Happy New Year my little lammies!
For my first post of 2015 I’m once again sharing my bloopers and outtakes from the last year as I did on the last two New Year’s Days – this is definitely an annual thing for this blog now.
Instead of a recap of my best outfits from 2014 (like most bloggers), I share the worst of the outtakes from my outfit photo shoots for your amusement. It means everyone can take heart in the fact that I’m really not as poised as I seem in the photos I publish – I’m just as clumsy and awkward as the next person (if not more so)!
Let me know which outtakes you liked the most! Wishing you all a very happy 2015 🙂
1. The one where my thumb looked like a dodgy appendage
This is a subtle one…. Always check what you’re doing with both your hands. A stray thumb can end up looking more than a bit dodgy. Original post >>
2. The one where I looked like a crap matador
Stiletto heels and a floaty scarf being twirled about is just asking for trouble. Health and Safety, anyone? Original post >>
3. The one where my mouth gaped open and I looked dopey
Something was happening off to my right, I forgot to shut my mouth. Original post >>
4. The one where it was all about the glamour
The irony of having to take cover from the rain (under the photographic reflector) whilst wearing an outfit meant for a luxury cruise wasn’t lost on me. Original post >>
5. The one where I did the Blogger’s Jig
Caught off-guard whilst amusing myself – not sure there’s more to it than that. Original post >>
6. The one where my itch wouldn’t wait
Some itches just have to be scratched right on the spot. Original post >>
7. The one where someone came around the corner
I’m swaying! I’m swaying!
[someone comes around the corner]=Stops swaying and tries to look normal= Original post >>
8. The one where I was snapped whilst talking and gesticulating
Nothing new here: Just talking and flapping my arms about. As usual. Original post >>
9. The one where I walked off, drunk again
I spun around just a few too many times in this shoot – and got so dizzy I started teetering off towards the grass verge. Elegance personified. Original post >>
10. The one where I did my best just-got-off-my-horse stance
Demonstrating how not to walk in chunky heels. Original post >>
11. The one where it all kicked off
I think something was stuck to my boot and I was trying to kick it off… Original post >>
12. The one where I was the mouthy blogger with attitude
My favourite pastime: Giving the photographer some lip. Otherwise known as being a Cheeky Monkey (so my husband says). Original post >>
13. The one where my face looked seriously puzzled
Studio-style shots indoors can sometimes get a little… perplexing. Original post >>
14. The one where I needed an outfit adjustment
Does anyone else check their reflection in the lens of the camera, or is it just me? Original post >>
15. The one where I had a photobombing friend
Never, ever, ever try and take photos when you’re out and about with friends. Especially not ones who love to try and make you laugh the whole time and then simply photobomb the picture. Original post >>
16. The one where my fashion blogger nemesis reared its ugly head
Evil, evil wind! Begone, arch-enemy of bloggers…! Original post >>
17. The one where I had a perturbed face
I was either puzzled by something or concentrating really, really hard. Original post >>
18. The one where I had an itchy face
Last week the wind was so strong it kept blowing my hair into my face and itching the hell out of it. Original post >>
19. The one where I cocked up big time
I think I’ve saved the best till last – but it needs an explanation. So why on earth am I wearing two completely different shoes? Original post >>
You know when you try on two different shoes in the mirror, and you hold up one leg, then the other, to see which you like best? Well, that’s what I did when I was at home sorting out what to wear. Except I couldn’t decide which to wear so I thought I’d take both with me for the photo shoot – for a post about accessorising a plain work outfit (which was also an entry in a competition I really wanted to win).
Except when we got there I realised I’d literally only put the two individual shoes I’d tried on in my bag – yes, I’d packed just one pair of mismatching shoes. This was my only chance to take these photos (we were too far from home to drive back) and I had to get my entry for the La Redoute brand ambassadorship competition in as soon as possible.
The solution? We took the photos with me standing as symmetrically as possible, then in Photoshop I cloned the pink shoe and reversed it before “adding it” to my right leg. So the right shoe you see in the original post is not real!
This has to be my most successful cock-up of all time: I went on to win the competition which included a trip to Paris with La Redoute in May. Never give up, I say…!
