My Partner Dresses Me!

Well, what fun I've had this week, my lovelies!

I've befriended two super ladies on Instagram, Matilda and Belinda, who run an account called My Style Journey.    You can to find them by clicking the following link: https://www.instagram.com/my_stylejourney/.

They put out a challenge to have our partners dress us for five days, and to share the results on Insta.   

Well, I managed to convince The Photographer that this was a good idea, and as the week chosen was the week leading up to my 70th burthday, it sounded like a good wheeze to participate.

So last Sunday afternoon found me introducing TP to the system I had going on in my wardrobe.  He was rather surprised I had one.  

Then I scribbled up my activities for the week and left him to come up with outfits suitable for the five days ahead.

The added bonus was that my blogger bestie Annemarie and her hubs were visiting on four of the five days and they were up for the challenge too!

So let's see what TP conjured up!

I had a fear of being dressed in a leather skirt and kinky boots all week.  Men, eh?!

But that happened just once, when we went out for dinner with our visitors.  Annemarie's hubs had dressed her in classy black and leoprint.

TP softened the edginess of my leather skirt with a soft black chunky jumper trimmed with pearls and sequins and I think this was his best look of the challenge.

Other looks were more casual and suited for the day's activities and weather, like a chunky jumper over a lumberjack shirt, grey jeans and knee boots.

We didn't share walking hear or outerwear on Insta - this is how that looked IRL !

He got this one pitched perfectly darn perfectly too.

I found myself picking up our guests from the airport wearing berry coated jeans and a cream cashmere mix v neck over a berry cami.  The stilettoed berry knee boots were switched for safer flat furry black boots for driving though!

We went out for a pub meal with our visitors that evening and he'd laid out an easy switch of clothes for me.  The cosy jumper was swapped out with a pretty print blouse and long berry cardi.

He was remarkably mindful of the weather and my day's activities.

On this day I had a whole myriad of errands including taking an aging and ailing Bertie to the vet, and his chosen outfit of black coated jeans with lumberjack and jumper was just the job.

This one has started its life in Sunday afternoon as black coated jeans, red and blue lumberjack and brown knee boots.  Yeah,  I had not been looking forward to Wednesday.  

But by the time I came out of the shower on the day, he'd seen the error of his choices and rapid switches had been made.  Phew, because it turned out that I really liked Wednesday after all!

And this cold day was filled with domestics like grocery shopping, cleaning ... and stopping for lots of coffee breaks!

For my birthday's day activities he chose a beige suede skirt.  He'd laid out a soft orange twinset so i  gave TP a quick intro to the challenges of legwear.  I explained that my tights collection was limited to black, grey, berry and chocolate.  No orange.  Funny, that!

He got the message and switched to a grey cashmere polo neck and suede boots to go with the wool tights he'd swiftly 

chosen.  I added some jewellery and played around with my two birthday pressie shawls which just coincidentally were complimentary to that day's outfit, my "birthday suit" if you'd like to call it that!!!

So let's recap on how he did.    

We had jeans, lumberjack shirts and cosy jumpers.

Leather and suede skirts and pretty tops.

And lots of boots.

Each day's outfit was without fashion faux pas,  pitched for the activities ... and for me too, as he got my style just right. 

He reacted to the weather, making switches when needed, like adding cosy jumpers to his chosen outfits.

I think he did brilliantly.  Do you too?

And would you dare to leave your partner in charge of dressing you for a week?  Or even for just one day?

Oh go on, try it - it's fun!

It's an opportunity to discover what your partner prefers you dressed in. 

For TP, it seems that skirts must be leather, boots must be knee, and jeans must definitely be tight!

You find yourself discussing his choices, the whys and the why nots of an outfit.

And the thing I enjoyed most was how easy dressing was with one's own personal stylist - in fact I'm thinking of giving him the job permanently!

Get showered and return to bedroom to an outfit laid on the bed for me - there's a bit of the Downton Abbey about that,  a bit lady's maid, a bit Lady Pout.

And with no choices to make, no outfit hassle, that is the big bonus to having my partner dress me!

A la perchoine,

Mary x.

Oh and I'll be posting on my fun few days with Annemarie of muttonstyle HERE very soon; meantime, checkout her hubs' outfits!

Dressing By Numbers - The Longer Cardigan

Cuppa rating🍸

Well, it's autumn innit? (Does saying innit instantly wipe 60 years off my clock?)

Last week I did the season swap.  Have you done yours yet? 

After it's done, it feels like a line has been drawn under one season, and I'm fresh and ready for the coming season, in this case autumn/winter.  Or as the fashionistas call it, AW19.  It took me a whole AW to work out the acronym when I entered blogland and it was only when SS came skipping along that I worked it out, duh.

