One gingham skirt short of a picnic
If you’re a regular reader of this here blog, and you happen to be based in the UK, you’ve probably been expecting this post. “Oh great,” I can almost hear you thinking. “The sun’s out, so that means we’ll be subjected to endless photos of Amber prancing around the countryside, gushing about how OMGAMAZING the weather is.” And you’re right. It DOES mean that.
See, last week I finally managed to get (mostly) on top of my pre-holiday workload, and this just so happened to coincide with the sun finally coming out, so I’ve basically spent the past few days basking in it and doing the aforementioned gushing. This started on Friday afternoon, when I decided it would be a great idea to go for a picnic in the countryside. “We’ll just throw some home-made cupcakes into our delightfully kitschy picnic basket, along with some charmingly mis-matched vintage crockery!” I said to Terry. Then I remembered that we don’t actually own a picnic basket at all, let alone a delightfully kitschy one. And our crockery is all from Ikea. Oh, and a quick inspection of the kitchen cupboards and fridge revealed that all we had to eat was a bottle of wine and half a block of Stilton. Honestly, some days it amazes me that I’m even allowed to call myself a fashion blogger. Or, you know, an adult.
Anyway, we abandoned the picnic plans and decided to just go for a walk instead, but I figured, what the hell, if I can’t HAVE a picnic, I may as well dress like one. So I did, in this ASOS gingham skirt, which I bought during the winter and then squirrelled away for a sunny day. And which I actually forgot about until last week, so it was almost like getting free clothes. Almost.
These are just a few (no, seriously) of the 1,653,876 photos we took. Sorry. I think the British countryside in summertime is one of my favourite things ever, though, and the thing I’d miss most (other than people) if I ever moved away from here. Well, that and greasy chip-shop chips, some of which I also had this weekend. Seriously: best weekend ever. And given that we had such a lovely weekend, and have just a few more days left to work before we’re off on holiday, I figured I should probably do something to screw things up, before the universe can do it for me. With that in mind, I’ve booked myself in for an HD Brows treatment on Wednesday afternoon. There’s just no way that can go wrong, is there?
Eva
Oh Amber, such lovely photos! As you know I absolutely love your wardrobe and inspired by it I recently bought a lovely, navy polka dot dress that I couldn’t afford. I just couldn’t bear the thought of not having it, and going through the steps of dress desperation that you described in your previous post.
Amber
Ah, I’m glad to know it’s not just me who goes through the desperation – glad you got it in the end: navy polka dots are always good in my book 🙂
Katie
I, for one, am quite grateful for all these photos of unrelenting yellowness and sunshine – it injects a burst of brightness into the cold & miserable weather of impending Winter down here.
Amber
Ha, we’re back to cold and miserable ourselves today, unfortunately: still, it was nice while it lasted – those few days of sun will probably be what passes as “summer” for us!
Call me M
From the moment I saw this skirt on the Internet, I was wondering if you’ll buy it. It screams you! hehe It’s also one of the items I’ve added to next month’s wishlist post.
Fantastic photos by the way!
Amber
Oh, is it still available? I had a look for it on ASOS so I could link to it, but I thought it had sold out!
Erika
I love the pictures in the yellow fields, actually all of them are beautiful! And the skirt is amazing on you! You have such an eye for fashion, it is great. I found this blog a few years ago and it is still one of my favorites.
Amber
Thanks for saying that, Erika – I’ve been feeling a bit down about blogging lately, so it’s really nice to know that people are still enjoying it!
Jenny
Beautiful photos! And I LOVE that skirt, so fun!
Seize the Styles
Amber
Thanks – it’s a really fun skirt to wear too: so swishy!
Tara
I am rather scared for your eyebrows. Fingers crossed!
Amber
I am too! And actually, I’m completely terrified about the waxing part – I had it done once before, when I was a teenager, and swore never to do it again, because it was so painful: aargh!
tumbleweed•twine
Oh my, I love this outfit on you! You always look so amazing; plus, your paragraph on picnics really made me giggle :’) Here’s hoping the brows treatment goes well!