It's extremely loveable that you show off the bad takes: it's keeping it real for the rest of us little mortals! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Oh don't worry I'm a mere mortal too, Jodie… I can just about keep it together for 1 picture in 10 I think!! Thank you my lovely x
Hey Catherine
This is my favourite post of yours… ever!!!
I love the photos and your write up of the background to each one!! It is brilliant and just shows the work that goes into producing a high quality fashion blogs like yours. Awesome!
Aww Nadine that's so lovely of you to say – thank you so much!!
This post has me laughing out loud ( literally ) I think an outtake will make things more interesting.
Glad it made you laugh, Joy…!!!! Thank you xx
Absolutely love this post! What a brilliant way to bring in the New Year. Love how you can laugh at your self and the fact that you're willing to share these 'bloopers' with us too 🙂 Saying that, you're still absolutely gorgeous! xxx
Hehe thanks so much Katie – and you're really too kind, you have to admit some of them are at least a *little* unflattering..!! ;))
My favourites: 6 (itch), 9 (just got off my horse). 11 (giving lip)… and 15 (wind)… so recognizable… And finally 12 (seriously puzzled face) hahaha.
See how many comments you get with this post? People love to laugh and love the courage of a person showing their vulnerability.
Loved it.
I also read your reply comment on the comment of "iwillbloom" … Also very recognizable. LOL
Greetje
I know, the comments have been coming thick and fast, Greetje…!! I've already got a hilarious one from a shoot this weekend that was sooooo funny – everyone will have to wait a year before it gets published 😉 Thanks hun xx
Ha ha this is hilarious Catherine and I LOVE the sentiment behind it – not taking yourself too seriously! Particularly liked the 'just got off your horse look'. Looking forward to more bloopers in 2015!
I have no idea why I was doing that pose, Suzanne… I must have been just horsing about, haha!!!! =Sorry=
Seriously, I'm really glad you liked them… I do them because I wish I could see them from all the bloggers I follow! Thank yo for your lovely comment x
I just love this! What a great idea. I also love how it shows your personality, the woman behind the poses and I can SO relate to all of them! Sheer brilliance
http://www.ladympresents.co.uk
I think that's the thing, isn't it Rachel – everyone who does a fashion blog can recognise themselves in these pictures! Thank you my lovely, hope you're well x
These are hilarious and I have to say much more interesting to look at than a 'best of' post…
I love the fact that you share them. Applaud you for your sincerity.
Daphne.
Aww that's so nice of you to say, Daphne!! I do a quarterly round up of each season so it doesn't make sense to do yet another at the end of the year… so glad you enjoyed these! Thanks sweetie x
haha! I actually love all of these and you STILL look totally gorgeous in your bloopers! Thanks for linking up to #brilliantblogposts x
Ohhh Vicki you're such a charmer!! Bless you…! Thanks hun – I must remember to link up more often xx
Oh Lord I look like No3 ALL THE FRICKIN TIME. Long time fan of your blog esp this post! #brilliantblogposts
Hehe Kirsty I think I do, too – I reckon Dopey is the middle name my parents forgot to give me!! Thanks so much for commenting, nice to talk to you xx
Happy New Year – I'm loving the itch you have to scratch photo! Seeing pictures like these shows me why I'll never be a fashion blogger – these are my usual looks!!!
Ohhh believe me, the outtakes come thick and fast, Carrie – sometimes I have just one solitary decent shot out of 50. It's taken over three years of practice to get this bad!! ;))
Thanks sweetie x
Hi, just discovered your blog and am so glad I have! This post is really funny but you still look gorgeous and all the outfits are fab. My favourite is the walking like you just got off a horse – because it's hilarious but also I love the red take on a classic Breton and how you've styled it. The odd shoes made me laugh a lot too. Will look forward to seeing your non-bloopy posts this year!
Jess thank you so much!! What a lovely first comment. Hope you enjoy the non-bloopy ones… though I hope I get lots of bloopers for the next outtakes post in 2016?!!! C x
Love this. Your fun personality shines through.
Aww bless you, Heather – thank you xx
So funny, love that you have shared these photo's, particularly the odd shoes!
#BrilliantBlogposts
http://fashion-mommy.com
Still can't believe I was such a dope to do that with the shoes, Emma!! Thank sweetie!
