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Hello! I can't believe it's the first bin eve of 2024 already, the days are just racing by. Like most of the rest of the UK, we've been battered with the most horrendous weather for days, not that it stopped us going out. If we were worried about getting wet & windswept, we'd probably never leave the house.
Hold on to your hats! Last Thursday we ignored Storm Gerrit and popped over to Birmingham for a spot of charity shopping. Jon wore one of his many vintage overcoats (this 1960s number was £3 from the charity clearance shop) and I dressed in a vintage Roshafi Indian block printed midi dress and my ancient Suede & Leathercraft Ltd coat. The fringed leather bag is a new addition to my wardrobe, a friend spotted it on eBay Vinted for £2 and sent me the link via Whatsapp (mobile phones are a game changer!) when I was in the pub the other day and, needless to say I bought it immediately. For someone who claims not to be into bags I seem to have a ridiculous amount of them!
Waiting for Banardos to open we popped into the M&S Outlet next door and headed in different directions. Behind me I spotted a man in a really cool jacket and was surprised when he took it off on put it on a rail, I told him how good it looked on him & that it was something my boyfriend would wear, too. His wife piped up, saying that it was absolutely disgusting and that her husband looked vile in it. Minutes later Jon appeared carrying exactly the same jacket, saying it was his New Year's sale treat. The wife walked away shaking her head in horror with her husband trailing after her looking a bit sad. If I was stuck with someone who tried to dictate what clothes I wore they'd soon get the boot (and have done in the past!)
Here's the offending jacket, worn on Saturday to walk down to Lidl and get a few supplies (milk, rum and beer, just the essentials!) It's fleece lined so it's really warm.
Talking of new jackets, check out mine. It was made by Baily's of Glastonbury, which closed down in the early 1980s after sheepskins fell out of fashion. We sell a lot of sheepskins but I think it's the first black one I've come across. The charity shop it came from has a very inconsistent pricing structure, sometimes I recoil in horror at the crazy prices on mediocre high street tat and other times I can't believe my eyes. This beauty was £10! The satin maxi is Zara via the clearance chazza and Liz made me the hat.
Here's the Zara nail polish in Whisper which Liz gave me for Xmas, along with three of the rings from Jon's tin of tribal jewellery. I painted my nails with it on Friday (with Barry M top coat and undercoat) and it's not chipped at all, forget the virgin birth, that really is a Xmas miracle.
With new garments entering our wardrobes (I neglected to mention some new boots snaffled from the Clarks Outlet), we needed to create some charity shop karma and dropped off a bin bag of stuff to Cancer UK on Sunday morning. Jon realised he'd got 12 Breton tops so weeded out the best and donated the rest!
I wore the vintage velvet embroidered kaftan I bought last month topped with a sheepskin gilet that used to belong to a friend.
Because we're weird we celebrated the New Year on Ist January. Waking up to a new year with a raging hangover just doesn't seem right. Instead we were in bed before midnight on NYE and I was up and on the Wii Fit at 6am the following morning and listing stuff on eBay until the pub beckoned. Jon wore his current favourite vintage coat again whilst I gave the Baily's another outing (the vintage maxi underneath is by Bernshaw, one of my favourite labels for flamboyant 1970s dresses).
We met Tony, Liz & Adrian in Spoons. Tony left to watch the Walsall match and the rest of us stayed until just gone 4pm. We left just as Storm Henk hit the Midlands and we were drenched by the time we'd walked home
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| Anne of Cleves by Hans Holbein the Younger |
Yesterday (Tuesday) was an absolute washout, we were like drowned rats walking back from our first swim of 2024. With no prospect of taking any stock photos for eBay I followed the link my friend Elaine left in her comment on my last post and enrolled on an online course in a History of Royal Fashion - I'm no monarchist but I bloody love clothes - and I spent a joyful afternoon learning about Tudor fashion.
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| Known as The Rainbow Portrait of Elizabeth I attributed to Isaac Oliver |
Next week it's the turn of the Stuarts, I can hardly wait!
Today we popped over to our favourite Black Country town for some more charity shopping. I'd admired this block printed cotton midi dress on the East website last Spring and couldn't believe it when I spotted it secondhand! The Rabari necklace came from the clearance charity shop on Sunday morning - well you didn't really think I'd drop a bag of donations off and run, did you? Once a maximalist, always a maximalist!
