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Back in the early pandemic days (around 2020) when 90s era trends started popping-up absoutely everywhere in the fashion world, I figured it would play out like most fashion trends. I figured we'd get a season or two out of it then move on, our attention having been captured by the next shiny thing to cross our paths. Yet here we are a full three years later, and every style season seems to lead with more 90s era trends. I was just entering my 20s in the 90s, so I am absolutely thrilled by the increasingly evergreen nature of this trend; it feels like having your youth preserved in a sartorial pickle jar for all eternity. As a card-carrying member of the mid to late 1990s Seattle GenX Angst Brigade, I never fully let go of a lot of this stuff to begin with, and I continue to stock a prolific amount of it in my online shops. Trust me when I tell you that nobody is more thrilled than I am at the enduring nature of 1990s Version 2.0. Want to get the look (again?) This time around we're even more spoiled for choice than we were in the actual 1990s, but when you strip 90s looks right down to brass tacks, key themes emerge. Here are three tried and true, easy to wear classic 90s pieces you can add to your wardrobe right now with literally no fuss. You can click on the photos of individual pieces for more information. Easy 1990s Style Pieces for 2023 Chunky Loafers In any piece written about 1990s era style, there are two iconic items you simply must include if you are to be taken seriously; the chunky loafer and the Delia's catalog. Lucky for me, this is a homework assignment in which I can easily combine my efforts. This page from a late 90s Delia's catalog is emblematic not only of the chunky footwear of the era, but also of how we used to shop in the time when e-commerce was still a baby. Basically, the Delia's catalog is now a historical document of sorts, and when you compare it to the photograph below of chunky loafers that are available online in this very moment of 2023, it is clear that the Delia's catalog is a historical document that still retains its sartorial significance. In the years since the expansion of internet e-commerce sites, we have been blessed with more style options that we ever could have imagined when we sat at our kitchen tables paging through the Delia's catalog. Nowadays the "chunkiness factor" of a loafer offers options ranging from subtle to extreme, so you can choose a degree of chunkiness that suits your evolved 2023 tastes. Relaxed Jeans Ladies, I think we can all finally take a collective deep breath, and I mean that quite literally. It seems that 90s-era relaxed fit jeans are at long last edging-out skinny jeans in the fashion world, and I can't say that I'm sorry about it. Undoubtedly skinnies will always have a place tucked neatly inside my tall boots, but I can't help but feel a newfound enthusiasm (not to mention relief) for finally having a new silhouette to wear on the daily that doesn't pose the threat of needing a standing prescription for yeast infection meds. I've taken to wearing thrifted flat front mens jeans when I want that sort of 90s, masculine silhouette without the Mom jean waistline (I loathe ultra high waists on me), but if wearing preloved mens jeans isn't your vibe, there are plenty of other style options out there right now. A Statement Leather Jacket or Blazer In the 80s and 90s, leather jackets became quite the thing. They were marketed to us as a perfect blend of luxury and coolness. If on any given day, you left the house without your obligatory leather jacket over whatever you had on, it left you feeling off balance and beige. I remember a 90s Seattle roommate of mine who was gifted this oversized insulated Wilsons leather jacket with a hood (!?) by a guy she had just started dating, and whom she was still sort of unsure about. I remember watching the poor guy struggling up our front stairs with this massive heavy black leather jacket (she was a petite flower) and thinking to myself "whoa dude...a leather jacket...that's like, serious. You're really putting yourself out there!" At the time I wasn't sure if the gift of this jacket was good or bad, it was just...a lot. To this day when I'm thrifting and I see one of those massive, ridiculously heavy 90s era leather jackets with a hood, I think of that poor guy, whose inability to read the room cost him the price of that gigantic jacket, as well as his heart. This time, the similarities of the offerings between the 90s and now are striking. If you're lucky enough to still have some 90s leather pieces in your cache, nows the time to roll them out!

