Frump to Fab 2019 - Here We Go Again

lessonlearned

Good afternoon lovely ladies....

And another gorgeous day. I am sitting on my patio, you just cant beat it for February.

I have blitzed the lounge this morning, that's enough for one day. :rotfl: moving all the furniture by myself is a work out in itself. I shall be walking in a bit though. Two short walks today.

Some interesting remarks there Maman about dressing up versus dressing down. I think in a way many of us have lost the art of dressing appropriately, so many people really dress down all the time, even in really nice restaurants, theatres etc. And I'm not talking smart casual, I'm talking scruffy, dowdy or as you say seriously tarty.

I appreciate it can be a bit of a minefield but some people just do not seem to understand even the most basic sartorial rules, hence you get women looking either tarty or frumpy when with just a few simple tweaks they could do so much better.

I was taught by nuns and whilst some of their rulings were a little too prescriptive even back then, some of their teachings about how to avoid looking cheap and tarty are still relevant today.

Mind it has to be said that some men can look pretty grim too. :rotfl:

Re choosing clothes. Nowadays I tend to shop alone but when my husband was fit and well we used to shop together, helping each other with our respective purchases. I used to love his input. He had a great eye and he always helped me chose well.

When we first met I was 30. I found my early 30s were a very difficult age fashion wise........too old for teenage Street fashion and too young for most of the big chain store offerings. I did flounder a bit sometimes and therefore tended to err on the side of caution, sometimes being a bit conservative and staid. My husband helped me enormously to rediscover my love of fashion. He would encourage me to experiment a bit and he gave me a lot of confidence.

My youngest son has a really good eye for both clothes and interior design (i think his photographers eye just knows what will work) and I used to enjoy it when he and I shopped together. When he was just 14 he encouraged me to buy a drop dead gorgeous evening dress (for the millennium New Years Eve celebrations).

He spotted it in the shop window and dragged me into the shop. I protested that it was far too expensive at £100, even then. I tried it on and I have to say it had my name all over it. All the staff and many of the shoppers just stopped and stared and then broke into a round of applause as I twirled around in it.

Needless to say I bought the dress and yes it was a show stopper. I wore it for years and then in 2010 I gave it my niece for her graduation ball. She was so pleased with it so we did get our moneys worth. It was burgundy and black lace, similar to the one Kate Winslett wore in Titanic so of course it was christened the Titanic dress. Fab dress though and it always drew loads of compliments.

I now have my champagne coloured lace "fish tail" evening dress, which has the same Wow! Factor. Every time I wear it, I can just see the heads turn as I pass by. I wore it on my last cruise and the Maitre D in the dining room told me I look "sensational". I only paid £50 in the sale (it should have been £270) and I have worn it several times now so again I've had my monies worth.

It's lovely to have a garment in your wardrobe that makes you feel special and that you just know really "works".

Maman I bought a black/silver lurex type jumpsuit last year. Although I don't do well with black, the silver threads make it look more charcoal than black - iyswim. I love it and it is so versatile. Great for when I want to look good but not "overdone".

For me it serves the same function as a "little black dress" - something which can always be relied on for just about any occasion, although of course I couldn't wear it for a "formal" funeral.

I am currently editing my wardrobe and am being quite ruthless. I have been refining my colour palette to colours and shades which I think best suit my now white hair but hopefully without being too "old lady". No lavender, no beige. :rotfl:

I think the Scandi colours seem to best suit my colouring now, mid blues, greys, whites and creams, with pops of turquoise or cobalt. I did recently buy a cobalt blue velvet dress but I've given it away, it was too bright, too much. I thought it looked a bit "Bet Lynch" on me.:rotfl:

chanie

lessons what a lovely story about your son.

Maman welcome back from India. Cant wait to hear all about your trip.

People are dressing more casually and I have noticed this in the workplace as well. I have never worked anywhere really corporate (eg suits), but I am seeing more and more people turn up to work in jeans and trainers. I must admit, I did this myself last week, but only because I didn’t have any meetings and working alone, but otherwise, I have my ‘work wardrobe’ and my ‘play wardrobe’.

lessonlearned

I like the idea of a "play wardrobe" :rotfl: I think smart jeans and nice trainers can be perfectly ok for work. I guess it all depends on your employers line of work and as you say, whether you have important meetings or if you have to meet clients etc.

I can remember when trousers were deemed unacceptable for women in the workplace.....how times have changed. Thank goodness. Although even now some workplaces still have very strict dress codes (for men as well as women). I think female barristers still arent allowed to wear trousers. I seem to recall a female barrister tried to claim a tax allowance for work clothing, saying she had to have a special work wardrobe but she was unsuccessful.

When I worked on site we had to be really smart, usually suits, although I've noticed developers are a bit more relaxed now. It was terribly difficult at times because as you can imagine there were all sorts of hazards on site and clothes really took a hammering, getting covered in dust or mud, or even paint, getting snagged on nails etc so I begrudged spending a lot of money on nice suits. Some of my employers supplied uniforms which helped enormously but when I had to buy my own I usually tried to buy second hand from dress agencies or nearly new shops. We did at least get our dry cleaning paid for. .

I've just finished watching Mary Queen Of Scots. Whilst I'm well familiar with their stories it was a very good version and I enjoyed it immensely. Both the lead women gave really stunning performances. Nice to see strong female roles in movies. Makes a change from men always getting the meaty roles. Lol. And Male stars still get paid significantly more.

We've still got some way to go before true equality.......

frizz2

I have just found this thread. What an inspiration you all are!

maddiemay

silvasava wrote: »

DH went for a run on the trikes with his friend so I had the house to myself. Cue a leisurely bath, massive defuzz, moisturising and hair wash & blow-dry. DH bought me some face cream at Christmas - it's OK but I shan't bother with buying any more. I still prefer my retinol cream as it's got SPF which the other one hasn't. That surprised me as it's supposed to be for mature skin.

