Monday Mode - The Year of the Shorts

Hi my darlings, are you doing OK?  More than OK hopefully.

And how was your week?  Mine was all about looking after my patient, exploring and picnics, oh and my debut on INSTAGRAM!

If you are in the northern hemisphere and enjoying your summer, you're either sweltering in your continued heatware or, like us in Blighty, feeling the coolness in the air that is our late summer.

I'm desperately holding on to each day of summer that is left and making the most of every shorts day I can squeeze in between here and brrrrr. 

Skorchio took me by surprise and I wasn't ready for quite so many shorts days and to be honest, I'm not good when it comes to dressing shorts - our summers don't usually give us many shorts days and for those there are, I only know how to do dress-down grunge.

So it may be late in the season to be posting on shorts today, but this is more an aide memoire to self on what I did with shorts and what I could have done better so's I'm ready for next summer's heatwave ... and not caught with my pants down, or my shorts either!

As I say, I'm mostly uber casual with my shorts but I've tried to up my game a little this year.  Like with this ...

I took this v. old black lace top and also created an OTS hack.

A plain black T works to smarten up my shorts a notch too. And I've become partial to these v. old black leather M&S wedges which help lift the shorts look and elongate the legs, IMHO. 

Though maybe best to skip the Carmen Miranda look?!

I tried another black lace top (just how many does this girl have?!)

I felt the top was a little long and messed around a bit with that Rule of Thirds.

However, although this  top is similar in length to the one above, it seems to work.  Perhaps it's because it's not a solid colour, and the white in the print links in to the white shorts?

Whatever, I was happy and that's counts.

I now give you some more inspirational shorts than mine, taken from internet/blogs.  If I don't credit you, then mea culpa, it wasn't intended - I'm old and I forget!

So to kick off, I do declare that this is a smarter black and white shorts outfit and I think it's sported by I Do declaire.  Potentially.  But it's a smart outfit, helped by the lovely wedges and a third colour.  As Anna of Mutton Style pointed out recently, an outfit benefits from a third colour, and even something neutral like brown works to lift the ensemble. 

Here, a loose vest, pendant and a bright print smarten up the classic combo.

I struggle with denim shorts.

 

What to do with them other than throw on a T shirt and Birkies?

Can denim shorts be taken to any level other than this?

Well the answer is a blindly gorgeous YES!!!  Look what Andrea Nine ( HERE) has done with hers. A white jacket, killer heels, a clutch, jewellery … how striking is she for her date night with Mr Nine?!!!

What have other bloggers been up to?

Well look what  Amy of Amy's Creative Pursuits (Find her HERE) has done with her denim shorts.  An off the shoulder bo ho print top, hat and bag take the denim shorts to another level all together.

What about a neutral like grey?

Laurie has turned to shorts many times over the weeks of our skorchio.  This stylish take on the shorts and top would not look out of place in a high-end restaurant.

There's so much to gain from the inspo here, eh?  Fancy trying out a few shorts looks?  I for one hope to do the odd steal over the next week or two, so watch this space!  Or watch my Instagram where I've had a crazy photo fest these past few days!!!

I guess the issue we have in the UK is that we just haven't seen such enduring temperatures for decades, well, since 1976 in fact.  I have NEVER before seen so much shorts wearing in the UK.  Swathes of shorts  EVERYWHERE.

I declare 2018 The Year of the Shorts!

And for those of you non-Brits ...

... THIS is skorchio!  It's all Greek to me!

So my dears, has Summer 2018 been a shorts fest for you?

And have you gone posh with yours?

A la perchoine.

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Jour #2

Ahhh, sleeping in the middle of the French countryside.

Waking up sooo refreshed.

Having to split head and body pics because of selfie limitations!

Slipping on a Per Una cotton lawn blouse over Dotty P white knee-shorts and Birkies.

Walking through the woods to the nearby village.

Exploring said village.

So pretty.  So French.

