A sudden change in the weather (gales forecast for tonight) has me sorting the wardrobe and putting away the summer clothes.

Two things I have never had, and never will have in my wardrobe are often described as essentials. The little black dress and the crisp white shirt.

My reasons are these.
 
The black dress only suits women with bold dramatic colouring. If you have very dark hair and brown eyes you will look fabulous in it. If you are white blond with bright blue eyes and a clear complexion you will look fabulous in it. Most of us in Britain are neither, but have softer, gentler, more subtle colouring which is overwhelmed by black. The dress wears you, rather than you wearing the dress. For me the go-anywhere useful dress is either a medium grey (I like grey with a bit of colour in it - blueish, or purplish) or a French navy ie not too dark. Much more flattering.

Similarly the crisp white shirt. Too harsh on me. The shirt itself looks crisp, but I look faded. Unless your teeth and the whites of your eyes are as white as the shirt it's not a good look!  A softish denim blue is my classic shirt. 

Of course if you are young and beautiful you will look fabulous in anything, but as I get older I look with a more critical eye and don't accept any fashion statement that begins Everyone should have....

Do you know what suits you best?

If you are an artist and/or are interested in colour you may enjoy this website and this discussion of greys.

I so hope they have my size! They also come in a beautiful blue, violet, and a lovely soft grey - grey with colour in it. (Riva Mannikin.)

Some of you may remember how I love coloured shoes. These ones are still favourites.(Fly Yaz Wedge.) And some of these are still on the go.

Shoes are the thing I find hardest to part with....

And you?

Oh, and I've also copied in that list of 'wrong reasons' from yesterday's blog.

I take this notebook with me when I go to the city, and if in doubt about something I go for a coffee and consult it. I believe it has saved me from many a mistake! Love it.

See here and here for my efforts at deciding what suits me best.
 
Fashion is still my fun.
 
If you have time you may enjoy a browse through Simply Stylish...(see sidebar).

I've just been to a lovely family wedding in the wrong outfit.

It didn't spoil  my pleasure in the happy occasion, but when I took it off after the event I knew I wouldn't be wearing it again.

Where did I go wrong?

It wasn't 'me'.

A perfectly nice dress, a perfectly nice jacket and a pretty pair of shoes - (all bought on separate occasions some time ago) and all bought for the wrong reasons.

I look at some clothes which I never wear and give myself a minute to think why I bought them.

Here are some of the reasons -

I felt like treating myself that day.

It was such a bargain. It was!  A pure silk jacket from Fenn Wright and Manson for £15 down from £115! Could I resist? No. Do I wear it? No. Well, once. It is much too dark a colour for me and nothing I have goes with it.

I wanted something different.

I thought it might be useful.

I thought I could slim into it. (Have you done this? I did wear it once and could hardly breathe..)

It is gorgeous. I love it.

But - it's not 'me'.

More tomorrow....

If you liked this, you'll probably like this.

There is also an Edinburghcyclechic (but, sad to say, they are just not as chic as the Copenhageners!)

..different.

In How To Be Danish - one of my lovely Christmas books (fascinating!) I found a reference to Copenhagen Cycle Chic which quickly gathered a kind of cult following. Not unlike the Sartorialist, but on bikes.

If you like people watching you will enjoy a browse there (or Edinburgh Cycle Chic, or Melbourne Cycle Chic or.....)  Isn't the internet amazing?

And aren't these Copenhagen cyclists a hardy lot!

And stylish.

It is exactly 22 minutes till 2014.  I shall drink your health at the bells! Thank you so much for reading and commenting..

The addition of this..

to my current favourite coat (see post here) will see me through to winter. Makes the idea of winter quite bearable!

I've found my buy for Autumn. (See post here.) Not the sweater or jacket I set out to find, but this unlined coat from Topshop. It's just the right weight, is beautifully cut and detailed and the finish is remarkably good (all seams are nicely bound, an extra button inside to make it hang well, the collar sits perfectly..).

(Sorry the photograph isn't of the same standard! It's from Topshop's website)

Perfectly put together, and roomy enough for a warm layer underneath.

I thought the price of £79 was terrific for the quality, and because the popper fastenings were loose they took £20 off. Nice.

Love it with these shoes.



Have you bought anything new for the new season?

I've had fun browsing some fashion sites while considering a special purchase for autumn.
 
Two Danes is a label I've recently discovered. You can see some of their range here - beautiful beautiful quality (if I can't afford a garment from a brand I like, I sometimes buy a scarf which is what I did with Two Danes last year). If you take a look at this site also check out Masai and Sahara (I bought a scarf there too!) The knits at Forever Amano are gorgeous (thanks Lucille) and the ethical principles of Everlane are laid out clearly in a way which may become more common - even to showing the breakdown of costs of the things they make, and their markup. Their jobs page is interesting! American; I don't think their products are available here yet; classically beautiful bags.

