Tuesday 12 October 2021

Melancholy me

The sun had been hiding behind a blanket of grey all morning on September's final Sunday, which felt strangely at odds with the 20°C indicated by the thermometer. 

I'd been making a half-hearted attempt at starting my seasonal wardrobe changeover, but so far I had only switched sandals for ankle boots. The task felt quite beyond me so I sighed and gave up, thinking there would be gloomier and thus far more suited days ahead to get on with this cumbersome job.

Sometimes I think my life would be a lot easier without my mega-maximalist wardrobe, but what would be the fun in that, I wonder.



Days like these, when I can't seem to settle to anything, often seem to occur on a Sunday. Quite without rhyme or reason, a melancholy mood takes hold of me and lingers if not taken in hand and pulled up by the root.

Sometimes, all it takes is going for a walk to chase the tangle of cobwebs away, so that is what we decided to do after lunch. 



Still going through the dregs of my Summer wardrobe, I unearthed this short-sleeved vintage dress, its multi-hued millefiori pattern interspersed with blowsy cream roses. My blue butterfly brooch felt quite at home in this meadowful of flowers!

I added a tan leather belt at my waist, while further accessories consisted of a chocolate brown beaded necklace, aqua flower ring, blue bracelet and - as the cherry on the cake - an ivory-coloured carved Bakelite bangle.




My blue jacket, in a crepey fabric, is charity shopped King Louie, to which I pinned a peachy flower corsage. Instead of taking the easy way out and grabbing my usual cork cross-body bag, I made the effort to dig out this leather-topped wicker basket which hadn't seen the light of day for well over a year.



Our initial plan was to walk on a castle domain in the next village but alas we couldn't find a parking spot. Not wanting to admit defeat, we drove on to Fort 5, one of the old forts - dating from the 1860s -surrounding the city of Antwerp. Most of these have been converted to nature reserves and although this particular one actually links to the aforementioned castle domain, we were just aiming for a leisurely stroll around the fort and its moat.

The monument on the bottom right commemorates 16 Belgian resistance fighters who were executed at Fort 5 during the First World War.


As always, it felt good to walk among nature, breathing in its sweet yet earthy fragrance, our eyes feasting on the trees and vegetation which were peppered with the first signs of Autumn. 

There's a veil of melancholy here too, especially at this time of year. This used to be part of my Dad's playground when he was growing up in the village, and it's where his ashes have been laid to rest on All Saints' Day 2016.




The dull grey sky was reflected in the gently rippling water where the usual gaggle of moorhens and ducks - not to mention the odd turtle - was joined by a majestic cormorant.

We hadn't been here since before Covid, and couldn't help but notice the signs of neglect and negligence with more than just a degree of sadness: the willow hurdles lining the path all but disintegrated, the graffiti which had mushroomed inside the accessible parts of the fort, and the mind-boggling amount of litter to be found everywhere we turned.



The weather forecast for the week ahead of us was looking pretty dire, with a drop in temperature and a more than usual amount of rain being definitely on the menu.

This wasn't immediately apparent on Monday and Tuesday, when the mercury kept flitting around the 20°C mark and the sun often managed to find a break in the clouds. 




Determined to make the most of my Summer wardrobe while it lasted, I wore this 1970s does 1940s frock on Tuesday, a glorious floral Diolen which is among my favourites.

I picked two of the dress's multiple colours for my accessories: blue for my cardigan and belt, and orange for my necklace, ring and squirrel brooch. Isn't the latter a cutie?




More clouds appeared on Wednesday, ominously threatening rain and erupting into a fierce thunderstorm while I was at the hairdresser's.

The temperature had plummeted to barely 15°C, but I still persevered with wearing my short-sleeved Summer frocks. Obviously, I was wearing a cardigan for most of the day, but I still had to put the heating on at the office to combat the chills.



With the cornucopia of fruits among its pattern - I detect apples, pears and grapes - the dress speaks late Summer and early Autumn to me, which is why I often wear it at this time of year.

Green is my usual go-to colour for accessorizing the dress, so I added a beaded necklace, Cameo brooch and belt in my favourite colour. Note the belt, which used to belong to a vintage dress I never wore and was thus redonated. In fact, the thing that persuaded me to buy the dress in the first place was its gorgeous belt. The two parts of its buckle hook up together, and they are painted metal, not plastic.




