Red and Black - The Disastrous Finale!

It was a day of two skirts.

Skirt 1, a red Principles skirt, with black Woolovers cashmere V-neck.  Clarks heeled lace-ups.

I haven't been out for about three weeks.  Unless you count two visits to the doctors' surgery, one to the optician (all lurgy-related) and a routine biennial mammogram.  I don't count those as "out".  I associate "out" with hair done, the slap on, and perhaps a modicum of thought given to my attire.  Those four "outings" did not fit my criteria.

The Photographer, bless him, unsuccessfully attempted to take me out to afternoon tea yesterday.  Undeterred, he tried again today with a lunch.  After several attempts getting to find a restaurant/bar that had a free table for two we finally found one that could actually fit in our two bodies.  Didn't realise that with the many restaurants on the island, this impromptu idea would be so difficult to fulfil.  But we got there, so all was good.

The Photographer sporting his Christmas pressie jumper and his Birthday pressie Uniqlo Light Down jacket; his seafood platter.

And here's the thing, we I decided that for this special first-time-in-three-weeks outing I should be driven like a lady, in The Posh Car.  Posh being The Photographer's sleek Peugeot 508 estate with leather the upholstery and all the bells and whistles.  

And it was me who decided that after I nipped out for a newspaper on the drive home that I should show The Photographer how I could get into the car "like a lady".  You know, the way we were taught back in the 60s, when mini skirts presented a challenge to our modesty, video here.

I showed him my technique, pretty smooth actually (without the recommended guiding hand and pashmina).  Then rrriiiiipppppppppp.  I heard my skirt rip, up the back seam - forget the kick slit, I could now do the splits in the skirt (oh I wish)! What I hadn't thought through was how cars have changed in 50 years.  They are lower.  And deeper.  My moves weren't conducive with such a drop to the seat.  I fell plonkingly into the sleek seat, rather than smoothly gliding.

I had used the method designed to work with 60s seats.  Designed for a Triumph Herald. 

So this is what I did when I returned home.

I changed!  Into Skirt 2.  Grey.

And that, dear reader, was The Disastrous Finale to my week in Red, black and occasionally white.  And at the last hurdle, grey

Ooops!

A la perchoine.



Red and Black - Day 2

 

 

 

Oh, this themed dressing is such a doddle.  Day 2 and I'm loving it. 
I've identified colours for the week.  Red, black and bits of white/ivory.
I've identified the items that fit in with the scheme, may 6-8 items.
I've worked out some combos from those targeted items. Logged on a spreadsheet!
I've put them all in a section at the beginning of my wardrobe, for easy access. 
This took little time to plan.  Why oh why didn't I do this when I was working?  Mornings would have been so less stressful!

 

 

 Red and Black - Day 2 

 

I chose a bit of a 60s vibe today.  Red Principles skirt with Peacock black polo neck, Gabor boots.  East red wood necklace.

 

Do you remember the little pencil skirt and polo neck uniform from the 60s?  OK, my skirt would have been a bit shorter then.  But I am still feeling the vibe.

 

And it's January so I needed a neck layer.  Pretty scarf, huh?

 

I think this red, black and mustard scarf came from a French market.

I do like it.  I wear it often in winter.

 

 

I wrapped tightly around my neck, slung on my black puffa coat and went off grocery shopping. 

 

I needed to buy lots of vegetables, we had run dry during The Weeks of Cocoonedness.  I now need to make lots of healthy meals with an abundance of 5-a-day.
Into my trolley went fruit, veg, salad stuff, some dairy, bread, sausages,, some cleaning stuff and a few miscellaneous bits n bobs.  £40. 
I'm keeping an eye on how much is spent on food in 2017.  OK, I just started this today so I have no history yet, but that sounded good.  Very New Year's Resolution.
The canny Marlene from Simple Living suggests spending £10 per month on cleaning products.  I spent £1.75 and we're already a third into the month!  Oh, I think I am going to succeed!!!
I'm off to set myself up another spreadsheet to log this excellent work.  #excited!


And much later in the day, as dusk loomed, a walk around the ruettes.

Rockin' the Old Granny look!


 

A la perchoine.



It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like Normal ..

Yes, peeps, it's beginning to feel a lot like Normal.

My chubby face has returned to your screens!  I'm out of PJs and harem pants and into real clothes again.  So I celebrated.  The Slap went on; just a little.  I've been two solid weeks without make up.  The longest period since my mid-teens.  Wearing it today felt a bit alien, truth be told. But I've made a huge savings on make-up removal products, so what a good start to my frugal January.

My draw was towards jeans as the day was cold, dark and rainy.  But no, I went totally ladylike, even though my first post-lurgy outing was nothing more than to go a-hunting for an artificial Christmas tree bargain.  There were none.  But I was feeling so bright and festive, did I care? 

Today's OOTD

 

I give you Miss Tomato!

To celebrate my release from the stir I wore red and black.  Principles wool skirt (which I wore on my first ever post), Peacocks jumper, black modal vest underneath (not visible) and Tie Rack silk scarf in black/red/grey/ivory.  Clarks black wedge courts (yes, real shoes as well!).

This is the OOTD I left the house with.

But I had to have a play-around too because oh how The Photographer must have missed these OOTD sessions!

I chanced upon a spotted scarf hanging with some jewellery behind me.  Well, I had to give it a go.  Exposed neck.  Nah.

And of course, the Zara leoprint scarf goes with everything.

BTW, my hair's gone lank this past month. Any tips on how to revive it, ladies?

And this one is for Anna of Mutton Style.  I just had to add some fur for her.

But back to the top outfit, wasn't I posh for a simple trip to the garden centre?!  However, this was a necessary knee-jerk reaction and it had to be done.  I felt better for my efforts.

Right, two things.

1.  My change of OOTD location is due to something going on in my usual spot.  More on that in another post.

2.  I proudly wore my red today as I want to spice up my dressing for January. It's a no-spend month and I need to shop my wardrobe for "new" things.  So this week I am playing around with red, black and white. Haven't worn red in ages. It's going to shake up my entry into January!  It's wintry-warm yet it's a smart colour combo and I want smart right now.

I need to get these red-based outfits churning out as The Photographer needs to get back with the programme.  But you know, I really do think he's missed our OOTDs photo shoots :-).

So, dear reader, did I rock the red?

Are you playing around with any colours at the moment?

And how are you feeling now that we are entering this cold and dark part of 2017?

A la perchoine.