Come on Eileen
It was only a matter of time and I was planning on studiously ignoring them for the majority of the season but they have become the elephant in the room. I fear I can't be rude about them if I haven't even tried them and so I put myself out there and have been the 42 year old guinea pig.
We are talking dungarees. Opinions on these is going to be divided to say the least. Feedback on Instagram already has contrasted from yes they can work (not necessarily the way I was sporting them on the pic, to be fair...) to, they should be consigned purely to those under the age of 3.
And I will admit, I was in the latter category. Unless you are a toddler, at the very least work on children's tv or you are Demi Moore in Ghost, then no. Just no no no no.
Along with looking like a mechanic in our boiler suit, we can channel Decorating Chic in our dungarees. I was not remotely optimistic about these.
So let's start with the pictorial evidence of how I got on. Classic Dungarees in blue denim. Firstly I had to suffer the look of pity/mirth from the 14 yr old sales assistants in numerous shops where I asked "do you have any dungarees?". The answer was (with a slight snigger) no, in Dorothy Perkins, River Island, Oasis and M&S (although I'm not sure she even knew what I was talking about and wanted rid of me as soon as possible. I may have had a deranged look in my eye at this point, the poor woman).
Mango and Topshop did come up trumps (although hilariously, the delightful young girl, once she'd got over her incredulation at someone the same age as her mum asking for dungarees, did ask me if I wanted long or short ones. "GOOD GOD, long ones" was my very swift retort.... ).
When I say they came up trumps, I meant that they had some in stock.
So here is what the Mango dark denim Dungarees should look like £49.99
And here we are on me. Clearly the fact I'm not wearing sunglasses is what is letting me down....
I assumed that it would be better to size up to have them on the baggy side. I assumed wrong. I think it would take another person approximately 40 years younger to make these work. They didn't look cool and baggy on me, they just made me look wide. Plus they were very short in the body which is unusual for Mango who are normally good at making things fit tallies. So I also have the most amazing camel toe. If you adjusted the straps (oh I am ahead of you wise fashionistas), then the bib bit sat fetchingly under my insignificant boobage. The list of reasons why these were minging was long.
Ok to be totally fair, the black top underneath it maybe doesn't do it any favours.
On the upside, the denim was lovely. Soft and lived in and I did think hmmm maybe.... Before I tried them on. On someone a different shape, maybe these will work.
And styling is the main thing that makes these work. There is more of that coming later but suffice to say I wasn't going to be beaten and had hoped for more success at Topshop.
That'll be a no.
And alas, they seem to have sold out of these ones online. There were one pair left in the shop and they were a 10 so yes, these are probably tighter than you would want. Do I think they'd be better in a larger size? I think my face says it all......
But... but but but..... a strange thing happened. I tried them on a black pair.
And I liked them. And the more I looked at them, the more I liked them.
Needless to say, on any analysis, I would not plan on wearing these with a cropped top. Just in case anyone was vaguely worried at my mental health (and I know there are friends who are slightly concerned even at my suggestion that the Home Counties is ready for dungarees....)
Did I run like a gazelle to the cash point? Ok so no, not exactly, but I did think that these might work. My bestie later on (through her tears of laughter) did point out why? Why would you wear these and not wear jeans?
Well I've been thinking and I have an answer. A muffin hider. I have hoards of tees that I've bought over the years - lovely (expensive) thin summery, drapey numbers. That are too sheer to wear without something underneath and too drapey in that they manage to hug a roll of fat when I sit down (or even when I stand up, depending on the jeans. Not all of my jeans are high waisted enough and I do depend on loose jumpers, shirts and sweats to wear many of them.)
But dungarees could be the answer to my prayers. The perfect foil to all those tees that sit forlornly in a drawer and never get worn. But what do you wear on your feet and on your top, jacket wise?
So I thought I'd have a quick trip over to Pinterest for some inspiration. The fact that all the pics are of much younger lasses (pointed out by the bessie who may be getting ditched v soon) I'm not going to let bother me. There were some looks that just didn't appeal at all so obviously I've not included them.
Ignoring the fact I'm not Olivia Palermo... she's an amazing inspiration.
Do you think she has drunk eyes here...? I could be in love with her just a tiny bit more... I'm thinking about these with a black blazer, white shirt and leopard print stilettos? Have I lost my tiny aged mind? (I think I'd go with a fitted shirt as opposed to a voluminous one....)
I think I have shoes like this still from Clarks a couple of years ago (did I throw them out... yes probably.... note to self, check attic)
Dare I say it, what do we think about the ecru?
Now this is where I've had a slight reality check. I am neither young, blond, tanned nor toned so the chances of me looking like a geriatric painter as opposed to cute ditsy thing in ecru dungarees are high. Very very high.
And whilst I've written off blue dungarees, I have to say, I could (I won't, but I could..) have my head turned by this ensemble. However, swap blue for black and I still think this outfit could work. My trench is slightly longer but all in all, it's a good starting point.
So, I think there are ones that could work.... I'm thinking with a little blazer, one of the aforementioned plethora of tees and I'm going for ballet flats. I think the juxtaposition of the casual (maybe.... maybe.... slightly mutton) look with the classic shoes and blazer... well in my head that will look ok.
I'm ridiculously tempted by the black ones. I might go with what I've tried and get the Topshop ones but on Instagram, there was much love for the black ones from Next.
If you wanted to invest then they do have them at Whistles.... (I have to say this doesn't make my top 10, nay 20, list of things to invest in....)
If you did fancy ecru then there are some at Topshop which I'm not trying to get excited about... (think paintbrush, think paintbrush.....)
Now I've definitely decided blue isn't for me (famous last words... I am going to make note....), but I can see how they would still appeal.
Dark Blue at Topshop - same shape as the ecru ones.
Mid Blue Denim Dungarees from Next £35 (if mid blue takes your fancy.... these are a no for me. I can get my head around the black. But I'm at a loss when it comes to these.)
And to be honest, there aren't that many others out there. I do think there will be more filtering through into the Summer but at the moment, they haven't made the mainstream High Street. They may be are veering towards the dodgy end of the muttonometer but hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm going in.
Big lunch in London with some blogger friends tomorrow which I am ridiculously looking forward to. Dare I see if The Husband will swerve by a Topshop on the way home and pick me up a pair of these so I can wear them tomorrow... I'd say I've got two hopes and one of them's Bob.
So yesterday, both my hair and my hems were nailed by the rain. First outing with sneakers and I have been reminded why I have been in love with skinnies for all these years. These jeans though owe me nothing. They're probably 8 years old and whilst seemingly fit everywhere, the sight above the waistband isn't a pretty one.... However am toying up whether to actually keep the M&S kick flare ones I bought as these do the same job. Would be fine with a peasant top or loose blouse over the top.... And I have other high waisted (super high waisted - thing Popeye) Tibi ones I found at the back of the cupboard. I'm thinking I'm going for the dungarees instead.
White scallop collar - Zoe Karssen
Lilac jumper - ASOS men
Mid blue flared jeans - Zara
Navy blazer - Zara
Cracked leather Stan Smiths - adidas
Camel bag - Prada
So it's confession time. Who else will be joining my decorating crew? Come on... and style tips - how are you planning on wearing yours? Or are you in the camp of "she's finally lost it"...?.... Answer on a postcard please.
