Ready to party...

Hello lovelies, and how are you? Today's blog features a dry run for an upcoming party. Steve and I have been invited to join a gathering for a surprise party on the mainland on Friday and this is one of my possible outfits. I'm not sure how dressed up this party will be and can't decide if I'm wanting to be too 'out there' amongst lots of people, some of whom may not know me or my penchant for dressing up. 

Is it just me who feels more confident on home ground? Or even simply with friends? On Tresco I'm known for my over the top dressing and often have people drop in to the Gallery just to see what my outfit of the day is. It's an easy talking point and a great lead-in to more in depth conversations. In some ways, this suit could be an ice breaker at the party, but it also might backfire if I'm seen as an old bird (heck, I am 64 after all) doing the proverbial mutton dressed as lamb thing.

Anyway, to the outfit - this is my (almost famous) pea-pod suit, a gem of a find from H&M in the spring of this year. In case you missed the reveal of this you can read the post here. Over the months I've had readers of my blog and Instagram followers turn up at the Gallery requesting that I wear my suit sometime during their stay - how lovely that is! And thank goodness, it has never failed to please and even astonish. I've never had so many compliments in response to an outfit, even from men! In fact, it seems that the dapper nature of the trouser suit is what's so eye-catching for the menfolk.

I've glammed up the suit by adding a sequinned vest and bejewelled belt along with silver high heeled boots. But maybe I'm guilty of trying too hard? In my head, the word party does mean pushing the boat out and this is my boat well and truly out!

I leave Tresco on Thursday and will be packing my bag in the morning. I would have liked to showcase some other party options but I've been busy this weekend doing my big six monthly clothes changeover and still haven't quite finished. The good news is that this ensemble is close at hand. The bad news is that my confidence levels are dropping as time goes by. One less jazzy outfit I'm considering is this one - see here - a Joe Browns dress. And another is this one - see here - another trouser suit, but much less bling. 

So, here's where you come into play... Please send me your thoughts - drop me a line in the comments box below as to which of these three outfits you would suggest I wear, or anything else you've seen on the blog. This far, I only know that the venue is within a pub, although not the actual pub itself. I know I'd be happy to wear my pea pod suit here on Tresco in our local pub, but beyond that I'm not sure at all. And on a purely practical point, I am more than a little worried that something dire may happen to my precious pea pod suit, like someone spills a glass of red wine on me or I sit on some chewing gum in the taxi. Have I just persuaded myself not to venture off island with my beloved Iris Apfel ensemble or am I missing the opportunity to showcase this spectacular outfit beyond the shores of home? 

                                                                                  Anna x

When I'm 64...

Hello lovelies and welcome to my birthday post!

The question as posed by The Beatles, "Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?" comes to mind as I embrace my 64th birthday today. My dear hubby reached this milestone late last year and has given it a test run so I think I'm gonna be fine. Am I defined by my age? Well, of course not. As we all know, age is merely a number. An interesting thought though is that my mother at this age would have already been retired for four years and here I am with three more to go before I can rest on my laurels. 

So this is me, embracing life regardless of my age and loving the place I'm at. I can't see me ever wanting to give up on the shimmering sequins or silver high heeled boots. The thrill of dressing up is for me and me alone. I'm conversely not out to shock (no low necklines or high hemlines) or impress anyone. I really do this all for my own pleasure. I don't care a jot what onlookers think of my outlandish or over the top garb. Life really is too short to curb my enthusiasm for the joys of dressing up just for the hell of it! 

January isn't the best of month's to have a birthday if you live on a tiny island like mine. No big shopping malls for a day out with the girls, or even fancy restaurants for an evening of fine dining. Instead I got all dressed up in my favourite outfit of the day and took myself off to the oasis of calm that is the Abbey Garden. It was Saturday afternoon and I had the place completely to myself as I wondered around, seeking the best bit of light on the overcast day. 

A birthday gift to myself were the rather fabulous flares in a feminine mix of pink and orange hearts. Find them here in the Asos sale. I've had them lined up to wear with my mermaid coat for some time now and just adore them together. I have a party to attend in March and think this might be the perfect outfit for the birthday bash of a friend.

A bit of birthday bling by way of these preloved rings - what d'ya think? My necklace of jumbo pearls is an old favourite too.

