Popsicle Vase

Talk about indulging..



tfs

So Will You Midi?

So will you wear a midi skirt this autumn?  The length has been around for a few seasons now but it is top of the trend list come the autumn.  As you know I love the 70's look and this was very popular during those years as well as the 1940's which is a trend in itself for next season.  It can be a tricky look, especially for us petite ladies but I think if you are careful with the proportions and wear a good heel, I think block is best, it can be done.

Chole's ad campaign has these wonderful midi dresses in snake print, note the pulled in waists and a strong heeled but NOT clumpy shoe.

These looks from the Augusts British Vogue, are a simpler silhouette with great strong colours and worn with a nude pointed court shoe.

This skirt from Asos is a good buy for £40 that would work for work or weekend depending on the styling.  I am loving the block heeled knee boot.  Boots must come up under the hem line and please no midi or calf length boots unless you want to make your legs looks short, stumpy and plain old strange.

This suede one for £90 again from Asos has a real luxury vibe and in sensible navy won't need cleaning all the time.  Add a silk shirt to up the luxe factor.

The pussy bow is back again and I rather like this dress, although I would  tie it loosely and open a button to create the V shape us girls with bigger girls need.  Hate the shoes by the way, ugly and hazardous to walk in  I should think, a block heeled loafer would work much better. Dress £40 Asos again, they are on the ball for next season but still have plenty of mini and maxi lengths to please everyone.

This is a great printed shirt dress also from Asos for £26, I love the berry colour but it also come in my favourite navy blue.  This is a simpler shape and with a good belt should give good shape.  Avoid the socks and clogs (?) look, as you can see it does this leggy model no favours.  Heeled knee boots and a block heeled court or loafer would work better and a thick tight come winter.



In case you are wondering what I am on about in the shoe department, I have put a few options together below.  I am loving those bright yellow loafers, they would look great with a dark blue jean in either skinny or wide leg.

Midi friendly shoes by dragonflylifestyle featuring leather knee boots

OK I am back to my flip flops now as I will not be wearing any of the above for a few months yet, but it is nice to plan and I am trying out the new length already.  You can tell me how I am doing on Wednesday when I post my looks.



I hope your having a good week so far and please let me know your thoughts....Will you midi?  ax



Images Asos, Fashion Gone Rogue, The Glamourai

What I Wore Wednesday Week 21.

I am back for another week of WIWW and as always I am linking up with all the ladies all over the world via The Pleated Poppy.  Why not pop over and see what we have all being wearing this week.

Taking Poppy for her night time stroll, I have no make up on (shock!) and am rather hot and sweaty but this is what I look like at this time of year, and I am sure (hope) I am not the only one.

Wearing this years version of the loose linen dress (I brought two in the sales).
Dress - Zara
Sandals - Primark

A blessedly cool and overcast day, much to my sisters up set who was hoping for the beach.  Poppy got another evening stroll and I tried to do the "holding up the building" shot, not very successfully.

Shirt - Day A Day
Linen combats - Zara sale
Sandals - Mini Boden

Now I do normally wear this with a belt to give me some shape, but it was too warm so I went for loose and breezy.  Also showing off my new shoes and bag, I am thinking ahead to autumn with these new buys.

Dress - Sfera
Shoes - Zara new season
Leather Bag - Local made market 25€ a bargain I think.

A close up of my pretty new shoes, my sister told me I had to have some colour in my life and that flat shoes need toe cleavage to stop them being frumpy.  Check and check.  I think they are going to look great popping out of dark blue jeans, when I can wear them again

So happy I found this stall at out local evening craft market, they have so many great leather pieces.

I thought I had found a t-shirt style that suited me at long last, but seeing the pictures I am not sure now.  What do you think?

T-Shirt - H&M
Skirt - Made by me and seen here.
Sandals - Primark
Necklace - EmersonMade

Well that's it from me for now, I have managed to get a few last minute bargins in the sales and after a bit of hemming (the price for being small), I will share them with you all, so until next time friends......

Try and stay cool.......  ax

If anyone know the origins of this photo please let me know, it is on my pinterest but has no back link.  I would love to credit the owner.  ax

1940's Dreaming

I have just seen this lovely 1940's fashion story from Vogue Australia's  September issue over on Fashion Gone Rogue, and thought I would share it with you.  Although the clothes do not do my figure any favours the styling and muted colours are right up my ally.  Retro, but not in a wearing a costume way, which I think can be a problem when embracing another era.  I do love the glamour of the 1940's but am still a 70's girl at heart, but the 70's were very heavily influenced by earlier eras.

 This look is my favourite, the colours and style of the dress, with that hair and make up are so sexy but also so understated, as not much skin on show.  A perfect balance.

These boxy shapes are not for everyone, me included but you can take inspiration with the colour palette and detailing.  I am loving the softer hair rolls and will be digging out some combs later and a look at a few tutorials on you tube (this one is so easy and make work for over night curls too, look.) for a try myself and maybe a play around with my make up.  All of a sudden I am looking forward to autumn, what do you think?

Photographs by Eric Guillemain, model Barbara Palvin, styled by Naomi Smith.  Images via fashion gone rogue.

Look Of The Week.

I found this look today on Stockholm Street Style and I can not get it out of my mind.  That dress is so simple but those extra details make is so special and the styling is spot on.  I am trying to track it down or one similar, so if any of you know where it's from please let me know, then I can add it to my "Classic pieces wish list".  I am doing quiet well on my wardrobe staples, what with the new trench coat plus, I just got the best pair of navy trouser in the Zara sale for 9€, they even give me a bum.

