Thieving Thursday - Taupe and Cream

Hello my lovelies, thanks for popping in today for more thieving!

Kellyann commented last week that most of us reading or writing  this type of blog will invariably be seasoned thieves when it comes to stealing styles from magazines, TV characters, people on the street and other blogs.  Heavens I've done it all and done it most of my life!

The steal starts when you spot something you like and think "I'd like to copy that look".  In my case, it's usually followed by "and I've got something very similar (and very old) lurking in my wardrobe (archives)".  And so my steals are usually borne.

Today's started with me stalking a cardi.  Yup, like I need  another cardi! But I was drawn to a winterweight version of my summer trapeze cardi which I wear A LOT. 

Source Madeleine website

As I looked at the pic I realised that the look was very me, but a me about 15 years ago.  I have light cream trousers from back then (a silk/linen mix), but they are just as in the picture - extremely wide.  And as much as I liked all those neutrals, the outfit doesn't quite work for the life I lead now.  It's a bit, er, too posh!

So I adapted the look to make it wearable for my retirement life.

I started with the silk/lace cami (La Redoute), added the kind of linen trousers I wear throughout the summer and topped this with my taupe trapeze cardi from The White Company (all old).

I added a silver belt and a taupe shoulder bag, then added silver jewellery to echo the belt and chain strap of the bag, and pewter sandals.

And thus, for no current outlay, I was able to steal a look that I fell for when lusting after yet another cardi.

Now maybe style stealing doesn't appeal to you at all.  Maybe you're lucky enough to have your own unique and gorgeous style and copying some else's is something you've never thought to do.

But if you have, would you like to share a success, or a failure?
And do you have a source you go back to time and time again?
A specific magazine, an actress, a member of a Royal Family?
I'd love you to share your experiences in the comments section below.

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Looking forward to catching up with you again soon,

a la perchoine

Saturday Six #4

Hello, my dear reader.  Happy Saturday to you!

Yes, it's Saturday and, rather weirdly for inconsistent old me, this means you get my fourth Six.

Oh my, have I truly made it all the way to #4?!!!  Four was my aspiration and I've achieved it.  Can I get to six Sixes ... ?  That would be neat.


#1.  The benefits of Saturday Six

I think I've got to #4 because this happens to be a good vehicle for bits and bobs.  I often used to write little bitty blogs which never got to see the light of day.  And hey, I can now bundle them up into a snappy package called a Saturday Six!
Does this format work for you, dearest reader?

#2.  The written word.

Receiving kind words touches deep into our souls and when it's received out of the blue and in writing, then it really hits that spot.

This week, out of the blue, we received a pretty card of our little Sussex town from a UK cousin and her husband.  Inside were pictures of their garden where we have spent happy times dining (and perhaps drinking too?!), chatting through the day and into the dark of the evening.

(I strewed a few dying peony petals, hopefully incentivising TP to buy me a replacement bunch!)

 My cousin and her hubby wrote that they missed us and how they were looking forward to welcoming us into their home again.
#iwastouched.

Also this week, when I was getting het up in our Sibs messaging group about struggling to find a parking space in town because of cruise liner passenger transporation clogging things up, I received this:

"Let it go, you'll only get bitter and rage on your blog - embrace the liners and you will find inner peace and constant zen."

It was written humorously but it brought my rant totally into perspective and I lol-ingly laughed at myself!  Thanks Bro.  And it's done the trick - no rage here today!

Written words touch us deeply, so why not write a note, an email, a card, a letter, when you randomly think  nice thoughts about someone, when you suddenly feel inspired to reach out to a loved one?  #spreadtheloveinwords.

#3. Poldark

In my previous Six I told you that we were "getting a man in" to do the garden.

I posted a pic of Poldark.

Well "be careful what you wish for" because it turns out Poldarks are like buses,  you wait for ages for one and then two turn up at the same time!

Of course, I had to tell them about my Poldark post when asking their permission to post this pic and one of them told me that he actually gets told he looks like Poldark!