(Plus, it totally freaked me out when I saw the second picture under the block of text because I think I know that bridge! Along a walk to that place with the barges and the metal swans little kids sit on in Edinburgh? Of course, I may be completely misapprehended, in which case please do ignore me.) ♥
Sarah ^.^
Amber
Thank you! And no, it’s not in Edinburgh – just a random stretch of canal in the middle of nowhere:)
Terry
You look awesome! 🙂
Amber
;D
Panthera
I love the pictures, I want a field of pretty, yellow flowers too! The pic under the bridge where you’re holding out the skirt, and the one where you’re walking away are soo pretty!
Not really understanding the brow-thing, I’m assuming they won’t colour yours black, right? *scared face*
Two times I’ve had my brows plucked by a “professional”, and I always find out that my eyes are different sizes and placed differently on my face, so I feel I look all loop-sided and go around begging for them to grow out as soon as possible. I’ve just given up on trimming them now, because bushy, dark brows look better for me than different sized, loop-sided eyes.
And I just realized I might be making you more stressed. Oops. Sorry! If nothing else my brows are huge, bushy and dark, dark brown. Nothing like your light red, small, pretty brows.
Amber
Well, they have different colours of dye for different colours of brow, and mine are almost blonde, so I wouldn’t think they’d want to turn them black! Mine actually only look small because I’ve over-plucked them throughout my life – in their natural state, they would take over my face and turn into a unibrow, and I’m useless at doing them myself (I get more rude comments about my eyebrows than anything else!), so I figured it’s best to put them in the hands of the professionals now! I’ve had them threaded before, and they didn’t turn out wonky or anything, so hopefully this will be fine too!
myra
Love your picnic post, but especially the photos. Terry has a great eye for composition, and rape seed in bloom is very dramatic. I think he should photoshop out the telegraph lines out one though. Looking good kid, xx
Amber
Oh, it’s actually me who does all of the photo editing, so any issues with it are totally my fault! I actually didn’t touch these, though, because I thought they were perfect the way they were 🙂
Caroline
Fantastic pictures – and it won’t surprise you in the least to hear that I want that skirt… (Obviously not THAT skit though – doubt it’d cover one of my thighs! 🙂 )
It’s so nice when someone else gushes about the countryside almost as much as I do – I cannot think of anything that makes me happier than this green and pleasant land. *sighs contentedly*
Catherine
I don’t blame you at all for taking all those photos – you look like a model, and the setting is absolutely gorgeous! Seriously, could your outfit be more perfect?! Sigh. I want to go to the UK right now (and also go shopping for a gingham skirt).This is what the British countryside in my head is like every day, and I want to thank you for perpetuating that idea. 🙂
Yuri
That skirt is gorgeous! And what a beautiful view!
YURI
http://twothousandthings.blogspot.com
Terry
Thank you for the lovely compliments about the pictures!
I really appreciate that you all made the effort to comment 🙂
Amy K
Beautiful pictures! I live in Seattle and spent about a year living and travelling in Scotland, and I love how they both become two of the most beautiful places on Earth as soon as the sun finally decides to come out. (Shhh, don’t tell my neighbors, but Scots are generally much nicer than Seattleites.)
I found this blog from your Hey Dollface blog, which I discovered looking for makeup ideas for my ultra-pale skin. You’re the reason I tried and fell in love with Benefit High Beam, so thank you for that! Have you heard of the Shabby Apple clothing website? It’s all kind of vintage chic and reminds me of your style.
Anyway, have a great vacation and enjoy the sunshine!
Amber
Hi! One of the posts on Dollface’s homepage at the moment is actually about Shabby Apple, funnily enough – I really love their stuff, but have never ordered from them as shipping from the US is so expensive/problematic if it doesn’t fit. They have some really gorgeous clothes, though!
Mallory
I LOVE your skirt!!!!
Colene
When Amber posted this I raced over to the ASOS website, and groaned as I discovered this dress was out of stock.
Perfect length? Check
Red? Check
Flary? Check
Me? GUTTED
However, my bacnk balance is now £40 lighter as it’s BACK IN STOCK!!!!
abi
i adore your blog, your photographs are just so lovely true inspiration!
http://kemples.blogspot.co.uk/
A x
Alexandra Marie
Oh my goodness, I found you through Pinterest and wow! You have amazing style- and such a lovely location and photographs! Following <3 Alex
tobebeautifulingodseyes.blogspot.com