Clothes for a casual week

Being retired means that most of my weeks are pretty casual, which suits my style perfectly, however because I'm a blogger I need to try and keep my standards up.  Admittedly I'm not one of those super cool and stylish "outfit of the day" types of blogger, but when I post photos of myself I do try to avoid the baggy sweater, old jeans and trainers look.

As I am heading towards the end of the NoRepeat November challenge, I thought it might be helpful to post an example capsule wardrobe that will easily provide a week's worth of different outfits. The clothes shown are very similar to the ones hanging up in my wardrobe, to give you an idea of some of the outfits I've been wearing this month.

Those of you who are mathematically inclined will have counted seven different tops, so one for each day of the week then!  However there are two bottoms here: a pair of dark navy jeans and charcoal straight-leg trousers. The coloured tops will go with either of the bottoms, so that means there are fourteen potential outfits.  Don't forget the navy and light grey cardigans, which can create even more permutations.

How about the grey boots and navy loafers, the green satchel plus the navy and grey bag: all of these can also change my look.  I like wearing necklaces, so I have included a silver necklace and gold link chain, both of which are versatile. The right accessories can change a look from boring to stylish without having to spend too much money.

My navy trench-coat can be worn with any of these outfits when I leave the house, with either a purple or grey patterned scarf to throw around my neck. As you can see, with the items of clothing above, I could easily create enough outfits to last me for a month, so long as I do the washing on a regular basis.

Why don't you take a look at your own wardrobe, select some of your favourite tops and bottoms, and see how many outfits you can create with them?

November NoRepeat Challenge: week three report

The weather has turned very wintry, which has been a great help for the November NoRepeat Challenge! My previous post showed two tops that I hadn't worn so far during the challenge, however I now need to repeat some tops, as my wardrobe isn't unlimited. The colder weather has meant that I am adding the occasional cardigan or waistcoat for an extra layer, which of course means I'm wearing a different outfit even when the top is the same.

The two tops shown below have already had an outing this month, but I am wearing them with other trousers and accessories to change the look.

    

First time around I wore the blue top with brown trousers and a gold chain necklace. The green top was worn with navy jeans and a simple gold  necklace. I could also have worn these tops with either my grey or black skirt, plus tights and boots and other accessories.

My winter coat made an appearance this week - and seems to be here to stay! - so wearing different outerwear has created some new looks too.  I have worn boots a couple of times plus thicker scarves and gloves on particularly chilly mornings. I suspect that it's time to pack away the short-sleeved tops that remain in my wardrobe!

As you can see, the possible permutations are endless. Many of us always wear the same combinations: for example this green top inevitably gets worn with my navy jeans, so having to think up different ways to wear it is a good experiment and helps me to realise that my wardrobe is more extensive than I thought.

Check out this video on Imogen's blog if you would like some further inspiration: getting creative with your wardrobe.

Finally, I want to mention a point made by Sharon when she commented on my previous post. Sharon said that you can wear different outfits depending on your mood and I totally agree with her. In the photo on the right taken this morning, I am wearing a combination of bright colours that makes me feel upbeat, which was the mood I wanted to create today as I am trying to shake off my first winter cold. The outfit on the left is more subdued, however I felt elegant when wearing it and we were going to the theatre that day so it was the mood that I wanted. Please note that I didn't say the outfit is elegant - only that it made me feel that way! What about you - do you wear certain outfits to match the way that you are feeling or want to feel?

A bad look for over 60s?

I've just finished reading the latest post on one of my favourite blogs: Une Femme d'un certain âge, and the first comment on her post made me pause to think. I thought the post was excellent, as usual, and Une Femme's views on trends are very similar to mine. Don't go overboard and risk looking like a fashion victim, but by embracing the latest trend through accessories, for example, you can look modern without being over the top.

One of the trends mentioned is peplums and the person who commented was questioning why middle-aged women would want to add visual weight to that part of their body. Good point, however I am sitting here wearing a peplum top as we speak!  Obviously I immediately rushed to look in the mirror to reassure myself that I didn't look too fat and then I decided to ask for a second opinion.

When I bought this navy top (it was in the sales at Hobbs otherwise I might not have bought it!) I actually thought it gave me a waist and therefore was a flattering look. As a comparison, here is a photo of me in an ordinary top (which happens to be pink: Robin, please note!) so I would be interested in your views.  The jeans, by the way, are also pink - though when I first saw them I thought they were red - so maybe pink is becoming my signature colour.

Which of these two looks is the most flattering, in your opinion?

 

Would you wear this style? Are there any other recent trends that you have followed?

NoRepeatNovember; week two report

I decided to keep a note of the outfits I wore this week to avoid the danger of repetition. Other women of a certain age will know what I mean when I say that my short-term memory ain't what it used to be!  Obviously I had to wear the same bottoms a couple of times - especially my dark navy jeans - however I didn't need to repeat my tops, whether intentionally or not!

8 November

9 November

10 November

11 November

13 November

14 November

This time I have shown six outfits, but it's a week later so there should have been seven. Who can spot the missing day? Yes, it's Tuesday (I'm not quite sure how I missed taking a photo on Tuesday) however the missing outfit was a red jumper with my faithful navy jeans and a silver necklace. I've just remembered that on Tuesday I was busy selecting photos for a competition that I have entered: my regular readers know how I love competitions! Mystery solved. 

