The Courage of our Convictions

The ability to let go, to change tack, to rethink and to move on, is not just a precious freedom; it is an essential tool for anyone who aspires to climb life's most important ladders. The ladder of self discovery, grant yourself that option, far too often we create our own prisons and enchain ourselves.

 

We create a cage from which we attempt to change the world, or other people, yet we never talk about changing ourselves, of letting going of our self imposed limits as to what we believe we are capable of. 

 

We should have the courage of our convictions but we should not be a convict to them. Sometimes it is about holding on and letting go.

 

Dress: Convict in purple

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Check - A surprisingly diverse word

You have to like like the word CHECK. It is great and incredibly diverse.

Check? - A question

Check. - A response.

Check! - A statement of fact in a game of chess

Check. - A pattern

Check - An imperfection in wood or glass

I like the simplicity of checks, essentially just squares of colour but they are so pretty. This simple print has white, pink and black squares running through a dove grey back ground. I like the combinations of colours. The dress is in the secretary style with a wide collar and matching grey buttons. This is a nice dress for work and is great for spring. 

Dress: Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Mary Jane in white by Bordello

Mad dogs and Englishmen..............

It's a beautiful day which makes a change for the Bank Holiday, personally though I am leaving the sunbathing to Boudi, who partially qualifies under the heading "dog", she is bonkers rather than mad but we wouldn't change her.

I am having a creative day today which is pleasant so I am wearing my what a catch shorts with a white halterneck by Vivien of Holloway. If you can't make it to the seaside you can always bring the seaside to you. All you need is the power of your imagination, today is a day to dream dreams, think big thoughts and wait for the dice to land.

Shorts: What a catch

Top: Halterneck in white Vivien of Holloway

Shoes: Schuh

This life is what you make it

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.

Life is beauty, admire it.

Life is a dream, realise it.

Life is a challenge, meet it.

Life is a duty, complete it.

Life is a game, play it.

Life is a promise, fulfill it.

Life is sorrow, overcome it.

Life is a song, sing it.

Life is a struggle, accept it.

Life is a tragedy, confront it.

Life is an adventure, dare it.

Life is luck, make it.

Life is too precious, do not destroy it.

Life is life, fight for it.

― Mother Teresa

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world.

As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything.

Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” 

― Marilyn Monroe


The quotes above make me think about what I call my New Life, this is the one that I might not have chosen for myself. For a while I wasn't particularly keen on it either, this was until I realised that we have to be willing to give up the life we planned to live the life we were meant to have.

This is the life I was meant to have.

Today's dress is an important dress to me, it symbolises my New Life. It was the first non black dress that I bought in my New Life as I was easing my way back into the concept of colours. It needed some work from Grandma, and when I tried it on at her house I will confess - Marv, Grandma and I all welled up and had a moment. You see I want this New Life not my old one.

The classic dove grey combined with a powder pink is feminine and understated. The attention to detail is wonderful, the little flicks and buttons on the sleeves, the piping around the neckline. The lovely pin tucks down the front with the sweet like round pink buttons. The belt and pockets are just the icing on the cake.


Dress: Avondale in pencil skirt originally by Bettie Page Clothing, revamped by Grandma

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

May Day and and the Iron Duke

It's May. In fact it is May Day so it is time to think of maypoles and may queens and lots of other exciting things. It is also the birth date of the Duke of Wellington or Sir Arthur Wellesley.

 

We all think of Waterloo and Seringapatam when we think of him, or we think of shoes, but it is interesting to note he also coined the phrase "Publish and be damned" amongst many others.

Back to May day though, lilac blossoms in May and it is a beautiful flower and I love the smell of it. Given that I thought I would wear my lilac Jackie O suit today. I had a lilac outside my bedroom window as a child I love peeking over the purple clouds of flowers to see the world beyond my window, so for me this is the colour of spring.