Here's this week's finds:
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Clockwise from top left: Beyond Skin, handmade in Spain vegan non leather shoes; Woolrich, Italian mohair poncho with the tags still attached (retails at £200); 1980s suede and fur ankle boots; 1970s jumbo cord blazer; 1970s BHS velour V neck; Zara cowgirl shirt; Anthropologie wrap blouse; Jay Z's Roccawear denim blazer; Clarks boots; Fake fur coat; 1970s cottagecore maxi dress; Jasper Conran leather bag; 1970s suede skirt; Vintage Jaeger leather jacket; 1980s Tina sequin waistcoat; 1980s St Michael chenille cardi; 1980s Dorothy Perkins ra-ra dress; 1980s beaded cocktail top; 1970s lace wedding dress.
Here's today's top find, a merino wool "London Icon" scarf, made in Ireland for hip New York designer Thom Browne, it's still got the Selfridges tags attached - RRP £685!!! An unwanted Xmas present?
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| Source |
In an interview with The Guardian in October, 2023 Thom Browne said that "Men should be able to wear anything". Try telling that to the grumpy woman in Marks & Spencers!
Last year I read a total of 99 books (I don't include travel guides), I've only been tracking what I read for the last three years, it's a useful reference point and should help me not to buy the same book twice although it's not infallible!
1. Single & Single - John le Carré2. Machines Like Me - Ian McEwan
3. The Land of Decoration - Grace McCleen
4. The Wolf Den - Elodie Harper
5. The Little House - Philippa Gregory
6. Spring Tide - Cilla & Ralf Borjlind
7. A Curl of Copper & Pearl - Kirsty Stonell Walker
8. Iris Apfel: Accidental Icon - Iris Apfel
9. The Queen's Fool - Philippa Gregory
10. Pre-Raphaelite Girl Gang - Kirsty Stonell Walker
11. Stunner (The Fall and Rise of Fanny Cornforth) - Kirsty Stonell Walker
12. Swimming Home - Deborah Levy
13. Spook Street - Mick Herron
14. Lizzie Siddal :The Tragedy of a Pre-Raphaelite Supermodel - Lucinda Hawksley
15. The Calling: A John Luther Novel - Neil Cross
16. The Penelopiad - Margaret Atwood
17. Prospero's Cell - Lawrence Durrell
18. Affinity - Sarah Waters
19. Weight: The Myth of Atlas & Heracules - Jeanette Winterson
20. A Good Man in Africa - William Boyd
21. Where My Heart Used To Beat - Sebastian Faulks
22. Toby's Room - Pat Barker
23. The Patience of the Spider - Andrea Camilleri
24. Fear of the Dark - Walter Mosley
25. The Essex Serpent - Sarah Perry
26. Boxes - Pascal Garnier
27. The Constant Princess - Philippa Gregory
28. Sovereign - CJ Samson
29. Electra - Jennifer Saint
30. The Women of Troy - Pat Barker
31. Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague - Geraldine Brooks
32. Unsheltered - Barbara Kingsolver
33. The Garden of the Gods - Gerald Durrell
34. Troy - Stephen Fry
35. Their Little Secret - Mark Billingham
36. Dancing with the Uninvited Guest - J Wallis Martin
37. Bring Up the Bodies - Hilary Mantel
38. The Ashes of London - Andrew Taylor
39. The Other Queen - Philippa Gregory
40. I'll Be There For You - Louise Candlish
41. The Mirror and The Light - Hilary Mantel
42. The House of Fortune - Jessie Burton
43. The Mermaid of Black Conch - Monique Roffey
44. Dawnlands - Philippa Gregory
45. Ithaca - Claire North
46. A Conspiracy of Violence - Susanna Gregory
47. For The Most Beautiful - Emily Hauser
48. Fingersmith - Sarah Waters
49. Daughters of Sparta - Claire Heywood
50. The Weather Woman - Sally Gardner
51. Seven Days of Friday: Women of Greece - Alex A King
52. Paperback Raita - Will Rhode
53. An Ancient Guide to Modern Life - Natalie Haynes
54. Riccardino - Andrea Camilleri
55. No One Home - Tim Weaver
56. The Road - Cormac McCarthy
57. Rites of Spring - Anders de la Motte
58. Scapegallows - Carol Birch
59. The Bellini Madonna - Elizabeth Lowry
60. Joe Country - Mick Herron
61. Perfect - Rachel Joyce
62. Savage Lands - Clare Clark
63. Educated - Tara Westover
64. So The Doves - Heidi James
65. The Living Sea of Waking Dreams - Richard Flanagan
66. My Name is Red - Orham Pamuk