Fabulous! Wind is really a pain in the butt .. lol. And I dislike when my husband doesn't allow me to re-pose before snapping .. man, those pics of me are awful .. lol.
Monica, http://www.pear-shaped-gal.com
Yes – the not being allowed to repose thing, I have that too, Monica!! I keep saying it's pointless to take them because if I don't know it's being taken then it'll be awful. As shots 3, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16 and 17 prove…!!
Thanks hun xx
Great post Catherine, you are an inspiration to many of us out there. My favourites are the open mouth dopey look and the just got off my horse look. Can't stop laughing.
So glad you liked them, Elsie!! It's always funny to look back over them as the year draws to an end 😀
Great post! Love it when people can laugh at themselves!
I think blogging (and looking at so many photos of myself) would be very hard if I didn't, Kate…!! Hehe thank you sweetie x
I loved this post! It shows you are real and have bad days, funny days (loved the mismatching shoes!) and 'take the piss' days! I enjoy all your posts but this one is my fav so far! xx
The shoes day was a nightmare, Rebecca! What an idiot to take just one of each…?!! Thank you so much, I'm really glad you enjoyed it xx
such a fun post , its one of those things we always wonder right, we look at our own pictures and then other bloggers and sometimes thing, man can she even take a bad picture… always nice to see how real someone is. Even in your bloopers you are one gorgeous gal though. Camera loves you
Hehe the bad pictures really do apply to me, Linda…. they really, REALLY do!! But thank you hun, you're a sweetheart as always! x
I loved reading this post! Come join the Trendy Wednesday Blog Link Up, every Wednesday at http://www.classyyettrendy.com!
Leanne,
Classy Yet Trendy
Thank you so much, Leanne – and yes I'll pop over now! Thanks for inviting me 🙂
hahaha this was so good! I love fashion bloggers that are able to laugh at themselves and show that they aren't as perfect as their photos make them seem. lol! I can't pick a favorite, they were all so good. And I never would have noticed the dodgy thumb unless you pointed it out….and when you did, I choked on my tea a little. haha!
Ahhh the dodgy thumb…! I think I choked on my tea when I first saw those shots on the monitor screen too, Julie!! Thank you hun – so glad they brightened your day ;))
I loved this post last year & was hoping you would do it again this year! Such great fun! Happy New Year Catherine! Ax
I'll definitely be doing them every Jan 1st as this is the third one now… can't get out of it! Thanks Andrea 🙂
Fantastic post Catherine lol made me chuckle so much. Hope you had a lovely Christmas wishing you all the best for 2015 xx
Hehe thanks Gail… and to you too!! x
You're hilarious Catherine! LOL!! By far, I like the "itch that won't wait" XD
Just too funny.
Hey, I would also like to wish you a Happy New Year and may 2015 be a great year for you and your blog =)
And to you, Yen – it's always great to start a new year afresh!!
Glad you liked the bloopers… I'm sure I'll had plenty more for the next January 1st! xx
HAHA very funny!
Happy 2015! 🙂
Isa M., Tic Tac Living
Illustration & Banner – Giveaway
Glad you think so – thank you Isa!! HNY to you x
These are fabulous. Life is too short to take yourself too seriously. Well done you! My great photos, in perfect outfits, in particularly fab locations always end up with a gorgeous smile…and closed eyes…
That's the worst, isn't it – you have the perfect shot and you've closed your eyes. Or your eyes have rolled back into your head like mine in my lead image…!!! Glad you liked them, thank you sweetie x
I commend your bravery, dearest Catherine…I always erase my "bloopers" straight off the camera!! ;D Seriously though – or as seriously as possible, considering the subject matter! – an outtakes post like this is such a hilarious way of letting your readers see a little of what goes on behind the scenes; I always like to include a photo of me in mid-laughter with every outfit post…cause that's usually what happens when Robin (my hubby) starts snapping away!! P.S. Wearing two different shoes?? Priceless!! XOXO
http://www.StyleIsMyPudding.blogspot.com
Honestly I died when I realised that I'd only packed one of each shoe, Monika…!! Took me a while to get over my "Well it's all ruined now I may as well just forget it" rant and think of a solution! Thank GOODNESS I did as I got a trip to Paris out of it, so I think it has to be the best cock up ever in the history of cock ups ;))
And I love how happy and smiley you are in your photos, Monika – hard to believe you would be looking anything but!! Thanks sweetheart xx
So glad you can laugh at yourself! People who can smile at the blooper reels in their lives are the best kind. Happy 2015 – can't wait to see what outfits you have in store! xxx
That's lovely of you to say, Amy – thank you!!!
