Friday 17 June 2011

Frock It, It's Raining Again



You've probably seen this dress before, I bought my 1970's Kati at Laura Phillips maxi from the "20p Man" at the Thursday car boot sale last spring and it's been regularly cropping up on my blog ever since. 



Many of my fellow swimmers marvel at "the effort" I put in with dressing for a morning swim. I don't get it, what could be easier than wearing a maxi dress? Bikini on, boots on, frock on, zip it up and off you go, no need to bother about co-ordinating separates or the right shoes. There's nothing worse than wrestling to get dressed after a swim either, despite showering the chlorine makes your skin sticky and trying to pull up skinny jeans is nigh on impossible. With a fabulous frock I rarely even bother with underwear, it's just wash, dry and go.

Kati at Laura Phillips maxi worn with velvet platform boots (£9, Office), turquoise net bag (handmade by my gorgeous friend, Liz) and a 1970's Vogue umbrella (£1, car boot sale)

What a surprise, it's raining again. We're off to the pub later followed by a posh Gujarati dinner in our favourite Indian restaurant. I was going to test out my vintage Clairol heated rollers but by the time I've walked to the pub in this weather I may as well not have bothered.


Have a brilliant weekend whatever you do. See you soon. x

74 comments:

  1. Ha! I wonder that about swimming as well. I love going along in a dress, as you say, it's nice and easy afterwards!

    Pulling things on from the bottom up is just icky, given the state of the floor in most baths...

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  2. Enjoy the Indian meal this evening.
    Ah, it's raining again, wonderful for the green plants and trees. I adore your pretty dress and that nice bag. Have a fab weekend;-)

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  3. I agree totally about dresses being the easiest thing to wear, just one thing to think about. Although the only time I spend in swimming baths at the moment is in the company of small boys dropping their pants and socks into puddles. Sigh.

    Great frock as ever, and have a lovely weekend x

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  4. Love the umbrella! Enjoy your night out :)

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  5. Great dress.you look gorgeous and comfy too.Love that brolly.xx

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  6. Seeing you in a velour tracksuit and a pair of crocs would be the most bizzare sight! More ladies should wear dresses, there's a dress for every shape and size, and you instantly move better when you wear dress or skirt. I for one, was quite sad to hear my old high school had relaxed the rule on no trousers for girls. I loved wearing a skirt to school!

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  7. Frock it! Frock it..My God, I love your titles.

    I'll swear I saw that dress first time around. Honest to God I knew someone who wore that dress. I promise. This is so weird.

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  8. Hi my dear-you look wonderful in the Laura Phillips dress, it was a true gem of a find!! I also love your Hawaiian mini dress from yesterday and your finds were fabulous-the festival shorts, suede jacket and raffia hat were my favourites!! Yes, the weather here is ghastly, raining again!! Hope you have a lovely evening and a good weekend too xxx

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  9. There is just nothing worse than trying to get damp legs into skinny jeans. Uck. I swim 9-9.40pm a couple of nights a week so just tend to just wear whatever I've got on that day. If it's inappropriate for post-swimming wear then I may chuck on some tracksuit bottoms and a hoody - sorry to let the fashion side down!

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  10. You are so right. What could be easier than a maxi?
    Have a lovely evening and weekend..yup, it's pissitively possing down here to.
    xxx

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  11. Oh, I totally forgot! The parcel arrived yesterday (silly new postman won't leave parcels under the bush and takes them back to the sorting office, grr). Thank you ever so much - everything is just wonderful and so, so perfect!

    xxxxxx

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  12. Fabulous frock and I love the umbrella x

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  13. hands down, the best umbrella ever!

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  14. Beautiful dress and theres that lovely smile again ,to brighten up a gloomy rainy day ...love Jan xx

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  15. I LOVE the sleeves on that dress! I also LOVE Indian food!

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  16. I am so smitten with the Vogue umbrella, by far fabulous in every way possible xxx

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  17. you look beautiful in your dress - hope you'll have a good weekend even when its rainy :)

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  18. Love your rainy day Frock! Your bag & brolly too.....hope you have a fab start to your weekend!

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  19. Lovely frock and suits you, madam!

    More fashion pearls of wisdom, I'd never have thought of wearing a dress after swimming - will give it a go if I take BB swimming again x

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  20. The dress is beautiful Vix, like it's owner :0) Shame about the rain (been awful here too) but I don't mind too much as I've been stuck in my dowdy work uniform all day :0(. Enjoy your evening out xx

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  21. Its a fab dress - glam AND practical. You got a gem with the vogue brolly!