67. The Last Runaway - Tracy Chevalier
68. The Second Sight of Zachary Cloudesley - Sean Lusk
69. The Sin Eater - Megan Campisi
70. The Unseeing - Anna Mazzola
71. The Gifts - Liz Hyder
72. The Mad Women's Ball - Victoria Mas, Frank Wynne
73. Sanfoka - Chibundu Onuzo
74. The Paying Guests - Sarah Waters
75. Dominion - CJ Sansom
76. The Sanctuary - Andrew Hunter Murray
77. Paris Echo - Sebastian Faulks
78. Fever - Mary Beth Keane
79. The Sea House - Esther Freud
80. Spies & Stars - Charlotte Bingham
81. Brooklyn - Colm Tóibín
82. The Stranger's Child - Alan Hollinghurst
83. You Shall Know Our Velocity - Dave Eggers
84. The Bullet That Missed - Richard Osman
85. Fools' Gold - Philippa Gregory
86. Age of Iron - JM Coetzee
87. The Journal of Mrs Pepys - Sara George
88. V2 - Robert Harris
89. Code Name Madeleine: A Sufi Spy in Nazi-Occupied Paris - Arthur J. Magida
90. Painter To The King - Amy Sackville
91. For Queen & Country - Alan Judd
92. The Unwanted Dead - Chris Lloyd
93. Last Orders - Graham Swift
94. The Graves of Whitechapel - Claire Evans
95. The Scandal - Fredrik Backman
96. A Perfectly Good Family - Lionel Shriver
97. Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin
98. Not Another Greek Salad - Ann Rickard
99. Regeneration - Pat Barker
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Viewing-wise, since I last mentioned the films we've watched, we've seen The Last Bus, Sicario, Cyrano and The Triangle of Sadness and, as Jon's never watched Auf Wiedersehen, Pet! (he reckons that he was far to busy being in bands in the 1980s to bother with the telly) I'm in the process of introducing him to Dennis, Neville, Oz, Bomber, Barry, Moxie and Wayne. Just as good today as it was in 1984!
The temperatures are forecast to plummet but hopefully we've seen the back of the rain, fingers crossed that we can squeeze in a National Trust outing before the week's out.
See you soon!
I’ve done a few courses with FutureLearn and some of them have been lovely and sent me off down new, very deep rabbit-holes where I can spend days & weeks researching ‘stuff’. The OU has a load of free courses too.
ReplyDeleteI think Jon’s ‘disgusting’ jacket is rather lovely, don’t you feel for the husband you met? At the very least his wife could have said something like “I can see why you like it but I don’t think it is as flattering as the one we saw in . . . bla bla bla”. Don’t you just wonder about other people’s lives sometimes?
Hello Jayne! Its good to know that you've done some of the Futurelearn courses, I'm really impressed so far. I was a bit hesitate about leaving comments after each module - I'm more of a spectator than a participant on forums, but got over myself and loved sharing my thoughts. I shall investigate the OU, too.
DeleteJon's really happy with his jacket. The husband was such a nice man and looked great, I felt really sorry for him. When we're at festivals and people are trying things on its mostly the female in the relationship who is rude about their partner's choices telling them that they're too old or too fat to wear something, just because they're insecure it's hardly fair to ruin their partner's confidence too. xxx
What a rude, horrid woman! Speaking to her chap like that and in public.
ReplyDeleteYou get what you settle for! Love the dress you got for £2 and the eBay bag too.
I have just started reading The last Runaway. I have recently discovered Tracy Chevalier, late to the party I know, enjoyed The Single Thread by her.
Let's hope the rain has stopped! Mind you our window cleaner came today, then it rained! It always rains after he has called. He must be bad luck. Good wishes for 2024.
Hello Carole and a Happy New Year to you! Yes, I can't bear behaviour like that so demeaning and disrespectful. How your partner dresses is part of their identity, if you can't don't like it maybe you should question whether they are the right person to be spending your life with.
DeleteThanks you, I was really pleased with the bag and the dress, I do love anything with a bit of blue in it.
