Thursday 30 August 2012

Porcelina's Kitchen: The Skinny Tart



Perhaps I should clarify this is a recipe post and I'm not name-calling myself in the title!

A (nearly) guilt free dessert, from Lorraine Pascal's recipe on the BBC food site, here.



I didn't have the selection of fruit suggested, so just used redcurrants.  Also, I used agave syrup instead of honey, which makes it even better for you as it's low GI!

This is a great little recipe for when you're being 'good' (bikini time next week for me!), but you don't want to sacrifice pleasure or prettiness.

Monday 27 August 2012

Homeware: Harlequin 1960's Cup and Saucer Set






One of my favourite car-boot sale buys of the last few years has to be this fantastic coffee set from the 1960s. Called the 'Harlequin' set, each cup and saucer is in a different pastel colour, and is made from the opaque 'milkware' that was the trademark of French brand Arcopal. I paid £10 for it, which is the most I've ever parted with at a car-boot sale, but I have to say it's worth every penny. Some of the gold has rubbed off on the pink cup and saucer, but otherwise it's in pretty great condition and even has half a box (lid missing).

I've since acquired another set, unboxed, and have used them to serve mini desserts in.

What cup and saucers have you acquired recently?  Pictures please!

Friday 24 August 2012

In The Shops: Shoes and Shirts

I bought two fabulous items this last month, and in the end they both sadly had to be returned!  I'm still weeping over the shoes.



First purchase was the Bernie Dexter 'Ginger' blouse.  It was £70, reduced to £52 in Deadly Is The Female's recent sale.  Alas, the 'Large' turned out to be closer to an 'XL' in terms of measurements (supposed to be 38" bust but I measured it and it was 40"!) and it was just hanging off me in a maternity-wear type way.  I managed to return it (phew!) but still lost a whopping £9 on postage.

Next up I went for the gorgeous 'Cleopatra' mustard yellow slingbacks from Bertie, using House of Fraser's 'Click and Collect' service (brilliant, no postage charges!).  I tried them on right there and then in the collection area, but they were honestly one of the most uncomfortable pairs of shoes I've tried on, the front cutting into the top of my feet and the lack of platform at the front meaning a sharp angle.

So, what's next on my shopping list?  I haven't even begun to think about Autumn, and refuse to do so until I've been on my late summer holiday (Spain in two weeks!!).  I'll get back to you on that one, after I've released my A/W clothing from the vac-pack bags under my bed and assessed the situation in full.

What shopping woes and triumphs have you had recently?

Miss P xx

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Outfit Post: In The Park

Is anyone else a bit confused?   It's all feeling a bit Autumnal out there at the moment - the A/W collections have hit the shops, the weather's a mixture of rain and sunny spells, and I am hankering after a long country walk in my wellies with perhaps a home-baked pie at the end of it. But it's still August!

So, what to wear when you're in between seasons?  The tea dress of course.

I love tea dresses.  They are so versatile, and the sleeves make them a really practical option for the British climate because you can wear them throughout Spring and Autumn with a light cardigan, and layer a jumper over the top for Winter.  I have lots of '50s style strappy sundresses that I only get to wear once or twice a year because it's simply too cold, even with a cardigan on top.

The other great thing about tea dresses is that you can make them quite casual and modern with pumps and leggings, or wear seams, heels and a bit of red lippy to go for the full vintage look.

My only issue with tea dresses - modern ones are too short to wear stockings with!  It has to be tights.





Heart print tea dress: Oasis
Studded pumps: Monsoon
Cat-eye sunglasses: Dorothy Perkins
M&S vintage bag: Car boot sale
Jacket: Gap

Thursday 16 August 2012

Going for Gold!

We've got a gold postbox in Cardiff!!  Right opposite the castle, to mark the achievement of Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas.


I really was quite carried away by the Olympic spirit!  In previous years I haven't been interested, but with my recent get-fit campaign, I threw myself into it wholeheartedly.  Previously I've thought that vintage and sporty don't really go together.  Rather like a dress-up doll with different versions, I have reconciled these two sides to me by developing a 'Sporty Porcelina' version as well as 'Vintage Porcelina'. 

