Hi all my lovely forum friends

I have added some new pieces recently and being mid-summer, life has been more social, mostly in a casual way. The more dressy occasions I have forgotten to take photos but there have been repeats of some fast fall back options that I created.

Here are some of the days I have taken photos.

1) Rewearing my chevron dress with different shoes. Working from home on another hot day.

2) Look 1 - off to work in the office. I have to wear covered shoes in the office. Look 2 - going to watch cricket so very casual. We sat under a tree and enjoyed a relaxing morning.

3) A new top that has a pohutukawa print on it. I really liked it with these jeans. I will also wear with denim shorts but I am not sure what else it will work with (open to ideas). I could wear it off the shoulder but the straight line across my shoulders is not my best look. Worn to work (we are very casual).

4) A new kimono jacket. Outfit worn to an end of year school prizegiving. While the kimono is new the rest of the outfit has been seen (many) times before. I also plan to wear the kimono with jeans and black pants. It may even work over a dress or skirt.

5) Look 1 is a new dress worn to work from home on a very very hot day. Look 2 is out for a Thai meal on a humid and hot evening. All repeats and nothing new this year - I liked the proportions though. A good friend is leaving town sadly though so it was a slightly bittersweet occasion.

6) Styling the tee dress in a more dressy way for a coffee meet up with some friends. I rarely wear this necklace but I liked it with the monochrome.

Of these pieces the striped tee-shirt dress, the coral tank, the floral A line skirt, the chevron tunic, the navy kimono and the pohutukawa top are all sewn by my friend over the last 8 years The A line skirt is the oldest, and the newest ones were added two weeks ago!!

The end of 2016 and the start of 2017 were hard times for me personally with the passing of my Mother in Law, my Mum being hospitalised for over a month, some business stresses and challenges, and the world seemed a tough place for a while with natural and political disasters. While the political and environmental landscape is still very tough for many people, personally and professionally my situation has improved. But I know 2017 has been a hard year for many.

Thanks to you all - I do appreciate the support, fun, fashion and style advice and a window into the lives of many superb strong interesting women.

Wishing you all very happy festive thoughts.

Sally XX

ETA: Haha I relooked at my photos on my laptop rather than my phone. Very strange expression in photo 4!!