I read The Girl With the Pearl Earring and The Girl and The Unicorn decades ago and kind of forgot about Tracy Chevalier until I found A Single Thread in a charity shop a couple of years ago, she's such a good storyteller and I love how she includes so many historical and technical detail like the embroidery stitches into her books. xxx
Enjoying the historical aspects of her books. I read A Single Thread and then spent ages researching the tutor. So much enjoyment from a Single novel.
DeleteThat's the sign of a fantastic book, the need to delve deeper after you've finished it. x
DeleteWow that scarf!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun? I love how it's got pockets! x
DeletePussywhipped is how my eldest son would describe that unfortunate man! And yes, I really did say those words coz I've decided that from now on it's no holds barred (well short of being rude and crude! I don't want to get myself barred!). There's a lot of it about! His lordship's jacket suits him perfectly.xx
ReplyDeleteI really like your son's description, it couldn't be more apt in that poor man's case. I'm always telling strangers how much something suits them if they're trying something on in a shop, I don't care whether they think I'm mad, I know I appreciate it so hope they do too. xxx
DeleteEach Outfit suits you beautiful. I love the green Kaftan, the cut of the dress is special. In Vienna we also had stormy Waether and much Rain the last Days. But today it was a sunny Day with blue Sky. Have a great Evening Vix
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that beautiful Vienna has been battered by storms, too. It really saps your enthusiasm when there's not even a chink on sunlight all day!
DeleteThank you for the kind comments and have a lovely day, too! xxx
I use to live in the PNW I am very familiar with this kind of weather. Got to just grin and bear it. You guys looks great in all of your festive retro looks. And yes is much better to not be hung over on New Years day. I missed the entire holiday Christmas and NYE I was sick with COVID.
ReplyDeleteAllie of
www.allienyc.com
Hello Allie! Thank you so much. You're right, we can't change the weather so we might as well get on with it and stop moaning. I'm so sorry that you got struck down by Covid over the holiday season, what bad luck. Here's to a happy and healthy New Year! xxx
DeleteAll the men in my family have similar jackets to Jon's. That poor woman would find western Canadian men terrible dressers. Oldest son rocks around in a barn jacket that he bought in a thrift store that he found out was the Canadian equivalent of a Barbour. Out here it says Ranch or Oil money. Youngest is wrapped up in a 60 year old HBC blanket coat, when they produce new ones, you don't get much change from $1,000.
ReplyDeleteThis year can only get better because the first three days have sucked.
Happy New Year! If I have the misfortune to bump into her again I shall tell her to give Canada a wide berth. I associate those fleece lined workers jackets with lumberjacks so guessed they'd be big in Canada. I like that there's a Canadian equivalent of a Barbour, ranch or oil money as opposed to the landed gentry associations we assume here.
DeleteIt's not raining yet - that's a start! xxx
Happy New Year Vix, your outfits have made a great start in 2024! The Bailys of Glastonbury sheepskin is beautiful - as you know, I recently found same label brand new/never worn in a lovely honey colour but too small and snaffled by another shopper :) My turn will come no doubt. Your sheepskin waistcoat is lovely too and I bet it's snug. I think Jon's jacket is very nice - if either of us don't like something we mostly just say nothing and give praise when it's due - M&S lady was a bit of a meanie, cramping her old man's style like that! I am taking an unnatural interest in my rear view since you started posting outfit picks with a back view - I must stop being so obsessed with this but at the same time it's good to know how otheres' see you I guess. The online history of fashion sounds interesting, I loved the Tudors when I was a schoolgirl and for a project researched how they dressed - they certainly knew how to but must have been very restricted with all that heavy fabric. Betty :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Betty! I had to smile when I saw that the sheepskin was a Baily's after you telling me about that one you'd spotted in the charity shop. I love the light tan ones with the white fleece - horribly impractical but so glamorous! Yes, your time will come!
DeleteJon's always loved cord, especially jumbo cord. He'd seen that jacket a few months ago and was really pleased to see it had been reduced even more. I used to go out with someone who dressed in shell suits & snow washed jeans and went on holiday in a football shirt, I didn't like it but I didn't breathe a word, why it took me two years to dump him I'll never know!
Back views are so important, aren't they? I hate seeing bra straps, cracked heels, labels sticking up or clothes not fastened properly.
That course is fascinating and well worth a look, there's a couple mof videos of people being dressed in all the layers that the wealthy would have worn, I was surprised that the male clothing was even more restrictive than the females. I'm amazed Henry's wives lost their heads so easily, it must have been a skill to cut through all that fabric! xxx
That jacket is awesome, I love corduroy, I did snaffle some fabric uggs in the sale. And they are so warm l love them.
