Two seasons in one day!

Despite the rainy start to the day I had nothing more hazardous planned than a walk across my garden to my office. So I dressed accordingly :-). Whilst I have a large collection of Caterinas this is my first sleeveless one and was bought a few weeks ago because I knew immediately how I’d style it for both Autumn and Summer.

I love the colour – orange or pumpkin is definitely my winter colour as it brightens the dreariness of poor weather and breaks up a lot of dark colours I wear at this time of year. And yet it’s also a great summer holiday colour when everything around you is rich and vibrant. 

This sleeveless Caterina is beautifully fitted and a little more tailored up top than ones with sleeves. I have quite broad shoulders but there was no need to size up and I took my usual Caterina 12.

However the best laid plans are often overturned and I ended up having to go out that afternoon so had to adapt my lightweight “cosy cream” indoor look to compensate for the poor weather with “be warm in black” for outside – and ended up with two seasonal looks in one day.

The fabric of this dress has a nice weight to it which makes it cool enough for Summer but warm enough not to need lots of layering for Winter. For my initial outfit, when the sun was out, I teamed it with a cream jean bolero and the new Georgia Lulu Huns in orange and cream. A fluffy white petticoat gave me the lift and warmth needed on a cool Autumn day. As I wasn’t particularly cold I added my usual What Katie Did seamed stockings.

In the Lulu Huns I sized up as they tend to come up a little short. These fit well in the seven and I didn’t have to add an extra hole for the strap which I sometimes do need.

By afternoon, when I was thinking of heading out, the sky darkened and the heavens opened and it was time to get a bit more practical. My motto regarding outfits is the same as my motorcycling attire. “There’s no weather you can’t be out in – you just need the right gear for it” (But not snow and ice – those conditions are not on my list!)

 To be cosy in bad weather I made some really simple changes and switched my bolero and petticoat for black ones. Black is a key accessory colour for me in the Winter as I associate it with warmth!
My stockings were peeled off to be replaced with thick black Snag Tights and the shoes also made way for knee high boots from Clarks. (Knee high boots are a staple for me in winter when wearing dresses.)

And let’s not forget those little accessories – I’m a stickler for attention to detail. If my outfit is planned and pulled together I dress and forget about it. On the other hand if something “jars” I fidget with it all day. So in this case hair snoods, by the lovely Tanis at Gin Poodle, had to be swopped from sparkly white to sparkly black. Let’s not forget hair flowers, bangles, belts and of course brooches too – even my earrings!! And to think all this was covered up anyway with a beautiful waterproof coat lol!

(Coats are a particular passion of mine. It comes from watching old films as a child where the coat was often in the same colour/style as the dress/suit and it made me realise that a coat was just as much a part of the outfit and not just a coverup. )

So there you have it – a classic example of a dress you can wear throughout the year with just a few accessory changes. Must admit I certainly hadn’t expected to wear both outfits in one day! 

Stay safe – and have fun getting dressed even if it’s just to stay in and sit on the sofa!

Y xx

For reference I am 5ft 6, 34dd and wear a size 12 in Collectif. I only tend to size up to a 14 if the dress is boatneck style, very close fitting in the upper body and has no stretch.

Outfit details:
Caterina Dress, Jean boleros, Georgia block heel shoes – Collectif Clothing
Petticoats – Dolly and Dotty
Boots – Clarks
Bangles – Splendette and Bow and Crossbones
Brooches –Erstwilder
Hair snoods – Gin Poodle
Flowers – black/orange by All things Kanzashi, white by Shazam Hair Flowers
Stockings – What Katie Did
Tights – Snag Tights
Belts – Hell Bunny