Well, I only blinkin' well went and did it! I updated my old red coat, all by my little self.
I hot-footed it down to our local haberdashery store this morning, Mill House Fabrics. I made my usual stylish entrance into the shop. Totally bedraggled from the rain, holding my son under one arm (I was parked illegally so had no time for messing). As suspected, quite a few elderly's were pottering around but once I'd shoved them out the way, (what? I was parked illegally, no time for being polite) I set about choosing my buttons.
This must have been the point when I started talking to myself. I thought I was just mumbling in my head, but the look on the assistants face told me, no, I was actually talking out loud. My son then chose this opportunity to fall over on his face, resulting in a minor nose bleed. And something told me that all this was fairly unusual behaviour in a shop like this.
Anyhow, the selection of buttons wasn't huge, so stifled my creativity somewhat, I had something much different in my mind, but came out with 6 pearlised glass buttons and some cream tassle trimming, setting me back around £7.
For most people, this is probably THE most simplest thing ever, however, I am not a sewer and haven't really ever tried anything like this before, so for any other virgins... here's how it went:
Customising the coat:
1. Wash coat thoroughly using loads of fabric conditioner, so it smells gorgeous! Good start.
2. Repair the inside seam, not visible to anyone else, but makes it feel old to me.
3. Remove boring old black buttons and replace with twinkly new ones.
4. Iron on cream tassle trim to underside of both pockets (for simplicity, using iron on hemming/bond tape, which I have to say is amazing stuff!).
5. Ta da! Nearly new coat, that is actually 3 or 4 years old.
Time spent: Total around 45 mins, but actually I was being slow. A competent sewer could probably achieve this in 15 mins.
With some left over cream tassle trim, I then updated this boring cream short sleeve sweater which I never really looked twice at, again, using the iron-on bond tape, giving it a pretty new neckline. Time spent: 5 mins!
I'm quite pleased with my first attempt, and dare I say even a little bit hooked on this new hobby! Looking for my next project as we speak!
DON'T FORGET! For any budding writers or bloggers out there, I'm offering the chance to be published in the February issue of my magazine... click here for more details.
I have 5 'main' Winter coats. All of which also see me through our British Autumn's and Spring's too (and come to think of it, some Summer's as well), so truth be told, they could be classed as 'all year round' coats.
They are all really similar in style, 3/4 length, tailored, it's just my thing.
From left to right I have beige, black, brown with fur collar, purple and red. By far the most used are the purple and red, they just go with everything.
My coats are like old friends, some I've literally had for years and years! A couple are getting a little tired and are in need of some tlc. So, this weekend, I'm giving them a little mini-makeover. Starting with my favourite, THE RED ONE. I'm getting new buttons and possibly some trim for the pockets. I'll see how that one goes and then maybe move on to the others!!
Have you had much luck customising/updating your clothes? I haven't really tried it before, but I figure – even I can't mess up changing buttons!! Please come back over the weekend to see how I get on.
DON'T FORGET! For any budding writers or bloggers out there, I'm offering the chance to be published in the February issue of my magazine... click here for more details.
Being a shopaholic isn't all fun and frolics believe me! (well, if I'm honest it is, but for the purposes of this post it isn't - get me?) It can mean you very quickly become the proud owner of a total mish mash of jewellery boxes with excess 'stuff'.
But, my totally fabulous mum found this great storage solution for me from Kleeneze. Good 'ole girl.
It's actually meant for the garden shed! but doubles up as a great over-the-door jewellery tidy.
I can see everything at a glance which makes life much easier.
When I sorted out my jewellery I was a little concerned to see how quickly it filled up, in fact there wasn't room for my bangles, but then I remembered, I do have a shopping disease, and 'too much stuff' comes with the territory I'm afraid. This system means that I do have to have a 'cull' every so often.
Does anyone have any other ways of storing their jewellery, other than the standard jewellery boxes. I'd love to hear.
DON'T FORGET! For any budding writers or bloggers out there, I'm offering the chance to be published in the February issue of my magazine... click here for more details.
ps. For the Mary Poppins fans... Supercalafragilisticexpialidocious doesn't come up in my spell check, however, if you say it loud enough, it ALWAYS sounds precocious. It just does.
I love the styling on this outfit, all from New Look. The Biker Jacket is currently reduced to £25, the dress is also £25.
I will definitely be toughening up my floral dresses with a bad ass leather biker jacket this year.
TOP TIP! Such a small detail, but I think the way they have styled this shot, with the sleeves of the jacket pushed up a bit, is brilliant. Straight out of the Gok Wan book of style (he does this A LOT when he styles outfits). It adds an instant stylish boost and gives a more edgy look to any outfit.
Try it now on your jackets, blazers work best, but long sleeve shirts and jumpers are great too. Honestly, if you don't already do this, go try it now!
DON'T FORGET! For any budding writers or bloggers out there, I'm offering the chance to be published in the February issue of my magazine... click here for more details.
Did I ever mention... that I own a little magazine?
It's just a little free monthly magazine with around 8-10,000 readers a month.
For any budding writers or bloggers out there, I'm offering the chance to be published in the February issue...
Interested?
Copy deadline for the February issue is January 20th. Articles can be emailed to me for consideration before this date please.
The magazine is family based and to give you an idea the sections break down as follows:
* Community and Family
* What's On
* Shopping and Fashion
* Food and Drink
* Health and Beauty
* Home and Garden
* Property and Finance
* Motoring
I'm looking for fresh content on any of these subjects. A small article... an old blog post... a product review... A fabulous recipe... whatever you think might tickle the readers' fancy!
What's in it for you?
