Frump to Fab 2018 - Fabulous Dahhhhlings

errrm....I'll take that comment in the spirit it was meant in maman then:rotfl::rotfl:

My people-watching back in my home city recently showed that a lot of people are currently wearing rather short (capri length or veering towards) trousers. That's not something I ever see here basically.

I like them - but not for me I think - particularly with being pretty short. A clothes purchase today was a petite length pair of leggings from Dorothy Perkins. Now I've got my mind round this concept of petite/seven-eighths length or whatever - well those leggings are exactly the right length for me.

Quick query time here on clothes.

I got absolutely drenched through earlier today in the shower-proof raincoat I bought from a charity shop as a temporary thing - while I diet back down in size.

So I thought - I really do need to make sure the raincoat I intend to get when I'm back to "proper size" is indeed waterproof. Seasalt ones say they are and have been tested out in Cornwall (some of which I guess gets similar weather to here).

SO:
1. Are they as waterproof as they say they are?
2. Checking out the sizes and thinking "Perhaps I should buy one marked as size 12 - ready for when I am back to my proper size?" Then I got confused by checking out what they say about their sizing on their website. It looked like I'd need to buy one with a size 8 label on for "proper size". As my "proper size" is 36" chest. They vary from style to style they do - but overall "size 8" seems to be around 39" chest (and big hips - and I know I'm same size hips and bust).
When they say 39" chest - do they mean "We've allowed room for bulky sweaters and the like underneath them" or do they mean "We mean you having a 39" chest".

Who has got a Seasalt raincoat and what do you think?

Well the other option I was contemplating was Aquascutum - on the grounds I've had one of their raincoats before (years back) and therefore feel it's fair enough to spend an equivalent amount of money again. That would be £700 then:rotfl: But I do know the Chinese have taken over Aquascutum - and therefore there is a chance they may no longer be Aquascutum quality (the name - but not the game).

By and large Seasalt ones seem to come in at around £150 and they do have literally a Lifetime Guarantee on them:D - which I gather they do honour if need be.

lessonlearned wrote: »

I think you could well be right about Aquascutum. A lot of premium brands are just not what they were. A victim of outsourcing to the Far East I'm afraid.

I was always a Jaegar fan, but they are definitely not what they were.

I think if Seasalt offer a guarantee then at £150 they are probably a very good bet. Do any of the outlet villages stock them. Apparently one of the marinas near me now stock Seasalt at good prices but I have not been yet.

Don't know re outlet villages - as there isn't one anywhere remotely near me.

It was only quite recently Aquascutum was taken over by the Chinese - so they "may" still be Aquascutum - ie rather than inferior make with the Aquascutum name and price tag attached iyswim.

I know I've got a pair of Hunter boots apparently - but I'm not sure they really are Hunter or whether they were made after Hunter were taken over and so are look-alikes with the Hunter tag on them.

It does look to be a struggle to get normal standard clothing still these days. Hence I'm glad I kept my older clothes that I still like - though I'm awaiting fitting back into them.

I did go out tonight with a suedette skirt on from decades past - only Marks & Spencers (but it was before they downgraded their quality). It's a real size 12 one (ie the label says "size 12/26" waist/37" hips) on it. But, in fairness, it's not got a waistline as such - it's an elastic strip all round the inside of it and that has expanded as I went up to label size 16 (ie 3-4 sizes expansion). So it's now starting to threaten to descend round my ankles. I shall have to see if the clothes alterer I found can swop that and get it back to real size 12.

I was wearing that skirt tonight and my colour scheme was black and brown with gold and gold-plated jewellery. Got a compliment of "I really like your outfit" from someone:D. Yay - someone called it an "outfit". Maybe I'm getting this "outfit" thing worked out:D

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Re Seasalt - that is one of the few bits of clothing I can find round here in my style. Not very much of it - but there is a bit - and I imagine I should be able to get a shop that stocks them to order in any bits I want for me. I've learnt one of the ways of operating here for what chain shops there are here is to check out the website and then, almost certainly, the shop here will be too small to have it - but should order it in for me. I had to get the local Dorothy Perkins to order in the leggings I'd decided on for me - that rather surprises me that they had standard length ones here (ie for 5'6" women), but not petite ones. Most of the women in this area of the country are as short as I am - so I would have thought they'd be more likely to have the petite ones here.