she's addicted to clothes

I have this little problem...

  • 14th May
    2013
  • 14
It’s been a long day, so just a quick post, mostly to keep momentum after last week’s hiatus. This braided updo is proving useful in fighting the seemingly ever-present wind around here. I can’t be having with the whole topknot trend, but this is at least a change from my usual French twist. Details: Scarf: Urban Outfitters, remixed. Jacket: Zara, remixed. I probably should’ve gone with something heavier today, but I’ve just about hit the wall with wool overcoats. It’s the middle of May, for pity’s sake. Long-sleeve stripey tee: Monari. I’ve had a cull, and I’m replacing my worn- or stretched-out stripey shirts as I find them. Denim skirt: Oasis, thrifted, remixed. Tights: The usual M&S velvet 100-deniers, remixed. Bag: All Saints. Shoes: Remixed. I am wearing these things so much lately, but they’re so comfortable and they go with practically everything!

It’s been a long day, so just a quick post, mostly to keep momentum after last week’s hiatus.

This braided updo is proving useful in fighting the seemingly ever-present wind around here. I can’t be having with the whole topknot trend, but this is at least a change from my usual French twist.

Details:

Scarf: Urban Outfitters, remixed.

Jacket: Zara, remixed. I probably should’ve gone with something heavier today, but I’ve just about hit the wall with wool overcoats. It’s the middle of May, for pity’s sake.

Long-sleeve stripey tee: Monari. I’ve had a cull, and I’m replacing my worn- or stretched-out stripey shirts as I find them.

Denim skirt: Oasis, thrifted, remixed.

Tights: The usual M&S velvet 100-deniers, remixed.

Bag: All Saints.

Shoes: Remixed. I am wearing these things so much lately, but they’re so comfortable and they go with practically everything!

  • 16th April
    2013
  • 16
Pretty warm today, but very windy! So my hair got trashed, but I was too chuffed by the sunshine to be bothered much. I was very pleased to be wearing this jacket again, and also the blouse, which was a rare full-retail buy, purchased during the week of snow, in hopes of spring. Definitely a case of retail therapy. I hope to get a lot of wear out of it, as I continue to be besotted with drapey, largely unstructured clothes. Also, it’s white, instead of grey, so perhaps I’m branching out a bit as I explore the slouchy silhouette further. It still seems to be slightly edgy in my area, but it definitely is catching on a bit. Details: Scarf: Urban Outfitters, remixed. Jacket: Zara, remixed. Tank: Zara. I kind of wish this had sleeves, since it’s so pretty, and covering it up with a jacket is kind of a shame, but it has to hit the mid-80s before it’s even vaguely possible for me to consider bare arms, or even half-covered arms. It’s also kind of shockingly low-cut, something I didn’t realise until I’d been wearing it around the house long enough for it to sort of settle. I wouldn’t call it obscene or inappropriate or anything, but I’m really not one for revealing much skin. Still, it’s beautiful, I love the asymmetry, the drape, and the gather at the waist, and I’d be thrilled to have something similar with sleeves. Skinny jeans: Abercrombie & Fitch, thrifted, remixed. Desert (style) boots: Deichmann. I may go buy these in blue as well; they are SO comfortable, and my feet are getting fussier all the time.

Pretty warm today, but very windy! So my hair got trashed, but I was too chuffed by the sunshine to be bothered much. I was very pleased to be wearing this jacket again, and also the blouse, which was a rare full-retail buy, purchased during the week of snow, in hopes of spring. Definitely a case of retail therapy. I hope to get a lot of wear out of it, as I continue to be besotted with drapey, largely unstructured clothes. Also, it’s white, instead of grey, so perhaps I’m branching out a bit as I explore the slouchy silhouette further. It still seems to be slightly edgy in my area, but it definitely is catching on a bit.

Details:

Scarf: Urban Outfitters, remixed.

Jacket: Zara, remixed.