* Exposure of your blog to 8-10,000 NEW people.
* Printed copies of the finished publication sent to you so you can see your work in print!
* The kudos that you have been published.
Whilst I cannot offer a financial gain at this time, please don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for free, cheap content, (it's a free magazine so there is not much money involved in it full stop) - I have plenty of excellent content given to me every month, I'd just love to mix it up a little and as I love reading all your blogs I'm sure others would too. I'm not asking for loads of time to be put into this... maybe revisit your best blog posts... that's exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for!
I don't know if anybody is interested but I'd love to hear from you, just email me your contributions and I will pick my favourite and announce the winner on 21st Jan (or around that time).
And if you know of anybody else who may be interested please blog or tweet or whateverness. x
ps. any questions? pop them in the comment box or email me... x
Don't let my post title mislead you. I absolutely j'adore these playsuits from Topshop.
I have a romantic fantasy... imagine if you will, there's me, galloping through the fields in the summer, with my dog (I don't have a dog, but this is a fantasy daydream remember) or moshing it up at a music festival - wearing my 'cutie pie' playsuit.
But alas, I have to let these pass me by. I think I'm just too old and not quite the right shape to carry these off. I imagine my teenage daughter and her crew will be rocking this look this year though...
If you want to snap up one of these little babies, I'd get looking now at the full range at Topshop. Despite the fact they are not the most convenient garment when nature calls, I'm certain they'll be pretty popular this spring/summer.
(Top pic: Pansy Print Playsuit - £50 Topshop, Bottom pic: Ibiza Print Playsuit - £35 Topshop).
We've spent the weekend 'unofficially' snowed in.
We could of course have got out, and did for short spells (ie. to get to the pub for some of the landlords finest lager), but we decided to have a cosy, self-imposed weekend indoors.
During our weekend, I managed to catch up on oodles of laundry. Re-discovering some long lost items of clothing from the bottom of the washing pile. My daugther honed her "I'm soooooo bored" skills, my son perfected his 'throwing a wobbler' terrible 2's skills and the other half spent much time talking about everything he was going to accomplish around the house, none of which has actually happened, but nevermind, he does make the most delicious bacon sandwiches.
I didn't want to scum around the house all weekend, so did make the effort to get ready each day.
Saturday (top pic)
Rose top by pussycat at New Look, £15 in the sale
Leggings (not new)
Tiger belt - £1.75 sale at Matalan
Black shoe boots - £7 sale at Matalan
Sunday (bottom pic)
Dress and top (both old)
Colour Block Tights - £1.50 sale at Matalan, a controversial item within the household, 1 liked, 1 disliked, and 1 couldn't care less.
Purple shoe boots - £18 at Matalan - which were reduced to £4.50 2 days after I bought them :-(
Hope you all had fantabulous weekends!
ps. I should mention, I did manage to tone down my orange face on Saturday. I have a new bronzer from Max Factor. It's pretty darn hardcore, I need a lighter touch me thinks!
I had a bit of wellie boot envy going on the other day (I know... is that really possible?).
At an event at my toddlers nursery of all places. I spotted one of the other mums wearing a pair of wellies similar to the ones above. I kept having a sneaky glance at them. Couldn't stop myself, they looked so fab. She probably thought I was a bit crazy, but she can relax, I wasn't stalking her, just her boots.
Ordinarily I would have asked her where she got them from but it wasn't 'that' sort of event and the teacher is a tiny bit scary and I didn't fancy getting sent out for talking.
I've been looking for them ever since, the ones pictured here I found on Amazon, but I don't think they are quite the ones I'm coveting. Has anyone seen these anywhere else, maybe better quality ones?
Love you.
ps. Thank you for all your lovely messages over Christmas and New Year. Happy New Year everybody! I've been a bit rubbish at updating I shall be trying to get back on track now, but so you know, I make time to visit all your lovely bloggywogs every day, even if I don't make a comment, I still read you all. x
Sharing my facebook pic of the day.
My children make me lol every day, especially when we go shopping and they insist on wearing 3d glasses.
And thank you for all your tips re. the navy top yesterday. Thanks to you guys, I think it's a keeper. I'm on it. x
In Tesco's tonight, I bought a couple of things. The shop assistant kindly decided to give me and the other shoppers in the queue a running commentary on my purchases:
"Wow, great dress... I'd like one of those" (I agreed politely)
"Oh, you found a matching belt" (yep, amazing I know)
"And a cardigan, so if it gets cold you can pop that on" (yep, getting bored now love)
"Eye drops, always a good idea on a heavy night out" (yada yada yada)
"Nibbles... good idea to take along to the party" (whatever)
As the panty liners moved up the conveyor belt, I tried to make eye contact with her, willing her to SHUT UP. How was she going to factor that into my 'imagined' evening out?
Thankfully to save my blushes and the others behind me in the queue, she didn't even try.
8 sleeps. Woo hoo.
ps. IT'S SNOWING!
When I was out tonight, I came across this little top in the sale in Sainsburys. It was half price at £8 so I snapped it up.
I've been going against every rule of shopping lately, complete impulse purchases, and cheapy ones at that. This one caught my eye because of the pretty embroidery.
Now it's at home with me safe and sound though, I've noticed a slight problem. It's navy blue. Navy is not one of my colours. I don't own anything else navy or from that colour family (unless you count dark blue denim).
So now I'm completely stuck as to what to wear this with. What goes with navy? Do you have any ideas how I can style this? I'd be grateful for any advice, otherwise it may be doomed and be given back to the shop and boy do I hate doing that. :-(
Only 9 sleeps to go!!!!! And I'm about to go have one of those right now.
Total spent today: £8.
