A Christmas Mixed Platter - and Link-Up

 

Dear friends. Hope you are in fine fettle. Here's a bit of good news for you.  Middle aged women have fewer wrinkles than their male counterparts, according to the Ben-Gurion University in Israel. 

I offer that miserable tidbit because life is becoming gloomy again. The Omicron Covid variant is doubling every three days here in the UK, and while we have one of the biggest numbers of vaccinated people in the world,  it's nonetheless a threat to the un-vaccinated, who account for 90% of people in intensive care.

We wait with dread to see if the government plans to introduce any changes which could affect the big holiday season. Just a few days before Christmas last year, London and other regions were thrust into a  lock down which meant we couldn't entertain in our homes. And I was left with a giant ham, as it was too late to cancel. 

12 Days of Christmas Challenge

I'm taking part in an outfit challenge on FB based loosely around the 12 Days of Christmas.  Day 1, A Partridge in a Pear Tree - Your Best Green - is shown at the top. I used to think that lime green or kelly green were my favourites:  I certainly had enough garments in those colours!  Since getting hold of the Kettlewell Rachel jacket in alpine green, and the pine diamond infinity, I've switched my allegiance. Wearing them with the Kettlewell ruched skirt and scoop neck in fuchsia. 

Day 2: 2 Turtle Doves - Your Version of Grey

Grey is a colour I usually relegated to trousers (pants), but silver is a version of grey and I like it very much. I'm wearing a raspberry silk top from M&S, grey trousers from M&S, silver short tie wrap from Kettlewell and winter necklace/bracelet from My Season Jewellery.

Day 3: Three French hens - Breton or any other type of stripe

This is the first Breton top I've ever owned, bought this summer. I've never been very keen on stripes.  Kettlewell Zesty Breton top, metallic blue belt and lime short tie wrap, with bag by Cambridge Satchel Co. 

Day 4:  Four Colly (calling) birds - black, or your favourite neutral

How to wear Black 

Black is an interesting one. It seems to divide opinion. In color analysis terms, only Winters are supposed to be able to wear it.  I am a winter, and I do wear it with relish, but it's best worn with a contrasting colour - like the red above, or the white collar on the black dress. Plus you need quite strong make-up to avoid looking washed out. Bottom left was a bit of fun for Halloween last year, including a £10 novelty wig! 

Day 5: Five Gold Rings - how you wear sparkle or metallic 

I love a bit of sparkle, particularly for daytime, as regular readers will know.  The red sequin top from Next has been worn to work a few times with a cardigan. The silver top, from Mint Velvet, was never worn by me - I bought it without trying it on, and when I came to wear it, it was very big and too bulky to tuck in.  I'm not sure I like it belted. So I gave it away. I used to buy a sparkly item each Christmas, but no more.  Sequins are very bad for the environment. 

Day 6: Six Geese A-Laying: how you stay cosy in your nest 

Lounge wear to me is a sweatshirt or fleece, with t-shirt underneath, and possibly a long cardigan over the top. I only wear PJs or a dressing gown in the bedroom and I'm afraid onesies are abominations. Last year for one of the Style Not Age Challenges, I bought a woolly two piece "lounge wear" outfit, but didn't wear it so it went to a charity shop.  It was too itchy and too hot!

Day 7: 7 Swans A-Swimming: How you wear white

The only time I ever wear white on its own is at the end of a summer holiday abroad, as seen in Skiathos (left). Hopefully having a tan makes it less draining. On the right, embellished coatigan worn over white jeans with silver accessories. 

Skirts at the Ready 

Last November a few of us took part in a challenge to wear a skirt every day for a week, and show a picture every day on Instagram, or all seven pics in a blog post.  

I've decided to run the next #7DaySkirtChallenge in January when things are a bit flat. You can either wear a different skirt each day, or style one skirt differently for the seven days.  It's fun and attracts more readers / viewers. YouTubers welcome! 

 If you'd like to join in, let me know so I can let you know when day 1 is, either on Instagram: @is_this_mutton_ or by email, isthismutton96@gmail.com

Christmas Tree is Up

This is the earliest the Christmas tree has ever had an airing. I like a traditional tree, with red and gold baubles, and a star on the top. This year's star is new, from M&S: it has a clever timer feature so that it's on for 8 hours and off for 16.  I also bought something very retro - lametta.  We used to have this on trees when I was a kid.

The tree is artificial and has been coming out for more than 10 years, which means that in environmental terms, its score is the same as a real tree.  Analysis last week showed that an artificial tree loses points early on in its life, because it's probably made in China and shipped a long way, and is not biodegradable, but over time, it catches up with a real tree because they incur hits on transportation, fertilizer and being dumped after one usage. 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on wearing black, and how you style your Christmas tree (real? different colour theme every year? retro or modern?) in the comments.

Sharing this post with: On Mondays We Link Up at Glass of Glam, Top of the World Style at High Latitude Style, Chic & Stylish at Mummabstylish, #SpreadTheKindness at Shelbee on the Edge, #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, TFF at Doused in Pink, Lizzie in Lace Confident Twosday at IDoDeclaire, Rena at Fine Whatever, Fabulous Fridays at Lucy Bertoldi, #Neverendingstyle at The Grey Brunette #TheWednesdayLinkUp at Claire Justine, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion Style, Happiness is Homemade at Life as a Leo Wife 

Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, the linky where readers find new blogs to read, and bloggers find new readers!

Last Week's Favourites (Most Clicked)

Spots, Gardens and Memories from Jill of Grownup Glamour. A beautiful and bittersweet post. 

Style Not Age Showcases Festive Finery by Hilda of Over the Hilda. How fabulous is this crushed velvet jacket! 

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