.png)
Hello, Blogland. I'm on a roll, my third post in a week! Before I crack in with sharing my outfits here's a question for you...Botox and fillers, yay or nay? I've realised that I'm in the minority on planet TikTok and the vast majority of over 40 year old women on there embrace aesthetics, in fact someone actually commented that all women these days have fillers and Botox and you're letting yourself go if you don't.
I don't always love what I see reflected in the mirror but I don't dislike it enough to spend hundreds of pounds having stuff injected into my face. Yes, at 59 years old I've got wrinkles, my jawline's not as firm as it was and my eyelids are a bit wonky but I can swim a mile in 41 minutes, I weigh the same as I did when I was a teenager and I've got so many amazing clothes I get palpitations just opening my wardrobe. Bemoaning my looks as a teenager, my mum told me that pretty was all well & good but ultimately forgettable and it was far better to be interesting and memorable and 16 years after her death people still talk about her and her unique style. I love this photo of her and her mates, taken in 1963 when they busked their way around the Isles of Scilly (she's the one with the killer tan and shades!)
You know me, if there's money to burn it's spent on clothes, travel, gel manicures and Wetherspoons all-dayers!
I didn't need it but this All About Audrey tunic had been popping up on my Vinted feed for a couple of weeks and when I checked, the seller had a couple of items that always sell well at festivals, so I bought a bundle and was awarded a 20% discount for my trouble, making the tunic just 80p!
I wore it over the All About Audrey dress I wore to the swimming pool (and on Wednesday's blog post) and loved combination of the print and colour and it's 80% silk, making it a joy to wear.
On Thursday, for a walk into town, I wore it as a top with the incredible vintage velvet maxi skirt I'd scored for £3 from Vinted a couple of weeks ago. Could that dusky shade of rose pink be a more perfect match?
We didn't have a specific mission in mind, we just thought we'd better pop into the charity shops in case the staff were missing us (they were!)
There wasn't much to take our interest but I was delighted with these Last of Pompeii mugs still in their boxes and priced at £1 each. Researching the maker when I got home, they're a Spanish company who produce ceramics for museum gift shops and, as you know, I find a museum gift shop very hard to resist!
I can never resist a glossy photography or art book and the novel, The Story of a Marriage sounded intriguing. A firm believer in buying British my grandma used to buy her nighties and underwear from David Neiper. I was excited to spot these metallic leather mules for £2 in the clearance charity shop (they're on the website for £58).
Good Friday always feels like weird day and doubly so with not being able to go for our Friday swim as the pool was shut. I thought I'd dress like a woman from the Wild West and wore the skirt and blouse I'd sewn (with Liz's assistance) last year.
Here's a tip for instant youthfulness, forget Botox, stand facing the sunlight, it'll take years off you!
Yesterday afternoon meant my three-weekly nail appointment at the salon. Goodbye Ink, hello Sage!
Inspired by my nails I went for a green-themed outfit today, the skirt I'd made from a bolt of vintage Anokhi fabric I'd bought from eBay during lockdown, an All About Audrey recycled cotton sari top I'd snaffled off Vinted and my trusty vintage denim waistcoat.
Although we'll be flying the official Three Lions flag when the World Cup kicks off (that's if the world hasn't imploded by then), our existing flag was looking very tatty because it kept getting tangled up in the magnolia tree. Jon moved the flagpole a bit further away from the wall and hung this rather fabulous flag of flags he'd bought from a charity shop years ago.
Can you see William?
He couldn't resist writing something derogatory about the leaders of two of the countries represented on the flag but unfortunately he forgot to put something underneath the fabric when he scribbled on it and now we've got rude words on the kitchen table!
Thanks so much for all the kind messages about our 34th Never Had a Wedding anniversary, stay fabulous and have a fantastic weekend!
Such beautiful outfits again! It's a pleasure to visit your blog. If it were up to me, I'd happily read three posts a week.
ReplyDeleteNo fillers or anything like that for my face. I don't want that. I want to be allowed to age gracefully. After 60, I absolutely deserve it. :D
You are kind, thank you so much, Andrea!
DeleteYou are a shining example of looking authentic and beautiful by knowing what clothes suit you and how to use makeup to enhance rather than disguise. I want to be allowed to age gracefully, too. I'm not in competition with younger women, I'm happy in my own ageing skin! xxx
Pay to have someone inject toxins into my body?
ReplyDelete"you're having a laugh", "dream on sunshine" or words involving s*x and travel!
My lines are proof that I have lived, they are my autobiography, but good luck to anyone who feels the patriarchal pressure for women to look a certain way. 😢
(PS, you are amazing just as you are, my darling, and I too weigh the same as when I was 20 years old)
That did make me laugh, s*x and travel, indeed! I'm not a fan of needles at the best of times, let alone parting with hundreds of pounds at the same time.
DeleteThat's what I tell myself, those lines are from years of lazing on exotic beaches, swimming in crystal clear waters and drinking and dancing into the night - I'll take that over a lifetime of being boring!
Stay fit and fabulous, my love! xxxx
I'm sure you are familiar with the practice of applying lead to a woman's face because a pale, white skin was considered aesthetically pleasing (goes back to Egypt, Ancient Greece and possibly even before then).
DeleteGoogle 'lead for skin whitening', it's horrific what damage it could do. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venetian_ceruse
Can you imagine anyone being daft enough to do that now, given that we know how toxic lead is? I have a fear that one day it might be concluded that introducing the Botulism Toxin into an otherwise healthy body was similarly unwise.
