The Autumn Dress That Never Was

Oh how I love summer!

The days are warm, still and sunny.  I could not ask for more.

Early morning coffee outside with the birdies.

A sundowner on the patio to round off the day.

I am a very happy bunny.

Very happy actually, as I was taken out on Friday night. 

A proper date night, none of this B&Q, Waitrose and knicker buying malarky.

Now, in my previous post I touched on how I needed blogging to stretch myself when dressing in retirement and gave you a perfect example with my East black linen 2-piece which I (finally) realised I could split after 15 years!

Examples of my closed-box thinking where clothes are concerned must be like buses, because, hey, here comes another.

This dress.  I'd bought it in 2003 in September.  So for that simple reason I associated it with autumn, and winter or spring at a stretch, and wore it accordingly.  Or maybe it was because of the earthy colours , who knows.  I didn't wear it for some years, it was a slow burner.  When I eventually did it was in autumn or spring, always with brown, though when I look closely at the pattern, there isn't actually any brown there.  I knew it was a summer dress because of its weight and style yet I wore my summer dress in every other season but summer.



The Photographer wanted me to wear a flowery dress.  I tried on a brightly flowered jersey number from Madeleine here but if felt just too warm on such a gorgeous day.

I slipped on this little wisp of lined silk and it felt just right for a summer's evening.

Then I pushed the envelope further!  What about accessorising with a sludgy pink, break away from the browns?

I slipped on my pink Marks wedge sandals, my recently rediscovered pink Tula bag and slipped OTS the silky knit La Redoute cardi.  Pink worked. Matchy matchy, but I happen to like that!

And after 14 years I discovered that this dress is perfect for summer, it just needed to start seeing other accessory colours.

(You can certainly now see how I need to keep pushing myself via this blog, don't you? Dressing really is Rocket Science to this dear old Pout!)

After having gone crazy with my iconoclastic train of thought, I reined myself in a bit with jewellery.

I thought simple gold would work and as it was a special occasion I pulled out all the stops.

I added gold ormer earrings and a larger ormer to a chain along with a gold Swiss vreneli, a long-service award. A bracelet filled chukka with charms.  (There's a story there but that's saved for another time - this was supposed to be a quick post and look where I've got already ... still at dressing stage and I'm nowhere near finished!).  Diamond rings, oh it went on, I really pushed out all the stops for this date!

Then, dressed, finally, we walked along to the coast and to our favourite restaurant, La Reunion.  We enjoyed aperos on the balcony, overlooking the bay.

I wanted to make an effort for the old fella as we were out to celebrate a special occasion relating to his residential status.  He was one happy bunny too.

And because it was a special occasion, I noted that he'd also pushed the boat out with the jewellery.  He was wearing his Skagen watch.   He explained that this is his dress watch, which comes out of the drawer for special occasions.  How stylish is that?!

Me wearing my Skagen watch, doing a Howard and Hilda, I'm afraid.

Hendrick's G&T just like it's supposed to be served, apparently, with thin slivers of cucumber.

Watching swimmers cool down as I too cooled down, sipping elegantly through my straw.

Watching beachgoers barbequeing their tea on the beach.

And then it was our turn to tuck in! 

I'll just slip in tiny pics of my pea fritter with pea shoots and my cod with lentils, spinach and samphire, and hope that the dieters won't even glance at these insey winsey food shots.

Later, the walk home on a very hot and balmy evening, first back along the coast.

Then a tiptoe through the cricket field, a short cut.

A house that thinks it's castle.  And a photographer who thinks he's a spectre.

And yes, strolling blissfully, having changed my heeled wedges for something far more comfortable for the walk home on a hot summer's evening.  My faithful Clarks metallic toed flatties. (Yes, I was wearing pretty much all the gold I have, right down to my toe tips!)

You see, I went prepared.  I've done that hot summer's evening walk home before and had had the blisters to prove it!