I may not be defined by my age, but I definitely am by my sea swimming. My Wonder Woman swimsuit pretty much says it all. I do feel nigh on invincible when I emerge from the cold winter waters. At this time of year I'm one of the few who are still taking a regular dip in the icy Atlantic Ocean that pounds our shores on the Isles of Scilly. I'm proud to be part of a huge groundswell of women (and men) who have found this form of exercise to be life changing. You can read my backstory in the latest edition of the Tresco Times yearbook - see my piece on page 12. 

As the sunset stretches a bit later each and every day now, I'm delighted to find time to capture the last of the suns rays after work. My inner critic has deleted so many of these fun sea shots as they show a post Christmas softness to my figure or maybe simply the body of a 64 year old...

Perhaps this year will bring an easing of this harsh self-criticism that's blighted me for as long as I recall. Deep hurts from my teenage years still ring in my ears, leaving me struggle with self confidence and self doubts. Others may see me as fine while I'm still battling with not good enough syndrome. It's time for a coming to terms with me, all of me, at all times; the leaner summer body and the rounder winter shape that may be inevitable or simply the result of the passage of time. Your thoughts on this and anything else are very welcome! 

                                                                                     Anna x

And so it begins...

Happy Wednesday to you my lovely readers!

When I say and so it begins, I mean the transitional period which leads me to say goodbye to my favourite season and oh hello, to autumn. Stepping out today in silver boots is a good way to get started. There has to be some joy in every outfit and these metallic beauties are most definitely it. 

Yes, the heels are precariously high and the angle is steep, but heck they are outrageously wild and so much fun. In Sunday's post I talked about sometimes using a conservative outfit to fire me up to wear something so diametrically opposed the next day and this is it. I love the 60's feel to this ensemble which reminds me of Twiggy or Mary Quant - all I need is some white eyeshadow and pale pink lipstick! 

The Peter Pan collar and white cuffs of the tunic are what attracted me to this heart adorned top when I saw it in a charity shop last month. The brand is Boohoo and it cost me £3.50; I've already worn it twice bringing the cost per wear down to very reasonable £1.75. I wear a little vest top under this chiffony fabric along with these eyelet crop trousers which were from Zara last year. 

I do love this outfit and have to acknowledge that this has to be one of the upsides of autumn; the ankle boot does come into its own at this time of year. My sock boots stand at the ready and yes, it won't be long until you see my signature pair of red ones back in harness too.

The look needed minimal styling today with simply two (preloved) rings along with my favourite/ever-so-useful sunglasses by Quay. 

Much as it saddens me to see the change in daylight as the brightness of the sun fades into a softer glow, I know I will adapt and come to terms with the inevitable autumn gloom. What I can say however, is that these next few months usually bring the most stunning sunsets to these islands. Huge cloud formations allow the sun to dip behind them and diffuse the beams of sunlight spectacularly. Of course, I'll feature some of those for you both here and on my Instagram feed in due course. And that pretty much wraps it up for another day. I do hope that you're enjoying some fine September weather and maybe even picking up some new items for the forthcoming/current season too.

Enjoy your week!

Anna x

Eyelet trousers with silver boots

Happy Easter to you all! The aroma of chocolate is heavy in the air as I write, but I'll try to keep my focus on the matter in hand, that being these silver boots which I've rediscovered after months of neglect.

I styled these up in the run up to Christmas (see here) and then tucked them neatly away in the back of my shoe cupboard and promptly forgot them. That's the problem with new things, you can easily forget them when they're not an established item. Anyway, I came across another blogger wearing something similar the other day which reminded me of mine too.

Like most of my styling, I start off with one idea and it seems to evolve into something quite different. I had imagined these with some cropped, faded denim jeans, but much to my surprise I found these don't exist in Anna's Island Style closet - what a nasty shock for me! (Note to self: source these next time I'm dosing up on retail therapy.)

So after a couple of false starts, I came across these eyelet trousers which I'd bought in the Zara sale just after Christmas. Maybe I forgot to mention them? My selective memory is just another way of coping with my clothesaholic condition. Forgive me.

This shirt from Sainsbury's is fast becoming a classic for me and is the ideal partner to echo the eyelet detailing of the cropped trousers. I added the gobstopper gemstone belt to give a streamlined look which also fooled Polly into thinking that this was actually a jumpsuit.

