It may seem futile, but even when there are zero opportunities for showing off a fabulous new outfit, why not just wear the damn thing anyway?
I say new – this outfit has one new item. What I’ve put together is fresh and new, and I did it just for the fun of it. For the sheer joy of getting dressed and playing Dress Up. We need to find joy where we can, and this is one of the best ways, no?
So as much as I love to bring you my real life, this-really-is-what-I-actually-wore-to-walk-the-dog-today outfits (see last week for the best example), sometimes it’s nice just to rifle through your wardrobe and get creative. Then potter round the house for a bit, realise your feet are cold, and change back into your sweats and slippers.
At the very least it gives you some fashun practice…!
[Reading time: 3 mins]
Disclosure: This blog uses affiliate links (at no cost to you) and any items listed as* were PR products accepted within the last 12 months. Full disclosure
Shop the look:
.
The main reason for putting this together was the (not vintage but it looks it) shirt – that glorious, psychedelic landscape pattern, those deep cuffs, the just-wide-enough wide collars, the stunning warm colours. It was love at first sight when I first spotted it online, which was, erm… spring/summer last year, maybe? It was an eye-watering £190 full-price [gulp], so I added it to my “Keep an eye on these things in case they go on sale” tabs.
I checked it again just at the right time – it came down to quite a bit less than half price a few weeks before Christmas #HappyDance #AddTo BasketRightNow. Still a bit pricey, but I’m happy to spend that amount on something that looks vintage and have been thinking about a lot. (Both those factors mean I will probably treasure it for a looooooong time.)
And lo, my Christmas present from Keith to me was requested, confirmed and very happily received. What’s also fabulous is that it’s by Stine Goya, a sustainable Danish brand – one that comes highly recommend by my Guru of All Things Eco and Sustainable, Michelle Tyler. As you’ve probably guessed, the shirt has long since sold out, but you can have a look at all the other wonderfully patterned shirts they do here.
Though if they’re still too much [price-wise] for you, even at sale prices, then why not still go down the other even MORE eco route and buy vintage instead? I actually bought two vintage blouses this week on eBay, probably because we’ve been watching The Queen’s Gambit and I’ve heard myself say Ooh I like her outfit/Ooh I like her blouse/Ooh I like her dress/Ooh I like her coat/Ooh I like her shoes OVER and OVER and OVER again.
My most treasured items in my wardrobe are all the vintage pieces, and that’s the beauty of vintage clothes: they’re already “out of date”. So they can’t date. I bought my vintage 70s landscape shirt about 10 years ago, and I still love it as much now. Won’t date, can’t date, shan’t date.
Keep your eye out for those two ‘new’ blouses, coming soon to a Not Dressed As Lamb outfit post near you : -)
Are you still playing Dress Up – or now plan to (even if it’s just for one day)? And has The Queen’s Gambit (or any other period drama) got you longing for vintage? Comment below…
Stay safe, XOXO
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!
Shirt: Stine Goya (you might like this splurge one, or this pricey-but-slightly-cheaper 80s-inspired one, or this not-quite-so-splurgy one)
Blazer: Zara (old, similar)
Trousers: Asos (similar)
Shoes: VERY old (love these ones)
Brooch: Unknown (you might like this one)
Belt: & Other Stories (similar)
Glasses: Specsavers*
Other Stine Goya patterned tops, shirts and blouses you might like:
✷ ✷ ✷ ✷ ✷
CLICK HERE to read the rules of the #iwillwearwhatilike link up…
CLICK HERE to receive an email reminder for the next #iwillwearwhatilike link up as soon as it’s live!
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
Yes, I am all here for this!
Danielle xx
Author
Thanks Danielle! 😀
Totally hear you Catherine. Know that feeling 🙂 Waiting about 2 years for a pair of velvet loafers to be on sale. Like you and that blouse, we were meant to be together. And btw not the least bit jealous of you always looking so darn pretty with a headband.
Love them. But they do not like me. Sigh.
