Sunday 27 May 2012

Bikini Kill


I was restless yesterday so abandoned my feminist murder mystery on the lounger and got all creative in the sunshine instead.


 I pulled the plastic bits off a pile of artificial flowers I'd bought from one of last weekend's jumble sales and then hand-sewed the fabric petals onto a bikini top I'd bought from another jumble.


Carmen Miranda eat your heart out! I'm linking to Lakota's Ta-Dah Tuesday.

Mock tortoiseshell 1970s sunglasses (20p, car boot sale), 1960s clip earrings (50p, yesterday's boot sale), bikini top (20p, jumble sale), fake flowers (50p, jumble sale), Bikini boy shorts (50p, Top Shop clearance)

Some say a bikini doesn't belong on a woman over forty, I say not only should we old biddies wear our bikinis with pride but make them so loud and crazy that the age police spontaneously combust with outrage.


Rosemary & Sarah both asked where I store my clothes. This is it. Believe it or not I can get my clothes into a double wardrobe. The suitcases are crammed with tights, scarves, shawls, belts and bags. My Mum & Grandma were terrible hoarders and dealing with their possessions after their deaths frightened me into being ruthless with my belongings.


Out-of-season stuff is stored on top, clothes I only wear when I'm travelling, heavier dresses, gloves and knitted hats.


The top two dressing table drawers house my make-up & nail varnish on one side and hair accessories and sunglasses on the other, the drawer below holds swimwear & what little underwear I own and the lower drawer has jeans and tops that don't need ironing.

For every new item that enters my wardrobe at least two existing items have to leave.



With those words of wisdom I'm off to continue with my book, Killing Wonder by Dorothy Bryant, and top up the tan.


See you soon.

95 comments:

  1. Looking beautiful as always! Your posts seemed to have disappeared from my reader, am going to add you again to see if that sorts it out!
    Was wondering why I hadn't seen you for a couple of days! xoxo

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  2. Ahh, this post is awesome! Love love the bikini. It looks like it could be right out of a 1970's seaside beauty paegant. What a great little creativee distraction. I'm so jealous of your house and garden and all your lovely belongings xxx

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  3. I bloody love that bikini - GENIUS! I may have to try it. You look gorgeous, I'm not sure any age fascists would be able to give a reason why you shouldn't wear it! (assuming you've got your suncream on). You should link it up on Tuesday. xxx

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  4. That bikini is so lovely and summery... and you look fab, as always :-)
    I am impressed with your wardrobe organisation and "1 in, 2 out" policy! I did wonder how you managed to find space for all those wonderful outfits you acquire...

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  5. That is so fab! I love it! I also love how compact your wardrobe is!

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  6. oh you are killing me vix. i adore this bikini top. i actually have a memory of seeing someone in the 1960's with a similar bikini. i was a little girl and she was a teenager and her bikini was covered in pink flower petals. i thought it was the most beautiful thing i'd ever seen. and btw, you are smokin' hot woman!

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  7. There is no one like you.
    ...and I am jealous(!) of how organised and efficient your space is!

    LOVE the DIY bikini garland top...and Vix, when you look the way you do, sometimes clothes just get in the way... :D

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  8. Love your efficient storage, and what a great idea to get rid of 2 things each time you buy something new ... must try that. I make a conscious effort not to hoard, I love space and neatness in my home ... difficult with 5 kids tho!

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  9. Good God woman. The plastic flower creation is true genius. xx

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  10. Wonderful! I like the one in, two out rule. I try to stick to something similar, if I didn't I'd end up with a huge mound of clobber! Enjoy the sun in your lovely flowery bikini.
    xxxxx

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  11. Dearest Vix,
    YOWZA, woman I think you needn't fear the age or fashion police...it's the hotness police that you need to worry about, they'd have you arrested in two second flat looking for so sizzling! I love that bikini DIY and I'm always hoping to stumble across a bagful of artificial flowers at the boot to make one of your festival floral crowns for myself but they seem to be rather thin on the ground. I did manage to bag some very beautiful saree wraps and an assortment of vintage seperates at todays boot sale though so I mustn't complain. Enjoy the rest of this lovely sunny sunday.
    Lot's of love,
    Jennie
    xXx

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  12. I love what you did with that bikini! I love your one in, two out rule too!!

