My avatar is doing a great job

Hello again and how are you? If you're well, then I've got to say congratulations to you! So many of my family and friends were under the weather over the festive period including yours truly, hence the reference to my avatar. To recap, I've been ill since the 6th of December with various types of virus; a chest infection and more recently strep throat and finally exhaustion resulting in my being signed off work. Alongside that my real life has been eclipsed by my avatar who has been popping up on social media showcasing all sorts of fabulous outfits over the festive period.

My avatar has stepped in at work from time to time, looking so much like me, embracing bright colours and beaming encouragingly at the clients. Fake it 'til you make it might be another way to view this alter ego. Dressing up to the nines can be such a great way of diverting attention from the self who in real life was husky voiced, prone to outbursts of riotous coughing and wearing a sheen of barely covered sweat. 

Pink chiffon and fuchsia patent leather boots worn with a black velvet bomber jacket and grey crops all work together to distract the eye from the health of the wearer on this workday. The black velvet bomber jacket was a supermarket find many moons ago - it was from F&F at Tesco's. The vintage frilled blouse is an old favourite of mine from many years ago when I found it in a vintage store in Exeter. The hot pink Catwalk boots from Deichman (on sale here at half price) were a treat to myself in December. By the time I got home I decided that I really ought to have bought the white ones too and hubby duly bought them for my Christmas - result!

The drapey high waisted trousers were a recent purchase from TK Maxx, the brand is Mango. Belt and pockets complete the essentials for comfort all wrapped up in a deep grey colour these wide fit trousers make an understatement in style acting as a counterpoint to the fun filled pinks of the rest of the outfit.

The pink and blue glasses were from ASOS many years ago. The large pink ring crops up all the time on my blog - it was a present from a friend who obviously knows me so well as I've worn it at least once a week ever since. The other ring was a charity shop find a long time ago.

My avatar photos have buoyed up the blog for the past few weeks and I view them as truly a distanced self who somehow managed to not only pull an outfit together, but enter into the realms of real life when all I wanted to do was lie in bed in a snotty, coughing heap. My self-neglect while attending to the needs of my (also poorly) loved ones resulted in the doctor declaring me unfit to work, as the second virus attacked, resulting in exhaustion. This may well read as fool's tale to some, a cautionary one to others, but whichever, I've discovered that contrary to my deluded self promotion, I'm not Wonder Woman. 

P.S. Today is the first day I've showered and dressed in five days which I think shows some progress. Writing to you is another definite sign of improvement, so please don't feel too sorry for me - I fancy I'm on the mend. I'm on day five of ten days of antibiotics so they must be working!

                                                                                           Anna x

Lucy & Yak dungarees

Hello again, my lovely readers! It may seem hard to believe, but this was Tresco on the 2nd of January. It was very much a case of 'seize the day' for me, a great opportunity to showcase these fab Lucy & Yak dungarees which my daughter bought for my Christmas. I'll be honest with you and confess that this is a new brand for me despite their dungarees being around for the past five years. 

Sasha knows me so very well - I totally love these cheery all-in-ones! I was delighted to get the chance to wear them during the sunny weather when I'd been ready to pack them away for the summer time. I took a leisurely walk along to the quay and managed to capture these shots without any interruptions.

The bright orange roll neck was a recent purchase from Vinted (£5) and the rings are - yellow pre-loved and pink, a gift from a friend. Pink, yellow and orange make for the most joyful of outfits!

The white patent leather boots (TK Maxx) are old, but work so well with this, don't you think? I added my lovely, but old, River Island sunglasses. It's a fab weekend look that is both fun and easy to wear.

It was an absolute bonus to have this glorious outfit to wear on such a super day. The sea was flat calm, the sun was warm and it really was a wonderful start to 2023! Thanks so much for dropping by and I hope to see you again soon.

                                                                                             Anna x

December round up

Hello lovelies and Happy New year to you! I thought I'd do a quick round up of my December outfits as I know I missed posting for a week when I was laid up with the lurgy. These are all work outfits apart from the final one which was destined for our New Year's Eve party, but more of that later.

This sparkly number comprises of an old sequinned top (a Christmas present from a couple of years ago) and these silver jeans that are also old. The pink and aqua blouse was passed on to me from my daughter some time ago, so nothing new there then.