So, season switch done.  Feeling pretty smug with myself.  Wardrobe contents sectionalised by colour.  Shoes grouped by occasion.  Oversized jeans put in the charity basket. 

Then I look at the attire around me and it's like looking at someone else's wardrobe.  It's all new to me.  But its mine, I know this for I have yanked every piece from my she-cave under the bed.  Yet my mind is a blank and the prospect of wearing this lot for the next six months is slightly daunting.  How DID I wear all this stuff just a few months ago? 

Now tell me, does that happen to you?  Or is it just me, AGAIN?

Well, this AW I hit on a cunning plan.  We're talking tails and weazels in its cunningocity.  And if you're not a fan of Black Adder then at this point you will perhaps think I'm away with the fairies.   But trust me, I'm not because I applied logic to my dilemma and came up with my cunning plan.  Pinterest!

Yes, I spent a cosy few minutes, hours, days there, for that is what happens on entering that site eh, time gets sucked into a vortexy black holey thing (or is that just me again?)

I saved everyday pensioner-style outfits that caught my eye.  

I bunged them into a spanking new folder.  

I worked out which pieces could be used from my new-to-me wardrobe to create the looks I liked.  

I then copied the looks on to blog drafts, split into types of outfits, e.g. like today's, the longer cardi.  

And in so doing I made dressing easy.   Just like painting by numbers, but in outfit form.  Holy fashionista, it's like being dressed by my personal stylist each day!

I wake up.  I find an outfit I fancy that's in keeping with the day's weather and events (oh I should be so lucky, at most it'll be a visit to Waitrose. IF I'm lucky!).)  I go about my day to day, calm and relaxed.

Honestly, I'm finding this cunning plan makes life soooo much  easier, stress-free and fun.

But what always apalls surprises me is that I need guidance to put together a fresh and stylish everyday outfit.  But I do, so I simply accept it and let my double-worry gene  move on to bigger global issues than which top to wear with which jeans.  

Holy melting glaciers, Poutgirl, there's a planet  to save!

Oh gawd, I'm rambling tooo much (again) so let's call this verbage done with for today and move on eh.

Here are the everyday outfits I've saved in this longer cardi section, together with some of my work to date.

Pending.

Done, with a little fasionista's license.

Pending.

Done.

Done.  

My approach has been "in the spirit of",  rather than rigid steals, obvs.  The accent is on slow fashion, using what resources my wardrobe offers.  I'm sure this approach stops unnecessary spending and saves world resources, in some small way.

Holy eco-friend, Poutgirl, you've just made a stridette towards saving our planet!

And talking of planets, I really am apalled surprised that after nearly 70 years on this planet I still need help with this stuff.  

But I do. And it is what it is.  Life's too short to beat myself up about it eh?  

The salient point here is that I've accepted I need help.  I've cried out to Pinterest.  Pinterest has answered and made day to day dressing easy.  Dressing by numbers.  I've made it easy on myself.

Go on, make it easy on yourself too.

Do you need help with everyday style ideas?

Do you seek help?  From Pinterest?  Instagram?  Blogs?  

Maybe all of the aforementioned?

A la perchoine,

Mary x.

Mixing Pattern and Being Nora Review

Now I'm not good at mixing patterns.  There's a lot of mixing happening on the street, some are quite bold, some subtle.  Either way, they get it to work. 

I feel a bit uncomfortable mixing it up.  I think it's because in doing so I have to forget a fundamental rule that's prevailed through most of my life.  One pattern only in an outfit.   I know where I stand with rules.  Give me free-format and I waiver.  So pattern mixing just hasn't been my bag.

Last night I stopped the dithering and, dressing to meet with friends at home, I found myself boldly going where no Pout has not gone before.  I came up with this ...

An old Next grey patterned stretchy jersey jacket, an even older embellished grey patterned top, grey/taupe glass beads.  

I kept to the same tones. It seemed a bit cluttered but I think I just about pulled it off!?

Do you have any tips to share?   What are you like at pattern mixing?  A big no-no or do you love throwing yourself into some form of controlled pattern mayhem?

I've been "thinking Nora", reference the post here, for the last week.  Let's see where I've been.

Well, I've mixed patterns, as evidenced above.

I've worn a smart-end jacket with jeans

And a more casual jacket with linen cut-offs.

I've tried a "posh" blouse with a more casual look of cardi and jeans.

I've made more effort to mix the jewellery round a bit (I tend to stick to the same pieces for weeks!).

And, all importantly, I've worn heels with jeans and cut-offs!

These are all things I noticed Nora did and I didn't.  Until now!

I have felt that I've dressed a little more stylishly than usual.  I've been pleased with all the looks.  I've felt very comfortable with the outfits chosen.  And the process has been easier because I sort of channelled Nora without thinking too much about it.  And these outfits were the result. 