Tank: Zara. I kind of wish this had sleeves, since it’s so pretty, and covering it up with a jacket is kind of a shame, but it has to hit the mid-80s before it’s even vaguely possible for me to consider bare arms, or even half-covered arms. It’s also kind of shockingly low-cut, something I didn’t realise until I’d been wearing it around the house long enough for it to sort of settle. I wouldn’t call it obscene or inappropriate or anything, but I’m really not one for revealing much skin. Still, it’s beautiful, I love the asymmetry, the drape, and the gather at the waist, and I’d be thrilled to have something similar with sleeves.

Skinny jeans: Abercrombie & Fitch, thrifted, remixed.

Desert (style) boots: Deichmann. I may go buy these in blue as well; they are SO comfortable, and my feet are getting fussier all the time.

  • 19th March
    2013
  • 19
Another one of those formulas, this one hearkening back to my post-Goth ’90s self, in a lot of ways. The silhouette’s been updated, though, with boy cut jeans, and a vaguely army-ish jacket with exaggerated lapels and hood. This, like yesterday’s black-and-white look, is something with which I am very comfortable, and also the sort of thing I’ll instinctively reach for on a casual day. Details: Jacket: Zara. This is nice; it was just heavy enough, over a light jumper, to keep me mostly comfortable outside today. I like the way the hood and lapels play down the width of my shoulders just a touch, or so it seems to me, and the adjustable fit at the waist and flare over the hips also helps to balance my figure a bit. I hope to wear this a lot over the spring. Largely unseen jumper: Jigsaw, remixed. I’ve worn this twice, on the blog, before now, and both times I misidentified it as being from Whistles. Scarf: All Saints, remixed. Belt: Roma, probably remixed. Made in England! Jeans: Boy Cut, Gap, remixed. When I despair of most pants not playing nice with my body, I console myself with how well a boy cut works for me. They hang nicely from my hipbones, and skim over the rest of my lower body, and they are the most comfortable jeans imaginable. Plus, these have a button fly, and I love those! Boots: Dr. Martens, Darcie. I was stunned to find out that these came in a UK 9/US 11, and even more stunned to find out they fit me. Like all Docs, they need breaking in, but with the sturdy, cushioned platform effectively shortening the (considerable) height of the chunky heel, they’re amazingly walkable.

Another one of those formulas, this one hearkening back to my post-Goth ’90s self, in a lot of ways. The silhouette’s been updated, though, with boy cut jeans, and a vaguely army-ish jacket with exaggerated lapels and hood. This, like yesterday’s black-and-white look, is something with which I am very comfortable, and also the sort of thing I’ll instinctively reach for on a casual day.

Details:

Jacket: Zara. This is nice; it was just heavy enough, over a light jumper, to keep me mostly comfortable outside today. I like the way the hood and lapels play down the width of my shoulders just a touch, or so it seems to me, and the adjustable fit at the waist and flare over the hips also helps to balance my figure a bit. I hope to wear this a lot over the spring.

Largely unseen jumper: Jigsaw, remixed. I’ve worn this twice, on the blog, before now, and both times I misidentified it as being from Whistles.

Scarf: All Saints, remixed.

Belt: Roma, probably remixed. Made in England!

Jeans: Boy Cut, Gap, remixed. When I despair of most pants not playing nice with my body, I console myself with how well a boy cut works for me. They hang nicely from my hipbones, and skim over the rest of my lower body, and they are the most comfortable jeans imaginable. Plus, these have a button fly, and I love those!

Boots: Dr. Martens, Darcie. I was stunned to find out that these came in a UK 9/US 11, and even more stunned to find out they fit me. Like all Docs, they need breaking in, but with the sturdy, cushioned platform effectively shortening the (considerable) height of the chunky heel, they’re amazingly walkable.

