55 days to go:Chunky Necklace

My whole outfit today was dictated by this chunky necklace.
It is the second one I got from Dorothy Perkins - the first one snapped and the beads went into every nook and cranny of my bedroom.
Luckily I found enough to prove it was this necklace (as I had lost the receipt) and the kind sales assistant replaced it without any fuss.
Good service makes such a difference.
There are some shops I will go into time and again because I know the staff are pleasant and helpful but not too intrusive.
And there are others where I feel like an unwelcome visitor and end up reluctant to part with my hard-earned cash.
This blouse is new but it comes thanks to some eBay cash.
I sold my Biba blouse.
Although it was a great piece I felt it didn't do anything for me.
And to return to my original theme of necklaces - if, like me you are cutting down on spending then check out Boutique Girl's latest giveaway here.
Have a great Wednesday.

I wore..
Shoes - Clarks
Jeans - Joe Brown
Shirt and Necklace - Dorothy Perkins
Cardi - Primark

170 and 169 days to go: Dressing with the Audacity of Hope

I am keeping it uber laid back this weekend as I prepare to meet Cat's Michelle Obama Wardrobe Challenge.
In fact I got so excited about surfing through the web images that I decided to give myself a Michelle Obama Wardrobe Challenge Week.
After last week when I spent most of my days in jeans now it is time to smarten up my act.
I have five outfits planned for each day of the week and it will be a busy one.
Monday: Working from home for my PR clients.
Tuesday & Wednesday: Working in the prison, teaching and helping with the prison magazine.
Thursday: More PR work followed by Parent's Evening for my 13-year-old son.
Friday: Back in the prison for an approval meeting with the funders of our prison magazine.

This weekend I wore:

Ugg Boots
Gap Curvy Jeans

Red Zara Top
Blue Matalan Cardigan

Black long sleeve T-shirt - Dorothy Perkins
Pink zip sweatshirt - USA Pro

172 days to go: Third Time Lucky

I think I may have got it right with the help of all your advice and tips.
Darla suggested it may be the neckline while Imogen pointed out the way it made me look top heavy.
Before I snip the ties I thought I would just tuck them into the neck and belt it with the jeans.
For those who are concerned it may be a little smelly by now - I did wash it and leave it to drip dry overnight. The other great thing about this blouse is that it doesn't need an iron!



Boots - Dorothy Perkins
Jeans - Gap Curvy
Blouse and Belt - Asos

176 days to go: Not Sure?

I'm not sure about this look but decided to post it anyway.
I feel I look a size if not two sizes bigger than yesterday.

I am wearing.
Waistcoat/Vest & Boots - Dorothy Perkins
Shirt: Asos

178 days to go: Flower Power Part Two

Darla has posted about the green shoots of spring peeping through which may explain my current draw towards anything flowery.
I love this skirt as it can easily be worn all year round. It is stiff cotton and looks fine with boots in the winter and a strappy top and flip flops in the summer.
I am getting carried away with thoughts of summer and warmer climes.
No doubt a weekend by a wet and windy football pitch will bring me back down to (the sodden) earth very quickly!

Boots - Dorothy Perkins
Skirt - Matalan
Polo - New Look
Necklace - Next

196 days to go: Little Blue Dress

Another take on the Little Black Dress. I had been given a grey knee length dress but when I tried it on it had a tulip style hem which I wasn't too keen on so I swapped it for this blue one.

Dress: Dorothy Perkins (Gift)
Boots: Dorothy Perkins (Gift)
Black tights : Tesco
Black t-shirt: Primark

307 days to go: Grey Dawn

A prison day today - catching up with my creative writers.
After a very late night (my sister in law and husband called last night) I grabbed together a few things from my wardrobe in the murky half-light of the grey dawn.
It ended up like this...
Shirt dyed black: Boden
White Waistcoat; Dorothy Perkins
Jeans: Gap Curvy
Shoes: Clark's

336 days to go

By an amazing chance I spotted one of the mums from my children's school. They had arrived the previous day after eight weeks touring Spain in a Campervan.
That evening we met up for drinks while our children played table tennis.

Day
RipCurl Bikini (2004)
Kaftan.. Primark (2008)

Evening
Black Skirt (Dorothy Perkins, 2004)
Black Halter Top.. Next (2003)

350 days to go: Thrown together

I really need to do some planning. I tried several times to get dressed this morning and nothing worked. The weather is changeable too. It's cold. I hate cold. I started this look off with a lovely pink camisole under the black waistcoat but it was too cold so I added a shirt. The shirt is far too big for me but I do love it.
I bought this skirt a couple of years ago and hardly wore it. When I tried it on recently I realised why - it was far too long. I shortened it and I like it much better now.
This is the best I am going to get today.
Better luck tomorrow!

But until then I will be wearing.....
Skirt: Tesco (2006)
Shirt: Laura Ashley (Charity Shop (2008)
Flip Flops: Dorothy Perkins (2006)
Black Waistcoat: Oasis (2008)
Necklace: Next (several years old)
Ear-rinds: Tesco (2007)
Sunglasses: Tesco (2008)

Orange and Blue: 363 days to go

Inspiration behind today's outfit was one of the judges on Last Choir Standing (a BBC reality TV Show.
She was wearing navy blue and orange together and it looked sensational. I can't remember what she said about the choirs but I do remember thinking what I had to replicate the colour scheme.
Not so long ago I had bought this dress which comes with a cream slip from a shop in my village. It had a River Island label in it but it was reduced to £5.
I paired it with my jeans and a long navy camisole.
I may not be able to sing yet but I can still wear orange and navy which is a great start.
I am also wearing one of my favourite necklaces from Top Shop and Ear-rings made by my daughter, Briony.
Dress (slip taken out) River Island (2008)
Primark Jeans (2008)
Navy Camisoles, Dorothy Perkins (2008)
Denim wedges Dorothy Perkins (2008)
Bracelet, Tesco (2008)
Ear-rings Gift (2008)