Back at the office, it's been an effort to concentrate, as I'm constantly diverted by my racing thoughts. This is not my usual state of mind: I may be a natural worrywart, but a scatterbrain I'm not.
Meanwhile, a start has been made with sorting out my dad's estate, which promises to become a long and winding road.
In order to distract myself from too many negative thoughts, I try to carry on as normal as possible, which means that my charity shopping adventures continue regardless. And so does this blog, in which I find so much solace.
Last week, I cashed in my friend's gift voucher.
Vintage, velvet, versatile, not to mention very colourful: this suit has got it all!
Not owning a fuchsia top, I combined my suit with a pink charity shopped Karen Millen jumper. I think I came up trumps on the boots, though!
The weather was mainly sunny for Saturday's charity shopping trip, but an autumn chill was definitely in the air.
I wore a short sleeved textured polyester mod dress in olive green, accented with two buttons at the dropped waist.
It has a rather tattered "Joan Curtis" label.
Racking my brains for a suitable colour to combine it with, I came up with pink accessories and a mustard three-quarter sleeve cardigan, to which I clipped a fuchsia fabric hair flower.
The coat, which is perfect for this time of year, is Finnish, and I love its label which proclaims that it's "for ladies of fashion"!
Outfit details:
Dress, coat and scarf: Think Twice
Shoes: Vintage Styling
Cardigan, ring and hair flower: retail
Handbag and brooch: flea market
Pearls: my great-aunt Josephine
Between shops, we stopped for a picnic at the art deco water tower in the neighbouring village of Reet.
Climb it and you have a bird's eye view of the surrounding countryside as well as of one of the few remaining working clay pits in the area.
The heels of my vintage shoes did not allow for a climb this time, as the outside stairs are made of perforated metal. It's just manageable, what with my vertigo, but dainty shoes are a no-no!
The first thing that caught my eye was this cheeky ceramic poodle decanter, with six hooks on his back for hanging cups.
I almost left him behind as the cups were missing, when Jos found four of them on another shelf.
A quick trawl on the Internet dates him from the 1950s or early 1960s.
This Lourdes thermometer was next.
Surely, miracles must start happening soon with all the Lourdes memorabilia we have accumulated!
I will keep you informed on that one ...
The red wicker basket with polka dot lining will come in handy for storing little bits and bobs.
We were succesful at the next shop as well, where this pretty flowery coffee pot was waiting for us.
A good rummage unearthed a 1920s style cloche hat and a slim scarf, which are shown here on the as yet nameless new addition to our collection of "heads".
She is currently keeping Twiggy company on the mantelpiece in our spare room.
Let's end this post with a fitting quote for this time of year:
"Then summer fades and passes, and October comes. Will smell smoke then, and feel an unsuspected sharpness, a thrill of nervous, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure."
~Thomas Wolfe, You Can't Go Home Again
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| Trying to blend in with nature's autumn colours |
Snap! I've got that poodle, too!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that overthinking awful? I feel your pain. You're doing the right thing though, getting out and about and wearing fabulous clothes. I love that suit and Barbie's matching outfit! The Joan dress is great and so's the coat (even if the brand sounds ab bit like a sanitary towel!) xxx
Fancy my poodle having a twin in Walsall! Oh, and you're so right about the sanitary towel thing ;-) xxx
DeleteOh my that suit has got my name all over it haha.
ReplyDeleteSeriously though I hope that your pain gets easier soon. The loss of a parent is such a hard thing to go through. I'm sending a big hug from across the pond
Lynn X X X
I've got a special section of my wardrobe which has your name all over it, Lynn ... Thanks for the hug! xxx
DeleteThe world is righted for me when I thrift shop. It is a suspension of time and space and who knows what wonderfulness there is to discover.
ReplyDeleteMy condolences on the loss of your father - grief will visit at the most inopportune times.
So love the vintage velvet vavavoom suit with matching clothed Barbie.
That is so true, Tami. Thrifting really is the best therapy there is ... xxx
DeleteI love that quote! So beautiful. I know the difficulties of dealing with a parent's estate. My Mum had to recently do it and it was very difficult, compounded with your grief anyway.
ReplyDeleteYour suit is beautiful as is that gorgeous green dress. You always brighten up my day Ann.x
Aw, thank you Kezzie, that last remark really made MY day ... xxx
DeleteGrief can hit in strange and unexpected ways, so please don't be too hard on yourself if you feel disoriented by it. My mum dies 25 years ago, and I really wish, looking back, that I had taken a bit more time settling her estate.
ReplyDeleteYour suit is a work of art. The growing collection of heads fascinates me. Are you ever startled by them in the dark?
My gut feeling is to really take my time and not rush anything ... I need to take time out too, to do things I enjoy. I'm hoping the heads will scare the life out of any burglars, if we ever have them ... xxx
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your father's passing, I'm glad to hear blogging is bringing you some solace.
ReplyDeleteI love how you say retail therapy doesn't have to be expensive, I couldn't agree more & don't understand why more people don't shop second hand!
