Autumn approaches...

This dress should be good for autumn
Autumn approaches – the light has changed, and the cat has decided to come inside the house again after months living on the patio, which is all the proof you need – and my thoughts are turning to WOOL. I like changing seasons. Just as summer's lightweight things are becoming too familiar, along comes autumn and it's time to dig out all sorts of woolly favourites and enjoy them all over again. Then after Christmas winter woollies seem boring, spring comes along and there's the delight of rediscovering those summery garments. I've been quite naughty this year and have spent far more money than usual on summer clothes, so I haven't actually got bored of them, but I am looking forward to wearing my tweed skirts again, and digging out my felt hats.


I've been walking most mornings before work, and I really enjoy it. The prospect of the days drawing in doesn't appeal to me, and I'll probably give up following my route through the park on dark mornings and stick to the better-lit, more populated route through the city centre instead. I won't have to do that for a few months, though. For now I'm making the most of the good weather and light mornings. When I started doing the walks it always felt like a real chore and I resented doing it, but now I really do enjoy it, and don't like days when I have to miss my walk because of very heavy rain or a change in my schedule.

I admit, I started my walks through vanity as my weight was creeping upwards. That's an unwanted side effect of an office job. It's coming down again very slowly; I'm a little heavier than I was this time last year, but only by a few pounds. A couple of my favourite tweed skirts were a bit tight last year as it was, but I'm hoping that if I stick to my morning walks I'll be able to wear them again. The walks are changing my shape, giving me a better behind and more toned legs, and my posture has improved so pretty much everything hangs better anyway. (Not sure if my dance class or the walking is responsible for the better posture.)

Weirdly my winter wardrobe seems of an earlier era than my summer one. I have a lot of knee-length or longer skirts, and 60s knits are mostly either too boring or too weird for me to bother making, so much of what I've knitted for myself is from the 1930s to 1950s in style. I slip back in time by a couple of decades in autumn. That said, after the slog of my recently-finished fair isle, I reckon my next project for myself will be something much simpler, so perhaps I should give a little 60s top a go.

Does your style change much with the seasons?

Comments

  1. You look lovely in your photo. Those greens are glorious and that hat is wonderful. I don't have a winter wardrobe, I just wear a cardigan under stuff. I am habitually found in jeans and scruffy t-shirts so I do have a kind of uniform. Suits and boring truer/blouses for work though. I empathise about the office job. I have put on tons of weight where I am now, mainly as my dinner at night is mostly crisps. Too late home to cook.
    I just picked up my knitting last night for pretty much the first time this year. I was flicking through Ravelry and looking at the cardigan patterns. You can never have too many in my books. Looking forward to seeing what you make. Xx

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    1. My next knit is for a friend, so it should be off the needles relatively rapidly.

      That is my latest dress, I love it - though it does need ironing; I washed it as soon as it arrived.

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  2. P.S. I forgot. You won the Patrones magazine so could you email me an address to send it to? My email is ligeia2001 at hotmail dot com. Xx

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  3. You look like a swinging 1960s chick in that photo, just fab.
    I don't own a cardi, can't be doing with woollens. I know, I am a freak.
    My non-summer wardrobe consists of maxi dresses with added thermals and fake furs. xxx

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    1. All the more woollies for those of us who like them ;-) My husband reckons I'm a lizard, I like being warm.

      I've been dressing rather more 60s of late; I blame all The Avengers I've been watching.

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  4. Oo that green hat is such a perfect colour! Love it. I look forward to seeing more of your Autumn wardrobe. I think this year I may be going forward for the Fall, with more '70s looks. We'll see, my trusty wool skirts are more '50s. xx

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    1. I've got a few brimmed hats. It'll be good to see what 70s styles you bring out, you do it so well.

      I think I may be channelling my inner Tuppence this autumn - her knitwear/tweed combos in Partners in Crime are right up my alley.

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  5. You look really great in that hat, and green is a fab colour with your red hair.
    My autumn/winter wardrobe isn't so different from spring/summer - I just layer up with tights, boots and cardigans, and break out the long-sleeved dresses. Era-wise, it's just the same!
    Good to know your walks and dancing are helping to tone you up - I could do with a bit of that... xxx

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    1. Thank you! I was thinking of losing the red, but I've swung back towards keeping it again.

      I love my walks. It's nice to have some thinking time.

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  6. That hat looks great on you, the colour and the style. go thirties for Autumn/Winter, the knits are so superior.

