Outfit post: here comes the sun!

And I still can't fit into my vintage, and I haven't got round to making The Top: Part II yet, so I'm wearing stuff I took on holiday, and modelling them in the oh-so-stylish setting of the fire escape at work. These wide-legged linen trousers are some of my favourites, because they're so cool and easy to wear. I don't buy into all that 'vertical stripes are slimming' nonsense; nothing's going to make me look slender, and the contrary part of me rebels at the suggestion I should spend all my life trying to be something I'm patently not anyhow. (Vintage magazines are very fond of 'slimming lines' I find, though the designs in Stitchcraft for stout figures still never go up to my size!) But I like stripes anyway.

The top is from Fat Face, which proved a surprisingly good source of lightweight yet covering clothing to take to India. Ironically, the stuff I bought there was made in India. Talk about taking coals to Newcastle. The embroidery round the shoulders and down the arms attracted me. There's something really appealing about self-coloured embroidery; I love all those frothy Edwardian dresses and blouses, and whitework will always carry some of that romance to me. However, on holiday I only got to wear the top for one day as the strap of the VERY EXPENSIVE handbag Mr Robot bought me for Christmas leaked dye into it when I got all sweaty, and it took several washes after we got home to get the dye out again. (The strap also damaged the leather of the bag. I really need to take that up with the bag manufacturer!)

The necklace is my Indian lapis 'clanker'. I loved it but didn't think I'd get much wear out of it, yet I find myself digging it out loads. And not seen, today's perfume is Annick Goutal Songes, because sunshine demands big white tropical flowers.

I'm already really in the mood for beach pyjamas again. These trousers always make me wish I owned more pairs. (I have a repro cotton pair from years ago. Would you believe it, they're navy...) House of Foxy have brought out a fantastic beach pyjama outfit in a proprietary 30s-style print, and I love it. Decades Of Style and Wearing History have great repro patterns. Those are all-in-one designs, though, and I'm not sure if I can be bothered with the faff of going to the loo in what's basically a floaty jumpsuit. Who knows? Sooner or later I have to tire of trying to perfect the same top, and perhaps then I'll be ready to give making beach pyjamas a go.

Comments

  1. Currently test driving Zanzea on Wish , living in the bog end of nowhere theres nowhere to clothes shop , first parcel arrived yesterday , its very Primani quality but they do proper old fashioned cheesecloth floaty tops with long sleeves ...they go to all manner of sizes so im quite smitten, after all is there such a thing as quality cheesecloth?

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    1. I suppose the closest thing to quality cheesecloth would be very fine cotton.

      I'd never heard of Zanzea before - floaty is good in summer.

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  2. You look lovely, Mim and oh so summery! Striped trousers are just so cool especially when they're palazzo style. The top is so very pretty and white suits you.What a pain about the dye - definitely take it up with the bag manufacturers.

    I have yet to try any of Annick Goutal's fragrances - they are so expensive, too!

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    1. Thank you!

      Allbeauty.com is a great site to keep an eye on if you like posh smells but not posh prices - I've got plenty from them over the years, at as much as 50% off. They had some Goutals a while ago.

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  3. Oh dear about the handbag dye issue! Has happened to me with expensive bags too. Came out with a bit of vanish soap though. I like the stripes, very on trend for Spring too!
    The HOF beach pyjamas are gorgeous, but I feel I should be able to make something similar, having made pyjama bottoms.

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    1. I'm startled to hear it happens with other bags. I was really upset about this one; it was my new 'every day' bag and now the leather is damaged. I'd noticed it didn't like the rain and had queried with them whether it was okay to get it damp and they'd said yes... didn't expect to get *quite* that sweaty on holiday, I admit!

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  4. The wide-legged trousers and embroidered top look great on you, Mim. I keep seeing tops like this at the vintage shops, too. Isn't it horrible if a handbag strap leaks dye? That shouldn't happen with an expensive one, though, so I should definitely take it up with the manufacturer. I'm loving the idea of jumpsuits and beach pyjamas, but I'm always put off by the loo thing ... xxx

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    1. I feel a bit guilty because it's such a comfy outfit, it ought to make me look like a slob!

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  5. That's such a lovely photo of you. The necklace is a stunner and I wish I looked half as good in a white tunic.
    The wide legged trousers are great on you. You look super tall in them. I bet you could easily knock yourself up a pair in time for Summer. xxx

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    1. I have a warm skintone so shouldn't be able to pull white off, but that never bothers me.

      Wide-legged trousers would make a good summer project. Especially linen ones; most linen ones in the shops have stupid drawstrings, which I hate. I could make some without that annoying detail.

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  6. I love the trousers very much. I bought myself a pair of similar trousers thinking they'd do for work (and yes like you no stripe in the world is going to slim my arse & thighs!) mine are nice but super thin fabric so I now have beach pyjamas without intending too!

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    1. Good excuse to buy another pair of trousers as well...

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  7. Love those trousers! I would be seriously angry about the bag.

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    1. I was pretty upset. I really need to email them; I want them to repair it.

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  8. Mim, you look lovely. Those trousers are really smart and I LOVE that blouse. It is amazing sometimes how lucky finds turn up in RTW. I had a look at those patterns. It would be super easy to make the Decades of Style beach pyjamas without the top. Just add a waistband or create one internally with a bit of petersham ribbon. Actually same with the other ones just chop the patten pieces at roughly where the waist would be and don't make the top bit, then add a waistband. I have cut out Vogue 9075 in a wax print cotton (subtle) and am thinking that as it is a jumpsuit that it will be murder to wear. Oh dear. Still love that necklace. Enjoy the sunshine! :) Xx

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    1. I suppose then I could also make the top half as a top too - that would work. You are clever!

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  9. You look so fresh & Spring-y in that outfit! Love that flowy blouse with the natty navy trousers!
    I shall have to buy another bottle of Songes as you've eminded me of it's tropical bliss!

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    1. Thank you!

      I have so many bottles of perfume, and my Songes probably won't last the rest of the summer, so now I'm really not sure whether I'll replace it. But I do love it. Perhaps I'll not replace it immediately and see if I really miss it that much.

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  10. Beach pyjamas are on my list to make this year and I've just ordered some fabric I hope will be suitable for them. Your last comment about the faff of going to the loo reminded me of this - https://www.facebook.com/nerdswithvag/photos/a.497879366967928.1073741838.175207162568485/1800294116726440/?type=1&theater. It had me giggling for ages! xx

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    1. Arf! That is my fear. That and not being able to get in/out of the thing at all.

      I look forward to seeing your beach pyjamas.

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  11. You look lovely! I really like the trousers. I had a pale pink pair once, with darker pink pinstripes but then I suddenly got huge hips and couldn’t get them on anymore xxx

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