So, I'm sitting here in the welcome coolness of this room, wondering if I am the only person on this planet who restricts herself to a specific season to wear an item of clothing, based on nothing more than the time of year she bought it or its colours.

Or have any of you fine ladies discovered after a long period of time that you were wearing something designed or appropriate for a totally different season?

A la perchoine.

My Little Pinkie

So, here's the thing, sweet peeps.

I'm going to a wedding in a few days.

What to wear?!!!!!!!!!

My "wedding dress" springs to mind.

I bought this silk Monsoon dress for a wedding in 2003.  I know this as I bought it for a friend's wedding and my nailist (is that the right word?) told me this week that she'd seen me at the wedding and she'd got married that year too.  OK, a long story but it validates the provenance.

As Tight Pout realised she'd spent quite a bit on the dress, shoes and various paraphernalia  (more on that later), she decreed it her "go-to" for future weddings.  And so it has been since, which has been no hardship as it is a lovely dress. 

Are you still recycling your posh frocks, 15 years on?

The last outing was above in Boston, Mass., 2009.  I know this as the post-wedding dry cleaning slip was still pinned to the dress when I got it out for this try-on!  

More provenance.

And before we move on, I should stress that these pics are all try-ons with no attempt at styling whatsoever!

So back in 2009, I wore pinkie with this Artigiano ivory silk jacket.

Since it started its journey in 2003, it has also been worn with the aforementioned paraphernalia.  On the left a woollen shawl with crystal beads (not really visible but just trust me), On the right a silk shawl with contrast embroidered edges; I also have a little bag in the same embroidered fabric as this shawl.  And always the pink heels.

So I see these as fairly formal noughties wedding outfits.

If the dress is to be worn in the teensies, I think it should be styled more casually.

The trend seems to be to bring posh frocks down a notch with a cardi.  

Do you pair cardi with posh?

 I test-drove the cardi idea,  trying on what I already have that might go.

A mid-pink tie cardi from La Redoute.

This darker pink cardi from East was tried just for the sake of it, though I thought the deep colour and the frillage would make it a non-starter.  Weirdly, it was The Photographer's favourite combo, and even weirdlier (sic), it was mine too.  Now, there's a surprise, eh!

I had thought that as well as the downgrading with a cardi, my teensies remodelling of this wedding outfit should also include contrasting accessories.   Yes, back in the noughties I did go for safety with top to toe pink, probably as the pinks and mauves are difficult accessorise. 

My teensies head feels that this hot colour cacophony needs to be toned down.

But with what?  Silver? Ivory? Grey, even?
Or has this dress quite simply had its day?

So I need your help.  Pretty please.  Can you tell me which outfits, if any, work.  How they can be improved.  How they can be teensied.  How could you see this dress styled for 2017?
Or should I bin it?

I'd be really happy if you could let me know.  And the clock is ticking.  The wedding is on Friday.  What, this Friday?! (You have to have been a fan of BBC's 2012 to appreciate that!)

A la perchoine.



Winter-White Jeans On

Good day to you, fine people of Blogland.  I hope all is going well you.

Me?  I'm marvelling at this lovely autumn.

And yes, I'm marvelling in my white jeans.  In October.  Why aren't they already in winter storage?

When I wrote this piece white-jeans-on-at-beaucette-marina back in September, I'd pretty much mentally closed the lid on white jeans for 2016.  In the archive box with you, see you in 2017.

For I have a little foible about them this time of the year.  The white colour doesn't stand up well to our colder sunlight.  Well, that's my view, for what it's worth.

But the weather has been so kind that I thought I'd break another of my no-no ideas.  Beat my foible.

Oh, I am becoming so brave, so iconclastic!  Has writing this blog brought me out of my shell?  Brought me out of my little world of insecurities and rules on what should be worn, where and when?

It's sunny.  Why not wear white jeans?  White won't look sad on a day lit with warm sunlight.  There is, after all, a colour called Winter White.  Ipso facto, it must be an OK colour for our winters.  And if I tell myself I'm wearing Winter White, maybe I'll feel OK about wearing these in October, right?

