Monday 12 June 2017

Reds are sweet and greens are sour

Although it was in no way deliberate, there seemed to be a red theme going on this weekend.

On Saturday, I wore a red Diolen dress bought from Think Twice two years ago.

I only realized afterwards that it was the dress I wore when travelling to Wales last year.


The dress has a green and white flower print, which was the inspiration for my accessories: a green vinyl belt with round buckle (Think Twice), a string of green beads (Veritas, a haberdashery and accessories chain), a white vintage bangle (charity shop) and a red bracelet bought on the high street.


The bracelet is one of my favourites, reminding me of those gorgeous Venetian Millefiori paperweights.

The ring I wore is a white metal, one size fits all one, and has a green oval shaped stone mottled with pink. If I remember correctly, I found it at a flea market.


I wore a pair of new-to-me red shoes, from Spanish label Brako Anatomics. They came from Oxfam, which I visited after I'd been to the hairdresser's for a cut and colour on Wednesday afternoon. They still had their original price tag of € 105,- but they were mine for € 10.


They looked like candidates for Wales, so I tried them out to go charity shopping on Saturday. The jury's still out on them though, as I ended up with red toes and heels after wearing them.

As an aside, I was rather chuffed when Kristel, one of the volunteers at Oxfam, who is following my blog, greeted me with "Hello, Princess!".


You have probably noticed my hat, and might have wondered if it was new. But no, it's the hat I found at the antiques market at the castle back in April.

While popping into town, I came across some cheap elastic hairbands with flowers, and thought they might make great hat bands. And they do. And I can change them according to my mood, too!

On Saturday afternoon, we visited a charity shop near Antwerp's airport, one we only visit about once a year.

I was in luck, as I found a belt and some jewellery.


The mottled yellow bangle is probably Bakelite!

I also found a gorgeous crepe jacket, which I will be showing you later in this post.



The red theme continued on Sunday. The forecast was for humid weather, so I pulled a cotton button through vintage skirt out of my wardrobe. It's midi length and printed with white daisies on a black background, with three rows of white rick rack near the hem. And pockets!

I combined it with a red top (bought in the sales a couple of years ago), a wide red belt, a string of black and white vintage beads (both Think Twice, as is the skirt), and black Clarks wedge sandals (Oxfam).


This chap and his friends, together with a cheeky pair of blackbirds, have been plundering our white currant bush for the last couple of weeks. They didn't seem to mind that the currants were still a bit greenish, but we did, so until now, we were unable to pick our fair share.


Since they are slowly beginning to ripen, becoming almost transluscent, with a faint blush, they are finally ready to eat. Or at least, some of them are. We managed to pick enough to add to our breakfast fruit salad for a couple of days.


Another one of our garden heroes, a red Pelargonium, has survived winter in its pot which is hanging from our little potting shed. It has finally developed lots of flower buds, some of which are already showing a hint of red. Maybe we get to see the first of its flowers before we leave?


While our little garden table was still firmly in the shade, I took a sewing project outside.

I am going to take this peignoir, which I dug out from the bottom of our linen chest (I had forgotten all about it), to Wales, but the buttons needed replacing, as they were far too small and slippery and refused to stay closed (you can see one of the original buttons next to card with the "new" ones).



These slightly faded rose coloured vintage buttons from my stash are bigger and a perfect match for the peignoir's blowsy flowers and the ribbon decorating its cute heart-shaped pocket.



While our winter pansies refuse to give up flowering, the showy flower heads in our hydrangea are slowly taking on a bluish hue, almost as if shouting: never mind those silly little flowers, look at us!

In a shady corner, lady's mantle (Alchemilla mollis) is feeling quite at home, with its soft green scalloped leaves framing frothy yellow-green flowers.

Finally, here is the crepe jacket I found on our charity shopping trip.


It is from King Louie, and still for sale on their webshop for € 99,95.


Guess what I paid? € 4!

With its great cut and flattering shape (I especially love its slightly flouncy back), I'm sure it's going to be a wardrobe staple this summer!


