Hi everyone
I do love my coats and hey, it’s colder (for the UK) this week, so out come some of my coats. I’ve said before, my philosophy regarding coats is that my outerwear in winter is the key to looking good. This is because coats are what is visible, while your indoor wear is not seen. Of course, I realise that this is from the point of view of someone who either gets the bus into town or walks everywhere, which is why I don’t like the shorter car coats. I want my legs to be covered thank you very much!
And talking about walking I have some very good news for you all. Part of taking control of my balance issue was a decision to go to the chiropodist. And long story short, last Wednesday I got some orthotic insoles. Readers, the difference is AMAZING! I feel stable! I DON’T need a stick. I can walk without fear. Was it just that??? Yes, apparently yes!
Now there is a longer story, and I shall write about it shortly, primarily to get my story right. And then I intend to take this further, as really, the solution was simple, but the getting there was not. More about that in another blog. But I cannot tell you how relieved I am.
I am not completely back to normal (whatever normal is) as there are still some roads I don’t particularly like crossing, but I think that’s fine and rational. After all I was robbed of my confidence for several months – funnily enough more about that (confidence) later this week. I’m also, btw, actively looking into getting my cataracts done sooner rather than later.
Back to coats! Here are two of my many coats! Both btw, are charity shopped, like all bar one of them, so the variety of coats I have has cost hardly anything.
First of all, there is this green coat, which cost all of £10.
Although I love wearing the black and white combo featured in the last blog, we do have a lot of grey days in the UK so this is a cheerful combination of green and orange.
Selfie in the bedroom!
And now with a hat.
Now I know what some people might be saying – Penny this will be too large for you!
Yes, it is large, ha ha, lol 🤣 Just look at the size of it! It’s huge and oops, apologies for the grey hairs on the collar!
Lesson of the day – don’t buy for size!
I love it.
It’s khaki in colour and I adore it!
And now with an orange beret.
And with a scarf of many colours.
Clothes should make you feel happy and I do when I wear this khaki coat and the green one.
And finally, for those of you who follow My Other Blog, and also those of you who pop over occasionally to read my more political posts, a few days ago I wrote a piece on the US election. Another IT glitch made the email to My Other Blog followers come from ‘WordPress’ and in addition the entire post was on the email. We have rectified this so that won’t happen again but those of you signed up to this other blog – you might have missed it.
For those of you who are not signed up but might just have a look, can I warn more Right-leaning followers of Frugal, of course, you must have gathered by now that my inclination would be to vote for Bernie Sanders whose views seem pretty normal to most of us over the pond, so I write from that perspective. However, it is a think piece on how we could, and perhaps should, react to the result, and I do actively encourage debate although, note that all comments are moderated for My Other Blog. Sadly, it is already a little out of date, but I will, of course, continue to write about the challenges that lie ahead.
That really is all for now.
With love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
Love, love, love the coats and accessories, Penny! They (almost) make me wish for chilly weather for you! You look smashing!
I am so so glad that your tottery tootsies have been given their marching orders and that your confidence rating is now in High. Good for you for getting out there and sorting things out.
Am now heading over to ahem, the other side, to read your other blog and see how much – or not! – we agree on! One thing I’m pretty sure we would nod heads together: we’re certainly living in interesting times!
You keep on taking care, Penny.
Zepherine x
I have more than those 2 coats but these new ones are being worn a lot this winter – apart that is from the last 2 days when I actually wore my (faux) fur coat. And I do feel as though I have sorted out quite bit but it’s me eyes next!
The other blog is now a bit out of date now but I do think asking the why question is really important.
Thanks so much for commenting – and reading both blogs Zepherine. Really appreciate it 😊
I love the coats,especially the green one which made me laugh as 70 years ago we had a skipping rhyme “orange and green should never be seen except on the queen of Ireland.” Presumably because the Irish flag is green,white and orange…though we didn’t hear any actual Irish accents in Fleetwood as all the third and fourth generation Irish and Scottish people spoke Lancashire!
Anyway your orange and green looks good.
Wow, that is not a rhyme I’ve heard of – and orange and green is such a great combo!
