57 days to go: Bank Holiday Sunshine

It's Bank Holiday Monday and the sun is shining.
We spent the day tidying the garden while the children played.
My parents came over for something to eat.
Unfortunately the sun gave way to light showers so our barbecue was moved inside.
But after we finished eating the weather seemed to stabilise and we moved outside and burned some wood on our barbecue to keep warm.



I wore...
Shoes - Clarks
Jeans - Tesco
Top - Zara
Cardigan - Primark
Necklace - Matalan

73 days to go: Recession Challenge Outift

I may be down but I am not out.
I may not be able to buy any new clothes for a year but I can still be a contender.
This is my answer to Kasmira's Recession Outfit Challenge.
Find a whole outfit for under $20.
This translates to just over £14.00.
I spent the whole drive to work (45 minutes) yesterday thinking about this and here's what I came up with - all for under £14.00.

The dress , which I have worn before came from eBay last year.
It was brand new with tags and came from Wallis. I got it for £2.19.
The sandals are a pair my daughter bought from Primark with her pocket money a few months ago and came to £4.91.
The cardigan was also from Primark and was reduced to £3.00.
The snake belt (worn as a necklace) was, yes another Primark find.
It wa sin the bargain bin and reduced to £1.00.
The scarf which I wore as a belt came free with In Style magazine a few years ago.
The bracelet was free with the Spanish In Style magazine which I bought in Barcelona last year.
The sunglasses were £1.99 in Tesco last year.
That makes £13.09 or $19.69
No wonder I'm jumping for joy - job done!

302 days to go:Back to the Beginning

It was hot today - just like it was on day I made my very first post way back in July.
It seemed appropriate for a hot day, running around with the dog and watching two of my sons play football, that I wear the very same outfit.
Cool, comfortable and casual.
And I have worked out how to post pictures now!
Jeans:Next
Converse Trainers
Top: Tesco

337 days to go

Another lazy day which started off with coffee and croissant by the pool.

Day
Red Bikini (Tesco)
Blue Kaftan (My Wardobe)

Evening
Red Dress.. Primark (2007)

339 days to go

Spent the day lazing by the pool. I was reading The Shadow of the Wind by Carolos Ruiz Zafon; a story set in nearby Barcelona.
I wore a bikini and top (as a skirt) during the day and peach dress during an evening out at a local bar where we watched a band play.

Day
Bikini...Tesco (2008)
Strapless Top.. Zara (2005)

Evening
Peach Dress.. River Island (2008)
Shoes..Tesco (2008)

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)

353 days to go: A response to Fashion Addict

Blogger Fashion Addict has asked if we dress differently inside and outside.
The answer to this is: yes and no.
When I am choosing what to wear I take into consideration my day.
Until Sept 1st I will be working from home a little but mostly looking after the children who are on school holidays.
In this way I try and go for an adaptable look. A basic look that will take me inside and out.
Today I took my mum shopping and wore the outside outfit.
Then I came home, cooked and tidied up so went for the inside look by changing my shoes and taking off the blouse.
After lunch I will be taking my son and his friend to football camp while shopping for a couple of hours with my daughter so I will go back to the outside look.
I will keep this look unless I have to run around. Then I will revert to the inside look.
Maybe I should post both outside and inside looks every day
What do you think?
I am wearing

Outside:
Cut off jeans..tesco (2008)
Orange vest top...Marks and Spencer (2008)
Shoes,,,Clark's (2008)
Necklace..Top Shop (2005)
Bracelet (Gift)
Ear-rings (home-made)

Inside:
Cut-off jeans
Orange Vest
Orange Birkenstocks
Jewellery as before.

355 days to go: Sunshine tinted glasses

"After the sun, the rain. After the rain, the sun."
Those are two lines that I remember from the hymn, "Glad That I Live Am I" which we used to sing at primary school in the early 1970's.
Now in 2008 after the sun we have had the rain which means, after the rain, the sun.
Until the sun comes back these magic sunglasses help.
My daughter bought them for £3.50 from our local Tesco's.
Whatever the weather , when you put them on the sun looks as if it is shining and even on the cloudiest day they seek out the patches of blue and make it more vivid. And full of promise.
I would like to keep these glasses but my daughter loves them too.
I have just dropped her off at Cheerleading Class which means I have them for another two hours.
Until then I am wearing...
Cut-off jeans...Tesco, children's section (2008)
Navy Kaftan...(My-Wardrobe, 2008)
Pale taupe Camisole... Gap (2008)
Necklace... Top Shop (2005)
Ear-rings... (Gift)
Bangles...Debenhams (2008)
SUNGLASSES...TESCO (2008)
Shoes...Clark's (2008)

