Writing in a Twist: December 21, 2008

I Have Discovered a New Dress Designer...

... and I think I may be hooked for life.

The fabrics in my Anne Klein coat and top are a dream.

I cannot imagine why I did not become a clothes junkie before now.
There is something about gardeners and clothes that I took to readily
and have not thought about much in almost thirty years.
We dress to survive.
New fangled fashions come and go and you still find us in resiliant denims and
floppy warm jumpers. A recent discovery, that a photographers jacket, with numerous
pockets and well padded for being out of doors did bring a bit of novelty into my wardrobe, but, in general, I tend to look much the same from one year to the next.

Colours can be enhanced by choosing a selection of scarves and hats that stop one looking dull.

However, having discovered this lady
there will never be another excuse for not stepping out in style.

And how much did I save by waiting for the Sales, you ask?

There are some secrets that a lady never reveals...

It Had to Happen...

After days of scrubbing, manoeuvring grandchildren around, including a glorious outing to the Monkstown Puppet Theatre, where we laughed and cried with Snow White, eating ourselves silly and generally indulging in a feast of anarchy and blinking coloured lights, I escaped.

Where do you go on a relatively frosty day in the bleak mid-Winter?

Daft question.

To the Sales, of course...

I was leaving Dundrum Centre today as another wave of enthusiastic shoppers descended, muffled in scarves and with all the good humour of those who have just enjoyed yet another hearty late lunch. I had not set out to buy a coat. In fact, I was heading for the pharmacy to get some analgesic gel for a knotted muscle in that tender area near the right shoulder-blade, when the thought that the dresses in Harvey Nichols might be worth seeing again struck. Ever so often I go there to admire the fine fabrics and the outfits that are so reminiscent of the 'Sixties. Is everybody intend on dressing like a dolly-bird these days? They could do worse.

ANY...ways... the Sales there were astonishing. Having locked myself into one of the most spacious (and private) changing rooms I have ever visited I emerged happy and somewhat puzzled. I left with a coat, size 6 and an exceptionally loose fitting amethyst top that would bring one into any social event with winged feet.
The mixed metaphors are the result of having persisted in spending about another thirty minutes wandering round the Centre and buying some more practical items.

Having put on an impromptu fashion parade to entertain those who had stayed at home reading, I've now settled into researching why I am able to wear two American dress sizes that run the gamut from 6 to 10 in UK sizing and that are still large enough to have me not only breathe but also, in the case of the coat, leave enough room for a goodly number of jumpers to be worn underneath. Normally I'm a size 12. In size 10 I cannot move and when it comes to blouses in that size, they set about choking me in a very alarming manner.

There must be more to American sizing than meets the eye...