Photo Bonus #1.  I was reminded of the crack in the camera lens when it appeared covering Poldark No 1's face.  I decided to address the cracked lens the following day.  Wearing the pineapple outfit below, we went into town ("it's gonna be expensive" said the camera shop guy).  It was a 2 cruise ship day and we struggled to park, which caused Bro to give me his words of wisdom above.
From cracked lens to zen.


Anyway, back to Poldark (oh how I digress!) - the guys have worked so hard and without pause, amazing stuff  has been done in a couple of days and the garden has been totally blitzed.  I'll share their work with you sometime soon.


#4.  The Yellow Cardi Saga.

Last year I made occasional references to a missing cardi.  It was a useful piece in my summer wardrobe and I mourned its absence.
It didn't turn up for duty again during this year's seasonal switch (SEE HERE), so I bit the bullet and bought another, which was similar but not quite the lemony shade that I'd loved. 

When I bought it I told TP that of course the MIA cardi will now turn up.  And it did.  When hunting for specific old bright blue jacket this week, I found the AWOL item in the same bag.

Turns out that yellow cardis are like buses too. 

To paraphrase Oscar "to have one yellow cardi is fortunate; to have two is careless".


#5.  Deferred.

Well, this one was going to be about the film I saw last weekend, but that bit got a bit too long for this bits n bobs vehicle and it clearly was a post on its own, so you'll get that tomorrow as a "bonus feature".  Hope you do pop back tomorrow to #readallaboutit!

#6.  What I wore.

Well, seems it's a variation on a chinos and cardi theme this week, though white jeans and shorts have burst in on sunnier days.

Pineapple top, chinos and summer weight cardi (£5 rail some years ago), all M&S. Clarks metallic toe flatties.

Berry top (Next),  chinos and snakeprint flatties from M&S,  cardi from The White Company.

 Photo bonus #2:  In editing the first outfit's pics, I spotted that the mirror I limed some years ago now clashes with the aged oak of the Lebus roll-top desk.  That's yet another project now added to my never-ending 2018 To Do List.  (Hmmnn, perhaps extra work's not really a bonus ...?)

I'm off for a lovely meal on the cliffs this evening.  The forecast is looking a bit iffy.  Friday's weather would have been perfect for this setting, rather than the thunderstorms predicted slap bang (quite literally!) around teatime.  Oh, what to wear in a thunderstorm?  Not an umbrella, perhaps?!

A la perchoine.

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COMING SOON AT A SCREEN NEAR YOU!

A Book Club

A Vintage Collab
A Style Steal

An espadrille.

A Study in Neutrals

It's Sunday.  The birds are singing and the sun is shining.  I'm getting ready to go out for lunch and that means a call out to The Photographer.   So what do I do?  Yup, I position myself against said sun for my OOTDs!  Sorry.

Call me sad but one of the many things I like love about this time of year is being reunited with old favourites.  You too?  Thought so.

I was so excited to pull out my fave chinos.  M&S about 5-6 years ago but boy have I been getting my CPW down on these.  These past few years it's been quite a cliffhanger with their first wear of summer.  

Are there any patches of wornoutedness?  No.  

Do they still fit?  Yes!

And then, phew, breathe.  All is right with the world.

I fear the day that they will give up the ghost on me.  So I ordered a couple of pairs of chinos this morning.  Back up, just in case.  They may disappoint.  

M&S

Do you find that you hit on something really good, then re-order from the same brand, pretty much the same cut, colour and fabric - and they just don't cut the mustard like your original item? 

White Company taupe trapeze cardi, Next layer blouse.

Yes, all neutrals but I'm of the beige persuasion.  There, my secret's out!

Necklace and earrings from way back.  I dug them out of the jewellery cupboard this morning and oh joy, did they bring back memories.   A holiday in Corfu, 2003.  Brilliant holiday.  I remember wearing this jewellery with a black vest dress for a dinner in our favourite restaurant on the island (yet I still struggle to work out what day it is today ...).

I expect Corfu is bracing itself for the Captain Corelli effect that Kefalonia experienced.  It's just as pretty as it's portrayed in The Durrells ... anyone know if it was actually filmed there?

Oh how I digress with you guys!  Back to the OOTD.  I changed it!

And we all know that TP loves all this outfit changing?  Not.