I adore that green, vintage dress <3
Donna x
Www.polkadot-pink.com
Thank you Donna. Blogging really helps me to focus my thoughts and as for second hand retai therapy, nothing can beat it ... xxx
DeleteWow, those outfits. That suit is absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteHaving been through my husband's bereavement, all I can say is, no-one knows how long it takes to return to 'normal' - because every relationship is different, and 'normal' itself has changed. All you can do is allow yourself time to grieve, and remember to be kind to yourself. ((Hugs))
Thank you, Mim. I have been thinking about what you said, that 'normal' itself has changed. It is so true, but I never realized it. xxx
DeleteWhat an AMAZING green dress!!! I am coveting it desperately.
ReplyDeleteBereavement is such a difficult thing and everyone reacts differently. Don't be too hard on yourself it will take as long as it takes. Be kind to yourself.
Thanks Gisela, I guess things like this cannot be rushed and you just have to go with the flow ... xxx
DeleteOh I'm also in the minority about that poodle I would have run screaming if I had seen it! Lol
ReplyDeleteHaha, I hope the photos didn't scare you too much ... Will make up for it with some elephant photos soon ... xxx
DeleteThe loss of a parent is so hard - it's the most unique relationship. My mum dies nine years ago, I am so sorry for your loss.
ReplyDeleteIt is great that you keep engaging in activities that keep your spirits up. The velvet suit and the green dress are both spectacular, and I love all the details of both outfits, and the footwear, too!
It's ok to take it slow.
Thank you so much for your kind words! xxx
Deletedoing things you love is the best to come thru hard times!
ReplyDeleteyour new velvet suit is fabulous! and sorry - i have to steal this boots from your feet ;-) the similarity with the barbie clothes is totally cool!
but your autumn color ensemble is a work of art! love the last pic - totally magazine shoot!
for that poodle - halleluja! ;-)
xxxxxx
Having collected for so many years, I often see similarities with Barbie outfits I own ... Those boots are great, aren't they. They're from a brand called Miz Mooz, and I bought them in the sales a couple of yours ago. Oh, my, magazine shoot, that is certainly too much praise ... xxx
DeleteI'm sorry to hear the news of your father. It's good to keep busy but also you must allow time for your grief. It's OK to slow down a while and feel the feelings that come. At other times a little retail therapy is just the thing! I always find a favourite outfit or a new addition to my wardrobe is just the thing to lift my spirits - and you're so right it needn't cost the earth. My favourite of your finds must be the cloche hat - it's so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Thank you for your kind words. I have the need to keep busy and to slow down at the same time, which is quite strange ... As long as there are things to lift my spirit, I guess I'll be ok. xxx
DeleteYou always find interesting items, Ann! And a beautiful olive colour dress ...
ReplyDeleteNegative thoughts are unavoidable now. The loss of a dear person leaves a feeling of emptiness which is difficult to manage...time is a good medicine ...
A hug
Thank you so much Dan. I know it will get better and that time is a great healer, in spite of the cliché. xxx
DeleteI feel for you, your situation is so hard and I remember how, in the early days, unbidden thoughts come in, so I'm not surprised you've struggling to concentrate at work. I'm so glad you've found the thing which helps you to get through these early difficult days, and I think you're right about the house. I did my parent's house in a hurry and I can't believe what I threw away because I didn't have time to reflect. Your velvet suit is fab, but it's that green mod dress I'll be pinching when I come round. Xxx
ReplyDeleteI'll have to hide that dress away then ;-) I am terribly sentimental and a hoarder on top of that, so I will definitely be taking my time. xxx
DeleteSweet Ann, my heart, thoughts and most caring of well wishes are with you as you go through these (endlessly understandable) challenge days. I hope that in the midst of them, at lease a few moments of happiness are finding their way into your life to help lighten the load, so to speak.
ReplyDeleteGentle hugs across the miles,
♥ Jessica
Thank you so much, dear Jessica. Even just reading all these lovely comments is lightening the load for me ... xxx
DeleteGrief affects people in different ways I believe, your normal might be vastly different to that of someone else. You just need to let yourself deal with things in your own time, no point ignoring what's going on emotionally, it'll do no good in the long run. Thinking of you *hugs*
ReplyDeleteThat velvet suit is incredible! Aren't modern clothes boring in comparison? I also love that green dress, it looks a treat with the pink accessories. I made a necklace with unakite once, which is a sort of khaki green and pink gemstone.
Art deco water tower? Who knew such things existed!
That picnic basket is lovely, I was obsessed with picnics as a child and was a devil for opening any basket or case I saw, to see if it was a picnic basket!
xxx
Thanks for the hugs, Melanie. I've started to feel a bit better now but we (my brother, sister and myself) still have my parents' house to tackle which if I'm honest I'm not looking forward to. I get a knot in my stomach even thinking about it. I guess that basket would be too small for a picnic, unless it's a teddy bears picnic of course ...
Delete