What a day! The UK is currently being battered by Storm Claudia. The rain has been torrential since the early hours and the wind is so strong that the windows are rattling. Normally, after our early morning swim and our Spoons' breakfast we'll have a wander around the charity shops but today we headed straight back home.
I don't know quite what I was thinking by leaving the house in a maxi dress at 7am this morning, the hem was sodden by the time I'd walked down to the baths. In fact, as soon as I got home I trawled the internet for the European brand who make super funky rain ponchos one of my End of the Road regulars was wearing at this year's festival and managed to find one, new with the tags still attached, for a third of the retail price on Vinted. Who needs Black Friday when you can buy secondhand!
My milkmaid braids held firm despite the inclement weather and I like them even more now I've had a few face-framing layers chopped into my hair. My dress is 1990s Next (via the £2.99 or less charity shop in town) and being chiffon it dried quickly. The shirred cotton top is an All About Audrey recycled sari and the vintage velvet Afghan waistcoat is a Vinted find.
Long-time readers will remember that I used to wear mini dresses as much as I did maxis. I do feel more like me in maxi length but sometimes, when it's peeing it down or there's two feet of snow on the ground they are the more practical option. Recently - as seen in the TikTok video above - I gave this 1960s Suede & Leathercraft dress an outing (a birthday present from Jon back in 2013) and felt like a rockstar & decided that I ought to wear mini more often.
When Nikki had a clearout back in the Summer I snaffled this fabulous Shubette of London dress. Although Nikki bought it as a mini, she thought that it was originally maxi length and possibly altered because it had been damaged. Nikki is taller than me and on me it was knee length, not a good look, so being confined to the house, I decided to chop a few inches of the bottom and rehem it.
I'm sure there's people in this world who think a woman on the cusp of 59 shouldn't be showing her legs off but they ain't my people and besides, my beautiful vintage go-go boots need to be on display!
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Changing the subject entirely, here's my current read (my 95th book of 2025), Candlemoth. Awarded the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award, its about a young man on Death Row, convicted of killing his best friend in the 1960s. Written by a fellow West Midlander, it is a gripping, historically fascinating and beautifully written read.
In the epic documentary series Empire (currently on the BBC I-player), award-winning historian David Olusoga explores the history and legancy of the British Empire, how it shaped Britain and continues shape the identities of billions of people. To be honest, David Olusoga could make a documentary about watching paint dry and make it fascinating, he's my favourite TV historian!
Have a fab weekend, see you soon!
Hi Vix,
ReplyDeleteIt'a been a pretty filthy day weather wise here too in the south. My poor m-i-l who lives not too far from you was almost blown over this afternoon when she was out and about.
Buying second hand is so much more fun, you never know what you will end up finding. My last book had a bookmark left in it clearly at the point the previous reader had given up!
My current read is Normal Women by Philippa Gregory- what an eye opener it is.
Fashion rules - pah. Never believed in them myself.
xx
Its MrsCatz not anonymous :)
DeleteIt's been such a grim old day, Mrs Catz! Your poor m-i-l, I hope she's okay, the wind had been brutal at times.
DeleteI'm with you on the secondhand shopping, its so muhc fun and even if you find nothing you know next time you look something amazing will pop up.
I need to read that Philippa Gregory book, I might drop a hint to Jon for my birthday!
Whe I was in my 20s I'd probably have been appalled at the idea of a 50 year old in a mini, now I'm that age I couldn't care less! xxx
ha ha Vix - I'm 67 and I still wear mini skirts - shock horror. If people don't like it, too bad.
ReplyDeleteI want to be just like you when I grow up!! xxx
DeleteAge is just a number Vix! you're a fashion leader not a follower so don't need to worry ... Im 67 soon but enjoy wearing whatever feels comfortable and looks pretty - as long as I can still wear my wellies with it lol! Your hair looks nice with the layering. Unless it's yet to come, the storm hasn't reached sunny Surrey, just lots of rain so I stayed in... Sometimes I wear a maxi dress over leggings and hitch it up via a belt to knee length if it's a wet day to avoid a wet hem.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Betty! I think we're all appalled at the thought of women still being visible & having a great life in their 50s and 60s when we're kids, its so different when you grow up and realise that you're still the same person albeit with a few lines and arthritic joints!
DeleteI'm also in team hitch up the maxi dress and sod the weather, I've been known to tuck it in my knickers and carry on regardless! I've not worn my wellies in ages, I might drag them out tomorrow and stomp in a few puddles! Fingers crossed you avoid this storm, it's truly vile! xxx