35 comments:

  1. I love your red dress and it really suits you. The black skirt with red shirt looks great too.
    It's amazing that you have ripe currents, we are far behind here. We do have some ripe gooseberries but the blackbirds are already eyeing them up and may well beat me to them.
    Your crepe jacket was quite a find and a great bargain xxx

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    1. I am amazed you have ripe gooseberries, though. Ours are just starting to blush (they are the red variety), so I fear they will all be eated by the blackbirds while we are on holiday ... xxx

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  2. Wow, what a bargain on that jacket! I am aware of the brand but haven't purchased anything from them. Perhaps the red is subconsciously chosen for Wales? You'd blend in on a rugby day! X

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    1. I never thought of that, but you might be right! xxx

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  3. I love that spotty skirt, such a good length on you. Those red shoes look lovely but don't risk sore toes. You don't want unhappy feet on your hols!
    I don't know that make but the jacket looks fab, what a saving!
    Your garden is looking fantastic, so many white currants. Those pigeons are so greedy, one's almost demolished an entire suet block in front of us this afternoon. xxx

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    1. The shoes, although initially they did not pinch, just give off colour, aren't coming with me. I wore them to work, and they started pinching by the end of the day ... Those pigeons are greedy indeed, and they have become so used to us they don't even fly off when we open our back door! xxx

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  4. Love that red and green dress, but the button front skirt is really wonderful. I was wondering if they sell "Peds" in Belgium? They're a small almost boat-shaped sheer stocking that only covers from toe to heel. They wouldn't be noticeable in the shoe, but would spare you the red toes. If you can't find them, I'd be happy to send you some though they wouldn't get there in time for your trip.

    I hate doing it, but netting is the only way to keep the birds off berries, but you have to be willing to free the trapped birds that gave it a try anyway. It looks like they left you some, so perhaps sharing is the way to go. Sometimes a tray of raisins nearby can convince them to say off the berries.

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    1. I went out and bought some of those socks that very same day, so thanks for the tip. The shoes won't be coming with me though ... Oh, and we have been sharing our berries for years ... xxx

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  5. the most colorful post of the week!!
    going from down up: i think the cool blue jacket sceams for thin belts in the color of the dress underneath - or the dress´ own belt :-)
    our hydrangeas are still green - but your climate is much milder over winter... this year i have pelargoniums for the first time - BW rescued them from the supermarket bin! pink ones!
    that peignoir is supersweet - very good choice of buttons!
    your white berries look yummi - i definitely need such a bush on our new won land!
    fab idea with the hair/hatbands! to break the shoes in make them wet and wear with cotton socks at home for a while, then stuff with newspaper over night/until dry. or use the wooden things called "schuhspanner" with just a thick layer of paper :-)
    love all your armcandy - and both outfits - the black skirt is something i have to sew in the future - in a b&w color theme of cause. so chic!
    tons of hugs! xxxxx

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    1. Good idea about the belt, will definitely try it out. Our hydrangeas are more developed than this time last year, when they only looked like that when we came home from holiday ... xxx

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  6. You've got some lovely outfits going on there Ann and I love the spotty skirt. the hydrangea flowers are so pretty, I'm waiting for ours to start flowering xx

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    1. Thank you Liza. I'm wearing the skirt again today. xxx

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  7. Loving the spotty skirt also, and the red shoes are fun, I hope they stop rubbing soon. It's so uplifting to get home from work and venture out in the garden where there's something new to see every day at this time of year. Alchemical Mollis is a fave of mine, great for cutting and using to add to a garden bouquet of roses etc.
    Have fun in Wales and hope you stay dry.xx
    .

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  8. Loving the spotty skirt also, and the red shoes are fun, I hope they stop rubbing soon. It's so uplifting to get home from work and venture out in the garden where there's something new to see every day at this time of year. Alchemical Mollis is a fave of mine, great for cutting and using to add to a garden bouquet of roses etc.
    Have fun in Wales and hope you stay dry.xx
    .

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    1. Thank you Fiona! I love how Alchemilla mollis self seeds everywhere in our garden, even in cracks between the paving. They are a real cottage garden staple. xxx

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  9. Wood pigeons are SO greedy! Ours would eat everything on the bird feeders if they could get away with it...

