I’m inextricably drawn to pieces that evoke a memory or a mood. Especially when it’s evocative of childhood.
When I spied this top earlier this year, I was immediately taken back to my childhood memories of seaside day trips and holidays; the squeals and squawks of dive-bombing seagulls, the smell of the salty brine and the soft taste of a double 99 ice cream with a flake.
During our staycation a couple of weeks ago, we visited the naval town of Portsmouth and it seemed fitting to wear my ‘Seascape’ print top, paired with my thrifted colbalt blue jeans. I’m not sure which was bluer on the day – my jeans or the sky!
The pale aquas and blues of the top remind me of this painting by the French Impressionist, Gustave Caillebotte.
Seascape, Regatta at Villers.
You sense the gentle rippling of the waves coming into shore. He’s captured the luminous quality of the ocean with its ever changing colours. The sea glistens and shimmers in the light. The horizon is never ending.
Just as with the painting, I love the whole scenic quality of the print; the black silhouettes of the birds against the ivory background and how they convey the impression of movement. Are they hovering over the shoreline or the sea? Who knows where one ends and the other starts?
I can just imagine wading out from the shore, the coolness of the water refreshing me on a hot day.
Often with this style of top, I can annoyingly fall in between two sizes. A size 10 can be just that bit too tight across the bust and under the arm making you feel you’re slowly being squeezed by a boa constrictor but a size 12, whilst fitting across the bust, is often just that bit too baggy across the hips. This size 10 though fits perfectly. Not unexpected from a diffusion line – it’s J for Jasper Conran. I’ve always admired the work of designer, Jasper Conran; his work not only includes collections but sets and costumes for plays, ballet and opera as well as home interiors.
I added a delicate silver and blue filigree chain necklace, to tie in with the glistening feel of the print.
With all the cobble stones in the Historic Royal Naval Dockyard, I’m glad I wore these sandals. This is a great example of fun and functional meeting, shaking hands and getting on like a house on fire.
The diamante down the middle strap is playful, adding a dash of sparkle on what otherwise would be a rather practical sandal. The padded soles cushioned my feet against the uneven terrain. They’re the ideal sandal for a day of sightseeing, when ordinary sandals wouldn’t be robust enough but a proper pair of walking sandals would be overkill and not very elegant looking. I’m mean, I’m hardly hiking in the Cheviot Hills!
Seascape Print Top by J for Jasper Conran (sold out)
Thrifted Dorothy Perkins Petite Jeans
New Look bag (SS14)
New Look silver pendant necklace and Straw Trilby Hat (SS15). The hat has done me proud this summer – I wore it on my very first blog post – French Artist Palette
TLC Sandals (sold out)
It’s fun being a tourist in your own country. I’m fortunate living in the South West of London that the coast is only a little over an hour’s drive away. A chance to recharge the batteries for the day, explore some history and maybe, although I couldn’t possible say, do a little bit of retail therapy! We most certainly indulged in a double 99 ice cream with a flake!
We had the perfect day to visit the Spinnaker Tower for a bird’s eye view of the harbour!
We spent a fascinating two hours exploring HMS Victory, Lord Nelson’s ship at the Battle of Trafalgar, where he was mortally wounded.
Now I know people were a little bit shorter a few centuries ago but not that much. Here I am, all 5’1″ of me and lordy, look how unforgiving the head room is! Can you imagine how TallBrownFox got on? His 6’4″ frame was practically having to crawl around on hands and knees on the lower decks.
All this living history makes you truly grateful for the way we live now.
Are you drawn to clothes or patterns that evoke memories?
Linking with / Creative Mondays / Garay Treasures / Turning Heads Tuesday / Confident Twosday / Colorandgrace / The Wednesday Pants / Style Me Wednesday / Throwback Thursday / A Labour of Fashion / Spotlight Weekly / Fashion Should Be Fun / Sydney Fashion Hunter Mental Health Hat Day /
It's almost like you're a poet with that top & memories!!! Love it!! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
What a lovely compliment – thank you Jodie.
That is a really cute printed top! I have the same feeling toward to make my decision too. 😉
Take care and keep in touch!
Please stop by every Wednesday for Color and Grace Fashion link up! 🙂
Grace
http://colorandgrace.com
I'm glad I'm not the only one who makes decisions that way! Great minds think alike.
It's a very pretty holiday outfit, perfect for seaside. And as far as clothes evoking childhood memories… Well, I spent my childhood by a lake, in a stripy t-shirt…
Sounds idyllic to grow up by a lake as long as you weren't attacked by midges in the summer!
Lovely post 🙂
Such a great top .. thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays
Thanks Claire. Glad you liked it.
I love things that evoke memories too! That is a really beautiful top- just like that painting! You have gorgeous taste in clothing!x
What a lovely thing to say, Kezzie. Thank you! I never thought I had gorgeous taste in clothing but I shall now! I just love unusual patterns and prints.
And yes, low roofs!!! Ahrgj!x
Love that top.