    XO

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  13. Holy. Gorgeous.

    I want to copy your floral bikini so bad, but I know I wouldn't do half as good a job. lol

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  14. Bloody lovely, Vix!
    And for heavens sake, there are a whole load of women well under 40 who couldn't rock a bikini as well as that!
    A real beaut!
    Luv ya,
    Z xx

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  15. Wow, you're rocking it, you look killer in the killer cool bikini. And I'm crushing on your hyper-organized closet - I always wondered how you managed the incoming stuff so the one-in-and-two-out rule explains it. Wish I could be that disciplined! :)

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  16. You look amazing! And you`re so creative - i`ll have to do that with a bikini as well)
    I like your storage solutions as well - i use vintage suitcases to store scarfs, and out of season stuff too.

    >'.'<

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  17. I love seeing your wardrobe holding all your colorful clothes. When you look into my closet all you see is a sea of black. Yours is much more fun. You and Janet have inspired me to edit my mass of black as well. Maybe add a bit of color. Love your flowery bikini top! Is there anything you couldn't wear?? I don't think so.

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  18. Jealous of your creativity and bikini bod! Looking fabulous as always :)

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  19. What a fun peek into your wardrobe. My closet is very tiny as well. It just makes us have to be more resourceful.
    I so LOVE what you did to that bikini top. Here in the states people made such a big deal when coffee baristas wore their bikinis to work in. I thought this was so pathetic to make such a big deal over it. We use to more our lawns and walk to the ice cream shop in our bikinis back in the day. Why are we so afraid of our own bodies?

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  20. love what you have done with your bikini you look gorgeous! Ah I would love to raid your wardrobe that would be bliss,if only you were my sister! x

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  21. You'll be rocking a bikini when you're 90, Vix! No "what not to wear over 40" shit for you, and looking at your spectacular bod and your wonderful made-over bikini top just makes me even more sure that rules are for fools!
    Your wardrobe and storage are so well organised, I'm in awe... I HAVE to sort mine out, the overspill is taking over the house.
    You are indeed a woman of great wisdom! xxxxxx

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  22. I absolutely love that bikini top--you did a great job with it, and it looks amazing on you.

    And I like you're one in/two out rule with regards to one's closet. I need to start thinking that way!

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  23. Loving the flower bikini Vix, a great creative distraction on a hot day.

    Well I think you own wearing a bikini maybe not so many of any age could wear them so well! (Particularly not me and I dont think it would be just the age police after me either! lol)

    I think I always imagined some alladins cave of a room with all your fantastic gear in! How organised you are with your clothes! Love you dresser really lovely.

    P x

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  24. I love those photos. Think I'll have to paint one of them! I need your self control and space with my hoarding issues. I also need you to pop round and help me pack for my camping trip! You're great a dress making and altering!!

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  25. I don't think your age should have any bearing on wearing a bikini - if you've got the figure (and you most definitely have), just go for it! I can't believe how organised you are - how do you bear to part with any of your wardrobe?!

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  26. fantastic bikini, i think sandals to match next...?

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  27. Love, love, love your bikini 'spontaneous combust' that's too funny!
    My beloved wardrobe is exactly like yours on the inside - I find the division perfect for me but I could not get it out of my mum's house without breaking it up to bring to mine so there it stays.
    I would love to find some smaller cases like your 60's cases but they are so expensive these days :-)
    Enjoy!

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  28. That bikini is stunning. You'd pay a fortune for that in the shops.

    X x

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  29. Fantastic what you've done with the bikini - very creative indeed. I'm very impressed by your tidy wardrobe and general clothes organisation, wish I could be so neat.

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  30. Age what age its just a number and when you look as gorgeous and fit as you do age doesn't even come into it. My God you look stunning and that bikini is just a gorgeous work of art well done you ;-))) dee xxx

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  31. Bloody brilliant! What a smashing remake of that bikini!

