What's this blogging all about?

The question has kinda come up out of the blue. If you're a regular reader you'll know how passionate I am about sharing my love of clothes with you. But a couple of things have recently caused me to question what this blogging is all about. The first being that my readership is dropping. This begs the question - why do I need to know how many page hits I have? Am I now to value myself by a waning rather than a growing readership? Was I naive not to consider this sooner?

Does running a popular blog have a format that I'm not conforming to? I know I'm not delivering the same content as many fashion blogs do. As I've said before, I've no experience or professional expertise in giving advice on what kind of clothes you ought to wear for your body type nor do I have the right to tell you what you ought not to wear when you're nudging 60 (like me) or at any age for that matter. I do my own thing fashion-wise, but I'm sure you know that. Is my passion and flair for putting clothes together enough to maintain my following?  I'm aware that I'm not able to give my readers details of where to buy clothes like mine. Charity shopping is my mainstay and therefore the clothes are rarely from this season and not always brands that are widely available. Does this matter, I wonder? As a reader, are you looking for inspiration and ideas on what to try out or do you expect/want current information as to where to buy clothes like mine? As you can tell, I'm having a bit of a crisis of confidence: am I too earnest, too gushing, too honest?

The second thing, is that I've recently been approached by agents regarding advertising brands on my site. After much soul searching I've decided that I need to be autocratic. I see the blog as my own journal, featuring not only my outfits of the day, but my hobbies, friends and events of note. Is this the right vehicle for advertising? Can I honestly start to represent brands that I've never bought before in an attempt to influence you? I've discussed this with friends, the lure of free stuff; clothes, shoes, jewellery, beauty products or even cash for writing about said products - it's a huge draw for the majority of bloggers. But can I honestly don a nice pair of slacks that are aimed at women of my age group and tell you how wonderful they make me feel? Maybe I've shot myself in the foot. Is it possible to be a blogger and not chase the status of influencer? Or is it just that the right brand hasn't come along yet?

So, to go back to my question: what's this blogging all about? Well, my aim remains the same - the blog is a platform to share my story through my clothes and how I style them; my love of sea swimming and the friends I've made thanks to this; and equally important, my health story which has been a difficult yet empowering struggle and one that may help others with their own battle. But, my main objective is of course, to inspire: to help the reader to become all that they can be, regardless of age or size or preconceived notions of what they think they ought to be. If today's post has been of interest, I'd love to have your feedback, whether you're a blogger, a lurker or a regular.

Anna x

Let the wind blow!

Today's outft and the sunshine are a heady combination for me. The wind has a brilliant energising effect too, which when added to this pink and orange shirt with its paisley print pattern is a recipe for outright joy - it's enough to make me twirl and even do a little jig. I recall reading a really good piece of advice about buying clothes. The fashion designer in question said to only buy something if it makes you want to do a little dance. I apply that to my daily outfits: I try to find something that makes me do a little jig as I'm getting dressed. This combo certainly did. It's all harmless fun eh?

The blouse was a recent hand-me-down from my daughter, and golly what a treat that was! I'd been secretly coveting this since she bought it couple of years ago. It's from H&M and is a lovely silky material, manmade I'm sure, and is like a synthetic silk. I've paired it with these stretch trousers which are also from H&M, but purchased last year in the spring. I love the slim fit. I'd normally go with my default setting of brogues but wanted to have a longer, leaner look for a change. These high heels in leopard print are a good pattern to work alongside the geometric, mosaic print of the trousers. The cute little handbag finishes off the look.

The shoes and bag were charity shopped, top and trousers are from H&M but no longer in stock, and the jewellery is all charity shopped. Sunglasses are by Quay Australia. 

Anna x

Transitional dressing and the big changeover

Autumn, hmmm. Not my most inspiring season: it obviously leads into winter which is the worst time of the year for me. I hate winter. Yes, I said it quietly as I try very hard to be positive about all things. I really have to work hard in keeping cheerful in the dark winter months. I'm one of the many who suffers from the horrible SAD which blights me for every grey day ahead. If you have any remedies or even tried and tested light boxes you can recommend then please do drop me an email or let me know in the comments box. I'd be most grateful. In the meantime, Polly is keeping me smiling.

This is what I call transitional dressing: still bare legs, but the addition of a little jacket which can be removed by lunchtime when the temperature picks up.

Let's just take a moment to admire this bag and shoes combo, shall we? The shoes are suede and are charity shopped from my most recent trip away. The handbag is imitation leather and from a different trip, different charity shop. But hey, don't they look amazing together? Such is the joy of charity shopping and they cost under £9 all together!