The belt was an eBay purchase a long time ago, but has only recently come into play since I chopped off a couple of inches of elastic from the back of it, making it fit at last. The jacket was a hand-me-down from Sasha (from H&M). You may recall the silver and gold frilly ring that Steve gave me for my birthday this year and the other silver and gold etched ring is by Diana Porter, but so very ancient that I don't think she makes them any more. Mine says "In heaven on earth", but wait - I've just searched her website and found one similar here.

This is a better shot to see the detail of both rings. Follow this link to see more like the frilly Emily Nixon one here.

It may be mass produced, but the jacket is still really well made, right down to the pattern matching which shows beautifully on the back seam.

After a busy morning of beetling about in the gallery, it dawned on me why these boots have been relegated to the depths of the wardrobe - yep those heels are a killer! I can see they need to be kept for desk days when I'm seated for the duration or maybe just for outings to the local pub which is only 100 yards from home. I still love them for the glamour they represent, even though (or maybe is it because?) their vibe is reminiscent of the erotic Barbarella!

Wishing you a lovely Easter Sunday!

Linking with -

Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb

Patti of Not Dead Yet Style

Jacqui of Mummabstylish

Anna x

Anna meets... Ruth

It's been a while since I posted one of these, but I'm delighted to bring it back with today's guest, Ruth Connolly. Ruth has been working on the island for the past few months and has become a friend of my daughters, and as such I've got to know her. And now it's your turn. I posed a few questions for Ruth to answer.

Ruth and I are both wearing H&M Christmas jumpers, but not just any old jumpers, as these (my Elfie Selfie and her Penguins) were designed by Ruth. 

A. Tell me about these jumpers and how they came about.

R. Whilst completing my Textile Design degree I was given the opportunity to spend a year working in the fashion industry. I was fortunate enough to be selected for an internship with the Ladies Everyday department at H&M in their head office in Stockholm. One of the projects we were working on was the 2015 Christmas jumper campaign. 

A. Is your background/training in fashion design?

R. I am a specialist in Printed Textile Design so I create the fabric that is used for garments. Although I specialise in print for fashion I am also experienced in designing fabrics to be used for interior purposes too. As a print designer I have a good eye for colour and current trends and also strong drawing, painting and digital skills. Print Design is a fantastic way of working with both traditional drawing methods and digital technologies to create innovative designs. 

Trend Forecasting is my other passion. This involves analysing key movements and trends both artistic and political to predict what we will be seeing in store within the coming years. This allows me to discover new concepts and ideas to work with which for me is the most exciting thing about being a designer. 

A. Do you prefer to shop on the high street/designer/charity shop?

R. I primarily shop on the high street (Zara and &otherstories are amazing for key, on trend pieces) but seek designer finds in thrift and charity shops. I like to keep a file of images from magazines, lookbooks and fashion history books that inspire my wardrobe. I buy key items for each season and pair them with existing garments I already have. I have lots of images of Victoria Beckham’s pre-fall 18 and Valentino’s A//W 2017/18 collections in my file at moment and am lusting over the colour combination of blush pink, terracotta and mauve. 

A. How would you class your style?

R. Classic and on Trend: one of the many advantages of being a trend forecaster. You’re unlikely to see me dressed the same as the crowds or in head to toe TopShop for example (although I do own a pair of those oh-so popular Stan Smiths... just too damn comfy). I spend a lot of time in London so channel classic YSL: a good black trouser and jacket but will jazz it up with a quirky pair of shoes (my absolute weakness). 

A. Where would you like to be in 5 years time?

R. Still designing and trend forecasting. I would also like to have expanded my concept design work and collaborate with artists from other areas of the arts such as choreographers and filmmakers. Also, I want to go back to university to get my Master of Arts in Textile Design and History of Art. 

A. If you suddenly came into money (say £5000) how would you spend it?

R. I am going to talk fashion here rather than all of the boring everyday bills and loans I could pay off. 

I would invest in a printed Valentino A//W 17/18 floor length coat. The prints remind me of David Hockey’s LA work and I haven’t been able to find a high street alternative this season. 

Or I would turn to Dior and their beautiful A//W 17/18 sheer gowns in stargazer print- grungy, elegant, beautiful.

A. What are your plans when you leave the Isles of Scilly?

R. In January I move to Vancouver, Canada for a few months. I will continue to freelance whilst exploring and capturing the beautiful landscape. I am on a hunt for #vancouverssecrets which I will document on my website (www.pipicon.com) that is launching soon. 

A. Will we see you back here again?

R. I holiday on Tresco every year so will definitely be back in September with my family. The Scilly’s are key inspiration for my collections so I come and explore the islands at least once a year to photograph, draw and write. 

