Shaping Up with Shapewear

Have you ever tried on a dress made of an uncompromising material, which would look fabulous if only you could flatten that little poochy belly, or eliminate that squidgy back fat? I have, many times, and I've found that good shapewear has allowed me to wear those dresses and feel confident, and, dare I say it, even comfortable.

Style Not Age Challenge: Welcome to the Jungle!

Greetings all and hope UK readers are enjoying their bank holiday! Today it's the return of the monthly Style Not Age Challenge, and we're in our jungle prints for Emma's challenge.

Star Patterned Midi Dress Two Ways - plus Link Up

Hope you all had a good weekend. I was expecting long queues at the garden centre, as this was their first weekend open for several weeks, but I was pleasantly surprised. I spent all of Sunday sorting out containers and planting, but still have quite a bit left to do.  I'd actually painted my nails but gardening was not a great idea and I had to remove it the next day!

Shirt dresses have never been a thing for me: to be honest I didn't think they would suit me, but this Sophie midi dress from Hush has changed my mind.

Friday Favourites: Books, TV, Pods - May 2020

Friday Favourites is my occasional round-up of recommendations for good viewing, reading and listening with the odd nugget on beauty, fashion and cleaning (we'll come to that!). 

Are These Jeans Magical? And Link Up

I was looking for a new pair of straight leg jeans and these leapt into my basket at Marks and Spencer Simply Food.  They're Magic Shaping Jeans, intended to improve your shape.  I like them for their high waist and length. I chose regular and they're long enough to be able to turn up at the ankle.

The reason I like my jeans and trousers long is that I'm sure they make my legs look longer. To compare, here I am in a pair that finish well above the ankles (scroll down to the David Bowie t-shirt and jeans). My legs are quite short, and these jeans do nothing to help. But not all fashionistas agree with me. Trinny Woodhall is tall but reckons her legs are short, so she always chooses fairly wide legged trousers which are definitely on the cropped side  ("half mast" as we used to say).

The M&S jeans have a no-gape waistband intended to fit perfectly into your waist. Shaping darts give an extra lift. For the ecologically minded, less water has been used to produce this jean than conventional fabric washing. All of M&S's cotton is sustainably sourced.

In the past, I found "magic jeans" had too much lycra and were often tight or pulled in strange places. These jeans feel extremely comfortable. I wouldn't know they were supposed to be "magic" unless it didn't say on the label, so the cleverness is all in the way they're cut.

I'm wearing the jeans with a red top from Oasis (last year's), a statement necklace and gold mules (old). Mules are still quite big this year or, of course, trainers. I buy a new pair of "trendy" sunglasses each year - these are from 2019, red and black tortoiseshell frames from Asos.

I like these jeans so much, I might buy them in black! They also have them in skinny leg, and in colours indigo (as shown), medium indigo, white and black. The recommendation with jeans is usually to size down. I find I can wear a 10 in M&S jeans and trousers  (US 6) and it fits perfectly. I advise caution with the size down advice. Jeans that are too tight on older women can hug a little too much and highlight muffin tops and bulges. Plus they don't feel very comfortable.

No items were gifted for this post. I'm back on Friday with Friday Favourites, an occasional post where I share what I've been enjoying - TV, books, podcasts.

Sharing this post with Claire Justine, Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness at Shelbee on the Edge, Anna at Muttonstyle, #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings, Thursday Moda at Elegance and Mommyhood, Turning Heads Tuesday at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish,  Style with a Smile at Stylesplash, Anna at the GlamAdventure, Style Six at Coast to Coast, TFF at Doused in Pink, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style

Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, the link up where everyone gains. Readers can find new blogs to enjoy and bloggers can find new readers!

Last week's most clicked was from Anna at Mutton Years Style and I, and with her Transitional Outfits Ideas. 

Also very popular was "Selfie Fails and Summer Dress" from Claire at Claire Justine OXOX. Well done ladies!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Exploring Drew Barrymore's Flower Beauty Range

As you know, I'm very keen to explore make-up intended for young women, often at bargain prices, to see if it works for the more mature woman. Today I'm giving you the lowdown on a range of make-up and skincare from a Hollywood favourite, none of it gifted, so you know you're getting an unbiased report.

Finding Calm and Positivity in Troubled Times: And Link Up

Cast yourself back to May 2019, and imagine how amazed you would have been to learn that in a year's time, the world would be under a virtual lock down from a virus.

Some countries are now slowly emerging, blinking and uncertain, from lockdown. Others, like the UK and USA, struggle on. As the dailies are keen to keep reminding us, these are unprecedented times. How are you dealing with it?

Lockdown Continues: Sentence a Day, April 2020

Quick scene setter - the UK went into a form of lockdown on March 20 - schools, restaurants, pubs and most non-essential shops are closed. We are told to work from home, unless it is impossible. We are allowed out daily to exercise and we can go out for basic shopping.  My company mandated working from home a week before the lockdown started.

Weds 1 April

Had good intentions- walk daily, eat only healthy foods. But didn't work out today. Published blog post about silver linings. My brother's wife Claire thinks she may now have Covid-19  (he had it last month). Wanted to send them Easter eggs but delivery would not have been until May!

Thurs 2 April

A more active day - a Joe Wicks workout and a walk with John, all before 9.30. Then work. Clapped for carers.

Fri 4 April

Fairly quiet day. Feeling a bit of FOMO as everyone seems to be doing Zoom or Houseparty calls and we aren't!

Sat 5 April

Lovely day. Did early 6 mile walk in forest.  Unfortunately had gastric problems so had to cut the walk short. Went to bed early and slept for 9.5 hours

Sun 6 April

Another lovely day. Feeling a bit better. Got Easter decorations out. Also summer clothes and sorted winter clothes for charity shop and attic.