ReplyDeleteI am doing a huge clear out erm 20+ bags as many items no longer fit me since the birth of Sakura . It’s a shame really.
The earthquake could be felt in koneji it was so weird. Those poor people and many people are still missing. And then that airplane that set on fire. WTF !! Everyone is in a state of shock here. It was weird to see another flood warning it scared us all.
Paul is a huge oz fan!!! He watches the boys on repeat the whole series. It’s odd as my parents live in the area were they filmed the transporter bridge!! Scary!!!! And yes it’s horrible!!!
But still stands up and makes me giggle all the time!! Love and hugs Allie jane
Happy New Year, Allie! Congratulations of the birth of Sakura (what a pretty name!) We were glued to the footage of that horrific plane crash although the mind boggles when you see the passengers taking their phones out and filming the fire about to engulf them, that would be the last thing I'd be bothering with!
DeleteThat earthquake was a big one, wasn't it? I'm glad you're all safe. There's been some horribly sad footage of people who've lost everything.
That's a massive clear out - don't go all minimalist on me, will you?
Oz is so funny. I loved Jimmy nail in Spender and Crocodile Shoes, too. I've stumbled across the Auf Wiedersehen, Pet official merchandise site and really want a Barry Taylor Building Services mug! xxx
I am staggered at the thoughtlessness of the M&S woman. Her poor husband.
ReplyDeleteMy OH would love and wear that at the drop of a hat. and your Liz-made hat looks delicious!
Aren't people horrible? I wonder how she speaks to him at home if she considers that to be okay in public? Jon's hardly taken that jacket off, if he did that cost per wear thing that some people do it'll be owing him money already! xxx
DeleteMy jaw dropped at you having read 99 books! It's good to see I've read some of those on your list though.
ReplyDeleteYour outfits are utterly fabulous as always, and I fully approve of Jon's offending M&S jacket. Can you believe that woman? How very rude indeed.
I'm loving the sound of that online course. I'm definitely planning to do a couple of courses (online and real-life ones) when I retire! xxx
Thanks, Ann. The weather's been a bit challenging to dress for lately, I'd rather it was freezing cold than monsoon-like.
DeleteI impressed myself with my reading this year, anyone would think I'd got too much time on my hands!
That woman was so rude, I cringed on her husband's behalf. Wouldn't it be funny if he's crept back later and treated himself to one of those jackets?
I bet you can't wait to retire and have the time to do whatever takes your fancy. xxx
Glad to hear the storms haven't hampered life too much. Love the sheepskin coat and the satin Zara dress. I picked up a satin dress the other day, but put it back as it was green and green's a funny colour on me.
ReplyDeleteI think Jon made a good choice. What an awful woman that other customer sounds! That man needs to grow a backbone!
Well done on finding that amazing scarf...and are we going to see some historical royal influences infiltrating your wardrobe before too long? Maybe a ruff?
I have no idea how many books I read last year, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't 99. I limp through them these days, only finding time for a couple of chapters a night. But you've given me plenty of inspiration.
Lucky Jon getting to see Auf Wiedersehen Pet for the first time! xxx
Hello Claire! Hasn't it been grim? It's been an absolute joy walking around the last couple of days and not getting wet.
DeleteI was dithering about that dress when I picked it up in the shop as I'm not really a wearer of satin but the shape and the print stop me looking like a reject from 1994.
Sadly from our festival experience, that kind of bullying, negative behaviour seems increasingly common from women. If she's like that in public god knows what she's like behind closed doors.
Funnily enough one of the modules had a pattern for a ruff - I did have a bash using some West African waxed cotton as I had nothing in white - could be a new festival look for 2024!
I'm trying to put a bit of time aside every day to read. I've always read at bedtime but often end up nodding off and whacking myself in the face with my current paperback.
Isn't Auf Wiedersehen Pet brilliant? Barry and his tales of The West Bromwich and District Sunday Methodist Table Tennis League still crack me up. xxx
I love Auf Viedersehn Pet, I can't believe Jon has never seen it, but glad you're giving him an education. I'm so impressed by the amount of books that you've read in a year! I didn't get to my target of 12 AGAIN! Which is a really low amount and I should be able to do that. More time reading less time surfing the internet this year, I think. The sheepskin jacket is amazing and in the picture of you in it with the hat on and the collar pulled up you look like a glamorous 1920s Vogue cover! Very art deco. I agree, everyone should be free to wear what they like. Have a great rest of the week Vix. xx
ReplyDeleteHello Louise! I know, I can't believe he's never seen AWP before - mind you it's been 40 years since I saw it so it's almost new to me again now.
