Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

savingfortomorrow

fashions are amazing aren't they. I think a lot of the granny fashion was due to buying fabrics that will not show stains and would last. Last beyond fashion and decades. 
I googled sixtys fashion and the images some you caould wear tomorrow, so timeless and others well sre so much of their time.
The sleek dresses, fitted clothes and a line dresses looked amazing then and now. I think a lot of people looked better because clothes were tailored and people took time to see if it suited them before purchase. The folks back then bought items to last and so spent money modifying them and making a good investment piece. Fast fashion barely lasts beyond 3 washes and a trip to the zoo. 
Last week I was really smart every day but today it was a disaster- skirt too long and not flattering, grabbed a jacket for the cold snap and might have grabbed a bin liner for the fashion effect. The shoes are comfortable but really looked terrible. Overall 2/10 (i only gave myself 2 /10 as I was clothed warmly). I must do better and put on my glasses before leaving the house. 

I think I will create the disaster bag so that items that are terrible can be donated and at least be used by a taller/ thinner/ more inspired person than me. If I let things back into the wardrobe things get worn. 

I was in a terrible mood. It feels very drawn out and the days merge into one. However, I have to dust myself down and get on with the show. Tomorrow will be different and we have to make it a better one. 

keep well

Wednesday2000

I had to have a phone GP appointment today (5 mins) and she sent the antibiotics and steroid nasal spray to my local pharmacy for my sinus infection so I will pick them up later this week. Maybe it would be a good idea to keep this level of efficiency with GP appointments after this pandemic. Why not just let a lot of routine appointments be by phone as it would save a lot of time for the public and the doctors and staff?

She said I should get tested for Covid 19 but I have already had the test, obviously. My husband got a text this evening that he had a negative result. I haven't had my results yet even though I was the one who had the symptoms in the first place!

I want my husband to drop some stuff off at the tip next week as certain things are starting to really bug me looking at them and being indoors so much.

It's nice to be able to go out for walks again. The Russian man in the shop shouted "Oh hello baby" when he saw me as I hadn't been in his shop in over a week! He must have missed me, or my cash, lol.

maman

Hope your results come soon Wednesday. It'll be good to know either way.   How lovely that the shopkeeper was so friendly. I think we must be lucky around here as people are so pleasant when we pass them on our walks. I think everyone's glad to have some social contact, however brief.

It's surprisingly warm and sunny here today although it wasn't forecast. As it's International Nurses' Day, we took a short drive to the Royal Victoria Country Park . Not sure how many steps as I forgot my phone but we walked for a good hour. It's the site of the old Royal Netley Hospital which was a military hospital built to counter the public backlash after Florence Nightingale's reports of the dreadful conditions in field hospitals during the Crimean War. Today is the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale. Only the old chapel of the hospital still stands and the Cemetery which has many Commonwealth war graves from particularly WW1 and also WW2. It's a beautiful spot, set in parkland,  right on the waterfront . It was great to smell the sea, very nostalgic for me.  

I used my normal Clarins serum today as I was going out early. It's good stuff and even the smell of it makes me feel good. I'm gradually using up some products. It'll be good to just have 'first choices' left rather than using things up. I chipped a nail this morning, nothing serious but I'll do a manicure this evening. I think all the handwashing has made my nails a bit dry so some oiling is called for. 

I'm going to read this afternoon as I have a book to finish. It's just a Kathy Kelly, Irish Chick Lit but very enjoyable.

helensbiggestfan

Good afternoon lovely ladies......iPad sorted.. so I can post again.  

How are we all.  Pretty cold and miserable here so happy to stay home and crack on with painting the kitchen.  I am so pleased with it.  I have done a great job, even if I do say so myself, 😅. 

I manage about 3 to 4 hours a session, that's enough really.  I do have to pace myself with it but its a great way of working my way through lockdown doing something productive, staying sane and positive, and saving myself shedloads of money on a new kitchen. 

Wednesday.  I agree about telephone or video consultations with GPs. I was listening to Dr Chris Van Tullekan (I like him)  and he thinks it's a great way forward. He says video would be best because then GPs can pick up on visual clues on symptoms which would be missed if they relied just on the phone, but I'm sure telephone consultations for simple ailments like my UTI or your sinus infection would be fine.  

SFT. As a sixties "dolly bird" myself 😂 I have to say I love the simple clean cut shapes and crisp tailoring that we wore then, easy to wear and they can be dressed up or down to suit any occasion.  Classic Mary Quant shift dresses and Jackie O style a line dresses and coats, and of course the fabulous tailoring worn by both Hepburns, Katherine and Audrey.  My kind of clothes and they don't really date. 

It's a look made for me because frills and flounces, gathered skirts, ruffles and anything fussy just don't flatter me.  For me the plainer the better, block colours, simple shapes and good old fashioned classic tailoring.  

