This is my version of the “business on the top, party on the bottom” meme, except I’ve got mixed sartorial signals going on ALL OVER this outfit.
I think the look on my face says it all: Yes, I KNOW that this is a smart look on the top (despite the sneaky addition of a grey hoodie popping out of my coat), and yes I KNOW that I’m wearing old, comfy jeans and the muddiest of wellies*.
But this is what happens when you decide, on a whim one day, to dig out your old school scarf to wear while walking the dog… it makes your outfit look school uniform-like.
You just don’t know/remember that the scarf is too short to wrap round and round your neck (did we not have scarves longer than a couple of feet in the 80s?!), so it just gets tucked under your coat lapels. And THEN what happens is that it ends up looking – from a distance – kinda like you’re wearing a tie.
(Whether or not my school were aware of this and sneakily made the pattern that way on purpose, I’ll never know.)
[Reading time: 2 mins]
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Shop the look:
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The “schoolgirl elements” of this outfit (the top half at least) were entirely unintentional, but maybe that’s what happens when you wear your school scarf for the first time in a hundred years. It somehow sneaked a grey beret, oversized glasses and messy plait into my style choices. The “tie” thing wasn’t something I noticed until I looked at the photos.
But this is 2021, and hey – ANYTHING’S a step up from sweats or PJs, isn’t it? It’s an outfit that makes me smile. I’ll look back and remember the lovely family walk we had that day, me dressed in half a smart outfit… and the mud: Oh, the mud!!
Anyone else still have/wear their old school anything – scarf, tie, blazer?! Comment below…
Stay safe, XOXO
P.S. If there are any other ex-pupils of The Abbey School in Reading reading (“redding”/”reeding”, lol) this, does this scarf look familiar?! And were you in the same house as me (going by its blue stripe)…?
P.P.S. Do add your outfits to this week’s link up – and if you’ve added a link to here or my button to your post you may be featured in my bi-monthly Women Who Wear What They Like post!
Coat: La Redoute (old, I love this one)
Jeans: Asos (I like these)
Hoodie: Asos (LOVE this one)
Scarf: My old school scarf (I like this one)
Beret: Helen Moore* (similar)
Gloves: Old (similar)
Glasses: Asos (I like the these with their light lenses)
Wellies: The Wide Welly Company*
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Linking up to… Monday: Inspire Me Monday, Ageless Style Linkup (first Monday of the month), My Glittery Heart, On Mondays We Link Up || Tuesday: Style With a Smile, Trend Spin/Walking in Memphis in High Heels, Turning Heads Tuesday, Spread the Kindness, Confident Twosday, Happy Now Blog Link Up || Wednesday: Style Me Wednesday, WowOnWednesday || Thursday: Chic & Stylish || Friday: Fancy Friday, On the Edge, Fabulous Friday, Fabulous Friday’s Link Up
I love how you mixed the patterns in this outfit Catherine <3!
Author
Thank you Kayleigh (though to be fair I didn’t realise I had!! 😉 ) x
Catherine you kept your school scarf, that’s amazing. I don’t have anything from that far back unfortunately, there are a few very cool items I regret not keeping now. I can totally see why you held onto it, good move my friend it’s fab and so is your outfit.
Author
I’m actually quite surprised I’ve kept it – I still have my Duran Duran 1983 tour t-shirt too (which you may remember me wearing a few years back) so I’m doing well for things that are 30-40 years old!! TY mate x
I always find your outfits to be so inspiring!
Danielle xx
Author
That’s so lovely of you to say – thanks Danielle¬! x
Those glasses look great on you. We don’t have any school uniforms here. So missing out on all the fun of belonging in that sense. Love the Hogwarts feel of it xxx Andf of course you wil always find a link to your post on my blog 😉 #womensupportwomen.
xo Sabina
Author
I’m so used to the fact that we wore uniforms (at our school, right up until sixth form which is aged 18) that I forget they don’t elsewhere in the world, Sabina…!
I love your fun outfits! That scarf is soo cute and I love the boots especially. Hope you’ll come link up for my Fabulous Fridays- Have a great weekend 🙂
Author
Thank you Lucy – I’ll do my best but I find it so difficult to find time to link up( 🙁 !) x
Oh I like this smart look.
Author
Thank you Tina 😀
I have my old tees but they are signed by my friends and classmates ☹️
Author
I definitely had my shirt of summer dress signed by mine too – though I can’t remember what I did with mine, or why I wouldn’t have kept it?! I so wish I had, I think them being signed is brilliant!!
Catherine, it doesn’t seem to matter what you pull together for an outfit … you always wind up with a smart look. What a talent you have, indeed.
Rena
Author
Aww Rena that’s so sweet of you, thank you (even WITH the muddy wellies?!!!!) 😉
Lol! Yes, anything IS a step up from our jammies and loungewear for 2021, isn’t it? Somehow you always make it work and look stylish, Catherine! I love your schoolgirl “tie!”
xx Darlene
Author
hehe thanks Darlene – maybe I’ll do a jammies or loungewear “made smart” post next…! 😀
Ooooh yes. I still have my school tie somewhere, (purple and green stripes). I loved my school uniform but I loved school so I associate the uniform with such happy times.
Thank you for hosting and thank you for linking me my lovely xxxx
Author
I loved school too, Liz – it’s nice to have those happy memories as I know so many people had a horrid time (I don’t mean at my school, just others generally). My secondary uniform was green – but my primary school’s colours were green and purple too so snap!!
Oh to have your self confidence Catherine and wear muddy wellies in a blog post! That’s what I love about you – you’re totally true to yourself.
I’ve not got my school scarf anymore, in fact I don’t have anything dating that far back in my life, but I know what you mean about them being sooooo short!
Thanks for the link -up. It’s ages since I’ve had the time to do this. Yet another upside of lockdown!
Take care,
Anna x
Author
Heehee it wasn’t so much a confidence thing, Anna – it was an on-the-spot decision made as we got from our walk… I basically grabbed the camera and tripod before I really went back inside, quickly took the photos and then finally went in and made a cup of tea!!!
And yes – what’s with the short school scarves?!!!
I love it, Catherine! You look adorable! I just found a jacket with a very similar print at a thrift shop and I can’t wait to style it. Mine is more of a spring jacket though, so I may wait a bit before wearing it. And why were scarves so short in the 80’s and 90’s!? I like a nice big long one that can wrap round and round and make me all cozy!
Shelbee
Nothing from my school uniform days – fortunately. Your scarf is super, and really fits in with your outfit. Thanks for hosting. Jacqui x
I think it’s so cool that you still own something from your old school uniform, Catherine! And I love how you styled it. I happen to think the grey hoodie sticking out is just fab! And the wellies….brilliant!
Hugs
Suzy, The Grey Brunette
xx
Fun post – I wish I’d hung on to my school scarf, black and gold stripes.
I have nothing from school except old team pics. Love how you styled this outfit Catherine.
What fun! Y’all’s schools and “houses” sound so delightfully Harry Potter to us… Love your specs!
Good Morning Catherine!
We have a 1.5 mile wooded trail behind our house where we walk the pups, and boy is it muddy now with all of the rain! Love how you styled the scarf and the green color popping out. The jacket is a great print!
jess xx