DeleteI absolutely devoured books this last year. Recently I've showered and read for an hour while Jon's cooking tea rather than scrolling the internet, it means I often fall behind in my blog reading but at least I've made a sizeable dent in the reading pile. xxx
Loved all of your outfits and also your boyfriend's! You both have great taste and sense of fashion which to me seems very unique too and I'm sure it reflects both of your personalities! If I were to pick a favorite, I'd choose that vintage velvet embroidered kaftan, that green is definitely your color and I loved it SO much! Very stunning! Also, I can't believe the amount of books you've read in a year, that's a lot. I wish I read that often, but books are expensive and I have some as PDF files but I don't like having too much screen time. It'd hurt my eyes. lol but no more excuses, I'll try my best to get me at least one or two books this year! I really want to read books, especially in English, to practice a lot more this second language. I'll keep an eye if I find something that it's of my interest and catches my attention! Hope you enjoy your FutureLearn course. They really do provide great material and content plus it's free. I've done all of the Fashion Values courses from London College of Fashion and those were very eye-opening experience to me as a fashion designer myself it helped me a lot to learn more about sustainability and other topics more in depth. This comment is turning too long already but I missed reading blogs and I'm beyond happy to have stumbled upon yours! :)
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day and rest of the week and happy new year! All the best! xx
It's lovely to hear from you, Melissa! Thank you for the kind words about our outfits. I don't have much green in my wardrobe but often wear green eyeshadow or paint my nails green and have a favourite green hat.
DeleteMost of the books I read are the old fashioned printed variety. I do have an ereader which I take with me when I travel but much prefer the real thing. Your English is absolutely superb already but finding a book in a subject you're passionate about can only improve your language even further.
I like the sound of the Fashion Values course. We used to trade near St Martins and would chat for ages with the students about our vintage stock. xxx
Saying her husband looked 'vile' says a lot about herself and her vile personality, I think..I hope he went back the next day and bought it if there were any left.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love that Bailey's sheepskin-looks fantastic. Also the green nail polish with all your rings. Great colour!
Yes, Stephanie, it seemed to me that she was a very controlling character and so rude to belittle her partner in public, too. He looked so disappointed when he walked away, it's hardly like it was a sequinned mankini or a mirrored top hat!
DeleteI am so happy with that Baily's jacket, I think the previous owner must have paid so much for it that she was afraid to wear it, it's immaculate. xxx
haha 'sequinned mankini or a mirrored top hat!' He should buy those too!
DeleteJon looked great in the jacket. I'm trying to build a hobby list-vintage, or as vintage as I can get- clothes, jewelry, accessory, hunting is being added. My girls like a good explore too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam! That sounds like a great hobby to take up, spending quality time with your girls, researching your finds and hopefully making a little money at the same time. The fr4ee course I'm doing is really interesting, have you thought of enrolling in something like that, a few hours a week learning more about a subject you enjoy? xxx
DeleteI love that Jon's just as enthusiastic as you in finding good clothing - but how rude of that lady at M&S! Everyone likes different stuff, jeez. Love all your new finds, Vix - that sheepskin coat is amazing, what a collar! Your New Year's day sounds utterly fabulous (drinks and lounging with pals, A+!). I'm gobsmacked at your 99 books! I've read a few of those authors, but wow, that's an amazing amount!
ReplyDeleteYour course sounds like fun! I still think about the MOMA course I did during the pandemic. Happy 2024!!
Happy New Year, She! Jon loves his clothes, I loved that he turned up carrying the very same shirt as that woman had refused to entertain the idea of her husband wearing, the look on her face was priceless (I suspect she thought I was trying to crack on to her bloke so Jon turned up at an opportune moment!)
DeleteI don't know how I managed to get through so many books in 2023, I impressed myself.
I'm loving that online course, I don't know why Id never considered doing it before. xxx
Good grief, that offending jacket would be presentable with clean jeans in most Baptist churches hereabouts! Madame Bucket, pronounced boo-kay, perhaps? (Me, I'm admiring his good-natured touch of color in bootlaces and scarf in the Birmingham outing outfit.) Many local men are now sporting colorful socks and ties, their Christmas loot, under their usual working drabs. No question of attempting to be fashionable -- all in good fun!
