Friday 26 July 2019

Too hot to blog

For the last couple of days, Belgium has been in the throes of a record-breaking heatwave. If we were happy to have avoided the first heatwave, which hit Belgium in the last week of June, by escaping to the UK where temperatures were much more bearable, we now had no choice but to bear the full brunt of it.

I'm absolutely no good with hot weather, which renders me rather useless, especially when the mercury rises to 35° Celsius and higher, so my first thought was to go AWOL, as the mere thought of writing the next episode of my travelogue left me exhausted.

But then I had a brainwave! Ever since I'm on Instagram, I've been making the effort of having my outfits photographed on an almost daily basis. And since this blog is outfit-based to begin with, what better opportunity to show you what I've been wearing since my return to the daily grind.


Having returned home on Saturday the 6th of July, I fortunately had two more days to adjust before I was due back at the office on Tuesday. 

For my first post-holiday working day, I wore this green and white floral vintage Hyltea of Sweden dress, which I accessorized with lots of pink. It was a mild Summer's day, not that I remember much of it as I spent it trawling through 700 plus emails and feeling a bit sorry for myself. 


I'd been hunting for a decent denim skirt for a while when I happened upon this button-through one at Think Twice. It had the most hideous buttons, but once again my button stash came up trumps and yielded these navy and white swirly ones which fit the bill perfectly. So much better! 

I was feeling blue and seeing red in more than one way on Wednesday, as even more backlog was generated at work due to the installation of new computers. 

But never mind that, let's have a look at the rest of my outfit! I wore the skirt with a red and white top charity shopped back in June, to which I pinned a vintage carved wooden flower brooch. A navy and white beaded necklace and red woven belt completed that day's outfit.


In spite of the fact that our white currant bush had been ransacked by the resident wood pigeons, there were still more than enough left to add to fruit salads and for Jos to make two pots of jam. We were able to pick some juicy, ruby red gooseberries too!


I hardly ever wear white, but gladly make an exception for white with a flower print. I have several such vintage frocks in my wardrobe, but it had been a while since this one got an outing. I love its unusual blue, brown and black print and the row of three white buttons at the yoke. 

The print's colours were the inspiration for my blue beaded necklace and the brown-bodied cat brooch, which was a gift from the lovely Goody

That was Thursday's outfit sorted!


Friday was a bit of a sad day as we had to go to a funeral. 

In spite of its sunny start, a leaden sky forewarned that a storm was brewing on our way back home. Sure enough, we hadn't been back for long when the heavens opened and we were treated to a torrential curtain of rain, which turned the garden into a jewellery box of raindrops.


I changed out of my funeral get-up into Wednesday's denim skirt, which I now combined with the butterfly sleeve top I bought in a charity shop in Shrewsbury. Suggestions were made as to the origin of the sleeves and both a scarf and a tablecloth were mentioned.

I was wearing my Hotter shoes, which I charity shopped on the same day as the top, for the first time, but the jury is still out on them, as I'm sure they would have given me blisters if I'd worn them for any length of time.


Saturday was hectic as it was spent preparing for the yearly flea market held in our street and the surrounding ones. I hadn't seen most of my stock for nearly a year, so there were quite a few surprises, and as usual one or two frocks might have made it back into my wardrobe ...

We were up around six-ish on Sunday morning, when vendors started arriving in their cars and putting up their stalls. What luxury to just have to open one's front door and bring everything outside!

I was wearing a black maxi dress, its top plain with one or two random flowers, and a huge, full-blown flower print on the skirt. I initially wore a thin, cropped red cardigan, but it turned out to be chillier than expected, so I soon exchanged it for a warmer, green Tricel number.


At first, trade was slow, but soon my rail of colourful vintage clothes attracted quite a few browsers, even if it didn't always result in a sale. I lost track of the number of times I heard the sigh: I wish I had the guts to wear that! 

One lady eagerly rummaged through the clothes, telling me she used to wear vintage all the time, but had stopped doing so. I had a bit of a secret chuckle when I heard her boyfriend/husband remark that now she looked just like everybody else!

My proudest moment came when I had a return visit from a lady who'd bought lots of stuff from me last year. She actually had other plans for the day, but insisted on coming along first. Once again, she left with armfuls of dresses, skirts and tops. She even came back for more at the tail end of the market. 


I was feeling a bit knackered so only made a short foray myself. These five animal themed brooches, all from the same seller, and a moss green corduroy jacket, were my only finds.