I hope you have all had a good week, my sister has gone now so it is back to just Poppy and I and all of you.  Thanks for keeping me company girls, your the best.  Happy weekend my friends, see you all next week.  ax

A Breakfast of Strawberries

Drizzled with honey on fresh bread. De-li-cious.

MarthaStewart

dear anonymous.

swimmer vivian lundman, 1926. chicago daily news.  courtesy of the library of congress.

thank you for the vintage bathing cap left on my desk.  it was quite a funny surprise this morning and something i have wanted for a while, actually.  i have questioned everyone i work with mercilessly and just can't seem to figure out who you might be.  so thank you.  
love.
-juli

What I Wore Wednesday Week 20

I am back for another week, although not mush to show as I keep forgetting to take photos and there has been a lot of lying around wearing as little as possible to keep cool, I promise to do better next week.  I am linking up with the girls from The Pleated Poppy as always and I am looking forward to seeing all the red, white and blue that was worn over the weekend.

At my mum's in Harpenden before a full days shopping followed by bingo....and we won!  Hehe not a lot but all good fun and rather exciting.

Jumper - Massimo Dutti ss11
Jeans - Boutique in St Tropez
Belt - American Eagle
Espadrilles - Local Market
Bag - Local Market
Sunglasses - deBijenkorf

Back in hot, hot Palma and off for a walk and an ice cream with the dog, we know how to live us two....

Shirt - Massimo Dutti
Shorts - Zara
Sandals - Primark
Necklace - Emerson Made

I have some cute looks in my head that I will put into practice and then remember to take photos of for next week and a few home sewn pieces that should be finished.  So lots of looks for next week.

Enjoy the sun and keep cool.  ax

Say Hello

Say "Hello" to my new favourite thing, yes it is a light coat and yes it is 30 degrees out, but it is sale time and I am planning ahead.  After wearing my £15 mac for many years and then ironing it on the wrong side so it went shiny, I have been dreaming of a new one, the only problem being that they tend to drown me so I was looking at Burberry's children's ones.  Walking past a very preppy style shop called El Ganso, I saw this beauty in the sale and in my size, plus with it being a shorter style fits me mid thigh, so no looking like I dressed up in my dad's coat.  I am a sucker for elbow pads and the extra detailing on the collar and back vent made me swoon.  They had it in Navy with red detailing which I loved but I went for classic beige with navy accents.  What do you think girls?  I think price per wear this baby will end up being free in a very short space of time, I just wish I had had it for all the rain in Amsterdam, it would have been perfect.

So any great sale find yet ladies, maybe we should have a blog link up party of our best buys, what do you think?

Wishing a happy 4th July to all my American friends, have a wonderful day.  The rest of us just have the usual Monday funday.  Here is to a good week ladies.  ax

New Things From My Travels

Well the sales were on in England and I managed to pick up a few bargains, so I have spent the morning playing around with set ups for pretty pictures.  It is very hot work but I am quiet pleased with the results, what do you think?

New plimsolls from the children's department in TK Maxx, so preppy cute.

I am in love with this navy full skirt from Primark, I am thinking 60's Riviera chic.

Primark sandals with green stones, so cheerful and comfortable.

Now I have always wanted a skirt with a little net underneath and this has it all including the pretty Venetian scene  so for £5 it had to be mine, even if I only do the washing up in it whilst channelling Doris Day.  This skirt makes me so very happy.

Now this deco tea cup and plate where picked up at my mum's local car boot sale for £3.50 and they are so pretty with small dots in bone china, I feel a tea party for one coming up.  I also got the little pot on the same stall for 30p and it is perfect to hold my rings in.  I have had great fun setting up little vignettes with these all morning, and then seeing what Picnik can do to them.

Can you believe that it is July 1st already, time is flying this year and this also means the sales start here today, but I will wait a week for all the 70% to come into action and see what I can find.  Are you all fans of the sales, or are you just waiting for all the new stuff to come in?  I tend to aim for classic pieces that will work for the coming year rather than the high fashion bits that will date, what's your sale shopping strategy?

Happy Friday friends and to all of you that have a long weekend in your sites, have a wonderful weekend.  ax

All images by me.

Emerson Made's India Collection

My favourite style muse the lovely Emerson has added these wonderful limited edition Indian caftans to her Emerson Made line.  They were inspired by her own collection of vintage 60's and 70's Indian caftans and were designed with the textile artists in Rajasthan.

As you know I am a big caftan fan and since returning from my visit to England the heat has arrived here, big time.  So all I can think of are soft cotton, breezy clothes and these are top of my list, I also always cover up when out and about in the sun, as you can get caught out really easily and end up burnt just on the supermarket run.

So pretty and perfect dressed up in the evening or down for the beach, this is on my list.

I am in love with this print and the gentle sprinkle of sequins makes it a really special piece.

These tunic styles are great with shorts and come autumn layer wonderfully with jeans and a blazer, I do love a good year round piece.  So what your favourite and do you love to waft around the house draped in caftans like me?

I managed to get some great fabric in the UK and plan on making a long loose caftan, in cream cheese cloth,  sadly no pretty Indian prints for me, so these are still high on my wish list.  I wonder if I could have two birthdays like the queen and have a summer birthday with a couple of these as my gift, I am not sure the Captain would go for it but it is worth a try...

Well it is lovely to be back with you all after spending time with my family and I am so happy to have my Poppy back with me on the couch, I really missed her.

Have a wonderful Wednesday friends.  ax

All images Emerson Made