sleek and stylish. See more on her blog Over The Hilda.

Jacqui is sporting a fab jacquard jacket with blue jeans and cream boots for a stylish everyday look. Beads and cute belt along with her pretty padded bag show how good accessories finish of an ensemble to lift it out of the ordinary. See more from her on Mummabstylish. 

My outfit is based around a waterproof jacket and matching blue jeans that I found in a charity shop in Penzance when I was there in December. The two items came to £16 which felt like a great bargain. The jacket has a padded lining and a very snug hood that actually stays up without being held in place as so many hoods need. 

Zip and popper fastening and side opening pockets to keep hands cosy all make for a brilliant and practical coat for wet days. Sometimes island life calls for practicality before fashion, but this seems to encapsulate both, don't you think?

My sweater isn't new, but was from TK Maxx some years ago as are my rather fab snakeskin boots which were from Office a long time ago. 

I don't have a lot of blue in my wardrobe, but the addition of this new (to me) jacket is a welcome change. The pace of life is already changing here as we start to prepare for the island opening again on the 1st of March. How quickly our winters seem to whizz past us! 

                                                                            Anna x

This is 65!

Hello and welcome to my birthday post! Yesterday I turned 65, a proper grown up birthday it seems (although not yet an OAP), but it feels like a fairly significant number. To age is indeed a privilege and I for one am very grateful to reach this particular milestone. 

 

If you're a regular here then you'll know I've been laid low over the past couple of months with virus after virus, a chest infection too followed by strep throat, so today's post feels like another kind of milestone as I was up and dressed (to the nines) for a birthday trip with my dear husband. He drove me to this fabulous vantage point on Tresco aka King Charles Castle so that we could enjoy the beautiful sunny day. He packed a picnic, found a blanket and off we went for a jolly outing. When I had appeared in this psychedelic trouser suit his response was 'Wow!' quickly followed by, 'But will you be warm enough?' Moments later I returned with this cosy extra layer, which was very much needed as we sat on the very top of the island. Gone are the days when he questioned if my choice of outfit was appropriate, thank goodness.

My ensemble comprises of this pink, peach, orange and white psychedelic trouser suit (reduced now on ASOS), bought for my birthday by my son, worn with a white top (charity shopped) and white patent boots which Steve gave me for my Christmas. My orange fun fur was a TK Maxx buy from a couple of years ago. 

This 60's look resonates with my younger self who, on the cusp of her teens, became aware of the fashion of the day, finding it a source of joy and excitement and very much a place where I felt I could express my fledgling self. Mini skirts, midriff tops, bell bottoms, knee high patent boots, shaggy fur coats and suede fringed waistcoats were all I longed for. Pans People on Top of the Pops wore psychedelic hot pants, doe-eyed Twiggy was my first girl crush and my bedroom walls were covered in posters of Marc Bolan, David Bowie and David Cassidy. My Jackie-reading prepubescent self ached to be grown up, to shop at Bus Stop and Biba, be part of this rollercoaster ride of pop music, Woodstock and Beatlemania. Oh what memories!

And now this trouser suit encapsulates all that I'd hope to be at 65. The older I become the more comfortable I feel in my skin. I don't have to rely on anyone to tell me I look okay. If anything, I feel a rising sense of urgency that I may not have enough time to try out everything I still want to play with. Working full time and salting away money into my pension pot is important, but I don't want to miss any fashion opportunities along the way. I'm not driven to spend lots of money on designer clothes as I may have done in the past, but to simply enjoy personalising choice items that I come across. The Sewing Bee has been a lovely distraction recently during my time at home, and also a wonderful source of inspiration. I feel a sewing urge coming on and am about to set my sewing machine up in the spare room to make it more accessible.

I've had to make a few adjustments to the trouser suit which I'm pleased with. I've taken four inches off the trousers, lined the jacket, taken a couple of inches off the sleeves and most scary of all, I made three button holes as the jacket came with four randomly placed buttons but no button holes. Just this little bit of sewing has been so enjoyable that I'm keen to get back to it again. A summer linen dress is on my wish list and I have the pattern, but no fabric as yet...

So, back to the outfit. My gilt 60's belt was a Primark find last year, the gilt necklace a Christmas present and the resin rings are both pre-loved. My retro sunglasses were from River Island many moons ago.

And here's my white patent boots (on sale here at Deichman). 

This laid back birthday celebration couldn't have been more perfect. Later in the day I opened cards and gifts from family and friends as well as receiving three lovely bouquets of flowers. I felt very spoiled. I'll leave you with the view from our picnic spot. What a beautiful day it was!

From here, Steve and I watched a large shipping container in the distance as it rounded the islands gradually changing course to head North to Ireland or beyond. Its journey along the horizon was slow and steady, transporting containers of goodness knows what from one part of the world to another. We observed its passage, musing over the days when we had sailed to other countries by cruise ship, reminiscing about ports visited and sights seen. Happy times! 

                                                                                 Anna x