ReplyDeleteI do like the berry tones mixed with brown in your own Birmingham outing outfit. The coat is a classic, of course, as is the fedora, but *wow* that bag is a find at any price one can afford. Might we have a closer look at that turquoise clasp/decoration?
Hello Beth! Madame Boo-kay indeed! Mind you, ladies of that ilk tend to consider Marks & Spencer to be rather posh and approve of everything they sell, I reckon that woman had got lost on the way to Primark.
DeleteLike you, I've spotted a few men out and about in snazzy scarf, fancy sock and knitted hat combos. I love seeing people having fun with clothes instead of dressing in fifty shades of grey.
Jess has asked for a photo of my bag collection, I'll snap a close-up of the fringed bag when I do it. xxx
Oooh Vix - I think MrsM+S might have been a bit green-eyed jealous ... perhaps she didn't want him to wear something that ANOTHER WOMAN had complimented him on LMAO!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, how unbecoming of her. My Mister has the same jacket - but in a shirt weight (sans snuggly lining) it is a lovely colour indeed - Jon looks very well in his.
As to someone dictating what clothes I choose to wear - well, I think I'm so obviously a lost cause in that respect, no-one would ever think to try! I'm sad that anyone chooses to suck the joy out of life - as to 'too old' or 'too fat' to wear something - that speaks volumes about the person saying it really. I don't know which is sadder. Terribly rude all the same.
I'm glad you're liking the FutureLearn course - I watched it over and over because it makes my textile geek heart sing. It's a good job M+S don't do codpieces.
English Heritage have some great videos on Fashion
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlKQEZW3PZE&list=PLx2QMoA1Th9euhyHbiuhQS2J8OOnfoEE4&index=3
and hair/make-up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iquQBqD2Gs4&list=PLx2QMoA1Th9dyD5zTlnkvOVZuFYKFXYT9
and Amber Butchart's A Stitch in Time series is an excellent watch
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtFoYua2dQw
It's Elaine Anon btw
Hello Elaine! M&S doing codpieces, that made me spit my coffee out! They had the unlined versions of those shirts in blue, Jon was very tempted but as he's always moaning about the cold decided the fleece lined version was the most practical. That silly woman, happier being accompanied by a man wearing a grey fleece rather than a mustard jumbo cord shirt.
DeleteBack in the 1980s I was asked out by a bloke at work, he always wore a suit so I was horrified when he turned up in a shellsuit. Mindful of his feelings I didn't say a thing about his outfit but suggested that he drove me to some remote country pub rather than go out where people knew me. We dated for two years and I suffered him wearing an orange nylon Wolverhampton Wanderers shirt on our numerous holidays abroad.
I'm off to look up those links. I might rewatch some of the Tudor module over the weekend, I was surprised by the footwear! xxx
I think it's not so much what you wear but the way that you wear it. And always - it suits the wearer not the starer - as my Mum says. Tudor times were a bit of a faff with all that pinning - you'd certainly need a laundress and team of dressers to put it all on. I think the scary part of Tudor fashion is the white lead face paint and hairline plucking! I'm off to give my washing machine a hug now lol
DeleteI like your mum's saying! I had to smile at how that chap had to climb into that doublet, I didn't expect it to fit like a catsuit! xxx
DeleteHappy new year, Vix! I love your fringey bag and would looove to see your bag collection. X
ReplyDeleteThanks Jess and the same to you! Your wish is my command, I'll photograph my bags over the weekend! xxx
Deletehello dear heart we love you happy new year too you love from your fann club in st louis mo usa you both look so nice love from us
ReplyDeleteThanks you so much! Happy New Year to you all. Lots of love from Vix & Jon! xxx
DeleteHi Vix. Firstly, I admire your dedication to dressing up daily. I live in leggings and jumpers at this time of year, and if I've brushed my hair and put in some earrings then it's a good day! Secondly, who the heck would be crazy enough to pay nearly 700 quid for a scarf??? I mean, if they're paying that for a scarf, then what'd they pay for a dress or coat? The mind truly boggles. Love that nail polish. If I'm not going to dress up, maybe I should at least paint my nails ...
