Hello everyone
Despite not going up to London much in the latter part of the year there were some great trips to exhibitions which I am sharing with you in this post. One of the best I went to wasn’t exactly an exhibition, instead it was the display of clothes belonging to Vivienne Westwood at the world famous art and luxury auctioneer, Christie’s.
Oh my word the clothes. And no, I didn’t buy any as they were all pretty much over £1000!
May I never forget that a nipped in waist is my kind of clothing!
Another great exhibition was Sargent and Fashion at Tate Britain. John Singer Sargent must have been someone who mingled with a certain set, as all his portraits are of very haughty women (who I rather admired) all of whom seemed to look down on the people viewing the paintings. And, of course, all were wearing fabulous clothes some of which formed part of the exhibition.
Here is one example of the actual dress worn in a portrait.
And here’s the portrait.
In April I was at the Victoria & Albert with Gail of Is This Mutton where we saw a permanent exhibition of V&A jewellery. The V&A collection is huge and has jewellery from ancient times to present day. I absolutely loved these two modern pieces.
And the second piece of jewellery I rather fancied is below. I rather like the juxtaposition of the red shoes in the photo.
Good times.
And finally I want to show you the very best of my bargain clothes’ buys this year. This is also the best outfit I have ever managed to assemble and I am now in pursuit of more items like this as I adore wearing animal print!
From top to bottom; first there is a hat that I bought new twenty years ago. Then a necklace bought from the V&A shop several years ago, which is over a very ordinary animal print long-sleeved top bought new from M&S two years ago for not very much. Then, OMG, the bargain of the year! My £40 Paige jeans which are simply wonderful – I can’t believe I dithered buying them!
Over my indoor clothes is a very beautiful reversible coat; plain black, but embossed, on one side, and animal print the other. That was another £40 from the Dress Agency I go to often these days. Btw, I have just found the label, which was difficult to find as the coat is reversible, so the label was hidden. I realise now that the coat is another amazing bargain as the label is UbU, which I think is American, and what is more their raincoats retail at between $200-300 – wow! Who is this person who keeps donating items from the States? I do hope I spot some more of these wonderful clothes. And finally I am wearing my Rieker boots bought new two years ago from a charity shop at £8.
At this exhibition at the Tate we saw four barkingly mad Turner exhibits. I always think this type of art is stimulating if nothing else.
Finally, I want to thank you so much for reading my blogs through the year and, indeed, the many years I have been blogging. In the New Year there will be two more blogs: first the state of the world. This is not going on My Other Blog, but it won’t, I promise, be all doom and gloom. And in the second, I will be telling you about a new direction I am taking, plus an update on my health situation, and very importantly, I will share with you my ideas around a revamp and reset of my blog. People, it is never too late to do anything, or to change and change again.
But for now here’s me, with my battered hat, wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and here’s hoping that 2025 is a good one!
With love, the Frugalfashionshopper
Love it! It all comes together ❤️. Really must get to London…
London is a great place to visit – there’s so much to see. Thank you so much Lin 😊
Always enjoy your blgs but regretting selling a couple of VW jackets I had as I’d grown but now started to reduce! Hope you’ve bought them is enjoying. The structure and nipped in waist always made me feel confident and strong.
Happy Christmas
Oh my word, you had a couple of VW jackets! You can always look and look again – hopefully one will come up on eBay or something like that. Those nipped in waists are amazing aren’t they.
Thanks Nicola 😊
Thanks for another year of great blogging, Penny. Enjoyed every one.
Wishing you and Mr F a very happy Christmas and all the best of everything for 2025.
Thank you so much for being there Pauline – wishing you all the best for 2025 😊
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Bargain-finding New Year. Thanks for all the blogs, particularly the updates of the exhibitions, which I always mean to get to but never do. That will have to be MY New Year’s resolution! We’ve been going through a bit of a torrid time recently but I do apologise for not following up my comment which you answered on the Other Blog. I will do it soon.
So sorry – hope things will get better in 2025. Kind of know how you feel. London is a great place for exhibitions – hope you manage one next year.
Thanks Trish ❤️
Love your blog. ❤️
Thank you so much Gail ❤️
Dear Penny, Thankyou for another year of your delightful blog Please don’t change it too much, I think it’s perfect just as it is. A lovely mixture of fun and fashion with an occasional bit of really useful information and health advice ,just like a good friend !
Sending you both very best wishes for a merry Christmas and happy and healthy New Year. .
And I love the Animal Prints, always a favourite and hard to find in the charity shops,I don’t think women want to get rid of them,they are so flattering. All the best from Judy in Brighton
Hi Judy and thank you so much for those very kind words about the blog. More about the changes in the New Year. I am still going to write a blog but it’s 13 years since I began the Frugal blog. Be assured I am not stopping, but things change and I want to reflect on that and explain more – very soon.
And oh my word, isn’t animal print just the best! Thanks again Judy – have a lovely Christmas 😊
Festive Greetings and Best Wishes for 2025!
Thank you for another 12 months of blogs, I always really enjoy reading them.
I’ve been having problems with my knees/back for a few months so haven’t been out and about very much.