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  32. WHOOZA! Love the bikini and love it on you! I too still wear my leopard bikini loud and proud :)
    xoxo

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  33. That bikini top is amazing! :D

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  34. Aw so cute bikinis!! :D And I would say that at least YOU are not too old in your 40s to wear bikinis, you look fantastic in them! :)

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  35. Lol, I love the crazy bikini, you could do with a fruit hat though. I think those people who say what people should wear depending on age should button it, I'm 30 and my figure isn't a patch on yours. I'm a terrible hoarder, I try to exercise the Vix 'one in one out' rule, but only on occasion lol. Xx

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  36. Love the bikini, I think I may have to try that out myself!

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  37. Wow just wow! There is nothing like being comfortable in your own skin and you just ooze confidence Vix. Your wardrobe and storage is completely unique and one of a kind, I love the fact everything has a place xxx

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  38. Vix, I'm in awe of your organised wardrobe space. I imagined someone so eclectic in dress sense might be a bit more 'eclectic' in their organisational skills. C'mon, tell the truth, you staged the perfectly arranged wardrobe and if you turned behind you and took the photo we'd see an episode of Hoarders buried alive! How can you get so creative on such a hot day. Loving the lounger too. Really enjoying your posts. thanks.

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  39. Love your bikini! It looks fantastic xx

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  40. Vix, you are fantastic and your bikini is spectacular! you're beautiful!!!!

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  41. You have started something now. Flower bedecked bikini tops will blossom everywhere from the back yard to the runway!

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  42. You have an amazing figure! You look far better in a bikini than most teenage girls! Loving seeing your storage - so neat and tidy (and small!), not what I was expecting - I thought you would have at least two spare rooms full :) x

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  43. Yeah sod the age police!!! If you've got it then flaunt it and you've got it Vix. My bod is well past the bikini days so I am a tog girl. Love how you pimped the bikini top!!! Your wardrobe is amazing, I have two, one for each season and when I swap them over I usually have a cull then.

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  44. Isn't this weather glorious! Good to see you are making the most of it. My God do I want your abs! And your wardrobe come to think of it! Love what you did to the bikini xx

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  45. Oh Vix I was so excited to see you wardrobe and all the fabulous places you store you vintage treasure. Oh thank you for showing, look at the colours, eeeekkkk!!!!
    I know what it's like to see the clean up of a hoarders life and yes I too have the one in two out policy. Which I sometimes break, naughty!!!!
    I have never owned a bikini for myself, but if I did I would so love a garden of Eden one. Just gorgeous.
    Love v

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  46. Oh my god that flower bikini top is INCREDIBLE, lookin lovely as always!

    xx
    mirrorandmoon.blogspot.com

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  47. The Cramps song Bikini Girls with Machine Guns is inexplicably playing in my head right now. It must be because of the feminist murder novel and the bikini!

    This is such an amazing post, I love seeing other people's closets, even though I do not dare to show mine. LOL I'm now inspired to tidy it up a little bit more.

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  48. Best biki top EVER!

    Your wardrobe is so neat and tidy - my God, the shame, the shame I feel.

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  49. You look Simply Gorgeous! Love Love that bikini top! I am also Loving your home organization of all of your pretty things.

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  50. You are just to cute!! You go with your flower power love it!! I actually have a purple bikini and the top is all purple fabric flowers I love it...but ummm not quite ready to walk around in a bikini I have a little working out to do lol!! It is my love of cookies now I have since nice love handles hehehe......is there really anything better than a lounge a book and in a bikini!! Ugh I love the summer!! Your storage is great and I am the same if I bring something in something goes out ~xx Heather

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  51. Wowsers girl that is one awesome bikini! Let us know if the book was any good :)

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  52. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEK!!
    I'm home,and have missed you and my darling Sarah,hopefully we can Skype real soon with the GOSS!
    Love that frock Curtise the SWEETHEART sent,OMG,and this frigging bikini top gives me the HORN!!!
    the pookies need cuddles,I need dinner and some man lovin'!
    Love YOU! Love Hlega xxXXXxxx

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  53. OMG I somehow missed this post... YOU ARE FRICKIN AMAZING, VIX! The bikini top is absolutely INSPIRED and your smoking hot amazing body is SMOKING HOT AND AMAZING and I absolutely cannot believe that you fit all of your clothes into that wardrobe!! Oh - and that bikini is the PERFECT colour on you. I am coming back in my next life as your bikini! Love you more than flowers and sunshine, Sarah xxx

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  54. I love that bikini! Isn't it awesome when creativity strikes you like that.