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  22. Your right often the easy outfits look like they took much more effort. It is a lovely cut I am not surprised it is a favorite. How cool is the brolly too! Thank you again for my lovely socks, they came just at the right time as I am having a rotten day, but looking at my feet keeps cheering me up x

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  23. Another awesome dress, kinda still in love with yesterdays! Know what you mean about the swimming and jeans, I like to swim then shower then moisturize, (general faffing!) and skinny jeans do not work with this routine! :)

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  24. That's a rather fab brolly! It's pouring down here too, I hope it brightens up soon.... xxx

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  25. There is nothing like an "air dry" after a swim. The long skirt thing is a very healthy solution!

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  26. Its been raining cats and dogs here today to but with an umbrella like yours bring it i say ;-)) Have a lovely evening, dee x

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  27. That umbrella is amazing!

    Your fellow swimmers only wish they had as much pizazz as you do!

    You have the most cheeky adorable smile! xxx

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  28. The weather always seems to time itself perfectly to rain on my weekends off! Gutted x

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  29. Have a wonderful evening xx

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  30. looking great!!
    have a great weekend sweets!!

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  31. LOL VIX! Don't be announcing you go underwearless after your swims... there could be some weirdo readin your blog who will camp out in hopes of cathching a glimpse. hahahahah

    I really like your dress and that umbrella is AMAZIN!!
    Thanks for the luck on the sales for tomorrow I hope I find at least one good thing!

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  32. The weather has been rotten over the last few days. Very English and not very summery :-(

    Ooh an Indian dinner! Hope you have a fab weekend, Vix xx

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  33. Couldnt agree more with the faff of getting dressed after swimming, the dress idea is spot on (and its a beautiful dress!) although be careful of strong gusts of wind ;o). Have a fabulousd weekend Scarlett x

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  34. We reached 40º c here, I tell you I would change places with you this minute, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    Rain, rain come to Spainnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
    When is your festival???

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  35. Maxi dresses are the way forward for a trip to the swimming baths! I'm the same with the beach-they're SO easy to wear and you don't have to worry about accidentally flashing anyone! I used to surf a lot and always wore one to wriggle out of my wetsuit and bikini without giving the golfers on the green nearby an eyeful! WHY would you attempt jeans-it's all too much like hard work!
    Gorgeous dress and that bag is amazing Vix!
    xxx

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  36. Fab dress, a personal fave on you!! I actually don't know how to swim (!) so am always admiring of that skill! Have a fabulous weekend my dear! xxx

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  37. That is a stunning dress, Vix, and the turquoise bag is incredibly attractive! Have a fab weekend xxx

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  38. omg, the last time i had an indian dinner is 9 months ago. back then there was a man in my life. totally shocked.
    i have to get some indian takeaway food tomorrow!

    hopefully the weather is getting more sunny over there. today it started raining here in germany, too.

    by the way...marvellous dress!

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  39. Preciosos anillos y favorecedor paraguas.

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  40. Amen to your swim routine. It sounds too easy. I know that the last time I had a regular swim routine that it was the hair dryer in the winter that put me off. Do you wear a cap?

    Admiring the umbrella. Have a good weekend.

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  41. I absolutely admire your looks, this dress is fab & beautiful on you as always lovely, I am not a huge rain fan, but with that great umbrella I think that I just might be! xxoo :)

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  42. Dearest Vix, that dress is one of my favourites. It's amazing on you! In fact when I keep having these dreams I'm sure this is the one your wearing!!

    Of course you're right about the swimming outfit. I actually called my local pool today to enquire about a month's membership. Let's see if I get there.

    Hope you have a great night. Lovely to talk to you today. Love you loads xx

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  43. I'm glad this dress keeps popping up - it is gorgeous, and looks great on you!

    I completely agree about dresses actually being the easiest outfit too! No worrying about matching top/pants or top/skirt, just on with the dress and off you go.

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  44. That Vogue umbrella - I have no words. Too good of a find. Are there like 824784598723498573245 thrifty sale corner flea market trading posts everywhere there?Holy crap!


    strawberry freckleface

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  45. OOoooh I LOOOOVE this maxi! You look fabulous, as always, amor. I would love a close up of the bag... and the fabulous umbrella!

    Sarah xxx

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  46. Hope your rollers worked ok, dress is beautiful, loved the whole look. Have fun :)

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  47. What an amazing brolly vix, the best i've seen! Unfortunately it's been raining every day this week here in norn iron and miss koo has broke my fave doin a singing and dancing routine in the back garden. I can have nuffin!!
    I love these frock fridays, and this is one of my fave dress on you. It suits you perfectly
    xxx
    Ps. thank you for letting me know about the images not loading

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  48. Hahaha love the title, love the swimming dress routine - I agree nothing worse than skinny jeans!

    When it stops frocking raining I can post your book xx

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  49. Bloody gorgeous dress and I'm stunned at the awesome brolly. I agree with the frock business - they're so easy. I think the reason why people comment is because you look so original and hawt! they think you've gone to incredible effort - you always look so utterly fab love!! Mmmmm Gujerati **drool**. Hope it dries up before Glasto. xoxoxoxo

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  50. I love all your Maxis amor, especially love when you wear black and white.You always have a mysterious beautiful look about you.
    love your umbrella,I hoping to finally go to the boot sales on Sunday.

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  51. Love the umbrella - no, I can't bring myself to call it a brolly though it's such a great word. In our family they are yayas (because my son called them um-yayas) and that one is fab!

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  52. That umbrella is fabulous. Dresses are the easiest thing to wear aren't they. And people always think you've made a big effort! Same with red lipstick, it is so useful for tricking people into thinking you are very glam when really you dashed out the door in less than a minute. xx

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  53. I agree completely. When you're going swimming it's a lot easier to wear something loose and floaty like a dress. I think you look lovely, and that umbrellas is the coolest I've ever seen! And thank you for the lovely comment, I should be back soon :) xxx

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  54. Such a gorgeous frock, Vix; I hope you're having a great weekend despite the rain! xxx

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  55. A maxi dress before and after swimming makes total sense to me and this one looks especially lovely on you. Combing the vintage shops in London today I so had to think how you would not approve... everything was SOOOO overprized. xxx

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  56. Have a wonderful weekend!! You are looking fabulous as always :)

    ♥ from © tanvii.com

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  57. This dress is gorgeous! Its finally stopped raining here...hope it stays away for the carboots tomorrow! xxx

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  58. that is a niiiiice dress, I love it.

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  59. Totally one of my fave frocks,this!!!I just love it!! Ugh,chlorine is just SO gross, i would probably swim more if it didn't smell so bad! G is regular swimmer,but the nearest pools have been closed due to quakeys. He went right across town the other day for a swim.
    We've been having some rain too,and bitter wind.....so unpleasant.
    LOVE YOU!! Talk soon?!
    HelgaxxxXXXxxx

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  60. Oh but of course! That description of skinny jeans over sticky skin... yeah... not good! A dress is easy breezy but for some reason, seen as dressy. People are strange.

    Anyway... you do make everythng look so easy and dressy and breezy and pleasing darling gorgeous Vix.

    ps. Thank you for the signing in tip! As in don't tick the 'remember me' box! You are right! Will have to put that in my next post.

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  61. Love the umbrella and of course your lovely Laura Phillips maxi. Here in South Florida we are in desperate need for rain is almost 90degrees every day and my air conditioning has being running non-stop.

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  62. Wearing a dress over your swimsuit is the best idea I've heard in a while. You're so right, what could be easier than a maxi dress? Love your style and I just started following. Debbie http://thriftygirlvintage.com

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  63. No one will understand the ease dressing when wearing a maxi until they try it. It's my trick when heading to the beach.
    -BB

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  64. Gotta love a maxi. It rained here for a week....some towns had floodings! Hope you had a lovely weekend. X

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  65. You're quite right, maxis are one of the easiest outfits ever, no styling required!

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  66. Loving that brolly.
    I always wear a dress with my swimming costume on underneath when I go swimming. Although I often end up forgetting my knickers for my return journey home. Hussy or what?

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  67. Haha I love your umbrella - probably the best use of Vogue I've seen in a while. Love your maxi dress. Good for you keeping up the dress wearing in this awful weather - been pelting down non stop where I am too.

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  68. Very cool — I'm smitten with that umbrella!

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  69. Of course, now you mention it, it makes perfect sense to wear a dress for a swimming trip. And I love the fact that you look glamorous whatever you're heading off to do! Mind you, I'm also intrigued about the morning swim thing. The umbrella? Brolly brilliant.

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  70. Ooh ooh ooh, I'm so late commenting, you've posted again! Bloody kids hogging the computer - I blame the parents...

    Lovely lovely Vix, and I agree with you and all the other lovely ladies who know that dresses are the easiest thing to wear, but fool people into thinking you have made loads of effort! I have been wowing/amusing/shocking (delete as appropriate) the school playground with my 70s maxis, as you know Vix, and lots of mums have commented on my being "dressed up" when in reality it's been a breeze to pop on 1 item of clothing. Oh, plus underwear!

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  71. I'm with you on the dressing for a swim...or I would be if I didn't detest swimming (remnants of a childhood shark phobia). The umbrella is ace! xx

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  72. Agreed - when it comes to swimming, the looser and less complicated the better for after! I'm always forgetting my spare knickers when I go to a class then for a swim!

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Lots of love, Vix