Ramblings of woman in frock(s)

Three days I managed.  A pathetically woeful three days of wearing a dress.  As I mentioned in my last blog, this was a pitch in at the last minute for the FrOctober cause raising awareness & money for PND sufferers.  The troopers over there had been wearing a dress every day for the entire month of October.  Every.  Single.  Day.  

Much much respect ladies - I thought it would be difficult but after my embarrassing contribution of three days (seriously appalling I appreciate), there is no way I could have done an entire month.  Well at the very least without an extensive shopping trip (which wasn't really the point but would perhaps have been a bonus)

It really doesn't sound that difficult does it but boy, was it food for thought. 

I've mentioned it before on here, although not for a while - it's normally a couple of months into a season - how it's very difficult to straddle that balance between a style that suits you (barf alert - "signature style".... you were warned...) and just wearing a variation on a theme, day in day out and risk looking much of a muchness.

Total first world problems of that I am more than aware.  But as this is a fashion blog and my ramblings of how I'm clawing my way through the last months of my 30's into my (hopefully but unlikely) formidable 40's without resorting to selling my soul at Planet or Windsmoor, I feel a post on this topic is justified.  As shallow as it may be.

Looking back through my pics, it's clear that I am a fan of skinny trousers.  Not just a fan to be fair, more of an addict.  For which there is no help group.  I am going to be proactive and self help.

So a couple of weeks ago I went in search of other trousers that weren't skinny.  That went well.  Not.  To be fair, if I wanted to be super smart (which also equals dry clean.  Just no no no on a daily basis.) then I would have a far bigger selection to choose from.  But for the school run and my not so smart life?  No.  Too expensive, too impractical and not the style direction I think I want to go in.  Plus I have very few day tops to go with them - a whole other can of expensive worms that doesn't need opening. 

Ok so there must be other less smart trouser options that can be explored in more depth - that's a mission for the next couple of weeks - trousers that aren't skinnies.  Harems? (oh I bet that will be a fantastic discussion - how to divide a nation!) Cargos? Chinos? Peg legs? Boyfriend jeans? (that aren long enough..)  The search will begin shortly. 

And therefore in the meantime, surely a dress will be the secret to my success. 

Hmmm. 

Nah.

I have realised I do not feel comfortable in a dress or skirt.  I feel overdressed.  I don't feel like me.  In fact on the second day, I was actually asked by someone "wow where are you going all dolled up?"  I wasn't dolled up! I had a dress on.  With biker boots as well, so hardly evening appropriate. 

And that's another thing.  It's very difficult, I found, to wear a dress/skirt with heels.  And, despite being of Gulliver proportions, I like wearing heels.  All my new shoes are heels and I want to wear them goddamit!  The heels that I have don't really work with long dresses (I think knee high heeled boots look fantastic with them, but I am not an owner of any.  Doh.) and with a knee length dress, it completely changed the look from casual day to much smarter.  Which isn't an issue if you have something smarter to go to.  It was half term here.  Nowt smart occurring. 

Then we have the shorter dress.  I have quite a few of these actually.  Except that on me they're not dresses.  They're glorified belts.  I am simply too tall to make them look anything less than indecent.  There are no opaque tights on the planet with a denier high enough to stop me looking like a hooker.   On others they look great - little DVF tunic dresses with opaques & ankle boots, knitted dresses with knee high boots or biker boots.  I've no problem finding dresses for other (shorter) people.

And so I therefore normally wear them with.... you've guessed it.... skinny trousers.  Slaps forehead in comedy fashion.  

And so we come full circle with regards to my frock issues.  This could, of course, be merely problems that I have with the (paltry) selection of dresses in my wardrobe.   Maybe in the next couple of weeks, I'll have a look and see if I can find any day dresses/skirts for the A/W that I would be comfortable in.  

But in the meantime, I've learnt to look at my plethora of skinny trousers in a new and affectionate light.  For a start, they're not all the same at all.  Some are jeans, some are trousers, different fabrics & textures, some are patterned, some are less skinny and more straight.  You can wear them a wide variety of footwear - from flat boots, ballet pumps, slipper shoes, sneakers (not of the running variety, dear god - I was thinking cons or superga) to an array of heels (I will admit, I am a sucker for an ankle boot.  Moves quickly on) 

Then there is the multitude of different tops you can wear with them.  From blouses (not that I am a big supporter of these but I aim to become an ardent fan......), oversized jersey tops & jumpers (fab with ponchos in the winter), to more fitted jumpers and tops with blazers and leather jackets. 

The upshot is, my small escapade into the life of the skirt has taught me something.  That, on reflection, for me it's more important to feel comfortable in what you wear and knowing that it suits your lifestyle.  Than have a huge variety of looks in your wardrobe.

Finding a style that you're comfortable with, I have also learnt does prevent a host of buying mistakes (not all though - we all have a random something we've bought....)  Sticking to a theme, knowing what suits you and just breaking the mould occasionally with the odd item that's off piste, be it colour or style.

That's not to say I shan't be looking for a new pair of trousers to add a twist to my wardrobe (the linen Topshop ones I had in the summer, I was over the moon with - in fact, no reason why I can't drag them out of the summer pile).

So just wondering what other people think?  Do you have a style that you stick to?  Or are you more than happy to branch out and have a host of different looks in your wardrobe?

And therein the ramble ends. 

Finishing with the pics of me, not in skinny trousers! 

Black vest - Primark
Black thin knit l/s top - Cos
Leopard print skirt - Zara
Washed leather jacket - All Saints
Black biker boots - Kurt Geiger
Stone maxi zip satchel - Anya Hindmarch
Beige scarf with gold studs - Taylor Stephens 





Black & Beige dress - A danish brand from a Danish shop locally (we have a few - go figure)
Black boiled wool coatigan with ribbed sleeves - Ronit Zilkah 
120 denier tights - Topshop
Stone & black snakeskin print scarf - By Malene Birger
Tan shopper - Zara




Brown maxi dress - All Saints
Tan hipster belt - Fever London
Chocolate leather jacket - All Saints
Leopard print scarf - Louis Vuitton
Chocolate leather cuff with gold chain detail - Hultquist
Tan suede pirate boots - ASOS
Tan shopper - Zara

And today I am mostly wearing........

...skinny trousers.