(Re) Building my wardrobe....slowly ~ one piece at a time.

I am in the process of re-building my wardrobe as I have lost almost 25 pounds and have gone from wearing XL and size 14 + to wearing M size 10/12. My weight loss journey is ongoing and I hope to lose another 5 pounds.

 Before Weight Watchers

I am dressed for a summer wedding weighing in at a hefty 160 pounds.

Most of my larger sized garments have been donated or consigned as I do not plan to wear them again.
I have kept a few things and some fortunately were in a smaller size.
I had kept hoping I would slim down and be able to wear at some point...and now I can!

Before hitting the shops I needed to take everything out of the closet and decide what to keep, what to consign and what to donate.

I had forgotten about these cute leather booties!

The things that I kept:
(about 30 pieces)

Outerwear:
Burberry quilted jacket
Lands' End down coat
Eddie Bauer down jacket
Jones of NY metallic grey raincoat
Aunt Tirzah's fur jacket (for the snow!)
Royal Robbins black squall jacket

Sweaters:
Lands' End cashmere sweaters...pink pullover, grey cardigan, black cardigan
Johnston of Elgin black cashmere pullover
grey tweedy knit sweater in a "jacket style"
St. James grey sweater coat
Betty Barclay grey sweater ~ longer style

Tops:
Talbots white shirt ~ which is oversize now but gets worn over a white tank
2 white tank tops
white lace top
Banana Republic Breton striped tee
Carilyn Vaile black SS top
Splendid black sheer top
Black sequined Tee
black white patterned 3/4 sleeve top
Cut Loose quilted vest in chartreuse green
Mondetta white grey patterned workout jacket

Bottoms:

Gelco tweed trousers
(Pants are the most difficult to have tailored and still look decent.)

Dressy wear:
3 LBD's
Precis Petite patterned dress which I bought for a wedding a couple of years ago...see above image.
(I have not tried it on recently but it was expensive so I have kept it and it can be altered.)
Symplii knits in black ~ palazzo pants, tank top, top 3/4 sleeves, jacket
Spanner metallic pewter skirt
Jones of NY multicoloured silk skirt

I have kept all my accessories:
bags, boots, shoes and scarves ~ they always fit!

Everything else is gone!

I started rebuilding by first having a professional bra fitting and purchased some new undergarments.
My next priority was decent looking outfits for walking and fitness ~
(wearing smart workout clothing helps keep me motivated)
2 pairs of  Lands' End performance pants ~ black, grey.
3 Champion white tops and a black pair of capri length workout pants
3 workout/Yoga style hoodies

I am focusing on fall and winter right now and will tackle the out of season clothing in the closet downstairs next Spring and see what I can salvage and what needs to go.

Purchases since September amount to approximately $350.
I am applying my new rules of frugality, minimalism and function before any purchase.

Levi's distressed jeans (thrifted) $15 (they replaced my beloved Vear Wang boyfriend jeans)
Black Ponte knit Bellissimo trousers (thrifted) $12
g 21 skinny jeans, one in black, the other dark wash denim $10 each
Chillox black coat $130
Barbour vest black $125
Merino Tees ~ grey and black $17 each
Eileen Fisher silk tank top ~ a muted mocha shade which is a very versatile shade (thrifted) $15

I have read many books which offer basic wardrobe guidelines.
Two of my favourites are Lessons from Madame Chic by Jennifer Scott and Parisian Chic by Ines de la Fressange.
Tish Jett has a new book...Forever Chic: Frenchwomen's Timeless Secrets to Beauty, Style and Substance.
I am eager to read this as she writes one of my favourite blogs.

I am adjusting to my new "retired lifestyle" and am wearing casual workout clothing most days at home.
I really do not "need" too many outfits as most of my activities are quite relaxed.
Weekly lunches out, grocery shopping, errands, dinner out, the occasional house party and theatre.

Weight Watcher Month 5

(almost at my goal weight)

Feeling better, I have more energy and my hips don't ache when I walk now.

WW = Win Win 

Thank you Kristien for posing the question and Congratulations on your weight loss!

If the thrift shops in your area are not to your liking try some consignment shops.
There are lots of great online shops with great return policies and some offer free shipping.
Depending on where you live you might want to take a drive to another city to find some great clothes.
If you have a friend whose opinion you can trust, you could take a weekend away and have a fashion adventure!

