Testing The Sweater As a Dress

Happy Saturday, my dears, and Happy Boxing Boxing Thanksgiving to all you American ladies reading this today.  If you are reading it tomorrow, please add another Boxing, and so on and so on ... ad infinitum.

Right, today I'm going to attempt quite a challenge ... keep this post light on words, heavy on pics.  You see, I've just spent the past few hours attempting to set up my annual Christmas Card.  And getting nowhere.   Oh, not quite right, my single achievement has been to load two photos on to the card site.  Two photos.  Nothing more.  So I need to walk away from the Christmas Card project and update you on my grey sweater done as a dress.  Then walk away from the laptop.

Recently, I showed you the piece as a cowl-neck sweater here.  So I tested it out as a dress and as I wanted to see how it performed as a dress IRL, I took it out into the real world.

I had various things to do, errands I think you call them.  Getting house keys cut, shopping, that sort of stuff.  Errands.



Whilst waiting for the key cutting, I used the time to wander around the area, enjoying the beautiful day and the pretty views. Castle Cornet can be seen in the distance and the island of Sark can just about be seen on the horizon.  The air was so clear that all nearby islands were visible.  

And I kept my real life real by not editing out the skip!

Here's a bit of visual story telling about Othon's visit to Guernsey.

No, nothing stinking in the State of Denmark, just an unfortunate shot!

And here I am with Othon, a Swiss visitor to the island about 800-900 years ago, BITD anyway.

I spent some time standing outside what used to be my office windows, with views across the pretty bay to the historic castle.  So uplifting.  I also spent time leaning on lampposts.

I spent a lot of time carry around the wrap I totally did not need, so warm was this lovely day.

I tested my dress some more, shopping at Waitrose for fruit.  We're really into Pink Lady apples.

So my grey sweater as a dress was really given a good work out.

What I realised is this.  The bardot neck rolls up, IRL.

And I've worked out why.  I bought the wine sweater/dress in one size down.  Because the grey was rapidly selling out, I bought it in what was available, two sizes down, resulting in the neck being a little tight on the shoulders.

Of course, a scarf would cover. it.  But on my return home, I pinned a silver brooch in the front centre of the neckline, anchoring it to the bottom of the ribbing.  That worked a treat, the collar stayed in place.  Other than that, the fit of the "dress" itself is fine.

And ladies, just look how I started out.  Anyone would think it was November! 

I ended up carrying the poncho round town as it was far too hot for anything but the dress on its own, then when shopping I just draped the tartan scarf over my shoulders, as supermarkets can sometimes be chillier than outside.

Here's how Dotty P sees this being worn.  On a tall, slim lady it really is a long sweater.  It would be rather embarrassing on her as a dress, don't you think?!

I see that they pull the bardot waaaaaay down over the shoulders - that will be my next look in my 3-ways-2-wear with this cosy item.

I'm very happy with with sweater/dress and the versatility it offers for someone of my height.

It's a cosy piece which is going to be a little workhorse this winter.  You will get bored seeing it over the next few months, it's going to be that much of a workhorse.!

Have you been trying out sweater dresses?  Or sweater/dresses?

And bardot necklines? 

Wishing you a lovely lazy Sunday 

And hey, I think I've done what I set out to achieve, a post pretty light on words, eh?  Result!

A la perchoine.

Black in Summer - The Photographer's Choice

Another less than blindingly hot day, so I've leapt in with another of my Slouchy Casual steals.
Slouchy Casual seems to work for cooler summer days when I have nothing more than a few errands lined up for the day, a.k.a. a date, Photographer style!
I want some cover, an extra layer and an easy casual style.

Here's my attempt and here's what I was stealing.  Oh how I long for that chunky plait!

The outfit I was stealing is very simple but I was rather keen to try it.  OK, I shouldn't really need a blueprint to put this together, but then that's why I am on this blog.  Because I need help.

Do you "steal"?  Is this something you would steal or wear?  And do you go out in public "slouching" your cardi, i.e. off the shoulder ?  Please comment below because I'd love to know!

All in black.  Per Una skinnies, Peacocks long cami and necklace, M&S cardi, Jones wedges.  And for my blogging trickery, I chose a  Next sunhat for it was a no-make-up/lazy hair day.