So, the idea of playing the "Being ..." is a keeper in Pout World! 

Now who am I going to have a bash at Being ... next?

A la perchoine.



OOTDs - 7 Scarves for 7 Outfits

 For fear of being too formulaic (can that be possible after just a few short weeks in Blog Land?),  I decided I wouldn't set myself a dressing challenge this week.  I started the week with no restrictions and no out-of-comfort-zone stuff. I'd have a break.

Then I wore a skirt and got to thinking how I do enjoy the combo of skirt and opaques but that there aren't that many weeks left to wear them, so skirts sneaked in as a theme, together with an unplanned but even more dominant theme than skirts ...  scarves - there are 7 of them!

So here, apologetically and formulaically, I give you the week's scarves, with outfits being a mere afterthought, it would seem!

Ready for an Early-Bird at Le Petit Bistro

Woolovers slinky cashmere/merino polo neck in charcoal, Dorothy Perkins jersey charcoal/black stripe skirt, and Clarks "granny" laced heels.  Grey-mix glass beaded necklace and earrings (gifts) from N J Paints, Jewellers.  Hand-painted scarf, as footnote.

Dorothy Perkins 3/4 camel coat, Next animal print scarf, Dorothy Perkins denim skirt, Gabor brown Anna knee boots

On the way to a family birthday meal at the Rockie, without the coat, polo neck as before

M&S black puffa jacket, Next print scarf, Dorothy Perkins jersey stripe skirt, Clarks "granny" shoes

M&S black/white print jersey top, Per Una jeggings, Gabor black nubuck bootees.  The mustard cardi is longer available but here are (similar)

and with black/red/mustard paisley scarf from visiting French markct

The White Company taupe wrap cardi with taupe modal vest underneath (not in shot), Next doggy taupe print scarf (a gift from a French friend), M&S pure wool skirt, Gabor black nubuck bootees

Skirt as above with M&S Limited Collection black modal vest, Woolovers cashmere/merino edge cardi, Gabor black nubuck bootees;  the animal print scarf is actually an old beach sarong that I've "re-purposed" in recent years

Skirt and granny shoes as belore. Woolovers cashmere/merino longline jumper in black, Tie Rack black/red/beige silk scarf

Off car-hunting in Dorothy Perkins "car coat"* with taupe/grey print scarf, a gift from my Dutch friend.  *if you were around in the 50s and 60s, you will remember The Car Coat, so on reflection I find it amusingly appropriate that I chose this coat to go looking for cars! 

Walking the ruettes in my M&S waxed jacket.

Our latest storm, Jake, has allowed few windows for walking this week.  Seizing those dry windows of opportunity meant walks were fairly brief.  And, wouldn't you just know it, on the few days of beautiful sunshine - car-hunting called!

Now, on to the scarf in pic 1.  It is a beautiful hand-painted silk scarf in grey tones with just a hint of pink, very "me" colours.  It was a giveaway on The Vivienne Files, which I was lucky enough to win.  Janice is editor of the blog and is a very clever and very nice lady.  Thank you, Janice, for pulling my name out of the hat!

Reflecting on the week, my observations are that -

I do like the skirt and opaque combo, 

skirts tend to tidy me up a bit, 

and I was pleased I got a lot of wear out of my black wool.

And although the week was neither theme nor challenge, I like stats so let's look at the tally:

3 skirts, 1 jeans, 2 jumpers, 3 cardis, 2 vests, 1 top, 2 footwear,  some outerwear ... and 7 scarves!

 

 

A la perchoine.

 

The Week's Challenge - Jacket with Jeans

I've always looked on suit jackets as being inextricably linked to skirts and proper trousers.   Seems that's very old-school as over the years, this type of jacket worn with jeans has become quite the thing.  But it was something I didn't feel comfortable with so I didn't try it. 
I was way behind the game with the ladies' trouser suit thing (I bought my first in the late 90s!) and I see jeans and jackets as being part of the Smart Casual concept which I have never been able to quite "get" (more on that another time!).
Smart jacket goes with a skirt or trousers, anorak/quilted jacket with jeans.  End of.  Slut af.  Fin de.  And that has been where my little head has remained.

Now, I have lots of suit jackets gathering dust since retiring so this past week I have been challenging myself to enter the world of jeans and jackets to see how it feels. 

I pulled a few suit jackets from the archive and this is what I experimented with.  Pretty normal stuff for most but a BIG step for me, I can tell you.

Here's what I came up with (you will have seen some outfits during the week).

M&S navy wool jacket (part of skirt suit), Woolovers navy longline V-neck,  jersey print scarf.

