Frump to Fab - A Whole New World.

helensbiggestfan

Just before lockdown I found this little beauty in a charity shop......for £1.😅  I am going to give it to my niece who is 20. She will love it, I can just see her going clubbing in it.  

chanie

LL  that dress is lovely and a fab bargain.

maman

That's just beautiful LL. The detail is amazing. I enjoyed just looking at it.  

Fashion day in my newspaper today. The big feature was on clothes that had no defined waistline! Mostly loose dresses but also comfortable, elasticated cargo trousers. Lots of my summer dresses fit into that category. Not just because they are forgiving on holiday after indulging but it's so much cooler without anything restriction round the waist. That's why I prefer short dresses on holiday to shorts. I've got a brand new black linen dress from John Lewis that I bought at the end of last summer which is completely unstructured. 

Like you LL, I do look after my clothes and to do this I'm in the habit of having a set of 'one mile' clothes for staying in and outfits I choose to put on to go out and then change when I get home. The lockdown has meant I'm just living in my house clothes which are perfectly smart enough and good enough for shopping or walks. Even when we had hot weather I just swapped my long sleeved tops (back on today ) for a short sleeved tee shirt. The other issue is that with all this walking I want to wear trainer type shoes rather than the sort of thing that I'd wear to a restaurant and they look better with leggings/trousers than dresses. 

We had an email from the National Trust yesterday telling us that they're working hard on a plan to try and reopen. One of the properties near us has a national collection of roses which are magnificent towards the end of this month. I'm sure if they introduced pre booked admissions (to the walled rose gardens) and more general admissions to the grounds of their properties it could work. They could even do take away coffees. I'm confident that the average NT member would be able to cope with social distancing.  


I'll definitely dress up for this!!

helensbiggestfan

What a beautiful garden......

very chilly again here so more painting.....I am so fed up with it now. I'm really having to force myself.  Slept badly last night, so late getting going this morning.  Just had a late breakfast, sipping my coffee and then I'll get stuck in.  

The one thing I am looking forward to is a really good massage.  Im walking round like a cross between Quasimodo and an orangutang. Not a good look.  🤣. My hair is straggly so a hair cut will be nice too.  Everything else - manicures, facials etc I can do myself.  

Maman. I've hardly worn anything except diy clothes and one mile clothes now in weeks and like you say, I can't remember the last time I wore heels.  I will have forgotten how to walk in them.   

helensbiggestfan

A little before and after teaser.  😉

maddiemay

LL - I love that dress, I hope that your niece gets to wear it.   Fireplace is looking great, all your hard work is paying off.
Maman - I hope that NT are able to introduce something like your suggestion, it would lift my spirits a lot if there was some way that I could visit gardens before the long Winter. I have accepted the directive not to venture out anywhere at all in public, we should be on our month's holiday in the North and Scotland and are hoping that by April next year we may be able to do as we had planned (bookings and itinerary had all been arranged.
Most days I have been in 1 mile clothes at best, but lots of the time in gardening scruffs getting quite grubby (and loving it )

chanie

Maman and Maddie I agree, it will be nice to get to a new normal and the leisure/cultural industries open up, safely. It will be interesting to see how the visitor attractions in Central London manage, because I can’t see many people wanting to travel in on public transport.   

I could really do with some time off work and have some ‘me’ time.  I have only had a couple of days off since Christmas and since lockdown, I’ve been with the children 24/7. My contact ends next month, so I’m holding off taking any leave, so that I can be paid for it and take a bit of time off then.

On the fabbing front, I have ordered an eyelash lifting kit.  I had them done at a salon about a year ago and although I liked the results, it’s not really a necessity for me.  I have done lots of research, so I thought I’d give it a go at home.  If I can’t do it myself, I’ll get OH to help me and once lockdown is lifted, my niece and sister.  I’ll try and take some before and after pictures!!!

maman

Good news about your negative test result Wednesday.  

Is an eyelash lifting kit like eyelash curling chanie?  

I can't remember which country lifted the lockdown on hairdressers from today but apparently some opened a minute after midnight! My particular stylist only works 2 days a week normally. I hope she ups her hours to deal with the backlog. I know she's always short of money so hopefully she will. Plus I know the guy who owns the salon is a shrewd businessman so I expect he'll try to have every chair full and maybe extend opening hours too.  

It's bright here but a little bit chilly at the moment. We plan to go for a walk but put it off until it's warmed up a bit. I know we have a much wider choice since yesterday but there's the worry that places of interest will be much busier. Apparently there's a new phenomenon developing called FOGO (Fear of Going Out) as people have got used to the lockdown. I'd really like to meet up with some friends. I know I'm lucky in that I've not been on my own at home but it would be good to chat to someone else in person. My closest friend lives an hour away so even if we did drive to meet up there's basic issues like toilets to consider. I wonder if motorway service facilities are open?  :

Floss

Maman, I had my first socially distanced meet-up today with one of my besties, we met on the large green at the end of her road with our own blankets & drinks (she brought a mug & flask of tea!) and sat about 3m apart but it's so quiet that was fine for talking. Except for the gossip which we shuffled a little closer for I feel more content now.

chanie

Floss how lovely that you got to catch up with your friend.  
Maman yes, the 'lifting' is curling.  The kit cost less than £10 and should do quite a few treatments, whereas my salon cost £25+ per treatment, so its quite a decent saving (providing I don't burn my eyes out).  I can't wait for the kit to arrive.