Wednesday 7 November 2012

When in doubt...




...just throw on a load of colour!

My new-to-me 1970s skirt has all sorts of colours and florals so anything goes with it.

Anything goes, full stop.






To tell the honest truth, when I got dressed this morning, I chose this cardigan thinking it was orange. Next to my red cardigan, it is orange.

But next to my pumpkin-a-like tights, it looks red...






But by the time I'd looked in the full-length mirror and figured that out, it was time to go to school. 





So I had a oh fuck it moment and left the mishmash of colours as they were. 


Why not brighten up a dull day?





Warm and cosy in my 1970s wool coat.





1970s USA-made cotton skirt - Cow vintage shop
Belt, t-shirt, cardigan, bangles - charity shopped
1970s coat - flea market
Shoes - jumble sale
Necklace - my mum's
Tights - retail





I love those little ILGWU Union Made labels. 

I'm easily pleased.


Another burst of sunshine arrived today in the form of a gorgeous gift from a blog buddy.

Not for me this time though...




...for my Littlest Love!

Thank you to the very kind and very talented Kylie, Hostess of the recent Retro Cook Off, Collector of vintage tea towels, and Maker of Owlies!

Littlest's eagle eye had spotted the owl which Kylie made for her daughter and posted on her blog here. I commented that Owly had a little British fan, and lo and behold! Kylie whipped up a beautiful version just for my girl and sent him all the way from Australia.

Kylie, you are a star, thank you so much.

 Littlest loves him and so do I!





How's the week going so far?

Good, I hope!

  xxx





41 comments:

Anonymous said...

You are a rainbow vision of delight on a dreary day!! Love the skirt and yes it's definitely a 70's era print!! I think i had a maxi dress in 7th grade with that print!!

Littlest likes owls, eh?? I shall have to keep that in mind!!

lucy joy said...

I approve of the colour injection. So many people fade to grey in the colder months. Why? We need to see the colour which is missing from nature.
I regularly find myself rushing out because I don't have enough time to procrastinate over my outfit. The other day I had to keep my faux fur on in a boiling cafe because all I had underneath was an underwired vest top, with an old curry stain on it. Sweaty Betty!
A sweet old label makes my day, especially when accompanied by a sewn-on name tag from the care home.

Kylie is very thoughtful, that owl will look good when littlest is your age and blogging (or whatever the equivalent) and she's showing it off with a story about how bloggers only met up occasionally because of distance!

Housework shunning and charity shopping for me so far this week. I must flick a duster about at some point, and maybe spray some air freshner. That'll work up another sweat...

Lucy x

Loo xx from Jumbles and Pompoms said...

There is absolutely nothing wrong with a mishmash of colour or prints in my book. The skirt is gorgeous. I love it and I love Kylie's owl. xx

Max said...

I like the peep of yellow there too, and your hair is looking lovely. Cure wee owl for a cure wee lass, id mention the football team but i think charity shopping would be your sport if choice!

Anonymous said...

That skirt is certainly something I'd nab for my wardrobe. I love anything goes skirts and you literally have free rein playing with colour combos.

Kylie is the sweetest the owl is adorable.

Vix said...

What a fabulous injection of colour! I love the tights, I want some! They are just the thing with that rather posh coat.That skirt is gorgeous, I love those right-on labels, power to the workers and all that.
Much better to look like a kid's TV presenter on acid than a grey-clad misery, if only there were more fabulously dressed people like you!!
Nina's owl is amazing. What a clever girl Kylie is!
Love you more than kitchen implements! xxx

Trees said...

Hurrah for colour! Often at work I realise I'm the only one wearing colour and I love that so much! Your skirt is beautiful and I am SO envious of your pumpkin coloured tights!! I've wanted tights that colour forever!

Helga said...

That skirt fecking rocks, and YES, anything goes!!! You've rocked it beautifully! Funny, I pulled on a pair of tights the other morning thinking they were my orange ones, but they turned out to be red....
I love colourful prints exactly because it's so easy to put anything else with them! All colours go together!
The owl is adorable; I've just found Lucy! She seems awesome, and I'm dead keen to join her next retro cookoff!~
Love you!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Anonymous said...

