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After almost a month of using Darlaston baths, on Wednesday the Gala pool was finally up and running and I was beside myself with excitement.
Expecting my mile swim to be followed by a Spoons breakfast and a look around the charity shops, I wore this 1970s maxi in celebration, only to discover that the kitchen was closed for refurbishment so we went straight back home. The dress didn't go unnoticed, it got lots of love on TikTok.
I've got a bit of a thing about chokers at the moment so I raided Mrs Kaur's shop for braid and made a few of my own. I'm wearing the purple one with my dress.
After Monday morning's frost and Tuesday's bitter chill, Wednesday afternoon brought a hailstorm of biblical proportions. Thursday felt a little more Spring-like so I thought I'd give this 1970s printed cotton pinafore dress by David Silverman an outing.
A 50-plus influencer recently claimed that floral dresses worn with denim jackets were a no-no for older women and loads of her followers promised never to dress like that ever again. Don't people have minds of their own? Would you change your style on the word of a stranger on the internet? I'm the opposite, as soon as I read a comment like that, I develop a desperate urge to dress in that way and immediately pulled on the Levi's Type 1 denim jacket I'd scored from Vinted last month.
I needed to collect a Vinted parcel so Jon and I had a leisurely stroll down to the pickup point, a former vetinary clinic but now a Kurdish-run convenience store. It's an amazingly well-stocked shop, the array of artisan chocolate and European savoury snacks is astonishing and I counted seven varieties of cheese in the fridge (Gouda, Edam, Cheddar, Feta, Paneer, Haloumi and Stilton). One of the young men who works there told me he'd seen me on the internet so, if he's reading this, hello!!
Check out the groovy label on my Vinted purchase! Anthea Proud was best known for her high-end girl's dresses, often made from Liberty fabric, in the 1960s and 1970s. This grown-up sized dress was listed as being damaged and priced accordingly. I love a bit of mending and soon repaired the damaged area.
As wel as being a talented designer, Anthea Proud also had a well-known husband, Ian Davidson. As well as being an acclaimed screen writer (TV credits included Sorry, The Two Ronnies and The Brittas Empire), he also appeared in my Dad's favourite programme, Monty Python's Flying Circus.
And here's the dress in all its glory, worn to walk down to the swimming pool at 7am this morning.
Disclaimer...I changed my boots when I got home, the ones I wore to town crippled me!
After our swim we walked to Wetherspoons only to discover that the kitchen wasn't reopening until lunchtime so, with time to kill before the shops opened, we popped into the Co-op and had coffee and toasted teacakes in Coffee Republic. We were surprised when the server asked if we wanted jam with our teacakes, is that normal? Surely there's only one thing you spread on teacakes...butter!
The calm before the storm...it was rammed by the time we left.
I've not posted about our film/TV viewing for a while so this is what we've been watching lately.
The two films we've seen were uber-stylish heist movie Crime 101 with man of the moment, Barry Keoghan and Gus Van Sant's Dead Man's Wire, based on the true story of a botched kidnapping in 1977. In real time, we've been gripped to The Capture, Race Across The World (Jo & Kush for the win!) and loved the fourth series of Dark Winds. We've binge-watched the second and third series of the tense Irish crime thriller, Hidden Assets and finally got around the watching Fargo, I've no idea why its taken us so long as we absolutely loved the film and adore anything by the Coen Brothers.
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Not name dropping or anything but Fargo's Martin Freeman (and his mate, Jason Watkins) visited our stall when we used to trade at London's Classic Car Boot and is so lovely - he actually came over and introduced himself to us...like we didn't know who he was! I've even got a photo to prove it....
Will it be season 3 of Fargo or a film tonight? The bar opens at 7pm, so I'd better go and slice the limes for out rum & cola.
Have a fabulous weekend and see you on the other side!
Hello Vix. I love your purple dress. Its my favourite colour and chokers, yes! Very pretty. Agree with you on being misled by fashion 'advisors' setting ageism rules. It seems silly to me also that so may people think they have to follow a certain style too, I have hippy/Boho stuff but also what might be considered classic co-ords and a bit of high street trend too. I mix the styles. Fashion is being individual, your a maker, not a follower of course. The latest AI on Facebook, grandma Gigi, is entertaining though and a classic example of how some folk allow themselves to be typecast. Glad your pool is back in action. Betty
ReplyDeleteThanks, Betty! If in doubt I always wear purple, it's such a joyful colour.
DeleteThese daft 'rules' make my blood boil, chipping away at people's confidence and making them question their style.
Like you, I just but and wear what I like, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.