It will be interesting to see if other companies follow their lead in this. Do you think they might?

The season is changing and I am feeling that familiar melancholy that comes upon me as autumn approaches.

I have to find things to do to ward it off lest it should become depressing, and I've decided that one of them this year is going to be to find a beautiful sweater or jacket....comforting and warm, in an arty yarn of natural fibres, probably textured like a cable knit, or moss stitch, or a lovely twill weave, possibly in a richer, warmer colour than I usually wear. Something I can put on top of a finer sweater or long sleeved t shirt. Stylish. Sophisticated.

In real life I'm a painter and gardener and live in rural Scotland, but inside my head (if not in the mirror) I am also stylish, and elegant in an understated 'Eurochic' kind of  way! See here.

Have you any plans for autumn purchases?

I bought this beautiful Austin Reed silk scarf from Oxfam online....

(I stitched together the two short ends to make a loop - it drapes nicely and won't slip off as silk scarves tend to do.)

It's a lovely place to browse: clothing, vintage, books, toys, memorabilia, eco products and more, and they have a sale on till Wednesday....

I have too many clothes.

Nice problem.

Nice new coathangers from IKEA led to another sort out. I worked out how many full hangers fitted the hanging space  nicely (32) and decided that is how many things I will have in my wardrobe this winter.

As I changed over the hangers I engaged brain and made some decisions:-

Mistake....forgive myself and let it go.

Can't wear....for whatever reason, let it go.

Don't wear....for whatever reason, let it go.

Don't want to wear....no-one says I have to! Let it go.

Doesn't fit....let it go.

I feel happy in it! Lovely, think of why, and I'll know what to look out for in future.

It suits me! Yay! As above.

Is it right for the season? If not, store somewhere else for now.

I now have some to store, some to give to the charity shop, some to go to textile recycling, a core of good things and space for one or two new!

A good evening's work.

And next trip to the city I'll have a much clearer idea of what I need.

....the suitcase.

I know it's perfectly posssible to travel in sport or casual clothes, and at a push I could probably manage a long weekend away with just a back pack, but for me part of the fun of going away - especially if it is a city break, is wearing my very favourite things and dressing up just a little, so....

My suitcase is small, with wheels. It is hard and therefore a bit heavy and I'm looking for a lighter weight one. In it for a four day trip I had:
Pyjamas, thin cotton
Underwear
Favourite t shirts, long and short sleeved, self coloured, one for each day.
A pair of dressier shoes
Linen trousers pressed and carefully folded
Jacket likewise - hung up soon after I arrived at my destination
Chargers for camera and phone

I also took, and could have managed without: a hairdryer (borrow or have a hair style that doesn't need one), a towel (supplied most places), a small leather shoulder bag, an umbrella, socks, a cotton blouse and more scarves. None of these were heavy except for the hairdryer and on another trip I might need them....

Crinkle fabrics are tempting - but I go easy on them as I'm starting to look crinkly myself!

Another  tip to save weight - post gifts ahead, preferably so that they arrive while you are there.

So, not the last word on travelling light, but a basis for me to play variations on.

Here are some of my current favourite accessories..

Thank you so much for your comments and tips on travelling light. (Check out www.onyabags.co.uk - thank you Sarah.)

I do seem to have a lot to say on this topic, but my thinking is that if I really refine it and think it through thoroughly I won't have to tax my wee brain every time I travel! So, with that in mind the make-up bag and the sponge bag:

I went along to the Bobbi Brown stand in a department store when I found a voucher for their new range of long lasting make up (see post 18 April 2012). It was fun having my make up done - the first time I'd done that. It really does last all day so a few minutes in the morning and that's it....and my travel make up kit now consists of:
1 foundation/moisturiser/sunscreen all-in-one (I like Origins)
1 eye shadow in a neutral colour
1 brow powder and brush
1 eye liner pencil, sharpener and cotton bud to smudge
1 mascara
1 lipstick (another in backpack - I have one pinkish and one peachy)
tweezers

In the sponge bag are mini bottles of shampoo, make up remover, shower gel and body cream. I saved little empty bottles and decanted my favourites into them. Toothbrush and mini tube of toothpaste. (Boots do a range of travel sizes of lots of things - I'm looking for a mini deodorant without parabens). A facecloth, blister plasters just in case, medicines, cotton buds, nailfile, hairbrush. My favourite perfume is in a heavy glass bottle but I missed having it, so will ask nicely for a tiny bottle of it for Christmas....