However, my daughter and I recently went to see Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk at the local V&A. I actually won a wee competition to get free entry into the exhibition plus a Japanese inspired afternoon tea. I’ve always been interested in anything Japanese so had planned on going anyway. The exhibition was wonderful, very beautiful indeed. Not just kimonos old and new, but wood block prints and collections of netsuke, etc. The afternoon tea was tasty enough but definitely lacking compared to what we’d just been entranced by. If it was true to Japanese taste then they have an extremely sweet tooth! Overall, a lovely afternoon and an exhibition well worth seeing.
Ah yes, that’s in Dundee – which is on my bucket list to visit! Isn’t the V&A just the absolute best of places to visit – and not just in London! The exhibition sounds gorgeous. You know I really don’t like afternoon teas (British ones) as they’re far too carb heavy and sweet. The Japanese version doesn’t sound much better! But Japanese Kimonos are so beautiful it must have been lovely to see them.
Thanks Jacqui 😊
Absolutely love the animal print outfit, Penny. You look sensational. Xxx
Thanks sooooo much Susannah ❤️
Thankyou for another great blog, I wish I lived nearer London sometimes to enjoy those great exhibitions. How do I find My Other Blog ? I’d love to read that too.
Love the outfit btw, you look great.
Happy Xmas x
If you are reading this on a PC go to the side and click on the icon for My Other Blog. If reading this on a phone the icon will be at the very end.
London is a great place to visit on a day trip but a couple of nights away and you can do several exhibitions. Mind you we have tried that and it’s exhausting!
Thanks so much Judi 😊
My goodness, what a fabulous exhibition of VW! What a icon!
I’m looking forward to see and read your new plans. And for now I’m wishing you a good and cozy Christmas!
That exhibition was amazing as it wasn’t about her brand of clothes exactly – it was what she wore. as you went round you were thinking these were her actual clothes – DNA was on them including amazingly a couple of (?wine) stains!
Here’s wishing you a lovely Christmas too 😀
Wishing you a Merry Christmas Penny and a happy and healthy 2025. I will be interested to see where your new ideas for the blog take you . I agree that with everything in life a reset from time to time is always a good idea. I so enjoy seeing your gallery visits , especially the V & A as it evokes the special memory of time spent there with you and Gail. I am with you on the Westwood , just amazing and those nipped in waists. xx
Yes, I too remember the V&A and how we met – good times! As for the blog – I don’t think everyone will like it but times, things and people change and I have been doing the blog a long time. I aim to have quite a different stance – and blog! More news about this soon!
And here’s wishing you a very happy and healthy Christmas too xx
OK, third time trying to post. cat jumped on the keyboard and erased everything, second time I probably did not press the right button. Wonderful outfit Penny! you continue to be an inspiration for us older women so that we do not fade into the background. and not having to spend the Earth. I am reminded by your post of a trip my daughter and I took to the Metropolitan Museum of Art a few years ago. Portraits of women and the actual dress they wore in the painting. Amazing! This year the plan is to finally get to the Frick Collection. It has been under renovation of several years and hope to go to see it soon.
We may get a white Christmas here, it is snowing as I write this on Christmas Eve. Wishing you the happiest of holidays. Love, Darby
Thank you so much for always commenting Darby – I so look forward to your contributions. I think communicating and connecting with people is one of the main reasons I do this blog. I am not stopping the blog but I am changing things in the New Year. More about that very soon.
Trips to exhibitions are absolutely my most favourite activity. And a White Christmas in New York! That conjures up such a lovely image. Wishing you a very Happy Christmas too Darby xx
Hi Penny, A very Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2025.
I enjoy reading your blogs and hearing about your fashion finds.
I’ve just returned to the UK from many years in Europe and am looking forward to hunting out clothes as you do. The Art galleries will be calling me too!! 🎄
Hello Rosie – lovely to meet you. Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas too 😊
Penny, I sincerely mean it when I say finding your blog was one of the best things ever! You are gorgeous, feisty, edgy, chic, and outspoken! I love it! How I wish I lived in the UK as I think we enjoy so much of the same things (except thrifting…but there is a reason for that). My January trip is now probably going to be in May as I have been accepted into the docent training program at our art museum. The trainings are on Saturdays from January to May. I hope my son still comes, but even if I have to go alone, I am determined to make it to London next year!
Have a Merry Christmas and a fantastic New Year!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
First of all, congratulations on getting into the training programme – that sounds so positive and what an excellent thing to be doing. You’ve been searching for a role and here it is!! I always say that retirement is the most productive time of our lives as we develop sides of ourselves we didn’t have time to before, when we were working.
And actually I am pleased you are coming to the UK in May as I need to understand a bit more why I have this balance issue. It has not gone away. By then I will have had my cataracts done and also I have begun some acupuncture which I hope will help. Btw, I’m going on a cruise the 1st June for 12 days – hopefully I can either see you before that or afterwards.
Very best to Nigel and yourself and here’s wishing you a happy and healthy 2025. 😊
It’s taken me until Boxing Day to read part 3 of your review of the year. Relieved to see you in the comments that you will be continuing to blog, albeit with changes, as I really enjoy reading your posts. I look forward to seeing how you are evolving in the new year. Till then hope you and Mr F are having a good festive season. Wishing you all the very best.