A touch of yellow

Another new outfit for me today. I think the culottes are making their first appearance along with the fab yellow sling backs. I came across these shoes last summer in Topshop and now wish I'd bought them in another colourway. The style is perfect for work, stylish yet being flat makes then functional too. I'm about to scour the Internet to see if there are any more out there this summer. The little barrel bag has been worth it's weight in gold as you'll see if you scroll through the past couple of month's posts. It again would be fab in another colour, so I maybe need to search that too.
The bomber jacket is by Zara, but I found it in a charity shop in Exeter last year. That was a bumper session where I came across a little corner of the city which is heavily populated with charity shops - oh joy! I had taken an empty suitcase away with me, confident that I would be lucky, and I was. Living on an island does help you become a speed shopper and a bit of an expert too as it's so difficult to return items when you're back home. I remember being away for my daughter Sasha's graduation, and we managed to divert my husband for an hour so that we could escape to the sales. We synchronised our watches as we headed off up Leamington Spa high street like commandos on a mission. The adrenaline was running as we zipped from shop to shop like finely tuned missiles, targets having been reconnoitred in advance so that no time was lost. Time up, and we staggered back to the hotel flushed with success, bargains ready to be stashed away for the journey home. She and I are indeed a shopping force to be reckoned with!

Jacket: Zara (charity shop). Culottes: Topshop. Blouse: charity shop. Shoes: Topshop. Handbag: NW3 (charity shop). Bangle: gift. Silver ring: charity shop. Ring with lemon stone: Martin James. Sunglasses: Quay Australia.

Breaking the rules

So, lately I was thinking that I might be slipping into some middle-of-the road dressing. But today I feel inspired with this breaking the rules outfit. The clash of pleats and frills was a result of a pile of maybes scattered on the bed and suddenly the colour tones were the link not the styles. This works because I say it does. I certainly don't feel conservative in this ensemble and that's what I wanted. Today's twist is a joy because of the very unexpected nature of it. I surprised myself and that's good because at the end of the day I do dress to please myself. The blog only shows what I happen to be wearing.

When I used to shop from the mainstream ie high street shops, I fell into that matching-things-up-as-I-was-buying mode. A skirt always needed something to make up an outfit. What kind of top will go with these trousers? You know how it goes. If you're spending a lot of money you need to get it right. The beauty of charity shopping is that a £3 top, which this frilly one was, is no worry to have languishing in my wardrobe for a year until it gets worn. And then suddenly it makes a grand entrance and that £3 well spent gives me more of a thrill than any standard purchase ever could.

Top: charity shop. Skirt: charity shop. Shoes: New Look. Bangle: Kate Spade New York. Perspex ring: gift. Flower bracelet and matching ring: Dorothy Perkins. Necklace: Phase Eight.

Summer exhibitions: 4 of 6

With Maggie O'Brien(left) and Amanda Hoskin.

Polly Edwards, Julie McMurray, Beth Inch and yours truly.

I can't believe that we're already into August and hosting this our fourth summer exhibition opening night with artists Maggie O'Brien and Amanda Hoskins. We had a great turnout with visitors and locals joining us for a drink and having the opportunity to chat to the artists about the paintings and how they were created. Although Maggie and Amanda are both Cornish artists they hadn't actually met before, so for them it was a great chance to talk shop at the end of the evening comparing notes and discussing their favourite places of inspiration on the island. The support team was back to our regular combination and I must give a special mention to Beth who stole the show in these awesome leggings!

My ensemble is a skirt and top combo which is having its first outing and the delightful little shoes were a recent find on the vintage section of eBay. When I tried them all on together I felt the look was a bit of old Hollywood glamour which is no bad thing for an opening night.

Top: Coast (charity shop). Skirt: vintage (charity shop). Shoes: eBay. Necklace: Debenhams. Handbag: TK Maxx. Rose gold bangle: Kate Spade New York. Beaded bracelet: old. Rings: gifts. 

Yellow linen shift - what a bargain!

Summer is really here today, more so than ever thanks to this wonderfully sunny dress. This was such a find last month on eBay. I paid £3.95 for it and couldn't really tell what it would be like, well you never can, can you, until it arrives? Imagine what a surprise it was to find that this was a handmade, hand embroidered, fully lined linen dress which seemed to have never been worn. I wonder if it had been made as a sewing project by a student for an exam perhaps? What a gem of a find. I'm thrilled to pieces with it, particularly as it fits like a glove. I may have to tweak the lining as it's a tiny bit long at the front, but I would still give it full marks!
My handbag has been revived after living under the bed for quite a few years, all wrapped up in layers of packing. It was a summer purchase many moons ago and seemed to get packed away at the end of the season and much to my amazement I forgot all about it until recently. Anyway, it's out now and I know it will come into it's own provided the weather holds.

Dress: eBay. Shoes: TK Maxx. Handbag: Accessorize. Necklace: Leju. Rose gold bangle: Kate Spade New York. Large blue ring: charity shop. Topaz ring: gift. Sunglasses: Quay Australia.