Hi ladies, I hope that a fab day awaits you:D I have never stopped reading along and mostly trying to be fab, but RL has got in the way of posting, but now the Spring seems to be on the way I have a little more ooooomph and would like to join in again.

silvasava I have always understood that the reason that face creams containing treatments like peptides, and other treatments do not contain spf is that the formulas do not work together, hence the need for a separate spf which I have been using for quite a few years now. eg if the important ingredient affects the ability of the spf to do it's job or the spf affects the "good" ingredients in the same way. It was easy when I had nice firm bouncy skin and only needed a basic moisturiser.

The other things for me are that I use a retinol toner and have to take meds which make skin much more sun sensitive, so I need at least an spf 30 or 50 nowadays.

Totally scruffy (but will still try and be fab) day ahead having another session clearing DM's house now that she is in residential care, eye make up, lippie and perfume will rule:D

seven-day-weekend

silvasava wrote: »

SDW - sad to say my beloved little sports car got Tboned a couple of weeks ago. I was driving with DH and was hit on the passenger side. DH & me and the other driver all ok but the insurance company wrote my car off. I was gutted as it's the first car I've really loved! However, with a bit of diligent googling I am now the proud owner of another one - updated & newer model of the same with lots of extras! I can get that top down again
DH went for a run on the trikes with his friend so I had the house to myself. Cue a leisurely bath, massive defuzz, moisturising and hair wash & blow-dry. DH bought me some face cream at Christmas - it's OK but I shan't bother with buying any more. I still prefer my retinol cream as it's got SPF which the other one hasn't. That surprised me as it's supposed to be for mature skin.
I went out to the club quiz night and put some make up on I found a bottle of gel oil that I bought ages ago and rather than waste it I use it to clean off my make up. It seems to suit my dry skin but wouldn't you know they no longer make it.
Keep fabbing ladies
PS. 5 minute workout done while waiting for the kettle to boil for our morning cuppa

Oh I am so sorry! Glad you are both OK but I understand how upset you must be about the car. But...you now have a new baby! Get out and enjoy her.

Ours has passed her MOT with flying colours but in this lovely weather we have been gardening and helping our son decorate and have not been able to go out in her. Going to try to do so tomorrow

Fabbing the front garden with David Austin roses in pots - his Rose Nursery is only a few miles from where we live : https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/?_ga=2.26420541.1487483954.1551084983-1731483334.1551084983

We have some in the back garden too but need some more fragrant ones for our patio. Feel a trip in the little car coming on - I will have to have the roses in the footwell between my legs

Have a lovely day all x

LuxuryWoman

Morning fabbers, I wrote a long post yesterday then lost it!
Dentist this week and I can’t believe I can say I’m excited, won’t be long now until I’m all shiny and new. I have lots of boots points and their no 7 coupons so I think some new lipsticks are required.

I’ve decided to cut carbs, I can still eat plenty and hopefully d won’t notice but carbs just pile onto my tummy. The joys of midlife.

The sun is shining which is lovely but what to wear? Not hot enough for summer clothes just yet.

lessonlearned

Good morning lovely ladies...,

Just sitting outside in the sun trying to cheer myself up. I'm feeling a little low.It would have been my husband's birthday this coming Saturday and I'm afraid Red Letter Days such as anniversaries, birthdays etc do tug at the old heartstrings. It can be difficult.

I shall just try and keep busy this week. Once Saturday is out of the way it should get easier, no more red letter days until August.

SDW. I was thinking about a rose garden for my front garden. I didn't used to like roses, I used to think they were a bit old fashioned but I have to say I love them now. I always try to buy scented ones. I also like peonies, so I was thinking of trying a couple of those too. I've already put some camellias in but i not sure how well they are doing, it's quite a large garden so I have put a couple of specimen trees in there too, a purple magnolia and a Japanese Acer. I might add a a pink flowering cherry.

I have been buying trees for the rear garden, last week a eucalyptus and a white flowering cherry, plus some fruit trees from Aldi this morning, plum and Pear. My is son is going to help me plant them on Wednesday. I am currently trying to summon up the enthusiasm to mow the lawn.

There used to be a lovely Japanese style garden here, it was gorgeous, but the last owner ripped it all out and planted a lawn.....:o I might reinstate the original Japanese garden further down the line. It would be much easier to maintain in my twilight years.......

luxury Woman. I am so impressed with you for sorting out your teeth. Well done you. I really must get mine done this year but I'm dreading it.....and the expense. :rotfl: I don't blame you for being pleased and excited though. And yes definitely some nice lipsticks to highlight your new glamourous Hollywood smile.

To add to my woes this morning my knee is giving me gyp (think I've overdone the walking) I've got a bit of a twinge somewhere in my back teeth, and I've got backache. I feel like I'm ready for the knackers yard. Lol. To add insult to injury I can't get my blood sugars stable and my weight seems to have plateaued again.

Hey ho. Just got to remember the elephant and keep focussed on my goals.

Loving the talk about the open top convertibles. :rotfl: I am afraid mine will have to go on the back burner for the time being. Teeth and house renovations first. :rotfl:

chanie

lessons sorry you are feeling low. I don’t think there is anything I can say which will be off comfort. Be gentle with yourself until you are feeling stronger.

Luxury woman good luck with your dentists appointment this week. I love your plan of buying some new lipsticks to celebrate your ‘celebrity smile’.

silvasava

Just a quick note! LL - Asda have Sarah Bernhardt peonies at the moment for £2.00. I bought some a few years ago and they are absolutely stunning so I've bought another one!!!