Hello everyone , hope this finds all well in your part of the world.
My goodness January seems to have flown by and have I been busy , well not especially but it has been a fairly social month , catching up with friends and family.
I have made a small start on getting the garden sorted but have to admit that not only can’t I spend the time in the garden like I once did , I can no longer work for long when its hot . My roses always suffer a bit if it’s been a warm and dry Summer (and this one is) so I was pleased when the Crepuscule rose made a repeat appearance.
I have enjoyed playing in my closet and pairing items not previously worn together . I have had both this Rundholz cotton dress and the Moyuru cotton spot top for several summers but for some reason not worn them together, no idea why as they complement each other beautifully. Not the most colourful or exciting combination but they worked well on a warm day for a doctors appointment (just a routine one).
The one item missing from this outfit for me is a hat . Since I had my hair cut really short I have found that not many of the hats in my collection work with the short hair. To this end I have decided to grow my hair back to my mid length bob – wish me luck , this will take some time and patience isn’t my strong suit. The short hair has been fun and I now know it works but this may sound a little strange it no longer feels like me. I discussed this yesterday with a dear friend who has had a similar cancer journey to me and we agreed that it takes about two years to feel at peace and back to yourself again.
A few of my Summer hats – a mix of vintage , retail buys , recycle finds and a couple of special ones by Susan McArthur , a talented Tasmanian milliner.
This green hat is one of my hats from Susan . This was taken a few years ago . I always think of hats as the finishing touch to any outfit . Hats don’t mind if you gain or lose weight unlike our clothes. Still not sure about my hair colour but something softer than the red I am thinking. Hopefully by next Summer this will be worn again, along with many others.
Another corner of the hat room (which is in fact a spare bedroom) . In the hat boxes are a few of my Winter hats , including on the bottom shelf a vintage English top hat. It really doesn’t show well here but the hat on the model is a little vintage one and the purple hat is a new recycle purchase , which if my hair is long enough will make an appearance this Winter. In the meantime while I wait for my hair to grow I am keeping an eye out for interesting hats to add to the collection.
Speaking of hats , in this case berets , I realised I haven’t shared these two beauties that came home with me from Japan. The black and cream is from Japanese brand Moyuru and is way more interesting than its looks as it is wired so can be shaped in many ways. The other one is from Vivienne Westwood and I just love its colours and patterns. Hopefully I will have the hair length to do them justice come Winter.
I have also spent countless hours losing myself in the pages of the newest book by Ari Seth Cohen , Advanced Pets. What’s not to love about a book on stylish older folk and their pets , which run the gauntlet from cats and dogs to a cow , donkey , pet pig, birds and a tortoise.
The back cover featuring New Yorker , Purely Patricia and her adorable pup , Ruby Woo , named after her favourite Mac lipstick.
I’ll finish up this rather rambling post with another image from the book , the always stylish Valerie von Sobel and Lucy. Valerie always wears the most magnificent headwear , often vintage as seen here.
If you enjoy beautiful photography , interesting older folk and their pets and style I can highly recommend this book.
Your lovely hats – I adore the orange Vivienne Westwood one and the earlier photo of the green hat. I seem to be wearing fewer broad brimmed hats these days but that is partly the cold, wet and windy weather we are getting. So berets are firmly clamped to my head now.
Yes the gardening issue is also something that I have had to come to grips with as I cannot do as much even in my very small patch.
Btw, I absolutely empathise with you about the hair situation. Yes do grow it as although it wasn’t in any way the same, getting those layers and shortening my hair was disastrous and I have really disliked my hair for well over a year. At last I have found a hairdresser I trust and it’s getting back to something more like the style I want it to be. When I’ve got the style right I am also considering the colour. I’d say go for it.
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Thank you so very much Penny . We do both enjoy our hats don’t we , remember Judith at Style Crone and Hat Attack in which we both participated. I fully understand that a beret is so more practical in wild and windy weather . Hopefully towards Spring you may be able to wear those broad brimmed hats.
Feeling that our hair is right and reflecting how you feel is so important to our well being. I will go back to my longer bob and possibly lighter , I so appreciate your opinion Penny.
I am looking forward to spring here. Your post with all the rose bushes has me thinking I need to add at least two more bushes to my space. I’ll have to see if they can be planted that closely together. I love all your hats, and you have the panache to carry them off. If you’re going for a softer look but love the red, could you do some kind of highlighting with either the red or the other color you choose? I think you look fabulous with both short and long hair so anything will be wonderful. But, I can see why you want it longer with all those hats just waiting on your hair! Thanks for sharing this peek into your garden and hat collection. I love Ruby Woo, too, but I’m not sure it’s my shade!
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Thank you so much Marsha. I can imagine with your harsher weather how you must be looking forward to the Spring. With all the different rose varieties I am sure some can be planted closer together and not troubled with those pesky fungus problems .
You can tell I do enjoy my hats and am hoping to wear them again soon. Highlights could be the solution , will have a chat with my hairdresser. Ruby Woo isn’t my colour either.
Hi Jill,
Only you can know what feels right – for you! Whether it’s hair, clothes, garden…enjoy
growing your bob, it did look perfect on you.
Love,
Elizabeth.
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Thank you Elizabeth you are such a wise soul . On reflection I decided that the bob really is so me. xxx
Your Rundholz dress and Moyuru spot top ar e a match made in heaven and I am positively swooning over your magnificent collection of hats! So hearing you on growing your hair again just for the purpose of wearing them!
Loving the Vivienne Westwood beret! xxx
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Thank you so much Ann , I was pleased how well these pieces went together. Ido miss wearing my hats so am looking forward to including them again. I know the beret will be worn often this coming Winter.
You do realize the woman in THAT BOOK DRESSED IN RED with the PIG is ME!
I have the SAME two black and white boxes you have!
I am late FEEDING the roses and its raining today!Hope we can get that done this weekend!
Of course my SPRING is different than YOURS!
You always LOOK fantastic to me but I would love to see what you wear GARDENING!
That would make a GREAT POST!
XXX
Author
I did realise that you are featured in Ari’s new book and great photos they are too.
I rather like the black and white hat boxes as they generous in size . I am wondering which hats are in yours.
I hope your weather enabled you to feed your roses . It is very hot here this weekend so no gardening for me. I am no lady gardener so my outfit is rather practical.