Tudor Style

I can't wait for Wolf Hall to start on the BBC tomorrow. Controversial opinion coming up: I hated the way the book was written. I know it won all sorts of awards but it got on my nerves so much that I nearly couldn't finish it. I love the history of the Tudor period so much that I'll basically read anything set then, so I persevered, but the tv version is going to be so much more enjoyable for me. I can just tell.

(Might have something to do with Damien Lewis, my all time favourite posh fit ginge).

Ahem. Tudors! Here are some Tudor things I want:



I was tipped off about this Tatty Devine Tudor house necklace on Instagram by Char and I'm kinda in love.



Tudor pants, anyone? Twisted Twee make three different designs but I've always rather fancied these Anne Boleyn ones. It's a very close call between her and Catherine of Aragon for my favourite of the six wives but I'll tell you this for nothing: if you like Jane Seymour best then we cannot ever be friends.


I got my lovely Elizabeth I ring from Cheap Frills and I'm still hankering after their six wives charm bracelet (also comes as a necklace!)

If I ever do get round to making a Spoonflower fabric order then this Tudor quatrefoil design is going straight in my basket. It'd probably show up my utter inability to cut and sew in a straight line but what the hell. It's pretty.

Still waiting for Irregular Choice to knock my socks off with some Tudor style fabulous heels but I may be waiting a wee while for that. Ah well, wishful thinking never hurt anyone.

Shall we finish with some entirely gratuitous photos of Henry Cavill in The Tudors? Of course!

Yay, Coats!

I've been buying more coats. Can't help myself.



Check this one out though! Cute, no?

I'm assuming it's last year's Florence & Fred as I bagged it from a charity shop last month and it doesn't really look as if it's ever been worn. One person's cast-off is another person's treasure though and I'm super pleased with it.  It's like a longer version of the H&M jacket I've got (which you can spot in this post, along with my many many other coats) and I've always wished that was a bit longer.  I may even complete the charity circle and donate that one now I've got this one.

Tis a size too big but I always prefer my winter coats that way. It means I can chuck massive chunky cardigans on underneath.



Also sequinned skirts.  Yep, I wear it to work.  It's not like I've ever got a more suitable occasion for it and it might as well get some wear!





Coat - Florence & Fred via charity shop
Cardigan - New Look
Skirt - H&M sale
Top - Ruby Rocks
Boots - Irregular Choice
Necklace - Tatty Devine, present

Best Foot Forward

I like being short.  Which is good, because there's no getting around the fact that I'm never going to be any taller than 5'2.  But I also like whacking on a pair of massive heels and being normal sized every now and then, even if it is only a temporary measure.  And with this fine pair of boots waiting for me under the Christmas tree, normal height is now achievable!  Hurrah for Char and her wonderful present buying ways! 

Aren't they amazing?  And surprisingly comfy and easy to walk in, cos the heel isn't that high really.  I'm much more stable in these than I ever would be in a pair of normal heels.  They may never leave my feet...

Dress - via New Life

Blouse - Dorothy Perkins sale

Oddsocks necklace - Tatty Devine, present

Boots - ASOS, present

Picture Perfect

Dear Readers,

If you're not already following essbeevee , you really should be. Quite apart from being fricking hilarious and having an amazing collection of frocks, Sarah does the most beautiful illustrations. I've wanted one for a long time and finally thought why the hell not. I sent an email off with a request that went along the lines of "GREEN. And make me look pretty please". Didn't she do a marvellous job?


It's like me but better!

There was one slight problem: I was immediately full of want for the outfit. I couldn't resist an attempt at dressing up like it. Ebaying has already commenced for a green dress because shamefully, my wardrobe is entirely lacking in this category. The shoes were easier to source. I nipped straight into Matalan and discovered some in the sale. Hurrah! They're not quite the same, but are pretty awesome nonetheless.

Here's my attempt. Alas not as tall, thin or pretty as the illustration but this is real life after all.



And for the general details:

Apologies for the peculiar pose but this does need hoicking in at the back so as not to look sack-like in photos...



Dress & socks - Primark
Shoes - Matalan sale
Ring - Dorothy Perkins sale
Necklace - Tatty Devine, present
Book - from a shop in Hay on Wye
it's Houses and History by Rosemary Sutcliff and comes highly recommended by me!)

ps - If you want to be immortalised in sketch form, get in touch with Sarah here

An Awful Lot of Orange

So, did I mention I quite like orange at the moment? I will wear some different coloured clothes at some point soon but for now, you will just have to put up with autumnal themed outfits. The cat print shoes will make an appearance this week though, I promise.

I fell upon this jumper with squeaks of joy when I was shopping in Newcastle. It is just so very, very orange. Am I in danger of looking like a walking pumpkin? Probably. I'd much rather that than drown in a sea of boring black and grey clothes though.

May we all take a moment to glory in the wonderful glittertasticness of these brogues? Who said sensible, waterproof shoes had to be boring?




Jumper - H&M
Skirt - River Island sale (with added black netting underneath added by moi)
Jacket - Mango, via the half price rail in charity shop
Tights - Dorothy Perkins orange plus Evans chocolate fishnets
Brogues - Marks & Spencer Limited Collection
Bag - vintage camera case, via charity shop
Necklace - Tatty Devine, present from the wonderful Char
Rings - (L-R) Dorothy Perkins sale, ditto and Stolen Thunder

A Question

What do you do when the nights start drawing in?

I know it's only just the beginning of September but the usual winter problem has reared its head early this year. If the skies are dark when you go to work and dark when you get home, what on earth do you do about outfit photos?

The obvious options are - take them at work or take them at home but inside. My problem with the first option is that it will be COLD. Not to ruin the mystique or anything but I have to take about 60 photos to get 3 usable ones. I will run the risk of hypothermia over the winter! And on days like yesterday when it happened to be warmish, I was glued to my desk from 8.30-6.30 and therefore had no lunch or tea break in which to nip out and take photos. Bah.

As for the second option, hmmm, not as easy as it seems. Would you believe that we have no plain white walls in our house? I like to think my photography skills are improving slightly and I don't want to go back to last winter's shoddy upstairs landing photos! I had to resort to closeups today as full length photos just looked awful.




Jumper, squirrel necklace & bag - H&M
Boots - Irregular Choice "Jump in Puddles" via ebay
Oddsocks necklace - Tatty Devine, present
Ring - Dorothy Perkins sale

Does anyone have any creative suggestions? Redecorating isn't an option! Nor is moving to a warmer climate...

Subtle As A Brick

My natural inclination was to put on a big black jumper or a baggy tshirt today. I still don't feel entirely comfortable with tucking tops in. But really, I've got bright red shorts on. What is the point of trying to tone them down? They're never going to look subtle so I might as well embrace it, shove on some red lippy and just let them stand out.


No-one has told me I look a show yet, despite the fact the top is quite sheer at the back and I have a bright red bra on. Told you I wasn't doing subtle today.


One of the blokes I work with came in the office and said "You look very red today. You're like something out of a video about..." He then got totally sidetracked by a greenhouses catalogue and never did finish his sentence. I'm intrigued to know what type of video he was thinking of. Answers on a postcard please.


Blouse & shoes - Dorothy Perkins
Shorts - H&M
Ring - Primark
Disc necklace - Next clearance
Oddsocks necklace - Tatty Devine, a present from a lovely pal