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    1. There are a couple of patterns in ASIT that I've been thinking of - I still fancy an 'It Cannot Fail To Please'.

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  7. Very lovely post, dear Mim. I adore celebrating and embracing each of Mother Nature's beautiful seasons and definitely dress for them. In the fall/winter, I tend to shift into darker hues, far more layers, more separates, and more 40s look (whereas the 50s and spring/summer go hand-in-hand for me). I love the sumptuousness of autumn and winter fashions. The rich tweeds, soft velvets, cozy corduroys, and sturdy denim all act as literal and symbolic shields against the cold and help to keep us happy in our wardrobes even as summer beats a hasty retreat.

    Big hugs,
    ♥ Jessica

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    1. I hadn't even thought of colours! But yes, those change too. I abandon prints in winter, favouring mostly woven patterns like herringbone and tartan.

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  8. I love the green hat! It's such a gorgeous colour.

    God I have piled on the pounds since I've been working in an office too (I'm lazy by nature, plus there are always cakes and sweets in our office which doesn't help) I wear the same clothes all year round really just with a cardigan or jumper over the top. It does mean I get to wear my brooches which is always a plus.

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    1. I have gone up from 8.5 stone when I started to just under 13. And okay, it's taken me about 18 years, but increasing my body weight by 50% is ridiculous. I'll never be a size 8 again, but I don't want things to keep going upwards.

      You do have some ace brooches.

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  9. I'm knitting a mustard coloured jumper from a 1943 pattern at the moment :) In DK, so it's a quick knit. My winter wardrobe is more stylish than the summer wardrobe. I wear tweed skirts, high waisted trousers and knitted jumpers in winter, whereas in summer I prefer singlets, shorts or cotton/linen trousers. I have a good collection of vintage summer dresses, but I don't enjoy wearing them. Afraid to sweat too much in them I guess. I have some rayon dresses (1940/50's) which are nice and cool, but they're a bother to wash.

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    1. Ooh, that jumper sounds nice - 1940s patterns are always stylish, and mustard is such a flattering colour.

      I'm trying to get over my fear of spoiling my vintage. Having had to help clear out a deceased relative's house earlier in this year, I've come to realise that if I don't love and use my stuff, it might not be wanted when I'm gone. Wear those dresses!

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  10. Oooh that's a beautiful hat. It sounds like you're getting more out of your walks than I am-if my bottom dropped any lower I'd be dragging it along ten paces behind me. Or someone would have to pick it up and carry it for me.

    My winter wardrobe leans to the 30's and 40's as well (summer being too hot for rayon dresses) though I've been embracing the ultrasuede trouser suits of the 70's too. Maybe tweed skirts and cardigans are so timeless they work however you accessorise them?

    The dress has a fascinating pattern-can't wait to see the whole thing.

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    1. I've always been narrow-hipped, which helps keep a perky butt. My boobs are sagging for the team!

      It's a very simple dress, which I like - it's all about the pattern. The colours just got me as soon as I saw it, I'm a sucker for good blues and greens.

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  11. I love the colour of your hat - it looks great with your red hair.

    My style doesn't change that much really with the seasons, except that I wear more woollies as the weather gets colder, the boots make an appearance and the cotton maxis get swapped for crimplene and corduroy ones!

    I''ve really noticed a tinge of autumn over the past few days and thoughts have turned to lighting a fire - not for warmth but for the cheery glow!

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    1. Thank you!

      That is one of the best things about being a knitter, isn't it? Getting all those old favourites out again and thinking, "I made that!"

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  12. I live for autumn/winter; all my favourite clothes are long sleeved or jackets or knits. My personal fashion rule is no knee high boots between 1st May and 31st August so yesterday was officially time to polish them all off! I'm a fan of the drapy cardigan and fitted top look.

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    1. So you haven't worn your new Ted & Muffies yet? I want to see those, I loved the look of the ones in the shop window in Bath. Such a lovely finish on the leather.

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  13. Ah the green hat! It is a really beautiful colour - good find. I made just over an hour's walk into part of my commute each day (as in total, not each way!) and honestly, it makes a HUGE difference to my weight. Without it, I'd probably be half a stone-a stone heavier and when I have time off work the weight piles back on. If you can make it part of a routine it's a great thing to do :)

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  14. Looking forward to seeing more of that lovely dress and your great knits. I am on charity shop watch for good tweed or plaid skirts and am beginning to plan my autumn knitting. I love autumn colours so I get pretty excited about this time of year.

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