Observing shorted French ladies strutting their stuff in the village.

All shapes.  All sizes.

Eating savoury galettes similar to this, recipes here.

I had the emmenthal, potato and onion filling.

Oh, and did I mention the two scoops of ice cream for pudd?!

Then, after a relaxed lunch and a walk back through the woods, swimming,

wearing this Bravissimo tankini set.  Tres chic, n'est pas?

Feeling pretty relaxed already.

Do you have a favourite holiday destination?

Where you instantly feel relaxed?   

A la perchoine.

The Shorts Affair Continues

Hi peeps, thanks for popping in.  Hope you are enjoying the lazy, hazy days of summer.

I've been having some family time in the sun, including a super few days with the GKs. 

Along the way I squeezed into the long-awaited denim shorts.  Well, not really squeezed, this latest batch of shorts are rather loose.  But I guess that is practical when the weather is hot.

. 

These are from Dotty P.  I think there's something wrong with the website, it shows only 3 styles left.  Must be an error.  As you can see, they are sort of knee-length denim and, trust me, they are extremely comfy.  You also get a glimpse of my fave tankini too, old and from Bravissimo.  I was ready to hit the beach!

Now, I think these are the pair from Next here.  These are favoured by GD and The Photographer. 

So subtle is the difference between the two pairs that I'm not entirely sure which is which!

Worn with a Next longline navy camisole and black hat shading sea-ready face!

At the moment I am doing some positive thinking on my dalliance with shorts.  It may be just a brief encounter.  But if I can forget about what I look like and think of comfort, then maybe, just maybe, shorts and me could turn into an LTR.

How are you doing with shorts this summer?  On?  On and off? Or totally off?

So far beige chinos and jean-shorts are sort-of doing it for me.  And the longer length and the thicker fabric is the combo that stands up to the challenges of my chunky legs.

The old negatives are fading with the good choices I'm making.

GD finds my shorts try-ons/wearing amusing (embarrassing).  Apparently the big issue is the knees (like I didn't know that).  But she has a different take on my knee issue.  It would seem that when my knees bend it doesn't look like they're bending. 

I'm still trying to visualise that one!

Do you have any tips or fixes with shorts that works for you?  That you could share with me? 

 'Cos me and my knees need all the help we can get!

Now, what else have I been up to?  I'm getting to that stage in life when I have to check the diary or my camera to see what I was up to yesterday.  Sound familiar?

OK, so the photographic evidence tells me that I met up for a bite to eat with some girlfriends at our local, the Rockie which is down on the coast.  The one with the nice sunset view over the sea.  Trouble is, my little pensioner eyes only get to see it when the nights start to draw way in, because I'm usually home again by 8pm!

But the pink clouds were a pretty sunset-substitute!

Back to the outfit.  It was a lovely evening so we enjoyed the walk to and from the pub.  I shaded my eyes from the sun with the Next sunhat and as the vibe was casual, I allowed myself to stay comfy in the Birkies. 

I really have learned to make sensible choices for the pub-walk, eh?  I arrived home blister-free!

 

The Next linen mix navy cardi came too.  In my bag the whole evening.

This old Primani jersey maxi dress is just so useful on summer days like this one.  I do believe it will enjoy a place in my suitcase next week when I go to France.

And tonight my guest Marianne has met up with a friend for dinner in town.

Looking so lovely wearing a white/grey toile de jouy style print skirt in  a simple A-line.

I leave you with another try-on.  With my recent holiday in mind, I ordered  this vest, to bring perhaps a little lift to my wardrobe and my days.  Not sure about it.  It trapezes out at the hemline and looks a bit strange on me.  With shorts anyway ... well, wouldn't anything?!

Will try it on with white capri jeans tomorrow.  Because Marianne's come home today with a real pensioner-priced pair for me - £3!!!

A la perchoine.

 



Shedding and Shorts

Shorts.  Not a lot to say really.

