The Pout Gets New Specs!

Hello, lovely readers. 

Well, it is said that the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry, and that is certainly the case with this mouse’s plans.

 I planned to give you my take on burgundy 2024.  

Join an instagram skirt challenge. 

I did plan loosely to start creating YouTube content in juxtaposition to this recently re-launched blog. 

However, Covid had other ideas it turns out that the ball I attended last week in all my finery was a bit of a super spreader and for the first time ever the photographer and I came down with Covid a day or so later after the event.  That’ll teach us!!

I won’t bore you with all of the boring stuff about how I felt because I would think practically everyone reading this has been there and got the Covid t shirt, so I’m late to the party and could tell you nothing new as an entry-level rookie so let’s move on.

I haven’t been out. I haven’t worn clothes. I haven’t done anything in the last week that could justify a current post. However, I am excited to share something with you. My new specs!

And here they are!

My old specs were many years old, scuffed and scratched, wonky and suffering from plastic fatigue (I think that’s a thing). A lens was close to popping out.  They had recently become such a mess that when I ordered new ones a few days before a gala event my sweet optician declared “no way are you going to the ball in those old glasses” and made sure that Cinderella’s new specs were ready in time, as she felt embarrassed that my bashed-around glasses might be seen anywhere near a ball gown!

The @cartier specs arrived the day before the event so yes, I did go to the ball and in style. 

Thank you Suzanne and the helpful team at @trouteaud_opticians, you saved the day!

#cartierspectacles #cartiereyewear #cartierframes #trouteaudopticians #retirementdressing #stylisheyewear

I believe I’m a person whose face needs specs.  Especially to hide badly applied eye make up - I’m so out of the make up habit these days!

One of these frames will be my reactive glasses !

I kissed quite a few frogs in the optician’s shop before finding The Ones.  

I knew my newbies were The Ones as soon as I slipped them on; they felt comfortable and secure, I felt, err classy,  and I think they flatter my face. 

 I didn’t pay particular attention to the logo on the side, until I got to the till - ouch!  But you get what you pay for eh. I think they are definitely worth the price tag because they do feel solid and they do feel like they will last many years.   My optician tells me they’re made in France and therefore they should be substantially built. 

My oldies lasted seven years it works out, but they were showing huge signs of wear and tear and over time the frame had gone wonky and one side was half way down my face. It’s funny how you don’t notice these things until you’re in opticians shop staring at the wonky glasses and realizing you’ve been wearing them for maybe a few years looking like an all-day drunk, which I can assure you I am not !

I just had to photograph the whole suite of packaging that came with these glasses.   I thought the packaging matches the solid feel of the specs. 

 

Yes, I had to look up the logo because I’ve never had anything Cartier before!  I’m not a logo person. I’m not a designer person, but I did feel that I was buying something solid, some that will last, just from the feel of the specs and the packing it comes in.

If you are looking for a new pair of glasses, then I really do recommend this make, and this style. 

When I’m Covid-free I intend to go back to the optician to buy a second (cheaper!) pair with reactive lenses to wear comfortably outdoors, on the beach etc.  I’ll let you know how that goes 

Do you have prescription glasses,? 

How do you get on with reactive prescription glasses if you have those? 

Do you have glasses that last years,? 

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

And before I leave you, I’m going to kindly ask that you subscribe to my blog. I’m trying to build up this blog again, resurrecting it after a hiatus of some time.   I believe blogs have a place, a place of peace and escape.  I think increasing subscribers does something to algorithms but I’m not sure what!  I may find out!!

 But increased subscriptions us also good for me to see that people are following me and new people are finding me, and hopefully encourages me to go on providing you with a cosy space where I’m not trying to encourage you to buy.  So if you like my content just the way it is , and if you want to hear more, please subscribe .  

I have plans to add more diverse things on this blog, make shorter quickie posts etc.  

Heck, I may even build up a YouTube channel, once this Covid shifts!

So it wouldn’t hurt to subscribe to my blog.  It doesn’t cost you anything, it’s as easy as a click of a button and heaven knows you may enjoy getting notifications of things to come.

Look forward to seeing you soon!

A la perchoine,

Mary x. 

Black Tie Treasures in your Wardrobe

 Well there aren’t many days in my OAP life when I scrub up.  But after years of sweeping the retirement kitchen floor gud, last weekend this Cinderella DID go to the ball!

Hello, I’m Mary and I’m The Pouting Pensioner. 

What I wore to the ball

I could never part with this august silk evening dress, bought for a millennium ball LAST century!  

It’s a now-vintage silk and sequined devour velvet beaut with a handy matching shawl, so useful now to hide my dowagers hump and bingo wings. 

And it’s a bias-cut “slip over the head and go party” sorta dress, extremely comfortable, and forgiving too as it skims the old lady lumps and bumps. 

What’s more, it can be stuffed in a wardrobe for decades (which it was!) and not crease, then when it comes out to play all it needs is a bit of airing outside on a crisp day to freshen it up, but tbh you could just grab and go with this baby, it needs zero care. 

So let’s just put this 25 year old dress under the microscope.

Fabric - Silk and velvet ✅

Style - Slip dress  ✅

Length - Maxi ✅

Colours - Deep red (almost burgundy) and black ✅

I don’t think anything in this dress’s dna says off-trend, not that that matters to a 74 year old!

So I would reiterate, think how things will hold up in decades to come when spending hard earned money on investment pieces.

Don’t chose uber on trend, go classic.

And here endeth the lesson!

Back to the outfit.