    Also thanks so much for sharing your wardrobe with us - it looks all so lovely.

    I hope you had a lovely time reading in the sun - it looks dreamy!

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  55. you are so creative! the bikini top is fab!and I can't believe everything fits into awardrobe! I have a triple one and Im struggling.

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  56. Ahh so creative!! Would be amazing to wear at a festival if the sun shines! I think as long as you're happy in what you wear, who cares how "old" you are! x

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  57. I reckon you should wear that bikini top to one of the festivals you're going to this year - providing we have more sunny weather! xxx

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  58. oh my god that is definitely the most fabulous bikini i´ve ever seen vix! and who said a woman over forty shouldn´t wear a bikini? i´m sure that person would think about it again after seeing you in your floral glory ;)
    love and kiss,mary

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  59. Ooh how did I miss this one!! Lordy lordy, your boobs are ten times as big now, how does it feel?! But seriously, the bikini looks awesome, and I reckon your neighbours'd have year-round entertainment if they had a birds-eye view of your life.xx.

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  60. I must cover my whole wardrobe in flowers!!!
    Your bikini is killer and so your amazing body, no age police exists for such a beautiful woman!!
    I like your room: the closet, the drawer and the idea of keeping all those pretty suitcases is brilliant!
    Kisses and have a great week!
    xxxx

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  61. wow....fab bikini body and loving the floral display....mind the bees though I once wore a flowerey skirt in northern India and a bee flew up and stung me thigh....wore it the next day and same thing happened....stopped wearing that skirt!!

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  62. You look incredible in that bikini! I love your beautifully organised wardrobe - it's like wardrobe porn for me, hahaha.

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  63. You look fantastic in your bikini and what a special bikini it is! Love it. Was very interested to see your things all neat and tidy and oh so organized. I must take a page out of Vix's book on that one (don't worry it won't be the last page of your mystery!)

    xo Loulou

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  64. Forget the age police! Look at your gorgeous hot self in flower titty bikini. What a genius idea!
    I love looking into your treasures amor.
    Besos

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  65. Ahhh Vix, your awesomeness is swoon-inducing. Only you could carry off the Carmen Miranda bikini top with such aplomb. Thanks for the peek into your closet - I envy your discipline and organizational ability when it comes to your wardrobe.

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  66. whouu, you're a tropical dream!!, fresh like a mojito near the sea!!
    And I'm amazed about your wardrobe size!, this proves that it's possible to dress fabulously without having a huge dressing room! You're my superheroine!
    besos

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  67. I'm eating my heart out, the DIY flower bikini top is genius. Your tan and beautiful bod look so healthy and happy. You are summer! Your wardrobe is a place I could I get lost for hours, I'd want to see everything. After clearing out Grandma Barbaras place, which was full of clothes, I vowed to never let mine get out of control. Sometimes that easier said than done.

    Sorry I missed you yesterday. This 3 day holiday has been filled with backyard bbqs, planting flowers, cooking and crafting:).

    You look sexy mama! Emm emmmmm:)))
    Love you!
    Krista

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  68. i said this before and i will say it again and again: you look adorable n a bikini! you don't need a loud bikini to look great in swim wear ... but this flower bikini top is absolutely AWESOME!

    every time you show your wardrobe i wonder if the photo shows all of your wearable treasures... to be honest, when friends see my wardrobe the first time, most of them are a little disappointed because there's just one (overfilled)closet not three or four. ... ;))))

    http://wardrobexperience.blogspot.de

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  69. love the bikini but no cushion on the sun lounger? ouch!

