Monday 18 February 2019

Cats and skirts

You might have noticed that I've been wearing a lot of skirts lately.  Well, I've got quite a selection of them in my wardrobe - some of them unworn! - and as I keep finding new ones at an alarming rate, I thought it was time I stopped neglecting them and give them an outing.

Remember the "curtain couture" skirt I bought back in December? It was the print which persuaded me to take it home, although I wasn't a fan of its rather shapeless cut and poor finish.

Nevertheless, I decided to give it a go last Friday. As the skirt isn't lined, I needed to wear a half slip underneath. I'm still not totally convinced, so it's currently in the naughty corner until I've made up my mind.

I shopped my wardrobe for this delightful blouse printed with orange tabby cats and then added some cat related accessories, even if the cats in question were of the bigger variety. Note the watch with its leopard print strap, and the Tiger's Eye pendant I picked up at last month's flea market.


My outfit was completed with a wide golden belt and a two-tone brown ring.

In spite of the symphony - or should that be cacophony - of cats I was wearing, I was fully expecting my limelight to be eclipsed by the real thing, as we were cat-sitting Abby that day. 

Abby is a British Shorthair, and her usual personnel, Jos's son and daughter-in-law, Kris and Carolien, were away for an overnight stay, leaving her on her own for the very first time.



Unlike Phoebe, she loves posing and, with her dense dove grey fur and amazing orange eyes, she has star quality in abundance. But make no mistake: she is quite a diva!


We'd planned to make use of the lofty proportions of Kris and Carolien's living room to take some outfit photos, but needless to say it turned into a full-on photo session starring the delightful Abby!

Aww, isn't she cute?


How could I possibly compete with that?



I was wearing chocolate brown boots, charity shopped last year (see close-up here) and wore a red, pink-edged, cardigan on top. I've included the brooch I pinned to it in the collage below.


Kris and Carolien's house has the kitchen/dining area on the ground floor, with the living room immediately above it on the first floor. There's a large panel of reinforced glass on the living room floor, through which the kitchen can be glimpsed. 




Having no head for heights, walking on the glass panel makes my legs turn to jelly, but Abby doesn't seem bothered by it in the least.


Now, let's make a little jump to Saturday!

Although I haven't worn it for ages, I've had the skirt I was wearing on Saturday for many years. It's a grey wool Paisley print A-line skirt with a single front pleat. Its label mentions a shop in Vienna.


Except for the tights, everything I'm wearing here was either charity shopped or picked up at flea markets. 

The ring was rescued from the bag of jewellery donated by my friend's daughter. I kept most of the rings as they are exactly my size for once. Having small hands and fingers, rings are often too big for me.


The cardigan, in confusing greens, blues and turquoises (for me, that is!), has a Paisley-esque print which I thought went well with the vibe of the skirt.

To tie in with Friday's cat theme, I added the big cat brooch which I found at December's flea market. Several people thought it was Erstwilder, and it uncannily does look like some of their designs but, not being marked, I'm pretty sure it's a rip-off.



Both the wide turquoise belt belt and the beaded necklace, originally from H&M, were charity shopped.  

I used to have the same necklace, bought retail many years before, but I sold it at the very first flea market we participated in, back in 2009.

Why ever I decided to get rid of it remains a mystery, but suffice to say I was glad to spot its sister on the charity shop's jewellery display a couple of months ago.


My outfit's final item is another one that's been in my wardrobe forever. This black Diolen blouse was one of my earliest Think Twice buys, and I've always been smitten with its print of stripes and flowers, which include splashes of light blue and turquoise.

Its got three-quarter length sleeves with slits at the cuffs and the most gorgeous pearly buttons which are hard to catch on camera.

This is the outfit I'm linking to Patti's Visible Monday  and Mica's Weekday Wear Linkup this week, although I was sorely tempted to link Abby!


37 comments:

  1. The cat brooch might be a Lea Stein... thank you for many inspiring blog posts.

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    1. Thanks for the suggestion, Leen, but I don't think it's a Lea Stein, although she has very similar designs. As far as I know, her brooches have a rather distinct V-shaped clasp and are usually marked, and mine has neither ... xxx

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  2. The perfect blouse for cat-sitting!
    What a beauty Abby is, look at her amber eyes and deliciously snuggly coat and Jos looks right at home on that recliner. Did Phoebe pick up her scent and sniff you madly when you got home? Ours are devils for strange cat smells!
    I love your cat brooch and that snazzy paisley cardi.
    I have weeks of wearing skirts, I quite like the challenge of finding tops to go with them. xxx

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    1. Phoebe is quite immune to strange cat smells, unlike our previous cat. But then she is the greatest diva of them all, knowing fully well that the world turns around her! xxx

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  3. I love all the cat-themed items in your outfits, especially that fun blouse, the tiger-eye pendant and the brooch, but yes, Abby does steal the show. What a gorgeous creature she is!

    I would put the top skirt in the donate pile if the quality is poor - the pattern is cool, but it reads very seasonal/Christmas to me, and doesn't photograph that well (I often toss patterns because they don't come out well in pictures). I love that blouse in the bottom outfit.

    Wishing you a good week ahead, my dear!

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    1. I'm inclined to agree with you on the skirt, Sheila. I love the pattern, but it's been very basically handmade, and it just doesn't have any shape to it. Donate pile it is, then! xxx

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  4. Abby's gorgeous though I'm not surprised to hear she's a diva. British Blues can be very snooty - I used to cat-sit for one too and she was a right madam, despite her name being Cutie.

    Loving the "confusing" cardi, (blue and green should always be seen in my book, and the stripey/floral blouse is fab.

