3 months left of this exceptional year.

Returning to my theme of last week, of youth and fashion. UK culture as some other cultures, does seem to be aimed predominantly at the young. The old are invisible unless they try to be younger through chemicals and surgery. Children are encouraged to dress as mini adults emulating the clothing worn by young adults. Young woman are encouraged to dress in an uniform of scant tight clothing and to start chemical procedures and surgery years before they should even contemplate it. I watched a programme were two groups were chosen to take selfies. One of the groups was allowed to use an app to enhance their selfie. It transpired that, that group was dissatisfied with their own image after seeing what they could look like, whilst the other group wasn’t unhappy with themselves.

So sad that people are made to feel so conscious of their image and what they are dissatisfied with when the world is in such turmoil. It can cause such huge psychological problems promoted by the desire to look young or like a favourite celebrity. I guess that first impressions are formed on image alone . They are our first clue to who some one is . So we should all celebrate who we are rather than try to change ourselves , easier said than done.

I’ve also posted my daughter in laws company she works for. Great clothes and in some way they are all ethical. More next week

I think week 38 should be week 39 one week close to the end of my year of deprivation!!!!

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple with a red hat which doesn’t go.

The beginning of a very famous poem about the aging process. Well I don’t want to wear purple etc but there is no need to sink into oblivion. I am sixty three and that’s that! I can’t alter that fact even with Botox or a face lift ( which I don’t fancy doing anyway).Dressing appropriately doesn’t mean we have to look frumpy, dull and invisible. There are plenty of role models out there who haven’t reverted to potions or surgery who look their age, but look great too.

Closer to home too, there are those I know who have succeeded in growing old and always looked amazing. My friend Karen’s mum Betty was one of those. Always immaculate even in her 90s stylish to the end. I also have a friend in Spain who still worked running a jewellery shop at the age of 80 till Covid hit and forced her to give it. She has always looked classically elegant, and stylish and I’m sure is continuing to do so even in retirement ( though sadly I haven’t seen her for awhile).

Sadly in the uk, fashion is mostly aimed at the young , slim and beautiful , although there has been a small shift towards the older generation as we have such an aging population. But it’s still more tricky to buy casual everyday clothes from Uk shops which are fun, and of course there is a sizing issue. Uk manufacturers generally seem to imagine that growing older also involves growing taller as well as broader! And as for Marks and Spencer the least said! Twiggy seems to be the only person who can bring life into their range of clothes!

Generally I have bought my everyday wear from H and M, Zara and Massimo Dutti. Aside from the huge issues of environment and slave labour, is it that the Swedish and Spanish don’t have the same views about age as we do in the Uk ?. Which returns me to those hazy Summer days people watching those ladies of a certain age dressed up and lunching together in Spain!

Cotehele Manor, national trust . More to follow.

The photograph above is from last weeks visit to Cotehele in the Tamar valley. It was the only time it rained on our visit to Cornwall, hence the leggings and mac with one of my favourite dresses.

Visiting National Trust properties are always very enjoyable but what is it about those who visit it them especially during the week, rather than weekend?

Obviously then it’s mostly the older generation who aren’t at work. Why is it that growing older makes one dress in a certain drab uniform of rain jackets, mountain wear house type trousers or even worse those dreadful long shorts woman of a certain age love to wear. Those shorts in particular are fine if you are tall and long legged but the vast majority aren’t! And the clothes are always of an indistinguishable colour!

I know that woman often declare that they feel invisible when they reach their 50s and 60s but surely this is a self fulfilling prophecy . There is something about age in the UK which translates sensible into dull and boring!

Last year I visited a NT property with my husband with the intention of enjoying the grounds before having a scrummy NT lunch . We enjoyed the walk in the grounds but skipped our lunch when we saw the other clientele, it was so depressing to think growing older ment joining that club.

My thoughts return to those elegant ladies of a certain age I have watched lunching in Spain.

As you can see my new mini iPad works hence the rant!!

Hope this reaches you I’m going to publish again to make sure.

Week 36/37 will be combined as one. This is a test! Way back in April my mini iPad started playing up writing nonsense !! It took days to write my blogs . Finally last week Western computers after much too ing and fro ing gave me an new mini iPad and it works! No more nonsense!!!!

Just inherited Vintage frank usher dress from my Aunt. I’m following oxfam September and no new frocks for me.

Frank Usher opened for business in 1946 in London. The company’s specialty was bringing high end details and fresh off the runway inspirations at a…
— Read on vintagefashionguild.org/label-resource/frank-usher/

With campaigns such as Oxfam’s Second Hand September urging more of us to buy pre-loved clothes, here are 15 of the best places to buy kids clothes, discounted high end, vintage and more
— Read on www.theguardian.com/fashion/gallery/2020/sep/03/where-to-buy-clothes-during-second-hand-september-in-pictures

Help people and the planet – pledge to say no to new clothes for 30 days.
— Read on www.oxfamapps.org.uk/secondhandseptember/pledge.html

Week 35

Well the mini iPad is back with western computers and I really wish I’d bought it from John Lewis, a lesson to us all.

Its August 31 st and I’ve joined the Oxfam Pledge to say no to new clothes for 30 days!!! Pretty easy this year for all of us . However they are posting lots of interesting information on why we should be more mindful of what we buy in future. So I’m sharing the link. They do of course also say ‘ I’m saying yes to second hand September’ but I’m not doing that either. Though it might be tempting to look at the links to second hand clothes on line!!