And now, after months of training - I RAN 5K!!  Twice, so far this week.  I feel like an Olympic champion!

If the Olympics haven't given you inspiration enough to get sporty, then I recommend you read Fleur's blog - she even did a race in red lipstick a little while ago!



Monday 13 August 2012

Outfit Post: Wedding Guest

I do love a wedding!  A few weeks ago, on the day the Olympics started, the sun came out gloriously, for the wedding of some friends in West Wales.  Here's what I wore.


wedding guest outfit

Friday 10 August 2012

Poirot Fashion Special: The Dream


Sacre-bleu! What is this? Has Monsieur Poirot taken leave of his senses?!




Well, that is a ravishing dress Miss Lemon is wearing... (previously seen in other episodes)




This episode also sees the return of a much-coveted cardigan, and that lovely forest-green number we've seen before too.




Now to the other players. First up, Joely Richardson has quite an interesting wardrobe in this episode - she's active and quite boyish in her manner (she fences, she sits casually, she runs up stairs) but manages not to overdo it, and keeps a feminine edge to her clothing. I really like this first look - part French resistance!



It can't be seen in the screenshot, but that hat has a great little tassle on it!




I was trying to get a clear shot of the shoes as they're extremely flat, sort of like ballet-pumps but pointy. I didn't know they wore such flat shoes, anybody come across these before?


Next, we're in the Fencing Room and Miss Richardson is suitably attired.




Later, she's wearing trousers again and wears a simple blouse and jacket. I love the hairband, it's very rigid and shiny in a browny-amber colour, is it bakelite? Did they make hairbands out of bakelite?? I didn't even know they wore rigid hairbands in the 1930s. I've googled but not come up with any info on this topic, sorry folks!


And my favourite outfit of the episode - this knit houndstooth jacket is gorgeous. Looks great with that blouse and skirt. Joely is the kind of girl that doesn't spend time on her hair - she's got more important things to do, opponents to fence with, secret liaisons with her lover to attend.




Finally, the other lady that appears in this episode is older, has money, spends time and effort on her appearance (hair, make-up) in contrast to our young Joely. I think though that the outfit the older lady wears in this next scene somehow makes her frumpy, what do you think? Maybe it's the flat shoes and posture.




The blouse she wears in this scene is lovely, look at the detail on the neckline and the waistcoat-shaped hem. Shame about those crocodile tears!

And to finish, the evil Stepmother drops the pretence of being a caring wife in her modest dresses and cardigan ensembles and brings out the big guns - huge jewelled pin on her of-the-moment hat, and a big fur stole to show just how rich and dangerous she is. She wears a suit and silver fox-fur in the opening scene too but I couldn't get a screenshot of it, sorry readers!



It's been a while since I've done a Poirot fashion post - apologies for this, but I've had computer problems, my DVD player has a software issue!  Hopefully a new laptop this Autumn will allow many Poirot posts in future...

*** UPDATE - I know some people have been trying to follow me and can't find a 'follow' button - this feature has now been removed by Blogger and is affecting lots of blogs, not just mine!  To follow a blog now you can either copy the url and paste it into the box that comes up when you click 'Add' in your reading list, OR you can click 'join' if a blog has a Followers gadget in their sidebar. ***

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Win £400 of Fancy Pants

Glamorous, dangerous lingerie brand Kiss Me Deadly is running a fabulous competition to win £400 worth of their fancy unmentionables.

You have to be brave to enter - a photo submission of your good self wearing KMD lingerie or swimwear is required!  But don't let this put you off, as you don't have to show your face, and they suggest something a little more arty than Readers' Wives.  So you could just photograph the top of your stockings in a close up, or something to that effect, if you're too shy for a whole body shot.

If you're up for the challenge, you have until 27th August, and can submit photos via Facebook, or upload them direct to their website to conceal your identity.  Any 'likes' of my own submission on their Facebook page would be greatly appreciated too!

Also, have you SEEN their new 'Twisted Fairytales' A/W collection?  I have mentally spent £400 already...



Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...