Red Isn't Just For Christmas

Hi peeps, it's getting hot over here, but not in a Nelly way!

I'm talking red hot shoes.

I've been drawn to vibrant red of late and I've observed how shoes drive an outfit.  Red shoes have been driving my OOTDs this month.

But first, let's just deal with the elephant here.  Red shoes.  Do we all know what they are supposed to signal?

Some friends of mine got together over a pair of red shoes.  She was wearing them.  His chat up line was to ask her if it was true what they say about red shoes.  She is French and hadn't heard of  the old myth before.   So, embarressed and uncomfortable, he had to spell it out and now they're married with a lovely little family (See what I wore to the wedding HERE)

So that's got that one out the way.  I'm wearing red shoes, to heck with what they say!

Leather flatties, M&S 

These flatties casualise my posh red linen sheath dress (2002, from Alexon).  Worn with a sun hat and red straw bag kept the vibe easy.

This is my attempt at a sightseeing-in-Rome look, which I shall soon be doing, hence the try-ons marathon I'm putting myself through for the next few weeks.  I'm in a what-to-pack panic!

Switch to wedge espadrilles (charity find).

The heeled shoes immediately push the dress into take-me-out-to-dinner territory.  My Il Ristorante look!

But shoes aren't the only thing at play with a red linen sheath.

A spotted scarf can take the dress to another place.  The 60s!

Headscarves are a big thing this summer and this one took me straight back to the early '60s.  Ladies were smarter back then, eh?

A little cream cardi with red embroidered daisies is a perfect slip on for the evening chills.  Which just isn't going to be happening any time soon - are we loving these hot summer nights, ladies?!!

Yes, things are kinda hot around here right now and it's not all down to the abundance of red in my outfits.  It's stinkin' hot!

So shorts have been high on my agenda.  Not the four inch inner leg shorts, no no, for I accept my legs' limitations.

Knee length shorts work for a lady nearing 70, at least I hope they do!

I've recently ditched two pairs of HUGE  knee shorts.  They'd gone way past 90s grunge, they had become so big on me that they were positively clown-like!!

So it was a relief to find myself with some slim fitting replacements that look a trillion times smarter than my circus shorts.  They have become an overnight go-to.

And because I've ditched the baggies, my world has been opened up to new possibilities for shorts, with styling so far removed from when those baggies drove me towards a grungier look with every single wearing.

And thus my current red shoe bonanza pushed me to posh up my Peacocks denim knee shorts.  I love this OOTD, inspired by my red flatties.  I took my cue from the dark wash to team the shorts with a navy linen shell top (Next), added red and navy necklace ... and a red neckerchief used as a headband!  Am I bang on trend or what, ladies?!!!

So red, there's a lot of it about right now and it's not just restricted to my feet.  I'm quite literally top to toeing my red right now.  I may be turning into a tomato ...

Red isn't just for Christmas.  Do YOU like wearing red in summer?

(Oh and in case it's just a British thing, the myth is "red shoes, no knickers"!)

And on that bombshell, 

A la perchoine,

Mary x.

An Opportunity Missed

Afternoon tea, in November.

Oh how tempted I was to wear a dress, but I chose to wear something more practical for the weather.

A classic "safe" look for when you don't really know what to expect, dress-wise.

Black trousers, ivory layered blouse, stripey cardigan, a pearl pendant and earrings, black courts (pumps) in a reptile-effect leather (I really am your friend, Jules!)

There isn't much safer than this.  If the event is informal, the cardi stays on.  If I discover it's a posher affair, off comes the cardi.

On the way to tea in a black trenchcoat and ooh-la-la beret.  My pops of colour were restrained and subtle - the embroidery on the Primani scarf, my wine coloured bag ... oh how am loving this bag 2nd time round, now that I have discovered my love for wine!

And I'll set the scene for you, dear reader.

I arrived at the Duke of Richmond hotel and entered the uber-glam foyer. 

This stylish black and white area was awash with ladies dressed in the prettiest afternoon tea dresses I ever did see! 

Oh how I wanted to about-turn and go back home for a quick dress-on.  But The Photographer made me see sense.  Actually, I think I'd arrived just as a huge influx of Hash House Harriets were congregating; they'd obviously all got the club memo and were beautifully dressed up to the nines.  Otherwise, anything went dress (or not!) wise, there was no prescriptive dress code.

But opportunities to wear pretty dresses in winter don't come along too often and on this rare occasion when the opportunity offered itself, I missed out.  Well, there was much internal boo-hoo'ing going on, I can tell you.  The good thing that came out of this disappointment is that I've signed up to go again next year to this fund raiser for a most worthy charity, Help The Heroes.  No not just to wear a dress, I'm not that shallow! It's a charity I want to support.  But I will wear a dress.  And what are the chances that next year's HHH memo will say "black trousers and a smart top"!

On a positive note, at least I matched the foyer's flooring!



The well-supported event was held here, The Duke of Richmond.  Follow the link and tap on Take A Tour on the home page to share my Afternoon Tea experience.  It will be like you're sipping tea with me there, but virtually!

I, of course, was too busy enjoying all these scrummy delicacies to take many photos, so I really do suggest you take the tour for the full experience.  However. I give you here the sum total of the Afternoon Tea photos that I could muster. 

Afternoon tea us usually made up of finger sandwiches, scones and cakes.  We had all of those.  This tea had some interesting and yummy additions.

The first surprise was little shot glasses filled with prawn cocktail.  No photos, totally devoured.

The yummsville sandwiches plate was nigh-on demolished by the time I took the first shot.  The second twist was that the cake selection included cute little milk bottles of a panna cotta topped with fruit compote.  I hear they were yummy but I didn't quite have room for one.

The reason I didn't have room was probably down to this twist on the classic afternoon tea - these tasty morsels.

A little slice of beautifully spiced up sausage roll and a slice of the most heavenly chicken mousse tossed in an oaty nutty breadcrumb mix.  Exquisite!

On reflection, this must have been a modern foodie take on High Tea.

Despite the missed flowery tea dress opportunity, I came home pretty happy in my black and ivory.  I'd supported a worthy charity and had eaten my bestest afternoon tea ... ever!

Duke of Richmond ... I will be back!

A la perchoine.