Winter is the perfect opportunity to wear the rich, jewel colours and today we’ve not one, but two bursts of Turquoise delight, plus a link-up party with Nicole from High Latitude Style!
No, not Turkish Delight – Turquoise Delight!
Turquoise is one of my favourite all year colours. It’s bright for summer and bold for Winter.
As a Pilates teacher, you’re often working in isolation, on your own, away from colleagues; unlike working in an office where you’ve no choice but to be surrounded by your fellow co-workers, even if you wanted to escape them! Sure, I work at a studio with other teachers but you’re focusing on your classes and clients and may only briefly interact with other colleagues.
So it was lovely when yesterday a teacher I work for, invited me and another colleague to an informal Christmas lunch; especially as the days of a big annual, corporate slap up Christmas party are long gone! As I still had my evening teaching to go to following the lunch (meaning only 2, yes, only 2 Kir Royals were supped at lunch!), I needed my outfit to be easy to change in and out of, whilst fitting into that potentially, dreaded, sartorial minefield of – ‘smart-casual’.
Should my smart be casually insouciant and ‘quite frankly, not give a damn’ or should my casual have expectations beyond it’s status and cultivate an air of smartness about it?
A minefield indeed.
I vetoed a skirt. I never find tights to be a quick and easy garment to change in and out of. I always seem to end up putting them on back to front, or inside out, or twisted round my ankles, when I’m in a hurry.
A tailored shirt, my Winter Seasonal Skinny Jeans, a sporty-looking, black, zip jacket and a little big of bling seemed to cover the bases of being casually smart, yet smartly casual. Depending on which way you look at it!
This post should perhaps be subtitle ‘French Fancies’. Not only did we dine at a French restaurant but the zip jacket is from across the Channel, or La Manche as the Frenchies would say. When we visit the in-laws over there, I always do a spot of shopping, as I do rather well on forays to the local boutiques.
small voice of reason laughs hysterically in the background.
‘A spot? Really? You’d call filling up half your suitcase on the last trip in May, a spot of shopping?’
Well, er… yes… quite! You see, over the years I’ve been regularly visiting France, I’ve come to know that French sizing is generally more flattering to my petite frame than many English brands. Call me contrary but I prefer to buy garments where the sleeves aren’t trailing on the floor, or the shoulders of jackets and shirts aren’t falling down to my elbows! I’ve learned to leave room in my suitcase for new purchases!
I bought the light padded jacket from Camaieu in Nice last Christmas and it’s the perfect choice for when a tailored jacket would be too formal. The leather-look horizontal piping across the top, along with the quilted chevron design makes it a more stylish choice than a cardigan
I try to wear as little black as possible in Winter. I prefer to dress in colour which helps to offset the symptoms of Seasonal Affected Disorder that I unfortunately suffer from. But it would be silly to avoid black entirely. With the richness of the turquoise and the wine, a little black is perfectly acceptable.
The turquoise shirt I’ve had for eons! I bought it for tuppence (translation – next to nothing) in the staff shop, when I funded my student years working for Marks & Spencer on weekends. The fact that’s nearly 28 years ago, is testament to the quality of the shirt!
The double breasted design means there’s none of that central gaping that can so often happen with single breasted shirts. As I’d tucked in the shirt – it hangs too long for the jacket – I added a cheeky snakeskin belt for a hint of pattern.
As we’ve hurtling with ever increasing speed to Christmas, I couldn’t resist wearing my snowflake costume ring for some festive sparkle.
Although, with the un-seasonally mild weather at the moment, I’m more likely to see a flying pink pig than a real snowflake!
My turquoise tote was a sale bargain from the summer. I’d seen it full price and had fallen in love with the colour but um’d and ar’d about buying another bag but when I saw it in the sale for only £8 it was a done deal! I have 4 of these mini totes now in different colours; here’s the Pumpkin Tote and the Mint Tote in the same design.
The shape of the Tote is perfect. The wider bottom means you can fit an amazing amount in without having to lug a suitcase around with you and the size is spot on for my frame.
Seasonal Skinny from Dorothy Perkins Petite
Marks &Spencer Turquoise Shirt (so ancient I’m surprised it’s still in tact!)
Camaieu Black Jacket A/W 15. Here’s a similar Quilted Jacket from them this season.
New Look Mini Tote
Hammered Silver Necklace & Bracelet from Jane Akester. Also worn in the Summer when I went to The Proms
Accessorize Snowflake Ring. Here’s one that’s slightly more expensive Snowflake ring
Steve Madden Snakeskin Belt from TKMaxx
Marks & Spencer Pointy Ankle Boots (old) although these Leather Ankle Boots look exactly the same
I’m off to devour a steak frites, mes amis. Une femme has to keep up her appetite!
À bientôt!
Linking with High Latitude Style / Throwback Thursday / Fashion Should Be Fun / Flashback Fashion Friday / Fabulous Friday / Passion4Fashion / Confident Twosday / Garay Treasures /
Now onto the fun of the link party!
And thanks to Nicole for having me as her co-host this week.
Nicole Mölders is married, has one cat, no kids. She is a fashion, and science enthusiast from Fairbanks, Alaska and the blogger of High Latitude Style – an Alaska fashion blog with science bits for the stylish 40+ woman. She shares how to dress stylishly on trend and shows that 40+ is way too young to give up having fun with fashion (and heels).
I am honored to introduce this week’s co-host of Top of the World Style, Jacqueline at Petite Silver Vixen. From London, UK, she’s a 40+ style blogger who adores colour, print and textures. She’s a dab hand at finding bargains, especially shoes for her petite feet! Take a minute and stop by her blog to say Hi.