Now this Jackie O suit is super special, possibly because only a few weeks ago it was "a little bit big", Grandma did look a little shocked when she realised that I could put the skirt on without undoing it and that it fell off my hips. OOPS! Grandam said "a little?". Ah well it is all relative. So this is totally revamped and restyled by the seamstress to the superstars Grandma :)

Suit: Jackie O in Lilac originally by Bettie Page Clothing, remodelled and revamped by Grandma

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

By the sword divided

Today in 1599 Oliver Cromwell was born. Best known as the Lord High Protector he led the round heads in the English Civil War against King Charles I, as politicians they were called Ironsides. He was a key figure in one of Britain's most troubled periods. I remember watching the series "By the sword divided" as a child, and seeing how it quite literally tore families apart.

One of the people who shared Cromwell's fate was John Bradshaw, the man who was the judge of King Charles I and the only man to write and the first to sign the death warrant of a king came from the place that I live. Now where it gets really interesting is that he was posthumously executed, his body along with that of Cromwell and Cromwell's son-in-law were exhumed, they were hung from the gallows at Tyburn before being beheaded at sunset, 12 years after the death of Charles I.

Strangely I think when it comes to the civil war I would have been a leveller cavalier. I have no trust in politicians so I like the fact that the monarchy exist to stop them doing things like voting for the parliamentary term to be extended or it is period altered to what say 25 years?

Cromwell's coat of arms and that of the protectorate were mainly blue, and the place where his family lived was demolished to make way for a school, so I am wearing something that is scholarly with something blue. I really do like this pinafore dress, you can wear it with so many different tops getting lots of different looks.

Dress: Pencil Jumper dress in black by Bettie Page clothing

Jumper: Pull Over in Teal by Bettie Page clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Cloud 9, the unknown etymology of an idiom

Cloud nine is an idiom referring to a state of elation or happiness, like many idioms it's etymology is undcertain. A commonly heard explanation is that the expression originated as one of the classifications of cloud which were defined by the US Weather Bureau in the 1950s, in which 'Cloud Nine' denotes the fluffy cumulonimbus type that are considered so attractive. Another explanation is that the phrase derives from Buddhism and that Cloud Nine is one of the stages of the progress to enlightenment of a Bodhisattva (one destined to become a Buddha).

Neither of these explanations holds water. To begin with, both the cloud classifications and the Buddhist stages to enlightenment have ten levels. To single out the last but one stage of either is rather like attributing the source of the 'whole nine yards' to American Football where it is ten yards rather than nine that is a significant measure.

This dress is called Cloud 9, the last time I wore it I can genuinely say I was a long way from feelings of elation or happiness and somehow that is worse because I actually wore it last at a wedding. Don't get me wrong I was very happy for the bride and groom I was made up for them. It was my cousins wedding, wanting to feel happy for other people why I was there and I wanted them to know that I was there for their special day. I am glad in many respects that my Dad raised me to have more front than a row of terraced houses and as much bottle if not more than United Dairies if he hadn't I would have never managed to get through that day. I had buried my husband two days before and in two days time I faced my first wedding anniversary as a widow. Not the best place to be finding yourself when it comes to celebrating weddings. 

It is time to reclaim it. It is such a beautiful happy dress.

Dress: Cloud 9 by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

 

Aye Aye Skipper

You can't go wrong with a nautical themed dress, they never date and are a staple of spring and summer wear. Grandma (AKA Matriarchal Marv) has played an absolute blinder with this dress. It needed taking in, now to be clear, we were talking by over half a foot, rather than a couple of inches! So Grandma is a superstar, I can have so much fun at the gym, it will be funny to see the other ladies faces when they see me putting on a "XXL" Hehe :) Grandma can't automagically change the tags like she can the size.

Skipper is an A-line dress with beautiful collar piped in red and blue, which is complimented with a necktie which is removable. The dress has a zip up the front which is unusual and it can be worn with or without a belt. It is a nice easy to wear dress that is great for work or shopping with the girls.

I love the bright cherry red, as I prefer red to navy when it comes to "nautical" clothes, as previously mentioned it is for two very sound reasons: 1) If I go overboard I do not want to be wearing a colour that blends in with the water, I want people to see me in the water 2) My school uniform was navy!

Whilst Skipper is meant to refer to the Captain I can't help but feel it refers to what the dress makes you want to do. I am convinced that if more people skipped places they would be happier, so I am in my own little way definitely a skipper!