So, on to the matter of the big changeover. I spent all last weekend and some of this one, moving clothes out from under beds, suitcases and bags to access all of my A/W clothes. The swap is all done and my summer finery is all laundered and stashed back in every nook and cranny I can find. There has been a lot of dithering re what can be worn in this transitional time. Take this dress for instance. Well, it did make the grade as I can add some coloured tights and long sleeved top underneath to extend the wear of it. I was also pretty brutal with things that just hadn't been worn this summer. I've put lots on to my eBay pending shelves and that will be one of my ongoing winter projects. 

Goodbye to the summer brights...

...and out come the winter sparkles.

This is just a snapshot of the wardrobes where it's all lurking. I have clothes spread out over three bedrooms and four wardrobes as well as in dressers and drawers and under bed boxes for shoes, tights and more sweaters. The majority of my shoes are in their boxes under the bed too, mainly boots and brogues. My friend Nicky was very keen that I feature some of my storage, but that's maybe because she's more a minimalist compared to me. Her rummage about in my closets was a bit like a child in sweetie shop. 

Outfit details are Jacket: Toxik3, dress: vintage by Peekaboo, top: Primark, shoes (M&S) charity shopped, and bag: charity shopped, rings: old, watch: Michael Kors, sunglasses: Quay Australia.

Linking with

Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb

Patti of Not Dead Yet Style

Jess of Elegantly Dressed And Stylish

I'll leave you with this sunrise snap from outside my house this morning at 7.30. Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Anna x

Project Sister Act

I'm delighted to be taking part in Project Sister Act this month. My blogging friend Sheela of Sheela Writes is the host of this project - see here for the very first feature. In her words "Project Sister Act is very close to my heart.  It advocates how women across all age groups (I’m talking about teens to 60s, 70s, 80s), are united in showcasing that style knows no age boundary. That style is indeed an expression of one’s personality, no matter if one’s a product of the 70s or 90s. And that the one same motif can be stylish on any and every woman, regardless of the year she was born."

The collaboration covers a group of us ranging from teens to 50's and the item we've all been asked to model is a maxi, so let's not waste another moment.  

Our teenage fashionista of the group is Eve from The World According to Eve.

Representing the 20's is Lizzie of Lizzie in Lace. 

For the 30's we have Vanessa of What Would V Wear.

Our 40's model is Sheela, the creator of Sheela Writes and also Project Sister Act.

So there we have the motif as Sheela calls it: the maxi dress as worn by women across the ages - teens, 20's, 30's and 40's. All such gorgeous young things I have to say, all wearing beautiful versions of the maxi dress. Follow the links to each blog for their own feature and outfit details. The final reveal, the 50's, is my offering. But before you look, I'd like to tell you a little story. 

The dress I'm showcasing was a purchase from eBay last winter, destined to be worn on holiday, but that didn't happen. The vintage piece has no label, is machine and hand sewn, finished to an exceptionally high standard. The colour is a lime green, almost an acid green due to the sheen of the satin. The reason I bought it is, I think, because it reminds me of a ball gown my mother wore when I was only about 12 years old. In those days my parents used to go out once a month on a Saturday to a dinner/dance with friends. On Saturday mornings my mother would go to the hairdressers for a shampoo and set, returning home with hair immaculately held in place by half a can of hairspray. 

By early evening my father would be home from work and the primping and priming would begin: I was enrolled to press my father's dinner suit, iron his shirt and polish his shoes - skills which would later earn me badges at Brownies for my prowess in all things domestic. I can remember as if it were yesterday, the moment when my mother appeared in her lime green silk dress looking like a glamorous movie star. The dress had a scoop neckline which was bejewelled in sparkling diamante stones that twinkled and reflected light onto her face. How radiant my mother was that night, resplendent in her shimmering green gown. Her make-up comprised of blue eyeshadow, black mascara and red lipstick. She rustled past me in a cloud of Coty L'Aimant, this Hollywood version of my mother, heading out to dance the night away.

My green ball gown pays homage to the magic of that evening of over 40 years ago: the night the seed of glamour was sown in a young girl's mind. I love to wear vintage as I'm a true romantic at heart.  For me this vintage dress and shoes bring with them such a sense of nostalgia, a reminder of days gone by. As the 50's representative of the group, I'm happy to portray the matriarch, the old fashioned glamour of the day. My thanks go to Sheela for inviting me to take part in Project Sister Act, thanks also to all of the contributors.

Once again, thank you for joining me here. I love to have you to write for, regardless of whether you feel the need to comment or not - just keeping me company is fine. My aim is to include you in my little world, this island life, the idyllic backdrop that also happens to be home. 

Details are -

Dress: Vintage, handmade

Shoes: Bebbou

Clutch: Leko London

Necklace, bangles and rings: all thrifted.

Linking with

Dawn Lucy of Fashion Should Be Fun

Anna x