Blue Sky Romance

 

 Outfits - 

1. Vintage dress jumble sale

2. Necklace charity shop, Top Urban Outfitters

3. Homemade dress, vintage belt jumble sale, Clarks sandals

4. Vintage blouse jumble sale, skirt Traid shop, Office shoes

5. Dress belonged to my mum, bag jumble sale, Office shoes

6. Vintage necklace, vintage top jumble sale, Uni Qlo trousers

7. Vintage top charity shop, homemade skirt

So I took a rather late Summer holiday this year, heading to the undoubtedly beautiful shoes of Lake Garda and also the Romantic city that is Verona. I had a great time and it's been tough returning to the normal working world. We stayed in a hotel with pretty spectacular views and visited some of the local cultural highlights, including the André Heller Botanical gardens, which took us a while to find. The place is magical and bizarre, for example there are stone heads spitting water at each other, many koi carp filled ponds, mosaics, cacti gardens and a couple of Keith Haring sculptures (like the one in the photo.) We also went to another bizarre attraction -  La Vittoriale

I don't really know how to describe the place, it belonged to  Gabriele d'Annunzio

who is buried in the mausoleum there (photo 5) that he had built. The estate also contains an amphitheater, house, and part of a battle ship, plus a lot of references to Fascism. The views in the area are totally stunning and we took a slightly scary drive up a mountain to get a better look. We also visited a lemon house and took a boat across the Lake. We ended our trip in Verona, which is lovely and feels like a film set, all the buildings are so pretty in pinkish marble colours. We did go to the infamous Juliet's balcony, but I found the hundreds of padlocks and graffiti from real life lovers a lot more interesting. I wish we'd had longer, but at least I got a little sun before Autumn hits.

Toast

Time really is going too fast at the moment. I saved these look book photos off the Toast website a couple of weeks ago and they have already been changed for a new set. I really loves these photos, they make me want to go visit a mountain range, or at least spend plenty of time outdoors all the while wearing all these perfect autumn pieces.

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.

A new favourite

Not really an outfit post today, instead a post about a place. Lat Sunday I took a trip to the Barbican, the large creative venue in London. I've only been once before to see South Pacific last year and loved the architecture and huge space. This time I was going to see the Bauhaus: Art as Life before it closed. It's something I have long been interested in, so was keen to catch the exhibition. The exhibition was good although I felt like I still didn't really know all that much by the end of it. What I found far more inspiring in many ways was The Conservatory. I had noticed it from outside before (first photo), but didn't know if it was open to the public. Turns out it is, but only on Sundays, which was lucky for me. It's amazing. There is a whole room just for cacti/succulents, an aviary and two ponds. The rest of the week it's available for private hire, but at least you get one day, and it's free. I love that there is this tropical oasis in the heart of such a busy city. It was so peaceful and I will definitely be going again.

Caught by the river

Top - Gap, a few years ago

Skirt - Jumble sale, vintage Dorothy Perkins

Shoes - UO, a couple of years ago

Bag - Charity shop

Well summer is getting along, and I don't really know where I've been. The sun has barely been present but summer feels like more of an attitude than anything else. Being in London as I am, there is of course the Olympics going on, and on Saturday I got a little taste of it all, with the cycling event route going right past my front door pretty much. There was even a giant Wenlock mascot for us to take photos with. I didn't get any photos of the cyclists (they are pretty fast) but the one of the crowd sums up the general atmosphere. One of the best parts was actually all the police going past on their bikes, doing regal waves and high-fiving the crowd. The festive atmosphere lasted all day as the circular route meant they passed back through in the afternoon. Whilst waiting for them we went over the river for some art supplies, and a very quick photo by the Thames. I would quite like to visit the Olympic park, but no tickets for me. Has anyone else been?

Clover

Dress - Handmade by me

Shoes - Office (sale)

So the last month kind of swept past. A few things have happened since my last post such as -

- A mini heat wave and wearing sundresses and sandals

-Visiting this National Trust house and not taking photos

- The diamond jubilee and attendant festivities such as wearing role family masks and going to Battersea park in the rain to watch the flotilla

- Watching moonrise kingdom (amazing as expected)

- Barbeques and birthday fun times

- Several new vintage and other wardrobe additions - like these tennis shoes for running around in this summer - if we ever actually get one.

- Designing Women, a totally brilliant exhibition. I went yesterday which was the final day, swept up an hour and half before it closed but it was so worth it. I love that whole design style/era and  really enjoyed seeing these beautiful textiles up close. I was left totally inspired.

- Sewing the above dress. It took me about a month but I really wanted to try and finish it properly and not be fast and careless. I even hand stitched the hem. The fabric is vintage and a gift from my Grandmother and I intend to wear it next time I visit her. the pattern is actually an abstract strawberry print and not too far away from the style of some of the Designing Women artists.

That's about it. I am really hoping for some warmer weather as my abundant collection of sundresses needs to put into action. How is everyone else coping with the unseasonal weather?