Standen revisited

Top - Jumble sale

Skirt - Traid shop

Sandals - Topshop last summer

Bag - Charity shop

Necklace - Charity shop

To Standen once more. It's becoming a sort of yearly ritual to visit in the tail end of Summer/start of Autumn. I last went at the start of October 2011 in a heatwave and before that in September 2010, captured in this post - the bees are still at work! Standen was as gorgeous as ever, wish I could live there sometimes. Also the shaded area full of ferns was great in the heat. Clothing wise, lately I have been really drawn to a palette of blues/greens and neutrals. I think they are the colours I feel best in. Much like this lady who feels best in Kelly Green. The concept of only wearing one colour really intrigues me. I think I would seriously struggle but since different colours do effect my mood it makes a certain sense. In keeping with my colour direction, I bought a Hobbs blue two piece outfit from a charity shop. Normally I would think a two piece means a jacket and skirt/trousers but in this case it was a polka dot shirt and linen skirt, pretty odd but fine by me.

 I think one of the most interesting things about having a blog and getting to look back at old posts is seeing the changes. For me it's noticing that I have become way fussier about what I purchase (well to a degree) and I'm definitely looking for quality more than ever. Not so much from Primark round here these days. Could just be a sign of getting older though. Although September is just around the corner I don't feel done with Summer just yet, time is passing too fast.

Gorse

Jacket - Gap, gift three years ago

Top - Jumble sale

Cardigan - Uni qlo

Skirt - Jumble sale/shortened

Tights - New Look

Boots- Clarks

Bag - Jumble sale

Necklace - Charity shop

I can't quite believe I am still wearing tights at the tail end of May, where is the sun? My mum actually got me these tights and some other colours on sale, I like the strange mustard-y colour. Plus they go with my latest jumble sale bag, found yesterday. It's Etienne Aigner and was only 50p. I went to a few jumble sales yesterday but didn't really find anything too spectacular, it is really getting tough to find anything pre-1980's in these places.  On the other hand, I did find a small haul of 1970s Puffin children's book with the most interesting illustrations. I think they might look good framed too. I am undecided on this necklace - I am not usually into such bold jewellery. I think i chose it  because it reminded me of some great 70s necklaces I saw in the British design exhibition at the V&A, which is very much worth visiting in my view. Not much else really, I've been trying to really embrace all that living in London has to offer and trying to find my place within that. On that note I off to the South Bank for dinner now. Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Daisy, Daisy

All photos from Stella magazine, shot by Jane McLeish Kelsey

These photos are from an editorial in Stella magazine from March. I liked them as soon as I saw them but only just got around to scanning them. In the middle of the working week it's pleasant to imagine wandering about a country house with your pet rabbit and dancing around in chiffon. I love the model's hair and also that lace dress with the little collar in the second picture. The shoot is based on the character's of Daisy and Jay from F. Scott Fitzgerald's The great Gatsby. I'm looking forward to seeing the new film version when it eventually comes out.  Also vaguely interesting fact, the male model is Alex Watson, Emma Watson of Harry Potter's little brother. Not much else to say this week, but enjoy the pictures!

Around St.Ives

 

Top - Zara

Cardigan - New Look

Skirt - New Look

Shoes - Charity shop

Scarf - Jumble sale

Holidays are tough to come back from aren't they? I have been away in different parts of the west country for three out of the last four weekends. The furthest I went was to St.Ives in Cornwall. A place of wides skies and rugged coastline. It was only a couple of days but I could have stayed much longer. My favourite parts were lying on the beach and finding pieces of glass and ceramic, eating ice cream and visiting the Barbara Hepworth museum, a place of much inspiration. It is also where I was to watch the Royal Wedding, crammed into a cafe with many other stranded tourists. I think I was feeling subconsciously patriotic in my red, white and blue outfit. Also these are possibly the only New Look things I own and I am wearing them together. The skirt is new, I couldn't quite resist the 1970s style lace up front. I hope everyone else enjoyed those long weekends too.

Another Circus

Top - Jumble sale, 20p

Necklace - Charity shop

Skirt - Charity shop, £1

Cardigan - Primark

Shoes - Urban Outfitters

Listening to  ~ Regina Spektor  - on the radio ~

These photos are from my weekend trip to Bath (and beyond). The trip was actually a surprise courtesy of my lovely boyfriend. He is generally the one behind the camera although I never mention him. Anyway we had a great time, basically eating our way around town. On the friday night we went to same-same which had a great low-key laid back atmosphere. Then on Saturday we went to a little flea market  - the old cattle market - which was right by where we stayed. I picked up a pretty blouse which I will show later. Then breakfast - a brownie is obviously breakfast- at the very tasty Boston tea party. We then wandered around plenty, visiting the Circus, the Royal Crescent, Victoria Park, and the Fashion museum. They had a display of vintage wedding dresses dating back to the late 1800s in honour of the soon to be royal wedding. Despite various changes in fashion they were mostly fairly similar. Most interesting to me was the way styles repeated themselves. Some of the more romantic and ostentatious dresses of the late 1970s could have come from a century earlier. They also had a display of photos from the house of Worth (I think) of ladies in their dresses from the 1920s/30s, such as the image above. I have to say the simplicity of that era is my personal favourite, for wedding dresses at least. Appropriately someone had just got married there - (the museum is housed in the assembly rooms) and as we left there was confetti all over the floor. After that we had a late lunch at the Raven, famous for it's pies. Honestly they were so good, if you get a chance I highly recommend it. More wandering and then some strudel at Hansel und Gretel, which I mentioned in my previous Bath post. We left in the late afternoon for further adventures. Bath is such a great place to visit, that city always treats me well.

Big skies

 

 

Shirt - Jumble sale

Cardigan - Jumble sale

Necklace - vintage, gift

Jeans - Uni qlo

Shoes - Charity shop

Listening to - California Analog Dream ~ VondelPark ~

There is something about being under such big skies that I find hugely relaxing. That plus sunshine, a fortuitously placed ice-cream van and hazy sunshine. These photos are from Friday's visit to Devil's Dyke. There are geographical explanations for the existence of the huge empty valley, but it takes it's name from myths such as the below;

Local folklore explains the valley as the work of the devil. The legend holds that the devil was digging a trench to allow the sea to flood the many churches in the Weald of Sussex. The digging disturbed an old woman who lit a candle, or angered a rooster causing it to crow, making the devil believe the morning was fast approaching. The devil then fled, leaving his trench unfinished.Source.

Either way it is quite a breathtaking place. We meant to go for a long walk around the downs but we didn't quite get around to it. As well as Devil's Dyke we spent the morning in Brighton, eating bagels on the  beach and visiting my old favourite shop, Snooper's paradise. For possibly the first time ever I left empty handed, since I am attempting to be good and only make well considered purchases, and save money for holidays. I know everyone is commenting on the weather, but it truly feels like Summer, (not even spring) has arrived. I hope it lasts! This outfit was mostly thrifted last week and seemed more interesting in my head than in reality. Still I'm happy with my finds. I hope everyone had a great weekend in the sunshine.