These boots are made for walking - 5 Over 50 challenge

Welcome to another edition of our #5 Over 50 Challenge as created by Gail of Is This Mutton? It was my turn to choose and I picked the title because this record by Nancy Sinatra was the first my brother bought when we were barely teenagers (mine was Baby Love by the Diana Ross and the Supremes). Excuse me if my age is showing.

I decided to model myself on the fashion of the day with my knee high patent boots, a knitted mini dress, shaggy fur waistcoat and John Lennon sunglasses. Let's see how the rest of the gang fared shall we?

Gail has chosen a very elegant black pair of suede over the knee boots for this challenge. When we met up last week (yet to come on the blog) she told me about these fabulous boots and how she doesn't get the chance to wear them often. I love how she's married up pearls and leopard print in her accessories.

It's also suede from Laurie, but this time in the shape of ankle boots. Don't they look amazing with her skinny leggings? Ever the chameleon she looks fabulous in whatever she wears. See more on her blog Vanity and Me. Laurie was another of the bloggers I met in London recently - see here.

I met up with Jacqui of Mummabstylish too which only leaves me with Hilda to get to know. Jacqui told me about her rule of three - three colours she weaves together to create an harmonious outfit, and that's true of this perfect pink, grey and black ensemble.

I'm hugely envious of these over the knee boots of Hilda's. I tried on a pair when I was in TK Maxx recently and now wish I'd bought them as they really looked lovely. I'll be visiting her blog Over the Hilda to find out what brand they are. The classic red coat looks great too, and terribly smart with that hat. Oh to have a #hatface!

I had toyed with the idea of an all black outfit to go with the patent boots and handbag, but couldn't pull together a 60's look. Also, I'm currently battling a dreadful head cold and nasty cough too so the autumn colours have given my skin a well needed lift. I bought these Lotus boots in TK Maxx in Truro just before I came home and decided that they would be ideal for this month's challenge. I found the butterfly embossed bag in a charity shop shortly afterwards and couldn't believe how well they went together.

I did a bit of shopping when I was in London too and will give you peek in due course, but I was quite restrained by my usual standards. To be perfectly honest, I don't like shopping in London as I find it pretty overwhelming. Too many shops, too much choice, too many people all mean I try to cherry pick where I go. I visited the large Primark at Marble Arch and found some basics there. I then went to Zara, also with success and last on my list was TK Maxx on Kensington High Street where I picked up a couple of bargains. If anything, shopping in London helped me to remember why shopping in Cornwall is much more my thing. And still on the shopping theme, I don't know if you recall, but I mentioned about a vintage shop I discovered in Penryn? Well, I had another dental appointment there last Tuesday and afterwards hotfooted up the street to have a look, and would you believe it? The shop is only open from Wednesday to Saturday! One of these days I'll get in there.

Outfit details - waistcoat: Mirumi, dress: LU NYC, belt: Dorothy Perkins, tights: H&M, boots: Lotus, handbag: Tosca Blu, sunglasses: River Island, necklace: Du Barre, bangle and rings: pre-loved.

Linking with -

Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb 

Patti of Not Dead Yet Style 

Anna x

Sightseeing in London

Hello, long time no see! I'm back from my jaunt to London, harbouring a scratchy throat which may be the price to pay for getting up close and personal with the crowds on the tube, but such is life. For our week in the city we were staying in a friend's flat in the Barbican; one of those right at the very top with a rooftop view (see it on my instagram here). Steve took these shots on our way back from breakfast one morning - eating out is a treat, but eating breakfast out every day seemed quite decadent. 

I have to say that I was really happy to have included the red boots in my last minute packing. I wore them four times in the course of the week which isn't bad going.

St James Park was looking very autumnal.

Buckingham Palace always draws the crowds - I'm surely not the only one who hopes to see the Queen peeping out to give us a little wave?

As we crossed Horse Guards Parade in the late afternoon sun I noticed that the London Eye wasn't so far away. I was heading there for one of my bloggers meet ups later in the week.

We finished our walkabout day at Trafalgar Square where we stopped to watch the street performers before taking in a movie at Leicester Square. 

Next day I'd arranged to meet up with fellow bloggers Ashley and Laurie outside Selfridges and while I was waiting I popped in for a little browse. The cafe in the basement was cake heaven!

And this is what happens when you put a clutch of bloggers together - lots of pointing cameras at each other!

In between all the photos we talked. And talked. And talked some more and most of it was about blogging. Ashley and Laurie both do a lot of work with brands so I was keen to hear how that ties in with their everyday life. It turned out I was the only one to be in full time employment and yet they are both so busy with family commitments as well as attending blogging events that we all seemed to be equally rushed off our feet. Our common mindset is very much of seize the day with everything that comes along. They met up for the first time during a project earlier on this year and their friendship has blossomed as they support each other on their blogging journey. They now host a joint link up - take a look here. Ashley's son was designated photographer for the day and did a great job.