Yes, I agree with TP (and maybe you too?), the change was subtle and just swapping one beige for another may seem hardly worth the effort but I fancied some more reunion thrills.

 So my Zara pearly jumper was given its first airing of SS18 too.

And I swapped the heels for Clarks metallic toe flatties.

'Twas but a moment's work to achieve just the right amount of beige!

Sling on a string of pearls (beige).

And Sunday lunch, beige is comin' ta getcha!

A la perchoine.

Flip-side Smiling in Transitional Stone

 Hi lovely peoples.  How's your summer progressing?  Or winter, for those down-under?
To my dear American readers, I wish you a very Happy 4th of July.  And I hope that my lovely Canadian readers enjoyed a super day on the 1st.


I'm been continuing on my quest, making the most of the summer that's being thrown our way.
It probably would have been an OK-summer if that heatwave hadn't rather ruined it for us.

As the lovely Anna commented, we did seem to miss out on spring.  We missed all those fab transitional dressing opportunities it normally brings.

So, I'm turning this hopefully temporary coolness into an opportunity to wear some cooler weather OOTDs.

I'm enjoying the flip-side, as sweet Dan commented.

Like this stone coloured linen jacket bought in last year's BHS closing down sale.

With White Company taupe modal l/sl top, M&S 501s and Clarks metallic toe flatties.

Oh and a Peacocks thong necklace, recently acquired.

Oh dear, what's that?

A wet patch on my top.  Must have splashed myself when rinsing our late brunch dishes.

Brunch being ...

Delish! Mmm-mnn.

Yes, I'm a water-everywhere cleaner-upper, as TP often points out.

Ah well, maybe nobody will notice ...

... Just Keep Smiling and Carry On!

  

And you will not believe where I wore this outfit.  On a Friday afternoon!

B&Q and Waitrose.

(that's Home De-pot and a posh-end supermarket for my 4th of July readers).

OK, a bit Pout-smart for domestic and diy shopping (and the patch had dried by then!) but the intention was that we would go out for a late afternoon bistro meal after our shopping. 

But, you know, I was so excited with the brochures I picked up on garden furniture paint colours and pergola fence panels, that we didn't.  Instead we decided to just go home to enjoy chicken pittas and aperos out on the patio whilst I battled through the decision quagmire that is outdoor paint colour.

And this was a Friday!  Your weekend-starts-here-TGIF-Friday.

Yes peeps,  B&Q and Waitrose - that's where my partying is done these days.

Tell me, have you become a bit stay-at-homey too as you drift through retirement?  

Is Friday the time for fredags mys, or a trigger to hit the town?

And are you excited to be switching back to cooler summer weather?

Perhaps you'd thought up a few looks to try out, then abandoned them when things got hot.

A la perchoine.



Cruisers And Calories

You want naughty?  I'll give you naughty.  Take a look at this start to the day ...

Looks innocuous enough.  But take a closer look ...

Crumpets.  Hot crumpets.  Dripping in luscious Guernsey butter.

Now that is what I call naughty!

But is it naughty?  Because it's an interesting fact that if such naughtiness is quickly followed by a round of golf or similar, this swift action actually negates all calories recently consumed.  And probably leaves you with a small credit balance.  Isn't nature wonderful?  Yin and Yang.  For every bad there is a good.  For every calorie consumed there is a negating action.   Not a lot of people know that.

Such harmony, such balance. 

How wonderful it is that I observe this sense of balance that nature and the universe offer.  

So it goes without saying that immediately after Crumpet Time, I dashed down to the golf course for a swift round of negating action, and thus by observing this metaphysical phenomenon I ensured that not even one crumpet calorie touched my waistline today.

 :-)

Following this surge of calorie-negating activity, I willingly changed out of my unflattering golf gear, freed my hair from its equally unflattering visor-and-hair-clamp hair "style" and my unflatteringly au-naturel face was sploshed with a bit of make-up.  And now, Showtime!

This swift turnaround was required as we were meeting up with a couple of visiting friends.