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Valerie! I love the ritual of getting dressed even if the only living things to see me are Jon and the cat. I've only been painting my fingernails for 20 years, it was toenails only before then but now I feel naked without nail paint. An old boss once told me that I wear "blokes colours" - ie., not red or pink!
DeleteYep, £700 for an accessory seems bonkers, doesn't it? If I was going to splash the cash I'd go for a flamboyant coat! xxx
£600. For. A. Scarf!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMaaaaad!!
That's such a shame about the man and the jacket. He was probably so pleased at your comment and was then crushed. It's a really lovely jacket too! I'd wear that! I suspect she didn't like such an attractive individual was complimenting him. Felt threatened and hit out to make him look small.
I have such sheepskin envy!! Both the coat AND gilet!!!
You found some gorgeous pieces in the chazzers and I love your nails!
Kxx
Hello Kazzie! I knew it was something fancy, the quality is gorgeous but yes, that's the price of a holiday not a fashion accessory!
DeleteI do love me a bit of sheepskin, it's so warm you only need a light dress on underneath. I bet that poor bloke's ruing listening to his miserable wife, Jon's lived in that cord jacket ever since he bought it! xxx
P.S. I've never seen Auf wiedersehen pet! KEZZIE X
ReplyDeleteIts on ITVX if you've got it, it's such a great watch and so funny. x
DeleteThe weather has been atrocious and Bedford looks as if it belongs in Holland...
ReplyDeleteFabulous outfits both you and Jon. I am so enamoured of that green velvet kaftan. Loving your new black suede jacket (classy) and Jon's corduroy fleece lined jacket looked fantastic on him. What a miserable cow that women sounded. What a bargain the new to you East dress was! And as for the scarf by Thom Brown; I just cannot get my head around anyone paying over 600 for a scarf. Who has that sort of money? No one I know for sure!
Very interesting 'books read in 2023' list. I'd read 15 of those on your list and managed (somehow) to read 130 in 2023. My first read this year is 'Portrait of A Marriage' about Vita Sackville West and Harold Nicholson's marriage and is very absorbing...
xxx
Hello Vronni! It's been horrible, hasn't it? My heart goes out to those poor people who've been flooded yet again.
DeleteI was very happy to spot that sheepskin jacket and Jon's very happy with his cord one, I bet that poor bloke is regretting listening to his wife now, it's gone proper chilly here - I'll take that over rain any day of the week!
I can only hope the people who made that scarf were paid a good wage for doing so!
I like the sound of that book you're reading, I shall see if Abebooks has a cheap copy. I've just started a tale of gory killings and forbidden love in 16th Century England, it's a gripping read so far! xxx
I loved the little vignette of Lord Jon's new coat - it really tickled me x
ReplyDeleteThanks, Flis! Some people, eh? xxx
DeleteTime flies! We've been plagued by rain but on the other hand at least it's not cold. Today I opened the widows and realized it's much warmer than I expected.
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of bags too despite claiming that I'm not a bag lady. My husband used to encourage me to buy bags, so I have as much as I need. I only regret buying faux leather ones, the quality is never good. I have a few leather bags that always look brand new. They weren't expensive either.
Beautiful outfits! You're stylish even when the rain is pouring.
The Tudor fashion is fascinating. They did a fantastic job reconstructing the historical clothes in some shows and movies. Some shows/films did a horrible job, but some costume departments really earned their awards. I'm always excited when I see hand sewn historical garments on TV.
That's a lot of books ,and that's coming from someone who loves to read a lot. Do you keep all the books that you read ? probably not, you would need another Kinky shed for them 😂and do you have a favourite book that you love ?I would love to see your bookshelves, would you consider doing a little video of them, just something to think about in this cold weather. sorry to be so nosy (not)🫢xx
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah! I read more in 2023 than I did in 2022 and 2021, I've tried to read a bit more during the day rather than just at bedtime or when I'm sunbathing. I usually donate what I've read back to the charity shop but usually keep anything about Greek Mythology, Pre-Raphaelites, travel books and Mick Herron stuff. I shall see what I can with photos/video although I think I'll need to dust the shelves first! xxx
DeleteMonsieur is allowed to take the mickey out of my outfits (he often does) but would never dare to dictate what I wore - that's instant divorce! I hope that you are staying warm & enjoying your online history course xXx
ReplyDeleteToo bloody right! Yes, I am staying warm - I've not gone further than the bin today! xxx
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