Thanks Hilary 😊
Penny I think you look absolutely fantastic in the orange and green. Both suit you so well. I know you favour black and white but the orange and green really do suit you, they feel like happy colours.
I would be very interested to hear what you say about the orthotic insoles and your visit to the chiropodist.
I think a black outfit is great and then again there’s always the day when a colourful outfit is needed. The green coat is cheerful but sadly it isn’t all that warm, so it wasn’t worn over the last couple of days!
The orthotic insoles have been simply amazing and have made a huge difference. However, the instability is at around 50-70% better (which is great) but the eyes have to be sorted too, and that’s my next move. Back to the insoles. A good chiropodist is worth their weight in gold and knows far more about stability and feet that the GP does. After all the feet are where the body sits and stands if you see what I mean. The GP never once asked to see my feet or suggest a visit to the chiropodist. So that’s why we have to be so on top of our own situation – we do actually know what’s wrong with ourselves. Will stop as I can feel a rant coming on 🤣
Thanks Charmaine 😊
Love these.
Coats with decent pockets are WONDERFUL!
Oh indeed, yes, pockets are essential!
Thanks Rose 😊
Hi Penny , So glad you got your wobbly walking sorted out. I think that being able to walk comfortably is THE key to a happy old age , my sister and sister-in- law both younger than me, have serious problems walking and it really makes their lives very uncomfortable.
Love the coats on you particularly the khaki one . The slightly large look is very flattering and there’s room for a thick jumper underneath! Oddly I have an almost identical coat bought from M&S sale a few years ago size 22 my normal size is 16 ,but I love it . Best wishes Judy from Brighton
Pretty much sorted but the eyes are the next thing to sort. The optician says that my astigmatism plus the cataracts, as they are now, are a perfect fit for unsteadiness. Both the optician and the chiropodist had a far better handle on the situation than the GP which was ‘well as you age…….’ Makes me quite annoyed but will channel that to take things further in a positive and quite academic way. I’m interested in ‘pathways’ which seemed to be very structured around age groupings rather than looking at the whole person.
So glad you like the larger khaki coat – I adore it. Here’s to the larger fit coat for winter!
Thanks Judy 😊
Lovey coats and good to hear the news about the insoles.
The coats are fab, aren’t they, and the insoles have made a huge difference. Eyes are next!
Thanks so much Rosie 😊
Lovely coats and colours, and they suit you so well!
Glad your walking problem is solved, walking is the best exercise and it’s free!!
Thanks re: the coats – I do love them so, as if one goes out and about every day into the town centre what do people see? It’s your outer-wear, the coat, so I think in the winter, coats are the key to your entire ‘look’.
Walking is 50% better – eyes are next.
Thanks Pauline 🙂
Absolutely fab.u.lous!! Colourful coats are great – along with black ones too. Love you in the green and the khaki — I have lots of colourful scarves in different fabrics (depending on the weather temperature) to jolly up my black coats, and also wear purple, plum and orange coats too in the winter.
Your pictures always fill me with ideas for clothes, although alas where I live, the Charity shops are not very exciting at all! Certainly none of the wonderful things you find down in Sussex!
Glad you are getting your health issues sorted – and you feeling more positive.
Oh yes, scarves are absolutely the best thing one can do to brighten an outfit. And the purple, plum and orange coats – so cool!
The charity shops in Lewes do vary a lot and that is definitely true in some other towns. One fairly near me is famous for having around 20 charity shops but the actual quality within these shops is not good. One in Lewes, the Red Cross, has many new Zara items, all new and all reduced in price – these are what I seek out now.
Health issues are being sorted – eyes next. Thanks Jessica 😊
Your ‘Good news. It’s colder’ made me smile. I like your perspective of outerwear being what people see. If only I could find a coat I actually like! So pleased orthotics have sorted your balance issues out. I’m on the verge of getting some myself. My podiatrist thinks I would benefit but I’ve just been worried about them fitting in my shoes when I have enough issues finding suitable, comfortable shoes anyway. Anyway, enough of my moans. I will head over to your Other Blog where I am usually in total agreement with you. See you on the other side!
I know, as it was a bit too cold over the last two days, but I will show you all how I wrapped up in my faux fur coat – which has been sitting in my coat cupboard and hasn’t been worn for years. It was good to wear it.
