The End

I have finally finished.
365 days without spending any extra money on clothes.
And it feels great.
It has been an amazing journey.
There has been a lot of other stuff going on in my life this year but this focus on the discipline of posting has been therapeutic.
When I have felt my lowest I have hunted through my wardrobe for a pick me up on a hanger.
When I want to look brave outside (even though I'm crumbling on the inside) I have carefully selected the kind of clothes I want to stick up for me.
The suit I wore when I wanted to crawl under the covers took me by the hand and told the people I had to face that I was smart, slick and meant business.
The red top I wore constantly through the darkest days of my recent winter reminded me of the brighter days to come.
I know some people (and they have every right to) feel that those of us who expend a lot of energy thinking about clothes are pretty shallow.
But if it hadn't been for this blog which led to the connection of everyone out there who provided a few kind words at difficult times i don't think I would feel as positive as I do right now.
Through this blog I have met so many other kind souls I would never normally have come into contact with.
And that means everyone who has commented on my journey over the past year and those of you who have followed from a distance.
This blog ends here but I have set up a new one called The Small Fabric Of My Life which will include my musings on what matters most to me (family, friends, clothes, writing, fitness, music etc).
In many ways the same as this blog but without the countdown.
I am ending this blog with the outfit I began with.
I feel this sums up a great deal of what I have learned - stylewise- from this journey.
It is a dress I hardly wore but is, I discovered, the perfect shape, colour and pattern for me.
Thanks to style tips from other bloggers I have learned how to wear it in a casual style, dressed-up and during winter and summer.
Best of all, it always cheers me up.
And that, I think is the secret of a successful style - finding clothes that work for your shape, your life and your budget.
That cheer you up when you are feeling down and stick up for you when you are feeling low.
In essence working your wardrobe is really about getting your wardrobe to work for you.
If you have enjoyed this blog please join me at my new blog with footnotes on fashion, fun, family and friends - The Small Fabric Of My Life.
Au Revoir

3, 2 and 1 day to go: Almost There

Almost there!
In reailty I have done it but in blogland there are still posts to upload.
Here is my weekend wear.
We went to see my brother and his family who live in Cambridgeshire to welcome their new baby, Seth.
It was a very busy weekend.
On Saturday we went into Peterborough to have a look around and enjoyed a fabulous Italian meal.
On Sunday we drove to Nottingham with my youngest two children and my older nephew and niece to see Walking With Dinosaurs which was amazing.
It was nice to catch up with my brother - there are just the two of us - and on Saturday we went for a lovely run together around the villages where he lives.
I have one final post to make but thank you so far for all the congratulations.
It feels good to complete something you set out to achieve!

Charity Sale Announcement

As I write this I am working on my brother's computer.
We are here to meet our new baby newpher Seth.
Seth is a beautiful, healthy baby - just like his brother and sister.
And after a rough labour his mum is enjoying her time with her lovely family.
Sadly, this isn't the case for everyone.
When I decided to try and sell off some of my clothes to raise funds for charity it was hard to pick out one worthy cause.
Until I remembered that had I not received prompt medical care in 1996 I wouldn't be here now.
In May 1996 I had an ectopic pregnancy and by the time I collpased I had lost four pints of blood.
Luckily the swift and effective medical tresatment at my local hospital ensured that not only did I survive but I went on to have two more children.
Millions of women in the developing world are not so lucky.
And that is why I have chosen Women and Children First (WCF) as my chosen charity.
Details of how to make a donation are on my other blog.
Thanks for following me on this journey which will shortly come to an end.
But I hope you will stay with me as I embark on another adventure.

4 days to go: St Swithin's Chic

It is raining again.
And it has rained every day since St Swithin's Day.
Does this mean rain for the next 38 days?
The worst thing about the rain is what it does to my hair.
Apart from that I like splashing in puddles.
It is coller too so I think I need to invest in a long cardigan like these. one.Tonight I am taking my two youngest children to see my new baby nephew Seth and won't be back until Monday which marks the last day of my year-long challenge and some marathon posts.
Have a great weekend.

I wore...
Shoes - Clarks
Skirt - Marks and Spencer
T-shirt 0 my daughter's (from Primark)
Brolly and Belt - Primark

5 days to go: Back to Front

Another busy day today.
I went for a run with my friend Denise this morning before returning home for a shower and some work.
This afternoon I will be going to watch my youngest son perform in the end year concert at his school.
After that I will be going to Liverpool to sit an exam as my counselling course comes to an end.
I love the buttons on the back of this top and have worn it both ways.
It wil get great use in the autumn and winter but I need a jacket to go with it.
I was searching for women's jackets and came across this great one.
Although I avoid wearing it when I meet my friend Sue.
She has koumpounophobia (fear of buttons).
What always surprises me is that someone in her line of work can function.
She teaches dressmaking!
I wore..
Shoes - Clarks
Skirt and camisole - Gap
Top - eBay
Necklace - Next

6 days to go:Poetic Pink

I couldn't post about my last week without wearing a little pink.
My current crush on red will fade but my long lasting love affair with pink will prevail.
There is quite a lot of alliteration there.
Purely accidental.
Or was it?
Today I will be leading a poetry session at the prison.
I have found my old "A Puffin Book of Verse" which was presented by our local vicar for my attendance at Sunday School in 1973.
That book imbued my seven-year-old self with another long lasting love affair - poetry.
And I have found the poem I loved the best.
One I recently recited from memory to the prisoners.
It was "Matilda" by Hilaire Belloc.
It's a poem about a little girl who tells lies and ends up being ignored when she needs help the most.
If you don't know it I urge you to look it up.
The rhyme and rhythms and gory story of the poem are perfect for children.
We will be looking at list poems today which will give me a chance to read out another favourite poet - Adrian Henri.
Long before I arrived in my adopted home of Liverpool I was obsessed with the city.
Not because of The Beatles but because of a poetry book called "The Mersey Sound" which features the work of Adrian Henri, Roger McGough and Brian Patten.
In fact at university where I studied English I asked my tutor if I could do my dissertation on The Mersey poets.
He said the body of work was not sufficient and I ended up writing some dull paper on "Demonology And Witchcraft In English Renaissance Drama."
Henri, like Walt Whitman, possesses a great skill in handling the list poem and we will be looking at "Love Is" and "I Want To Paint" today.
You can see both poems here.
I love my pink cardigan - I think I need more. Take a look at these long cardigans - perfect for autumn.

I wore....
Shoes - Clarks
Jeans and Shirt - Gap
Cardigan - French Connection
Necklace - Drome, Liverpool

7 days to go:FlexiDress

I love browsing through women's dresses online.
I bought this one from American Apparel.
I decided to wear it as a high-waisted skirt with a simple white vest.
I love the way the wasitband drapes and the ties fall.
It is such a shame the cotton isn't heavier as this keeps the dress very casual.
If only they could do it in a better quality material that looked smarter.
After the rain yesterday the sun is shining.
I feel so much better.

Shoes - Clarks
Skirt/Dress - American Apparel
Vest - Isabella Oliver
Necklace - Virgin Vie