Outfit: Jeans and Trainers with Navy and Spots

Office moving day was upon us so I dressed accordingly in jeans and trainers. These jeans are old, like, pre-2004 old. They are from back in the day when Gap’s Long length was actually long and not the pitiful 33” or whatever-it-is-now inside leg. Ever since I read Rachel’s posts on Grasping For Objectivity about mom jeans I have been hyper-aware of checking the pockets on my own jeans. And these? I think are bordering on mom jeans. I haven’t worn them in ages and now I have them on I don’t think I like them any more. I may be all about the pale wash at the moment but not necessarily in flares/bootcuts. These jeans are 100% cotton (where can you find that these days?) and super long but it might be time to retire them. Anyway, the decision is about to be made for me because following years of ragging on the back pockets one of them is starting to rip off at the corner, taking the jeans with it. And a hole around the back pockets is not distressing you want!

Last night was a busy one. I hung out the washing, made some bread, made tea, went to buy diesel, went to Aldi, went to Tesco, went to choir practice, came home, unpacked the shopping, brought the washing in and finally sat down at 9.45pm. Glad it’s Friday today? Why yes, yes I am!

Navy cardi – Next Tall
Navy and white spot t – Next
Jeans – Gap Long and Lean
Burgundy suede wedge trainers – Esprit (c/o Sarenza) (in blue)
Navy heart pendant – Scope
Silver square hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £53

Outfit: Red Jeans, Grey Sweater, Stripes and Zebra

Today was kind of manic. We are moving offices tomorrow and so the packing up began today in earnest. I had filled three crates with books and stationery supplies before I’d even started on my own desk. I knew I might get a bit dusty and there would be lots of running around so I dressed accordingly in jeans, flats and a simple sweater.

Last night I spent quite a while reading the brilliance that is Grasping For Objectivity (especially the posts about denim). We watched some 999 emergency programme on TV, about emergency service workers on motorbikes, then a couple of episodes of Only Fools and Horses. I also played on my iPad. At the weekend our friends’ little girl had a fashion boutique game on her DS and she let me have a go. It was fab so this week I had a look in the Apple app store to see whether anything similar was available for iPad. And it is! It’s called Fashion Star and it’s kind of addictive. You can design clothes either to your own specification or to meet the requests of your clients, sell your designs in your own boutique and make outfits with them. I guess it’s a fashion based version of something like The Sims (which I’ve never played so I can’t be sure). You earn money and gift cards and can use them to purchase further design templates, fabrics and client requests. I don’t play Candy Crush Saga that everyone seems to be addicted to because I’ve heard it sucks you in and you lose all your time to it. Looks like this game could do the same to me!

Red jeans – New Look Tall (eBay)
Grey stripe top (worn backwards) – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Grey sweater – New Look Tall
Zebra print flats – George at Asda (eBay)
Black and silver bracelets – gifted
Whitby Jet cross – gifted
Silver square hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £28

Outfit: Black, Turquoise and Jeans, with a Side of Stripes and Florals

I was a bit of a rebel and wore jeans today. I figured I could get away with it if I smartened them up with heels and a blazer, and also because we are starting to pack up the office ready for the move on Friday. Not a fun task.

Last night I went to step class at the gym. When I got home I took a shower then watched Mary, Queen of the High Street which was about Mary Portas rejuvenating the town of Margate. It’s all the way down in Kent but watching it kind of makes me want to visit. The series actually started last week but I didn’t realise until I heard Mary on the radio yesterday afternoon talking about it. I’ll have to catch up with last week’s episode on 4OD.

Black blazer – Long Tall Sally (similar)
Turquoise and black stripe top – Primark (charity shop)
Jeans – Next Tall (eBay) (similar)
Turquoise wedges – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza) (in black), (similar)
Turquoise scarf – H&M
Silver earrings – gifted
Teal and purple beads – Scope

Total Est. Cost £68

Outfit: Black Jeans, Pink Jacket, Black Wedges

Today’s outfit is quite pink. I could have done with some pink shoes to wear with it, but I don’t have any at present.

Last night when I got home I had another go at making cakeballs as a traybake and I think I have it sussed now. The secret is in the frosting: you need chocolate fudge icing (Betty Crocker makes this). I also made a loaf of bread and went to the gym.

Pink jacket – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Pink top – H&M
Black jeans – Next Tall (eBay)
Black patent wedges – LK Bennett (c/o Sarenza)
Pink necklace – gifted
Pink bangles – gifted
Silver hoops – gifted

Total Est. Cost £25

Outfit: Red Sweater, Grey 7/8 Pants, Red Shoes

Today was a mixture of sunshine and heavy showers, and it was cold for May so I was glad I wore a sweater. I’m having a trousers moment as well, after years of preferring skirts and dresses.

