Tuesday 7 August 2018

Spending warm summer days indoors


Ready for today's flea market!

When I posted this on Facebook two weeks ago on Saturday, a friend remarked: again? Well yes, but this time we were browsing, not selling!



With the temperature into the high twenties, it was, in all fairness, a bit too hot to browse, but we were not to be deterred: not counting the one outside our front door, it had been far too long since our last flea market!


Dressed in a vintage maxi skirt in citrus colours, topped by a green embroidered peasant-style blouse - a sales bargain from New Look - with short, scalloped trumpet sleeves protecting my shoulders from the sun and, of course, my arms, neck and face slathered in sun screen, I was definitely ready for a good old browse, regardless of the weather.

The comfy sandals are Clarks - bought in the sales while on holiday - and doesn't that colourful raffia bag remind you of those 1970s raffia trivets?


Further accessories, or rather, necessities, were a hat, to which I added a floral hair band to make it more interesting, my trusty pair of sunglasses and a bottle of water.

The multicoloured wooden triangle bracelet was one of my first buys, and adding it to the others I was already wearing seemed the obvious thing to do. Incidentally, the ivory coloured elephant bangle was found at the same flea market last year, while the green bracelet was brought back from Shropshire.


We'd hardly made a start when who did we run into but Jos's daughter! I think she loves flea markets even more than we do!


It wasn't a huge market, but with just the right amount of stalls not to be overwhelming, and enough variation to keep our interest piqued.



By the time we'd found a spot under some trees, well away from the crowds, to eat our picnic, our finds included a necklace, a short-sleeved top and ... space man! This demented looking little robot, its original box a tiny bit faded, still manages a couple of jerky steps when its rusty key is turned.


At a stall selling all manner of vintage picture postcards, I bought a few of these 1970s cuties. I would have loved to browse this stall some more, but as it was in full sun, without any protective awning, it was far too hot to stand still for longer than a couple of minutes.


After lunch, in the final row of stalls, I found two more necklaces, both of which have been worn already, as well as a vintage frock, which only cost € 2 but needed its buttons replaced. Nothing me and my stash of vintage buttons could not handle!

In the week after the flea market, the temperature climbed steadily towards the mid thirties.

I'd bought Maggie O'Farrell's Instructions for a Heatwave, which is set in the summer of 1976, on a rainy day in Wales last year. She is one of my favourite authors, and I've been keeping this novel in my reading pile ever since, waiting for the right moment.


Well, what better moment can there be but now, being faced with a heatwave of similar proportions, 42 years later?

"The heat, the heat. It inhabits the house like a guest who has outstayed its welcome: it lies along corridors, it circles around curtains, it lolls heavily on sofas and chairs."

What a delicious and apt description. It could have been written with Dove Cottage in mind!

The blinds here are permanently drawn, only letting in a minimum amount of light through its dotted chinks, and the curtains in our bedroom remain closed until the evening brings some relative coolness. We are actually living in semi-darkness!

Standing in front of my wardrobe, I am faced with a problem: a serious lack of cotton frocks! It's not that I don't have any, but the choice is pretty limited. After all, there has been many a Summer when they do not even make a single appearance!


The rail of colourful Diolen frocks is looking at me reproachfully, but obviously they are out of bounds in this kind of weather.

Handmade from a sturdy cotton, the floral frock I bought at The Looking Glass in Bridgnorth seemed the perfect choice. I added a shell necklace - also bought while on holiday - and a brooch featuring seashells and flowers. Unfortunately, I wasn't very comfortable wearing this: it was surprisingly clingy, and I kept having to adjust the bodice to keep my bra straps from showing, a common occurrence when I'm wearing shift dresses . I'll give it another try when it's less warm, so the jury is still out.


I fared slightly better with this cotton frock, even though it is lined, adding a layer I could have done without by the end of the day. Still, I felt quite cool and collected for most of the day.


Several 1970s floral cotton midi length skirts are gracing my wardrobe, but he problem is what to wear with them in these unusually sweltering temperatures. I hardly have a shortage of blouses and tops, but even those which were the epitome of coolness during past Summers are now sticking to my back by early afternoon.

As luck would have it, the last days of the sales yielded a couple of floaty, butterfly sleeved tops of the wash-and-wear-again variety. This sage green one is from H&M and I love the lacy details at the yoke. The purple necklace was slightly too long, which was easily remedied by knotting it.


But even though I loved wearing this outfit, and it was absolutely fine for a day at my air-conditioned office and a quick dash outside to have coffee with a friend, it wasn't up to my commute home on a tram which should have been put on the scrap heap years ago. At regular intervals, we were only doing 15 kilometers an hour, as the vehicle kept getting overheated. Hot and sweaty, I changed into the play suit I'd bought at Think Twice back in June when I eventually got home.


My next outfit featured the New Look peasant blouse again. This time, I wore it with another one of my cotton 1970s skirts, which has pink, orange, yellow and green florals on a black background.