Tomorrow the suitcase..

I'm planning on travelling lighter still and here are my notes on what to wear, culled from my recent four day trip (see yesterday's post).

For travel I wear simple clothes in mostly natural fibres. I like these to be nice quality. Good quality ones can be worn for several days and still look great. Cotton trousers, a long sleeved self coloured cotton t shirt, shiny flats which are comfortable. Patent can look dressy or casual (mine are a little worn looking but comfort matters more, and I can have a smarter pair in my case if I think I may be going somewhere dressy).  I spent a long time looking for the  perfect coat. The lightweight one I have is poly-something-or-other, a slightly crinkly showerproof fabric which keeps the wind out, with a hood (avoiding the need for an umbrella). It can roll up small and fit in my bag.

None of these items have any decoration or trim on them - no logos, flowers, stripes, spots, tabs, buckles, belts or even buttons in the case of the coat. All the colours go with one another and suit me (a whole other story but a fun one, for another blog post). On my recent trip I had light grey, bright pink, lime green and a neutral I love - the colour of the froth on a cappuchino.

According to the season and the weather the t shirt can be long or short sleeved, thick or thin. A thin vest top underneath can be a top if it gets really warm or an additional layer if it gets cold and can be rolled up tiny and put in your bag when not needed. The shoes can be sturdier or lighter, or boots can be substituted, a jacket or a sweater can be worn under the roomy coat, tights or socks can add warmth....but basically it is still the same four items.

The fun bit is accessories - scarves and jewellery for me. I like bold necklaces - 'statement' jewellery I suppose you might call it, in bright colours, and big scarves - linen from Hobbs especially. I got a beautiful lime green one for £9 in their sale last year. Four necklaces and four scarves - two linen and two light cotton ones - don't take up much room or weigh much and create in effect a different outfit for every day. Also at the end of the day if you feel a bit crumpled and worn just putting a fresh scarf around your neck or shoulders with a pair of gorgeous earrings and a squish of perfume....can make you feel and look a million dollars again. Well, I exaggerate, but you know what I mean....

Any travel light tips most welcome....

Not Greece, but the British Museum London - wonderful!

My word for 2012 is lighter. (What was your word again?)

When I travel with the car I take lots of stuff without thinking about it too much, but when I'm carrying my own luggage I like to plan carefully and travel fairly light. After a lovely four day trip to London I've decided I want to travel even more lightly. So I tried, when unpacking, putting everything I had taken and not used to one side and made lists of everything else.

These lists will form my new Travel Light list for those occasions when I have to carry my own bags.

I took a long hard look at everything asking Did I really need it? and Can I find a lighter or smaller version?

My lists are Wear, Bag, Suitcase, Spongebag, and Make Up bag.

Tomorrow - my notes on what I like to wear when travelling....

I bought Elle magazine on impulse. Total fantasy! Airbrushed impossibly beautiful people and everything costs hundreds or thousands of pounds. What can any of this have to do with me and my life? I asked myself, about to bin it and tell myself I'd wasted a few pounds.

But then I thought Wait a minute, something made me buy this - what was I looking for? Surely there is something in there for me!

So here is what I gleaned:

I could do a simple manicure on my gardening hands (I did - nice).



There was one smiling model - amazing - and I thought I could smile more even if my teeth look nothing like this

Next time I'm in the city I'll look at Mango where they actually have dresses for £22.99? I don't want a dress but I do like looking..

 
I quite like wearing lipstick, and somewhere I've got a nice bright pink....there seems to be a trend for very soft colours, must have a look

I'd like to see this exhibition at the V&A of glamorous ball gowns and it is on till January 2013

Fragrance - I like perfume - maybe i could get some for my birthday. I tried all the little samples in the magazine but the one I liked was £67....hmmm, always did have expensive taste.

I could jump, wearing nice shoes?

For free.

I like high heels (about three times a year). Must plan more occasions to wear the ones I've got.

Prints are in it seems - maybe not this backless dress, but a shirt or a scarf might be fun.

I love my sunglasses which are very old and may fall apart any day. If I carry them in my bag I may find a pair that are similar...

A free make up lessson and personalised face chart from Bobbi Brown? Could be fun..

I realised that what I was looking for when I bought the magazine, was a little boost, a little incentive to think about my appearance and the end of winter clothes and winter skin (there is still snow on the hills as I write this!) but I think I did actually get my money's worth and am off to rummage in my wardrobe right now....and put on some lipstick!

(NB I am having annoying problems with the layout of my blog pages and hope the text is lining up with the pictures!!)