I bought a few tunic dresses last autumn, classic Mary Quant styling.  Talk about timeless. I get so many compliments when I wear them and my friends have all commented on how they refer back to those "60s"  shift dresses we loved.   I always have at least one trench style coat or mac in my wardrobe, I would never be without one and I still love 70s catsuits, trouser suits and palazzo pants. Yep.....I just love clothes.😂  My family tease me sometimes for my extensive wardrobe but I really don't spend much and I do look after my things, keeping my favourites for years. I'm a stickler for wardrobe maintenance and I always change into home clothes. I wouldn't dream of lolling around the house in my best gear.  I just wished I'd kept my Biba, Ossy Clarke, and Jean Muir.  They would be worth a small fortune now.  

The other advantage I think to those simple classic styles is that even if you can only afford the cheapest budget ranges they can still look good if you shop with care. Those tunics I bought were all from Primark, the dearest cost £13 and yet they all look a lot more expensive than that, well cut, decent stitching, and nice fabrics.  One of them is a black and white houndstooth check .....pure Quant,  and one was in that micro suede fabric which I think can look really expensive and luxurious.  

I also bought a fabulous tan coloured micro suede trench coat last year. It only cost me £23 off eBay (M&S brand new with tags)   but you could be forgiven for thinking it cost much more. It reminded me of a cream velvet effect trench coat I had back in the 70s - also from M&S - oddly enough I paid around the same price back then in around 1972.  You would think it would have been  very impractical but it wasn't, you could just chuck it in the washing machine and it came up like new and it looked like a million dollars. I had it for nearly 20 years and wore it until it literally fell apart. I used to restitch the seams sometimes but eventually had to concede defeat. Broke my heart. 😂. So you can imagine how delighted I was to find the micro suede one. 

Wednesday....I'm reading that "Retire Happy Wild and Free" book you recommended.  Great book, lots of tips and ideas and food for thought.  

Wednesday2000

Yes, LL I read that book again the other day and it helped me come up with my list of things I want to do in the future. It's very inspirational.

My test came back negative as well.

I hope this steroid spray works this time as the GP said to use it for 3-4 months as the sinus thing I'm having is chronic. I've had this three times since last autumn now and I get an annoying cough each time as well so I don't want to have to keep self-isolating each time I get ill because it could be Covid 19! I've had this same thing on and off since 2014 and I did see the Ear, Nose and Throat department at the hospital a few times and they were very unhelpful. They never told me to take the nasal spray for so long so that is a silver lining if by talking to a GP that isn't my regular one she gave me some good advice about how to get rid of it!

I went out for a walk and the local shops now have signs up on the doors saying only 2 people allowed in at a time. I did get some salad from one shop and then bought some incense sticks from another as they were both almost empty.

The buses going past were still empty. I am going to avoid public transport for some time still although my husband obviously has to use it. My husband is back to work tonight but he might take the weekend off.

I'm am going to dye my husband's hair later as he has lots of grey coming through and it looks quite odd as he looks young for his age and so I cover it for him. I'm glad I don't have any grey hair yet because dyeing hair is such a pain. I used to go from blonde to dark brown for years but got bored in my mid thirties and just went natural.

Floss

Maman, I have some friends who finally retired to Royal Court in Netley! What I've seen of it is lovely, lucky you having that on your doorstep.

savingfortomorrow

LL - the styles you describe sounds fantastic and so stylish. A smart cut, classic colour and no elaborate gimmicks allows clothes to last and last. 
You buy quality items that suit you can they work out so much value. I read about the price per wear of the garment and so facilates better decisons on purchase price. I have noticed that I have had to donate a lot of cheaper polyester items. What is cheap is dear in the long term. Going forward Im going to be more determined to avoid the cheap item and look for the value.  
I find this with shoes its better to buy dearer shoes compared to ones that don't last. once this lock down is over I want to get a new pair of  shoes. 

maman

Floss said:

Maman, I have some friends who finally retired to Royal Court in Netley! What I've seen of it is lovely, lucky you having that on your doorstep.

Small world Floss. Those are lovely properties, some are in the former officers' quarters. 🙂

maman

I'm a great believer in cost per wear sft. Obviously you have to be able to afford the initial outlay but, if you can, it's well worth it particularly for classic, timeless items. Of course, sometimes you can get a bargain in the CS or on eBay that's new to you but still very good quality. 🙂

I'm quite happy with cheap and cheerful items like leggings but I agree with you about other things. That applies to big ticket things like coats but also some basics like tee shirts. 🙂

helensbiggestfan

I can recommend a documentary called Alex James: Slowing Down  Fast Fashion. It really is an eye opener. 

My goal is to buy far fewer clothes in future. Actually that’s not really a big ask because I have plenty. This year probably just undies and a couple of sweaters.  

I won’t rule out amazing charity shop finds if I stumble across something especially nice but on the whole I won’t be clothes shopping for quite some time. I have been thinking of sewing again once I have finished the house.  

Add it to the list of things I want to try.