The Past is a Different Country

Or not so distant, thanks to the joy of books. I braved the minus temperatures to venture into university and teach a seminar on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight this week, suitably attired in thick tights/boots/cardigan and, of course, the obligatory knight on a necklace (and no time for proper photos, sorry about that). Due to my love of this book, I dragged in with me several versions of Sir Gawain, including the fabulously colourful Michael Morpurgo children’s book (recommended reading!) and enthused at my students about the joy of medieval manuscripts and the colour green as linked to the devil in folklore. A story about a green giant who rides off headless at new year, and a shadowy Morgan-witch in the background? What’s not to love.

And to cheer up the grey day and match the colours of the occasion (and the children’s book) I went with lovely rich burgundy, which always makes me smile somehow, and a bit of medieval animal print.

I’m always torn between my love of the complexity of texts like this one and a more childish love, simply, of fairy tales and children’s books, which seem to allow an escape into the imagination that is harder to find in adult fiction. But it often feels like as a ‘serious’ reader, and a postgraduate student at that, I am not supposed to admit that. Although having said that, I get bored very quickly of the kind of conversations where people try to impress with their highbrow knowledge and scorn of anything not postmodern and deliberately multifaceted.

So. For the record, my favourite books are invariably children’s books, I love Larkrise to Candleford, animals dressed in clothes are one of my favourite things ever, and actually, I’m grateful that I know how to appreciate the little things and the green knights in life.

New things in my life

After working far too hard for months, I have recently taken the decision to reclaim some time for the things that I love in my life: and it's a pleasant journey to be making. This weekend, we had intended to go to Brighton, but due to lots of snow in southeast England we've had to postpone it; this turned out to be a sort of blessing in disguise, as we replaced it with a lazy, luxuriating weekend hiding from the cold, visiting a local (and amazing) secondhand bookshop, buying amazing food from local farmshops and spending hours looking at new fashions for the year (and buying a few).

We also spent the evening watching Skellig - I am a huge fan of David Almond's books, all of them, and while I don't think the film is as good it is magical and manages to catch some of the darkness and mystery of being young that Almond does so well.

Plus, I really, really wish I'd known Mina, a real independent spirit, when I was young. Love her.

Other new things in my life are:

A lovely copy of The Hobbit, present from my boyfriend. CAN'T WAIT for the film - so excited!

I found this brand new book that has been on my wishlist, for two pounds!

I got this amazingly beautiful book from my brother, full of to-die-for 1920s and 30s fashion - expect more from this soon!

And this found its way home with me - because secretly I've always wanted to be a Victorian housekeeper...

And I couldn't believe this beautiful dress I've been lusting after was 50% off in the Topshop sale. I wasn't sure what it would look like in the flesh, but it is gorgeous, hangs beautifully, and feels so expensive... I love a real one-off design :)

New term, new season, new colours!

Finally my hair is getting into the shape I have in mind for it, thanks to a lovely hairdresser, so I got my boyfriend to take some snaps of the new cut, new colour, and my favourite new dress from In Love with Fashion, which is of such a lovely colour it just wants to make you want to turn your whole wardrobe into the same shade. I was really impressed with the fit too, I've never bought anything from them before!

We were going out for the evening, so I wore the dress with a little leopard print and vintage shoes which are the perfect elegant-but-walkable variety, and some leopardy earrings. Easy :)

I've just reached the end of a mammoth list of tasks, so lots more blog posts to come soon!

Dress - In Love with Fashion
Vintage shoes
Belt - Primark
Earrings - River Island

The Reading Club

My new favourite cute blouse in full form! I love the 60s look of this outfit, even if the photos weren't taken in a very good light. This is a perfect university day outfit for me, easy to wear but makes me smile.

While I would love to wear vintage all the time, the price tags of a lot of vintage items mean I have to rely on thrifting finds in local small towns, so I am a big fan of high street shops doing vintage 'looks'. It also provides me with things to wear every day that I wouldn't cry (as much) if I damaged!

And, of course, with my favourite bag in the world. I don't think I'll ever replace this :)

Blouse and shoes - New Look
Skirt - H & M
Tights and hat - Ebay find
Bow brooch - ASOS
Bag - The Literary Gift Company

At the county fair

On Saturday we made an outing to the Newbury Agricultural Show for the first time, and what a day it was! Never have I seen so many lovely animal-based activities in one place! I took so many pictures of gorgeous animals that I had to share some; as you can see, they definitely made the showery weather worth braving!

The live animals were joined by the stuffed kind...

I found out that ferrets are much cuter and less vicious than I'd heard! Aw...

There was a multitude of beautiful horses and vintage carts.

Swathes of bright flowers.

Adorable animals.

An egg competition. What else?

Countryside crafts.

And some elegant vintage items:

I loved the ensemble on this man - by far the best-dressed person there!

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Thrifty, nifty buys

I have had a rather enjoyable time recently, clearing out lots and lots of old things in my wardrobe, my house, and my head if I'm honest... and finding out that I know exactly what I want in all the same realms, and starting to pick them out! I have enjoyed rearranging and the sea change in my life, which I think was needed, and the joy of selling old things on ebay, means I don't have to feel bad to be spending too much money!

So, I had to share some of my buys with you...

Lovely vintage and vintage style blouses: my love of pale sugar pink remains, and is joined by lovely vintage details on collars and buttons:

Vintage, white blouses - ebay
Polka dot blouse - ebay
Scalloped blouse - New Look

I then went a bit mad with the way that New Look are doing really affordable and lovely 40s style clothes in burgundy, not to mention great hats - a great season for them, and especially cheap as I had a 20% off voucher and a credit note to spend. I also have always adored burgundy, and a renewed love for dresses and 40s shapes and details made this skirt and dress to good to refuse...

The blouse was another vintage ebay find... I'm just buying anything I can in this colour!

Next... I couldn't believe it when I found these amazing 20s, jazz style shoes on ebay and they had a £50 price tag on their unworn soles - and ribbons to tie them up! Why would you ever sell these?

And this lovely hat from New Look...

Finally, I found these lovely items at a charity shop for £2.50, and they look wonderful lit up on my windowsill! My cat seems to like them too...

So, with all this, there should be plenty of outfit posts coming up soon - I'm just completing a similar clear out in our lounge, and need to make space to do them!

P. S. Finally worked out how to get bigger photos up here - and hope you like the new layout!