Beige chinos from Next, details as per here,

I wanted to show you others, just for your amusement, but they haven't arrived.  So you still have a few laughs to come!

Do I have the legs for shorts? No.

Are shorts comfortable.  Yes.

Pretty much 'end of' really.

Went hunting for sheds here.

Liked this summer house.

Liked this potting shed.

Liked this playhouse.

All of the above are impractical.

I should be looking for something like this.  Totally practical.

In the cold light of today, I think I would prefer to move to a house with a ready-built shed!

Or hide myself away in this little guard's shed.   Isn't it cute?

Anyway, when in doubt, do nothing.  But just maybe go surfing a few estate agents' sites for small houses with small gardens but gi-normous sheds!!!

After the trauma of shed hunting, Marianne borrowed a cycle and helmet and biked off to the Rocquaine Regatta.  Doesn't she look co-ordinated, the helmet totally matches her cycling outfit.  Or did she choose her outfit to match the helmet?  We may never know.

Then later, chips on the beach.  It's a bit of a tradition.  We do this each time our friend visits. It was a gorgeous evening so the timing was perfect. And they were yummy!

Do you like fish and chips?  With or without vinegar? Or do you find them far too greasy?

And that was Saturday done, peeps.  Thanks for popping in.  Next time you pop in I may just be posting from my cute little guard's shed!

A la perchoine.

Shorts Challenge

I have noticed in recent years that the wearing of shorts seems so much more widespread across the age groups.  I admire the look of a lady looking oh so cool and oh so casual in a nice pair of shorts.  I see them everywhere, especially on holiday.  And I so want to be in their Shorts Gang. 
But I am not a shorts person.  I have a shorts issue. Because I have leg issues. 

To paraphrase Groucho, I wouldn't want to be a member of any Shorts Gang that would have my legs as a member.

 But I just may have inadvertently set myself a personal challenge recently and I'm considering them.  Just considering ...

Here's what I am dealing with.

Greece, 20ish  This photo kicked off my shorts issue.

Short legs.  And big thighs even though I was about 8 stone.  OK, t'was many years ago.

I dared to try shorts again in the early 90s but soon gave up again.  But when I have been out and about surveying shorts recently, I have spotted that all shapes and sizes stroll around in shorts.  And I realise that I, like them, may have just got to the age where I don't care so much about how I look anymore.  I don't so much care that my body doesn't conform to the 20-somethings body image.

What is going to happen if I swan around feeling nicely cool (temperature, not attitude or look!) in a pair of just above the knee shorts?  Are people going to laugh at me?  No, because they won't spend enough time looking at me to see the humour of my shorts look.  They will look at me (if at all), blink, then turn to look at other nicer sights.  How I look in shorts is really my concern alone.  No one else gives a monkey's aunt

So, that's my self-help therapy over. And there are more important things in life to worry over.  So I need to get over it, move on.
Ok, now it's Research Time.  My criteria?

Length: Forget this 6inch optimum inner leg thing that seems to be doing the rounds.   I need some length to my shorts so that they hide most of the cellulite (read flab) and don't ride up on the inner leg (bad experiences with that), 
Fabric: Neutral colour.  Fabric must have elastane, the more the better, and fabric must be substantial enough to again avoid that inner leg action.
Here's my short list (pun definitely intended).

First port of call, Boden.  UK ladies love Boden.  I've never bought from them.

These are perhaps the Boden chinos, details here, that Anna of The Mutton Years likes.  Unfortunately, all that seems to be left is this Jaffa orange shade.  Hmmnn.  Not sure.  Might bring too much attention to awful legs.

So when in doubt, move to the Next site.

These Next chinos come in a more wearable colour, here.




Again from Next, these denim shorts here would perhaps work. 

The Next denims and the chinos would go with anything.
But am I going to be brave enough to take up my own challenge? 
Please drop in for my next instalment, coming soon.


Now tell me ladies, do you wear shorts?  Do you have a particular style that works for you?

A la perchoine.