Goodness me, that makes for grim reading!
DeleteI remember all the public information adverts when we travelled to India for those "whitening creams", often used by single young women pressured into making their skin "fairer" to improve their marriage prospects. I've seen some of the damage myself and its absolutely heartbreaking.
That's the thing that worries me about Botox (and fillers), the concept is still so new that nobody has any idea of the effects of long term usage. xxx
Hi Vix, definitely no botox or fillers! I dont know anyone that does it either! I have always tried to take care of my skin as it was quite dry until fairly recently so I have moisturised it a lot. People tell me that I have good skin for my age which is nice. I love your Wild West looks, they really suit your personal style and naturally allow for great felt hats, tons of chunky jewellery and a vintage denim waitcoat. I am wearing today a bright pink pure silk Jaeger blouse - one of my collection of vintage silk Jaeger blouses, a charity shopped Hobbs trenchcoat, second hand wine- coloured leather bag and vintage necklace.
ReplyDeleteHello Alysia! Like you, I don't know anyone in real life who has botox and fillers, I was shocked at how many women on TikTok there are. I'm all about the moisturiser, too - someone I know recommended applying a bit of Vaseline under the eyes at bedtime and that seems to make a bit of a difference.
DeleteI do love a Wild West Look, it's a bit like Victorian dressing without the formality and corsets!
Your outfit sounds amazing, how fabulous to have a collection of vintage Jaeger silk blouses! xxx
You have had an incredibly busy week - and look incredible whilst being busy !
ReplyDeleteI had a bit of a week too -
I sold my house to a developer- the offer was just too good to say no to . It means I can buy another house outright , but not in Bristol as I want a change and neither of my kids live here now . I can pay off my son’s mortgage , which gives him a bit of a gift to be mortgage free at 35 . I bought a tiny cottage for my daughter to complete her Phd in peace , but she will now move for work and I will be able to help her with a purchase of a London property - hopefully leaving her mortgage free as well -
And the headline news is that I am heading back to Athens and buying an apartment there . I loved my visit there in March ( although the people I travelled with and I did not get along at all and won’t be in touch again ) , but Athens was glorious . Flying out later this month to look at options - and as I am a joint British /Irish citizen I am not overly restricted on the length of stay .
Feels like a bit of a light at the end of the dreadful tunnel that started with Tonys diagnosis and then his death .
Life has been hard - it will stay hard - but I am hoping this
Move gives me pockets of joy . Come visit !
Siobhan
What a week, Siobhan! That's absolutely brilliant that you've sold your house and have helped out both your son and daughter, it must feel so good to know that they're settled and can concentrate on their lives without the worry of keeping a roof over their heads, Tony would be so very proud of you.
DeleteJon and I absolutely loved Athens and would go back in a heartbeat. I've loved Greeve since I first visited in the 1980s and Athens exceeeded all expectations when we visited. What a wonderful place to live, so much history and the loveliest, most hospitable people on the planet. You may regret issuing your invitition, you might never get rid of me!
Please, please, please keep me posted with how you get on. xxxx
I haven't had a real catch-up with your blog for ages and what a very happy expensive time decision it has been today. I've been down several rabbit holes. There are loads of things I want to say - but I will show some self-restraint.
ReplyDeleteI'll start with some thoughts on today's post. I may not always like everything that getting older has brought me but I value my age. The grey hair and wrinkles are because I have been lucky enough to have lived a good length of time. The more of me than there used to be is just evidence of my lack of restraint. I do, like our society, have conflicting views as I definitely don't want to put a known poison in my face but I do like a drink or two! Here's the conflict in society where signs of age are valued in wines, cheeses, art and antiques and yet when it comes to women the plastic Barbie influence seems to have taken hold. What's even worse to me is the effect of all these "enhancements" on the young and their mental health.. You celebrate such diversity in your interests and your travels and I feel the world is losing so much as a result of globalization. It is facilitated by the internet and seems to be very much in favour of American and Western norms and values.
On to your anniversary and congratulations. We're a few years further on than you and living in the same way. This does not meet with everyone's approval and much to my surprise since she learned about our situation, 've been pressured by a young friend to change it. The tax and property things seems to really matter to her and she brings it up every few months despite being told it's not open to discussion. I do accept that things may change as there's just been a big health scare and I can't just consider my feelings.
I spent a huge amount of time reading old posts. There was reasoning behind my choices. Your "I'm on a roll, my third post in a week!" took me back to The Time of Covid and there was so much to read. I did give up and move on as I had the mad idea of typing anniversary as a search. I don't know how the algorithms worked but there was a huge selection from hips to record anniversaries through all sorts and I've got hours more reading to do. I loved revisiting so much of the blog. I am so grateful for your willingness to spend the time and energy sharing John, your friends, your home, garden, cats, books, curries, festivals, sewing, crochet, clothes, Walsall, Birmingham, travels abroad, photos, charity shop finds - and I could continue but I need to eat. Have a great weekend!
I
Anyone that knows me at all know I'd say Nay 10X over to filler or botox. I also don't want anyone peddling weight loss drugs my way. I gained weight the old fashion way and will lose it ( or not) in reverse. I love your mom's lesson and as I age, I want to learn and thrive in genui e experiences not artificial anything. I've a lot of inside work to find myself, but like my outside well enough. Your wardrobe is fun and creatively unique. Like you I imagine.
ReplyDelete