I shall check out that Facebook page! Xxx
Hi Vix. So fantastic that we now have a social media star (yes, you are!! :-) ) who is proving that you don't have to do scary things to your face, have big fake boobs, nor follow silly fashion advice, and yet... is ageing backwards!! A real inspiration, Vix. Love you xxxx
ReplyDeleteYou are kind! I'm a minion in the Tiktok world but I'm doing my best to show the world that it's perfectly fine to tread your own path! Xxx
DeleteLoving RATW but wish they didn't race so fast! Some beautiful places they've been to that warrant lingering over! Too much time spent on back stories! Have you seen the film 'Fargo'? Frances McDormand was so good in it!Can't believe Martin Freeman pulled the 'do you know who I am?' stunt!
ReplyDeleteI can feel my blood pressure rocketing just watching RATW. I'm loving this season..especially the Greek part! Yes, we saw the Fargo film years ago. I should revisit it, I love Frances McDormand in everything.
DeleteMerton was such a lovely bloke, I think he probably recognised Jon, he's got excellent taste in music! Xxx
While much exaggeration in the characters, there's a certain bit of " hey, I know that person" when I've watched Fargo, which should have been called Minnesota, but wouldnt have been so catchy. I'd be lost without denim jackets and what little style I might have would be completely gone if I forbid myself wearing them. The pinafire dress is just lovely for spring.
ReplyDeleteThere's so many famous faces in Fargo, I was racking my brain at the sheriff in Season 2 and finally discovered it was Ted Danson, he's ageing very well!
DeleteI'm not sure why anyone would think a denim jacket was a style no-no, it's something that suits everyone. Xxx
Oh. My. God. That pinafore is to die for!!!! I love it with the denim too, so that's s🖕🏻🖕🏻to the influencer that says otherwise! I've taken a break from a lot of the social media platforms because at 46, I've finally taken my limit of the bombardment of random people's opinions on women should or shouldn't be wearing / not wearing / looking like / acting like etc etc etc. It's 2026.... What happened to "vintage style, not vintage values" and such alike?! I love a bit of mending too - my favourite is refurbishing decrepit 1920s beaded bags back to their former glory. I have way too many....😆 Rachael xx
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Rachael! I've been longing for a sunny spring day to wear that David Silverman pinafore, I just love that shade of green.
DeleteI don't blame you for taking a break from social media, with my hip flare-up I have a really short fuse and statements I'd normally just roll my eyes at make me irrationally cross (but not bad enough to leave some ranty comment!)
I love those 1920s beaded bags, a few decrepit ones keep popping up on my Vinted feed of late, I wonder if that's you liking them! xxx
Howled laughing at the denim and florals on the over 50s thing and found this ...
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/midlifedramasinpyjamas/posts/oh-my-days-i-am-beyond-incensed-ive-just-watched-a-tik-tok-influencer-telling-wo/1245688774226804/
Elaine Anon
Oh my - found the influencer in question - I'm over 60 so she can do one lol
DeleteElaine Anon
Oh, Ms Pyjama is fantastic - and looks great in her forbidden clothing! I love the photos other women have put up daring to wear the dreaded floral and denim combo.The influencer in question recommends a blazer over a dress, which makes me hate them even more than I already do! xxx
DeleteHi Vix - back from the Alice-in-Wonderland world of over 50s TikTok influencer snark. Having said that - it reminded me so much of Muriels Wedding I'm going to have to watch it again for the umteenth time lol. We've just binge-watched Small Prophets which was just chefs-kiss.
ReplyDeleteI was similarly baffled by jam on teacakes but then Costa sell a bacon, mature cheddar and chilli jam hot cross bun - so I've obviously led a sheltered culinary life lol.
Glad to hear that your pool has reopened and loving the Anthea Proud frock - apparently she turned to soft furnishing/interiors - would be lovely to find some of her textiles (column on far right pdf)
file:///Users/acorn/Downloads/sn52-p2_original_.pdf
Elaine Anon (will shut up now lol)
Do you sell buckets? It cracks me up every time. I can't wait for series 2 (there's a Facebook fan page!)
DeleteI used to be obsessed with Muriel's Wedding, I haven't seen it in years!
I just read Louise's comment about hot cross buns...it sounds like something I've created when I've not been shopping and have a raging hangover (minus the meat!)
I didn't know that Anthea Proud had branched into textiles, they're gorgeous (ta for the link!) xxx
The outfit with the David Silverman dress is fantastic. You look so carefree and full of life in it. Oh, I hate it when people say you shouldn't wear this or that. I love that you put the denim jacket on over it, just like that!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andrea! That green is so Spring-like and I do love a pinafore, I feel like an extra from Little House on the Prairie.
