Sunday 25 March 2018

Suits me fine!


The weekend before last was a quiet one for a change. 

Temperatures had suddenly skydived from a mild 10 degrees Celsius on Friday to around freezing point on Saturday, accompanied by a bitterly cold, eye-stinging and bone-chilling wind.

It had snowed during the night. It didn't stick and it was gone within the day, but for a couple of hours on Saturday the bare remains of our jungle garden were sugar coated.


Rather optimistically, I'd put away my fake fur coat, thinking I wouldn't need it anymore after the cold snap of a couple of weeks ago. So, out it came again. I wore it with a bright green scarf and a pink Kangol beret with a  pom pom.

I briefly braved the cold for these outfit photos, which were taken by Jos from the kitchen window. 

We were off to a charity shop we hadn't visited on Retro Day and couldn't believe our eyes when we saw the amount of leftover stuff.

All became clear when we saw the exorbitant prices! Not only that, there were many fakes, too.  New tins disguising as vintage ones, for instance, and priced at a crazy € 10. 


While Jos was browsing the tables laden with orange, green and brown stuff, I made my way to the rail of clothing on the opposite side. Passing a rack of handbags, I almost pounced on a black tapestry handbag, when my eyes clocked the price. It was € 16! Which was just as well because, you know, handbag ban!


Many modern retro pieces among the clothes as well. But then there was this vintage dress suit and it was love at first sight! Well worth the € 16 asking price in my opinion.

The groovy red and blue print of the dress somewhat belies its classic silhouette, with its box pleated skirt and cute little bow tie, while the starkness of the solid blue jacket is lifted by its funky buttons and the edging of its collar and pocket tabs in the fabric of the dress.


I am a sucker for a dress or skirt suit and always find them hard to resist.

Here's another one, which I found at different charity shop just weeks before Retro Day.

Again, its main colour is blue, but this time the dress's skirt is made from the same fabric, while its bodice is in a contrasting fabric with the most fabulous print featuring blues, browns and yellow. 

There's a generous bow tie as well, which can be draped over the jacket's collar.


The bodice's fabric re-appears in the rather fancy pocket square peeking out from the V in one of the breast pockets. The squarish buttons are blue plastic framed in white metal.


Now, tell me, which one is your favourite?

Although I can't put my finger on the reason for my love of these suits, I can remember the very first one I owned. I was 11 going on twelve and about to take Confirmation.

My paternal grandmother made me a little suit in sugar pink, and I remember the exasperation of both my Mum and grandmother when I insisted upon the skirt being made very short. 

The photograph was taken before entering the church, and I am standing in front of my Dad's blue Citroën Ami 8.


Last year, while I was sifting through the contents of my Mum's sewing box, I came across the buttons to this dress - spares, I presume, although I wonder why there are so many - together with a reel of pink sewing thread.



Back to the future. Or better, the past, as these photos were all taken last week! 

Here's what I was wearing beneath the fake fur. The light wasn't very flattering upstairs in our spare room, but there was no way I was going to strip to my dress and cardie outside!


I switched my boots to my vintage fur-edged slippers, which were keeping my feet warm and toasty.

The dress is one of my warmest too, made from a polyester/wool blend. Its groovy and colourful print means it can be combined with almost any colour under the sun. 


I couldn't decide, so I wore mustard opaques, a green belt and lilac beads. The belt was on its last legs, with the upper layer peeling away, so this was actually its very last wear.

Phoebe is watching procedures from her perch on my laptop. She's the real princess here, you know!


Sunday brought a marginal improvement in the weather, but there was still enough wind to ruffle our resident robin's feathers.


Before leaving for a family commitment in the afternoon, I had to show you what I was wearing.

This pink long-sleeved dress with its round colour and row of purely decorative buttons down the front (thankfully, it closes with a back zipper!) doesn't get nearly enough wear. I always think the colour is too pale on me, especially in Winter, but combining it with purple and orange, which both feature in the print, seems to do the trick.


I opted for purple opaques and burgundy booties.