I bought the little red and black velvet pouch bag around the same time as I bought the dress, so it was always  a go to combo choice. 

Also 

But what a palaver leading up to this big event. 

Nails, done ✅. 

Up do, done ✅ . 

But only after I’d trialed it at home weeks before!

Also weeks before I tried on several long evening dresses I’d saved from ending up at the charity shop, but decided on this easy wear and partyish dark red and black ensemble. 

It was a fun exercise playing around with different ways to drape the shawl. 

And so it came to pass that after weeks of dress try ons, hair plays, planning, booking … and I don’t want to go into the day I tried on formal heels from my BITD archive, 

… but this Cinderella did eventually get to go to the ball!

Please pop over to my Instagram account tomorrow to read the saga of TP’s black tie DJ.

Details of his nifty suit can be found here:

https://www.marksandspencer.com/slim-fit-tuxedo-jacket/p/clp60676325

So retired ladies, have you saved evening dresses that you don’t wear from decade to decade just because one day you MIGHT be whisked away from your floor sweeping? 

Or save simply because the dress so bloomin gorgeous?!

And have you archived evening shoes too, shoes that you can barely totter in, for the same reasons?

I’d love to hear. 

🥰

A la perchoone,

Mary 😘. 

(Please forgive any shoe detritus you spot on my hotel room floor, I was so excited I just didn’t care!)

And coming up -

I shop my wardrobe for the latest trending colour

I test drive a new skirt 7 ways

Incorporating trends in your 70s

Hi there,

I’m Mary, I’m 74, and I’m struggling.

I’m struggling to wear anything that isn’t totally comfortable, relaxed, easy wear. 

And it’s that time of the year when I have no clue what I should be wearing for the weather and for my new rather laid-back (or shall we say lazy?) lifestyle.

So I’m taking the tried and tested route by looking back on what I’ve worn these last few years.

And this is what I wore in October, just not THIS October. 

Cashmilon Jumper, boots, bought Marks 2018; New Look suede skirt ca. 2005

I can’t believe I was so “posh”!

Yes a couple of years ago I was wearing this. And what is surprising me, apart from me looking posh is that it seems to incorporate a few of the current trends, buy (jumper and boots) and suede (skirt). Although I’m not particularly interested in trends these days tbh.

What also surprises me looking back at is my attitude to getting dressed. I did it!  And I seemed to love what I was wearing, and some of what I’m wearing doesn’t look that comfortable to Mary v. 2024!

Let’s break down this uncomfortableness.

I see I’m putting on a skirt, heeled boots and make up.   These days I rarely wear make, a skirt is even rarer, and as for high heeled boots … Hmmnn, think you know the answer!  But I expect it’s all a matter of habit, and it’s pretty easy to create new habits, or resurrect old habits, surely, even like getting dressed and showing up!

But me today feels I only want to go with habits that fit me Now Me.  I doubt if heeled boots will sit comfortably with Now Me, even though I do love these boots, so that may be one habit too far.

Here’s another outfit of yore.

Woolovers Cashmere jumper, ca. 2012; Marks skirt maybe 2019

This is still following the burgundy trend (like I’m interested in trends!), but yet again the outfit seems to require a certain smarter attitude from the wearer than when where I am currently.

TBH, where would I be going wearing this outfit these days?!

Silk scarf, charity find: bag, Accessorize, both 2018.

An easy way to introduce a new trend and colour into my wardrobe would be to follow the route in the above pic.  Add a scarf or a handbag in the burgundy trending color and instantly I’m  “on trend “.

So here I am at crossroads.  What do I bring into my autumn wardrobe from my archive?  

Well I think I will dig out the burgundy jumper. 

The burgundy Crossbody.

The scarf. 

That’s easy enough.

And how is this for totes iconoclastic? 

I’m digging out the waterfall cardigan.

Yes, you heard me, a waterfall!  I know this may be breaking trending rules by contemplating wearing this retro style. Waterfall, for heavens sake, how very early century! 

But this cardigan is very easy to wear, and it’s a slip on and feel good sort of cardi, and a wonderful gift age gives you is that we don’t bother if something is soooo 2010? 

Because when you get to this age, you don’t really care about trends, you don’t really care about what’s going on in the outside world clothes-wise or most mundane things-wise; what you do care about when dressing is EASE, perhaps a tad about coordination of colors and textures and pieces, maybe balance too,  but overall in your 70s what you are  dressing for is the life you lead NOW. 

My life these days is mostly at home. 

I spend time with family. 

I do little home improvements, jobs at home which I really enjoy.  Invariably wearing scruffies.

I do a fair amount of hobbying, quizzing, activities, all uber-casual. 

I work in the garden, I do housework and cooking, 

definitely  in scruffies.

And that’s my now-life.

Occasionally, I go out for coffee with friends, I go out for a bite to eat with hubs, family or friends.

None of these things inspires me to wear a posh skirt, and high heeled boots.  I like easy dressing. 

What I AM going to attempt is to incorporate these few pieces that I’ve identified above to put together some wearable easy outfits and see how they go with the life I lead now.

I’ll pop back in a few days and let you know by way of some up-to-date photos.

Thanks for taking the time to pop in and read my ramblings. I hope you pop back again soon.

Meantime, if you too are of a certain age and are finding your lifestyle has changed and your wardrobe is struggling to catch up, then please let me know in the comments section below. 

A la perchoine,

Mary. 

 

#retirementdressing

#burgundy

#suede

@woolovers

@newlook

@marksandspencer

@accessorize