    I think the brooch might be a Lea Stein too. It's difficult to say for sure not seeing it close up but the type of acetate it's made from makes me think it could be the genuine article, in which case, well scored!

    .

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    1. Blue and green should always be seen in my book as well, Fig! Alas, I don't think the brooch is the real thing. It's a convincing rip-off, but no. No V-shaped clasp, and no markings whatsoever. I still love it, though! xxx

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  5. I do love cats-and they seem to like me, though I am severly allergic. I am grateful for all the cats of the internet ;)

    Love both outfits, but that second blouse is fantastic in particular.

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    1. Thanks Goody! Glad to oblige on the cat front. That second blouse is one of my favourites. xxx

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  6. Phoebe is a diva :)) So cute! Cute like your blouse with the little cat print. This first outfit is my favorite Ann.
    A very huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina, and I do think all cats are divas! xxx

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  7. even if I love this 'curtain couture' skirt with the cool geometric print, I totally agree that Abby has stolen the show! she's gorgeous! look at her eyes and magnificent attitude!. Love that you picked some cat-themed accessories, so delightful and funny!, your cats blouse is fantastic!!
    Love your doubled paisley ensemble, totally in love with your cardigan and the cool turquoise details all around. Lovely brooch too and totally fab blouse (its print is such a classic!)
    besos

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    1. Thank you Monica! Even my cat blouse couldn't compete with gorgeous Abby! And now she's got fans all over the world as well ;-) xxx

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  8. no one can compete with such a pretty cat! :-D
    love both outfits for the whimsical vibes - the cats, the pattern mixing and the rainbow of colors. i have a very soft spot for printed cardis, but its hard to find them here in the 2.hand shops - esp. in my size - ahem..... :-D
    big warm hug! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! I don't really find that many printed cardigans either. But if you tell me your size, I will look out for you here. You can email me ... xxx

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    2. i lost your adress in the computer chaos a had in january (beside of many other stuff - grrr) can you write me an email so that i have your contact again????
      please?
      xxxxx

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  9. Those are some excellent skirts - I do like the print on the 'curtain couture' one.

    Abby is a real star, isn't she? I love British shorthairs, they're naturally chubby.

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    1. Thank you Mim! I agree on the print, but the poor "couture" does let it down! xxx

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  10. All the skirts are lovely. The pattern on the 'curtain couture' skirt is lovely and I just think it needs taking in slightly to fit you perfectly. I don't how much it would cost to have it done as I know you're not a sewer, like myself! The cat blouse is superb; love the diagonally striped background. You're the second blogger I've seen this week wearing double paisley and you both look fabulous in it. Lovely accessories as always.

    I do hope Abby appreciated the effort you went to with your cat theme!I don't think I've ever seen this breed of cat before; magnificent - those eyes! Her fur reminds of astrakhan!

    I don't like heights either - they make legs go to jelly, too!

    Hope you have a lovely sunny week.
    xxx

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    1. I presume the skirt could be taken in slightly, but it's just such an awkward shape and poorly executed that I'm not sure it is worth having done. Still thinking about it, as I love the print so much ... xxx

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  11. You may not be sure about that skirt Ann but I think it's stunning. I absolutely love it, it's right up my street.
    Abby is a beauty, those eyes!!
    Hope the weather there is as good as it is here this week xxx

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    1. Thank you Sally. I'm still on the fence about that skirt. If I was in any way handy with a needle, it might be possible to remake it, I guess. xxx

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  12. Amber and I absolutely love your blouse with the orange tabby cats, Ann! ;) It's gorgeous! I love the skirt you've paired it with and your cat themed accessories! Such a fabulous outfit! Abby is such a cutie and very photogenic! Still not as cute as Phoebe and Amber though! ;) Hope you're having a great week so far! XXX

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    1. By rights, that blouse should be yours, if I can have your top with black cats ;-) xxx

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  13. Gosh, I just love your pattern play, Ann! I wish I had your eye for that. 💕

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    1. Thank you Sherry! I love playing with pattern, I never knew I had an eye for it. xxx

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  14. Returning the visit - many, many thanks for your lovely comments. Lovely styles and what a beautiful cat. Hope you'll join me again for the #chicandstylish #linkup which is every Thursday. Jacqui Mummabstylish

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    1. Thank you for the return visit, Jacqui. If all goes well, I'll be joining you on Thursday! xxx

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  15. Oh what an adorable cat! :) So lovely you got to cat sit. I like both outfits although I think the second one is my favourite - it's a very cute skirt! :)


    Thank you so much for joining the #weekdayWearLinkUp :)

    Hope that your week is going well and you have a nice weekend ahead of you!

    Away From The Blue

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    1. Thank you Mica! I love cats, so cat sitting is never a chore! The second outfit is my favourite too! xxx

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  16. Oh I love the print mixing and the pops of color with the accessories. And Abby looks so much like my cat Sophie!

    Allie of
    www.allienyc.com

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  17. My goodness Abby is a beauty, haven't we seen her before? Love your paisley skirt Ann, unlike you I rarely wear skirts unless it's winter and I can wear boots as my legs are hideous! Xx

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  18. Abby is beautiful! She looks very much like Nero, our third ever cat!!!
    The brooch looks very like Lea Stein- definitely not an Erstwilder design from what I can tell but I do know there are lots of rip offs of Lea Stein designs so it might be one of those. But I wouldn't put it past you to find a Lea Stein cheap!

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  19. Abby is adorable!
    Is the skirt still in the naughty corner? (that did make me chuckle)
    xx

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