Thursday was another dismal day, with the mercury still stuck at 15°C, its only redeeming factor being the lack of rain.

As once again I would be sitting on my office chair for most of the day, I finally relented and opted for long sleeves in the form of this vintage blouse with its pattern of dots, squiggles and flowers.

More flowers appeared on my skirt, in delicious shades of burnt orange, blue, pink and fudge.

My teal King Louie cardigan - charity shopped, obviously - was worn on top.




Various shades of blue were added with my belt, beaded necklace, ring and brooch.

Having noticed the decrepit state of some of my ankle boots, I was on the lookout for replacements, so I browsed some of the shoe shops on Antwerp's main shopping thoroughfare during lunch break. No luck, unfortunately, as those which weren't yawn-provokingly dull were much too high of heel. Oh well, it's not as if I haven't got footwear aplenty.


And so another working week had come to an end and we were once again ready to hit the charity shops on Friday the 1st of October.

As from that day, mask wearing was no longer mandatory in shops here in Belgium, and although we are still carrying masks in case it gets too busy, it was an absolute joy to browse without one's glasses constantly fogging up or feeling a bit disoriented as I usually do when wearing one.

The Oxfam shop in Wilrijk, which was our choice of destination that day, is quite spacious, and as there was only a handful of other shoppers present, I never felt anything but safe.




The charity shop goddesses must have been in a good mood too that day, as my finds were plenty. 

And green!  

The dress with its massive flower print is a 34, which is several sizes smaller than my usual size, and one which normally I wouldn't be able to fit into in a million years. Having recently found another dress by the same brand, I was aware of the fact that their sizes seem to run quite large, so I went by sight and indeed it fit me perfectly.

The green jacket is King Louie, and a size L, while I would usually go for a medium. Still, it fits perfectly, which just goes to show how off sizes can often be.



I couldn't believe my luck when I spotted this green vintage raincoat and squealed with joy when it turned out to be my size. And that was before I discovered its tag, and a spare button in one of its pockets. 



My final finds were a handmade vintage black floral frock, which will go straight into the linen chest - where I store my out-of-season clothes - after its spin in the washing machine, to be rediscovered next Spring.

The yellow flower and leaf patterned jumper won't have to wait that long to make its debut on the blog!

And with that, we've come to the end of this post. I'll be back with more in a couple of days. See you next time!

 

40 comments:

  1. I get a touch of melancholia this time of year too, Ann (hug). I love all of your outfits, each topping the last. Hooray for Mental Health Shops and your amazing green purchases! That green coat - never worn?? Amazing!

    Take care, my dear friend.

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    1. I'm glad I'm not alone, Sheila. I don't really mind the odd touch of melancholy, actually ... I know, that green coat! It'll be one for Spring though ... xxx

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  2. It can be a miserable time of year, can't it? Great idea to get out, explore beautiful places - even with their sad history - and indulge in a bit of retail therapy.
    Your hair is looking fabulous, it sets all your wonderful outfits off a treat. That green mac has your name written all over it, I can see why you squealed with delight at finding it.
    We've not had to wear masks in shops since 19th July but most of our chazzas have signs up imploring customers to wear them. I don't suffer with my glasses steaming up but I know what you mean about that feeling of disorientation! xxx

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    1. Thank you Vix! I'm so glad I took the opportunity of the hairdressers being closed to grow my hair into a bob again. I love having slightly longer hair again ... xxx

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  3. poor lass!
    i too noticed a down in my moods lately - but thanx goodness we have our hubbies and the beautiful great nature.....
    and colourful frocks :-D
    love the fruit print - and your pale green jewelry/accessories too. and speaking of green: that coat is a stunner!!
    hugsies! xxxx

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    1. We certainly do, Beate! Aren't we lucky girls? Can't wait to wear the coat, but it's a lightweight raincoat, so it'll be one for Spring! xxx

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  4. I'm lost in fall. What to wear on cool mornings but warm afternoons? So I usually are hot because I've chosen the wrong items. I always fear the cold.

    I like to slip into shoes and do not like to bind laces.

    It always takes me some time to get adjusted.

    Well, well, these aren't real problems ...

    All the best!

