Jun
2012
The Green Floral Dress Goes to Lanark Loch
(New Look dress (with belt worn as headband), Charlotte Russe shoes, Gucci sunglasses)
Yup, I’m STILL talking about last weekend, and how sunny it was, and how awesome it was that it was sunny, and hey, did I ever mention that I like the sun? I did? OK, let’s talk about the clothes, instead…
I got this dress in New Look a few years ago now. It has the distinction of being what I’m pretty sure is the only dress New Look have ever made which isn’t approximately butt-length. It’s certainly the only dress I’ve ever bought from them, because all the rest are either a) so short I couldn’t even sneeze in them without worrying about flashing my knickers, or b) so high waisted that the waistline hits somewhere just under my armpits: not a good look.
(OK, that last point isn’t actually their fault: it’s because of my freakishly long torso, which means that almost all dresses are empire line on me. God, I HATE empire lines.)
What’s interesting about this dress, though (and by “interesting”, I mean, “not really, but it’s not like I have anything else to talk about right now”) is that when I bought it, I was still right at the very start of my dress obsession, and basically wearing a uniform of jeans and a top every single day in life. So each time I wore this dress (which actually wasn’t all that often, on account of how scared I was of being “different”), I felt like I was doing something really brave and revolutionary: wearing a DRESS, while all around me, people were wearing JEANS, by God. I felt a bit like Che Guevara or something. I expect one day people will sing songs about me around campfires and stuff, only not really, because seriously, when I look back now and think that just a few years ago a simple sundress was a huge departure for me, it just makes me laugh. If only my (slightly) younger self could see the inside of her closet now…
In other news: swans!
(This photo makes me laugh so hard. Not because my mum and I ARE laughing in it -as is Rubin, actually – but because my dad is so resolutely NOT. LAUGHING. He’s all, “GOD, lookit them! Why are they laughing? Why am I with these lunatics? Humbug!”)
Anyway, my closet may have changed since this dress was purchased, but the dress itself is still going strong, and for its latest adventure, I wore it on a day out to Lanark Loch with Terry and my parents. And Rubin, of course, who’d had a haircut by that point. (I feel I should point out that he DOES still have a tail, even although you can’t see it in the photo above…) Luckily, Terry had thought to check the weather report the night before, and we’d discovered that it was to be about 10 degrees warmer there than it would be on the east coast, and that was good enough for us, so off we went. Honestly, I’d have gone to Mordor if I thought it would have slightly better weather, I’m not even joking.
Aaaaand I think I’m finally done re-capping my weekend. Just in time for the NEXT one. Don’t worry, though: today is officially my last day of work before my holiday, but it turns out we’re actually leaving a day earlier than I thought (I just found this out last week. My parents and Terry all read my blog post in which I mentioned spending next Friday packing, and not one of them thought to tell me that if I did that, I’d be left behind. Which makes me wonder if they were trying to intentionally leave me behind, hmmm?) and we also have our friends’ wedding to go to next week, so I’ll probably have limited time for blogging. Then again, I might just procrastinate to the point where I spend ALL my time blogging, and have to pack my suitcase at the last possible second again. You’ll just have to wait and see…
Roisin
June 1, 2012 at 10:47 am (382 days ago)These photos are so beautiful, Amber. I especially love the one of you and your mum and Rubin laughing! My dad always has a grumpy face on in photos, even though he’s really not like that AT ALL in life.
I understand what you’re saying about the New Look dress – I felt pretty much the same way about the Laura Lees for Topshop dress I bought in 2006 (!) which marked the start of my move into all dresses all the time – I was doing my teacher training at the time and that simple cotton dress felt like such a departure from the jeans and skater trainers I wore the whole time during my university years. That Roisin would have a hard time believing she’s the same person as This Roisin!
Amber
June 1, 2012 at 10:55 am (382 days ago)That’s so interesting – I think I had assumed you had always been a dress wearer! I reckon I must have bought this dress in 2007 – I have some photos of me wearing it in Key West that year, and I remember making a big fuss and asking Terry whether he thought it was “too dressy” about a million and one times before I wore it: it’s funny how things change!
Roisin
June 1, 2012 at 11:04 am (382 days ago)It’s funny because I loved dresses as a teenager – you know, little dresses and platform shoes for going out in – but in my early 20s I loved bellbottom jeans and trainers. When I think about that, I wonder if I’m going to undergo such a style change again. Probably not, though!
