Saturday 17 December 2016

A week of shirts and blouses


 Monday's outfit - Day 1 - Shirt/blouse challenge

I spent £2.75 in Save the Children on Monday: a shirt for my grandson, a ring (see below) and a small  leather purse to fit in my rucksack when I'm out walking. 



 Everything is charity shopped except the boots (Sainsbury's) and earrings (e bay).

I finally tidied my bookshelves by taking all the stray books lying on top of the vertical rows and stacking them on the floor under the bottom bookshelf. Once I've finished my most recent library book I'll start reading my way through the floor dwelling books until they are gone...that's the plan anyway, and it should work as long as I don't buy any more books!


Shirt, Charles Tyrwhitt and bought in Cambridge Cancer Research last year for £5.00. Charles Tyrwhitt shirts have been around since 1986 and like the shirt from the shirtmaker in Tuesday's outfit, both companies are based in Jermyn Street, London.  The pinafore dress is from New Look; can't remember which charity shop I bought it from. All other jewellery charity shopped.

I thought I might be starting at the Bedford Guildhouse this Tuesday but it will be 10th January; also I start at the Red Cross on 9th January.  New Year, new beginnings!

 For once I had free day on a Tuesday so I put it to good use and finished my Christmas shopping!

Day 2 - Shirt/blouse challenge


As you can see I do love my Sainsbury's boots! Note the white flower ring bought yesterday...


All clothing charity shopped.

This is the M&S skirt I bought last week in Barnardo's. It has a leather trim at the waist and on the faux pockets. It's wool, so it was nice and warm.   Purple tights, charity shopped somewhere. This lilac, purple, pink and blue shirt is by TM Lewin and on their website it says:

The first T.M.Lewin opened in Jermyn Street in 1898. This bustling London Street soon became a magnet for the world’s finest tailors and Mr. Thomas Mayes Lewin was among the industry’s original innovators. A hundred years ago, shirts didn’t have buttons down the front. T.M.Lewin’s ‘coat-shirts’ were not only pioneering, they are a prototype of the modern shirt worn today.

Who knew?

  Both the shirt and the purple cardigan, came from the Red Cross shop.


Necklace bought by OH in charity shop, bangle, watch, earrings and brooch all charity shopped.

I didn't manage a shirt/blouse on Wednesday as I went walking in the morning with the Ramblers. 6.5 miles from the village of Southill to Broom and back to Southill; followed by our annual Christmas meal. I changed, with great difficulty in the car, from walking gear into a pair of trousers and a tunic.

The trick is to wear a pair of leggings under the walking trousers and a vest underneath the top; then take one off at a time and slip on the replacement garments. Of course I changed out of muddy boots,  gaiters and walking socks first into a pair of black boots!


These are my steel pan  earrings from Trinidad - bought for me by OH when he was en route for Jamaica  many years ago and had a stopover.


Velvet trousers, Debenhams. Tunic, charity shopped, boots donated by my daughter. Necklace, watch and bangles charity shopped.

Day 3 - Shirt/blouse challenge


I think you might describe this as a blouse rather than a shirt. I have to confess I don't know what the difference is between a shirt and a blouse - they can both have buttons, for example. This one is from La Redoute, bought in a sale, and this is the first time I've ever worn it.  I wore this sparkly bling to accompany Sheila; you can find her fabulous blog; 'Ephemera' here. She's doing a week of sparkly outfits!

I don't have much in the way of sparkly clothes but I do have some sparkly jewellery. The earrings are from ebay; 99p and the necklace bought locally.


Waistcoat, Zara. Trousers, Topshop; headscarf, and boots from Italy, all charity shopped. I don't like these trousers anymore; off to the charity shop bag for them.


On Thursday OH had a rare day off so we went to Stony Stratford just outside Milton Keynes. We looked around the charity shops. Did I buy anything? Yes. I bought two necklaces for a £1.00 each, two padded hangers (you can never have too many of these) a felt Merry Christmas banner for 50p and a pair of Red Herring jeans for grandson; £2.50. Did I buy any clothes for me? No! It was supposed to be a week of abstention so I abstained. Total spend £6.00.

Day 4 - Shirt/blouse challenge

This is a pretty cheapskate outfit; everything is charity shopped except the boots which are the latest addition to my wardrobe of daughter donated boots (DDB).




The trousers are Next maternity ones (sale rail £1.00 somewhere) which although very comfortable, tend to fall down around my hips. I  have a tummy but not a pregnant one so this will be going into the charity shop bag. The shirt is from M&S bought at the Red Cross £1.99; top 50p rail in one of the charity shops in Royston some months ago. I bought 3 x 50p tops there and have worn all of them now. Cost of outfit £3.49!