Swaying, swaying, LOOK NORMAL! That is just as real as it gets!!! :o)
Oh, and your blooper reel reminded me just how much I loved that Purple outfit!!!
JJ
http://www.dressupnotdown.blogspot.com
I think the Swaying, Swaying, Look Normal is my personal favourite, JJ!! Thanks sweetie 🙂
So cute! I think the photobombing friend one is too funny.
I'm amazed I got ANY decent shots on that photo shoot – I should have known he was going to make me laugh the whole time!! Thanks hun x
too good—especially the one of you kicking! feeling inspired to do a blooper reel too!
Colour Me Classic
You should, Haley!! They're always really popular, and I love seeing bloopers from other bloggers myself. Thank you my lovely x
I loved these, thank you for sharing!
Maria xxx
I'm glad, Maria – thank you!
Crying. Number 3 made me shed actual tears of laughter. Thanks for this Catherine!!
Wishing you a very Happy 2015. I can't wait to see what you get up to in the new year! 😀 xx
Little Miss Katy | UK Lifestyle Blog
Aww thanks Katy – here's to a great 2015 for you too, hun! xx
Ha, ha! Love this post! It just goes to show how crazy we all are. I think my favorite is… how not to walk in chunky heels! Thanks for sharing.
Happy 2015! Steph – Signing Steph
Hehe I thought about calling that one "The John Wayne"…! Thanks Stephanie x
Hi Catherine, happy new year. I love the dress from number 4, wow that so pretty! Haha they are not so bad – you done better then me. I'm awful in outfits posts as I never seem to look at the camera.
http://www.annanuttall.com
Thanks Anna – and HNY to you too! My most common mistake is to shut my eyes just as the photo is being taken (see lead image). I have hundreds of those…!!
Hehe that one really made me laugh when I saw the photos at the time, Lorna – it *had* to be an animated GIF so you could see the reason for my awkwardness in the last frame. That location is right outside my parents' house in the middle of the country – normally no one's around but sometimes someone will come around the corner and we try and look all nonchalant. If I'm spinning or 'dancing' it's even worse…!
Thanks my lovely x
This is such a fabulous post!!!!
I have to say I am completely awful at any outfit posts on my blog so its nice to see that sometimes even the pros get it a little bit wrong 🙂 x
Thank you, Lauraevelyn – though I think I get it more wrong more often than right: I take a LOT of photos just for a handful of good shots, and we have been 'practising' with outfit shoots for over three years now…! I'm sure even the super bloggers get dud shots, though I'm not sure they'd do a bloopers post like this?!!
C x
Loved reading this post. Great to see authenticity that is fun and playful.
With Gratitude
Belle
That's lovely of you to say, Belle – thank you! Most of the outtakes are due to my frustration, or impatience, or the fact that my husband takes my photos and it's easier to give him a bit of lip ;))
Great post chick, it's nice to see bloggers not taking everything to seriously.
Lauren
livinginaboxx
Hehe thanks Lauren – I definitely don't take it seriously… you can't when the outtakes are so bad sometimes!!
This post is so much fun, and thank you for sharing your occasional photo-fail! The protruding thumb had me laughing out loud : > You're still a beauty, no doubt about that. xox
Thanks Patti, so much – that thumb looked awful!!! I've never done it again, I know better now…!
Fantastic! So much fun. Only a really great blogger like you can do that with such grace! You are a hard worker.
Aww thanks Martina – though my dad would laugh till his sides hurt if he knew you'd said I did anything with grace…!!
Hehe great post Catherine 🙂 I keep all mine funny ones and they really cheer me up and make me laugh when I find them.. loved reading your post and seeing your pictures 🙂
Happy New Year 🙂
Thanks so much Claire!! I collect the bloopers as I go and also sneak a look at them throughout the year. I still like looking at the previous years' ones as well just for a laugh 😉
Happy New Year to you too!