Thanks for hosting. Stay safe. xo Sabina
Author
Oooooh velvet loafers sound lush, Sabina! And thank you… you do know that the main reason for the hairband is to cover my roots, don’t you?!!! 😉
Catherine, this outfit combination is absolutely brilliant! I love all of these colors together and the print on your blouse is so wonderful! I do love a good vintage inspired anything. And I was totally crushing on so many outfits from The Queen’s Gambit! Right now I am watching Reign which has some pretty fantastic costumes as well. And I just started watching Outlander, another great source of sartorial inspiration. I love the idea of playing dress up and have been trying to do it often myself, but it is so darn snowy here, one can barely walk out the door without freezing half to death or risking life and limb on the ice covered surfaces! I have to start taking more indoor outfit photos, I suppose! Cheers to playing dress up! You look fabulous, my friend.
Shelbee
Author
The Queen’s Gambit was incredible, wasn’t it Shelbee? And I’m a MASSIVE fan of Outlander as well (Covid has delayed so many of my favourite shows… it’s so hard having to wait longer for each new series)!!
Thank you my lovely, hope you’re safe and well x
Wow, I don’t usually like blouses but this one is fab – the colours. Also I so love those pants I’ve ordered the Asos paper bag trousers for myself! It’s the cheerful colours more than anything else.
Author
The colours are what drew me to it, Penny! Glad you like the paperbag trousers too – my favourite shape trooz 😀
What a fun look! Love the blouse and I really like how you styled it. The brooch is cute!
xoxo
Lovely
Author
Thank you Lovely – it was nice to rediscover the brooch in my jewellery collection and see that it went so perfectly with the blouse!
We’re putting on clothes anyway, aren’t we? And why not do it with style? Your fashion sense is so right-on-the-money, as always Catherine. Thanks for the reminder and for hosting.
Rena
Author
Hehe you’re absolutely right, Rena! Thank you so much darling xx
This shirt is stunning! I can see why you flagged it as a “check back for sale” wishlist item. So glad you were able to get it, it was definitely worth the wait, and it looks fabulous with your blazer!
I hope you are having a great week!
Amber
Author
I tend to do that with most things, Amber… I rarely buy anything full price!! Thanks so much x
Love the fantastic print of this blouse! You did an amazing job styling it too! I love the addition of the brooch!
-Katie
Author
Aww thanks Katie – I’m so glad the yellow brooch went so well with it 🙂
I love that blouse, Catherine. So 70’s. The colours are perfect for you. The brooch looks vintage from the sixties or seventies as well. I remember the flower power days… and trying to make groovy sixties clothes for my Barbie. Ha. Loooong time ago now.
Author
No surprise that I loved it Sue with it being so 70s-looking, is it?! 😉
I had a lot of hand-me-down clothes for my Barbies and Sindys from my (10 years older than me) sister, it’s no wonder I grew up with a love of 60s and 70s clothes!
I love this! I need to start experimenting more with my clothes again, even if no one sees. And I feel you on the TV watching/vintage clothes hunting–I’m forever watching period pieces and drooling over the clothes, especially coats and shoes. I started investing in more classically styled pieces in the last few years and have been so pleased with them–they don’t age and every time I wear them I feel a little bit more glamorous!
Author
Isn’t it SO fabulous how vintage doesn’t age/date, Martha? Definitely with you on the “must experiment more even if no one sees” thing…!
First of all, I love Stine Goya. I discovered them in Copenhagen a few years ago and have a couple dresses of theirs that I absolutely adore. Secondly, I am so tired of wearing sweaters and leggings all the time, so yes, I’m starting to get dressed up just because. It has made a marked improvement on my mood!
Cheryl Shops
Author
I wasn’t familiar with Stine Goya before Cheryl – LOVE their patterns though, aren’t they incredible?!
I’m loving your look – nice and casual just perfect for now! Thanks for hosting. Jacqui x
Author
Thank you Jacqui – can you tell I’m ready for spring…?!!