Lots of colour brightens up a dull day - what could be better?
I love the owl - he's very cute.

Annie said...

Now that's a skirt to wear with a song in your heart. Fab colours and Union made! I love the orange tights too. I shall keep my eyes open for a pair.

What a fab owl, and what a lovely gesture from Kylie. I'm just having a read of her Retro Cook Off now.

Now Obama's clear I can breathe again, so this week is looking pretty good right now! xx

Forest City Fashionista said...

Yay for bright colours! Love the pumpkin tights with your wool coat; such a great pop of colour. What a sweetie Kylie is to send the owl to your daughter - you have so many wonderfully generous blogger buddies.

Jean at www.drossintogold.com said...

I love the ever-so-slight mismatch. It makes your outfit even better, as far as I'm concerned. That belt is incredible, too. I'm always attracted to skirts like that but I find them hard to wear, being extremely shortwaisted, so I'm extra impressed with how wonderful you look!

What a wonderful gift for Littlest. Isn't blogging the best?! XXOO

Rose&Bird said...

Hooray for colour - you should see my shirt today! I have a union made 70s shirt I'll blog it when it fits again! The owl is so cute (as is it's new owner)and how sweet of Kylie to send it x

Diane said...

How on earth do you get yourself AND your kids ready for school in a morning??!!! I wish you had been in my school yard when mine were little - I would have made a bee line for you! (and you could have rifled through my mums wardrobe for some of her old gear! She's thrown a lot out now since she got "modernised" by the council!!)

Anonymous said...

Thank you for the fabulous closing with your famous Curtsey le Curtise!
I'm loving your hair so much these days. It's tempting me to cut my bangs, maybe add some purple? Want to do it with me twin??

Sarah Jane said...

The skirt is fabulous. I really need to inject a bit of colour into my winter get-up, I'm starting to feel a bit drab. I reckon some teal or blue tights would look fab with that skirt and cardi combo. The owl is so cute. What a generous gift xxx

Jennifer Fabulous said...

Your skirt is really beautiful. :)

Unknown said...

LOOOOVE that gorgeous skirt! Absolutely beautiful fabric and colours and you look beautiful, happy, sunshiny, twirly perfect! LOVE! Sarah xxx

Krista said...

Curtise I am loving that skirt, it's full, it's bright and makes me happy and you know I love it when you flash us a lil petticoat action. You sure are getting use out of that new wooly jacket too, I know it's been nippy.

The owl from Kylie is just as cute and unique as your lil one and what a sweetheart for sending it all the way from Australia! She will be much loved you can tell.

The week is going much better since our elections are over and the best man one :) I feel a bit of relief. That aside I just got done yelling like a mad women at the bank regarding our refi because they screwed something up and now I have to send them more $$$$$. The evil redhead reared her ugly head. If I could do things all over again I would never buy a house I feel like I have made a deal with the devil. I called my Mom like any gal would and she calmed me right down. Order has been restored, but boy could I use a drink.

LOVEYOU!!!!
XOXOXO

Miss Simmonds Says said...

You just keep getting more fabulous! That skirt is wonderful, so many patterns. Love all the missmatches they just make it look even better. Fuck it indeed, you look so great. There's a website that dates those union labels somewhere, have a search on Google, I remember it being really interesting

Kylie said...

Forget about Owly! How cute is 'littlest'!!!

p.s. love your patchworky skirt too Curtise x

Vintage Bird Girl said...

You must be the most stylish Mumma on the school run! Love your colourful skirt & that owl from Kylie is gorgeous!!!! Those little Union tags make me feel all sorts of happy too! Xx

Melanie said...

You are a special twist of analogousness. The beautiful neutral conservative coat over those daring tights is wonderful. "Quick, call the principal for punishment!" What a beautiful owl. Kylie has a warm heart.

bohemian vanity said...

