So it’s mid-week of week 2 of my children’s school holidays which coincides beautifully (NOT) with the final big push to finish our loft conversion. I can’t remember exactly when we started the project because I blocked it out at week 5.
Translation? I am knackered…
Sweeping building dust from the stairs every afternoon & wiping down surfaces is essential for the 2 asthmatics of the family. Having excess furniture rammed against wardrobes makes putting laundry away a pain in the buttsalad so it’s often piled high by the end of the week. Finding time to work on RCM whilst appearing to my children as a present & interactive parent is proving difficult, to say the least.
However my greatest challenge in life right now is keeping up with the ironing! Which FYI I bloody despise at the best of times. The ironing board optimistically standing upright weeks on end – What to do?
I’ll get back to that. For now let’s think how a weary, wrung out 48 year old Mama can wear,
simple trans-seasonal classic chic
At times like this having an effortless “go to” outfit is imperative for an easy life. In Summer this would be a humble dress but it’s still a little chilly right now & the wind whooshing up my skirt is not my idea of a good time. It’s equally easy in Winter to achieve a classic chic by merely pairing a jumper dress with boots.
Therefore today I’m showing you my fail safe outfit for Spring/Summer – I wear an H&M boyfriend fit lyocel shirt in light blue (also worn here) with white mid-rise skinny jeans from The White Company. I like my new Dune London shoes for this comfy ensemble although any block heel shoe will work.
The trick is in the simplicity – the look is clean & pressed, I feel clean & pressed..although my hair’s dirty so I’ve scraped it back into a pony tail.
My zebra bag from Prada & a statement necklace from Marks and Spencer add a little someit someit & that’s it…wink
With eyes this tired the only thing to do is wear the largest over-sized sunnies I own. Marc Jacobs to the rescue!
Now that we’ve covered the outfit I have to tell you THE most marvellous thing happened to me last week. A wonderful website contacted me to review their product. Who, you may wonder, what could be so amazing? Think for a second & it’ll come to you…
Here’s a hint .
Yep it’s the ironing fairies HOORAH! I Hate Ironing is an online laundry service covering the UK (sorry US & Aus readers) who collect from your door.
Now you may think I’ve written this post purely to promote the website but you’d be completely mistaken, I kid you not. I was at my wits end when ihateironing emailed me, it felt like a gift from the gods! Ask my husband how happy I was. He’s still completely puzzled by the skipping & singing “I don’t have to iron, I don’t have to iron” around the house all weekend hahahahaha
The brilliant thing about this is it doesn’t have to be every week, it can be just for when you’re super busy. I had another idea too – When a friend is under stress or having a hard time wouldn’t this make a fabulous gift? Personally I’d bloody love it! Simply go to the website & purchase a gift voucher. Your friend merely puts their laundry or ironing into a bag & ihateironing do the rest. They contact you via text message when the driver is nearby & they’ll text you again to confirm you’re home when they return your clean or ironed clothes the following day. It couldn’t be easier plus they also do alterations & shoe repairs so you can tick those running around jobs off your list too.
Now when things get on top of me all I have to do to alleviate the pressure is go online & book out my ironing!
Is this outfit a wardrobe staple of yours?
Thanks for popping by a little earlier this week. I’m taking the children out for a few days so I wanted to publish before Friday. Lot’s of love, Mx
Comments ( 23 )
sequinist
You look fresh and well rested, so the ponytail and the sunnies are doing the trick, if you do have anything to hide! If I looked as amazing as you do in a pair of white jeans, I would wear them 12 months of the year, no lie. Lovely spring look, RCMama.
I may have to try your ironing service… my lady is leaving after TWELVE YEARS! I’m off to explore their website… xx
retrochicmama
Excellent Lisa I’m so pleased the timing is perfect for you. I hope your lady is retiring. Thank you for the sweet compliment I’ll take it! 😉
xxx
Abby@midlifecrisisnut
I was just going to say, Michelle: how on earth do you manage to to even consider ironing, amidst the dust, the vacation, the blog etc. until I came to your paragraph about the brilliant company. Do they have a pickup service in France? If yes, I’m in. 🙂 You you absolutely beautiful in your hot jeans! xx Abby
Abby@midlifecrisisnut
You you meant to say you look hot 😉
retrochicmama
Hahaha you know what Abby it’s always in hindsight that I wonder why I feel the need to be a martyr? I would’ve got to the ironing eventually & felt really angry about it. If it wasn’t for the company contacting me I’d never even considered sending it out DOH!