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  70. Well you wear your bikini well, you have the bod for it!
    Love what you did with the top
    Love your deck -
    I have a lot of storage, i am lucky, but i have that rule as well, some have leave when some arrives...but i will have to downsize one of those days

    Take care gorgeous, enjoy the sun

    Ariane xxxx

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  71. That bikini top is just fabulous! You look stunning. And that is a brilliant post title too :) x

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  72. Best bikini everrrrrrrrrrrrr,and the envy of half the world women.
    Wonderful body in a sound mind, yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  73. I love your bikini re-do it is AWESOME!
    I really need to organize my closet area, mine looks HORRENDOUS at this time. Although it doesn't help I share it with the Mr. ....... okay that's not true the mess is all my fault. *ahaha*

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  74. Oooh thanks for the wardrobe peek Vix. I could never get down to your limits but I am full of admiration :) I have 2 clothes rails full of stuff I really, really like and am planning on refining, refining down to the stuff I absolutely lurve. It's the only way. But I'm resigned to still having scads left - but I really really like it - looking at my frocks makes me SO happy :)

    The flowery bikini top is inspired!
    And age only matters when its cheese or wine.

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  75. When people say women over 40 shouldn't wear bikinis, I don't think they have people who look like you in mind! You'll still be gorgeous when you're 70!

    Love that flowered top, and love how organised all your clobber is - sure you have a lot of stuff but its all arranged very cleverly. xxx

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  76. Amazing, AMAZING bikini. But I think you need a giant sunflower on the bottom ;)

    Penny Dreadful Vintage

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  77. Aargh please don't start me on that 40+ nonsense!! Drives me mad! Considering age expectancy here is 80+ it's a long time to be hiding ourselves away!!! Good grief - why should we ever?! Anyway...You look absolutely stunning! Your wardrobe is a dream - all those colours and patterns!! You dress so joyfully, it's wonderful! Love Catherine

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  78. I love your bikini makeover. It makes me speechless - you are too gorgeous. Just don't stay in the sun too long with fruity drinks because then you'll start putting plastic flowers all over the bottom half.

    Thanks for the tour of your closet! I shall try to follow your rule: one in, two out.

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  79. Thanks for letting me know how you manage your wardrobe. Hats off to you! (Literally and figuratively.)
    Actually, I plan to do a post about just this topic very soon.

    Much love,
    Rosemary
    www.foreveronthecatwalkoflife.com

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  80. I agree with you about the rules that some people make up for us. Keep wearing that bikini! You look glorious in your flowered top!

    I admire your ability to organize and your discipline with keeping the energy flowing in and out. You are the perfect role model for the projects that I'm working on in my home.

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  81. Vix, I've been loving your blog for some time now and just had to tell you I've been spotting lots of 70s whilst thrifting lately and you come to my mind! Actually the 70s has never been a favorite of mine but I'm in love with how you style it- changing my mind!

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  82. You look smoking hot oh my goodness my monitor is heating up over here! I adore that flower top and hope you wear it at least once a week, poolside or not. That's great that you are so organized with your clothes. I have an easy time bringing things in, but getting them out is the hard part. I'm working on it.

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  83. Outstanding work!! Just gorgeous

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  84. Outstanding work!! Just gorgeous

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  85. Holy smokes! LOVE the floral bikini top and the rawking lady in it. Wow. ZAH!

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  86. Thanks for the look at your wardrobe, I'm truly amazed that you can get most of your clothes in there, you must be very ruthless with your 'one in two out' rule.

    I love the bikini top!

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  87. I sure did miss alot this week! That bikini is just fab & you always make me lol!

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  88. I love your bikini top; great idea! As for the no bikinis after 40 rule, I would bet that it wasn't made by someone who could actually wear one. Rules be damned; rock that six pack!
    xo, Anita

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  89. what a great glimpse into your wardrobe, it looks like my idea of heaven, and I'm most impressed with your ruthlessness! So glad you named the book as well, as soon as I saw your first comment I was wondering what it might be - is it any good ?
    Jules
    www.julieslittlejoys.blogspot.com

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  90. Loooove your revamped bikini. I need to have a clear out of my clothes, and see if there's a bikini I can revamp too! Em xxx

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  91. You look amazing! perfect body**

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  92. I'm catching up on my blog reading Vix and love this post. What a great idea on being ruthless with clothes, I must confess I hang on to far too many things that I should probably get rid of - from now on I will employ your ethos of 'one item in, two items out'!! Lovely furniture etc too.

    L xx

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix