Big Hello to the lovely Katie, cake-maker extraordinaire who has kindly decided to follow me! Thank you! Also to Angela and Lora who I didn't formally say thank you and hello to!
My much-mentioned friend M, is really into Orla Keilly- she has several bags, a wallet and various home items! I thought it was really pretty but apart from my Tescos reusable bag, there wasn't much chance of me buying anything else Orla. Then I saw reference to the Uniglo collection on someone's blog and got myself over there to have a look! I was really impressed by what I saw, really lovely patterns, colours and shapes of items and a surprisingly good price. I thought I'd share the items I bought together and what I thought about size and materials etc.
The top in the picture above was just under £15. Excuse how awful I look in the picture- I really really did have the most dreadful headache when I took the pictures above (stupid really to take pictures, should have just gone straight to bed, though I did just after these!) I love the bright rainbowness of it- teamed up with orange tights (oh dear, usual problem, I am Nora Batty!) and an orange belt- I thought the top needed a collar so I added the pearl collar. The skirt is a Kew one (thrift).
The material is good quality cotton and it looks like it will last. It's not the softest of cotton, you know the cuddly stuff, but it feels well made and like it wont fade. I ordered a Small (supposedly size 8-10) which worked out fine for me - it's not one of those evil tops that is really tight around the armpits or two tight at the wrists or waist. I felt rather autumnal here!
There was a lovely selection of Peter Pan collar dresses when i was looking- several went into my basket at first whilst I perused (I tend to shove everything I like in my basket so I don't have to search again and then talk myself out of it at checkout and decide which I like best). The sizing seemed to suggest that an XS was size 4-6 and the S was a 8-10- pity there wasn't something in between. Most dresses only had the XS left and I worried it might be too small on my bottom half- I think it would have been fine, the S is a tiny big baggy on me and it has a loose botton-half so it would have been fine- it needs the belt I think. Anyway, this is the only one that actually made it through checkout - it was available in the S. The material is lovely and it feels gorgeous- not too tight anywhere, a nice muted shade of blue and beige, but still interesting! I do feel like a pupil of Erinsborough High in this dress, it reminds me of their uniform (is it just me that would totally like to wear the uniform of the kids in
Neighbours and
Home and Away?)
My third and final garment choice (I bought a stole also, not featured here) was this 'Peplum blouse' with a Peter Pan style collar, which my deputy head is totally jealous about as she's been stalking the site daily to get one in her size (she's forbidden me from talking about Orla at Uniglo because she's bought Christmas presents for staff members from there- she spotted my leaf-top instantly!). Again, I bought a S which is far too big for me- however it is comfy and I like the ballony sleeves- it's just not hugely flattering on me as I am pear-shaped. The material is very nice and comfy and the patterning is bright and distinctive. I had to avoid my friend M on Sunday when I wore it because she kept saying, "I really like your blouse, where did you get it from?" which I didn't want to tell her since her Birthday present (November) is from the collection!
I really like the collection and I do think it is good value and very unusual and distinctive and very glad I managed to get in before the Ebay sharks nabbed it all (grrrr, apparently according to aforementioned Deputy Head, the Peplum blouse is selling on Ebay).
How was your day anyway? Mine was surprisingly good for a Wednesday! I'm liking Wednesdays recently, excepting headaches.
My year 3's are really enthusiastic about learning the recorder and it is making a difference learning it in the classroom with an interactive whiteboard instead of the poky music room! We listened to some Anton Webern today which I think the Educational Psychologist who was observing a child must have thought was totally bizarre! They are taking very well to reading music notation so far! The year 5's were really really good in their lesson- we were learning Masmoudi drumming and then they created their own cylic patterns and they cooperated really well in their groups, just got on with it and produced a good result- composition is really really hard work in such a tiny, loud space as the music room so when we have a really lovely lesson at it, it makes me so happy! Choir is growing and growing- 2 new children asked me if they could join today which takes us up to 27! My largest in 5 years! Hope they all stay!
Sometimes, I just reflect and think how lucky I am to have my job- it is exhausting, straining to my ears and voice, frustrating when the children just won't listen or are rude to each other or you but there are so many things I love and appreciate about it! Hope your day was equally fulfilling!
xx
