The weather is sunny, cool and the sky is a pale Winter blue. It is a beautiful day; pathetic fallacy not applying today...Have buried Thomas cat under a hazel tree on our allotment. He has his catnip Kong toy that he likes to lie full length on and we'll plant a Nepeta plant on top of his grave to reflect his slavish adoration of catnip. I am sorry for harping on about him and promise I'll try to not mention it again on this thread after today. This thread should be lighthearted as a counterpoint to all that is not, really.....I am just so distressed. I do not know what to do with myself today as the deaths of my Father and my cat have contracted together into one ball of pain....Had lovely email from our Vet though saying how sorry they are which really helps doesn't it, to have a little animals life and impact acknowledged like that....
Have my ochre cardigan on again, a burgundy cap sleeved H&M T shirt (absolutely rubbish quality and never again will I waste even £7:99 on their T's), a black MaxMara A line heavy Jersey skirt, black woollen tights and Marni Black heels with black woven crochet design appliqued onto them.
Bit of a mixed bag but dressing myself at all in anything other than PJ's is an achievement to be commented upon....
Why is it that H&M men's T shirts are of better quality fabric and construction than the womens? DH has quite a few of their T's and long sleeved T's and they don't stretch and twist around the body like the women's do. They are also less expensive. Bought DH a striped Henley long sleeve made from a good thermal style rib cotton for £7. Women's thin T's are £7:99+ for much much less.....Mystery???
I was reading this month's 'Elle' magazine and it has a lovely interview with Peaches Geldof and she is wearing the most delicious Jill Sander dress here is a photograph of it. The interview is actually very moving; talking of Paula Yates death, Peaches states that her Father made them go to school the next day as his mentality was "To keep calm and carry on as normal".
Peaches is looking very good these days and the interview made me view her with more compassion that I used to.
What do you all think of this coat? Not as an 'classic/forever' coat, rather a piece of on trend frivolity?
www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=6652074&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208522&parent_categoryId=459528&pageSize=200
And further browsing has led me to this-
www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=6098414&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208522&parent_categoryId=459528&pageSize=200
I am ordering these pants here from Atterley Road for myself-
I notice that Russell&Bromley have launched their first online shopping site, UK now and International soon. After seeing Victoria Beckham of all people in flats I may have to look for a pair of Monk fastening Brogues similar to the VB ones in her S/S1213 show. I do love a Fugly shoe.
Does anybody read the Patternity blog?- www.patternity.co.uk/
Reading this has heightened my awareness of pattern and texture in my environment generally and makes me want to enrol on that Jewellery design or Textile design course that I have been flirting with for Years. Having qualified in Horticulture and planting design years ago whilst working in Psychiatry in tandem (26 yrs to be precise) before it became such a mainstream occupation, my interest in Botanical design has always been there but it would be good to do something with it when perhaps I decide to move on from my current profession. For example, Whenever I see a lichen or moss I can see how I would turn it into a piece of Jewellery or a fabric.
I managed to have articles published in several mainstream gardening/planting design magazines back in the 80's and feel like I have some skills 'in the bank' so to speak. More and more I see the 'noughties' (for want of a better word) as a decade marked by cross pollination- we can use existing abilities and interests in ways that are not linear and in an unexpected fashion.
One thing i do find curious is when I read a description of a beauty product or perfume that contains the scent from a plant/or part of a plant that I know from my botanical studies does not have a scent or certainly not a scent that has the properties ascribed to it by the manufacturer! I realise that scents these days are not extracted in the time honoured tradition any more, but even with modern techniques, there is a great deal of disingenuity in the beauty world....
Finally, what fashion/beauty gifts do you plan to give this year? Who is getting what?
So far I have bought DD a Black rubber Marc Jacobs bracelet from MyWardrobe.com and this Anthropologie lace blouse
here
This Wang Racer T for her stocking - www.theoutnet.com/product/340661
and this Great Plains rabbit print cowl neck T here
Opinions please on this Bellerose dress versus the NW3 fox print dress here and
here which are both perfect for DD's style which is very quirky/prim if that doesn't sound like a contradiction....
This for MIL -www.theoutnet.com/product/349386www.theoutnet.com/product/330766
Am tempted by this coat for weekend casual for myself -
www.atterleyroad.com/clothing-womens/categories/womens-designer-coats/floretta-coat-4.html
Which of these scarves would you prefer for my Mother? She is adventurous with colour, print and designers, is small in width and height (!)
www.atterleyroad.com/womens-designer-accessories/categories/accessories/printed-scarf-1.html
www.atterleyroad.com/womens-designer-accessories/categories/accessories/worth-spot-print-scarf.html
I love Atterley Road so thank you to the poster who introduced me to this site.