Necklace was a £1.00 from Keech Hospice shop last week and all other jewellery is charity shopped except the teal ring from Sainsbury's.


Day 5 - Shirt /blouse challenge

My week of abstention was up so I visited my two favourite charity shops in the town on Saturday morning. In the 3:16 shop I bought a chambray tunic for £1.75; an animal print beret from Next - never worn, these two silver containers below, in which I will put flowers and a couple of other bits all for a donation of a couple of quid.


At the Red Cross shop I bought a brown velvet jacket to replace the one I put in the charity shop bag some months ago as the arms were too tight on me; I bought a pair of jeans and a nice casual jacket for one of the grandsons - all £1.99 each.  Total £5.97 + £3.75 from the 3:16 shop + £6.00 spend on Thursday on Stony Stratford = £14.72. Quite restrained by my standards!

After my little splurge I went for a short walk of 4.5 miles around our local area, and on the way back I spotted this on a street I rarely walk:


We have three other blue plaques that I know of in Bedford but I didn't know about this one.


Everything charity shopped except the boots - Xmas present from daughter about 4 years ago


Trousers, Tu from the Hospice shop in Kempston; denim shirt and grey knitted top charity shopped but can't remember where. I love denim shirts and have 3 in my wardrobe - all slightly different.
Can you see my new watch? It's from Next and is a very tiny rectangle. I love tiny watches but I don't know why I bother with them, as unless I've got my glasses on, I can't see the watch face!


All jewellery charity shopped except for the blue ring.

I have also been getting rid of items from my wardrobe this week; so far the count is 3 cardigans, a small bag of jewellery - mostly earrings, a handbag, 2 pairs of trousers, 3 pairs of skinny jeans - I've gone right off them - and 1 dress. 9 items plus 1 handbag out, 3 items in. That's more like it!

I've got a busy week next week but my plan for outfits is for a week of tunics. The following week, the only thing I can come up with, is a week of maxis. I'm enjoying doing these challenges as I'm getting to wear more of the clothes in my wardrobe and it's helping me make decisions about what to discard and what to keep.

If I don't post again before Christmas I wish you all a peaceful and blessed holiday.

xxxx

15 comments:

  1. I love that first blouse, but really they're all quite wonderful. The brooch on your purple outfit is a beauty, and the necklace of leaves is art. You did really well keeping from spending-I tried, but then I found a pair of Victorian boots for $15.00 and couldn't bring myself to leave them.

    I hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas, and I'll look forward to hearing about it when you're posting again.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want to see the Victorian boots! Are they real Victorian boots or retro style Victorian boots?

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  2. I love that profile photo of you, so pretty!
    The Trinidadian earrings are fabulous, the colours in the Marks & Spencer shirt really suits you.
    Have a fab Xmas if I don't see you before! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You will be having a fab holiday in Goa - have the loveliest time!

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  3. Yes Vix is right, that profile pic is super. Loving the Trinidadian earrings and also the spotty blouse.
    If you're not back before, have a good xmas. x

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  4. Can't pick favourites, of course, but the shirt and pinafore outfit is a winner, you really suit a shorter length! Love the Day 3 scarf in your hair and necklace too. xxx

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  5. Ooh yes, I'm with Curtise, love the scarf in your hair, and your special earrings from Trinidad are wonderful. I really like that last outfit with the short sleeved jumper over the top, but like Curtise, I find it hard to choose, because actually, each and every day you are supremely stylish. I did have to laugh at the thought of you changing in the car though! If you're anything as stiff as me, that would have been a sight to behold, trying to do all that in a confined space. But anyway, hope you enjoyed the lunch and have a truly fab Xmas! xxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Tania.

      The changing in the car business wasn't helped by the man in the car next to me who just sat in the drivers seat and stared!

      Have a lovely Christmas, too.

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  6. Hi Vronnie, what is a 3:16 shop I have never heard of it. Love reading your Blogs.

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  7. Hi Polly!

    The 3:16 shop is a Christian charity shop in Bedford. It takes it's name from a verse in the Bible. I love it and have found some lovely things in there.

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  8. Some excellent outfits here - you get good-quality stuff in your local charity shops, don't you?

    Ew to the man watching you get changed in your car. I'd have given him a one-finger salute!

    Thank you for the knitting patterns. They have arrived and now I'm hankering to make a bedjacket again. One day I'll get round to it...

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  9. My dearest Veronica, you are such a wonderful friend and support, I had no words to describe it.
    You look radiant and beautiful in every single attire, and I adore you, even if I do not pop in so often.
    Tons and more tons of love and a wonderful CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
    Mil besos

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  10. It was really insightful.
    Thanks for such a nice content.
    Cheers
    BTW if anyone interested more have a look https://theshoesfinder.com thanks

    ReplyDelete

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