Happy Easter

A very happy Easter to all my readers!

Outfit: Easter Sunday

Apologies for the blurry picture – looks like I couldn’t keep my hand still this morning!
There was an Easter breakfast at church this morning at the very civilised hour of 9.30am. (At my old church there was a service on a local hillside at 7am, followed by communion at 8.45am, then breakfast after that.) The choir was then singing an introit in the service and we had all agreed to wear something brightly coloured as it was a jolly, gospel-type number, hence the blue and red. I always get complimented on these jeans even though they only cost £15. Good old Dotty P’s!

Blue cardi – Ethel Austin
White long sleeve t – Tall Girls
Jeans – Dorothy Perkins Tall
Red shoes – Next
Red beads – eBay

Total Est. Cost £49

Outfit: Easter Saturday

I was born on Easter Saturday 1979 so it is always a special day for me, whether it falls anywhere near my birthday or not.
Just another quiet day at home today – I’ve done the Tesco shopping and taken a whole load of stuff to the charity shop.
The young man decided that yesterday would be a good time to re-grout the tiles in the bathroom (note: there is NEVER a good time to do this, it involves the bath and shower being out of use for several days), so this morning I had the dubious task of washing my hair in the kitchen sink. Which was nice. Other than making a lot of mess on the floor with water, it was fairly successful – I think I have it in my head that my hair is still far longer than it actually is.

Teal long sleeve t – H&M
Jeans – River Island
Brown & silver scarf – mall market stall
Leopard print flats – Priceless Shoes (eBay)

Total Est. Cost £69

Outfit: Good Friday

It’s a bit grey and miserable here today. We’re not really doing much, just pottering about the house doing a few chores. I’ve got a service this evening that the church choir are singing at, then my cousin is popping over to visit. I will probably change my top before church – I don’t think this t is particularly appropriate for a Good Friday service.

Red cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Blue ‘Girls just wanna have fun’ t – Topshop Tall (eBay)
Jeans – River Island
Blue flats – Ethel Austin
Red beads – eBay

Total Est. Cost £52

Outfit: Birthday Tea

We are headed to my parents’ this evening for a pre-birthday tea. They appreciate seeing us and I appreciate not having to cook. It’s a win-win situation! I was going to just wear what I wore last night again, but then I thought why not change it up a bit. Plus, it’s pretty grey outside (although surprisingly warm I just discovered when I went to put the recycling out) so I don’t really need the sunglasses today.

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
Black Betty Boop t – Dorothy Perkins
Grey jeans – Primark
Grey boots – Priceless Shoes (gifted)
Red beads – eBay

Total Est. Cost £38

Thoughts On Turning 30

My 30th birthday is fast approaching and the closer it gets, the more excited about it I am. Yes, it’s a birthday and that means presents (hopefully, if I’m lucky) and being the centre of attention for the day (or week, if I can manage my usual stringing-it-out trick). But 30 is something of a milestone. Last year when I turned 29 I was all ‘gah, 30 next year, that’s so depressing’, but now that the time has actually come, I not at all bothered about it. As my friend said the other day, a birthday is just the passage of time, and she is now 37 and not worried about it at all.

However, it has got me looking at my life and I can honestly say that I am pretty happy with where I’m at right now. I have a job (not something we can all say in the present economy) and my blog is providing me with some sideline writing opportunities which I hope will continue to grow. I have an amazing boyfriend, fab friends (both offline and on), and for once in my life I am happy with the way I look. My style may be in transition from day to day, but I know what I like, what suits me and that is mostly thanks to this blog. Several times I have got rid of items after seeing them on a photograph and deciding they didn’t do much for me after all. I have made a conscious effort in the last year or so to only buy items designed for tall ladies, or that had plenty of length in them if they weren’t specifically tall. Consequently I now have a closet full of clothes (too full the young man would say) that I know fit me and I enjoy wearing.

Two years ago I moved from one side of the city to the other to live with the young man, and left behind much of my life – my church, my youth work, my choir. The only people I knew in the area were related to the young man or had grown up with him. Two years on I have built a new life for myself – found a new church, new choir and drama group, and have made some good friends along the way. I think my confidence has increased with age and although I went away to university at 18, that was different in a way as everyone else there was new too. To start over in a new place on your own is very different and something I don’t think I would have been confident to do at twenty. I am glad that I have been able to make the move and am very happy living where I do now.

The birthday celebrations start this evening with tea at my parents’ house. The big day is not until Tuesday so I’m thinking I can easily stretch it out over a week, or even a week and a half if I really try.

Outfit: Faux Friday (Maundy Thursday)

Today is Maundy Thursday which means it’s the last day of work before the Easter break. We are having our usual Friday morning hot sandwiches this morning so we don’t miss out.

