I bought a top last year in the Marks & Spencer sale in Pudsey, Yorkshire for £12 (my Mother thought I had lost my mind). Not the price, not the colour, but the style - "slightly Milkmaid". Anyhow, I like it and have worn it quite a bit. So I thought, yesterday after a very smart brunch I was invited to at Sotheby's I would venture back into M&S Marble Arch to have another look in their sale. In I went with a very patient friend - nothing I wanted! My friend said, "Do you really need a new top?" which got me thinking, do I really need a new top? So, when I got home I looked in my section of tops and she was right! I have lots of tops and lots I haven't worn for ages, which although not this season's colour or pattern, could be next years (worn with the right accessories and a smile). And will certainly do for the next eight weeks (1st September is Autumn in this house) and pre-fall and winter to be worn. I had committed the cardinal sin of forgetting to look at what I had. I got stuck in a look and forgot to deviate. Do you do that?
Footwear seems to be my problem. I love to buy high shoes at the moment. They look great and can be worn for at least three hours, but all day - NO! And so my outfits struggle. Now Dior have released their couture trainers (see previous posts for review). I have a friend who intends to buy the whole collection. I have not tried them on as yet - you know my feelings on Trainers and these are £740 worth. Really?! I would hope that at least they're comfortable. After my meetings today I'm hot-footing it to Harrods to try them on. I have to psych myself up to do that - will let you know later...
---
Well - I did try them on and yes, they are definitely couture trainers all right! Hand-sequined and the packaging - they come in huge boxes that work like drawers and the one I maybe like comes on a carpet of grass and flowers. Really a piece of artwork.
Credit Note dealt with! Another pair of siver shoes purchased, so thats a clean slate there then. My pink skirt is a huge hit but I'm not going to buy anything now until after my holidays. That's one whole month with no purchases. Can I do it, I hear you ask? I see no reason why not. I've looked in my dressing room and for all upcoming events I'm covered (that's becasue I looked).
So just remember - look before you buy!
Happy Shopping!
Monday, 30 June 2014
Monday, 16 June 2014
How Do You Do?
While I'm out and about, I meet lots of people from all walks of life. Famous, infamous, socially-well connected, politically well-connected and most are very polite. I was at a lunch a while ago and a very famous couple (who are always in the press) were also guests. During the reception said wife (Mrs X) approached me and held out her hand and said, "Hello, I'm Mrs X". Obviously I knew who she was, and I replied, "Hello I'm Mrs P, how do you do?" And the conversation started there. The reason for this example is that Mrs X had the good manners to assume that although she was famous, I would not necessarily know who she was.
Now, this week, while at a fashion reception, the daughter-in-law of the eponymous fashion house for which the party was being held approached me. I should point out that I had never met this woman before, but I've seen her in the society fashion pages. She asked if I was having a good time, to which I replied "Yes". Then I said, "Hello, my name is Mrs P, how do you do?" To which she replied, "Hello..."
So we stood there for what seemed like an age, and I then had to say, "Who are you, what's your name?" The look on her face was that of total amazement - how did I not know who she was? Shock Horror! Finally, she told me just her first name. Well, I say - what ill manners! The arrogance of assumption! Who did she think she was?! As a PR exercise, this failed to impress me. I couldn't see a polite way out of this unless she had actually momentarily forgotten who she was!
What do you think? Answers on a postcard, please...
Back to my Shoe Credit Note. OK - half has been spent on my silver shoes which I was allowed to purchase at early-preview and, you'll be pleased to know, I'm keeping. Weather permitting (the temperature has dropped so much I've put the heating on) I hope to wear them this evening.
My not drinking copious amounts is going very well, thank you. My skin is looking better and my hips are no longer in constant battle with my skirts, which can only be a good thing. The party I went to on Saturday night, I drank sparkling water from a wine glass during the reception - a tumbler is usually too cold to hold with water in it - and one glass of red wine during dinner. This enabled me to go to Zumba at 9:30 on Sunday morning.
One Last Thing. Next time you have to give a birthday gift, let's not be complacent and get chocolates, flowers, perfume etc. Not that there's anything wrong with those, but... Lets' all think outside of the box. Let's give of ourselves. Let's give something that money can't buy. We all have different interpretrations of this, so I'm not telling you what to do but, let's think a bit more about it. How do you do, and do what you do for me?
Happy Shopping.