As an aside I just want to say Samantha Cameron looked fab yesterday, I liked the fact that she wore a pussycat bow it was really sweet gesture. As for Ms Booth AKA Cherie Blair, oh dear lord what were you wearing on your head? In fact what were you wearing? Other than less make-up than your husband LOL. I can understand that she has no friends, but surely Tony can afford a mirror? You would have thought someone would have said something before she left the house.

Dress: Skipper in Red, Originally by Bettie Page Clothing Remodelled and revamped by Grandma, seamstress to the stars and Matriarchal Marv!

Shoes: Schuh

Polymaths and the weight of history

Some days seem to carry the weight of history far more than others and today is one of them.

Abraham Lincoln died having been shot the preceeding day at the theatre, The Titanic sank, McDonald's was founded, The Hillsborough disaster occured and Leonardo Da Vinci was born.

Da Vinci was a true polymath exceling at both Science and Art, something that I didn't have a lot of choice in having a Dr of Mathematics as a Father and an English teacher as a mother!

Leonardo Da Vinci for me is one of the greatest minds that lived and I would have very much liked to have had dinner with him a painter, sculptor, architect, musician, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist, and writer. It is a shame he didn't dance really! I always like to think he is an example of talent rising, given that he was born out of wedlock.

Like many artists up until the 19th century he used lot of sepia, which was a lovely reddish brown. I've gone with this theme today wearing one of my "rust" or reddish brown dresses. Rita is a timeless design with a simple wide collar and buttons for details, the contrasting black belt breaks the dress up a bit.

Dress: Rita in Rust by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

She sells seashells

Tongue twisters are good fun, they make me think of a book from childhood called "Rebecca's world" where there was a tongue twister monster. It was a fantastic book that reminds me of holidays by the sea with my family.

So today I thought it would be nice to relive those seaside holidays. I wanted to bring a bit of sunshine into the world today so I went for my seaside outfit. It is a lovely top with a cute neckline and a peplum at the bottom, the skirt is a wrap around with a really sweet seaside scene of a lighthouse and a seagull. It just makes me smile.

Top and Skirt: Seagull skirt and serene blouse by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Mary Janes in white by bordello

And then the sun came out

It is a lovely sunny day and the chill seems to have come off the wind so I am making the most of it! I am also starting to think of all the fun days out at the beach and picnics, because when spring starts, summer isn't far behind.

I love shorts but I think my favourites are play suits. I can't resist them they have such fun prints and look so cute. I love this lilac number, I like the little belt adjustors on the shoulders and the daisies across the neckine, but the best part is it is purple! Because "When I am old I shall wear purple". 

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Playsuit: By Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Mary Janes in white by Bordello

Being held to account

The blouse form today's outfit is called the accountant, it combines really nicely with my jumper dress, and I am sure people would love to hold me to account whilst wearing it!

 

I love the material this blouse is made from, it is a red and black plaid but it is shiny which gives it a metallic effect, in fact an FAQ for this outfit is "Wow can I touch your blouse" followed by "It doesn't feel metallic".

 

The 3/4 length dolmen sleeves are flattering to your arms and I like the neckline the V contrstats nicely with the dress. This is a wardrobe staple and looks good with a blouse or a jumper.

 

Blouse: The accountant by Bettie Page Clothing

Dress: Jumper Dres sin Pencil by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger



Soft spot, tight spot or hit the spot?

I love word play and I like phrases and quotes. I like the meanings and origins of them. Today's dress is a polka dot number or something spotty, Barbara lives up to planty of spot phrases.

 

It is hard not to have a soft spot for this dress, the velvet is beautiful and it drapes really nicely over your curves. I love the feel of velvet it is so soft, you can't help but want to touch it. I love wiggle dresses and Barabar is definitely one of those so I think it is fair to say she is a good dress to have in a tight spot on account of her close fitting nature. Timeless, classic and very easy to wear Barabara hits the spot too!

 

Dress: Barbara by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

 

 

 

 

 

 

It may well be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the egg!

Yesterday one of the last political big hitters passed away. You might not agree with her politics but it will be a long time before we see Margaret Thatcher's like again. She was one of the last Conviction rather than Consensus politicians, and I think it is fair to say she influenced me in many ways. She was never one to back away from the path of most resistance if she thought it would deliver the best results.

