I found this http://www.feverdesigns.co.uk/ and promptly treated myself to this:
Darcy: in olive
sorry about rubbish picture, but can't get a larger one
And this one
which is called, rather alluringly, Cheetah
They arrived promptly and very well wrapped. And I can honestly say that I have worn Cheetah INTO THE GROUND since I bought her. She looks fab with a pair of black boots or smart black Mary-Janes. I don't look like mutton dressed as lamb or mutton dressed as mutton even.
Sonshine and Tartarus decreed that the top one, Darcy, was lovely, but made me look like someone from Wartime Farm. I don't care, I luff it. It's to be my Winter Frock.
And, for the first time in 30 years, I had to buy underskirts! The frocks don't creep up your legs though, but I thought that an underskirt would finish the look off properly.
I also had a look at Mrs Make Do's blog and she pointed me in the direction of VIYELLA of all places. They have an Ella range, geared for the younger folks, and I was pleasantly surprised to scroll through much of their stuff. This Downtonesque frock is only £35.00!
This one is only £40, but has limited sizes left. Very Duchess of Cambridge
So, if, like me, you've never given Viyella second glance because its just NOT you, don't be so hasty!
Now, I must go and lie down with a few Tarot decks and a copy of Mein Kampf to return to my normal dictatorial self......
Oh my. These are too smart for my everyday wear and plus would look odd as I live in my slippers; and the shapes are flattering, too.
ReplyDeleteOh I schlep around in my slippers inside the house! Granted, that's not a particularly good look - unless you go for the black, maribu-feather trimmed mule :-D
DeleteI love those top two dresses - I have an old green tweed wool dress of my mothers that gets a run out every other winter. It needs heels and massive belt on me but it is SO toasty warm and it makes me feel wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThis has made me want to dig it out again this winter.
Go and dig it out. You know you want to :-D
DeleteOhhhh, I love that green dress. I want one. You will look beautiful all winter!
ReplyDeleteGo and get one. I'm not sure that I'll look beautiful all winter, but I'll look smarter fer SHOOR!
DeleteAre you going to model them for us? It's difficult to tell just from pictures. We'll be nice, honest!
ReplyDeleteMaybe. It might let people see what a slog it is for me to attempt to wear or even WRITE anything fashionable ;-D
DeleteAli x
Hello Sweet pea, I think your new dresses are lovely, am laughing at wartime farm, sounds like a fashion spread for a glossy magazine complete with two hunky male models in the background sporting Fair Isle sweaters and moleskins, bang on trend at the moment maybe Tartarus and Sonshine should be in the fashion business!
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with Viyella when I used to work for Jaeger, Viyella manufactured high quality stuff for them.
Loving the new hair by the way.
XXX
Hi Dash! I LOVE that idea of the fashion spread at the wartime farm!!!! All land girls, tractors and tweeds! Where does Viyella make their clothes now - are they made in the UK, Dash?
DeleteAli x
Have to admit, you are tempting me to try a few dresses! Only problem is, I spend a fair amount of time sitting on the floor bum-shuffling around with m'nipper - dresses aren't very good for that...
ReplyDeleteGet a nice pair of leggings to wear under a frock - or even thick ribbed tights and you can sit on the floor with Big Boy and if anyone says that they can see up your skirt - just let 'em - thick tights are just as good as leggings!
DeleteAli x
Viyella used to have mills and factories all over the UK the most important one's being Derbyshire/Nottingham way, I think they got taken over by Austin Reeds a few years back, so no idea where they manufacture now, probably China like everything else!
ReplyDeleteX
Was vainly hoping that they were all still British!
DeleteAustin Reed may still manufacture in the UK, after all it is a very British company, this is rather obvious but does it not tell you where it was made on the label?
DeleteIncidentally I though immediately of you when I saw this: http://dustjacketattic.blogspot.fr/
XXX
oooh shall check out that blog link! Thanks Dash!
DeleteI like Darcy especially the name- sounds very Edwardian country lady.Though I have to say Id probably get more wear out of Cheetah as it meets my most important criteria for dress purchase: Is it a good eating dress?The answer is yes due to the under bust seam.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling that Darcy might be a little unforgiving in the eating stakes.
Hadn't heard of fever before though!
It's an excellent eating frock. I have slootered food all down it and given it a quick wipe and it looks FINE. Also, underbust seam most fogiving :-D
Deletei LOVE the cheetah! it looks sexy but not slutty! i generally wear the hell out of dresses in the summer but don't think of them as a winter thing. perhaps i ought to revisit the question! i'm sure you look fabulous!
ReplyDeleteoooh you should get some nice woolly wintery ones with sleeves. Thick tights are also a must! God Bless Donna Karan and opaque tights!!!
DeleteAli x
V v lovely and such a change from boring old jeans - I bet you look glorious in them. Btw I think Wartime Farm is rather a good look to go for, although I'd've liked to have seen some tartan. Do you have one? Xxx
ReplyDeleteI don't own a tartan anything. I think that it's a sort of knee jerk reaction to being forced into tartan skirts and tunics as a child. But as an adult I admit to having a hankering for a long slim-fitting tartan to be worn with heels :-D
DeleteI may just go to the charity shop this week to see what they've got!
Ali -
ReplyDeleteTartarus and Sonshine should be proud! I loved all of these dresses! Excellent taste! (LOL Whatever agrees with my taste is excellent taste! ;-) )
Blessings,
Bonnie
We have excellent taste, Bonnie! *clinks champagne flute against Bonnie's*
DeleteAli x
I'm rather smitten with Darcy! I'm taken with wearing thicker weight dresses at the moment and will definitely take a look at Viyella. I seem to think my local M&Co stocks Viyella actually so many thanks for the tip off x
ReplyDeleteHope you get something that you like. Definitely check out Fever though - I think you'd look lovely in lots of their frocks.
DeleteNice dresses. I'm not going to say any more because I know bugger-all about fashion except that I'm sure my late Mum wore something almost identical to that last beigy-brown Viyella thing in the 60s
ReplyDeleteYour mother was clearly a well-dressed woman whom our own dear Duchess of Cambridge is modelling herself upon :-D
DeleteIt's a super-smart frock - ideal for launching ships and opening supermarkets :-D
Lovely dresses! Very English Lady look. Thank you for sharing them with us!
ReplyDeleteThank you :-D
Deletefabulous ...love that first one too love wartime farm.....and an excellent idea it does change your attitude when you make an effort..... am finding it hard to get out of pjs since work load has dramatically declined so decided I would put more thought into my wardrobe in attempt to make things look/feel better...it was huge success but unfortunately I only kept it up for one day....time to get back in the closet??x
ReplyDelete