Now, this week, while at a fashion reception, the daughter-in-law of the eponymous fashion house for which the party was being held approached me. I should point out that I had never met this woman before, but I've seen her in the society fashion pages. She asked if I was having a good time, to which I replied "Yes". Then I said, "Hello, my name is Mrs P, how do you do?" To which she replied, "Hello..."
So we stood there for what seemed like an age, and I then had to say, "Who are you, what's your name?" The look on her face was that of total amazement - how did I not know who she was? Shock Horror! Finally, she told me just her first name. Well, I say - what ill manners! The arrogance of assumption! Who did she think she was?! As a PR exercise, this failed to impress me. I couldn't see a polite way out of this unless she had actually momentarily forgotten who she was!
What do you think? Answers on a postcard, please...
Back to my Shoe Credit Note. OK - half has been spent on my silver shoes which I was allowed to purchase at early-preview and, you'll be pleased to know, I'm keeping. Weather permitting (the temperature has dropped so much I've put the heating on) I hope to wear them this evening.
My not drinking copious amounts is going very well, thank you. My skin is looking better and my hips are no longer in constant battle with my skirts, which can only be a good thing. The party I went to on Saturday night, I drank sparkling water from a wine glass during the reception - a tumbler is usually too cold to hold with water in it - and one glass of red wine during dinner. This enabled me to go to Zumba at 9:30 on Sunday morning.
One Last Thing. Next time you have to give a birthday gift, let's not be complacent and get chocolates, flowers, perfume etc. Not that there's anything wrong with those, but... Lets' all think outside of the box. Let's give of ourselves. Let's give something that money can't buy. We all have different interpretrations of this, so I'm not telling you what to do but, let's think a bit more about it. How do you do, and do what you do for me?
Happy Shopping.
Monday, 9 June 2014
Whine "I've got nothing to wear" not that one, Wine, when too much is drunk!!!
Let's talk about wine, vodka, champagne...
Any or all of the above. "Alcohol" and Fashion! Not a good mix.
Now before I start this blog I want to say that I have been partial to a glass (as mentioned in previous blogs) but to my recollection I am an amusing drunk and (I like to say merry, not drunk, a very large difference).
When I attended a dinner party recently (well I went to this one for dessert as I had two in one night and can only be at one at a time so for one soup and main and the other dessert and coffee). I encountered a woman from my social circle who was drunk. Yes drunk and not a pretty drunk. Her eyes were all over the place and her speech although not slurred was bitter, as in what came out of her mouth. Said woman is actually known for her drinking but this is the first time that I have encountered it first hand and I would like to say it shocked me. I thought, I hope I don't look like that and actually may not drink again in such quantities at a Dinner (water please).
Like Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection this is like a mirror but the opposite for me is true. Not only did she look old and stupid but the alcohol seemed to be the devil on her fashion shoulder. Clearly a massive lesson here - moderate one's alcohol intake to retain one's dignity.
On a fashion note, now I know why I have a cobbler at the end of my mews. The very very thin heels that I've been wearing of late seem to lose their tips every wear. Did I see a photo of his holiday villa next to his work table.... all those heels add up.
And what's with the weather hot, rainy, cold make up your mind "I can't get dressed anymore".
Now the new collections are in I'm looking for a red top to go with my pink skirt. I feel red is the color (I know you know this but I am just confirming it).
Enjoy a drink but only in moderation please.
Happy shopping.
Any or all of the above. "Alcohol" and Fashion! Not a good mix.
Now before I start this blog I want to say that I have been partial to a glass (as mentioned in previous blogs) but to my recollection I am an amusing drunk and (I like to say merry, not drunk, a very large difference).
When I attended a dinner party recently (well I went to this one for dessert as I had two in one night and can only be at one at a time so for one soup and main and the other dessert and coffee). I encountered a woman from my social circle who was drunk. Yes drunk and not a pretty drunk. Her eyes were all over the place and her speech although not slurred was bitter, as in what came out of her mouth. Said woman is actually known for her drinking but this is the first time that I have encountered it first hand and I would like to say it shocked me. I thought, I hope I don't look like that and actually may not drink again in such quantities at a Dinner (water please).
Like Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection this is like a mirror but the opposite for me is true. Not only did she look old and stupid but the alcohol seemed to be the devil on her fashion shoulder. Clearly a massive lesson here - moderate one's alcohol intake to retain one's dignity.