  • 25th February
    2013
  • 25
Hell yeah, bring on the studs for visibility! I’ve been keeping an eye out for more double- and triple-wrap belts, and found this one on deep, deep clearance at Zara over the weekend. Not only is it studded and made with fairly heavy and utilitarian-style chains, but the non-hardware part is made of camouflage pony skin, both firsts for me, although given my love of sludgy colours, you’d think I’d have got on board the camouflage thing long ago. Between the belt and the studded cuff bracelets, I went very subtle on the earrings (small silver stars, hidden by my hair), and decided to forego a necklace entirely, because I am all tasteful and restrained like that. Also it was cold, and I wanted to wear a scarf. In conclusion, Happy Visible Monday, and check out everybody else linking up to Patti’s place! Details: Jumper: Zara. I got this at the same time I got the belt; I’ve wanted a loose-weave cotton jumper for a while, and this sludgy green will fit right into my sludgetone capsule. Belt: Zara. Skirt: Gap, remixed. I damn near wore my leather miniskirt with this, but thought that might be going over the top, even for me, when I’m in one of my defiant “screw age appropriate” moods. Also, very cold out there! Tights: M&S, remixed. Boots: Debenhams, remixed. I’ve been wearing these a lot lately, due to a nasty blister on my little toe; these are nice and roomy up front, and don’t aggravate it. (PS, two jars of strawberry-rhubarb jam I made this morning on the counter behind me.)

Hell yeah, bring on the studs for visibility! I’ve been keeping an eye out for more double- and triple-wrap belts, and found this one on deep, deep clearance at Zara over the weekend. Not only is it studded and made with fairly heavy and utilitarian-style chains, but the non-hardware part is made of camouflage pony skin, both firsts for me, although given my love of sludgy colours, you’d think I’d have got on board the camouflage thing long ago.

Between the belt and the studded cuff bracelets, I went very subtle on the earrings (small silver stars, hidden by my hair), and decided to forego a necklace entirely, because I am all tasteful and restrained like that. Also it was cold, and I wanted to wear a scarf.

In conclusion, Happy Visible Monday, and check out everybody else linking up to Patti’s place!

Details:

Jumper: Zara. I got this at the same time I got the belt; I’ve wanted a loose-weave cotton jumper for a while, and this sludgy green will fit right into my sludgetone capsule.

Belt: Zara.

Skirt: Gap, remixed. I damn near wore my leather miniskirt with this, but thought that might be going over the top, even for me, when I’m in one of my defiant “screw age appropriate” moods. Also, very cold out there!

Tights: M&S, remixed.

Boots: Debenhams, remixed. I’ve been wearing these a lot lately, due to a nasty blister on my little toe; these are nice and roomy up front, and don’t aggravate it.

(PS, two jars of strawberry-rhubarb jam I made this morning on the counter behind me.)

  • 22nd August
    2012
  • 22
And, as usual, when I have no idea what to wear, I go crawling back to black top/white bottom. I think it’s totally OK to have some kind of tried-and-true style you can rely upon when inspiration fails, so I cheerfully phoned this one in, and felt pretty good about it. I really think it’s the lousy weather we’ve had this summer that’s made me kind of wish we could just get on with autumn already. Autumn and winter are much easier seasons for me, when it comes to getting dressed. I love my layers, I love my boots, and I love tights with an unholy passion. Also, I could also probably just be dying to start wearing some of my recent cool weather thrift scores, which include a long plum merino blend DKNY hoodie/dress, and two knee-length leather pencil skirts, one dark brown, one dark purple. I picked the last two up in the same trip to Oxfam for £6.99 each. They’re good leather skirts, by which I mean they’re made with only two panels, and not pieced together as cheaper ones often are. One of them still had the original tags on it. I am easily thrilled, I guess. Details: Cardigan: Zara, from the tail-end of their summer clearance. Tank: Gap, remixed. This is getting close to the end of its public life, soon to be replaced and demoted to around-the-house/sleepwear. Pendant: H&M, remixed like crazy. I have got more use out of this one cheapo pendant than any other piece of costume jewelery I own. It goes with damn near anything! Belt: Oasis, remixed. Bangles: Oasis. Jeans: Marks & Spencer, remixed. These stretch out too much, too quickly, even after the hottest trip through the washer and dryer, and will eventually be replaced. Shoes: New Look, remixed. I wanted to dress it up slightly, so high heels it was!

And, as usual, when I have no idea what to wear, I go crawling back to black top/white bottom. I think it’s totally OK to have some kind of tried-and-true style you can rely upon when inspiration fails, so I cheerfully phoned this one in, and felt pretty good about it.