I added a variety of accessories: a wide black and white woven belt, one of the necklaces from the flea market, orange and floral bangles and an orange plastic flower ring. Oh, and doesn't the vintage Bohemian brooch looks perfect with the blouse?


The skirt came out again the next day, with a different top. When I laid eyes on it on a charity shop rail, I was immediately drawn to its funky print, so even though I wasn't too sure about the elasticated puff sleeves, which usually pinch like hell, it just had to come home with me.

I needn't have worried, as the sleeves were absolutely fine all day.  I did have to remove the label, which was uncomfortably scratchy.


The orchid brooch, which doubles as a necklace, was bought at a flea market back in May, while both the ring and the necklace were charity shopped. 

The half-elasticated orange belt is one of my favourites and has consequently made quite a few appearances on the blog. I have it in navy as well, and both are starting to show some wear and tear. It'll be a sad day when they finally give up the ghost.

There, I'm sure you've had enough of my hot weather outfits for now. I'm sure I have!

I'm linking the groovy top to Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.


38 comments:

  1. That top is indeed groovy. I feel for you in trying to stay cool! In Florida, every darn place is air-conditioned to near-freezing. You have a wonderful selection of frocks, and a great eye for them whilst shopping, xox

    Patti
    http://notdeadyetstyle.com

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    1. Our country just isn't geared for such temperatures but wherever there's air-conditioning, it is indeed near-freezing, which isn't much fun either! xxx

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  2. Ann you have so many wonderful hot weather clothes! I like all styles.
    What a cute mini robot and this heat wave book is very cool :)
    I am sitting and waiting for autumn.
    A very huge hug, Tina

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    1. It has thankfully cooled down, but it's already looking like Autumn out there ... I have to admit that I love Autumn, though! xxx

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  3. You are the girliest girl I know Ann, you always look amazing and have the best outfits. You must be much admired when you are out and about.
    I’m going to have a look at that book as well. I like Maggie Farrell x x x

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    1. Thank you darling! I think I have all of Maggie O'Farrell's books, except her latest. I always wait until I can grab them in the charity shops. xxx

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  4. Hooray for some bright cotton frocks and skirts! : ) We always have hot summers here in Ontario so I know that I'm very limited as to what I can wear, usually I choose silk or linen. It is much harder to source vintage cotton frocks I find. They are almost always 1950s and that is rare to find now.

    When I was in Hong Kong visiting my husband last year we went to the toy museum and they had that robot there, in several different sizes. How fun that you found your own that still works!

    I love that everyone in the family like to shop vintage/thrift. My family is also like that now.

    Stay cool!

    Oh...BTW, you mentioned that Facebook article about charity shopping before, I'd love to read it if you could send me the link. You can email it directly to contact@suzannecarillo.com. Thanks!

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. I was lucky enough to find one or two cotton frocks lately. Haven't got much silk, and no linen at all, I must admit. How fab that you saw the robot in the toy museum! xxx

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  5. Ah yes, the "I need more cotton!" issue that I have also encountered this summer... Like you, I commute on outdated vehicles! (Trains, which are actually buses on rails). I've been mainly wearing dresses to work that I normally reserve for holidays, which sometimes means I'm wearing something 'tropical' and then I feel like I should be sipping cocktails rather than typing at my computer. You have some really marvellous outfits here, love them all. xx

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    1. Glad I'm not the only one! Oh, the joys of public transport:I travelled on a tram which had its heating on in the middle of the heatwave! Had to get off after a couple of stops or I would have fainted. xxx

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  6. And here I am, in yet another cardigan (sorry!), and my toes are freezing in our air-conditioned office. I'm sure I'll be very sweaty on my walk home, though.

    Fun finds - those 70s postcards take me back - and glad to see you out on the hunt again! It makes me feel better to see someone else who shops as a regular pastime!

    Sending you cool ocean breezes! I hope things get less sweaty soon!

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    1. I've been wearing cardigans as well ever since the temperature dropped last week ... Thanks for the cool ocean breezes ;-) xxx

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  7. This post is a feast for the eyes Ann! You're wearing so many fab outfits.
    Your jumpsuit looks just perfect for this weather, I may need to read instructions for a heatwave too - I've been melting today! xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally! Not much good advice in that book, I'm afraid! xxx

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  8. You certainly made the best of bad weather with some lovely outfits. I've always lived in places with very hot, humid summers but this year seems to be above and beyond anything I've ever seen, and obviously it is a worldwide issue.

    A swimsuit can work with a cotton skirt, though probably not in an office. Hope you cool down soon.

