Dress one...Blumarine...big mistake

 

 I had got it into my head that I was too old for anything short, so much to my husband's chagrin, I had packed all maxi dresses (except for this one).

Clearly I have just been in the UK too long, the minute I hit French soil, I saw ladies in the 70s and up in fairly short skirts, including Ivana Trump (approaching 70) and Joan Collins (approaching 80) in bum skimming flippy little beach numbers, that made my maxis feel less elegant and more Margot from the Good Life.

I wore this day one, and looking at the pics can see what a fail it is, the dress is beautiful, Blumarine, incredible quality lace, boned and wrapped to give a really interesting shape with the goddess style, shawl top. But on me, it looks bad.  I think may be it is a little large (I didn't realise that it looked like it was actually falling off as I wore it) and the extra fabric in both skirt and top give me the look of second trimester.  This is one for Ebay/designer second hand shop, since it was pretty pricey.

 Note the skin tone, this is day one (not even an hour of sunbathing,  I had fake tanned that morning to get my week one glow!

Cricket and clothes

Last week I went to watch my youngest play cricket at a school in Berkshire, the sun was shining, and the school was beautiful (with a fantastic tea) Victoria sponge with proper cream filling, if the Four Seasons did schools, this would be it. And to make matters even better, they had a charity fashion sale.
I bought quite a lot of stuff, mainly Blumarine, Mona Lisa and Simonetta clothes for my nieces (have you seen the prices of them in Harrods?) I always wonder who would spend £60 on a child's t shirt or £300 for a party dress. I managed to find two year's worth of wardrobe (for two of them)  for about £200 for everything.
I bought the Monsoon cardigan for £5, it is a kid's one, and probably not meant to be worn like this, but I like the shape and it is perfect for the Summer just to throw on top of anything to keep the cold out.
I also got this (£25) Zara biker jacket, this leather is so soft you could spread it on toast, but I just can't do this look, it makes me look really butch and like a motorbike courier.
I also found this (£8)jigsaw T shirt which is very me, I like the detail, and it goes with jeans, shorts, day, night etc etc.
They had Clarins doing mini manicures and facials and wine! The other ladies were so friendly, lots of chatting in the changing room, help on and off with clothes and opinions volunteered about outfits, no one knew each other, but in that environment it just came naturally to talk. I wonder why shopping has become so solitary and if someone talks it is almost intrusive, if shops were more like this evening, I might visit them more.

My Paris outfits

I have had a MASSIVE clear out, ie everything is gone except for about 40 items of clothing (that's in total) jeans, tops, dresses etc etc.

Therefore I needed to be unusually organised about my stuff for Paris in order to not pack it up for removal.

The travelling outfit consisted of Blumarine dress (worn as top) It is beautiful lace and sequins, I've only ever worn over a copper one-piece as a beach cover up in the past.  It was from TK Maxx in Kensington and I had my eye on it for a while, it started at £249 and I finally bought it when it was reduced further to £49.

The trousers are the most amazing elastane Joseph jodhpurs from a second hand shop that was closing down   they cost about £10, they have stayed brilliant white and kept their shape for about 15 years, if I ever found another pair I would buy in a heartbeat.

Belt was from Nicole Fahri from my friend's shop, unfortunately it has fallen victim to unrealistic business rates and impossible parking restrictions.

The coat was £200 from Ebay (ever the contrarian, I bought it in high summer when nobody else is seeking out shearlings)

I thought my 'shopping' outfit for day two quite successful, until I saw the 'real' pics, where my bad deportment and Gargantuan proportions next to my fine boned friends, are  not good.

The dress is from my favourite consignment store, which has truly beautiful clothes.  It is Missoni and I got it in last year's summer sale for 60 quid.  

The belt is £6.99 H & M and the coat £4.99 from Karen Millen via Ebay.  

It was so hot that the coat wasn't needed and I'm not sure that I should EVER venture out in the dress on its own again.

This black number is for drinks at Costes, it was £11 from TK Maxx at Clapham Junction, it is is pure silk, fitted around the hips and baggy on the top, it is by a Scandinavian brand called Tiger, and when I put it on, I noticed that the label said 699 euro! Shoes are my only high ones, from Reiss (Bicester about 40 quid)

The final outfit is an Herve Leger dress from Ebay, I bought it for £50 and what you can't see is that the zip is broken and the back completely open with just a hook and eye at the top, I would never squeeze into it if the zip actually worked, and I don't mind how it looks.  I would always wear with this cardigan top from Jigsaw (Bicester 30 quid) anyway.