Black cardi – New Look Tall
White ‘Tall?’ cami – Café Press
Jeans – Gap
Black patent lace ups – Matalan

Total Est. Cost £55

Outfit: Drama Rehearsal

It was the last rehearsal in the church hall last night – next Wednesday we are in the theatre!

Black cardi – New Look Tall
Black Betty Boop t – Dorothy Perkins
Jeans – River Island
Silver flats – Faith
Sunglasses – Boots

Total Est. Cost £117

New Dress

I may have accidentally bought a dress on eBay. It is from Long Tall Sally and cost me all of £4.99 and is a beautiful midnight blue velvet. It arrived yesterday afternoon and I quickly tried it on and styled it with the black tights I was already wearing and some black shoes. I am thinking I might wear the dress when I go out for a birthday meal, a week on Saturday so I would like your suggestions as to which of my shoes to put with it, what tights, etc. (Bear in mind that it is likely to be raining and not overly warm – this is still the Frozen North, despite the recent sunshine!)

Reader Mail

Hello Shoegal!
I often read your posts and i like your blog a lot! Keep on going!!! ;)
I'm writing this email to ask you for advice.
I'm fond of summer boots to wear with dresses or tight jeans. I just bought high sand colour suede boots to wear this season. However, I don't know what kind of purse to match. What colour should I pick?
Must the purse be in creme suede, as well as the boots?
Please help me on it.
Thanks
Ana



Hi Ana
Thanks for reading the blog and thanks for your mail.
Your boots sound fabulous! I am fond of matching my bag to my shoes, but sometimes it is better to stay in the same colour family rather than go for an exact match. You could try a darker sand colour, or even brown for a bag. Alternatively, pick a purse that picks up a colour from your dress, or blends with other accessories in the outfit – such as your jewellery or belt. Summer is a great time for experimenting with colour, and this year there are plenty of 80s brights around so have fun with it!
You don’t say what style your boots are, but I would go for a slouchy, casual style bag if the boots are a slouchy kind of suede, and a more structured shape if the boots are a smarter style.
I’ve included some ideas so you can see the kind of thing I’m thinking of – all images from ASOS.com.
I hope this helps.
Shoegal
x

Outfit: £5 Wednesday

I was going to wear nude tights again today, but I woke up to the sound of rain lashing the windows, and a howling gale, so black tights it was. Looks like we’re back to winter for a bit.
Each item I have on today cost £5 – bargain!

Blue cardi – Ethel Austin
Black & white stripe dress – charity shop
Black tights – Silkies
Blue patent shoes – New Look
Blue & silber bangles – Oxfam

Total Est. Cost £25

Outfit: Tuesday

I usually don’t like Tuesdays very much – they are notoriously slow and a long way from the weekend. However, by the end of today we will be halfway through the week and only 2 days away from the Easter break.
I usually layer this dress over a polo neck but wanted to transition it into spring so I put a cardi over it instead. Legging rather than tights add to the spring feeling although I could definitely do with some fake tan/tinted moisturiser on my feet!

Grey cardi – New Look Tall
Green & lilac dress – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Black leggings – New Look Tall
Grey faux suede shoes – New Look (charity shop)
Teal earrings – Primark

Total Est. Cost £30

This Week I Will Be Mostly…

…wearing spring dresses
…reading the April issue of UK Cosmopolitan magazine
…watching The Flying Doctors on DVD if it arrives from Play.com – I would have thought it would have been here by now
…listening to The Passion by Adrian Snell – it’s an Easter tradition for me
…eating chocolate
…shopping for an Easter Egg for the young man

Outfit: Red & Black Monday

(Apologies for the lack of pictures earlier - Blogger was misbehaving and not letting me post properly.)

I feel like my hair is getting too long at the front again. I think I am booked in for it cutting next week though so that’s good. In the meantime I’ll have to just pin the front part back or something.

I’d not yet worn this dress this year. Although it is black, it is cotton and so feels more of a summer dress, especially with the short sleeves. Now that the weather is improving a little the time has come to wear it again. I am not yet brave enough to go bare legged and am cheating with nude tights today.

Red cardi – Long Tall Sally
Black dress – George at ASDA
Red cami (under dress) – New Look
Red shoes – Next
Black patent belt - Primark

Total Est. Cost £47

Review: Boots No7 Dual Protection Tinted Moisturiser

Like most men, the young man can’t stand the smell of fake tan. Even the moisturisers with a hint of fake tan can be detected by his nose and he complains about the biscuity smell. Consequently I have been searching for an alternative and decided to try a tinted moisturuser. As I had a £5 off No7 voucher I bought a tube of the Dual Protection Tinted Moisturiser in medium. I’ve used it on my arms today and the effect is subtle but takes away the bright whiteness my skin would otherwise have. As it is a moisturiser it blends in really well and is totally streak free. The only smell is that of a moisturiser and it even contains SPF15 – what more could a girl ask for? Whilst I wouldn’t recommend wearing a white vest whilst you apply it (like I did), it will wash off your clothes, unlike fake tan. I applied it, left it to dry for a while (I dried my hair and put in my contact lenses), then ran a white towel over my arm and there was just a little colour transfer – but like I say, a little Vanish pretreatment stain remover and it will wash right out.