Fabulous dog walking outfit, Catherine! I swear I had a top like that when I was in junior high, which would have been in the mid to late 70’s! I love that the vintage style has come back around and I also love thrifting, so either way I could end up with something with that vibe. Great look. Thanks for sharing and inspiring! – Amy
Author
Oooh I didn’t wear this dog walking, Amy… I look far more like a bag lady when out with Suki (and at the moment – wearing a trillion layers!) So glad you liked the look, thanks so much x
That blouse is just incredible! EBay, huh? I just bought a vintage 70s dress–paisley!–on Etsy and will have to have it altered. Darn. I totally agree, we sometimes need to just wear that outfit even at home. As you say, then revert back to our warm sweats!! Lol!
xx Darlene
Author
I’ve been very, very lucky with my vintage eBay and Etsy purchase, Darlene… I think my superpower is finding vintage items that fit me like a glove!! 😉
That top is absolutely fabulous! I can see why you had to have it. And why not walk the dog in the wonderful outfit? I dress up to go over to my mom’s. So I get it.
Michelle
Author
If it were warm and dry enough I would, Michelle… we’re currently walking Suki in several inches of mud every day!!!!
What a glorious outfit. I love the shirt (well done Keith!!), and it really does look vintage. I love dressing up as you know! A welcome change from wearing scrubs three days a week at work and jeans the rest of the time. Love and hugs xxx
Author
Thank you Liz – Keith can’t really say he chose it all by himself… I added it to my online wishlist and marked it as “top priority”, hehe 😉
I’m smiling because just yesterday I decided to play dress up just to see if I still had it in me. And because I dress up so much less these days, many of my pieces felt like new again. Like you, I shot a few photos and got back into my leggings and puffer vest to take the dog for a walk! 🙂 I love Stine Goya – the prints are always so amazing and unique. True, the pieces are pricey, so I am always on the lookout for second hand pieces – which is like a treasure hunt.
Thanks for the link up party! Hope all is well with you,
xx
Suzanne
“Screw lockdown let’s play dress up!” Could be THE BEST blog title EVVVER!
Catherine this post is the tonic we all need right now and so is your sensational outfit. Thank you for being the sunshine and wearing the sunshine too xxx.
Oh yes I dressed up for the dog walk today. Okay we take blogpictures before.. I am in love with the Queens Gambit Outfits too. I can understand you.
You look amazing in this style and great you dress up and go outside to breathe fresh air and go for dog walk.
Thank you for your linkup Catherine.
XO Tina
Huge Stine Goya fan over here. (She also has a house to die for and a very handsome husband)
Marc bought me a beautiful dress a couple of years ago and I have a couple of blouses too. I think its always OK to buy better but buy less.
…looking very cheerful Mrs Summers.
Ash xx
It’s a gorgeous top!
Love this. That print is so unique. But I think it is your tattersall plaid jacket that I truly covet. We go out about once a week and I really try to make it special. I always look forward to your linkup.
Love this look- that blouse is to die for! The whole colour palette is divine- especially your headband with your hair colour- I love it!!
Ohhh, this might be one of my favorite outfits of yours! I love the print with the plaid, and the 70s color vibe. The warm colors are up my alley and the flower pin at the collar is sweet! I enjoy creating from my closet too these days, even if it is for ourselves!
enjoy your day!
jess xx
That is a fantastic print shirt, well worth the wait! I love the 70’s colors and psychedelic vibe of it. Also, you are a print and pattern mixer extraordinaire! Thanks for sharing with the blogging community, it is fun and mood lifting to create outfits, even if we are not currently able to socialize and wear them out in public.
I wholeheartedly agree that we should just play dress up (I wrote a post about the exact same thing just a couple of weeks ago trying to encourage it lol). I love playing dress up, it’s one of the things we can do to enjoy ourselves at the moment, right?!
You look fantastic. That shirt is so unusual, and I love how you styled it!
Hugs
Suzy, The Grey Brunette (I love writing that lol, although a male friend thinks it sounds like a new breed of squirrel!!)
xxx
What a stunning outfit, Catherine, and proof yet again that you are a styling master! (mistress?!?! doesn’t sound quite right….oh well). I love everything about this, and the confidence with which you put all the elements together. Even if we couldn’t see your face, there would be no doubt about who this was! I am mostly dazzled by that gorgeous jacket (imagine what it takes to match all those plaid seams)! And as always, I appreciate the link-up.