I really think it’s the lousy weather we’ve had this summer that’s made me kind of wish we could just get on with autumn already. Autumn and winter are much easier seasons for me, when it comes to getting dressed. I love my layers, I love my boots, and I love tights with an unholy passion. Also, I could also probably just be dying to start wearing some of my recent cool weather thrift scores, which include a long plum merino blend DKNY hoodie/dress, and two knee-length leather pencil skirts, one dark brown, one dark purple. I picked the last two up in the same trip to Oxfam for £6.99 each. They’re good leather skirts, by which I mean they’re made with only two panels, and not pieced together as cheaper ones often are. One of them still had the original tags on it.

I am easily thrilled, I guess.

Details:

Cardigan: Zara, from the tail-end of their summer clearance.

Tank: Gap, remixed. This is getting close to the end of its public life, soon to be replaced and demoted to around-the-house/sleepwear.

Pendant: H&M, remixed like crazy. I have got more use out of this one cheapo pendant than any other piece of costume jewelery I own. It goes with damn near anything!

Belt: Oasis, remixed.

Bangles: Oasis.

Jeans: Marks & Spencer, remixed. These stretch out too much, too quickly, even after the hottest trip through the washer and dryer, and will eventually be replaced.

Shoes: New Look, remixed. I wanted to dress it up slightly, so high heels it was!

  • 21st February
    2012
  • 21
Gah, busy. Last two Mondays running have been pretty deliberately non-visible for me, since the first required me to attend a funeral, and the one just yesterday brought an ill spouse. Basic black on the first event, and jeans and hoodie on the second. Today brought mostly-grey but blessedly mild weather, so I didn’t need to bundle up in my parka, and was able to pull out the recently-purchased pea coat for another styling. This is pretty similar to the first styling, admittedly, but that’s the great thing about hitting on something that really works for you; you’ve got your basic components, and all you have to do is remix them. So that’s what I did. Details: Scarf: H&M, I think. Coat: H&M, definitely remixed. Seriously, real wool for ten quid. I love a clearance rack. 3/4-length tee: H&M (Really, I do shop places other than H&M and Gap!) I smoothed it out after taking the photo; btw. Pencil Skirt: Paraphrase, via TK Maxx. I have only ever seen this particular brand in TK Maxx, and Google isn’t very helpful. This is a nicely constructed, albeit unlined, skirt with a fitted waist and zipper. As is almost always the case with me and pencil skirts (and practically any fitted bottom), it’s a bit too big in the hips, but buggered if I care. Bag: Zara, remixed. The barista at Starbucks loved this bag! She also asked me if I could sing a duet with anybody in the world, whether or not they sing well, who would I pick. I picked my spouse, since he sings even more badly than I do, and would make me sound better by comparison. Also, I love him a lot. And I like the baristas at this particular Starbucks a lot, too. Tights: Top Shop, remixed. These are actually an almost-identical shade of navy blue to my coat, but they seem to be coming up black in the photo. Shoes: Deichmann, remixed, although it’s been a while.

Gah, busy. Last two Mondays running have been pretty deliberately non-visible for me, since the first required me to attend a funeral, and the one just yesterday brought an ill spouse. Basic black on the first event, and jeans and hoodie on the second.

Today brought mostly-grey but blessedly mild weather, so I didn’t need to bundle up in my parka, and was able to pull out the recently-purchased pea coat for another styling. This is pretty similar to the first styling, admittedly, but that’s the great thing about hitting on something that really works for you; you’ve got your basic components, and all you have to do is remix them. So that’s what I did.

Details:

Scarf: H&M, I think.

Coat: H&M, definitely remixed. Seriously, real wool for ten quid. I love a clearance rack.

3/4-length tee: H&M (Really, I do shop places other than H&M and Gap!) I smoothed it out after taking the photo; btw.

Pencil Skirt: Paraphrase, via TK Maxx. I have only ever seen this particular brand in TK Maxx, and Google isn’t very helpful. This is a nicely constructed, albeit unlined, skirt with a fitted waist and zipper. As is almost always the case with me and pencil skirts (and practically any fitted bottom), it’s a bit too big in the hips, but buggered if I care.