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:35 am (381 days ago)I sometimes wonder this too… I mean, I DO still like and wear jeans etc (and I REALLY like cropped pants. A bit too much, actually) and I tend to veer wildly between wanting to be all girly and retro in a dress, and wanting to go for a more modern look, with skinny jeans and spiky shoes or something. The problem is that I just can’t really pull off the second look, so I suspect I’ll probably stick with the dresses for now at least. It’ll be interesting to see how things evolve in the future, though!
Siel
June 1, 2012 at 12:34 pm (382 days ago)You look adorable in these pictures Amber! Love that dress, how couldn’t I, it’s green
I really had to laugh with that photo of you & your mum smiling with your dad so serious, it’s just the same case in my family! Whenever we take a family picture, we all smile while my father is, as he calls it, “neutral”
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:36 am (381 days ago)Thanks, Siel! It’s a running joke in our family that as soon as the camera comes out, my dad’s grumpy face goes on – we have loads of photos of everyone smiling and my dad with a face like thunder: it’s funny, because he’s not the least bit serious in real life, either!
Sandy
June 1, 2012 at 12:54 pm (382 days ago)Lookit Rubins bear style ears!!! He’s so presh!
I also did a transition to skirts (still can’t get on with dresses…I don’t dislike them, they just dislike me and my different sizes) around 2008/9 and I always felt so over dressed. Now it’s all I wear (I feel odd in trousers/jeans) and I don’t feel dressed up at all!! People will comment how lovely something is and I’ll ususally say “What? This old thing??” LOL!
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:39 am (381 days ago)I think a lot of people seem to have an instinctive reaction that skirt/dress = “dressed up”, which I’ve never understood, because those kind of outfits can be so much simpler and easier to wear than jeans etc. I get the same reaction when I wear heels of any kind (which is basically ALL the time) – people are always absolutely amazed by the fact that I’m wearing OMGHEELS, but to me they’re just shoes, and not anything out of the ordinary: it’s interesting how differently people perceive things like that!
Erika
June 1, 2012 at 1:47 pm (382 days ago)More great pics, I love the second one, it is so cool! And green is definitely your color
I am looking forward to the vacation posts. Enjoy your trip!
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:40 am (381 days ago)Oh, you might regret encouraging me with that one: we always take a LOT of photos on holiday. A LOT of photos….
Nina
June 1, 2012 at 3:42 pm (382 days ago)The one where you’re sitting on that bench is great! Well done, Terry and lovely look, Amber
) Have a great time on your holiday! Best wishes!
Rubin’s new haircut makes him look so cuddly
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:40 am (381 days ago)Thanks, Nina – we’re really looking forward to it!
Caroline
June 1, 2012 at 4:35 pm (382 days ago)Great pics, looking fantastic, as always! I’ve recently discovered the joys of wearing a dress’s belt as a hairband – loving it!
And Rubin’s summer coat-cut is adorable! What a cute little… errrrm… killer wolf. Grrr.
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:41 am (381 days ago)I have a ton of headbands/belts now which started life as the belts on dresses: with a lot of them, I don’t have the dress any more, but the belt lives on!
Melisa P.
June 1, 2012 at 6:09 pm (381 days ago)These pictures are fantastic… I seriously don’t know how you do it… Every time somebody tries to take pictures of me the results are… Terrible!!!
Btw. Rubin is so.damn.cute!
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:43 am (381 days ago)Oh, thank you! Most of the time my results are terrible, too – for every nice photo, there’s always at least one where I look like a troll or something!
Nina
June 1, 2012 at 11:10 pm (381 days ago)Gorgeous pictures, as always. Rubin looks so cute in the ‘smiling’ pic
That lipcolor you’re wearing really suits you, by the way. Could you tell me what it is?
Amber
June 1, 2012 at 11:29 pm (381 days ago)I actually can’t remember exactly which one I was wearing that day – I normally wear either MAC Ruby Woo or Russian Red, though, so it would’ve been one of those: probably Russian Red, because I’ve been wearing it a bit more often!
Nina
June 2, 2012 at 12:16 am (381 days ago)Thank you!
Katie
June 2, 2012 at 3:20 am (381 days ago)The last minute is the only time to pack your suitcase, isn’t it? Don’t tell me I’ve been going about this packing thing the wrong way for years.
Amber
June 2, 2012 at 10:46 am (381 days ago)It’s really the only way I ever pack… I’m always amazed when, with about a month or something to go before a trip (literally), people start asking me if “I’m all packed yet”. I honestly can’t understand how people can pack that far ahead – I’d do it, and then just have to keep taking things out again to wear/use them!
BEKI
June 3, 2012 at 8:54 pm (379 days ago)Amazing photographs and unique blog! x
Tracey
June 3, 2012 at 11:56 pm (379 days ago)A) Have a wonderful holiday
B) That photo of you and Terry is great