I hope this post helps to better answer your question.

I know there are a few readers out there who buy online...I'd love to know where you shop.
Please share your favourite sites in the comments section.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope that you are having a fabulous weekend!

OOTD ~ I've been digging deep into the closet to dress for a meet up with a blogger!

Do you get rid of clothing or hang onto it hoping that it may be back in the spotlight?
I have hung onto a few gems from my past...most are accessories but a few are garments.

I still have my wedding gown hanging in the closet and that was only worn once in 1974.
I cannot part with it for sentimental reasons and I know in my heart that I will never be 106 pounds or a size 6 again. But that's another issue so let's not get too far off topic shall we.

J Crew necklace

Symplii black tank top

Lands' End black cashmere cardigan

Stuart Weitzman bow patent leather flats.

(many seasons ago)

Gelco wide legged trousers

several (many) seasons ago!

I met up with the savvy shopper and local fashion blogger Sheila from Ephemera this week.
We enjoyed a salad at a local brew pub/restaurant before hitting the aisles of Value Village.
I love to shop with Sheila as she has a trained eye for quality, can hone in on fabulous finds and "by touch" can "feel" if the fabric is worthy of purchase.

If you have been following my blog for awhile you might remember that we met up to thrift shop once before and had some serious fun, you can read about our adventure here.

I tried on several beautiful things which would have been wonderful additions to my meagre wardrobe but they were too tight across the chest. It is disconcerting when one is a size 10/12 in every area except the bust...that is where a clever tailor could come in handy...but I digress.

Sheila had a basket full of options and chose a colourful silk skirt and a great pair of shoes.
I came home empty handed but had a lovely evening and we parted planning a meet up next Spring.

Thank you Sheila!

A scarf appears out of the corner of my eye....

Some lovely things just pop up, even when I am not looking.
Last weekend as I waited for our house guests to arrive I snuck off for half an hour to browse a hospital thrift store. It is the same store where my daughter found her genuine leather Hermes belt.
Darling daughter has a real gift for finding treasure.
I enjoy looking at the vintage wares...
they each have a story and I like to think about who owned them and where they have been all these years.

This bright and cheerful scarf caught my attention out of the corner of my eye.
Vibrant, bold and beautiful colours spoke loudly and I couldn't help but turn my head.
It is in mint condition...made in England of 100% pure silk, has exquisite hand rolled edges and is signed by the designer Frankie Welch.

Worn here with my Lands' End cashmere cardigan which is several seasons old.

I think this is the 7th purchase this Fall.

For the first time in my life I am tracking what I buy and how much I spend.

Skinny Jeans, black dress pants, 2 Merino wool Tee's, a Barbour vest and the Chillox walking coat.

I'd never heard of Frankie Welch so being naturally curious I looked on the internet.

 It turns out that she designed thousands of scarves and has designed many around the political arena and many have The White House architectural details in their designs.

She wanted to study with Frank Lloyd Wright but he refused her request saying that he did not teach women!

I do not recognize this building or if indeed it has any significance.

Perhaps it is a Virginia landmark.

I love the bright tones and how they perk up my basic greys and blacks.

Knotted twice ~ it's so simple.

I plan to pair this scarf with my red ballet flats.

~ ~ ~

"Your attitude is like a box of crayons that color your world. 

Constantly color your picture gray, and your picture will always be bleak. 

Try adding some bright colors to the picture by including humor, and your picture begins to lighten up."

~ Allen Klein  ~

Frugal Fish Chowder and my OOTD.

I am embracing frugality this Fall.
In and around the kitchen preparing soups as a weekday meal with leftovers for lunches.
Soups are so soothing when the thermometer dips and the chilly winds blow.

Befriend your local fish monger and ask for some fish bones...
I prefer to use salmon as I love the strong flavour it imparts to the stock.

Here are the frugal fish fixings.

"Humble Bungalow Frugal Fish Chowder"

Boil the fish in water for about 30 minutes.

Cool and remove bones and skin.

Set aside.

  

In a large pot saute 1 large diced onion and several stalks of celery sliced until soft.

Add water to cover and then add 2 or 3 chopped potatoes and 2 large carrots sliced.