I recently returned from the US, where I found a ton of really cool things to add to the shop. Among the massive vintage haul that I managed to secure (quite literally on my back, inside my old USAF duffle bag while I navigated the queues at O'Hare airport) were these two pieces from the 1970s. Sure, they look sort of quiet and unassuming, but they're special, and it is officially my job to tell you why. What's special About Vintage 70s Clothing? The 1970s and early 1980s were probably the last decades that consumers were still able to find and purchase items that were manufactured and sold in-country. At that time, these garments were constructed with an eye to having the customer hold on to them a bit longer than we hold on to our clothes today. At the time of this writing, 3 out of 5 fast fashion pieces purchased will end up in a landfill within a year. I don't want to bog you down with gloomy statistics, but to read more about the fast fashion impact on the way we have come to approach our wardrobes, this article in the New York Times is an excellent summary. The bottom line is that with outsourced fast fashion having really taken off in the 1990s, there has been a drastic, observable decline in garment quality and durability. For those of us who are old enough to remember the clothes from our childhoods (whassup GenX and beyond) - we may or may not remember the specific brands that we wore "way back then", but if you put one of these 1970s mainstream fashion pieces on, you'll soon be jolted back down memory lane by the very feel of the fabrics. Take for example, the plaid pants below, which were actually manufactured my Levis in a capsule collection called their Panatela line. While the fabric content tag is long since lost to the sands of time, I am extremely confident that these pants are a blend of acrylic and lambswool. While they are unlined, they're sturdy and have a properly-constructed, reinforced waistband that creates a really wonderfully tailored-looking, comfortable, flat-front fit. They also have a slight flare to the cuffed hem leg, giving them a modern appeal. When I tried these pants on, they fit better than any pair of modern trousers I've tried in recent memory. So much so that I literally had to have a serious talk with myself about not keeping every single piece I come across. I paired these pants with a puff sleeve Emanuel Ungaro blouse from the 1980s. This second piece is one of those quiet workhorse pieces that will probably still be around long after we humans have obliterated ourselves with climate change and terrible diets and all other manner of bad behaviour. This is a plaid wool tweedy jacket from 70s brand Barclay Square. This little jacket is well made in the way of a lot of vintage 70s clothing, and a way that you don't even see in a lot of ready to wear higher end designer clothing these days. It feels substantial to hand and keeps its shape (a rarity in fast fashion). This little jacket also has good seam and button reinforcement, and is fully-lined so it slips on and off like a dream. It has a sort of somber, dark academia vibe too; an absolutely evergreen fashion aesthetic. This little jacket will probably last quite literally forever.

90s prints are uniquely recognizable. Not only do they employ a lot of borrowed from the 60s browns, blues, patchwork and batik themes, they also carry on the strong, abstract graphic elements made popular by their predecessors in the 80s. I suppose like any print, 1990s style prints everyones cup of tea, but if you're looking for an easy one and done statement piece that nobody else will likely have, you really can't go wrong. I like how the juxtaposition of such a busy, multimedia style print with a neutral, often downright somber color palette really is something we haven't seen in mainstream fashion since. Here are a few pieces that landed in the shop this past few weeks. The Ultimate 1990s Style Print: The Vertical Stripe One of the most quintessentially 90s prints out there, particularly with 90s era westernwear, is the vertical stripe shirt. This Western-inspired 90s classic rayon blouse has a batik element in it that gives it some depth and keeps it from being too "circusy." The 90s Does the 70s with Patchwork Prints Patchwork prints really had a moment in the 90s. Even the more somber, earthy color palettes used in many of these prints harkened back to the "harvest gold", more muted color palettes of prints from the 1970s. These patchwork prints, like the one featured on this oversized button front blouse, are really easy to style in a more modern way with a bit of boho Western flair.

I was tidying my shop inventory today and this OOTD took shape. This look is brought to you by the 1980s and 1990s. This vintage Western fringe dress set is from my inventory and was handmade by someone round about the 1980s, presumably for a function of some sort since at the time I found it there was also a red one, and the top half of a turquoise one. The jacket is a sturdy 90s era leather blazer by John Paul Richard (it also happens to be 25% off through the end of January!)

By now we've all seen Yellowstone's Beth Dutton in action. Played by the inimitable Kelly Reilly, who recently described Beth to The Wall Street Journal as "having no edit button", the character is at once passionate, vulnerable, and perhaps most importantly, angry as Hell. While perhaps we wouldn't trust her enough to borrow our truck, we would have all the time in the world for her if she said she wanted to help us throw a few outfits together. Even if you're not a fan of modern American Western fashion, you have to admit that Beth Dutton's wardrobe has some serious game. Of course, the credit here really goes to film and TV industry veteran Johnetta Boone, the costume designer behind the character. Boone has been working her magic in the biz for the better part of 30 years, and in her expression of Beth Dutton, has managed to give us just the right amount of Western flavor without over-seasoning it into heavily saccharine "buckle bunny" territory. Beth Dutton's style on Yellowstone is often traffic-stopping (remember that gold dress!?), but equally, like a lot of Western-inspired fashion, it's also upbeat, functional, translates well into most geographical environments, and can upgrade from casual to fancy pants with just a few adjustments. Best of all? It's accessible; you can throw a look with Western-inspired elements together on a budget. There are endless examples of what we enthusiasts would deem pitch-perfect Beth Dutton style, but today, I'm narrowing my focus to look at one particular, seasonally appropriate (if not downright necessary) piece - the faux fur jacket. This is a piece you can easily add to your rotation without taking out a second mortgage, and in a pop of color, it really sings! While most of the original branded items Kelly Reilly wears on Yellowstone tend to sell out with lightning speed, there are still plenty of options out there. Hover over the photos if you want more info on any of these pieces, all of which ship internationally! Beth Dutton's Faux Fur Wardrobe on a Budget

Bright post-yuletide blessings to you, astute readers! Let's just jump right in with some over 50 budget skincare talk. If like me, you're anywhere near the vicinity of the 50+ Club, you'll already know that as we get older, skincare plays a more important role than it did in our younger days, when we'd roll in after a 90s night out and faceplant into a pillow coated with Aussie Scrunch Spray residue, our black kohl eyeliner still intact. Yes, I need to do a bit more due diligence these days, to put it mildly. However, I also take issue with marketing that pushes the narrative that the only way to achieve your best, most glowing complexion when you've reached middle age is to spend a fortune on super high-end products. While I certainly do have a list of high end products I'd love to take for a spin (don't we all), these days there are a ton of really good products available both online and in your local drugstore that will help you keep your glow on, and not make you feel like you need to choose between your skincare routine and selling an organ on the dark web to pay for it. Great news for those of us who are budget conscious...and right now, that's pretty much all of us, isn't it? PRODUCT UPDATES 19 JUNE 2023 My Current Over 50 Budget Skincare Rotation Here's a look at some of my favourite budget skincare products from my skincare cabinet of curiosities, with links for any of you who want to give any of these products a whirl. I tend to alternate these products, picking and choosing what feels right on any given day. While I am not being paid by any of these brands for my review of these products, there are a few affiliate links scattered throughout this post. 1. Revolution 5% Caffeine and Hyaluronic Acid Revitalising Under Eye Serum This simple under eye serum is a lightweight formulation that soaks right in to the skin. I use it on freshly showered skin underneath any other products or makeup I might use that day (including a more moisturising eye cream if I need it), and it really does work to help combat any under eye puffiness. I also use it once in a while throughout the day just to refresh the eye area if I feel I need it. This is an absolute steal at £6 ($7.40) at Revolution Beauty (ships internationally). 2. Good Molecules Daily Brightening Serum This is a nice brightening serum that is beta arbutin-based. Unlike many brightening formulas that are niacinamide-based, beta arbutin is gentle on the skin and I don't feel any suggestion of irritation from this serum. What I like best about this serum is that unlike many other serums I've tried, this one does not leave any film behind that then peels off under other products, so I can use this serum as a sneaky layer under another moisturiser or foundation without worrying about turning into that face-peeling guy in that scene from Poltergeist (very GenX reference, I know). This serum is $13.20 on Amazon US (ships to the UK). 3. Good Molecules Overnight Exfoliating Treatment This is a simple 10% solution of alpha and beta hydroxy acids in a lightweight, clear serum formulation that leaves my skin soft, supple and exfoliated when I wake up. I like to alternate this product with other overnight products during the week. I feel like this serum really makes my skin into a smooth canvas and leaves it looking and feeling more even and toned. $11.79 on Amazon US (ships to the UK). 4. Superdrug Optimum Vitamin C Moisturiser (discontinued) I bought this moisturizer at a time when I had run out of daily moisturiser and needed something on the quick. I am partial to vitamin C products because I like the glow they impart. This moisturizer has both vitamin C and niacinimide in it, and it does impart a very subtle glow to my skin. However, this formula is very lightweight, and I find that a lot of the time, I need to add my ceramide moisturiser on top to get enough lasting hydration. However, I would not hesitate to purchase this again - at £7.49 for 50 ml, it's a handy bargain product, and nice to have in the arsenal. Another plus - the packaging is actually appropriate for a product that boasts ingredients that can destabilize when exposed to oxygen and light. I'm always shocked at how many brands are selling us creams in jars that claim to have ingredients in them (like retinols and vitamin C) that oxidize and destabilize when air and light is introduced. Superdrug products are UK and Ireland only (sorry fellow Americans). UPDATE JUNE 19: I think the Derma-E Vitamin C Renewing Moisturizer is actually a better product than the Superdrug, and available in the USA! 5. Superdrug Optimum Retinol Serum This product definitely got my attention the very first time I used it. The formula is lightweight but moisturising, layers well under moisturizer, and after just one night (yes, I use this one at night) my skin felt softer and looked more even and bright. In addition to 0.4% retinyl palmitate, this serum also boasts brightening niacinimide, as well as skin-calming herbs green seaweed, tulsi, and lady's thistle. This is a very elegant product for the £7.49 price tag, and I will be repurchasing this one when I run out (UK and Ireland only). UPDATE JUNE 19: You can't go wrong with this 1% retinol serum in squalane from The Ordinary. Again, with 20/20 hindsight, this is the much better product. 6. The Ordinary Ascorbic Acid 8% + Alpha Arbutin 2% Serum This is a more intense vitamin C and alpha arbutin brightening serum. This formula is a water-free direct vitamin C pigment corrector that goes on with a bit of an oily finish, but eventually soaks into the skin. I use it as a part of my nighttime rotation. This formula has the potential to be a bit more irritating, so those with sensitive skin may need to build up to it. I quite like this serum, and find that it's a real workhorse that lasts quite a while. To that end, it is actually sort of challenging for me to use this product within the 6 month time frame that The Ordinary gives it before the ingredients begin to destabilize. However, The $12 price tag is an absolute bargain for something that is this potent, and better yet, it ships internationally. 7. The Ordinary Niacinimide 10% +Zinc 1% Serum This is another brightening serum from The Ordinary, this time with a very high concentration of niacinimide in a water-based formulation. This is my second bottle of this niacinimide serum, and I really like the effects I get from it when I use it regularly. This serum however does leave a film on the skin, and like it directs you on the product page you have to apply it to clean skin, then "seal" it with some sort of moisturizer. I only use this at night, because I find that depending on what you might use over this serum, it does have a tendency to peel a bit, although it may be my heavy-handedness that causes this. This serum definitely brightens, enhances glow, and for me even helps heal any breakouts threatening to erupt. This serum is $12 and ships internationally. 8. No 7 Hydra Luminous Water Surge Gel This is a great hyaluronic acid moisturiser with a bit of staying power and an elegant, highly absorptive formula. This gel cream doesn't leave a film and leaves my skin soft and supple. It does have scent in it, so those who are sensitive may find it too much. Normally, No. 7 product lines do offer many fragrance free options, but unfortunately I did not see a fragrance-free option for this particular product on their website. Another downside to this product is the jar packaging, meaning you either have to dip your fingers in the product (repeatedly, for however long it takes you to use up the jar), or use some sort of clean implement to scoop out the product (annoying). However, if you are not fragrance sensitive and want a good hyaluronic acid moisturiser that will absorb quickly, leave your skin soft, and work well under makeup, this is a good one. $17.99 / £14.95 (Ships to US & UK) 9. Revolution Skincare Ceremides Moisture Lotion This is one of my absolute favourite bargain workhorse products. This ceramide lotion is lightweight but moisturising, fragrance free, and has a zillion different uses. I have a large bottle of this lotion both at my house in Scotland and another in Florida, and I use it on my entire face, neck, chest, under eyes...pretty much anywhere. Ceremides are an important player in the natural protective barrier of your skin, and also play well with other ingredients, so this lotion is an excellent pairing with just about anything you see fit to pair it with. I often use this throughout the day if I need a refresh as well as in my pre-makeup skincare routine. £9 / $10.80 at Revolution Beauty.

Back in the late 80s into the early 2000s, these Southwestern style tapestry jackets were absolutely everywhere. I've had more than a few of these vintage pieces through the shop recently, so since they seem to be popular right now I thought I'd let a few of my current ones out to play in a highlight post. What Makes 90s Southwestern Style Work in 2023? What I like about these pieces is that they're colourful, upbeat, and have a bit more structure than their sweater or fleece counterparts; in that respect they're perfect for this time of year. The two jackets here are early 2000s and early 90s, respectively. Both are great examples of "one and done" dressing since they require little help. The first vintage jacket shown here is pretty much a look unto itself and required very little effort on my part other than to just show up with some favourite silver or turquoise pieces in tow. The second jacket featured is a bit shorter, which is perfect for creating the a layered, short-over-long balance. The little Southwestern tapestry bag featured below is a new addition to the shop. It's a vegan handbag (circa 2000) with a fully adjustable strap that can go from shoulder bag to crossbody, and it is adorable.

I was in Glasgow last week, and visited some of the high street shops for the first time in a very long time. Being a dedicated vintage and thrift store shopper, It is a rare occasion that I will purchase something off the rack for myself if I can find a more sustainable option, and quite frankly, I quite enjoy the hunt of the thrift. Usually I save engaging in brick and mortar retail for when I am looking for something specific, or I really want to try before I buy, which is easier said than done these days with the state of retail being what it is. I ultimately did not find what I was looking for in the city, but instead I did find my long-dormant sense of enthusiasm for going into a shop and trying-on shiny, colourful, impractically wild clothing just for the sheer fun of it. There is absolute joy to be had in allowing yourself an unstructured afternoon of just grabbing the shiniest, craziest, most impractical pieces that speak to you and trying them on, just because you can. It's a simple exercise; you simply say yes to every piece that you are drawn to. That's it. Trust your initial instincts, and no talking yourself out of it. No "where am I ever going to wear this" or "is this too young for me" self-talk, just go try it on because it's fun. All the times I've ever done this, I've come away having learned something about things that I previously thought weren't for me. And yes... I came away with something I never set out to buy and do not necessarily need. Because it is fun. If like me, you suffer from occasional sartorial impulse control, do what I do and browse mainly the sale items. Below are some highlights from my "accidental sale shopping day of yes", complete with fit notes, and of course product links in case if any of you are interested in trying these items. To link, simply hover over the image on the far right to get the details, or find it in the widget below. Wild Clothing Piece No. 1: A Bright Velvet Jumpsuit Fit Notes: This Brit jumpsuit certainly fit my aim to try on all things fun, impractical, and uplifting. Unfortunately when I tried it on, having pulled it out of a messy sale pile with no guidance, I thought the neckline was supposed to be a halter style and not the keyhole style it is meant to me, and that interpretation altered the fit considerably - not in my favor. I cost me length in the body of the garment, an area where I need all I can get. I think this would have looked pretty cool had I actually tied it correctly, but even so, if you're long waisted and/or tall like me, this one may cause you to feel you have to make a choice between a proper fit in the "crotchal region" and the amount of décolletage you're comfortable showing. But it's a great 70s vibe though, and if you're going out on New Year's Eve...just sayin'. Wild Clothing Piece No. 2: Another Velvet Jumpsuit Fit Notes: I loved this jumpsuit, and I would be lying if I didn't confess to having it sitting in my virtual shopping cart as we speak while I try and justify it. Long waisted and tall gals, this one will probably work for you because it has adjustable spaghetti straps, so you can put it right where you want it. That said, I did size up to an XL (I wear a US 10, and I'm 5'10"), which is something I always do with jumpsuits on account of my long-waistedness. These are both the available colours, which I had (okay, am having) a hard time choosing which I like more. Wild Clothing Piece No. 3: A Zebra Blazer Fit Notes: This is just an easy, fun, one-and-done statement piece. While this blazer is not particularly good quality and is not lined, the pattern, slight glint to the double knit fabric, and sharp angles are pretty forgiving. This piece has a kind of oversized, 90s vibe about it that spoke to me, and it's definitely the kind of thing you can just throw on and not have to worry about. I'm wearing a medium here. Wild Clothing Piece No. 4: Loud Christmas Sweater Fit Notes: If you're a festive sweater person (sorry Brits, festive jumper person), as high street Christmas attire goes, this one is actually pretty decent quality. It's thick and has a nice sightly oversized, cozy shape to it. It's an acrylic blend, so you can wash it, and even though it literally screams when you enter a room, there's none of the ubiquitous seasonal bling attached, so you don't have to worry about it falling off or getting caught on something if you're going to store the jumper at the end of the season. I am wearing it in medium here. Wild Clothing Piece No. 5: Sequinned One Arm Dress Fit Notes: This dress fits well and is pretty lightweight for a sequin dress. I am generally a fan of sequins, but with this dress the sequins are a lot. If you're looking for something that will really catch the light, this will certainly do that. The ruched waist forgives a multitude of sins and you'll not get lost in the dark. Personally I felt a bit like a baked jacket potato dressed as the Statue of Liberty. I'm not entirely sure that's a bad thing, just maybe not today. Wild Clothing Piece No. 6: Flare Sleeve Print Dress Fit Notes: This knit patterned midi dress with an open back and bell sleeves was absolutely fantastic, so naturally it was the one piece I tried on that not only was the only of its kind in the clearance section on the shop floor, it appears to be completely sold out online. This dress is a perfect example of how trying that thing on that speaks to you and ignoring the little naysaying voice in your head ends up working in your favor. I was drawn to the print of this dress, but initially put it back, telling myself that it was a body conscious fit and just another thing to have to think about if I were wearing it. However, I quickly realized I was breaking my own rules of the day and threw it in the try on pile anyway. I am very glad I did. Of all the things I tried on that afternoon, this one I knew instantly was coming home with me. While I was unable to turn this dress up online, you may still be able to find it on the floor of your local H&M in one of the clearance sections.

Welp. With less than two weeks to go until the holiday zero hour, I haven't really had a moment to even think about how I'm going to approach things this year. As much as I'm a person who doesn't spend a lot of time thinking or worrying about holiday gifts, I confess to absolutely loving putting together gift guides and wish lists. To me there is something really luxurious about curating collections and organising all of the shiny, pretty things the fashion/fantasy part of your brain is tickled by. So in the spirit of the season (and shiny pretty things), I'm sharing my 2022 gift lists from LTK with you. If you're unfamiliar, LTK is a shopping app and blogger affiliate program that enables you to create clickable content. I have been with them a long time, well over a decade now, but until recently I only really used select features that I felt worked within my niche. This last few months I have discovered that, much to my delight, they have streamlined their platform considerably since I originally was invited to join, and they've made it much more accessible for the customer. As a free shopping and inspiration platform, this newest permutation of LTK is simply fantastic. It isn't social media per se (although one can certainly link to social media from it), so as a shopper you aren't sharing your finds with the world or automatically signed up for a community you didn't choose. Nobody sees the things you are browsing, and you aren't obligated to interact with anyone. LTK has simply evolved into a tool that provides personal style inspiration from real human beings and helps you locate the things you see online that speak to you. As a blogger who deals a lot in one of a kind secondhand and vintage merch, I appreciate the direction that they've taken with this platform, as I find it is more inclusive for those of us who most of the time deal mainly in vintage, handmade, and secondhand picks. The platform is invaluable in helping me source similar items for you if something I am showcasing is out of production or one of a kind. So if you have ever found yourself curious about a piece you see online and you aren't using the LTK app, go check it out! And please give me, and any of the millions of other creators you'll encounter that might speak to you, a follow! Having said all that, these gift guides all contain mostly new things that are available right now, this holiday season. Many of these shops are USA-based, but most (bit not all) offer international shipping. To make the most of these gift guides, hover over the individual gift items for more info, or click the button below each guide to see the whole capsule collection on LTK. A word to those of us in the UK enduring the ongoing postal strikes that are happening throughout the country; things we order online may or may not make it to us in time for the holiday, but I'm taking the approach that this year we are experiencing the "extended dance version" of the holidays (and then some). I sort of like the idea of a gift arriving in February when you least expect it. A little something to look forward to as the winter months seemingly drag on endlessly. If you want to learn more about the different ways you can use LTK to shop and get inspiration, check out this video by YouTuber Marnie Goldberg. She does an excellent job of highlighting all the most current features. Happy gift shopping, and happy holidays fashionistas! Get Inspired with LTK Gift Shopping Lists

If you want to approximate my recent American Thanksgiving experience, simply imagine yourself walking into what you thought was going to be a leisurely Thanksgiving gathering about twenty(ish) minutes past the time you thought everyone would be showing up for pre-meal drinks and general commiseration, only to find the host and the other guests not only already seated at the table, but actually scraping the last vestiges of their meals from their plates. Yep, that was me. I was that person this Thanksgiving. And to be honest, I should have seen it coming - I completely took my eye off the ball. While this type of gaffe might seem out of character for someone who very much considers herself to be a global citizen, I have since arrived at the conclusion that getting it so completely wrong in this manner does not necessarily happen in spite of one being a citizen of the world, but rather it can happen because of it. Holiday Guide Tip: Forget What You Think You Know I started travelling the world for various jobs immediately after graduating from University in the early 90s, and with very few exceptions, I really have never stopped. I worked on cruise ships for years where I observed how North Americans of a particular age bracket will pretty much knife each other in the kidney to secure an early 5:30 pm first seating dinner time, whereas our neighbours from Central and South America, as well as their Spanish brethren across the Atlantic will saunter in to the dining room at the earliest around 10:30 pm, expecting the first of seven courses of a dinner that could last upwards of four hours. I have learned the hard way that people who are observably anxious about being late will almost always be habitually, if not inconveniently early, and I've learned that when you throw a party in Scotland that starts at 8 pm (not a dinner party, a party-party), there will be people at your door at the stroke of eight while you're still taking the heatless curlers out of your hair, thinking you've still got a few minutes. It is my working theory that after years of travel, my sensibilities have become unconsciously wired-in to some sort of hybrid Euro-Brit-American social biorhythm. In my perfect party world if a gathering starts at 8, you can still be putting the finishing touches on your face at 8, because you have a good 20 minutes before you have to leave. Hell, nobody wants to be the first to arrive, right? For dinner parties, understandably with food coming out of the kitchen the guidelines are absolutely a bit more stringent, and I have always been of the mind that for a dinner party invitation, you tell people some version of "we will sit down to eat at eight but the drinks will be flowing from seven", or some such thing. But do not be fooled - despite their more defined start times, dinner parties too can be littered with many other types of social booby trap, and not just around starting times. For instance, in the USA it's pretty normal to bring the host of a dinner party a bottle of wine, and the host will quite often pop the cork on that bottle right then and there. However, if your host is a wine enthusiast, He or she has likely already picked out a wine pairing for the meal, and your bottle will likely be stored, relegated to a later date. If your hosts are wine people, your gift of wine really needs to be a good bottle for them to enjoy on their own, some other time. However, if you were to play out that same scenario in France, bringing a bottle of wine to a dinner party can be interpreted as an outright insult. Not only has the host again already likely attended to the aforementioned wine pairings, but in France bringing a bottle could be interpreted as a suggestion that you do not trust the host's taste in wine. Sacré bleu. The same holds true for other types of common host and hostess gifts, like say, flowers. While a lovely bouquet seems innocuous enough, some consider it gauche to buy someone something they then have to then seek out a vase for while also trying to put the finishing touches on the meal. There are also many types of flowers that hold cultural symbolism; in the US and the UK, lilies are often considered funeral flowers. Again looking to the example of France, it's chrysanthemums that are considered funerary, white flowers are reserved for weddings, yellow for infidelity, and red carnations can be considered an outright insult to the host. And now my head hurts. What I'm getting at here is that every place you go on this big blue marble, there's some degree of sociocultural nuance involved in social gatherings. In my particular situation, my exposure to a zillion different cultural norms collided head on with the fact that it was an American Thanksgiving "dinner" in the middle of the day. As a dyed in the wool "Yank" (as they would call me here in the UK), my inherent knowledge of American Thanksgiving meals often being served at what most non Americans might consider strange times - the early "in-between times" in the mid to late afternoon, also played a part. In retrospect I realise that I did more than a little bit of assuming that there would be at least an hour or maybe even two of drinks and chitchat before the main event. Nope. Whether this timing was originally a digestive decision or one meant to lessen the serving burden on the host, I do not know, because stupidly, my assuming self did not ask. After all, It could have just been a straight-up lunch. So all of that contextually considered, when my host, who is also one of my neighbours in Southwest Florida, came to my door one afternoon and invited me over, telling me he was gong to "do Thanksgiving on Sunday, starting at about one o'clock", what I should have done was immediately clarify what that meant. But I didn't. I had been engaged in finishing-up hurricane yard cleanup and some other business dealings for the better part of my short trip there, so when he invited me to Thanksgiving my brain happily just skipped right past everything I already knew to be true about the cultural norms of our little corner of Florida (one of the earliest-to-eat places I have ever known), and