I know what you mean. The thing is the orthotic insoles made an absolutely huge difference to my instability – which hasn’t completely gone away, so it’s eyes next.
But indeed I then wore the same Reiker boots for days and days, weeks now because the insoles fit perfectly. Two days ago I thought I really ought to try another pair of bootees and what a disaster as I was almost back to square one and feeling awfully unstable. Had to walk in to a High street shoe shop and buy another pair – instantly better. The thing is the insole doesn’t want any lumpiness within the shoes so they’ve got to go into a flat surface within the shoe or boot. The boots that made me feel unstable will unfortunately be sold and they are very unworn and could have lasted me years. However I think steadiness is more important.
Thanks Sylvia and thanks for reading both blogs 🙂
I don’t like short winter coats at all but when I have to drive it is so much easier then a long one. But longer ones are so much more elegant. Your green coat is absolutely stunning the colour is fabulous. I’m glad you feel much more confident!!
Yes, I get that a long coat is not good in the car and if I’m driving I take the coat off, but out and about a long coat always beats a shorter coat.
The insoles have made a huge difference but the eyes are the next thing to sort out.
Thanks Nancy and have a great weekend 😊
LOVE LOVE LOVE coats!
Yours are class. Really like your colour combos. Size is just a number, it’s how it looks that counts. I think the oversized look is flattering.
I absolutely agree and particularly with some brands ( especially Zara) size never really adds up, so one needs to try everything on including much larger sizes.
And indeed oversized is good. Thanks Toni 😊
Love the coat, scarf and accessories combinations Penny. I know I was happy last year when I bought my purply blue coat. The rest are mostly black so I will try adding scarves to add interest. The weather here is still warm for the season. I keep saying this every time I respond and it is worrisome. And of course still no rain except for a bit overnight last week which was not nearly enough. Some more is predicted on Wednesday, When traveling in the area there are fire warnings, you can see the smoke and smell it for miles. I don’t ever remember this happening before and it is scary.
I have been doing some Christmas shopping on line for the family and snuck in something for myself. Yet another cashmere sweater. It was on sale and my signature looks seems to be cashmere sweater, jeans or black pants, shoes might be ankle boots or a nice pair of loafers or sneakers if I have to walk a lot. The sweater is teal which is a color I don’t have. And it is apparently cropped which I wanted to try as I am so short and often things are longer then I like, I wish we had the resale clothing stores we had here years ago but they seem to be gone and I am a difficult size to fit. I don’t actually buy much these days so I think I can treat myself occasionally.
I am reading your other blog about the political situation, especially regarding the recent US elections. I will comment there instead of here. So fingers crossed for rain, love from New York, Darby
The weather has changed so much over the years. In the UK it’s been far too warm for November and then for 3 days we have a real drop in temperatures to just above freezing in the south of England and snow up north – actually even here we had a bit of snow. Now we have a ‘Storm’ which again the south escapes lightly but it is very windy. I just do not remember these winds that we have regularly now. But up north today and tomorrow it’s heavy snow (which we are ill-equipped for) and first low temperatures and then much warmer. All very odd and all down to climate change.
You can never have enough cashmere sweaters and teal sounds lovely – I think everyone needs to occasionally treatl themselves. Bet it looks nice. Keep well and hopefully you’ll get the rain, but not too much!
Thanks as ever Darby 🙂
I love your idea that it’s what we wear on the outside that matters in the winter. But, I can never find beautiful winter coats that fit my rather oddly shaped body. I have a beautiful lined London Fog coat that is going on 35 years old! It still looks good…slightly faded, but I love it. And, gosh is it warm. Then, I have several puffer coats which are necessary in the cold we get. I do have a lovely lilac wool coat that has never fit. It’s my “goal” coat for when I lose more weight. I’m hoping for that this winter, and if not this winter, then next!
I do love your green coat especially with that orange scarf. And the khaki coat, even if it is a little big…that just means you can wear lots of layers under it!