I remember when I was little wondering why people went on about women's lib, given that we had a Queen and a Female Prime Minister, I was in my late teens before I am understood chauvinism  fortunately it isn't difficult to be twice as good as most men.

I have to confess I did like Maggie's style, and I loved her handbags and matching gloves, her omnipresent pearls. She brought in power dressing when she changed from dresses to suits and she was a fan of the pussycat bow blouse. I also loved her when she had a moment in a tank complete with headscarf! Her hair was unchanging and appeared immovable, I was convinced that her hairstyle would survive a nuclear bomb. 

In the celebrity death match of Iron Man versus the Iron Lady then my money is definitely on Maggie, Robert Downey Jnr wouldn't stand a chance, that woman wielded a handbag last a master. In fact if there was a second hand handbag to own it would have been one of Margaret Thatchers. She was also a damn fine Chemist who gave the world soft ice cream like Mr Whippy.

She had a fantastic turn of phrase and I do find myself quoting her in day to day life, some of my favourites are:

• It may well be the cock that crows, but it is the hen that lays the egg!

• If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman.

• In response to a interviewer who asked if she thought the cabinet were treated differently because of people's genders she said "Oh no, I never treated any differently because they were merely men"

I am fairly certain she was prepared to meet her maker, whether her maker was prepared to meet her is an entirely different matter! She was the last bastion of 'backbone' and 'stiff upper lips' and let's face it you had more balls than most most men. R.I.P Maggie.

Today's outfit is black to mark the passing of a great woman, Lace so we remember our strength as women and the red shoes well they remind me of how she absolutely walked all over Labour.

Cardigan: Cutout by Voodoo

Skirt: Lace by Bettie Page

Shoes: Aldo

The many faces of Doris: An Auntie, A Cat and A Top

When we here words we associate things with them, the more association the greater our ability to think laterally. Doris makes me think laterally. I think of my Gran's sister Auntie Doris, My Cat called Doris, the cartoon cat called Doris, Doris Day and my top by pin up girl clothing.

I like to mix bright colours, and I think the red of the top and shoes looks really pretty with the purple skirt. It also adds a modern twist to the vintage look.

Top: Doris in red by pinup girl clothing

Shirt: Vixen in purple by Bettie Page clothing

Shoes: Aldo

  

The future's bright

After yesterday's dress I wanted a real contrast, something more casual but still smart and stylish. The juper dress (or pinafore dress) is a wardrobe staple for me, you can dress it up or down. It looks really sexy and feminine when you team it with a blouse like I have previously but it is fun and flirty when you team it up with a nice fitted jumper. It is also the 40th birthday of the Mobile phone, so I thought I would have a reminisce about my early days in phone programming at Orange and O2.

I love the combination of burned orange and black, the dusky russet works well with my hair colour and my eyes whilst the black makes this stylish and smart, whilst being nicely dressed down. I do enjoy mixing vibrant colours with black.

 

 

Jumper: Pull Over Short Sleeves in Rust by Bettie Page Clothing

Dress: Jumper Dress in Black by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger





 

 

Oh well lad, I've never had a bride not turn up!

Today in 1960 my Mum and Dad got married. It is a minor miracle that this event happened really, we still have a good laugh about the eventualities of the day.

You see Dad was marrying that "Byrom girl" - oh the scandal! Her parents were (are you ready for this) divorced!!!!! So there was a lot of debate about whether my Dad's mum was going to go to the wedding, not least because apparently mother had forgotten to invite the lesser spotted Auntie Mildred, now Grandmother decided the best time to bring all this up was on the wedding day morning whilst mother was getting ready, because obviously a bride doesn't have enough going on!

Meanwhile, my Mum's "real" Dad (in the biological sense) decides to arrive and demand to be the one to give her away. If mother had known who he was it might have helped! After all he sold the business and the house and left my Nana whilst she was in hospital having my Mum so my Mum had no idea who he was and had to be told that was her father. She told him politely where he could go. 

Now it is roughly half an hour before kick off, you've dealt with the mother in law to be who thinks you are the "scandalous harridan of a woman", you've met your Dad for the first time and all you want to do is get ready for your wedding. You would think the universe would cut you some slack? No chance.