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    1. It's cooled down, thankfully! Typically, just when I'd found some nice cotton stuff! xxx

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  9. glad that you stay cool and fabulous even in a heatwave!, I love your peasant-like blouse and the bracelets in your first outfit and totally agree on wearing a hat and having a bottle of water on hand!. Lovely fair and lovely purchases (as usual!), I like particularly the necklaces, the tin robot in its box, and the postcards (so 70's!)
    You really don't look like having a lack of summery outfits!, your dresses look fabulous (I love particularly the striped one!) and you're also rocking in your separates. This skirt is lovely! and looks really stunning with both blouses. And you look so cute and cool in your jumpsuit!!
    Glad that it's cooling finally!
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! Trying to wear more separates, so I needed a couple of cool tops to wear with my skirts! Mission accomplished, only now it has cooled down! Typical, isn't it? xxx

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  10. Isn't flea market shopping the best? That robot is adorable. And I love all the colorful printed outfits you put together. You're a walking work of art for sure! I especially like that peasant blouse with the floral 70s skirt.
    Theresa

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    1. Aw,thank you Theresa! That's such a sweet thing to say! xxx

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  11. So many of us needed instructions for a heatwave this year. Like you I have been living in semi darkness and struggling to sleep even with all the windows open. Love the robot and your description of it! Xx

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    1. Thank you Fiona! Not much fun living in semi darkness in the middle of Summer, isn't it? Glad you love the robot and my description! xxx

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  12. interesting how vintage this new bought tops look - the style has arrived mainstream for sure.
    despite your struggles to cloth yourself - you look chic and colorful as ever! meanwhile you´r mixing patterns even without mentioning it :-D and your accessories are always worth a second look - love the bracelets esp..
    i´m glad i do not have to work in an office. i can do in a bikini or playsuit in my "atelier" and the garden.... but now i´m paler then in june because i try to be mostly in the shade :-D
    but it changes at the moment - the air tastes different since last sunday!
    hugs!!! xxxxx

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    1. I'm still quite pale as well, especially my legs. They don't seem to tan as well as my arms. But I don't actually mind being pale at all ... Oh, and now that I've embraced pattern mixing, I can't seem to stop ;-) xxx

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  13. There are so many fabulous outfits in this post, Ann! You look great in all of them! I really can't choose a favourite, because they all have such gorgeous prints and colours and wonderful accessories! I especially love the colourful raffia bag. I also love the way you've knotted that pretty purple necklace. Hope you're having a great week and keeping cool! ;) XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha! That raffia bag is quite something isn't it? And I often put a knot in long necklaces ... xxx

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  14. That little robot is AMAZING! Urgh this heat thankfully it has broken this week, but sadly not for long if the weather men are to be believed. We sleep with a fan aimed across the foot of the bed it really helps.

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    1. Thankfully it has cooled down to more reasonable temperatures. It was plus 30 degrees in our bedroom ... xxx

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  15. Long periods of heat are too much for such northern creature as myself. I could never look as put together (to the tiniest detail!) as you do in such conditions. If it's way too hot and I have to make a public appearance, hehe, I just put on a cotton dress and flip-flops or maybe flat sandals... when it's hot, everything feels hot to me, even cotton. I'd prefer being naked - go swimming or just staying at home under AC. Outside, especially in the city... oy! I am glad that we don't have extreme heat here! There were a few days over 90 F (maybe close to 35 C), but it is usually cool in the evenings.

    I love your colorful dresses, tops and skirts, both vintage and new ones. And isn't your Bohemian brooch looking perfect with that blouse?

    Stay cool!

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    1. Thank you Natalia! I try to accessorize whatever the weather, but obviously I was looking less put together by the end of the day. And we didn't take any outfit photos on the very hottest days! xxx

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  16. You find the best things at flea markets. That robot is deffo the best of the best! (I need to get my robot out again; he hasn't had an outing for a while.)

    Our heatwave has finally broken and I'm actually quite glad to see the back of it, though pleased to have some rain again.

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    1. They had quite a few of these wind-up toys, but we had our hearts set on that robot! You got to love him, don't you? xxx

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  17. Fabulous outfits, buys and accessories! There is nothing like cotton in the heat. As the temperature here in Donegal have ranged from 13 to 18 degrees over the past couple of weeks I'm still wearing layers!
    xxxxx

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    1. What a difference in temperature! Now surely that's quite cool for the time of year? Although I must say I was longing for such temperatures when it was 35 degrees and more ... xxx

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  18. Thank god it's cooled down a bit! Love the first beaded bag Ann. That's really beautiful xx

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    1. I can't say I'm sad that it has cooled down either, Laurie! I even relished the rain! xxx

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  19. I almost purchased that green top from New Look too!
    I love the little robot, I used a photograph of one very similar for some advertising at my old job, it's nice to see him again.
    I love your playsuit, and was the book good? It does seem like the perfect time to read it.
    xx

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    1. What a coincidence about the robot! Oh, and the book is good, but I don't think it's Maggie O'Farrell's best. It's got a bit of an open ending ... My favourite of hers is The hand that first held mine! xxx

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