Mon 7 April

Woke to the news Boris has gone to hospital with respiratory problems caused by Covid-19.  Meanwhile the Times, struggling for feature content in its supplement, leads on Princess Marie Chantal of Greece's new book about etiquette. But good to read anything non-Coronavirus related.  Did Joe Wicks workout but a bit low on energy

Tues 8th April

Busy day working. Didn't get time for a walk or workout.  Need to prioritize that.

Weds 9 April

Walk at 8am, a short circular 2.2 miles. This is the local village green. Went to the small M&S in Epping for some groceries. Hardly any queuing time, very enjoyable. Made a chicken casserole for dinner.

Thurs 10 April

Worried about economic forecast and care homes tragedy. Did short walk.  Sunny day. Tried to set up a Zoom call with old friends for tomorrow but it fell through.  Clapped for carers.

Good Friday 11 April

Lovely day. Sunny. Queued to get bread. Did housework and weeding.  Ironing while watching Jesus of Nazareth part 1 from 1977.

Sat 11 April

Walked to Waitrose to take a John Lewis parcel back.  Took 1.5 hours to get in. Didn't need any groceries so this was frustrating, but at least it was sunny and I had my headphones. Watered roses. Garden is very dry. My Easter beauty egg arrived from Look Fantastic. Read what was in it here.

Sun 12 April

Sunny. We did an early walk, bluebells and then Strava Art exercise with heart shape. Lamb for lunch.  Watched the Archbishop of Canterbury's Easter service, conducted from his kitchen, with other speakers at their homes. Did a video call with J's kids and granddaughter.

Mon 13 April - Easter Mon

Bit of a long dull day. Consumed a Lindt Easter egg which I wouldn't normally do. Watched last part Jesus of Nazareth.

Tues 14 April

Back to work.  Did a walk at 8am and able to get into the Co Op without queuing to get salad veg. Did a LinkedIn course on Google PPC.  Lots of lovely lilac trees are flowering as I go round on my walks. I love to breathe in the heady aroma.

Weds 15 April

Highlight of week  supermarket trip. Sainsbury's. The queue was in a different place, their side car park,  and it took 1.5 hours snaking round a slalem route which featured upturned trollies as route markers.

Thurs 16 April

Went for early walk with J to do a Strava art route. They're quite complex to execute and I didn't have too much time before my first meeting, so I had to come back early. Clap for carers.

Fri 17 April

Busy at work. Did short walk. Baby Rosie has taken first steps.

Sat 18 April

Woke at 5 thinking this is the best time of the week. But breakfast news was dominated by PPE crisis and UK probably going to have worst death toll in Europe. Went to M&S, very enjoyable, not much of a queue. They had plants!! Got a couple of pink pelargoniums. Did an indoor workout.

Sun 19 April

Sunny but cold. Did an urban walk 4.4 miles. Saw this gorgeous apple tree. Roast beef. Video chat with Christopher, Katie and grandchild. Did a bit of gardening.

Mon 20 April

S**t day. Didn't finish until 7.45. No chance to do a walk.

Tues 21 April

Went out at 8 to do walk. Nipped into Co Op for bread. They even had sourdough! Managed to do a quick blog shoot.

Weds 22 April

Did a workout. Productive day, felt on top of game. 1st time for ages.

Thurs 23 April

Walk 3.5 miles. More cars and people around and people getting complacent.  I was the only one taking avoidance action by walking in the road.  Went to Sainsbury's - noticeably more expensive this week. Queuing took 30 minutes, down from last week. Saw this wisteria on the edge of their car park. Clap for carers.

Fri 25 April

Short walk. Sunny. Short queue for Co Op to get milk and eggs. Fairly busy with work.  Did very quick blog shoot.

Sat 26 April.

Cold start, sunny later. Did a forest walk with J, 3.5 miles.  A lot of people out.  Chris and  Katie were out walking with the baby so called by and we chatted 2 metres apart in the drive. Watched penultimate episode Game of Thrones.

Sun 27 April

Sunny. Took photos for 4 blog posts. Roast pork. Watered garden front and back. Last GOT. Spoke to Mum but not for long as her phone wasn't charged (land line). Should have been flying to America for an annual sales/marketing conference.

Mon 28 April
Early short walk. Survey says J and I am "accepters" meaning that we accept the restrictions and make the best of it. Boris back at work.  Made J a salad  for lunch but I had cheese and crackers, one of my absolute favourite meals. The baby robins in a nest box in our garden have fledged.

Tues 29 April

Virtual event replacing work conference started. Lots team banter on Slack which made it fun.  Molly was fascinated (below). No walk today, did an indoor workout as it was raining.

Weds 30 April

Rain cleared away. Short walk. The rain made everything smell fresh, except for dog waste which makes me very annoyed. Why can't people do the right thing? Busy day. Virtual conf continued, with exercises during the break (!). Salad lunch.  In the evening looked over at J and thought for a moment the Grim Reaper was standing behind him!

Thurs 30 April

Wet and blustery. Did walk 3 4 miles. J found a dead squirrel in the water butt. I was quite sad as we've had a squirrel in the garden for years and enjoy its antics  (I don't know if it's the same one).  Sent mum a VE Day hamper from M&S.  She was thrilled. I worry about her as she's 87 and on her own; she wasn't on the list of 1.5m who were told not to go out at all, so she does venture out occasionally for a short walk, but do-gooders often tell her she shouldn't be out.

Stay safe everyone, and hopefully in a month's time we'll be out of lock down to some extent!