Mint tea

Cardigan - TSE, jumble sale

Shirt - Uni qlo, jumble sale

Cords - Uni qlo

Belt - gift

Shoes - Henry Holland for Debenhams

Bag - Charity shop

Listening to - PJ Harvey - on Battleship Hill

I am finally doing my seasonal 360 where I want to wear dark grungy colours in winter and soft off colours in Spring. Since it's not really warm yet I am making do with the colour combination of mint + red, which are surprisingly good together. As evidenced by this lady. I got both the shirt and the cardigan at a super awesome jumble sale a couple of weeks ago. It was more expensive than ususal - some items were £2! (To me this is a lot for a jumble sale but cheap compared to many charity shops so all is well) There was a funny old lady there who kept throwing any 'young looking' things in my direction and asking if I'd like them. Amongst them was this cardigan. I recognized the brand TSE, who do 100% cashmere cardigans so happily snapped it up for 50p. I also found a beautiful 1930s crepe blouse which I will have to wear soon. I need to document my outfits more often now it's light, and take more pictures generally. For example I was at a party dressed as Patti Smith and have no photographic evidence, need to work on that.

Also Let England Shake by PJ Harvey is amazing, have been listening to it constantly.

Breathing space

Hat - H&M (sale)

Jeans - Uni qlo (sale)

Shoes - TK Maxx

Shirt - Vintage, M&S

Listening to -  M83 - Reunion

I wore this with the plan of going to see the Yayoi Kusama exhibition at the Tate Modern. However I wasn't really prepared for the size of the queue (in fairness it did only start two days ago) and decided I will go back a bit later to see it. Instead I spend some time looking at the permanent collections. I realised I haven't been to the Tate modern in over a year. Which is pretty bad when it's only half an hour away. I found this visit it particularly inspiring and in fact the whole day, walking along embankment in the afternoon sun, browsing the book stalls, taking everything in was like a much needed breath of fresh air.  My camera battery wasn't charged either so I took my sketch book instead which makes a change. Sometime I really miss being an art student. I think that stretch of the river is one of my favourite places to be in London. The view over the river up from the London eye to St.Paul's always reminds me that London can be such an incredible place to live in.

Shoreline

Top - H&M

Cardigan - Gap

Necklace - Gift

Trousers - Uni qlo

Boots - Clarks

Waistcoat - Vintage, charity shop

Listening to - First Aid Kit - Emmy Lou

In the second week of January we took a short holiday to Devon/Cornwall and the scenery of which I never tire. The Jurassic coast is just so beautiful. These photos also prove that the British sea side does have its moments, and the sun does actually come out occasionally to dazzling effect. I even saw one  brave girl swimming in Cornwall. I know it's a mild winter but still I was impressed. As I have said these desert boots haven't left my feet much for the last month or so, (as you can see, my boyfriend is also a fan.) They are just so comfortable, and as I get older, comfort starts to mean more than it once did. No more ballet flats in in minus temperatures anyway. This outfit isn't much, but I do like the velvet waistcoat, found for £1.50 in a charity shop. I also wore it over this dress, and felt like I should be a 1970s country singer, which is no bad thing. I am on the hunt for some straight leg jeans that sit higher on the waist than most jeans. I have only seen some in M&S that weren't quite right and also American Apparel which are a bit much so if anyone have any recommendations, I'd be glad to hear them.

Kew

 

Jumper - jumble sale

Skirt - Pendleton, Traid shop

Dessert boots - Clarks sale

Duffle coat - Topshop, second hand from market

Listening to - Bat for lashes - A forest

January feels different this year. For one thing it's not really cold and I had a holiday right at the start so the usual January blues seem to have passed me by, a very good thing I must say. These photos are from Kew gardens. The last time I went was November 2010 and it was freezing and coated in thick mist, beautifully atmospheric. This time the sun was soft and I didn't really need my coat. I find Kew a very inspirational place, mainly I think because of the pleasant state of decay of the greenhouses, which are full of chipped paint and antique iron work, combined with exotic plants. I also picked up a 1950s guide book in a local jumble last year which was actually pretty useful. I have been wearing my dessert boots no stop and am pining for this pair (I am hopeful they will end up in the sale and still in my size) Also this duffle coat, I picked it up on a very rainy afternoon at Dalston market for £4 last March and it has fared me well for this winter. I was super happy when I saw the awesome Pendelton label on this skirt. It needed shortening but I like having something with such a heritage to it.

Bed of roses

Dress - Miss Selfridge, jumble sale

Cotton Cardigan - Jumble sale

Belt - Was my Mums

Boots - Gap about 3 years ago

Listening to - Michael Kiwanuka - I need you by my side

Apparently I want to dress like a mid 1990's teenager at the moment, at least if this outfit is anything to go by. I think this A-line rose print dress must be 90s and also this crazy cotton cardigan. Which has all sorts of cables and stitches going on and ways a ton. I go through phases with the biker boots, I love them but I think they are a bit small on my feet. Lately they have been superseded by the Dessert boots from this post. Which I wear all the time.  There is no real reason I haven't been blogging so much, except that daylight hours are too short and Christmas is always so busy. I've just been to Cornwall for a few days relaxation before going back to work, and I will post those photos next. Now I going to attempt to do some sewing.

These Boots

Dress - People tree

Cardigan - Knitted by my great aunt for my mum in the 70s

Hat - Made by my grandmother

Necklace - vintage, gift

Boots - Vintage, Charity shop

Listening to - Spiraling - The Unthanks 

To me winter dressing generally consists of wearing as many layers as possible, which means it's a bit tougher to stay stylish piled under jumpers, scarves and coats. The one thing I really get excited about is wearing boots! I think boots are my favourite shoe generally, and I tend to add a new pair (or two) each winter. I found these very bright purple Chelsea boots in a charity shop for £7, and although they are a little big, I kind of love them already. I am quite fussy with boots and only like pull on or lace up ones, so Chelsea boots  and dessert boots are my current favourites. The dress is a little short for my liking, but its very well made and People tree are a great ethical fair trade brand. It makes me happy to know my clothing comes from such a responsible source. I can't believe it's been a month since my last post. Since then I've had a birthday and been to Bruges for a short holiday. A lovely city but very cold when we were there. I really enjoyed walking everywhere and sampling plenty of the local beer and chocolate. Now Christmas is closing in and I'm trying to fit in some last minute Christmas shopping around all the other festive activities.

Happy Cardigan

Cardigan - Hand knitted by my Grandmother

Dress - Hand made by me

Belt - Used to belong to my mum

Tights - Topshop

Necklace - Gift

~ Listening to - I feel electric - Rubies/Feist ~

Autumn is passing me by at lightning speed, and it doesn't help that every shop is full of Christmas things. I refuse to think about Christmas until after my birthday, which is coming up soon. Which brings me to this cardigan, which I love so much. It is so warm and the colours are so lovely together, but the best thing is that it was handmade just for me by my super talented grandmother. She has been knitting me hats, gloves and scarves for years but this is the first garment I have had since I was a child. My grandmother showed me a picture in Stella magazine some months ago of an angora cardigan in tones of blue and said how she liked it, and I agreed. And now here is my very own version, it even has those leather buttons I like so much. My sister received one as well, in shades of yellow and blue. I thought I would wear it with this red dress that I made last year. I don't wear it very often because I made the sleeves a quite odd length, but I like the texture. The necklace was a birthday gift two years ago, the clasp needed fixing, but now it's done I wear it a lot. It was meant to be a key ring originally and i like the weight of it. I now have some birthday outfits to plan and a little adventure to pack for.