A. What will be your abiding memory of your time here?

R. Apart from the luxury of waking up to, in my opinion, the most beautiful landscape in the world, it would have the be the people of Tresco. My biggest fear before moving out to the Scilly’s was if I would fit in with island life and make friends. The community made me so welcome that I am the happiest and most myself I have been for a number of years. The thought of leaving this amazing island with its equally amazing people is very sad, but I thank them for giving me the most incredible experience. 

A. What possession is most precious to you and why?

R. A letter my late father wrote to me inspiring me to live my life with love and optimism. 

Many thanks to Ruth for taking part in today's feature. I'll be following her with interest as this young lady will surely do well no matter what path she takes within the fashion world. 

No style conferring had gone on prior to our photo shoot, so it was quite funny when I met up with Ruth to see her sporting silver boots too. In the battle of the bargains however, I won! Mine were £5 from Primark and hers were £8 from TopShop. My jeans were from Zara in my Black Friday shopping spree. Silver jeans are exactly what you need when you're about to turn 60, don't you agree?

Before I sign off, I just want to acknowledge those amongst us who find this time of year a struggle. Whether you have painful memories of years gone by or are alone and feeling lonely it's not always easy to live up to the Christmas dream we're fed at every turn. A fellow blogger, Tamera Beardsley has posted an article giving some timely advice that may be helpful - see here.

Anyway folks, I'll take a few days off now and be back later in the week to show you my Christmas day outfit. I do hope you have a wonderful time catching up with family and friends. So let's eat, drink and be merry. Until next time -

Happy Christmas!

Anna x

Metallics, maybe?

Here's another trial run for the annual Christmas party. I bought the rather fabulous silver boots in TK Maxx some time ago and have been waiting for the right moment to wear them. 

I've worn the skirt before (see here) and think I might be a bit formulaic in how I style it, but I reckon the dazzle of the metallic fabric plus pleating deem it necessary to have a simple top.

It's all about the boots for me today.

The polo neck is black and gold lurex and may be the ideal sweater to have around at this time of year as it goes with so many outfits. I fancy it could be turning up like a rash all over Christmas.

Outfit details - sweater: H&M, skirt: Sainsbury's, boots: Buffalo, sunglasses: Quay Australia, clutch and rings: pre-loved.

So, could this be my party outfit this year? I'm pleased to say that the boots are the only new thing here. I've done some Black Friday shopping and will show you that in a moment, but I'm hoping to recycle some clothes throughout the festive period too. I have lots of sequined pieces which never go out of fashion and will be trying those on this weekend to see what I can conjure up. Our party is on the 17th and I predict I'll be in a quandary right up to the last minute. The minus points about this option are - will I be too hot in a roll neck meaning I just won't want to dance? And will the new boots pinch so much that I can't dance? (Having said that, being tea-total sometimes means I just don't dance as I'm not relaxed enough anyway.)

Anyway, I've kept you waiting for long enough (Sheila) so here goes with my Zara shopping from Black Friday -

A midi floral dress has been on my wish list for ages and this ticks all the boxes.

I see this as a perfect day dress for those lunchtime drinks do's, and will work with both these silver boots or my red sock boots.

Another useful dress in green velvet with orange and purple flowers.

One pair of sock boots comes from Primark and the other from Zara...can you tell which?

The next run of shots are charity shop finds and really don't look very good on the mannequin which is probably why I've not shown them previously. The usual bed spread display doesn't work at this time of year as it's too dark. Trust me, these all look better on me.

Crazy, fluffy and turquoise, yep it's fab.

A grey denim shirt with stretch and black chiffon maxi skirt.

Vintage St Michael dress and red belt. 

Country Casuals dress with beading - useful for a show next year?

The blouse is another vintage find and the skirt is green faux suede with stretch.

Last of all is this tweed trench from Topshop which cost me all of £5.

That's just about it then folks. I'll be back on Sunday with another party offering as I search for the elusive perfect outfit. I never manage to choose a work outfit until the morning, so I can't imagine that I'll be able to do any different about this party piece either. In the meantime, do feel free to chip in with your suggestions. Was there something from last Christmas that I could be wearing again perhaps?

Are you still searching for your Christmas frock? Or are you looking for something more casual for Christmas at home? Good luck with all your shopping, and see you soon.

Anna x