I’m so glad it’s cooling off because you can always put on more layers, but when it’s really hot, there is a limit to what you can take off! I’m off to read your other blog to see what you thought of the catastrophe here across the pond.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Coats are absolutely the thing to wear for those of us who don’t have extreme cold and also have the opportunity to walk around town. Basically what are people seeing? Your coat! However, up until a few days ago it’s almost been too warm for winter coats. But for a couple of days we’ve had some much colder weather and now a ‘Storm’, which sadly I won’t go out into as it’s also very very windy!
Thanks so much Marsha for reading both blogs – have a great weekend 😊
You look great in both those coats & I agree , our climate is very good for coats ( snow this morning ! ) I have quite a collection too & my current favourite is a heavy brown & cream herringbone tweed I bought second hand in an antique centre in Scotland years ago . I’ve never been very successful with charity shops – too impatient but this is such a perfect fit & you don’t see fabric like it these days – £38 ! I did wonder if your balance problem was your feet as insoles sorted me out . I wear Hotter lace ups for general walking but my problem was unsupported slippers indoors . I now buy tough slippers a little bigger than I need & put insoles in those too . Not as comfy as soft slippers but you get used to them & it works . My coat problem is storing them .
I see the comment was written several days ago (apologies for the delay in replying) and I’m wondering what the snow is like now. Storm Bert is giving us quite a windy morning but we don’t even have any rain – as yet. I believe York is getting quite a lot of snow. Hope all is well where you live.
I do like the sound of the herringbone tweed coat. The thing about charity shops is i) I see far fewer quality coats these days in charity shops as I think a lot of pre-loved clothes are being sold on Vinted and eBay. And ii) one just has to to look all the time, and be prepared to see the absolute dream buy quite rarely these days.
I do think the insoles have made a huge difference, but it’s not totally solved. So it’s eyes next. I too have well supported slippers – one needs them in the middle of the night!
Thanks Wendy – keep well and safe in the snow storm 🙂
Can you believe the poor choices we had for candidates for the U.S. presidential election?? In the next 4 years, both parties better find more worthy choices. Younger, less immoral, honest. Not sure there is anyone in politics that would check those 3 boxes but surely we can find someone worthy of the job. We call Trump by the nickname my granddaughter gave him – Trumpy. Just praying Trumpy gets our economy sorted and does something to address the crazy immigration policies (or lack thereof) that Biden put in place.
Now to your coats!! I had never thought how a coat in the winter becomes your first impression piece of clothing. Here in El Paso, we don’t need real coats often and when we wear them, we often slip them off quickly. I have a very nice khaki coat that I need to wear this winter…cold temps or not!! Your accessories took those great wraps to a new level. Love the green coat with the orange scarf. Two of my favorite colors. But the khaki coat has such a fun fit and the scarf of many colors really make it a snappy option.
I agree with you about the candidates and as you know in may latest blog on My Other Blog I say to the Democratic high-ups what were you thinking, letting Biden stand? Setting aside all his policies, I mean everyone around the planet, just about everyone knew he was far too old – and I say that as someone very aware of ageism. I also say that as someone who’s ageing a bit faster than I’d like – you absolutely have to face facts and square up to it. And as for Trump, oh dear.
Interestingly I do think the illegal immigration, which is happening around the world, is not really solvable until politicians think outside the box (btw, absolutely not in the way the new President is). It’s actually another why question, why is this happening? We need enlightened leadership here which is definitely not happening anywhere.
Coats are absolutely a thing in the UK, as when it gets cold (and btw, the cold is never cold like it is in Canada or Norway say) it is a damp cold which gets into your bones, so you need your coat on. But then you see a teenager in shorts and a top and think, oops, there goes a youngster with a heat system that is still working 🤣!! Actually a good coat that stands out is a real style statement here, which I rather like.
Thanks so much Leslie 😊
I love how your scarves brighten the coats and think the lengths are perfect for you! I really love that you are able to find them second hand. I always am so tempted to add more jackets to my closet but I already have enough! I have learned to ignore sizes a lot of the time because otherwise I would have missed out on something that I loved!
http://www.chezmireillefashiontravelmom.com
Sizes can be crazy – Zara especially. And yes, scarves are a great asset and can brighten up a darker coat.
I guess you don’t need a coat as much as we do. Our cold is very damp so it’s a definite brrrr feel to the weather when we have a cold spell.
Thanks Mireille 🙂