    Regula

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    1. It's very tricky to get dressed at this time of year, but like you said, these aren't real problems :-) xxx

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  5. I understand that the cold and grey present significant challenges to all of us and it is a good idea to venture into nature.
    You have many beautiful floral pieces in your wardrobe. Love these outfits.
    xoxo
    Lovely
    www.mynameislovely.com

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    1. Thank you Lovely! I can never resist a floral print :-) xxx

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  6. That green coat is amazing, the colour is so gorgeous. Can't wait to see how it would look on you! After spending almost 2 weeks inside now, I really need some fresh air and to be out in a forest. Hopefully this weekend.

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    1. I know, but it'll have to wait until Spring, as it's just a lightweight raincoat. Something to look forward to ... I'm glad to read you've been out and about again, I hope you'll soon regain your strength! xxx

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  7. Totally understand you, as minimalism looks also appealing to me every time I have to deal with seasonal switch over. It's just a passing thought! ;DD
    Love your millefiori dress, so beautiful print, and so delightful aqua, blue and brown accessories, and fab basket-bag!. Sorry that the park has been neglected, it's particularly disgusting to find litter everywhere.
    Love your blue and orange accessories with the floral frock, so summery!. The squirrel brooch is so cute!.
    So delightful purple and Green color combo in your 'frutal dress', so lovely and season appropriate!.
    You rock the burn orange, blue and fudge color combo, and love the mixed patterns in your skirt and blouse. So inspiring!
    And totally in love with your lucky finds, so fabulous green trench and jacket and dress!, and love that you found a perfect companion for your new yellow jumper!
    besos

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    1. Phew, I'm glad I'm not alone. It only looks appealing for a very short time, as I do love my overflowing wardrobe(s). Oops :-) xxx

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  8. Fantastic outfits, dear Ann! Your squirrel brooch is a total cutie and works so harmoniously with your beautiful 70s does 40s frock.

    Speaking of squirrels, despite living in a wooded, relatively rural area, we see exceedingly few squirrels in our neighbourhood. I suspect that the bevy of ravens, pheasants, owls, and other large birds that call this area home has a lot to do with that. ;D I adore squirrels and miss seeing them more often, so make a point to try and look for them whenever we travel.

    Big hugs & the very happiest of mid-October wishes,
    Autumn Zenith 🎃 Witchcrafted Life

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    1. Thank you Autumn! I do love all things squirrel too. Aren't they just the most adorable creatures? xxx

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  9. This time of year can be a little depressing. You're right about a good walk though, that always seems to help.

    Your green purchases are right on trend! I keep seeing green coats and accessories in the shops and online but thus far haven't been tempted knowing the second hand shops will eventually provide them.
    I love these outfits so much. There's a bit of two seasons combining in the nicest way.

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    1. Thank you Goody! I'd no idea green was on trend. That'll mean an abundance of green in the second hand shops in about a year or so :-) xxx

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  10. Oh this green coat is stunning Ann. Great find. No mask … yeah. I am waiting for that day in Germany! 😊
    With a huge hug Tina

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    1. Thank you Tina! We'll back to wearing masks as from next Friday. It was fun while it lasted ... xxx

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  11. A big part of me is a melancholic (and another one choleric - weird, eh?), so I understand you very well, dear Ann. Melancholy gives this beautiful, tender, poetic touch to your writing and photography. And it is balanced out by your happy colorful style! We're all such unexpected mixes, some more expressive than others.

    I am dreading the seasonal wardrobe switch, but Monica's approach inspires me. It's easier to deal with three, not two parts I think. :))

    Lovely new finds, your millefiori dress and all the colorful jewelry and details of your outfits! Beautiful photos. I am the happiest when Justin and I go out for thrift shopping and some fresh air too.

    Lots of love!

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    1. I totally get that, Natalia. Not that weird at all :-)
      I always do my changeover in tiny steps: dresses, skirts, tops, coats, shoes ... otherwise I'd go crazy! xxx

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  12. It's good you were able to get out for a walk to boost your mood - I hated the wardrobe change over as it was so time consuming so I was thrilled when we built our house and I was able to get a wardrobe room and have it built to fit everything - all my summer stuff and the handful of winter things I have. Makes me so happy to have it all in one place. It is starting to get a little unruly though, I really need to shop less, haha!

    I like the green finds you thrifted too, that floral dress is so pretty!

    We still have mask rules indoors here even though we have no covid cases outside of quarantine - I think masks will be a way of life for us for a long time sadly!

    Hope you are having a great week :) Another stormy spring day here today!

    Away From The Blue

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    1. Thank you Mica! Oh and I'm so envious of your wardrobe room. Well, we do have very distinct seasons here, and I need enough clothes for all of them :-) xxx

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  13. Your use of colors and patterns is MASTERFUL.

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  14. I feel you on the maximist wardbrobe. It might be a bit time consuming to sort out but it is fun. I tend to keep clothing items so often my closets get crowded but as I enjoy the clothes I don't see anything wrong with that.

    Your outfits are delightful. I especially love that blue cardigan. It looks great with everything!

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    1. Thank you Ivana! I hope you are well ...
      And no, there's is nothing wrong with a crowded wardrobe, as long as our clothes give us pleasure! xxx

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  15. Wonderful floral frocks and I just loved the ivory coloured Bakelite bangle. It's good to got too give your wicker bag an airing as well. The fort looks an interesting place to walk. I was sorry to hear about the neglect; I hope whoever is responsibe (local council?) will sort it out soon. I'm finding the same with footpaths. Some are horribly overgrown as the land owner simply has bothered but some are very well looked after.

    Your charity shop finds were magnificent! What a gorgeous dress (with big flowers) and the mac is lovely. Love the home made dress and the yellow jumper is fabulous; I would have snapped that up too. Sizing is very arbitrary; I have sizes 10 -18 in my wardrobes and they ALL fit me!

    I don't believe you about the boots - you just want to buy more in more lovely colours.....lol!
    xxx

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    1. Thank you Vronni! I'm not sure who's responsible for the upkeep. I think it might be a joint venture between nature conservation and the council. And I too have many sizes in my wardrobe. I usually don't even look at them when I'm out charity shopping! xxx

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  16. Melancholy is a funny, stirring thing isn't it. Feels simultaneously like the comfort of an old friend to me and something uncontrollably slowly slipping away, as all those autumn leaves fall, beautiful and sad.

    I love your cheery colourful outfits, especially your butterfly brooch and peachy flower. Your wicker basket looks perfect for mini picnic treats. Any treacle toffees in there? Fort 5 looks very intriguing. The name alone could be a book or film title. Lulu xXx

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    1. That's exactly what it is, Lulu, I couldn't have expressed it any better! And thanks for the reminder to put treacle toffees in that basket. There might have been waffles though :-) xxx P.S. There could even be a whole series of books, as we have Forts 1 upto 8 here in Antwerp!

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  17. Green isn't usually my colour, but I'm loving both the green jacket and the green raincoat. Great finds!

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    1. Thank you Nikki! I never used to like green very much, but it's been my favourite for the last couple of years :-) xxx

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  18. If it's any consolation, I too get very gloomy this time of year, especially with my school situation this year- I just can't bear the thought that I'll have no room for a year or more.
    Love your new finds, particularly that rain coat.
    You wore some lovely outfits.

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    1. Oh, Kezzie, I am so hearing you! I think it would make me very gloomy too :-( xxx

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  19. Hi Ann, I know exactly what you mean about feeling melancholy on a Sunday. I always think it's a throwback to the thought of school on a Monday and the curtailment of freedom for another week. I can also identify with the sadness associated with places you love deteriorating. When they are so vividly tangled up in personal memories, it's comforting when they don't change. On a brighter note, I love your squirrel brooch. Fabulous outfits as always - and that shade of green is gorgeous! xxx

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    1. Thank you Claire, and you're very right: that's exactly what it is. When I was a schoolgirl, there used to be a sports show on TV on Sunday night, and even now just hearing its tune makes me feel quite melancholy! xxx

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  20. You've made some great finds there - that raincoat is squealworthy, for sure.

    Could the Sunday melancholy be because the weekend's nearly over? I see a few other people have suggested the same. Walking the blues away sounds like a good plan. I always find being among trees and plantlife really uplifting.

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    1. Thank you Mim! It was exactly the kind of raincoat I'd been serendipitously looking for! And yes, I've always felt a bit blue because the weekend's nearly over. It's been better and worse over the years, but it often pops up again at this time of year ... xxx

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