Was it just me..? That was struck by the very ‘Victorian’ appearance of a Charity Shop mannequin on a recent excursion out of my local area. Straightaway I noticed a number of things…the dark heavy dress with layering folds, the ‘unearthly’ yellow skin and the vacant face…it was kind of creepy…yet fascinating too. So I Read More
As summer wears on…I cannot go any further without mentioning ‘Bridal’. The tradition of the June bride now passed…does not stop summer being the favourite season to ‘tie the knot’. It’s now…when this lucrative and big business industry kicks into high gear. Even though I’m not going to be a ‘Bride’…I still take an interest Read More
Yet another Charity Shop ‘bit the dust’ I discovered this week, and I was very sorry to see it go. It was small with some very friendly volunteers and I used to look forward to going and ‘having a chat’, they even let my dog in (which is getting rarer these days unfortunately…). I wouldn’t Read More
I haven’t been down to my local Charity Shop for a long while…(shame on me), so I thought I better go get back there pronto, to check out what’s the latest ‘fashion scoop’. Where…I could discover by beating my tracks back…to one of my favourite local fashion icons ‘Stephanie’, the Charity shop mannequin! You never know Read More
‘Strange’ museum displays, ‘spooky’ shop windows, wig’s on sideways, missing limbs, crinkly clothes, dusty appearance, an occasional ‘musty’ smell, and dynamic poses…what might I be describing? Well it’s those favourite’s of mine…mannequins! Sadly it seems they are disappearing fast…so what is to be done about it? Times are a changing with minimalism, clean lines, and Read More
So Valentine’s Day is upon us, and for those of us who are expecting no Valentine’s Day cards, chocolates, or flowers…this day can be rather depressing…but wait! Why get down about it? It’s so ‘in your face’ and ‘absolutely everywhere’ (as my pictures will attest) that’s it’s laughable! There is it seems, no escaping it Read More
When is it a good time to update your look and don a new bonnet? Strike that, beret, no strike that ‘get ahead’ get a hat! With the temperatures plummeting in the New Year I was finding my ‘bonce’ was getting rather freezing…so to remedy this, I took a quick look as to what could Read More
Walking down to one of my usual Charity Shop areas I was very glad, very pleased, and almost ‘ecstatic’ that a new charity shop had opened! This was certainly an exciting discovery, in a time when many have shut down or have been so renovated you no longer realise that is a charity shop! (Not good..). Read More
In a recent search through my ‘archives’ whilst looking for bed jackets…I came across an ‘arresting image’ of brooches to make..so I thought why not? I did not indeed make the bed jacket, but maybe I would have more chance at making a brooch. This rather ‘clawing’ image of lace, ribbons and flowers was in Read More
It’s that time of year when colds, snuffles and flu sets in, and unfortunately this is what I have succumbed to over the last weekend and still lingers on…with this event of illness I have ‘taken to my bed’ and thought back to almost exactly a year ago, when I found myself in the same Read More
Flicking through my ES magazine recently, I came across an article reporting on the ‘micro fringe trend’, at the recent London Fashion week’s catwalks. It was seen from designers such as Mary Katrantzou, J.W. Anderson, House of Holland and Mulberry, and if it’s good enough for them, it’s more than good enough for Marianne! Who Read More
This week’s date came round to my pre-booked coach journey to Margate, a day trip paid in advance for £18 return, so I got myself ready and waited in anticipation for the arrival of the coach. It was probably was one of the hottest days this summer, with a predicted temperature of 30 ºc (which Read More
Well it’s ‘all Bridal’ with Marianne this week…inspired by Givenchy’s S/S 16 look, a more ‘laid-back’ approach to Bridal was achieved in homage to Givenchy’s great style. Of course it was all about ‘lace & transparency’ and concocting these on a tight budget. With the best way by ‘upcycling’ and customising. Read More
So it was off to the ‘Charity Shops’ one day last week going slightly further afield, I was searching for some Bridal items (more on that to follow) when on entering the first charity shop, I spotted ‘half a Stephanie’ perched up above some clothing racks, well I have to say I was more than Read More
Oh dear, Oh dear….the recent weather has not been kind to us at all…and it’s especially bad as it was Ascot this week and Ladies Day! Such downpours of rain are most ‘unbecoming’…when you wish to wear that special Ascot outfit! So nearer to home down at the charity shop, Stephanie was decked out in Read More
So Marianne feeling the ‘burst of Spring’ decided it was time to try a fresh look, ‘Granny Chic’ or maybe ‘Lady Chic’ with an added dose of Maximalism to complete the desired effect – load that jewellery on now ‘armour style!’ The approach can be described as taking a ‘strong stance’ in terms of use Read More