Seems like the only tweaks required to stretch jeans into autumn are

1) a beautiful sunny day, 2) boots and c) something woolly, and d) a scarf!

So, let's look at those tweaks ad seriatim.

1) in place, 2) Clarks, c) Woolovers grey cashmere/merino twinset d) La Redoute.

What do you think?  Do I look cold and uncared for, like I imagined I would?



Or do I look bright and cheerful in grey and (winter) white and all booted up?

Am I the only lady in the northern hemisphere who has told herself that white jeans don't look right at this time of year?  I probably am but I'd like to find out.

So my dear readers, are your days getting chilly and yet you are still wearing white jeans? 

If you have a blog, I'd love it if you could show me how you wear them this time of year.

Or, if like me you are wary about white jeans in the colder months, do you fancy giving them a try?  And if you have a blog, do you fancy putting photo to ether and joining me in this little habit-breaking challenge?  I'd be over the moon if you do!

A la perchoine.

Rockie III, And Other Stuff

Last night I made yet another trip to my local, the Rockie.  I met up with a girlfriend who I have know since first year Infants!

Although the day had been beautiful, it clouded up come teatime, so I went for some layers.  As it happens, the jacket didn't need to come off!

La Redoute striped linen jacket with Alexon stone jersey top and M&S stone linen trousers.

Just wanted to give you a close up of my necklace here.  It's made from belt loops and rivets.  It weighs a ton.  The colours are silver and bronze and blend in with so many outfits.  I've had it for about 20 years and it continues to receive compliments each time I wear it because its so unusual, a real eye-catcher.  I am so pleased I found it. 

When I wear such a statement necklace like this, it's enough on its own so I don't wear earrings.  Looking at the pic today, maybe that bracelet (just visible) was one piece too much.

And here's a close-up of the M&S nude wedges.  I featured them here.  They have Insolia lining so are very comfy.  They give some height but as they strap the food nicely in, I walk with confidence.  Which is nice.

Yippeeee!  Got lucky again with another window seat.  And another glass of wine!

Chicken and Leek pie.  You can see it was an embarrassingly huge plateful; needless to say, a huge amount was left on that plate.

My dining companion had a monster of a pork chop, so I got her to hold it up for you (vegetarians, please scroll quickly down).  My friend is very petite but left a clean plate, bar the chop bone!  Throughout the meal she kept commenting on how good it was.  So that one definitely comes with the highest of recommendations, should any local readers be popping in to the Rockie sometime soon.

My Rockie trips should now be done and dusted.  For a short while at least. because the temperature is warming up by the day and it just so happens that there's a lot of outdoor seating there.  A glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, a sun setting over a azure and jade sea ... I'll probably be returning very soon!


We were ready a tad too early for golf this morning, so I took a stroll outside.

And found my first rose of summer!  Isn't she pretty.  Fab perfume too.

I don't know what type she is  - if you're into roses, I'd love to know what she is.

More clumps of purple gladioli.  Such a giving plant.

Then after a stroll around Pout Estate we move on to the golf course.  Thought it would be nice to show you how I "waste away" my time twice a week!

The sixth hole involves a drive across a protected field of purple wild orchids.  Apologies, they don't show up well in this shot (these golf shots are taken with my iPhone). 

If you don't make the drive over the field, you lose the ball as it's off-bounds for tramping on. 

I sacrificed yet another ball there this morning :-(.

Here are my three golf mates.  No pics of me: 8 a.m., hair scraped back under sun visor, no make up, face puce from heat and exertion = not publish-able!

My game was good (apart from the 6th!) and it was so pleasant out there this morning  Wind just a light puff of 1-2, temperature already creeping up to 16c ... my gilet and sweater were off and I was down to short-sleeves by the second hole.  Aaahhh, summer, how I've missed you!

A la perchoine.