Picture: Ben

361 days to go: Bright and white

I had no idea what I was going to wear today. I tried on a few things while the children were still sleeping (thank goodness for summer holiday lie-ins) but nothing looked right. Then I went back to my wardrobe and this dress/tunic screamed "wear me". I wasn't too sure as the last time I wore it, a few Sundays back it didn't feel right. I felt fat and frumpy. I think the mistake I made was wearing it with wide leg white trousers and flat shoes. Today I clinched it in with a white leather belt, added slim leg white trousers and higher heels.
Tunic: Marks and Spencer
Cropped trousers: George
Shoes: Tesco
Belt: Miss Selfridge
Necklace: George
Ear-rings: Tesco

362 days to go: Starting with the skirt

It started with the skirt today.
I wanted to wear it.
I bought it from ASOS and sits perfectly on my knee.
I love the bow tie waistband.
But it is tricky to wear.
You can't cover up the waistband.
You need something cropped on top.
The vest is the perfect length but it needs something with short sleeves.
I love the blouse but it is sheer.
It needs something underneath which is why I chose this camisole. It is also red but not a matching shade.
I wore my red necklace.
And it all matched the big red cut on my knee that I acquired at 8am this morning after I tripped over my dog during our morning run to the beach.
Et voila!
Skirt: Asos (2008)
Vest: Oasis (2008)
Shirt (Local shop 2008)
Shoes: Tesco (2008)
Necklace: Virgin Vie (2008)
Red camisole: Marks and Spencer (2007)
Ear-rings: Gift from brother in law in Dubai (1998)
Later I swapped the shoes for flip flops (Gap Kid's 2004) when we went for a play on the beach.

Mamma Mia!

Later....my husband took me to see Mamma Mia at our local cinema in Southport followed by an Indian meal.
Great start to the weekend. This is what I wore....
Wide leg high waist Jeans, Tesco (2008)
Red and white polka dot blouse, Sarah Berman (2008)
Wedges, River Island (2008)

Over the top
Red summer coat from Boden (2007)
Snakseskin thin belt , Asos, (2008)

Day 17: Thanks Kasmira and Allison

I was inspired by Kasmira's blog about the multi-looks one strapless dress had given her.
I had this dress (picture taken straight out of the shower) in my wardrobe since 2005. I bought it because I liked it. And it was cheap. Very cheap in the Gap sale.
I have worn it twice. Once when we were on holiday in Venice and the second time to my now 13-year-old son's Leaver's Mass when he left primary school. Both times I wore the dress I spent the whole time hitching it up, hoping my strapless bra wouldn't fall down. I loved it but couldn't wear it.
Until now.

I decided to wear my aqua camisole, bought to match a wonderful necklace my friend Allison bought for my birthday this year.
I layered a sleeveless black vest and wore my faithful "Flamenco" shoes.
I also tried on all my bikinis and photographed them but I'm not posting them here.
However, I have found the answer to my previous question: "Is 42 too old to wear a bikini?"
Answer: Probably, but I have too many to throw away. Maybe I'll wait until next year for a one-piece!

Dress; Gap (2005)
Camisole (Marks and Spence (2008)
Vest (Oasis 2008)
Flamenco Shoes (tesco 2008)
Snake print belt ASOS (2008)
Necklace, Monsoon (Gift 2008)

Day 11: Pretty (?) In Pink

So far I have spared you my pink passion.
Pink is my favourite colour and usually dominates my dress.
My mum says that when I was a child I looked so sickly that the only colour which made me look vaguely healthy was pink.
And I have stuck to that cure-all ever since.
When I'm sick I want a big dose of pink, in whatever form that may be.
It is still grey and windy here so to make the weather feel better I wore....

White shirt (Boden, 2006)
Grey tweedy style trousers (M & Co, 2007)
Pink cardigan (French Connection, 2005)
Black leather shoes (as yesterday)
Black Bangle (Debenhams)
Pink necklace (Tesco, 2006)