Fun! The funniest is the Itch.
As for the 'wind'' issue, I think you look great! I live in the Chicago 'burbs. Wind is part of life. 🙂
Windy days are a total nightmare – and yes I can imagine living in the Windy City gives you plenty of photo problems! Thanks Christine, glad you liked them x
You always look so fabulous! I'm stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year!!
Baci,
Coco et La vie en rose – Valeria Arizzi
Aww Coco thank you, though you weren't meant to think I looked 'lovely' in these…?!! And HNY to you too!
Happy New year Catherine, love a lady with a sense of humor x
Hehe thanks Kareema my lovely!! And HNY to you x
What a great post idea! #6 is definitely my favourite, closely followed by #17! xxx
http://www.justemma.co.uk
Thanks Emma – I think I restricted the "itching" bloopers to just these two, there were so many…!!
Oh you…I hesitate to click through to your blog sometimes when I see your posts popping up in Bloglovin, as I class it under one of my "uuurrrrggghhhh life is so perfect there, I can't be bothered to look at that perfect version of life now" blogs….I think you may just have gained a loyal reader in me with this post….you *are* normal….your body is *not* stick thin (you do have curves!)…you obviously do laugh at yourself! [For the record: I am stick thin – but curvy – too, I'm not a lardy hater lady]. Wonderful post. Loved it.
Oh Helen thank you – though your comment made me a little sad at first I then liked what you said about being normal. BELIEVE ME, I am quite, quite normal and I don't want you (or anyone) to think I have a 'perfect' life at all (but then what does that mean anyway)?
Think of it this way: you know when you were a kid and you had school photos taken every year (if you had that)? Well my mum – probably like most mums – would make sure I had my smartest uniform on, that my hair was done nicely and that I didn't have jam all round my mouth. So in my school photos I looked all angelic with brushed hair, a straight tie and a clean face… but that's not what I looked like every day.
It's just the polished images you see on the blog – for each shoot we take anything between 50 and 200 photos and only about 6 are published. You can imagine how many bad ones there are (as this post demonstrates)! But if you look at the backgrounds of my pictures, you can see I haven't gone anywhere glamorous… it's mostly the country lanes round my parents' house, the walls of my husband's work building, that kind of thing. Occasionally we'll have gone somewhere for a day out and taken pictures there, but it's whilst we were out shopping or at a friend's house (nowhere glamorous).
I had a look at the last two months of posts (November and December) and counted how many outfit posts I published: it was 17 in total. So out of 61 days, I only featured what I wore on 17 of them. You might be surprised to hear that much of the time I'm wearing pyjamas till 1pm and then throw on some jeans and a sweatshirt because I'm not leaving the house. Or I'll put my workout gear on in the morning even though I'm not exercising till the evening, but I can't be arsed to change later (or I want to save on washing).
So when I say I'm just as 'normal' as the next person I hope you see what I mean! The outfits I publish are more dressed up times, but that's because I want to give inspiration to those who may not dress up ever, or to those who want to change things up a bit, or to those who are afraid of wearing bright colours and in their forties and are looking for 'permission' to do so.
I hope all of that makes sense…?! I think you've given me some inspiration for a Musings post: What being a full time fashion blogger – one that doesn't constantly jet around the world and design collections with top brands – is really like. Since going full time with the blog I've found that I leave the house less and have more excuses to stay in my onesie all day – so I have to make MORE of an effort now to dress up a bit. How ironic is that????
Anyway I didn't mean to blather on for so long, but I just wanted to explain how the bloopers are more me, to be honest. I really appreciate your lovely comments, and hope that you'll visit the outfit posts with a different view now! :))
Catherine x
Thank you for showing us these! I have just gone through my photographs for my last post and I had to work really hard to pick a few proper ones. It is a lot harder then you think, appearing reasonable sane and poised in pictures, it is a true craft!
That's all too true, Irmin! Sometimes out of 50+ photos I'll have just one or two that are good to pick between, with too many like the ones above ;))
Love this post Catherine just brilliant, it's really made me smile & you still look gorgeous in every photo!
Wishing you a fabulous New Year.
Jane xx
My Midlife Fashion
Jane thank you so much, though I'm not so sure about looking gorgeous in these photos…!! HNY to you too x