What is a flake? Here it means a person that is a loser or a flake as in Corn Flakes. A popular saying is "They're all losers and flakes! " LOL
Looks like a fun way to be a tourist near home.
bisous
Suzanne
Flake means pretty much the same here. If someone is flaky, they're abit unreliable. But a flake is a thing of chocolate-y goodness. It's a bar of thinly folded chocolate. The original ones are still made the chocolate company Cadbury's and are called Flake. A 99 with a flake is soft ice cream in a cone with the flake stuck in it. When you bit into the flake the chocolate would crumble over the ice cream. Yum! There is much debate as to where the name 99 came from!
That is a pretty top! It definitely has that fun beachy quality. I can see why it transported you back to childhood. 🙂
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
So much so I want to go right back to the beach!
Your "Gulls over the sea" top is so lovely…a really nice print.
I am envious of your ability to buy a hat in a ladies shop…..it sounds daft but my head is a gents XL, so no pretty girly hats for me 🙁
If you ever come across an unusually large one on your hat-shopping travels, please let me know!
XXX
Samantha
Fake Fabulous
There's no way your head is a gents XL, Samantha! Seriously? I would never have guessed. I tend to have the opposite problem – they're all too big and then the brim ends up on the bridge of my nose!
Hahaha…I will keep my eyes (or is it my head?!) peeled for small hats too! X
That top is perfect for time by the water or when you want to be reminded of good times spent by the sea! How lovely!
It's definitely a top that stimulates the senses and lifts the mood.
What a perfect outfit for seaside strolling! I wear a lot of vintage, so I can relate to patterns and pieces that evoke memories.I'm only 5' tall myself and am forever having things altered to fit properly. You lucked out on the fit of your shirt 🙂
Alicia
spashionista.com
It's a pain when you have to alter things or when you're between sizes so it's always a pleasure to wear something straight off the rack.
What a great top and such cute pictures!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com
Thanks Dawn. The top's a real favourite now.
Your seagull top is just perfect for a stroll by the seaside. Sometimes playing tourist in your own region is as much fun as travelling further afield. People certainly were so much smaller years ago , I remember visiting old inns were you nearly touched the ceiling. Looks like you had a really great day, enjoying the Summer sunshine.
We often think we have to far afield don't we? But there are so many great things on our doorstep and it's fun discovering them.
A fabulous top , yes I am like you anything that bring back memoires of my childhood I adore ! best wishes to you , I am off to get my 99 flake ice cream .
Ha, ha, make mine a double 99! Lovely to hear so many people are inspired by things that bring back memories.
That is a beautiful top, and it sounds like you had a lovely day when you wore it too 🙂
I think clothes like this are the best – they have a story or some emotions tied up behind them, but you wouldn't know unless the wearer shared with you. It's like a whole hidden view to an outfit that you don't always get to see!
Away From The Blue Blog
We were so lucky with the weather that day. There are always layers aren't there? I love it when stories are shared behind pieces so I hope others do to.
Great outfit! I LOVE that top! I love seagulls, and the artwork in that top is amazing!
It's very impressionistic, isn't it? I love the painterly quality of the print. As long as the seagulls aren't swooping to nick my chips (fries) when I'm at the seaside, I don't mind them!
Love your Beautiful top! It looks wonderful with your cobalt jeans and seems ready made for a day by the sea. It sounds like you had a lovely day trip. Hope your batteries have been recharged. 🙂
It was a really happy day. Great to be in the fresh air, in the sunshine and also getting a little bit of history thrown in. Definitely recharged my batteries!
Inspiring outfit, and I love seascapes. The printed top and art looks great as well! Thanks for sharing./Madison
Bohemian Romance
Thank you. I find seascapes very meditative and restful (unless they're turbulent ones, of course!).
Great outfit and beautiful pictures 🙂
Nora
http://www.jacketsociety.com
Thank you Nora. I enjoyed wearing it.
Just the perfect look for a walk along the seashore! The top is adorable, I like such prints that remind me of a painting. The sandals besides being comfortable look very cute!
I'm all about things being comfortable and looking good.
I love your top. Great photos. 🙂
Jaymie
http://www.jaymieashcraft.com
I'd love for you to join me tomorrow for my Fridays Fashions link up. 🙂
Thanks Jaymie. Glad you liked the photos.
Such a gorgeous top, and I love that it evokes memories of days passed, so cool!
Rachel xo
I think you tend to wear those types of clothes more that you have a connection to in that way. Or at least I do!
Looks like a lovely place to be! I am afraid of heights but would enjoy it as well, just a bit farther back . hehe. Love the top as it is a peaceful beach scene with those great blue jeans! Very nice!
Thanks for linkin up with TH Tuesday!
jess xx
I'm not good with heights either, Jess but I'm better when I'm enclosed in something. Not good on ladders! We're hoping to visit again, maybe in October.
What a beautiful top – it's like wearable art. I love that it brings such happy memories when you were this top.
Thank you for joining TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you Thursday.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
That's a great phrase Alice – wearable art. I'll have to remember that!