After last week’s formal wool jacket pairing with the jeans for Date Night, week 4 of my Seasonal Skinny Style Challenge has taken a softer look, with a very subtle vintage vibe; the inspiration for it coming from my Gladstone style bag.
Yup, we’ve gone from hamburgers to handbags in the space of a week!
I’ve had this bag for quite a while now – another ridiculous bargain of 99p, pre-loved from e-bay. The bag isn’t technically a true Gladstone as it’s neither leather, nor built over a rigid frame but it has the feel of a Gladstone. Gladstone bags were designed and made by a gentleman called J G Beard in London. He admired the politician William Gladstone, who during his long career was Prime Minister of the UK a staggering 4 times. Beard named his design after him.
As my bag is soft and only opens at the top, it’s really a square-mouthed bag, sometimes known as a kit bag but either way, I think you’ll agree that with its shape, print and those bamboo handles, it exudes a vintage feel.
I took the colours and the soft shape of the bag and built the outfit around them. Once you start looking, you realise there are quite a few colours in the bag; pale yellow, teal, turquoise, green, dark olive, and varying shades of taupe.
I already have a turquoise top and the embroidery anglaise and the delicate floral pattern fit well with the style of the bag. I wore it back in the summer with my Hawaiian Print Shorts.
It was my Mum’s 83rd birthday at the weekend and we went to visit for the day, armed with fizz, food and flowers. I wanted to show her the bag as it was one she hadn’t seen and I knew it would be right up her street.
In her older years, she’s become quite a dab hand at thrifting in the local charity shops and we love showing each other our finds. She’s not as mobile as she used to be unfortunately. However, from time to time her lovely carer, who pops in every day, takes her out so she can hunt down a bargain!
As soon as she saw the bag, her eyes lit up and she said ‘oh, I love your bag, can I borrow it!’
You absolutely can, Mum!
The bamboo handles of the bag are a lovely deep caramel so I thought it would be fun to wear my circle stone necklace, to play on that colour.
When it came to choosing my shoes, it was a no brainer. A vintage feel bag, cried out for a vintage style shoe – my taupe, semi wedge Mary Jane’s. I’ve had this style of shoe on and off for years. It’s one of those timeless styles that seems to pop up most years in various guises.
What I didn’t know was why they’re called Mary Jane. Apparently, it comes from a comic strip published in the New York Herald! Back in 1902, in the strip, Buster Brown, the character of Mary Jane wore shoes with a bar across the top of the foot; hence this style of footwear becoming known over the years as Mary Jane’s!
The slightly mottled look of the shoes makes them feel older than they really are. They were another preloved find but the make is a well known and much loved British retail institution – Marks & Spencer!
Bhs Embrodie Anglaise top (SS15)
New Look Cardigan (old)
Necklace from Chile. A gift from my mum-in-law.
Bracelet from the Emporium of I Forget
Accessorise Gladstone style cloth bag (preloved from e-bay)
M&S Mary Jane Style Semi Wedges (preloved from e-bay)
I’m grateful for many, many things my Mum has given me over the years; not least her wisdom, love, and support. I also now can fully appreciate (and am thankful for) that I’ve inherited her love of colour, print and pattern. I’m truly my Mother’s daughter in that regard!
Bound by love, Mother and Daughter holding hands.
You can read all about my Seasonal Skinny Style Challenge here.
Linking with / Fresh Fashion Forum / Colorandgrace / Style Me Wednesday / Throwback Thursday / Fashion Should be Fun / Fabulous Friday / #iwillwearwhatilike / Garay Treasures /
Love the burgundy pants with the bag too!
Rebecca
http://www.redtagchiclosangeles.com
Thank you Rebecca.
That bag truly makes the outfit….very nice! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
It takes pride of place, Jodie!
AHaaaa, that's why they are called Mary Janes- I did not know!!
Loving the blues of this and the pretty handbag, really bright and sunny and a good 'up yours' to Autumn!x
I know, I always wondered where the name came from. Thanks Kezzie – exactly 'up yours' to Autumn!
Your mom sounds so kind and fun. I love that you share a thrifting passion. Isn't burgundy such a great color? It seems to go with everything!
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
It certainly does. Yup, like Mother like daughter with the thrifting! Thanks Amy.
You've done a great job picking up all of these colours from this gem of a bag. I love the turquoise top too, but most of all I adore the photo of you and your mum holding hands. Such a lovely post xxx
Thanks Anna, I couldn't resist taking a snap of us holding hands.
Aww that last picture is beautiful! I'm glad that you can spend that time together with your mum, I hope she had a very happy birthday.
I like the colours in your outfit as well – great job picking the colours out of the bag to wear! 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
Thank you Mica. Precious time indeed.
I love how your bag picks up the color of your top and draws attention up to your face! Pretty. Thanks for sharing with us on My Refined Style!
You're welcome Jennifer.
Oh, mother-daughter bond! My mom, my daughters and me, we all live so far away from each others. Yet, whenever any of us buys something new it is immediately shared with others over skype 🙂
I always like how you mix colours. Burgundy and turquoise – wow! The bag is super cute and I love the pendant too, a pretty piece.
Thank heaven for skype! It's so hard when you live far away. Alot of TallBrownFox's family live overseas so I know exactly what you mean but at least technology is a huge help.
Thank you, Olga. And I return the compliment. You always wear such gorgeous colours. I was quite surprised at how well burgundy and turquoise go together when you have the right shade.
Love all the colors in this outfit! Very pretty! 🙂
Thank you so much for your support for our surgeries. We are both doing very well and I will get back to work tomorrow! 🙂 I really appreciate your nice comments!
Don’t forget to come back every Wednesday to link up with me!
Take care and keep in touch!
Grace
http://colorandgrace.com
Glad you hear you and your husband are doing well.
I love the vintage look of your bag! The story about your mom is adorable. I think it's so fun that she likes to go "thrifting" and you can share the items you find with one another. I'd like to get into thrifting more because every time I go I always find some incredible treasure for a bargain!
She was quite the savvy shopper in her time! I got into thrifting much more this year. I'm trying to shop more consciously – recycle, reuse, thrift – there's so much wastage otherwise. And you're right, there are treasures out there.
I love your vintage purse and how you used it to build your pretty outfit. Love your last pic holding your mum's hand!
Thank you for being a part of TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you Thursday.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Ah, thanks Alice. Sometimes an outfit comes together from the smallest thing, like a bag!
That's a great color combination and those lady like shoes are so trendy for Fall. I am thrilled that you joined the first My Refined Style Fashion Over 40 Linkup! I hope will see you back many times in the future.
Shellie
http://www.thefabjourney.com
Thanks Shellie. I'll be back!
This is such a pretty color combination! I just love how you pulled out the colors from your bag. So sweet about your mom wanting to borrow it. I adore Mary Jane's so I am glad you shared the story of how the name originated.
I've always wondered where it came from as it seemed such a random name! Glad you like the colours.