A long necklace made of multi coloured beads and a white plastic flower brooch were added for good measure.


Meanwhile, Dove Cottage's garden is waiting for Spring. Nothing much is happening yet.

A stone dove sits patiently among the first leaves of the ground covering geranium. The bird bath's water has frozen, trapping some of the rampant ivy, which seems to find its way through ancient stone, wrapping its tendrils around rusty metal. You've got to admire its tenacity!

Here's to hoping we have finally waved goodbye to Winter!

Linking to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style as usual. Do go and check out the other visible girls!



35 comments:

  1. You've chosen some lovely outfits but my very favourite came right at the end, I really love the pink and orange, it looks stunning together.
    It's been warmer here this weekend, enough to do a bit of gardening today, first time this year.
    Have a good week. xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! The weather's been a bit up and down here but, thankfully, no more sub-zero temperatures! xxx

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  2. I suspect many shops employ people that aren't experts at recognising vintage and just can't tell the reproductions. I'm glad you found the beautiful dress suit-that's my favourite.

    The picture of you as a child is so sweet-and how lovely to find the buttons and thread after all these years.

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    1. It's my favourite too. I'd forgotten all about my first suit, but immediately recognized the buttons. xxx

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  3. Ugh, it bothers me when vintage items are mislabeled. I see so many 90s and 80s things labeled as 60s and older! And the prices? Do not get me started!

    I love the new suit/dresses - the first one is my favourite because I love the matchy fabric in the jacket, but I love the cut of the top on the second one, and that blue is so bright! Happy week, Ann!

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    1. The first one's my favourite too, and I think the top of the second one would make a perfect blouse. I'm not too keen on how the dress looks on me ... xxx

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  4. Oh my! You always score such great pieces! By far my favourite is that blue suit dress with the pussy bow blouse...SO Peggy from Mad Men! A close second is the last pink dress you're wearing. I adore the colours on you.

    What an adorable sassy photo of you as a kid.

    While it looks like spring outside here it doesn't feel like it one bit. That's okay, I'm stuck inside with the flu anyhow.

    Suzanne

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    1. Poor you, hope your flu's over and done with by now! I never liked that photo of me as a girl, until now. xxx

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  5. Isn't it funny how we remember our dad's cars? I can even remember some of the registration plates. You looked very smart with your matching handbag and gloves.
    The pink and orange frock is very fetching indeed on you, you should give it an airing more often.
    Phoebe looks transfixed! Xxx

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    1. I can remember the registration plate too, if only because here in Belgium it didn't change when you bought a new car, until quite recently. So, my dad had the same registration plate for years! xxx

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  6. Oooh that funky dress with suit jacket is gorgeous! Sorry to hear that you are not done with winter. I don't blame you for not going outside for the last outfit post!

    I hope that patient stone dove warms up soon!

    Happy thrifting ;)

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    1. Thank you, and that is actually my favourite too! Stone dove has been joined by stone chicken in the meantime. It was hidden away in a corner, and I'd actually forgotten about it completely ...

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  7. since last weekend i´m sure spring its on its way!
    fabulous dress suits! both are cool & chic, but my fav is the maritime one in blue/white/red! you could take both on a week long trip and even can wear them criss-cross for a more casual look.....
    the actual worn dresses speak spring to me with that gorgeous colors - perfect enhanced with your stylings! i think i have that furry cardi in dust pink.....
    super sweet picture of you in the pink suit - well done to insist on the short skirt - cool kid! must have been moving to find the yarn and buttons!
    tons of hugs! xxxxx

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    1. p.s.: give princess phoebe a kiss from me! xx

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    2. The blue/white/red one is my favourite, as it looks better on me than the other one. I wish I still had the pink suit, just so that I could take it out and look at it from time to time ... Oh, and attempting to kiss Phoebe is quite a hazard! xxx

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  8. A good dress suit can be hard to find, you've had good luck! I love the childhood photo. See, you had firm ideas about your own style from early on. X