I've realised that I wore a lot of pink this week. Two short-sleeved tops (I had a cascade cardigan over the one I wore on Saturday) and a long-sleeved one, all of which were different shades of pink. It looks like it is becoming my new favourite colour. I'll have to try to remember not to wear pink next week as it is becoming a bit repetitious and this is supposed to be NoRepeat November!

NoRepeat November: week one report

I have reached day 7 of the NoRepeat November Challenge and am happy to report that so far I have worn different outfits every day, though with one narrow escape. I have already posted the first two outfits and here are a couple more:

Tuesday's outfit

I woke up late on Wednesday and didn't have much time to think about what I was wearing. I pulled a purple top out of my wardrobe and it was only when I'd put it on that I realised I had already worn it on day one! Rather than changing my top, I decided to change my look and wear it with navy jeans and a necklace this time. After all I don't own thirty different tops, so there will have to be several repetitions over the month.

Wednesday's look

Spot the difference!

I wore the same jacket when I went out, however I put on another pair of shoes and I wore a different scarf over my jacket.  To be on the safe side, I decided to plan Thursday's outfit in advance and put it out the night before.  Here it is:

I haven't posted photos of two of my seven outfits as I never got round to taking photos (you can tell I'm not a professional blogger!), however I recollect that on Sunday I wore a grey t-shirt with navy jeans and on Monday I wore a blue long-sleeved top with brown trousers.

I must start a system to ensure that I don't risk wearing the same outfit again. I could leave all the washing in the laundry basket until the challenge is over, but that way I will eventually run out of clean clothes. I could take photos every day or jot down details of all the outfits in my notebook, so long as I remember to do so. Or maybe I could put clean outfits back on the left-hand side of my wardrobe and take clothes from the right. Whatever I do, please remind me not to wear the purple top again over the next seven days!

Please vote for me NOW!

This post is a shameful piece of self-promotion - however don't worry as it's unlikely to happen again! I have been following the blog of Not Dressed As Lamb for quite a while now and have in fact just added the link to my Recommended Blogs. I love the title of Catherine's blog and wish that I had beaten her to it, however she started blogging first so I can't complain.  Catherine of Not Dressed As Lamb is running a competition to win an entire outfit and I was very excited to discover that I have a one in four chance of winning! In the past I have entered numerous competitions on-line in a bid to win a fashionable new bag or stunning piece of jewellery or other fabulous prize, but always without success. This time, with your help, I could be a winner!

All you have to do is click on the following link http://www.notdressedaslamb.com/2013/10/kaleidoscope-complete-look-competition.html, then vote for entry number 4, as that is my entry.  I know the other entries are fabulous too, but if you vote for them I won't be a winner!

I found out about this competition because Not Dressed As Lamb is one of the blogs that I enjoy reading on a regular basis. Catherine is an over 40 blogger - so young enough to be my daughter - but as an over 60 blogger I get a lot of inspiration from her colourful outfits. If I'm lucky enough to win, I promise to post a photo of me in my new outfit.

PS Today's outfit for the NoRepeat November Challenge is a grey t-shirt worn with dark navy jeans and red shoes. When I went out I added my grey and white jacket and poppy brooch, but it was such a lovely day that I ended up carrying my jacket.

It's not too late to join NoRepeat November!

Regular readers will know that I always enjoy a challenge and especially those set by Imogen of the Inside Out Style blog. Her latest style challenge is Norepeat November, which Imogen hopes will get us out of our style rut and help us to create new outfits. The idea is to declutter your wardrobe at the same time so you only have clothes that work for you.

I know it is 2 November, but it's not too late to join in. Jot down what you wore yesterday and what you're wearing today.  If you're wearing the same outfit, then just change it slightly (add a scarf or some jewellery or wear a different pair of shoes) and you will be on your way. That wasn't too hard, was it? Now you've just got to wear 28 different outfits for the rest of the month!

November 1st

November 2nd

If it sounds a bit daunting, try a simple mathematical test.  How many skirts and trousers do you have in your wardrobe?  Now count the number of different tops that you own, and multiply the total by the number of bottoms. If you only have 8 tops and 4 bottoms that will still give you 32 outfits, which is more than enough.

Currently I have 18 tops and 8 bottoms in my wardrobe (including the ones I am wearing) which potentially gives me up to 144 different combinations. Obviously not every top goes with every bottom and, although I have included three skirts, I only wear skirts occasionally. I'm wearing one today as we went to our friend's house for a celebration lunch.

A couple of my tops are a bit dressy so I will only wear them if I am going out in the evening and a few of them are too thick to be worn at the moment (not that I'm complaining!), however I still have a dozen everyday tops to wear over the next twenty-eight days. I can ring the changes by wearing different scarves and other accessories with them plus I can throw on a cardigan or jacket to alter my look.

If you work full-time, why not plan your outfits for the week ahead ensuring that you have a different outfit each day? If you are going to take part in the challenge too, then please let us know how you are getting on. I will give updates on here, though I may not post photos every day. Good luck everyone!