To brighten up a dull day with lovely colours is great ! Even with a red jacket instead of an orange one your outfit is gorgeous ! I also like your coat- it looks comfy and warm ! XX

Anonymous said...

I love the skirt and your bold use of colours!!Everything is just perfect as always and you look amazing in this sunny shades outfit, the best way to fight these cold and boring winter days!
Your daughter seems so happy with her new friend, they are both beautiful!
Lots of love and rainbows!
xxxx

Fiona said...

Bet you are the most colourful mum at the school gates, love your rainbow look. Love Owlie too.

bonsaimum said...

What a great outfit. I love the pumpkin-like colour tights, and what a skirt. The owl is soooo cute,your daughter is one lucky girl :)

Melanie said...

I love that skirt! I keep eyeing my patchwork blocks and thinking of making them into a skirt and not a quilt, but will no doubt dither on!

thorne garnet said...

It's funny how color changes under different lights.

My week just got better, I get a 3-day weekend and, oh, the elections over. Yeah!

carrievintage said...

love the coat <3

Unknown said...

the more color the merrier i say!
I like your colors!
The coat is beautiful- it would be just right for here, so cold these days!

Nice that your little one received a package from a fellow blogger

Take care Curtise

Ariane xxx

Vintage Coconut said...

Whether the cardigan is red or orange it doesn't matter cause you look FANTASTIC! I am crazy over your new skirt.
Little's owl is so sweet.

Rachel said...

Lovely burst of colour! If I'd seen you out and about, I would have thought the red/ orange mix was deliberate, the multi-tones look good.

Good week thanks, has felt a bit long so tfi Friday. Had a trip oop North this week which was lovely, just knackering.

CityScape Skybaby said...

I love the Littlest and Owl pic, so much cuteness. And I think the red cardi, orange tights was one of those lucky accidents because it works. Love the collage of your lovely skirt, without it I would have missed a lot of the beautiful detail of it. I remember my mum used to have a houndstooth skirt with the utility label in it which fascinated me, it seemed like some relic from ancient times back then. I often rush out of the house in haphazard combinations too, don't know how those perfectly groomed mums at the school gates do it. xx

Amber of Butane Anvil said...

I'm with Jean - love the orange and red even better than if they'd matched! What a glorious riot of colour is that skirt, and I love your mary jane wedges and wide belt, and the tights are just the thing with your cosy neutral coat.

P.S. Could that eggbeater be left over from a Helga-licious Halloween? I've been wondering what will follow the tulle-and-teacup!

xoxo

The Style Crone said...

Your mishmash of colors only makes the outfit more amazing, as do the shoes and belt. And the coat looks very cozy and warm.

And as I scroll down, I realize that I've missed several spectacular (or should I say breathtaking) jackets. It reminds me of why I am an ardent fan of your blog.

Kaffesoester said...

Your skirt is lovely, and reminds me of Sacramento, the belt too in fact! The coat is beautiful, and it looks fantastic with the coloured tights!

How lovely to get this cute owl, all the way from Australia, and hand/heart made!

Stacey said...

Oh, you brightened up my day alright! I actually quite like the combination of red & orange, and you look sensational! I love the little owlie friend you were sent as well. What an adorable little fellow.

joyatri said...

Those pumpkin tights are the perfect accompaniment to the 1970s coat. I like the color mashup. The days have been so dark and dreary here in the UK, that they need a bit of color.
That Owlie is so sweet. I don't know Kylie's blog. I just gave it a quick look and will definitely check it out further.
If ILGWU Union Made labels turn you on, email me your height/measurements and I'll see if I can hook you up with more once I'm back home in the States.

karensomethingorother said...

Owlie is amazing! You ladies are so clever. Now, come to my closet and see if you can put together anything even REMOTELY as interesting as what you're wearing, Curtise. Thank you.

Kitty said...

Naww isn't littlest gorgeous with her wee cushion, watch out or she'll end up as stylish as you one of these days!