    I love your red shoes and the outfits are all beautiful and look fabulous on you. The blue crepe jacket is wonderful, looks gorgeous on you and what a bargain!

    My laptop has just died...

    Have an amazing time in Wales!
    Xxx

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    1. Sorry to hear about your laptop! Hope you'll be able to get a reasonably priced replacement. Have a great time in Ireland! xxx

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  10. I love your green bead necklace and the black and white skirt, I used to have one very similar with little flowers not polka dots.

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    1. Thank you Gisela, and my skirt does have little flowers, which I think are much nicer than polka dots ... xxx

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  11. Isn't that the best darn idea ever? Headbands on hats! I love it!

    I was swooning over your new shoes until I read they gave you sore feet. Isn't that just the way?

    Love that polkadot skirt. Good thing you and I don't thrift together. It could get messy! ; )

    bisous
    Suzanne

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    1. Thank you Suzanne. And I agree that us thrifting together could get messy ... ;-) xxx

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  12. I really like the idea of hairbands as hatbands. Your midi skirt is the stuff my dreams are made of. I'm loving the midi right now, and I make a beeline for anything with pockets. Daisies are one of my favourite flowers too so I'm very envious of this find.
    My winter violas and pansies refused to give up, I had to turf them out to replace them with trailing plants but I think they'd have gone on indefinitely!
    I had to google 'peignoir' :) the buttons look super - buttons can really change how a garment looks. I like buttons almost as much as I like pockets.

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    1. My pansies have been relegated to a forgotten corner in the garden, they'll have to fend for themselves while we're on holiday. I think you would look lovely in my skirt, if ever I come across something similar, I'll get it for you! xxx

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  13. lovely red themed post!, I think you look gorgeous wearing red!. I'm glad that you found those Brako shoes, as they're usually so expensive! (not my fav label, anyway). And your embellished hat looks fabulous!. Lovely black&white skirt too, that's the kind of summery print which cheer up the day!.
    And love all those flowers in your garden, and your crepe jacket looks really cool!
    My little pansies didn't survive our holidays, so now I'm going to plant something more resistant!. It's damn hot these days here!
    besos

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    1. I'm with you on the Brako shoes, Monica, they aren't as comfortable as they look. I'd need to wear them more before they can come on holiday with me ... It's going to be hot here too, but we're off to Wales where it's a little bit cooler ... Besos xxx

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  14. You find the best deals - both the blue jacket and red shoes are lovely! Really nice skirt, I thought it was polka dots, but daisies are even prettier! And red and green dress with your colorful accessories is beautiful! Your hair looks amazing, nicely done! I haven't tried white currant, but red and black currant is very common in Siberia, my Mom grows them in her garden. Currants don't do very well here for some reason, even though most of plants really thrive in this mild and wet climate. Such a pity - I love currant leaves, they make such aromatic tea! <3

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    1. Thank you Natalia. Our white currants are just a variety of the more common red ones, but just as delicious. I'd no idea you could make take from the leaves, though! xxx

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  15. PS Isn't it fun to meet a reader? :)

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  16. It's great when charity shop staff get to know you - they can put aside the good stuff for you 'cos they know you'll give it a good home. I eye up King Louie's stuff online from time to time - they have some great prints - and that jacket was an absolute bargain. You find great things!

    Your red and green is a perfect mix of sweet and sour and therefore in excellent taste.

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    1. I'm taking two King Louie frocks on holiday. They were bought in the sales a couple of years ago. I've also got a winter dress of theirs, which I found in a charity shop. That jacket was such a lucky find, especially since this shop has a separate corner for more expensive labels, yet the jacket was among the "normal" stuff ... xxx

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  17. Enjoy your holiday! I look forward to seeing more photos. I totally agree with packing items that don't require ironing too.I love all your colorful clothes. x
    www.vanityandmestyle.com

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  18. White currants always make me think of Enid Blyton's Faraway books as they are mentioned in that! That first outfit is bloomin amazing, you look stunning! The hat elastics are a really good idea to change a look! I do that with my flower circlets too! Hurrah for Bakelite bargains!

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    1. Thanks Kezzie. I can report that my hair elastic embellished hats received a lot of attention in Wales! xxx

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