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| Top of the World Style co-host Jacqueline at Petite Silver Vixen. Photo from her blog (2015) |
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What an amazing, colorful outfit! Gorgeous. And I always find such interesting nuggets in your writing. Like the word "insouciant" which, by coincidence, I looked up yesterday to learn its meaning. And tights — I love how they look but share your experience with the difficulty of putting them on. I don't know a man alive who'd endure that discomfort to put on an article of clothing. Great post!
Thank you Ally for your kind words. It's a great word – insouciant – isn't it? I love that you happened to look up the meaning yesterday!
I do love the look of tights but yes, they are a faff to put on, especially when you're in a rush!
I love your shirt – turquoise is one of my favourite colours. It goes well with the rest of your outfit.
I am pleased to enter your link-up – thank you for the invitation.
Rebecca
Thanks Rebecca. Another fan of turquoise! Excellent. Glad you joined the link-up.
Your dark SS's are a match made in heaven with the turquoise!
A pop of much needed cheer on gloomy days. Goodness knows there is enough misery in the world without being subjected to miles of black on a morning commute or in the city/town centres (whilst doing a "spot" of shopping).
Keep flying the colour-flag and bringing a smile to my face! XXX
Samantha
Fake Fabulous
I know, I always have to have some colour! Particularly in Winter. I will certainly keep the colour-flag flying and bringing a smile to your face!
We all need colour in winter, so much kinder to face than black! And it is really nice and warm (I arrived in the U.K yesterday. It was about 10 degrees colder in Finland), and your outfit matches the weather perfectly.
We so do indeed need colour. And yes kinder on the complexion too. The weather has been so mild, not like Christmas at all!
Hey, this is yet another lovely post today Jacqueline. The bright turquoise is a real lift on a winter's day. First of all I have to say you've made me think again about turquoise, as I always pack my turquoise things away at the end of summer – I'd always considered it a summer trend not something to wear at this time of year. Well, how wrong I was! You look so fresh and perky in turquoise. And I love, love, love this little jacket on you. It's absolutely made to measure, and really shows what a good fitting jacket in perfect petite proportions ought to look like. Hold on to this one, girl, it's a classic. Oh, and finally that tote again is lovely. Great colour, but again just the right size for your petite frame. What a lovely outfit!
Anna x
How kind of you to say Anna. Doesn't the turquoise just lift the spirits? I'm so glad that because of my post you'll be rethinking turquoise. I just love it for winter. Get it out and get it on, Anna!
As a petite, I can't tell you how refreshing it is when you find pieces that fit properly and seams sit where they're supposed to! It's rare!
Turquoise is my daughter's favorite color, along with deep purple. Gorgeous combination, and you look wonderful! Love the chunky chains too.
Oh, Natalia I love purple too! Your daughter (like her Mum) has wonderful taste! Thank you for your compliments.
Love the pops of turquoise, I hope you had a lovely meal. And I know exactly what you mean about sleeves! From one petite bloggerto aanother
Laurie x
Thank you Laurie, it was delicious and the company was great. We set the world to rights and laughed alot too. Doesn't is just drive you mad when sleeves hang down past your fingers!
I love the pops of turquoise…they are a bright ray of light!! And I think shopping when traveling is a perfect activity. And you're even smart enough to plan on leaving room in your suitcase for such events!! Really, you can now call it "work"—because you have to get this & that for the blog, right? jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Ha, ha, Jodie, I LOVE your justification! Perfect. Although I'm sure Tall Brown Fox will raise a quizzical eye if I tell him that!!!
I do love your colour combination here. Burgundy and turquoise are gorgeous.
I had no idea French sizing was more suitable for petite ladies. I did not notice that the last time we were there.
Steak frites. My husband's favourite dish of all time. I think that is a prerequisite for being Nicoise though. He has had quite the time adjusting to my mostly vegetarian diet over the years.
Kir Royal…so wonderfully old fashioned of you : )
bisous
Suzanne
Maybe I hit lucky with the right shops!
Your husband has fine taste. I love knowing now that he's Nicoise, especially as we'll be in that neck of the woods soon. Yes, I can imagine how hard that would've been – the French do love their meat!
I'm an old fashioned gal at heart!
The burgundy and turquoise are beautiful together! 🙂 Perfect outfit for a Christmas lunch!
I think I'd definitely be guilty of doing a lot of shopping in France if I was ever lucky enough to visit! 🙂
Away From The Blue Blog
They are a great pairing, aren't they?
You'd love it Mica! It's very difficult not to shop when there!
Such a pretty color! Love your jewelry too! Thanks for co-hosting!
Thank you Amy. The jewellery set was a birthday present from Tall Brown Fox a couple of years ago, so I'm a lucky lass.
Who knew burgundy and turquoise worked so well together…you little daredevil! I agree with you in regard to tights. They are the devil; a necessary evil of cold weather wear.
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
I like being thought of as a little daredevil – thank you Debbie! I love these two colours together.
That bag! Loving the turquoise and plum together too! Brilliant!
Thanks so much for being a part of Fun Fashion Friday!
OXOX
Dawn Lucy
http://fashionshouldbefun.blogspot.com/
I love the color of that bag –Hanna Lei
Latest Post: Flash & Go Express Review
The purple and the blue is so pretty together.
Thank you for being a part of TBT Fashion link up and have a wonderful holiday season. See you in 2016!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Beautiful look..
http://www.modaperestt.blogspot.com.tr/2015/12/victorias-secret-fashion-show-2015.html