DeleteIt's so tiresome, all these silly rules. The only thing we shouldn't wera at our age iis the weight of other people's expectations. xxx
First it was the gala, now the Wetherspoons kitchen, these places need to sort it out and stop interfering with your routine :-) definitely no jam on tea cakes, but I see all sorts of weirdness. Costa were doing bacon on hot cross buns over Easter. I didn’t try it, it just seemed wrong. No, I definitely wouldn’t not wear something because anyone has said I shouldn’t. If I’m comfortable and feel confident nothing else matters. Xxx
ReplyDeleteP.s. I wore the celestial skirt today, I don’t think anyone thought I was a witch but it kind of paled into insignificance against some of the wild and whacky outfits people were wearing
I know! Next it'll be the charity shops and then we'll definitey be in trouble!
DeleteBacon on hot cross buns? I've seen burgers on doughnuts, too. It does seem bizarre!
Luckily I didn't have the kind of parents who laid the law down over what I couldn't wear as a teenager so I've always worn what I wanted to, even if it probably looked a bit strange at times. I am my age, wearing a beige trenchcoat, a white shirt and a pair of raggedy hemmed jeans ain't going to make me look younger, just invisible!
I can't wait to see that skirt on! xxx
The hat you're wearing in the last video is fantastic and suits you very well, as well as the dress you repaired (fortunately it seems you have a talent for it)!! I notice how similar the cafe in the photos is to our new cafes here, essentially now in Europe we are forming a unified culture with elements from our national identities.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katerina! I quite like how styles are blending and we're seeing a mixture of cultural designs in our cafes, too! x
DeleteJam.....?? On teacakes?!! (said in the voice of Peter Kaye's 'garlic bread' scene! :)) Not round here. Butter only me duck! Your outfits are beautiful and I'd love a rummage in Mrs Kaur's shop. The braiding is stunning. Influencers telling you what to wear and making money from it no doubt? Nah... I'd sooner stay in my own lane. Louise (Mids) X x x
ReplyDeleteEy up, Louise! Exactly! Jam? Utter madness!
DeleteMr Kaur's shop is so good, even Jon gets excited by it, he insisted on buying a box of tailor's chalk last week just 'cos he loved the box it was in!
Those influencers can all bog off to Dubai as far as I'm concerned! xxx
Looking lovely in that purple dress, so fab colour and styling!. Obviously, I totally agree about any influencer telling us, over 50 ladies, not to wear something: it makes me want to wear it immediately! (I'm thinking on miniskirts and rock band tshirts which I've been told not to wear as not 'age appropriate'.). And you look fab in your pinafore with denim jacket, gorgeous and stylish!. Also fabulous in that hippietastic dress you acquired at Vinted (great job on mending it!), so beautiful print!
ReplyDeletebesos
Thanks, Monica! I can understand a teenager not having the confidence to wear what they want to and to look the same as their contemporaries but a grown woman? Utter madness! Get wearing that rock tee and mini skirt! xxx
DeleteAlysia! Thanks so much for your comment. I'm not sure what happened but it vanished before my eyes! xxx
ReplyDeleteHearts were in mouths last week watching RATW to see if Jo and Kush would make the cut - love them both. Love your stuff, late mum used to have a stall at Portobello and always looked wonderful, sadly not inherited her sense of style but love to see others dress fabulously
ReplyDeleteHello, Mrs! Aren't they adorable? Like you, I was too stressed to enjoy last week's episode worrying that they'd never get that bus!!
DeleteYour Mum sounded very cool! xxx
If anyone tells me what not to wear you can virtually guarantee that I will be wearing it on repeat until I decide to move on. I loved The Capture, I binged watched it over two nights.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! As soon as anyone says no, I say yes!
DeleteWasn't The Capture fantastic? I hared having to wait a week between episodes! xxx
Your teacakes look suspiciously like what are sold here as English Muffins (as in the Egg McMuffin at McDs). Jam, avocado, eggs, hollandaise, cheese, mini pizzas - everything works on them, but slathered in butter is up there.
ReplyDeleteLovely dresses, and remember the meme from years ago, called "What To Wear Over 50" and the captions were all "Whatever the fuck she wants"? I think Patti of Not Dead Yet was in it? Do we really have to go through that again?
I've not been in a McDonalds for about 35 years but back in the 1980s they used to sell toasted teacakes (with butter) as part of their breakfast menu which I'd usually have at their branch in Birmingham on my way to meetings in London.
DeleteI remember all that nonsense back in the early 2010s. I suspect it's all ragebait to try and gain more views and sell sh*t to people! xxx
Love that new dress on you, Vix! X
ReplyDelete