The grey floral boots were bought in Penzance earlier on this year in Rackys, a small independent shoe shop. I've found a link to something similar in stock with them currently here. These are super comfy, with memory foam insole making them all day wearable which earns them top points in my book.

Black and gold was the theme of this workday ensemble, and none of it is new. All of the items are charity shop finds from previous years or earlier this year. The lurex polo neck is very ancient, but is wearing well. The heavy gold lurex cardigan was a find when my friend Ben took me thrift shopping in London before Covid struck.

The black velvet jeans are a recent purchase and the Elvis belt was an eBay buy earlier on this year. None of the jewellery is new either. 

These gold pumps are second hand too (£20), a rather fabulous find in Truro in December and just look at the back view of them -

Aren't they totally fab!

An all in black day is unusual for me, therefore worth documenting despite it not really having the wow factor to my mind. The sweater has a bronze lurex thread running through it and the black lurex joggers are incredibly slouchy and easy to wear. The two items came to £8 in total in my Truro charity shop haul in December.

I finished the look off with my old favourite patent boots from Topshop. It's a simple uncluttered outfit but still with a festive feel. Jewellery is all old or pre-loved.

And this my dear friends is what I pulled together for New Year's Eve. Again, nothing new here, all shopped from my closet. If you're a regular to my blog then my mermaid coat will be familiar to you. I've paired it with a champagne colour sheath dress (pre-loved, brand Monsoon) for which I paid the grand sum of £5!

I've had these satin kitten heel sling backs for over 15 years, but they still look perfect for this outfit, don't you think?

I dressed up and took myself off to the gallery to get these photos on NYE, but not for the party. Steve and I were still struggling with this terrible cough, as were my children too, so we all stayed home that evening. 

The frosted silver necklace was purchase from M&S many moons ago, but still is a favourite of mine.

Maybe next New Year I'll get the chance to sashay around in this shimmering pastel ensemble to another party, but in the meantime I did have fun swishing about to Fleetwood Mac on my own private dance floor.

                                                                                   Anna x

Sparkle and Shine, our Style Not Age challenge for December

Merry Christmas and welcome back my dear reader! I've been awol for a week, laid up with a chest infection at this most inconvenient time of year. Today's photos were taken earlier on this month before I went out to the island Christmas party where I was doing my best to Sparkle and Shine in the name of this month's challenge, which just so happened to be my choice of subject.

 

Hilda combined a mixture of shopping her closet with borrowing from her sister to create this sparkly look for maximum effect! Find all the details on her blog Over The Hilda.

Another black sparkly top comes from Jacqui, worn with equally dazzling shoes by Lotus along with these eye-popping yellow jeans from Zara. Check out the full details on her blog Mummabstylish.

Emma from Style Splash is a big fan of secondhand clothes and this mega sparkly kimono was a super find on eBay. Follow the link to catch up on her backstory of this glitzy outfit.

Shopping her closet too was Gail, showcasing her fabulous winter wonderland colours in this white sparkly duster over her silver sequinned skirt. Read more from Gail on her blog Is This Mutton. 

My sparkly ensemble is a mix of shopping my closet and second hand finds. The bolero sequin jacket was an exciting find in the British Red Cross shop in Truro earlier on this month. The brand is Zara and was new with tags, selling at £20 rather than the retail price of £49.99. I love the 80's shoulder pads giving this a sharp silhouette. 

If you're a regular reader then you may recognise this fabulous floral tulle skirt that I bring out every Christmas. It's by Ted Baker and always earns me lots of compliments. 

I added a new belt, again from Zara, to pull the skirt and top together. The sheer top with devore pattern was a bargain piece many years ago from TK Maxx, but this is the first time I've worn it. I've been waiting to find the right underwear and finally came across a lace body in TK Maxx that turned this from saucy to stylish.

The fabulous shoes were another charity shop find from years ago - £20 very well spent I'd say! And don't they go perfectly with my skirt?

More charity shop finds: the rings and clutch are very old, but still rather fab!

My thanks go to Fiona for her photography skills and her ability to always make me laugh. She was my partner in crime that evening as we danced our socks off!

                                                                                                 Anna x