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    1. Thank you! You're right, I had firm ideas of how I wanted to look from very early on! xxx

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  9. So many fabulous photos, Ann! My fave would have to be of you as a girl! I love both of your new dress suits! You always find the coolest things! ;) I love your long-sleeved pink dress. I think it looks great on you and of course you've styled it perfectly! ;) I especially love the necklace and ring. Kisses to Phoebe! XXX

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    1. I'm sorry to tell you that Phoebe might look adorable, she isn't very huggable! I'm always surprised on how well the pink long-sleeved dress looks on me ... xxx

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  10. Replies
    1. Thank you, and thanks for visiting my blog! xxx

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  11. I really enjoy your weekend adventures. I remember my dad's car from when I was that age too - a yellow chevrolet convertible. I can see where you learned your love of dress suits! xox

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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  12. I love your first dress suit- so pretty! I love the things you find-they suit you so much! Our heating is still broken so am still wearing ALLLL the clothes!

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    1. Thank you Kezzie! I've just read your latest post and was glad to read that your heating has now been fixed. xxx

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  13. That red and blue dress suit is ace - though I feel your frustration at the overpriced and/or modern items. No wonder the charity shop didn't sell much - that's what they get for racking their prices up.

    Finding those pink buttons must have taken you straight back to your first suit.

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    1. That particular charity shop is notorious for its crazy prices. They once had a vintage mirror we liked but it was priced at € 40. We walked away and after a couple of months it was still there, reduced to € 12, at which point we pounced! xxx

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  14. wowww, those suits are absolutely awesome!, I'm (particularly) in love with the first one, even if it's difficult to decide which one is better. The fancy pocket square is so cute!
    I can imagina that little suit in sugar pink!, so cute, and I'm glad that you insisted in a short skirt!, groovy you!
    Love your warm polyester dress, colorful and pretty, and it looks very nice with mustard tights!. Also lovely pink dress, with those orange and purple accents, you know how to enhance a print!
    besos & sol

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    1. Thank you Monica! I remember I had several fitting settions at my grandmother's, and I kept on telling her to make it shorter ... xxx

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  15. Wow that suit is so lovely! I think what makes it so special is the jacket edging trimmed with the suit material and of course the lovely combination of colours. I loved the other suit too and your little pink suit is so sweet - and so were/are you!

    I love the pink dress with the orange and lilac it really zings! And the first dress is lovely too; I really like how you contrast your colours. What a fab fur coat it must be so warm.I have been looking for a fur coat for years and I must find one soon...

    We've had a few ruffled robins in our garden of late - roll on Spring weather. We've had glimpses of it but not enough!

    Hope you're having a good week.
    xxx

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    1. It seems the first suit is firm favourite with most people - including me! That first coat was bought on a whim on a mild Winter's day last year, and it was only € 10! xxx

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  16. That fake fur doesn't half suit you! I love the two suits as well, what cracking finds, so funky!
    I shan't tell Jon that Jos took photos of you from inside the kitchen, he'll be doing the same - which means moving all the clutter from the window sill - he doesn't half moan about taking my photo sometimes!
    I love the ruffled robin and lovely Phoebe, she's a beauty.
    How fab is that photo of young Ann? Just lovely! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix! I must say that Jos never moans about taking my photos ... maybe you should tell Jon that! I never liked that photo of me as a girl much, maybe because I was awful at posing ... xxx

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  17. I must say I love this pink dress on you, it suits you really well! And of course I am a fan of the orange cardigan. The colorful dress with yellow tights is another favorite! And both dress suits are perfect - I can't pick one. Do you have a favorite?

    Little Ann looks so adorable and snappy in her pink suit!!! Very stylish indeed, in that short skirt. And I love the photo of your resident robin!

    Hope it gets warm for gardening soon! Cold and windy - brr, enough of that! <3 <3 <3

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    1. Thank you Natalia. Last time I wore the pink dress, it was with berry colours, but I actually prefer it with orange! Our resident robin is a cheeky little fellow! xxx

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