immediately began to relish the idea of chilling for an afternoon with some fellow Yanks in a traditional Thanksgiving setting. I had visions in my head of at least a few glasses of wine and some banter, followed by a languid afternoon feast, maybe there would be a game on...I figured the gathering would take up most of the rest of my day. In retrospect, I see my assumption for what it was - wishful thinking. We are not culturally attuned to regular long, languid, hours long feasts in that part of the world. In our part of Florida, if you pitch up to a restaurant at 8pm, you will be one of the last through the doors (if they even let you in), and by 8:45 the waitress will probably plop the check onto the table next to your still-steaming entrée and be sighing with impatience at the cash register as you chew. No, I daresay my situation came to pass because in the absence of me doing any due diligence, my brain filled-in the thing that it clearly wanted, instead of allowing me to see the thing that was actually happening. So in I rolled, twenty(ish) minutes late after deciding to shower because I'd stayed outside digging in the dirt a little too long, thinking that I would be having some wine or appetizers at the Theoretical Languid Thanksgiving of My Mind. Instead I found myself with all eyes on me, the dagger-like gazes of the other guests unceremoniously deflating my unrealistic expectations like a pin to a soap bubble. One tiny spot of relief came when I realized I had forgotten the bottle of wine that the host had told me not to bother bringing but that I had on hand and was intending to bring anyway. While any other sensible holiday guide would tell you that this was a lapse in ettiquitte, in that moment I felt utterly relieved that I didn't have it with me; it would have highlighted the fact that I'd literally gotten wrong every "instruction" I'd been (sort of) given with a 100% success rate. However, that relief quickly turned to dread when I simultaneously realized that there was in fact no wine anywhere to be seen, nobody at that table was drinking, and if I wanted to eat at all, I needed to do it in the next three minutes or it would be too late. Unable to drown my shame a with a few glasses of Malbec, I spent the next fifteen minutes eating as fast as I dared while making extremely awkward conversation in an attempt to deploy my rarely-used Defcon 5 Charm Offensive in an attempt to win back the room. There was no dessert. Or at least there was certainly there was none for me. The upside is I definitely didn't eat too much. So in the spirit of helping fellow citizens of the world avoid what I did this past Thanksgiving, let us all take a moment to browse these perfectly lovely, mostly neutral and culturally inoffensive host and hostess gifts for your next holiday gathering. At the very least, you might be able to use them to hide behind when you arrive late to the party and everyone is already seated and glaring at you.

I was in our local grocery store a few weeks ago, and decided to wander through the little section in front where they sell the clothes. This voluminous printed cotton dress was hanging on the sale rack with a £7 price tag on it. At first I dismissed it, thinking its long length and voluminous silhouette just wasn't really my style. But as I was wandering about the grocery store, putting peanut butter and tuna and bags of arugula in my basket, I kept thinking about the dress, so I went back. I'm glad I did. I can't remember the last time I bought something off the rack, let alone something hanging in a grocery store clothing section. Normally I completely ignore these items, which are almost always problematic fast fashion pieces that have come into existence using questionable labor and business practices. This is still likely the case here, but this dress is actually surprisingly well made for a fast fashion grocery store piece, and with a price tag of £7, I decided to go off piste a bit and give it a try. Apparently the Grocery Store Boho Summer Dress Has Gone Viral Apparently I'm not the only one drawn to this dress. The dresses from this summer '22 capsule collection from F&F for Tesco (FYI Americans, Tesco is the name of the grocery store chain) - the dresses in the collection made quite a splash in the British and Irish fashion news, as well as on social media when they were released earlier in the summer. I can see why. The viral boho summer dress is surprisingly well made, is versatile and comfy, can be dressed up or down, and can be adapted to warm or cooler weather. Will I start to include the grocery store clothing section into my shopping rotation? Probably not. These large chain fast fashion operations still have a lot to answer for in terms of being one of the biggest polluters on the planet, so you'll have to forgive me my transgression, just this once. Since this item was on clearance, I can't link you to it if you like the look, but I've left you several more sustainable options below for you to recreate it. copper Mojave turquoise earrings (personal), similar| turquoise and leather necklace (personal), similar

So apparently this is a thing now; we're all low-key electrocuting our faces in a desperate bid to stave off resting bitch face for one more year. For me personally, there's a constant battle between side A of my brain that tells me that ageing is not a medical condition to be aggressively treated and side B of my brain that looks in the mirror and says, "wait...what!? What is that skin doing down there!? This is not where my jawline is supposed to be." For the most part I make sure that Side A wins the battle, but every now and again, I let side B win a round or two and I delve into the wild world of sleek and craftily-marketed beauty devices. Microcurrent devices are popular, and back in August on my last visit to the states, I used my 51st birthday as the perfect excuse to purchase this refurbished NuFace mini micro current device from Nordstrom's website. I hasten to add that neither Nordstrom nor NuFace is sponsoring this post, but you will find some affiliate links in this post should you decide to click through. Hey...the economy is lying in a smouldering heap and your girl's still gotta eat. Hop right to it: The Skinny on Microcurrent Devices How I Use My Mini NuFace Microcurrent Device --prepping the skin Does Microcurrent Therapy Hurt? Does Microcurrent Therapy Actually Work? My Results With My Nuface Mini Microcurrent Therapy Device The Skinny on Microcurrent Devices Microcurrent