Low ebb season

I'm not a cold weather person, the first few months of the year are a low ebb time for me. Today has been cold and damp and dull, a day for cozy dressing and not, in truth, for looking or feeling very visible. I have been out and about in warm clothes and it is the small items of jewellery, this kid leather and old button brooch 

and a pair of gold and coral earings that make me feel visible.

Grey pleated cotton blouse from Gap, 

cropped cashmere cardi from Boden, 

skirt from Comptoir des Cotonniers,

fleece-lined boots from Clark's.

For Patti's  Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.

Hair - a posting for Paula

I went to my hairdresser's before Christmas thinking that I might have a change of style, I have been lopsided for any number of years. But guess what, once she started to cut I thought that I'd stay lopsided! I bought a new shampoo instead, to ring the changes. "Just the thing for your hair," said the hairdresser.

When it comes out of the tube it's the most terrifying colour, an intense blue/violet!

Wee One's hair is very long,

 Big Sister just cannot compete.

We had a hair conversation and Wee One thought that Himself could do with a little more up top.

Then all the females in the household had hysterics.

That's how silly it gets when we are all home for Christmas!

Hello 2013

Sometime after 3am, having 'brought in' the New Year at our neighbours' home with good company, delicious food and a bit of a bop I remembered to photograph my outfit on the way upstairs to bed.
 With my 'funtime fuschia' painted toenails I wore a pair of slip-on mules that are old, cheap and VERY comfortable. The pink linen sleeveless sheath is a sample dress by 'Belles of London' worn with a trusty Boden cashmere cardi. I love these cropped cardigans and wear them all year long, (hardly surprising, given our weather.)
New Year's Day saw us out, bright but not too early, to prepare for another party. I took my camera but was too busy, until the guests had gone, to take any photos.

Then the stalwarts,

 and dogs,

settled down to appreciate friendship and the start of 2013.

With love and good wishes to you all.

Goodbye 2012

Goodbye 2012, and I'm inclined to add, good riddance! It's not been the happiest of years what with one thing and another. Apart from anything else it has been the wettest year in England since records began. Today we drove, slowly, along flooded roads for an appointment in town, not the best of places to be on a rainy day with a bargain shopping frenzy taking place. My trip was for a health check and we went there and back again as quickly as we could manage.
Himself took this cheery photo of me as I walked past a black hoarding. It seemed fitting!

I'm wearing a trusty brown felt hat that I've had for many years. It has a big black velvet bow to one side and is a firm favourite. The grey coat is an Oska, very light and warm, worn over a grey Lillith skirt. Clarks boots and a dark purple pashmina from Merci in Paris.

 Dear me - don't I look winter! Grey, grey, grey.
 But don't despair. I'm about to paint my toenails and fingernails 'funtime fuschia'. We shall cross the road to our neighbours' party and bring in the New Year in a more colourful fashion. (I may do a 'stop the rain' dance!)
For Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style. 

Christmas jumpers

This season's must-have fashion item has been any Christmas jumper sporting a suitably festive image, the larger and brighter the better.  None of us has such a thing but we did the best we could and  we were amused to find that we had each chosen to wear a sparkly woolly.
Here we are crammed on the sofa to demonstrate our sparkliness!

Wee One's is from French Connection

and mine is a Perry Ellis.

I added a couple of brooches, an enamel and fabric heart that Janet had made and a fymo snowman made by Big Sister many moons ago. This cardi started out with sequins all around the collar but they were a bit too much so I unpicked them.

There's only so much bling that I can take!

Havana people

and their cars!

Visible Monday catchup

I've been away from home and have recorded my Monday outfits in different locations. What a delight it has been to escape floods, winds and gloom for a bit. (Took my umbrella and quilted mackintosh with me, but, hurrah, didn't need them once I had left the airport.)
I travelled out in this Boden black linen shirt-waister, with black leggings and a large but very fine purple pashmina that packs into the smallest space. The dress has four button-down pockets that are just the thing for safe ticket storage.

Once I arrived in the sunshine of Havana I shed the warm layers.
It is such a useful and comfortable dress that I have it in this other colourway.
Downside, it's linen, it creases.

On December 3rd I hit the beach in a cheap and cheerful collection of purple clothing.
Bikini from George at Asda
Cardi from M&S
Cotton wrap a present from Africa
Beaded sandals from Duo.

For Patti's Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style.