My outfit details - jacket: Michael Kors, sweater: H&M, shirt: Sainsbury's, tights: H&M, skirt: Gap, boots: Primark, sunglasses: Quay Australia.

Coming up on the blog on Monday is the monthly 5 Over 50 challenge of which Laurie is part. Later on next week I'll cover my second bloggers meet up along with some more London sights and stories. 

Laurie couldn't pass up this photo opportunity.

Anna x

I'm off to London!

Hello and cheerio! I'm off to the big smoke today, so the blog may be a tad quiet for the next 10 days. What does an island girl pack for a week in London? Well, take a look at my attempt at a capsule wardrobe.

I'm going to wear my big winter coat as I have a boat and train journey ahead of me and this woolly bear of a coat will help to keep me cosy. I'll add a wrap as a scarf to double up as a pillow for a few zzzz's on the way too. I may wear some trainers for the trip as the boat can be slippery underfoot, but the boots are essential for stepping out in style on the streets of London. The glitter boots are new and the heel is a perfect height for comfort (I'll show you a bit more of them later).

I'm packing this new red dress as it's wrinkle free and will be versatile enough for any evening out to the theatre or dinner, or both! The pink is a skirt, the only one I've chosen. I'm taking one pair of jeans, one pair of leggings and two pairs of trousers.

I've had this Desigual sweater for a couple of years and yet have only worn it once and think the time has come for another outing. Two fluffy jumpers are going in as well as the fur gilet.

Then there's a white shirt, a black shirt, a floral shirt, a mesh jacket, a patterned roll neck and a new lace top, as well as my fabulous studded jacket.

My red dress is crying out for the red sock boots (as seen here), but I'm terribly worried that the fabric would get marked, wet or whatever in the general skirmishing that goes on when you descend into the depths of the London Underground. Steve sees every trip to London as a huge adventure, most of which involves walking for miles (to get the real feel of the place) or hopping on and off the tube when we're dashing to the theatre. Sitting in the back of a cab, stuck in traffic is not his idea of an authentic experience! Red boots therefore, may have to stay home, or perhaps I can fit them into my wee black leather backpack for changing in situ? Ho hum, we'll see!

And here's the glitter boots as promised. They're from Primark and so blooming comfortable too! 

Those of you who know me well, will probably be chuckling at my capsule wardrobe; who's she trying to kid, you'll be saying. Yes, yes, of course I'm going shopping, and yes, yes of course I'll be itching to wear it all immediately, but at least I've got a full compliment of clothes in case I can't find anything new!

Outfit details - jacket: H&M (old), trousers and boots: Primark, tee shirt: pre-loved, necklace: Du Barre, watch: Michael Kors, sunglasses: Quay Australia, ring: pre-loved.

So that just about wraps it up. I hope to be posting on instagram while I'm away (wi-fi permitting) so do check it out here. In the meantime, I'll leave you with a photo of the birthday boy - today, the 23rd, is his actual birthday despite the celebrating that has been going on over the past few weeks. 

Looking great for 60 isn't he?

Anna x

We love... metallic raincoats!

If it's the 20th, then it's time for our monthly style challenge and this month Sasha and I are showcasing our new metallic raincoats. 

Sasha was the first to buy her copper hooded jacket which is functional as a raincoat and also fulfilled her love of metallics. It was in the New Look sale in September at £15. This one is out of stock, but we've found something equally pretty here.

I love all these warm tones together; the copper, gold, coral and peach all benefit from that tiny pop of turquoise; a great contrast.

While I was in Truro a few weeks later I came across this silver jacket in TK Maxx for £15 too. Did I copy her? - well of course I did! Sasha is probably my main influencer. I'm very happy to admit that this midlifer and her Millennial are #Bridging the Gap as part of the movement seeking to dissolve the barriers that society seeks to place between the generations. Fashion for all seems to be more appropriate now.

Sasha and I have no issues about crossing the fashion divide that used to exist between mothers and daughters. In my youth I wouldn't have dreamt of looking to my mother for fashion or style advice nor she to me, but things have changed, thank goodness. We happily shop together, taking each others advice on new colours and trends which we may not have tried without that extra input. I see myself as the new ageless generation that has evolved through the desire to access clothing that expresses individuality rather than collective years. We each have our own sense of style with the jacket being the overlap today. Sasha's uber feminine floral trousers with frilled hems teamed with the bronze/peach palette tell her story so well. As for me, well I've run with the metallic theme, the bare minimum of colour added by way these monochrome hues giving my own fashion statement a retro vibe. 

Sasha's outfit details - raincoat: New Look, jumper: H&M, trousers: TK Maxx, boots, Primark, sunglasses: Primark.

My outfit details - raincoat: TK Maxx, blouse: Sainsbury's, skirt: pre-loved (no label), boots: Primark, sunglasses: Quay Australia.

Anna x