Outfit: Sunny Sunday Show Rehearsal

It’s another lovely sunny day so I’ve spent the morning doing washing and it’s now drying on the line. The young man has just headed out to play on his trials bike, and I have a show rehearsal in a couple of hours. Until then I’m just chilling out.
I want ed to wear my new t shirt today, and this blue cardi goes perfectly with it. Besides, bright blue is my trademark colour!

Blue cardi – Ethel Austin
White ‘Leggy Bird’ t – New Look Tall
Jeans – River Island
Blue patent shoes – New Look
Blue & silver bangles – Oxfam
Sunglasses – Boots

Total Est. Cost £77

Outfit: Concert Rehearsal

I have a concert with my choir this evening and there’s a rehearsal this afternoon. I’m having a lazyish morning making soup for dinner, then I’ll be off for a sing. The rehearsal is only supposed to last an hour so hopefully I’ll be home in time to watch the Grand National. I watch it every year even though I’m not really into horse racing and I’ve only ever had a proper bet on it once, and that was 2 years ago because it was run on my birthday. They used to run a sweepstake in my office though which I would often be part of. It’s just something everyone watches.

I started out in flats to walk to the shop for cream to go in the soup.

Red cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
White ‘Yes I’m very tall’ t – Café Press
Jeans – River Island
Red shoes – Next
Red belt (on jeans) – Next
Red beads – eBay
Leopard print flats – Priceless Shoes

Total Est. Cost £80

Outfit: Home Working Friday

I am working from home today so had a nice lie in this morning and was still up in time to start at 8am. My car is in for its MOT and service today which is not going to be cheap I feel sure. As I am at home I didn’t get my hair and make up done until mid morning. And I have spent the morning with a long black cardi over the top of my clothes to keep warm. The sun finally put in an appearance at midday so I have moved into the conservatory for the afternoon as it’s nice and warm in here now.

Red cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Turquoise tank – Topshop
Jeans – River Island
Turquoise shoes – New Look
Sunglasses – Boots
Red beads – eBay

Total Est. Cost £88

Outfit: Casual Thursday

Ever the optomist with the sunglasses! Actually, the radio this morning said there would be sunny spells and that it would get reasonably warm today. Let’s hope so!
Still rocking the scarf I got last week, and it will be nice when it’s warm enough to forgo a cardi altogether and just wear a long sleeve t. But this one adds a bit of colour to today’s outfit. Also, I’ve not worn these shoes in ages. They were the first pair I ever bought at Faith and they are pretty comfy for the height and spindlyness (yes I’m neologising) of the heels. The only thing about them is that the heel has a metal tip – great for it not wearing down but not so great for it making the shoe heavy and them fall off my feet occasionally going up stairs.

Blue ¾ sleeve cardi – Ethel Austin
White long sleeve t – Tall Girls
Jeans – Gap
Beige shoes – Faith
Brown & silver scarf – mall market stall
Sunglasses – Boots

Total Est. Cost £65

Outfit: Pub Tea and Rehearsal

It was a member of the group’s birthday this week so some of us met at the local Wetherspoon’s pub for tea before the rehearsal last night. Then we went up to the church where we rehearse for a bit of singing practice and plenty of dancing. I tried out my flat white shoes and found that they are very comfortable.

Red cardi – Long Tall Sally (eBay)
Black Betty Boop t – Dorothy Perkins
Skinny jeans – Topshop Tall
Leopard print flats – Priceless Shoes (eBay)
Red beads – eBay
Sunglasses – Boots

Total Est. Cost £63

White flats – Priceless Shoes £8

Outfit: April

I don’t know what happened to March but it seems like it flew past in no time. It’s April Fool’s Day here in the UK so I will be on my guard all morning to ensure no one fools me with any pranks. At my old job we put a cut out of a leek in the ladies’ toilet and told the only two men who worked there that there was a leak in the toilet. One of them came rushing down the stairs with his pliers and oh how we laughed!
It is definitely spring now that the calendar says April so I am trying to wear more colour than neutrals. We’ll see how that goes.

Purple tank – Long Tall Sally
Teal & black crinkle shirt – Next
Teal skirt – H&M
Purple tights – New Look
Grey tweed shoes – Matalan
Teal bangles – Accessorize
Heart necklace – Scope

Total Est. Cost £65