Back to work on Monday, although I allowed myself the luxury of making a later start.

I wore a mood-boosting combination of blue and orange. My azure blue and white vintage dress was accompanied by an orange belt, brooch and necklace. The midnight blue jacket sprinkled with orange leaves was a charity shop find from last year, which should definitely come out more.


I strolled to Think Twice during lunch break, just for a browse, but these two vintage frocks insisted on leaving with me. They'll be worn on the blog soon, I promise.


Tuesday's outfit wasn't featured on Instagram. This skirt and blouse combo has already made it to the blog before. I dare anyone not to smile at spying this happy marriage of floral prints. It certainly made me smile!

Both the skirt and blouse are vintage and so is the flower brooch.


The skirt has got just the right proportions for a good twirl, offering an unintentional peek of the lacy border of my vintage slip. Oops!


Skipping Wednesday, as no outfit photos were taken, Thursday's frock was a vintage cotton one bought from Ashmans Antiques and Old Lace in Welshpool last year. We have paid the shop a return visit this year, which you will read all about in the next episode of my travelogue.

This green Paisley print dress is an utter joy to wear, even though I didn't pick the right day for it as it was slightly chilly. I picked up the aqua bits in the dress by wearing pale aqua beads. Other accessories were a large oval brooch with a portrait of a lady, and a tan coloured woven fabric belt. The rose gold sandals have cork soles and heels and have been on constant rotation as they aren't just pretty, but pretty comfortable too!


Things started warming up ever so slightly on Friday. As always on my way to the bus stop, I stopped to admire the imaginatively planted deaconry garden, catching this busy bumble bee on camera.

The dress I pulled from my wardrobe for the final day of the working week was this coral one in a lightweight Diolen, its print featuring green and blue.


Cobalt blue accessories consisted of a belt, beaded necklace and flower ring.

The brooch I was wearing is a posy of gold metal flowers finished with mother-of-pearl.

Our Hydrangea bush is just the perfect backdrop for outfit photos in Summer, but you should look at the poor thing now, as it has suffered terribly from the heat.

Weather permitting, my next post will be business as usual when I continue with the next installment of my travelogue. Hope to see you then!


39 comments:

  1. Your heatwave sounds terrible. It has made the news all the way to Seattle! I'm so sorry you're experiencing such awfulness. It makes it difficult to do much of anything, really. My hope is you'll soon have cooler days to continue your travelogue and your regular activities.

    Sending cool thoughts and air hugs your way.

    - Sherry

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    1. Cool thoughts received, Sherry. I'm so glad the heat has gone. xxx

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  2. I adore the goose brooche! Gooses always make me emotional. It's because of the book snow goose and the music of Camel that belongs to it. But anyway, why can't I see the black maxi dress?? Love to! Luckely I love all your other outfits. How fun it is to have a flea market in your own street! Isn't it weird that so many women don't wear what they like.

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    1. Thank you Nancy, though I'm sorry the brooch has made you feel emotional ... xxx

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  3. I empathise with you about the heat, as the most recent summer in Brisbane was just horrible! It's so great to see so many of your lovely outfits! Your denim skirt was a great find and looks fab with the pretty red top and that awesome butterfly sleeve top! I love your black maxi dress too. I would have loved to visit your market stall! How sweet that the lady from last year came back! She knows a good thing when she sees it! ;) That photo of the bee is amazing too! Your posts are such a visual treat, Ann! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! XXX

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    1. Thank you Sasha, I'm so glad the flea market happened before the heatwave! xxx

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  4. What a dazzling array of outfits! I've loved seeing your day-to-day wear. I would have made a beeline for your stall, the colour of that yellow frock in particular is amazing.

    I never knew that red gooseberries existed!

    Xx

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    1. Would you believe that yellow frock didn't sell? Admittedly, it's got a very small waist, but still ... xxx

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  5. Soo many amazing styles! Wonderful to hear stories about people visit you at the flea market. And about this lady visited you again to buy much stuff from your stall. I run mad about the heatwave with 43 degrees on thursday. Thankfulness for rain last night. Now its cloudy, I love it ;)
    Have a wonderful weekend Ann, xxxx Tina

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    1. Who would have thought we'd be thankful for rain? I was too ... xxx

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  6. fabulous frocks!
    my fav - of cause - is the green paisley cotton number! and i love how you styled it this time!
    wish i could do a flearmarket at our doorstep!
    we had 41,5°C on thursday.....and we had an event where i had to do the bar.... thankfully the bar is in a 800yo sandstone building - but even there the fridge had problems to get the beer cold enough :-D
    hugsies! xxxxx

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    1. Thank you Beate! I don't envy you having to be barkeeper in such hot temperatures! xxx

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  7. The heat sounds horrific, and I hope it passes quickly and you get more reasonable temperatures soon. We had a week of 100+ temps and it is NOT fun, even with AC blasting everywhere.