Simmer until cooked, about 20 minutes.

Pop in a cup of corn kernels and a small can of tomato paste.

Add the fish stock, season with salt, pepper and dill.

Simmer for an hour and serve.

Hearty and delicious.

Weight Watchers friendly!

Serve leftovers for lunch or freeze for future use.

Mother will be getting some of this chowder!

Grey sweater coat with ruffle detail at front.

Betty Barclay Collection.

Kate Spade Quilted handbag.

Hush Puppies Boots.

Black Top by Carilyn Vaile

Black ponte knit pants RW and Co.

I'm dressed for an outing with Mother.

She is taking me to The Tea Room for high tea.

Let me know what you think of this fish chowder.

Think of what you might do with the money that you save by cooking frugal meals!

You might balance your budget or splurge on a luxe item.

What would you choose?

The roses are in full flush...and I am linking up with Jane's Flower Party today.

The weather is damp and foggy...and it looks like it might hang around for the foreseeable future.
The garden is putting on a fabulous show despite the weather and surprising for October.
Spurred on by a patch of sunshine I popped outside...
Sunshine has a way of making everything look better and brighter.

Jude the Obscure

my favourite of all the David Austen roses grown in The Humble Bungalow Garden.

Peachy perfection and a scent that is sweet and strong.

I've already put the cushions away for the season but the porch and chairs are still in service...

in fact they beckoned me to come out and sit for a bit with my mug of fresh brewed Earl Grey Tea.

I sat in the stillness and let my gaze wander.

Birds are chirping and flitting about scavenging for food in the soil.

There's a hush and it's almost eerily quiet for this time of day.

It's a great time to gather one's thoughts and mull things over.

I find that pausing for a tea break does that for me...

it's rather magical how it transports me to a calm place.

I sauntered lazily around the garden, stopping to look and smell the blooms.

The McCartney Rose

a sweet scent...very heady, typical of an old fashioned rose.

Climbing Iceberg

a few blooms putting on a brave show.

Mushrooms growing in the grass where our heritage apple tree used to grow.

The King Apple was prolific in it's size and quantity.

 The bounty is sorely missed by our family as the great harvest meant apples for eating, cooking, and to share with our friends and neighbours.

Mr. HB and I have ordered two dwarf Apple Trees for next spring.

Liberty and Chehalis.

If they thrive we'll add a King the following year.

As it is a triploid type of tree it needs two diploids to pollinate the flowers allowing the tree to bear fruit.

Who knew that growing apples was complicated?

Gertrude Jekyll

unknown rose

Our backyard seating area by the garden shed.

Isla's pool and slide have been stored until next spring...

she looked out the window and said "Grammy Can I go on the Slide?"

I must think about what to prepare for dinner tonight.

It's one of those days when I cannot quite decide what to cook!

 By not deciding dinner might be a slapdash cobbled together affair.

Wish me luck.

I am linking up with Flower Jane's floral party today.

Pop over and see Small But Charming to see what other bloggers are posting.

Thank you for stopping in to visit today.

Please come back soon.

Shrouded in Fog, my OOTD and a surprise!

Fog horns are droning out on the strait...
it's a day to cocoon indoors with the heat on.
Fog is damp and dreary...kind of spooky too and it's not even Halloween.

I whipped around The Humble Bungalow so fast my domestic chores were done in a flash.
So I had some time to play around with scarves and type up a new post.

A white and grey drippy almost foggy Hermes here today...

A bright punch of orange always seems to perk things up.

I like to layer a sweater or jacket over this look as the scarf draws the eye upward.

Here I am mixing up a luxe Hermes scarf with a pedestrian Tee.

I probably wear my scarves tied simply as seen here most frequently.

The Cowboy is great if you want to focus on a certain part of the scarf's design.

Merino Tees from Costco

made in Canada!

Priced to sell and I think it's wise to buy in multiples.

Great for layering and oh so cozy and warm.

I opted for one in grey and the other in black.

I went up a size as they fit snug.

I have washed both and they hang to dry in no time.

I'd say these are going to be the workhorses in my winter wardrobe this year.

Calvin Klein candle in Fig.

I don't know about you but I do love a scented candle in the Fall and Winter.

I picked this one up at Home Sense.

My OOTD

included jeans and shoes.