Marina Rinaldi fur cuff jacket (part of skirt suit), Next leopard print tunic, Per Una ("PU") black jeggings.

and worn with Woolovers brown cashmere/merino long-line cardi

M&S grey mix wool jacket (part of skirt & trouser suit), grey jeggings and Next print blouse

and worn with a Woolovers cashmere/merino grey frill cardi.

Artigiano brown virgin wool mix jacket (part of trouser suit),  Next print tunic & PU black jeggings

Peacock fake leather waterfall jacket, Next pink print blouse & PU jeggings, pink pash

and with Woolovers grey cashmere/merino cardi

Of course, the best made plans of mice and men and all that meant that this lady's plans went somewhat awry when at the weekend her cold kicked in and well, it was goodbye to the jackets - all she wanted was to be cocooned in something very warm!

 

Oh-so-cosy Windsmoor neutral lambswool cardi, with Artigiano satin-trim modal top and PU black jeggings.  Essential accessories not quite in this photo are the box of tissues and the lemsip box!

And now for this week's numbers.  Looks like my compilation was made up of 5 jackets (lots, but jackets were the focus), 4 cardis (1 unplanned as the cocoon was added when the cold kicked in), 5 tops (again 1 unplanned as before), 3 bottoms and 3 scarves.  Rather a lot, peut mieux faire, but it was jacket week and that just eats into the numbers.

How did it feel?  Well, I had thought I would feel quite manly dressed this way but I didn't.  I actually felt comfortable, quite feminine and, well, it felt quite liberating.  The added bonus was that with jacket pockets I didn't have to carry a handbag, an accesory I have mostly ditched over these retirement years. 

The men got it so right when they came up with the jacket as their go-to "uniform" - I just need to start sewing inside pockets into these jackets and Bob er din onkel!

Does this mean I am cracking the Smart Casual code?  I leave that one to you.

You know, I am learning quite a lot from taking these photos, most of it not good, but putting myself pictorially out there means that I can no longer hide from myself! 

Knowing that I will be taking a photographic record makes me think about what I'm going to wear.

And spending 5-10 minutes putting together my capsule for the week saves so much daily brainwork.  The net result has got to mean that I have more time for Sudoku, cross code and crossword puzzles so it's a win-win!

A bientot.

Fin de Semaine Dejeuner ... et en suite un apero, peut etre?

AW15/16 may not have been a cold winter over here but I've finally been hit by my first cold of winter.  I have The Sniffles.  Maybe I shouldn't have spent quite so much time gadding about on the beach on that cold and wet Sunday.  Silly me.  But it's nothing that a few Lemsips and a box of Kleenex can't handle.  Have you managed a cold-free winter so far?

I was not feeling so sniffly that I was going to pass up on an impromptu fin de semaine lunch with a golf mate at La Grande Mare.

Next animal print tunic top, Per Una jeggings, Artigiano brown jacket (part of trouser suit), brown pash and of course my old mates, the Gabor black nubuck bootees.

I chose a necklace which was totally chameleonic and was lost in the animal print.  That was either a very clever choice or a complete waste of effort - you decide!

I'd like to take just a moment of your time to mention again that most of what I wear is old, some of it heaps old.  If anything I wear in these posts is still available, I will provide a link and celebrate with a glass of bubbly, as wearing something vaguely new will truly be a landmark event.  So, no links today ... again!  And no bubbly  :-(

Rider: Now, dear reader, my frequently-worn Woolovers knitwear can't (and must not) be included in my link test as they tend to hold classic items in stock for years (and I view that as a good thing).  If I did include Woolovers I would be knocking back fizz and posting photos of me in a sozzled state on a pretty much daily basis.   So No Woolovers in the "still available" test.  Got it?  :-)

 Oh how I digress!  End of.  Fin. de.  Slut af.  Getting back to the matter in hand:

The Lunch

 (well, I don't think I've posted food shots for some days so these are long-overdue) 

What you've got here is, to start, some duck spring rolls which were coated with an ever-so-light honey and chilli dressing, my main was toad-in-the-hole (local Perelle Butchery sausages, I do believe) with roasted veg and a caramellised onion gravy, and pud was pear poached in red wine with a Le Hechet Farm (local) Madagascan vanilla icecream.  All so yummy.  And most of it so local.

The Bean14 coffee is roasted and blended locally.  The owner has a passion for coffee which certainly comes through in each caffeine hit; maybe my coffee making skills stirred him in some small way when we worked together many years ago ... maybe thinking "coffee can be so much better than this!" as he sipped on one of my brews  :-)

Anyway, it's Friday and it's soon time to kick the weekend off with an apero (a long and refreshing  G&T maybe?) so I'm off to take a place on the sofa with my G&T arm expectantly outstretched ...

I hope you too are having a good start to the weekend. 

A la perchoine.