Bag: Zara, remixed. The barista at Starbucks loved this bag! She also asked me if I could sing a duet with anybody in the world, whether or not they sing well, who would I pick. I picked my spouse, since he sings even more badly than I do, and would make me sound better by comparison. Also, I love him a lot. And I like the baristas at this particular Starbucks a lot, too.

Tights: Top Shop, remixed. These are actually an almost-identical shade of navy blue to my coat, but they seem to be coming up black in the photo.

Shoes: Deichmann, remixed, although it’s been a while.

  • 31st January
    2012
  • 31

Apologies for the bad photos, but it was dark and frigid today, and the HP is not home, so no miraculous lens and DSLR sensor to suck in every tiny bit of light.

My main priority in picking out today’s outfit was warmth. This sweater dress, over a silk slip and with thick tights, seemed to mostly do the job, once I layered that blankety coat over it. To defy the dark, I carried my yellow handbag, which played nicely with the tights. Alas, my only seasonally-appropriate yellow scarf is more of a buff yellow than the mustardy tones of the bag and tights, so I just went with the blue scarf and let it play off the pendant and my earrings.

So now I’m on the hunt for a yellow scarf that will harmonize with my bag. (I’m not insanely matchy-matchy on colour,  but the buff v. mustard thing was really unpleasantly jarring to me.) I’ve never been one to wear much yellow, but I like how it goes with a lot of colours I do like and wear a lot, so upping my supply of yellow accessories just a bit seems like a good way to work a colour I’ve always liked but hesitated to wear into my wardrobe.

Details:

Dress: Zara, remixed. Doesn’t do a thing to define my waist, but I love this dress anyway.

Necklace: Wallis.

Tights: Peacocks.

Boots: Duo, Elba, endlessly remixed. These are particularly nice on chillier days, since the platform keeps my feet just that little bit higher off the cold, cold, ground.

Scarf: Thrifted, remixed.

Coat: Vintage Jaeger, thrifted, remixed. You know, for such a shapeless, bulky coat, this doesn’t really make me look blocky. It’s a wool/cashmere/angora blend, and has fantastic drape, and drape really does make all the difference.

Bag: Zara. I am in LOVE with this bag. (That I finally snagged it for 70% off probably increases my passion for it by a fair bit.) I plan on wearing it with the outfit I wore yesterday, just because I love the punchy colour contrast.

Gloves: Just some elbow-length black leather gloves I found at TK Maxx. I like the long length with this coat, since the sleeves are pretty loose, and I get the occasional icy blast up them.

  • 15th December
    2011
  • 15

I got a second chance at this dress the other day. It was one of the dresses featured in this post of Sylvia’s, and in her comments, I mentioned that I’d loved it when I spotted it in Zara, but that I didn’t have the time to try it on, and then it was gone the next time I was there. Well, as she optimistically suggested, it came back! And I bought it, and I am wearing it here.

I’m very keen on sweater dresses this winter. I like their versatility — most are pretty easy to dress up or down — and I really like their warmth. They also layer pretty well, although it’s not quite cold enough yet for me to find that necessary.

Once again, I’m getting that rectangular effect in these straight-on photos, but in motion and particularly in profile, everything’s a lot curvier.

Details:

Pendant: H&M, remixed. Given that I’m pretty busty, when I’m wearing a jumper with a high neckline, I almost always wear either a pendant or a scarf to break things up visually.

Dress: Zara.

Bangle: Wallis, remixed.

Tights: M&S, remixed.

Boots: Misa, Duo, remixed.

Coat: Vintage Jaeger, thrifted, remixed.

Scarf: Bought in Edinburgh last winter, at one of the zillions of wool/cashmere shops on the Royal Mile, remixed.

  • 8th December
    2011
  • 08

This week, I’m participating in Neutrals Week, a fashion challenge sponsored by CasualChicKiki.com and MeganMaeDaily.com, both of which are great blogs which you should definitely check out.

So, cognac is a colour I have a hard time really defining, unless we’re talking leather goods. Vaguely reddish-not-too-dark-brown is about what I think of when it comes to, say, knits. I have no idea if this is what other people think. Fortunately, white was also an option for today, so in case my definition of cognac is wrong, well, here’s a white jumper.