devices work by delivering a low-level electrical current to the muscles of the face. It sounds scary, perhaps even ill-advised, but it's actually pretty innocuous when you're doing it. But we'll get to that in a minute. The promised end result is a relatively non-invasive tightening of the muscles under the skin, providing a tighter, more sculpted face while also reducing the look of fine lines and wrinkles. While there is not yet a lot of longitudinal data to back up the efficacy of microcurrent facial devices, They are tested, regulated, and considered relatively safe. I chose the NuFace mini device because it's a good size, it was reasonably priced (remember mine is refurbished), and most importantly because it's an FDA-approved medical grade device. Because let's be real, the thought of delivering electrical impulses directly to one's face should absolutely give one pause. I figured if I was going to try this, perhaps I would get a good one and refrain from getting one off of Ali Baba or Wish or some other cut rate site that for all we know, might trade in counterfeit devices that have a leaky, glowing uranium core. How I Use My NuFace Mini Microcurrent Therapy Device While I thought I would initially make this a video post, I realized pretty quickly that watching someone use a microcurrent device is the entertainment equivalent of watching paint dry. Nevertheless, if you want to see the NuFace micro current device range in action (with better production value than I would ever be able to spring for), I suggest visiting the NuFace YouTube channel, where you can watch the various techniques for recommended use. I generally use the above technique every time, with a few more of their "advanced" moves thrown in if I have time to spare. Prepping the skin One thing that is definitely worth mentioning here is the importance of prepping your skin before using the device. Oil interferes with the conduction of the electrical impulse generated by your device, interrupting its journey to the muscles beneath the skin. Because the skin is naturally a protective barrier and has its own supply of oil, just plopping your microcurrent device onto your skin and turning it on will will not yield the results you want. It may also be pretty uncomfortable. With any microcurrent treatment, you want to wash your face with an oil free cleanser first; preferably one that has a clarifying quality to it in order to remove as much oil from your skin as possible. After that, you will apply a conductivity gel. While most microcurrent device manufacturers will try and sell you their own brand of conductivity gel, this is not a necessity, and in fact can often be quite expensive. Gels made by device manufacturers often have some nice skincare ingredients in them and come with a claim that they can be left on after the treatment. That said, I often find that these gels, when used in the amount you need to get good conductivity, do not do well under other products or under makeup. I have found that even if they are designed to be left on the skin after the treatment, they often peel off, taking with them whatever else you may have put on top. That said, if I am using my device right before bed, I do tend to opt for a leave-on skincare conductivity gel, then just add some moisturiser over it before calling it a night. For this I use the NuFace gel for its skincare properties. However, if I am going to be going out and about and do my treatment earlier in the day, I opt for simple clear ultrasound gel, which can be easily rinsed off afterwards. Ultrasound gel tends to be slightly thicker so not only do you get a more even application (and a more comfortable treatment) you can get away with using less product, making it definitively the most cost effective option. Whatever you decide, the most important feature to look for in a conductivity gel is that it is water based and contains no oil based additives of any kind. Below are some of the options that are out there. Does Microcurrent Therapy Hurt? Everyone is different, so while I can't answer that definitively for everyone, the short answer is no. If I prep my skin correctly and use enough conductive gel, I don't really feel it at all, even on the highest setting (which is all I really use). Sometimes I feel a bit of a "biting" sting at the edges of my face, on thinner-skinned areas, or if I wander into my hairline a bit too far with my device, but it really doesn't bother me. Some people claim to feel a slight twitching under the skin. I feel this over certain areas of my face, but generally it feels like I'm rolling a cool metal ball over my face (because I am). If you follow the instructions, use the correct products and pay attention to the sensations you are experiencing, you will be absolutely fine. I believe in you. Does Microcurrent Therapy Actually Work? Everything written on microcurrent therapy points to it working best when done on a regular basis. I began using my device in September, had about 10 days off while I was travelling, and have missed chunks of several days here and there. I can attest to the fact that you do need to use it on the regular to get the best results. Sometimes when you're really tired at the end of the day it can be pretty easy to tell yourself you'll just do it tomorrow. Or just not do it at all. That said, after the first few sessions, I definitely noticed a difference in my skin. If felt tighter, had more of a glow to it, and looked subtly more defined. I did not get the dramatic results that you see in some of the adverts, but I definitely do see a benefit. So to answer the question at hand...yes. Yes, microcurrent treatments do work, but be prepared for the results to be subtle. Although admittedly, when I finally did put these photos together in one place, to my delight the results were better than I had initially thought. Imagine what I could do if I actually remembered to do it every day. And now for the unadorned, terrifying test subject mug shot photos; no makeup, insta-filters, botox or fillers. To be clear I have done some light botox in the past, but it's been over a year now. Both of these sets of photos were taken immediately after using my NuFace mini device. Please excuse the terrible lighting in the more recent photos; the week one photo was taken in Florida, and week six is in Scotland. It starts getting dark at 3:30 in the afternoon these days in Scotland. Don't get me started. My Results with My Nuface Mini Microcurrent Therapy Device week one week six(ish)