Lets just say lesson learned 😉
And thank you for the “hot” compliment, I love that xxx
notdressedaslamb
Firstly: Ironing. I BET I detest it more than you!! I’d rather clean the toilet than do the ironing any day. The service does sound amazing though, talk about a happy coincidence! My solution to my ironing hatred was to buy an upright steam cleaner – like the ones stylists use – and it changed my LIFE. (Well, it made ironing easier.) I only need to get the ironing board out for really fiddly things about once every few months, there’s no ironing pile any more (where stuff just got more and more wrinkled the higher the pile got) – it’s also great for winter coats that come out of summer storage… You can’t really iron those. Get one, you’ll love it!
And the outfit – what’s more gorgeous and simple than white jeans, a blue shirt and nana shoes? Not much…! Must get myself a pale blue shirt like this, they’re so chic and perfect for spring/summer. Hmm more shopping 😉
Michelle have a FABULOUS weekend – stay sane amongst all the mess if you can, I know exactly what you’re going through, aaaaargh
Catherine x
http://notdressedaslamb.com
retrochicmama
It’s funny Catherine, I have thought about getting a steamer in the past because of my experience with them on photo shoots. Why I never did is a bit of a mystery so now that you’ve brought it up I’m on the case!
Lots of love x
Liz
Michelle you have such a beautiful slim figure and you look incredible in the outfit, which is as fresh as a spring day. I love the block heels too. They’re perfect for transitional dressing aren’t they. I don’t like ironing but it’s hanging and sorting the washing I hate most. It drives me mad!! xxx
retrochicmama
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a house keeper Liz? We should train our daughters up to fill in that job until we’re rich! 😉
xxx
Annette
Since I iron everything – even kitchen towels – there is a constant pile of laundry in this house! Love the odea of a gift voucher!!
Love your look, especially those fabulous block heel shoes!! Such a relief, finally stylish yet comfy shoes are a major trend!!
xo
Annette | Lady of Style
retrochicmama
Oh no Annette you have to stop ironing kitchen towels! My Nan used to iron knickers would you believe? Life’s too short, let’s all be crinkled 😉
xxx
sandypatti
You look so lovely – both tucked and untucked! I iron nothing, although in my youth I was quite devoted : > Thanks for sharing with Visible Monday, xo
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
retrochicmama
Thanks Patti – “tucked & untucked” love it!
Blimey you are evolved, ironing nothing is the way forward absolutely!
xxx
Ada
Hello, I am Ada. So glad I found your blog. I love the look of white denim with a chambray shirt. It is always so fresh and clean. And those block heel pumps are real nice. =)
Welcome by my blog as well. I run a Style Linkup on Thursdays, too. Welcome by and link up this beautiful outfit and any latest looks with me this upcoming Thursday. Thanks, Ada.
P.S. So glad I found your blog! I love finding other stylish moms who blog. =))
retrochicmama
Hi Ada & welcome! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment on RCM, I’ll be sure to pop over & visit your blog asap…
xM
Abby
I love that top! And white jeans is so great for spring!
Abby | Life in the Fash Lane
retrochicmama
Hello Abby, so lovely of you to pop by 😉
Hope to see yo again soon xxx
The Wardrobe Stylist
It is definitely an effortless chic go to outfit you got going on and I love how you paired them together really bringing the beauty of summer into your look. You look amazing for 48 and I hear ya about the amount of work that goes along with asthmatic kids. I have one that has it. Thankfully he’s been better this past winter than the last thanks to his puffer which really helped him, but we have to keep an eye on anything that might affect his breathing. Would love if you can link up to http://the-wardrobe-stylist.com/2016/04/17/diy-brazilian-hair-extensions/
retrochicmama
Hi there! Thank you for popping on to RCM, I went over to your blog for a sneaky peek. It’s fab, great job!
Glad to hear your son is doing better with his new puffer. We’ve certainly had our fair share of scary moments with breathing difficulties. Now & then my daughter has had to also use the (brown) preventative puffer for a period of time. It reduces the need for the (blue) stronger ventolin which has side effects with over use.
Hopefully they’ll grow out of it altogether.
Mx
Mummabstylish Mummabstylish
Hi there, I’m with you on the ironing front, having four children still at home – well adult children all capable of ironing, but mum still does it! Like you looks and love that m & s necklace..xx http://www.mummabstylish.com
retrochicmama
Oh noooo you have to put your foot down! I can see how that happens though, you just carry on doing the ironing & forget that it isn’t even your job any more. I’m trying to teach my kids to put their clothes away at the moment which is proving rather difficult – to say the least 😉
xxx
Jo
This is the perfect go-to outfit for spring! I’ve been looking for a pair of nude heels but haven’t found the right one yet. Will have a look through your suggestions. Not sure if they have Dune in the States (I miss Dune). And, hang on a company that will iron you’re clothes for you?!!!! Britain’s got the coolest things for sure! xx
retrochicmama
Oh really no Dune eh? I wonder if they ship to the US?
Nice to see you Jo xxx