Sea Prairie

Summer is over, isn't it?  The light has changed, there's a tell-tale nip in the air in the mornings, and our apple tree is heavy with its crop.  I don't feel like wearing tropical prints and drinking rum cocktails anymore.  It's with reluctance that I'm leaving summer behind this year though.  Autumn's approach signals that my PhD deadline is edging ever closer.  But let's not talk about that, and instead give my brain a rest by talking about clothes for a minute instead.

If you follow current fashion trends, you'll have seen that the 'Western' look is back in full force for this coming Autumn/Winter season.  This is one trend that I think is 'classic'.  I resurrect it again and again whether or not Vogue says it's in.  The only issue then is that I find it very easy to justify buying new items!  Determined to steer clear from the shops, I looked to my existing wardrobe for inspiration.  It seems I have quite the collection.  I leaned a little towards the 'prairie' side of Western here, with a ruffled white dress and some sturdy boots.  And yes, that's a nightie...  It seems I have embraced nightwear for daytime this year (I went out in my pyjamas back in July).

That nightie was part of the biggest 'vintage haul' I've ever had from the charity shops!  I bought it in an unassuming little Welsh town.  I didn't expect to find any decent vintage, especially not this lovely deadstock number, still with its tags on.  I casually asked at the till if any other items came in with it.  Half an hour later and I had been in and out of the shop about three times, as I kept finding other amazing items, including three early 1940s suits, and a double-elevens 'dinner-plate' mark dress.  This nightie was the only item that fit me, I bought the rest just to study them and hoard them (!).  I sold them on eventually.  Excitingly, one suit sold to a British costume designer who was working on a film that is out later this year.  I can't wait until it's released so that I can see if the suit's made the final cut.  I'll let you know if it does!

You might think that I am being a bit arty by showing you photos mainly in black and white.  The truth is that I was nursing an incredibly painful insect bite on one cheek.  My face was red and swollen.  The observant among you will also note that this location is exactly the same as my last outfit post - there has been no time for outfit shoots since this holiday back in July.

Liberty silk scarf (25p from car boot sale), Sendra boots (£1, charity shop), "Saracen" 1950s nightie (charity shopped), Gap denim jacket (charity shopped).  Hat, borrowed from husband.

Any takers for the Western trend this year?

Linking up with: #iwillwearwhatilike, Visible Monday, Fancy Friday