Tag: inspiration

House Style at Chatsworth House

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“The joy of dressing is an art “ John Galliano

Yesterday the sun was shining and I spent an amazing afternoon with my friend Sue who shares an equal love for all things fashion when we paid a visit to the House Style Exhibition at Chatsworth House.

I had no intention of blogging about my trip BUT I had my ‘big’camera on me and after walking around, taking photos, lusting after several dresses and generally being ‘gob-smacked ‘ at the majority of items on show I just had to share it with you .

Although the Exhibition ends very shortly there is some good news in that you have until 22nd October, 2017 to go and see it for yourself.

Go, go , go but maybe stick around and read my post first …

The House Style Exhibition demonstrates the power of fashion. It brings to life the captivating individuals from the Cavendish family over five centuries .

  • Bess of Hardwick, one of the most powerful women of the 16th century
  • The 18th century “Empress of Fashion” Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire
  • Adele Astaire, the sister and dance partner of Fred Astaire
  • Deborah Devonshire and Nancy Mitford, two of the Mitford sisters, model Stella Tennant and John F Kennedy’s sister ‘Kick’ Kennedy will also be central to the show

I thought I’d share some of my favourite bits and pieces with you. Continue reading →

Atomic Blonde … 

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Last night was ‘Date Night‘.

What with one thing and another ‘we‘ tend to get side-lined. We decided Date Night should become [where possible] a weekly affair. Sometimes life gets in the way of romance doesn’t it? We made a promise to make time for each other.

You may all say awwwww… 

or be sick. 

Your choice. 

The BF mentioned the cinema. I pulled a ‘urgh’ face. I was tired I told him , I’d fall asleep as soon as the lights went down . It would be a total waste of money and let’s face it going to the cinema these days isn’t a cheap affair.

Sometimes I’m mardy and not much fun! As you can see my can’t be arsed mood isn’t shifting very fast.

Then I remembered that Atomic Blonde with the beautiful Charlize Theron was showing at Vue, Meadowhall.

I’d been dying to see this film after seeing the trailers. There was only one problem the BF was keen to see bloody Spider-Man .

Some quick thinking on my part and the promise of some naked, lesbian sex scene action sealed the deal. The BFs eyes lit up and the decision was made… Spider-Man could wait! Continue reading →

Things I should be doing …

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There are a hundred and one things I should be doing. I have the time just not the inclination. 

Procrastination appears to be my best friend. That and cake.

It’s Mums funeral on Thursday and I need something to wear? I also need to get my hair cut and coloured and sort my skin out. Everything’s kinda got neglected as mums health deteriorated . I have an inch of grey at my roots , frazzled ends and stressed out spotty skin.

Don’t I just sound delightful.

I ordered a dress from Marks & Spencer’s last week. It’s nothing special. I thought it was black. It’s arrived and it’s actually navy.

We have since discussed and changed the dress code to colourful? [Mum was such a colourful charactor.]

The dress is still sat in the plastic bag waiting for me to try it on. I’m putting that off too. I’m not entirely sure it’s suitable anymore . I’m not sure navy has ever been classed colourful?

I’m dreading the funeral or rather ‘celebration of life‘ ceremony as we’ve renamed it. This is reflected in my total disinterest in sorting myself out. I don’t want to say goodbye as it’s all very final.

I also realise that until I say goodbye it will be hard to move on …

So with that in mind here’s said dress.

It ticks all the right boxes;  not too short, no cleavage on show and it covers my bingo wings!

Marks & Spencer’s Polka Dot Dress – £35.00

Continue reading →

Introducing Smartbond at Regis Hairstylist … #frazzledtofabulous

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Does anybody else get nervous about going to the hairdressers , especially when it’s a new salon … for the first time?

It might sound extremely silly but I do and it’s down to a combination of things.

A bodged up colour and a terrible cut in the past. Several terrible cuts in fact [mainly involving my pesky carflick … it’s caused some trouble in its day!] and one horrendous colour. Boy that colour was bad! I’d have given Jimmy Cranky a run for his money.

Saying that when I got the opportunity to attend Regis Hairstylists at Meadowhall to trail the new Smartbond treatment earlier this week I didn’t have to think twice.

While I get nervous I also love, love, love a good pamper. Tell me somebody who doesn’t? A trip to the salon is relaxing; a good excuse to do absolutely nothing for an hour or so.

Zonk out – turn your brain off, sit back, drink copious amounts of coffee and read magazines to your hearts content while your stylist works their magic. Continue reading →

Life doesn’t come with a manual… it comes with a mother.

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It’s Mother’s Day at the end of the month [ Sunday March 26th put it in the diary …I’m early ] 

This year I intend to make  Mother’s Day extra, extra special because she deserves it.

Then again don’t all mums?!

I count myself lucky as Mum and I have a special relationship and are extremely close.

Of course we sometimes disagree this isn’t a Disney film ,but the days of full on arguing [ I’m thinking of the 16 year old prepubescent Tracey days ] are over. Continue reading →

Doing that 70’s thang …Archive by Alexa 

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I love fashion . Let’s be honest I think most of us do! The thrill of finding the perfect outfit…

That doesn’t mean I know what I’m talking about. Hell no … I’m no fashionista. Far, far from it. I just like what I like be it in ‘trend’ or not.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. 

When I heard about the second collection Alexa Chung was designing for Marks & Spencer’s  I must admit I got a tad excited. I didn’t however think I’d be-able to get my hands on any of it, expecting it to sell out more or less straight away.

So imagine my delight when I called into Marks last week and there it was sat smiling at me as I walked in. There was still a lot of stock available. Yay!

I tried on a few items but the one that stood out for me was the plain silk, oyster ‘Elland’ shirt . It can be yours for £35.00 and currently all sizes are available on-line. Perhaps there’s only me that likes it then!

Simple, pretty with a definite 70’s feel thanks to the slightly larger than usual pointy collar. It’s darling. Continue reading →