I hope you’ve all been having a lovely time. The others are out walking Gary so I’ve found a few moments to say hello. I’ve been enjoying having a little more time on my hands to play around with some old favourites in my wardrobe for a Midlifechic Christmas. Here are some outfits of the week with links attached for anything that is still in the shops:
Book Club reunion chic!
This was where I left off in my last post, I had such a lovely evening catching up with some old friends who are mums from my eldest’s primary school days. We used to run the PTA together and hold a monthly book club. In those days I was the only one that worked but as our children got older, they gradually picked up their careers again and book club was sacrificed to the immense juggle that is the life of a working mother. Between them they are now an cccupational therapist; a paediatric anaesthetist; a chemistry teacher; a dentist; a surveyor; a primary school teacher and a charity worker. Some have retrained, some have managed to pick up where they left off but they are all definitely inspiring women who are getting their groove back. We realised that in those days we spent our time together worrying about our children taking the 11 plus exams, now we’re all worrying about them going to university – we agreed that we really need to stop worrying! We had a casual supper, several bottles of prosecco and didn’t talk about books at all…the same kind of book club meeting we always had!
Black Whistles blazer, black M&S coated jeans, Next long sleeved black t-shirt, Boden Jackie heels, Great Plains sequinned scarf
Christmas Eve chic
After a full day spent cooking and baking on 23rd, it was lovely to escape for our traditional Christmas Eve day out. We never tell the boys which city we’re going to but it always includes lunch at Pizza Express followed by a trip to the theatre. This year we went to Manchester to see Shrek, I booked it 18 months ago with some of the money my mum left me when she died so we had the best seats in the house and it was lovely to have a gift from my parents one last time. We even managed to find time for an aperitif at the beautiful Palace Hotel next door:
Woolovers jumper, Max Azria silver velvet pencil skirt, Selfridges snakeprint clutch, Boden necklace, Boden sixties heels
We had a great journey home in the dark listening to Michael Buble and checking the Santa Tracker and there was great joy to discover that the pyjama fairy still brings new pyjamas for everyone on Christmas Eve even though the boys are getting bigger. Surprisingly they still wanted to go to bed early which meant Mr MC and I were able to have a peaceful evening together drinking champagne and watching the Thomas Crowne Affair (Jan, a dear reader in the US and I had both pledged to do this over Christmas and marvel at the sassy Rene Russo and her wardrobe which still looks great even though it was filmed in 1999 – I think we should start a sassy women’s film club – Jan have you watched it yet?).
Christmas Day chic
Christmas Day was lovely, if a little quieter than we planned – my sister and her husband went down with the awful flu bug that seems to be decimating the UK population and so did my friend so we fell short on the guest front. However we had a lovely morning of stocking opening followed by a long lazy breakfast, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, a Walking Dead board game (!) then a long lazy lunch. We then finally got round to present opening – we open one gift under the tree each time the old grandmother clock strikes so the boys spend the afternoon watching it, eagerly awaiting the ‘bongs.’ Here’s a quick picture taken before lunch as I was setting the table, glasses still on my head from checking recipes:
Cropped Boden cashmere jumper, Next sequin dress, Boden sixties heels, Zara necklace
I rebelled completely on Boxing Day and spent the entire day in my new Joules pyjama trousers and a festive red jumper despite the fact that friends kept popping in – I declared it a ‘midlifeunchic’ day. Photos were threatened by many but I managed to avoid them. Despite my lack of effort on the getting dressed front, I read through 3 style books that the boys had bought me including one by Ines de la Fressange so I’m now brimming with sartorial tips and theories to share with you in the new year.
Post Christmas walk chic
Yesterday I was persuaded out of my pyjamas and we went for a bracing walk in lovely frosty weather followed by lunch which tasted all the better for being cooked by somebody else!
Grey & Osbourn Peacoat, Esprit straight leg jeans, Boden Boho boots, TK Maxx bag, Accessorize scarf
So, tonight we’re off out for dinner to celebrate the eldest’s 18th belatedly with my siblings and our nephews and nieces although as yet, I still don’t have a clue who’s coming. My brother has phoned to say that he is now down with flu so they can’t make it; my sister seems to be getting better but my other brother is over in Yorkshire with his in-laws and has emailed to tell me that he has ‘washed’ his mobile phone but hasn’t confirmed whether they’ll be back in time to join us. I’m sure we’ll have a lovely time whatever happens. Happy Twixtmas everyone and enjoy the last week of indulgence before we need to address the ‘new year, new you’ theme…it’s on its way!