On a fashion note, now I know why I have a cobbler at the end of my mews. The very very thin heels that I've been wearing of late seem to lose their tips every wear. Did I see a photo of his holiday villa next to his work table.... all those heels add up.
And what's with the weather hot, rainy, cold make up your mind "I can't get dressed anymore".
Now the new collections are in I'm looking for a red top to go with my pink skirt. I feel red is the color (I know you know this but I am just confirming it).
Enjoy a drink but only in moderation please.
Happy shopping.
Monday, 2 June 2014
What Do Clothes Mean?...
...yes, it takes a while, this one!
Is it:
Now, at the fashion Gala, where the women were a lot thinner, it seemed the main level of visibility was on the body. Still a little black, but a very pretty, long-sleeved full-length dress and on one Fashionista, and a long, floral skirt and white shirt combo on another. Also a big recurring theme - the bright, cocoon evening coat. Don't get me wrong - I like it, and have tried it on a couple of times, but the jury is still out, for me in that garment. I think my favourite look of the last couple of weeks was also a long-sleeved, full length flower-print YSL from last year on a very, very fashion-serious woman (this garment is my latest love actually). I liked this look when it first came out, but completely forgot about it. Go find one now!
But back to the title. What did wearing a vintage dress mean? I'm too cool to care? My Fashion Radar is so highly tuned that this look is right now, and wasn't so much when it first came out. Which, judging by the Fashionista at the Gala, it is. So, on the cool factor, are these women at the top of the list? And that's where what we wear (at this level) certainly matters. You have to be very clever (this one is for me...) and thin. I wear clothes because I like them or because I fit into them. And as you know, a big night out with Vodka, Champagne, or Wine definitely limits my choices. Whereas if I'm very good I can wear anything. Which obviously, I prefer.
My passion for all things pink doesn't seem to be waning. I saw in the pre-Fall collections a great winter pink skirt (maybe...)
This could be an entire Blog, but I'm going to say something "off-piste". It appears to me that I am becoming, and am lucky to be surrounded by, women who I can only describe as over-achievers. And this is a Very Good Thing. We are a select band of women who don't play Bridge or go to coffee mornings (not that there's anything wrong with that). We create a world full of culture and light that others may enjoy and possibly learn from. I am so proud of myself and of the friends of mine who have pioneered this level of achievement. For us, less is not more. More is definitely more. And the more the better!
Happy Dressing!
Is it:
- a secret code (worthy of wartime espionage)?
- a vulgar Consumers attempt to buy their way into Society?
- a method of keeping the body warm?
- A method of self-expression?
- All of the above
- or none?
Now, at the fashion Gala, where the women were a lot thinner, it seemed the main level of visibility was on the body. Still a little black, but a very pretty, long-sleeved full-length dress and on one Fashionista, and a long, floral skirt and white shirt combo on another. Also a big recurring theme - the bright, cocoon evening coat. Don't get me wrong - I like it, and have tried it on a couple of times, but the jury is still out, for me in that garment. I think my favourite look of the last couple of weeks was also a long-sleeved, full length flower-print YSL from last year on a very, very fashion-serious woman (this garment is my latest love actually). I liked this look when it first came out, but completely forgot about it. Go find one now!
But back to the title. What did wearing a vintage dress mean? I'm too cool to care? My Fashion Radar is so highly tuned that this look is right now, and wasn't so much when it first came out. Which, judging by the Fashionista at the Gala, it is. So, on the cool factor, are these women at the top of the list? And that's where what we wear (at this level) certainly matters. You have to be very clever (this one is for me...) and thin. I wear clothes because I like them or because I fit into them. And as you know, a big night out with Vodka, Champagne, or Wine definitely limits my choices. Whereas if I'm very good I can wear anything. Which obviously, I prefer.
My passion for all things pink doesn't seem to be waning. I saw in the pre-Fall collections a great winter pink skirt (maybe...)
This could be an entire Blog, but I'm going to say something "off-piste". It appears to me that I am becoming, and am lucky to be surrounded by, women who I can only describe as over-achievers. And this is a Very Good Thing. We are a select band of women who don't play Bridge or go to coffee mornings (not that there's anything wrong with that). We create a world full of culture and light that others may enjoy and possibly learn from. I am so proud of myself and of the friends of mine who have pioneered this level of achievement. For us, less is not more. More is definitely more. And the more the better!
Happy Dressing!
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