Being ... Une Femme

I am really in a thieving mood right now! Some serious larceny is occurring on this blog.

I frequently visit Une Femme here.  Une Femme, a.k.a. Susan, is a lovely American lady who puts together some stylish yet simple outfits for everyday wear.  Her travel packing posts make are my essential pre-holiday reads.

I loved the simplicity of this outfit which she put together recently.  I would instinctively put gray jeans with gray cardi, but I think the idea of black pants puts some zest into the pairing.  It looks somehow perkier, fresher, perhaps frenchier!

So, liking this gray and black mix, your serial larcenist got going! 

I tried to tell myself I was sourcing inspiration rather than plain stealing, so I varied it a little with what I had to hand. 

I accessorised my outfit with a pearl pendant - such a subtle variation!

And her black pants are more slouchy than my black jeans, but I was just seeking inspiration.

(Oh shucks, I just spotted that I should have worn brown boots!)

But there were no delicious red nails or chunky purse per Une Femme as I didn't have either.

And then came a scarf.  Of course I had to add one.  Une Femme lives in California (permanent UK summer temps), I am in currently in Sussex (UK spring temps, winter temps = same difference).

That was Steal No. 1.  And because Une Femme had fired me up and I was cooking on high octane ...

I decided on yet another steal - again, this outfit is so stylish in its simplicity.

I like how the gray jeans seem to soften the black of the rest of the outfit.

In fact, that pairing seems to have the opposite effect of Steal No. 1.

I had similar "ingredients" in my wardrobe here to make up the "recipe".

I didn't have the jewelry layers on the day, but next day I did manage to find some thrift store necklaces (middle pic).

(See how the scarf colours blend with the jacket lining!)

Now, I don't have a blazer over here (stop press: but I do now, I've been shopping!). 

So I had to go off-piste a little with the outerwear.  My old quilted black jacket stepped in, which was probably a good idea as we are not enjoying any California temps right now - I can but dream ... do some California Dreaming maybe?

And of course I had to wear warmer Chelsea boots, it was not a day for fancy cut-out bits.

I was happy with my Being ... Une Femme outfits, bearing in mind our "spring" weather and the limitations of my current travel capsule.  I like her style, so expect more "thieving"!

So thank you for your inspiration,  Une Femme!

And whilst we're on the subject of spring and capsules, look what Une Femme has gone and done

She's only gone and tempted me with this little spring capsule.  I think I have most of these ingredients to cook up these little dishes too.

Oh when will this thieving inspiration end ... ?

A la perchoine.

p.s.  Not content with style thievery, I've tried my hand at American spelling too - thoro huh?

p.p.s.  I've now shopped for another Une Femme signature outfit piece - wait and see what that is!



Autumn Blue

Autumn Blue, texture like sun

Lays me down with my mind, it runs

Throughout the night

No need to fight

 The gloom and bad flew, with Autumn Blue

Yup, dear reader, a paraphrase came on as I wrote this piece.  I give you The Stranglers, with tweaks.

 

A sunny autumn day.  The sky was a beautiful deep blue.  It was sunny.  And so warm. This autumn day had just about everything going for it.

In fact, I was down to a sleeveless top as I strolled along the seafront.  In October!  Could there be a better day for a walk with my 97 year old aunt.  A wheelchair walk for her, of course.  She is a sprightly 97 year old, but not that sprightly!

Lots of shorts and vests were out.  

I hadn't packed mine :-(.  I did not expect such glorious autumn weather.

I guess this is the epitome of beachside home.  Could it get any more beachey!

Sea edge strollers.

Walkers and pushers (in the none-druggy sense, I hasten to add!).

I even saw swimmers.  Though my little pocket camera didn't do them justice.

And please don't ask.  I have no idea!  A canutophile maybe?

This activity is more obvious!

I love some of the architecture to be found along these Victorian and Edwardian seafronts.

Yup.  A lovely day.  Stored in the memory banks to be pulled out on a dreary winter's day.

Do you store pictures in your head to cheer you up?

Maybe stored for a really cold, wet and windy day. 

My mental picture archive assures me of nature's cycle.  My stored pictures remind me that you've got to know bad to know good.  That it does get better.  The cold winter is necessary but it will end and spring will burst forth, full with promise of even better days to come.  

I sometimes pull out my nice memory pictures when I wake up from a disturbed sleep too, to comfort me, to distract me.  

One does whatever it takes, eh?



And here's what our Autumn Blue lady chose for walking along the prom.

Grey.  Oh how she missed an opportunity here!  Should have worn blue!

Woolovers cashmere/merino "twinset" made up of edge to edge cardi and sleveveless tanktop, Peacock jeans.  All grey.  Not blue.
M&S snake print flatties.  And the end of a brown plaited leather belt just peeping through under the tank in some of the pics!

A la perchoine.