    Instagram is great for grabbing quick photos and then going to your blog later and writing in depth-at least that's how I tend to do it. I've enjoyed learning a bit more about your beautiful outfits.

    If I came across your stall, I'd buy everything you had.

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    1. A week of 100+ temps sounds indeed like not much fun. How did you cope at all? xxx

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  8. Yes, 35° heat doesn't inspire much activity! I was so hot I refused to cook on Thursday and Andy had to make do with a Greek Salad for his supper.
    So many lovely outfits here Ann. The marriage of those two floral prints did make me smile :)
    xx

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    1. We didn't do much cooking either. I'm glad my marriage of prints made you smile! xxx

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  9. Our heatwave has passed - thank the Lord and pass the gravy! I can't bear it either as my face just streams with sweat all day...

    You looked incredibly cool in all your photos and you even mentioned changing into a warmer cardigan at one point, so your heat wave has hopefully passed, too.

    Your outfits were all fabulous. Such brilliant pattern mixing and complimentary colours. Your beads, brooches, belts and foot wear are also so lovely and always beautifully coordinated.

    I loved Goody's cat brooch and the brooches you bought at your street flea market were gorgeous. How many in your collection now? Ha, I bet you don't even know... I absolutely loved the yellow dress you were holding up in one of the photos. Did any one buy it?

    The white currants and those ruby red gooseberries had me salivating!

    Hope you've cooled down now.
    xxx

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    1. You're absolutely spot-on, Vronni, I've actually got no idea how much brooches I've got. Oh, and all these outfits were things I wore before the heatwave, which I'll blog about later! xxx

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  10. The heatwave has hit us too.Fortunately my husband was kind enough to drive me up to mountains yesterdax so I managed to breathe in some fresh air.

    Your work outfits are lovely. I like how yoz styled that green dress with a pink belt...so cute.

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    1. sorry for the typos, I was typing on my cellphone and I just can't type effectively without a proper keyboard. Nothing like typing at one's own laptop. To continue my comment...I really like how you changed buttons on that button up denim skirt. I love button denim skirts, I remember how my mother used to have lots of denim skirts like that one, with that lovely shade of denim... I wish I managed to save these denim skirts but she was often merciless when it came to cleaning her closets. I was fortunate to save as much as I did over the years. Anyhow, you did a great job by replacing those buttons. You remind me that I also have a button stash (and most of them are vintage ones!). I should really dig it out and do some DIY projects with it.

      Your white dress with a floral print is lovely. I love white with floral print as well. I actually don't have any plain white dresses, there always come with a print...and I painted over all the white skirts I have in my closet, even over some grey dresses. It is hard for me to resist the urge to paint on white clothes because they are such a perfect canvas and textile paints are so easy to use...

      The fruit salad looks delicious. It is one of my fav things to eat in the summer. :)

      It is great to hear that your rail of vintage clothes attracted many viewers. I can't imagine why people don't feel confident enough to wear vintage. I could understand if a teenager wanting to fit (peer pressure and all that) wouldn't be interested in vintage clothes (although, I know some that are) but as for adults, I can't imagine why not, especially since some of them must have worn those vintage styles already. It is a shame about the lady who used to wear vintage but doesn't dare to anymore, perhaps the comment from her husband will make her rethink her ways. Great to hear about that lady that is a repeat customer.

      I love your blue abstract print and your green paisley print dress. The red and white outfit (the skirt and the shirt pairing) is stunning as well. Very stylish outfits all of them.

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    2. Thank you for your lovely comment, Ivana! I can't type very well on my phone either. I would never paint on my clothes, but obviously I do not possess your talent! xxx

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  11. I know what you mean about the heat, here in Cambridge we've had the hottest temp in the UK at touching 39 degrees, the roads were melting.
    I've seen your outfits on IG over the week, it's very immediate isn't it? Its lovely to have it all together in a post though and to see some garden updates, I always love those, a good haul of soft fruit and I love the bee photo.
    Have a good week Ann xxx

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    1. I'm glad it has cooled down, as it was way too hot for me. I don't know what took me so long to join sign up to Instagram, I rather like it and its immediacy! xxx

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  12. I've been following the weather and feeling very sorry for you all while the temps soar! I hope it eases soon, Ann!

