Voting day here in the south of England dawned dreary, overcast and rainy and it certainly looked chilly outside.
Our landlord put a smart boiler in a couple or three years ago. This means that the heating only comes on if the temperature dips below a certain point and once it's reached the ideal temperature, it cuts out again. It's saved us oodles on bills I must say. Anyway, I had forgotten to turn the boiler to summer mode, and the heating popped itself on early on Thursday morning which took me by surprise. It just confirmed my thoughts that this is turning into a very odd June. Andy remarked that it's almost like our unusually dry April and our chilly and rainy June swapped places.
Consequently, I didn't want to wear a sleeveless dress out, so had a dig through my wardrobe, pulling out this dress, as I did so, realising that I hadn't yet worn it.
Our landlord put a smart boiler in a couple or three years ago. This means that the heating only comes on if the temperature dips below a certain point and once it's reached the ideal temperature, it cuts out again. It's saved us oodles on bills I must say. Anyway, I had forgotten to turn the boiler to summer mode, and the heating popped itself on early on Thursday morning which took me by surprise. It just confirmed my thoughts that this is turning into a very odd June. Andy remarked that it's almost like our unusually dry April and our chilly and rainy June swapped places.
Consequently, I didn't want to wear a sleeveless dress out, so had a dig through my wardrobe, pulling out this dress, as I did so, realising that I hadn't yet worn it.
Why? When I have had it since early last year?
Length and weird bodice length, that's why.
I kept hold of it as it was so pretty and I intended adding skirt length with some pretty trim.
However, there are only two shops in town that sell haberdashery bits and bobs. One is a curtain and upholstery shop and to give you an idea of their prices, the last time I went in there, their Velcro was sold male and female strips separately (almost £2 a yard ... metre, sorry, I default to imperial, always do, it drives Andy nuts).
Their pricing makes the often overpriced for haberdashery HobbyCraft (compared to Fabric Land that is) cheap as chips. And who buys male and female Velcro separately anyway?
The other shop is somewhat out of my price range too, with many fabrics starting at £15 per metre (not yard *cough*) but my, they are sooooo, pretty.
I tried eBay, who had coloured broderie anglais trim, but I would rather not gamble
with colours 'as seen' on screen.
Length and weird bodice length, that's why.
I kept hold of it as it was so pretty and I intended adding skirt length with some pretty trim.
However, there are only two shops in town that sell haberdashery bits and bobs. One is a curtain and upholstery shop and to give you an idea of their prices, the last time I went in there, their Velcro was sold male and female strips separately (almost £2 a yard ... metre, sorry, I default to imperial, always do, it drives Andy nuts).
Their pricing makes the often overpriced for haberdashery HobbyCraft (compared to Fabric Land that is) cheap as chips. And who buys male and female Velcro separately anyway?
The other shop is somewhat out of my price range too, with many fabrics starting at £15 per metre (not yard *cough*) but my, they are sooooo, pretty.
I tried eBay, who had coloured broderie anglais trim, but I would rather not gamble
with colours 'as seen' on screen.
But still, the length wasn't to be an issue, as I was going to employ the red petticoat trick again.
Overall, I love this dress, but could do without the belt cutting me across my ribs ...
I could also do without having such grainy photographs, but that's why you get for not putting the flash on!
Our neighbour remarked how bright I was on such a dreary day (what better way to brighten up a trip to the polling station, in an almost luminous red petticoat!) and a lady in town told me I looked fantastic. Andy also accused me of 'making a show' with my flamingo umbrella, stating that I didn't really need to use it, it was all for effect. Twasn't for show, it was raining!
Outfit Details:
Pink chiffon hair scarf - vintage, gift from Curtise
Dress - 'Courtney' Lindy Bop
Petticoat x 2 - eBay
Shoes - charity shop
* * *
Imperial or Metric?
Ever felt the need to buy a strip of female Velcro?
Fab! Fab! Fab! Aw, please make a show. The world is brighter for it!!!
ReplyDeleteCheryl Elizabeth
Well I do like making a show! I once went out in a leopard fur jacket, with leopard umbrella and when in the supermarket, pulled out my furry leopard coin purse!
DeleteVery bright and cheery indeed. I also would cast a vote for dresses to be longer (in the torso as well as the skirt length). I must say that I find the concept of female and male velcro rather odd, which bit is which?!
ReplyDeleteI know! What is it about skimpy bodice length?
DeleteI think the female side is the softer side and the male, the spikey part xxx
Red for voting day! Hooray!
ReplyDeleteDon't ever stop putting on a show and wearing brights, the world needs more of us peacocks (or, in your case, flamingos). That petticoat is perfect with the dress.
I haven't a clue with metric measurements. The trimmings stall on the market sells stuff by the metre and I have to ask them to physically show me what I'm getting for my money - no wonder they all know my name!
Male and female velcro sold separately? What? Funnily enough there's a Velcro crisis kicking off in the house right now. Jon bought some from Wilko's a few weeks ago and has put it away somewhere safe. Of course, it's my fault he's lost it! xxx
Red all the way!
DeleteYes, I strive to be the flamingo in the flock of pigeons, always 😁
I once had to have the staff in Fabric Land get out their dusty yard rule for the fabric I wanted, as the pattern packet was imperial and metre means nothing to me. I've have to train myself to read the correct side of modern pattern envelopes!
Jon sounds like me recently. I was treated to a brand new sewing box, so happily put all my things in there, was all fired up to sew and then found I had 'lost' my elastic. I turned the place upside down trying to find what I had safely put in the sewing box pocket about five minutes earlier! xxx
Such a lovely dress and the red petticoat sets it off perfectly. I've never heard of Velcro being sold separately - that's weird!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I was really confused with the way they were selling their Velcro!
DeleteImperial in the U.S. for most things outside of science fields-then it is all metric as I discovered when I had to purchase a metric tape measure (no easy task back in the early 80's).
ReplyDeleteYou've inspired me to get a few colourful petticoats-it might be just the trick to saving some shorter dresses. I've never seen velcro sold in separate halves-that's madness. That is a very pretty dress and you look lovely in it.
Thank you so much! The petticoat trick is simple but effective, I look forward to seeing you in yours when you get them!
DeleteThe UK tootled along quite happily with using miles for distance and all our road signs match up, but then suddenly, on the telly, they merrily reverted to km. So weird.
I have no idea who Lindy Bop size their dresses for they are so random! I got caught buying trim by colour on Etsy and ended up third time lucky matching up to add to the bottom of a dress.
ReplyDeleteI know, it's so bizarre! I daren't buy trim unseen, it would just end up infuriating me!
DeleteFirst of all, that dress is lovely, and it's perfect with the red petticoat! I've never had a problem with dresses being too short, neither in the torso or the skirt length. Quite the opposite, as I'm a shortie ... I was quite shocked at the prices of those haberdashery shops and indeed, I've never heard of male and female velcro being sold separately. And £ 15 per metre (metric for me, of course) sound criminal to me. xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann! I think the problem here is I live in a market town, so for whatever reason it's expensive xxx
DeleteCould you solve the problem of the too high waist by making a wide band in red as a belt? JanF
ReplyDeleteI think I have a wide red belt, I shall have a look and see if it works 😊
DeleteI love this outfit on you! Why don't I have a red petticoat? Weird that I don't!
ReplyDeleteThank you Hollie! Now go forth and purchase a red petticoat!
Delete