Red sweater – Long Tall Sally (similar)
Grey trousers – Gap (charity shop) (similar)
Red shoes – c/o NOW Discount Shoes (similar)
Cream bead collar – Primark (similar)
Cream bead bracelets – Diamonds and Pearls
Silver square hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £55

Weekend Recap

Saturday morning we did some chores around the house then had an early lunch and set off on a trip to Lincoln. Our friends’ little boy turned six on Saturday and we were invited to attend his party and stay over that night. It was at a soft play/laser tag place and was a little manic with all the children running around. The birthday boy and his friends all enjoyed themselves immensely and afterwards we went with our friends to a local Italian restaurant. I had possibly the best pizza ever.

Saturday night after the children were in bed the four adults went in the hot tub that our friends have in their back yard. It wasn’t that warm outside, but when you’re in the water it’s fine. I was December and about minus 4 degrees last time we went in it.

Sunday morning we had a brunch that the lads cooked (they went to our friend’s dad’s farm for fresh eggs too) and after that we headed out for a walk. I didn’t get any outfit shots but wore the same jeans and leopard scarf as Saturday, with my black LTS hoodie and Hunter wellies on the walk. Then I put my tan boots back on when we went to a nearby village for hot chocolate and cake.

The young man and I headed home around teatime and picked up a KFC on the way back. We spent the evening watching Only Fools and Horses.

Black faux leather jacket – Topshop Tall (similar)
Black sweater – Long Tall Sally
Jeans – Long Tall Sally (eBay) (similar)
Tan leather boots – Georgia Rose (c/o Sarenza) (similar)
Leopard print scarf – H&M (similar)
Silver hoops – gifted
Tan bag – New Look (actual in cream)
Sunglasses – Boots

Total Est. Cost £133

Outfit: Spots on Spots on Stripes (and New Shoes!)

I thought it would be fun to pair my polka dot blazer with a stripy top for a pattern-mixing casual Friday look. I’m really liking lighter wash jeans this spring so I went for a pair of those too. A couple of weeks back I put an extra button on this jacket and I think it sits better at the front now. The original button was just a little too low making the lapels billow out a bit. It seemed like it needed another button higher up so I stitched on the spare that came with it and bravely cut a button hole and stitched around it (I say bravely as I’ve never done that before and didn’t really know what I was doing, only that I needed to stitch it enough to stop it fraying or tearing further). I’m glad I did as it’s much better now.

Last night I did the supermarket shopping and then watched the final episode of Abby and Brittany: Joined For Life.

Finally, the shoes. This pair is my latest pick from Sarenza. I wanted some patent flats because it rains a lot here and many of my flats are suede or fabric. Not practical. My red pair is suede and whilst I love them I don’t want to ruin them by getting them wet. Patent leather is waterproof. I went for red because you can never go wrong with red shoes (hence my motto: if in doubt, wear red shoes) and Georgia Rose because their (her?) shoes come in my size and are usually really comfy. These looked like they would be brighter on the Sarenza website but they are more of a burgundy in real life. That’s fine though, and as rain was forecast I decided to give them their first outing today. They were pretty comfy on the first wear bur one thing to beware of with this style: they are unlined so the inside of the leather has turned my feet red!

Black and white polka dot blazer – Primark (eBay) (similar)
Black and white stripe t – Next Tall (eBay) (similar)
Jeans – Long Tall Sally (eBay) (similar)
Burgundy patent flats – Georgia Rose (c/o Sarenza)
Turquoise necklace – Dorothy Perkins
Turquoise spot scarf – Becksondergaard (TK Maxx)
Silver cuff – M&S (free on 3 for 2)
Silver hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £45

Outfit: Teal Jeans, Knitted Biker, Snakeskin Accessories

Today’s look is about function more than anything. Comfy stretch jeans and a knitted but smart jacket for a day when I knew I would be running around the office. We are moving to a new office building next week and I spent most of today handing out labels for people’s packing crates and generally organising things.

We finally finished watching Lost on Sunday and by the end of the final episode I was all ‘Eh? I don’t get it!’. So if anyone wants to explain it to me, please, go ahead. The young man had a search through Love Film and our next TV marathon is a little more lighthearted: seven seasons of Only Fools and Horses. This was a British Comedy that ran from 1981 to 1993, and then returned for various specials over the following years, until 2003. I have never watched it so it will certainly be an education for me.

Grey knit biker jacket – Warehouse
White top – Long Tall Sally
Teal jeans – Topshop Tall
Snakeskin heels – Matalan
Snakeskin belt – local boutique
Teal beads – Scope
Teal ring – New Look
Silver hoops – Claire’s

Total Est. Cost £146