    I love this riot of colourful frocks and separates. My faves are: the white-based one (great pattern!), the black maxi w/red flowers (gorgeous - I love a unique giant pattern), and the red/white floral separates (genius pattern mixing!).

    Sounds like your sale went very well - it's always hard to get rid of items, especially when you see them "fresh" after tucking them away months prior. They look new again! No judgment on pulling them back into the closet - you know I've done that too!

    I hope you, Jos, Phoebe and the garden are staying cool. Sending you chilled breezes off the Pacific! Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you so much for your chilled breezes, Sheila, they seem to have done the trick! xxx

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  13. hot is good dear... at least for me!
    https://sepatuholig.blogspot.com/
    IG @gracenjio

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    1. Thank you, I like it when it's a little bit cooler! xxx

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  14. I've been watching the weather forecast and been totally amazed by the high temperatures in Belgium or Paris. One of the reasons to move from the south of Spain was to run away from heat. But this summer I've felt cheated, as it was hotter at home in the north! Such crazy heatwaves!
    Anyway, it's lovely to see all these fabulous outfits and enjoy lots of accessories, brooches, prints and details. Love to see you posing in your garden, showing your berries harvest and those hydrangeas!
    Love particularly your White dress with the floral print, it has fab colors!. Also love the dress you wore on Saturday for the flea market, such a magnificent piece, love those floral motives growing from the hem.
    Love the blue and orange color combo and stunning jacket, love your doubled florals outfit (such delightful colors) and love those two last dresses, their colors could be more subtle but they're gorgeous and love how you accessorized them!, you totally rock!
    Glad that we're having a respite in this heatwaves season!
    besos

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    1. Crazy heatwaves indeed, so glad it has cooled down as I was kind of running out of outfit options! xxx

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  15. Glad to know your sales went well - I would definitely shop at the Ann Boutique! It is sad when people say they don't have the guts to wear things they really want to wear... whenever I'm feeling a little bit timid I think of all my blogging friends who are fearlessly fabulous and it gives me the courage to do it - and then the compliments come rolling in. So many of us are scared to look different, yet most people seem to appreciate someone having fun and being creative with their clothes.

    I do not envy you the heat, I've been looking at the weather in Europe with some alarm. I hope this is not our new normal!

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    1. I know what you mean as I've learned to be more fearless from my blogging friends too! Oh, and I fervently hope with you that this is not our new normal. xxx

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  16. I'm so glad the sales went well and despair of those people who say they don't have the nerve to wear vintage and am even sadder when they tell me that they used to but no longer do - foolish people!! Your rails look so inviting and lovely!
    A great round up of outfits, IG is a great taster for a meatier blog post, isn't it?
    Love the floral dress with the white background and your butterfly wings and the photo of the bee is sensational.
    I loved the 39°C we had on Thursday but I didn't have to work - that wouldn't have been fun. xxx
    PS The sticker has landed!

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    1. Foolish people indeed! Would you believe that bee photo was taken with my phone's camera? Good to hear the sticker has landed ;-) xxx

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  17. Great post, you have an amazing photos!! :)
    If you want that we follow each other, let me know by leaving a comment on my last post and please click on the link at the end of post --> https://beautyshapes3.blogspot.com/2019/07/coachella-inspired-outfit-rosegal.html

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    1. Thank you, I'll pop over to your blog later. xxx

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  18. I'm so glad our heatwave has passed like you I cannot do heat so you do have my sympathy. I'm glad to hear the sale went well and of course I love the elephant brooch!
    I particularly like the Welshpool paisley dress too.

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    1. I had to think of you when I spotted that elephant brooch! xxx

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  19. I loved you sharing your outfits! You have SUCH a way of combining items in such a stylish way! I am DROOLING over that yellow dress you were holding up in the first flea market photo! I'd have bought that if I were there! It makes me sad that people lack the confidence to wear vintage- I am happier in this type of thhing!x

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    1. Thank you Kezzie! That yellow dress would look fab on you and I think it might fit you! It is rather lovely, isn't it? xxx

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