Miz Mooz ballet flats.

DKNY jeans

Gelco vest

I think the weather influenced my OOTD!

It looks like FOG.

Look what Mr. HB found today!

I have really missed not having this cleanser.

The company has redesigned the label and it is back in Canada!

You know it really is the small things...

Thank you to my friend LA for suggesting where to search and thank you to Mr. HB for doing the legwork!

A huge thank you to the American readers who offered to send me some Bon Ami cleanser.

I'm so grateful for your kindness.

Have a fabulous weekend!

I'll be off for a couple of days as we have guests staying in our Humble Bungalow.

Until next time...

Be Well.

There are memories stirring inside these walls.

 My childhood friend Diane lives back east in Toronto and has done so for many years.
We are still in touch, as we are "friends" on Facebook.

Her Mother passed away this summer...she was well into her 90's.

Many memories resurfaced after hearing of her demise...

So many wonderful memories from our formative years...
of times spent playing in their home.

Diane's home was the sort that fueled my imagination.
It had all sorts of nooks and crannies,
there were deep closets under the eaves...where their clothes hung.
These also made a great spot to make forts and play Barbies.

We were avid Nancy Drew readers and we would lie for hours on her twin beds reading side by side while munching on 5 cent candies.

We went to the Library Reading Program "Circus McGircus"...our Mothers allowed us to take the bus together as the stop was by their doorstep at the top of our streets. The bus stopped right at the Library stairs and Victoria was a small town back then, much safer in many ways.

We loved The Beatles...she liked John and I liked Paul.
One of her aunts used to send her the fan magazines from the UK so we would drool over the pictures of all the pop stars.
Her home was without a television set so she came over to our house to watch The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. I can still hear my parents telling us to stop screaming!

Diane's home seemed a tad more refined than ours...it was architecturally different and interesting and only had a radio and a piano....yet it felt steeped in culture....romantic.

Her Mother was a former ballerina from The Royal London Ballet Company and she wore her hair in a tight bun everyday. She would practice doing the splits up a wall in the enrty hall...I remember trying to emulate this to no avail!
Both Diane and her sister took ballet and they also took piano lessons from the lady across the street from our house. They were very accomplished like their Mother.

I could share many more memories but I think I'll keep some close to my heart.

Mother, sister and I popped by to see the house after we saw the SOLD sign.
It is enclosed in a wonderful greenspace, very private and we are a tad curious if it will be restored or demolished.

Fearing the latter I took some photos...
I hope you will see the magic in the bones of this home.

It holds so much of my youth wrapped up inside its walls.

the front porch where we shucked peas and licked ice cream cones

Not much has changed...

I love this front door...

the same carpet runner on the stairs

fabulous pillars

If these walls could talk...

you'd hear the sound of laughter and maybe a secret whispered between a couple of girlfriends so many years ago.

Years have passed by...

about 50 give or take since I set foot inside.

It still has charm.

 I am a die hard romantic when it comes right down to it.

I think I fell hard for this house when I was 6 and it still has the magic to move me today at 58.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share these memories with me.

Hostess

XO

Thanksgiving and my OOTD.

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!

I quickly snapped this photo when I was cleaning the downstairs powder room.

Love the autumnal colours of the seasonal leaves.

The yellow green shade is one of my favourites and over the years I have purchased several pieces of clothing in that shade.

Obviously not a colour that many seem to appreciate as these items are usually discounted or "on sale!"

Take for example my vest.

Light weight quilted vest made by Cut Loose.

Worn here over the Banana Republic Breton striped Tee 

g 21 skinny jeans

Franco Sarto loafers

A repeat performance here with all but the vest.

Talking a self portrait and laughing at the same time means that I need to do some retakes.

Look at that grey hair!

Seriously I really am embracing it.

Now you can see that there is quite a bit...

as Duchesse pointed out it is not just tinsel!

We have a very busy weekend which revolves around family.

 A celebration of life event for Mr. HB's recently deceased 98 year old uncle which will mean getting together with lots of cousins from near and far.

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

When I pause and reflect on things that I have to be thankful for I am humbled by the bounty of blessings I have in my life.

Wishing you JOY in your daily round.

~ ~ ~

"As we express our gratitude, 

we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, 

but to live by them."

  ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy ~