Today I'm Wearing...

This outfit looks a bit dull doesn't it...

At least it all matches, it's only recently that I've started coordinating my clothes properly.  There are a few reasons for this, mainly I didn't really think about it much, I didn't have a lot of money to spend and snapped up bargains whether they matched what I'd already got or not, and finally I do have a bit of money now to spend how I please.  That's one advantage of being older, mortgage is paid off, no big items to buy for the house and affordable clothes available in the shops at last.

The cardigan here is one I bought ages ago from M&S, it hasn't kept it's shape very well, it went out of shape very quickly.  I doubt I'll be buying much from M&S anymore, they have gone too expensive and I don't like the quality or styles like I used to.

The top and jeans are from my favourite shop.

Another Spring Outfit

I recently saw a lovely outfit that had a blue flowered jacket, white tee shirt and blue trousers.  If I had bought that outfit it would have cost me as much just for the jacket as I ended up paying for the whole outfit from my favourite clothes shop (you know who I mean!).  Bonmarche did have some blue flowered cardigans in a few weeks ago but when I went the other day they no longer had any in the shop.  They did have a grey flowered cardigan so I decided to get that and a pair of grey trousers to go with it.  I already had a white tee shirt that would be suitable.

I would have preferred the blue version but the grey looks nice too.  I'll keep my eye open for a blue patterned cardigan, if I find one I will buy a pair of the blue jean type trousers Bonmarche are currently selling.  Maybe I'll get the blue trousers anyway.

Shapewear

I decided to treat myself to some shapewear now that I have an annoying layer of fat on my body.  Since I've been in my sixties I've been very self conscious of these rolls of fat that I never had previously.  It's probably not as bad as I think it is but I'm not used to having much fat, especially not the sort of fat that is noticeable when I wear anything that clings.  So I decided to try some Shapewear .  I bought the vest the other day and tried it out for the first time today.  It was a bit of a struggle to get into compared to a normal vest but once on it is very comfortable.  I'm not sure how much difference it makes to my shape, I didn't wear it with anything that I usually feel a bit self conscious in.

The shorts I bought really are a struggle to get into!  Once on they are comfortable and they do make a noticeable difference to my stomach area, they really hold it in.  They would be even better if they had come up a bit higher than my waist.  In the picture it looks as though they come up higher but not on me.

When I find the two tops I have that tend to cling I will have a better idea of how well these two undergarments work.  So far I'm pleased with these purchases.

Spring Outfit For The Older Woman

The weather is getting everyone down isn't it.  I keep daydreaming about spring, I'm looking forward to being able to go outside wearing something other than this...

Is that really me?  I don't know that old woman!

This spring and summer I intend wearing more skirts and dresses instead of my usual trousers or jeans with everything.  I do have a few dresses and skirts I bought a couple of years ago that have hardly been worn.  I won't go bare legged though, even on youngsters a nice outfit is often spoilt by not wearing hosiery unless  they have perfect legs, which most people don't.

Last week I was browsing around (where else?) Bonmarche and saw a lovely two piece I couldn't resist, and it was in navy instead of the usual black.  Navy mustn't be very fashionable these days, black isn't my colour, navy isn't as harsh.  I bought the size 14 UK size and the top fits perfectly but the skirt is a bit big on the waist, that can easily be fixed...

the purple and white go nicely with the navy background and jacket.

The jacket and false top are sewn together at the sides and shoulders.  The sleeves are a perfect length for me, most older women have trouble with the upper arm area don't they, so it is nice to be able to cover up that part.

A Look At My Face

I mentioned recently that I hate having my picture taken.  Well, it's a bit difficult to do a posting about skin care without showing myself.  Here is my face after a bit of pampering.  I wash my face first, can't stand the thoughts of not doing that.  Then I use cleanser, toner, eye gel, moisturiser.  Today I followed this with some BB cream that I'd bought in December and some Avon Face Perfector which I think gets rid of the shine.

You can still see the sort freckles I have around my left eye, the BB Cream didn't conceal those.  My upper eyelids are droopy but there isn't much I can do about that but the puffy bags under my eyes do look a bit better than they did.

Here's another picture showing my 'bitchy resting face' . 

I even scare myself when I see this face!  

The next step now is for me to use some lipstick and eye makeup, maybe a bit of blusher.

Skin Care For This 60+ Woman

Maybe I should say 'skin care for someone pushing 70', I'm 67, have I left it a bit late to start thinking about caring for my skin I wonder.  I didn't really have to think about it until recently, I suppose I was one of those lucky people who took my lack of problems with my skin for granted.  Now I've got a bit wrinkly, (or maybe a lot wrinkly depending which mirror I look in), my skin is very dry in places and my cheeks are now my jowls - if you know what I mean.  I also have a double chin, don't know where that came from!  Also I'm very puffy around they eyes.  I hate having my picture taken, I just do not recognise the person in them, it is not me!

Today I bought myself a diy facial kit (on a tight budget)...

moisturiser and cleanser at 79p each

3-in-1 cleanser, toner & refresher at £1.99

exfoliating masque at £1 for the two

some fancy oil skin perfector at £4.99

a general exfoliating scrub at £1

I got all the above for £10.25 from Savers, which I thought was an excellent price for that lot.  I saw the fancy oil stuff at Asda for £8 - what! - £8!  I only paid £4.99.  

I got this eye gel from Superdrug for £4.97, I think the full price is something like £9.99.  I have tried it and I'm sure it already worked a bit, maybe it's wishful thinking but I think my eyes looked a bit less puffy already.

I thought I might as well use Johnson's baby oil for when I do a facial massage, I chose the aloe vera one at £1.25 from Asda.

We'll see what happens anyway, I've now got to be very self disciplined and use these products every day.  Usually I just wash my face with soap and water and sometimes use moisturiser.

More Fashion For This Over 60 Woman

I had a really horrible January.  I was away over Christmas and arrived home on December 27th.  By the afternoon of the 28th I felt terrible - I'd caught a virus from someone.  It was horrible, I've never felt so ill, a terrible sore throat and cough.  Luckily it didn't go to my chest, it seemed to stay in my throat, I coughed so much I thought my throat was going to turn inside out!  It was three weeks before I started to feel better.  This made me decide that I needed to do something about my immune system.  To start with I'm taking a multi vitamin aimed at 50+.  I'll see how it goes, I don't really have much faith in vitamin supplements but it can't do any harm.  Also, cut out as much processed food as possible, each lots of fresh fruit and veg and get more exercise.  Well the exercise will have to wait until the better weather, my idea of exercise is walking and I certainly won't be out walking far in the rain, which seems never ending at the moment.

When I started to feel a bit better I went and had my usual shampoo and set and found out that the salon were doing a special offer half price facial.  As I was looking particularly haggard I decided to treat myself - it was bliss!  My skin felt so much better and looked a lot brighter.  I can't afford to go for a facial regularly, full price it is £45, but I will look out for special offers and buy myself a diy facial kit, I'm going tomorrow to see what is available on a budget.

While I was away at Christmas I did treat myself to a t-shirt from Bonmarche...

love the random stripe look

looks nice with my black cardigan

nice sequin detail

This is the hat I was admiring a couple of months ago.  When I bought it it only cost £4.50, a bargain.  It is nice to wear and keeps my head nice and warm now that my hair is thinning on top - another drawback of getting older.  But at least I get to wear hats these days without feeling as self conscious as I would have done when I was younger.