The final intervention, it's the Dr, he tells my Mum she can't marry my Dad. It's a waste, she will be a widow in 6 months. There are no treatments for asthma and the next attack and he is going to be a gonner. He pleads with my Mum.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, the church is filling up and my Dad is dutifully stood waiting at the altar. Kick off time passes.............The vicar says not to worry, it's the ladies perogative after all. After 30 minutes the vicar said to my Dad "Oh well lad, I've never had a bride not turn up, plenty of grooms, but never a bride! If she's not here in another 30 minutes we'll go to the Astley for a pint".

Fortunately mother did arrive (in fact her pyjama bottoms were still on under her wedding dress). Gran turned up to the wedding, her Dad didn't and needless to say my Mum spent 44 very happy years with my Dad before she became his widow (rather than the 6 months stated).

Ahh imagine how different the world would have been if my Dad hadn't tied my Mum's pigtails to the chair in assembly on her first day of school!! LOL

Anyway to celebrate I am wearing a dress called "Veil". It is beautiful, it is an Audrey Hepburn dress. The material is embossed and has iridescent thread throughout it which the camera doesn't pick up, the black overlayed floral print is exquisite. The black cummerbund middle with the wavy edge on the top draws all the attention to your curves, it is a timeless classic that is beautifully feminine and fun.

Dress: Veil by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

What a catch

I's April Fool's day today so I wanted to wear something that was a little bit funny :) I like to have fun with my clothes.

I adore this top and shorts set. it just makes me giggle. It is called watch a catch (and I have to concur that I am) and it has cute little waves and Angelfish strategically placed. It just makes me smile! Plus it's no mean feat looking this cute wearing fish at the age of 38. I am sure that I have broken every rule there is regarding age appropriate fashion. Excellent!

I love shorts and tops and playsuits. I think they are a lot of fun in a cute and flirty way. 

Outfit: What a Catch! Top and Shorts by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Schuh

Happy Easter or should that be Eostre?

Happy Easter! Eostre was the name of an Anglo Saxon Pagan Goddess who's festival got re-purposed by the early church to celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

Eostre would appear to be a Goddess of purity (the holy water), youth and beauty (the young maidens), as well as one of new life beginnings, so the things she symbolised are in keeping with the general themes of Eater. 

Here's to new life beginnings!

We could all do with a bit of luck with new beginnings so I have opted for Lady Luck, she is a pretty but simple dress and will wear beautifully for a family meal!

Dress: Lady Luck in Navy and White by Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Kurt Geiger

Everyday is a school day

I have borrowed the "l'expression du jour" from a friend, I'm sure they won't mind especially as it rings true. There is always something to be learned in life. My parents were teachers, my Aunt was a teacher, My sister was a teacher and my cousin is a teacher. Actually I do them injustice's they were essentially head teachers or they run education authorities. In short I am the black sheep of the family. I'm the computer programmer!

Still they all new lots of exciting things about everything and if they didn't then they knew someone who did. My love of science, art, mathematics, music, history, literature, culture and language all came from people who had a passion for the topic. 

Today's skirt is called classmate and it reminds me of the outfit's Sandra Dee's friends wore in grease. I have a soft spot for picnic rug prints I just think they are so much fun. It makes me think of West Highland Terriers, which my Auntie and Uncle bred. I loved helping my Uncle George with the dogs when I was little, I learned a lot from him. Like how to dig for worms for fishing bait, how out board motors work, how to box and the names of all the animals in rock pools. He always had an immaculate quiff and was never without a comb. He loved deep sea fishing, we used to go out on his boat it was an Orkney longliner and just bob up and down on the sea for hours, all of which bring me to the top which is called wave.

Now when I first put this ensemble together it just didn't look right. I had really wanted to wear it as a tie top number but the blouse was too long, so not one for wearing out. It was missing something, the mirror was kind enough to indicate it to me.

Fortunately not only do I have a mirror but I also have a best friend. Marv pulled her "Hippo Fashion Breakthrough" face, rummaged in the belt draw and came up with the red belt with the red shoes. I have to say I think Marv was onto something with this :) and it just goes to show that every day is a school day.

Skirt: Classmate by Bettie Page Clothing

Belt: Vivien of Holloway

Blouse: By Bettie Page Clothing

Shoes: Aldo