(Rosy cheeks - methinks I caught the sun this morning)

7/8 light taupe chinos, snakeskin flatties, both old, M&S; White Company taupe fine knit swing cardi, old; and a pink/cream/taupe print top from Next, now its enjoying its 3rd summer so that's tantamount to "new" in Pout World!

This choice of clothes was perfect for the day.   Layers.  Casual.  And in my eyes, smart.

Perfect for meeting up with those old friends.

  Our friends are from Devon and are holidaying on a cruise ship which was popping in to Guernsey today.  It was the ideal opportunity to catch up with them as we hadn't seen them for 3 years.

Here's their ship, Queen Victoria, part of the Cunard fleet.  Next stop, Bruges.

 

Cruise ships moored just off Castle Cornet, Herm island can be seen in the background.

Guernsey is one of the most visited ports of call for cruise ships within Northern European waters  and St Peter Port, the main harbour, is considered to be one of the most picturesque.    The island hosts more than 100,000 cruise liner passengers each year and the number of visiting liners increases year on year.  As a comparison, the island's population is just 60,000.

So, once safely ashore we showed our friends around a little of the island (though they have visited before) then took them for lunch at the golf club.

L

Crab and prawn cocktail.  Looking quite healthy, eh?

But don't fret. it did get naughtier quite soon after ...



With this.  Le Hechet ice cream, locally-made from Guernsey cows' milk.  Yummy.

But it wasn't totally unhealthy ... can you see a token strawberry lurking somewhere behind that pile of calories? 

Home is just a few minutes' drive from the golf club so we had time to sit in the garden enjoying a leisurely coffee and more chat in the sun, until sadly we needed to drive them back to the passengers' pick-up muster point back in town.

What a wonderful day we had with our friends.

And then I quickly returned to my turret, and here I sit. bashing my touch-typing fingers in frantic movement on this keyboard in order to negate any ice-cream-calories consumed  which may have exceeded my small credit balance from earlier.

Yin and Yang.

I hope you enjoyed the day too.

I've never been on a cruise.  Do you like going on cruises?

Have you visited Guernsey?

I wonder if I've holidayed in your neck of the woods ...

Wherever you are in this wonderful world of ours, I hope you enjoy your day or evening.

A la perchoine.



Rockie II

Yesterday was busy, with doctor's appointments, grocery shopping, all that sort of necessary stuff.  Totally un-photo-worthy!

But the day was rounded off so nicely by meeting up with a cousin and her partner for a catch-up at our "local", the Rockie. 
I took you there back in February here, brrr.  So this trip was your Rockie II!
You'll see me there quite a lot during these summer months, should you chance to pop by.  For the Rockie is rather like my old taupe Adesso shoes, one of my summer's constants! And like these old M&S jeggings, it would seem.  For they were out again last night.





I just had to include this rather childish pose on the left!

I wore the jeggings and the Adessos with the a White Company taupe trapeze cardi, which is a beautiful fine and light knit for this time of year.  The top is from Next, linked into the post here. 

 You see, when I was Being Nora a few days ago, I removed the blazer and tried the top/jeans combo with the cardi and realised there was something there to pull out for a pub night.  And pull it out I did, just a short few days later.  So my Being Nora is giving me spin-offs already.   For, by my channelling Nora, I'd stored that subtle little switch in my subtle little head, and hey presto, getting dressed last night was but a moment's work!

Ready for the drive down to the coast on a beautiful summer's evening in my little car; and beautiful though it was, I still grabbed a scarf should extra warmth be needed.  What an oldie I've become!

The hotel is west-facing.  Nothing but sea between us and the US of A!

This is a great place to sit with a glass of wine and watch the sun sink down over the horizon.

I smuggly enjoyed a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc. 

Because I wasn't driving home, the Photographer pulled that short straw!

I lusted after my cousin's seafood platter!

But enjoyed my choice, luckily, fish cake with a little new potato salad.

Such a great evening, catching up with Cuz and feeling summery.  I hope you enjoyed your trip down to my local too.  Thanks for popping in, I love it when you do. 

I wish you a happy and sunny day, wherever you are.

Are you enjoying the lovely summer's evenings?

What are you like at putting together that casual layered look? 

 I'm still working on mine - but I think I'm getting there!

A la perchoine.