The Photographer made me laugh.  Something about me making slime.  Couldn't stop giggling.

Have you come across Slime?  Going back to my childhood courtesy of the GKs, I've joined in the search for the ultimate slime recipe.  If you have grandchildren, you may have come across it.  Apparently, it's a big thing and there are so many YouTube posts about making the perfect slime, which is a gooey mixture that well, sort of slimes off your hand.

My store cupboard was sadly lacking in vital ingredients, so I was given a shopping list.



I went looking for cornflour, apparently the vital ingredient in slime making.  I spotted a young boy, about 12 years old, looking bewildered by the flour aisle.  I helpfully asked him what he was looking for.  "Cornflour", was his replied.  I excitedly replied "Me too, are you making slime as well?"  "No, I'm making shortbread" was his answer.  Talk about role reversal.

But back to the outfits.

Although not heatwave standard, it was around 20c and I felt the winter cardi above would be too warm for the day.

So I tried a loose Next crepe de chine style shirt and let's be brave,  a lesser hat.  Nah.  Didn't like it.

And aw heck, subterfuge be gone - let's get rid of the hat trickery.

This is a comfy go-to.   My v. old M&S stripey cardi.  And no hat!

The black column is the perfect foundation for a play around with  layers.

Still lots of giggling going on.  TP does make me laugh.

Just a mention of shopping in heels here.  I am so enjoying upping my shopping attire because I am adoring clacking around the aisles in heels.  I feel so sassy.  One's walk changes in heels. 

I will not tell you how I described my style to TP, but I did liken myself to something "high class ..." and the rest was rather naughty!

I experimented with bags, starting with my little pink leather Tula then moving on to a larger Tula ivory leather bag.  With room to carry paint tins!

Oh how my life has changed.  When I was working, I was rather fond of Tula bags.  This big summer bag was often a substitute for my heavier briefcases.   I used to schlap around with this ivory bag stuffed with paperwork in files or my black leather portfolio, pens and calculator, postits, notepads and then only in my last few years, a heavy laptop - this was BITD before iPads and iPhones.  Can you imagine that now?!!  Modern Day Working Girl doesn't know she's born!

Over the years, I amassed quite a collection of Tulas which, of course, I hardly ever use in retirement.  I use pockets generally.  But now realising that they make great paint carriers, all that could change!

Anyway, back to the outfit, again!  Gawd, don't I ramble?!

As The Photographer was taking me out (B&Q and Waitrose, plus ca change eh?!), I told him he could choose which outfit I would wear for our "date".  More giggles, as I knew what the answer would be as I was asking the question.  It is always the last outfit, the one I am wearing, as we will then leave the house without further faff and delay.  And the response? "The one you're wearing".

Do you seek your partner's advice on outfits?

Is the response honest, political or diplomatic?

So out I went, wearing The One I Was Wearing, but no hat. Instead I chose my trusty The Fly sunglasses which manage to hide most of my not-made-up face.  The hair I could live with.

Do you use the hat and big sunglasses trick on a dress-down day?

Or perhaps you never leave the house without coiffed hair and full make up?  

I used to be that girl. 

But so much has changed in retirement, like daring to show my naked face publicly.

Out on our date, shopping in smart attire (and hiding naked face), I bought some pretty coloured garden furniture paint in B&Q.  I think you will like it. Pics soon.  I'm going off to slap on paint when I finish this post.  Which is probably why I'm rambling and this post is turning out to be much longer than intended.  Procrastination, blogger-style.

Now, I gave you a pic of me on a B&Q date the other day.  So, you need a Waitrose shot to complete the set.

(Don't fret that you can't open these, it's just hair flying in the breeze and not worth the effort of a YouTube load - I'll save that for my Ultimate Slime Recipe!)

After two attempts to take a pic (not a film) outside the shop with the Waitrose name showing as proof of visit, using the phone in strong sunlight which blinded the screen, I was finally successful inside the supermarket, where I show you evidence that I was in Waitrose.  Perhaps akin to a hostage shot with the current newspaper, eh?  Or in audit/compliance-speke,  if it ain't evidenced, it ain't done.

Maybe I just felt the need to prove that The Photographer does really take me "out".

A la perchoine.