The weather was AWFUL today; dark, rainy, cold, with gales, so I’m including the outerwear in the second shot. I might as well not have bothered with doing my hair today, since I had to stuff it up under a hat, but I didn’t realise just how bad the weather was until I stepped onto the patio for a moment before heading out for the day, and then I had to quickly update my outerwear plans to include a hat and umbrella, so I quickly took a few more photos. 

This cold is still kicking my ass, so I’m just going to jump to the details and call it a night:

Hat: I have no idea; I’ve had it for years, and think I bought it at TK Maxx.

Corduroy Jacket: Laura Ashley, thrifted, remixed. It was cold today, but this was good enough, due to the chunky jumper.

Scarf: Zara, remixed. 

Jumper: Primark, remixed. I have worn this a lot. Had I known I’d wear it so often, I probably would’ve sprung for a better one, and not a Primark cheapie, but I wasn’t sure if the chunky, cabled knit would conflict with my body image issues, and cause me to feel like a cow. It hasn’t, I’m pleased to say.

Wooly shorts: Zara, remixed. There is totally a colour I think anybody would consider cognac in the weave.

Tights: Dorothy Perkins, remixed. These actually are photographing a lot more like regular brown than they actually are. In person, they have that tell-tale reddish cast.

Brolly: A random accessories shop in Clayton Square Shopping Centre, Liverpool. Heaven help me, my small collection of animal prints is growing. Mostly I got this because I wanted a brolly that would work with my brown/neutral boots and coats. Yes, I am the kind of person who wants her umbrella to harmonise with the rest of her outerwear. Please don’t judge.

Boots: Deichmann, remixed.


  • 22nd November
    2011
  • 22
This was a very cold day, and I dressed for it. I’d thought this skirt was quite a find, and I’m not ready to give up on it yet, but the cut is a bit uncomfortable. It’s slightly too large in the waist, but otherwise the fit is very good. The problem seems to be that it flares too much from about the knees down, and the corduroy fabric is just too stiff to get a graceful drape. I could feel that fabric flapping around all day, and it kind of irritated me. I’m going to attempt fabric softener and the dryer in the hopes of softening it up a bit, since I hung it to dry after washing last time, but it may be one to throw back. That would be a shame, since I love the colour, love corduroy, and the length is perfect. I was going for the slouchy, bulky jumper + maxi skirt autumn/winter trend I’ve seen around a bit, and it’s a look I’m going to be returning to, but I’ll be using a much more flowy skirt next time round. I am pleased with my colour palette, and I’m very fond of the jumper, so it wasn’t a total wash, by any means. Details: Scarf: Desigual, remixed. I got this at the end-of-season sale late last winter, and I’m glad to have it out of storage and back in rotation. Jumper: Zara. At long last, my mustard jumper, although I was originally looking for a cardigan. Very nice, very comfortable. Skirt: Long Tall Sally, thrifted. You see why the length is so good! Boots: Deichmann, remixed.

This was a very cold day, and I dressed for it. I’d thought this skirt was quite a find, and I’m not ready to give up on it yet, but the cut is a bit uncomfortable. It’s slightly too large in the waist, but otherwise the fit is very good. The problem seems to be that it flares too much from about the knees down, and the corduroy fabric is just too stiff to get a graceful drape. I could feel that fabric flapping around all day, and it kind of irritated me. I’m going to attempt fabric softener and the dryer in the hopes of softening it up a bit, since I hung it to dry after washing last time, but it may be one to throw back. That would be a shame, since I love the colour, love corduroy, and the length is perfect.

I was going for the slouchy, bulky jumper + maxi skirt autumn/winter trend I’ve seen around a bit, and it’s a look I’m going to be returning to, but I’ll be using a much more flowy skirt next time round. I am pleased with my colour palette, and I’m very fond of the jumper, so it wasn’t a total wash, by any means.

Details:

Scarf: Desigual, remixed. I got this at the end-of-season sale late last winter, and I’m glad to have it out of storage and back in rotation.

Jumper: Zara. At long last, my mustard jumper, although I was originally looking for a cardigan. Very nice, very comfortable.

Skirt: Long Tall Sally, thrifted. You see why the length is so good!

Boots: Deichmann, remixed.