Polka Spots and Freckle Dots: cardigans

Monday, 29 February 2016

What I Wore | Red And Green Should Never Be Seen

I've finally managed to take some photos of myself wearing my green polka dot Lola dress from Dolly and Dotty, and, as promised, I've recreated the outfit I wore on Christmas Day (minus a couple of festive accessories) for it's outfit debut.

I might look ridiculous dressed in red and green in February, but I like this outfit, so what the hell. We can always pretend it's an early St. Patrick's Day ensemble! (Even if I do look like a Christmas elf...)

Before we start, I'm sorry for the quality of today's photos; I took these on a rainy day, and my camera apparently didn't want to focus properly. Still, I figure they're better than nothing, though, right (?) since outfits are so scarce here these days! I hope you don't mind too much.

I bought the dress back in December, just after I discovered rockabilly brand Dolly and Dotty for the first time. I don't know how I'd never heard of them before (where have I been??), but I instantly fell head over heels in love with this dress and had to get it to wear on Christmas Day. It was not only my idea of the perfect Christmas dress, but the perfect green polka dot dress, too, which is something I'd been hunting for for years. (Green's my favourite colour, and you guys know how much I love polka dots, but good green polka dot dresses aren't as easy to find). I didn't need any more persuading, but the fact that the dress was only £14.99 on sale just sweetened the deal, and I snapped one up straight away.

It turned out to be even more perfect in the flesh- great-quality medium-weight cotton, very well made, beautiful colour, gorgeous design... practically perfect in every way, apart for one little detail- the sizing. My usual size swamped me, so I had to exchange it for a size smaller, but I'm happy to say that one fits me like a glove. So, size down with the Lola dresses, if you can (they come in UK sizes 6-24); the cut is very generous, and the fabric has some stretch, even at the waist (which is fitted). I should add it also has a zip to the back, but I can still get the dress over my head without unzipping it.

The colour is much darker and bolder than my photos show, more like a dark apple green. For some reason my camera won't capture the colour properly indoors or outdoors, but the colour in the stock photos is pretty spot on. If green isn't your thing, the Lola dress also comes in sixteen other colours, so there's an entire rainbow of Lola dresses to choose from! I love this dress so much I'm hoping to collect a few more of the colours over time, especially the teal, brown, yellow, and red. At just £27.99 each, a little collection of Lola's will hardly break the bank, so I think I can justify it! They even come with two free fabric belts (one matching, one plain) that actually fit, and a Dolly and Dotty red canvas bag. which is such a cute touch, and a bargain for the price. The dresses cost a little less than similar ones from Lindy Bop, and a lot less than those from Lady Vintage, but the quality is just as good!

I've worn this dress a couple of times now, and I absolutely adore it. I only wish I'd found it sooner. It got it's first wear on Christmas Day as I'd planned, which I wore with all of the pieces I'm wearing in today's photos- red cropped cardigan, red belt, toadstool brooch, rose bracelet, and ruby red slippers- but in addition, at Christmas, I accessorised it with a bauble-shaped clutch bag, cherry earrings, and a ring or two as well. I thought that was a bit OTT for a dreary February morning, so I kept things a lot simpler- although looking at these photos, I think the outfit could've done with a necklace to break the fabric up a little.

What I Wore

Dress- Dolly and Dotty // Belt- Dolly and Dotty (came with the dress) // Cardigan- M&CO

Shoes- Evans // Bracelet- Cath Kidston // Brooch- Cath Kidston

It was a really fun outfit to wear, even if I looked ridiculous wearing these colours together at this time of year. I don't care; life's too short to live in black and white. You can be sure that I'll be wearing this dress with lots of other colour-combos as we go in to Spring and Summer. Who knows what colour palette I'll go for next!

I have a feeling this won't be the last dress I buy from Dolly and Dotty or the last you'll hear about them from me!

Have you treated yourself to anything from Dolly and Dotty lately?

What I Wore | Tartan Revival

No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; this is actually an outfit post! Yes, really! I don't know what happened either.

It's been far too long since I last blogged an outfit here on the blog. Aside from a couple of mirror shots, the last one I shared was back in March last year, which is crazy.

I used to share my outfits regularly until my health began to deteriorate a couple of years ago, but as the pain grew worse and became harder and harder to bear, the posts became less and less frequent until they fizzled out altogether.

For the record, I really hate using my health as an excuse, but the honest truth is it affects almost every part of my daily life, no matter how hard I try to fight against it or keep on powering through. The pain has become so intense that I've lost the strength to do normal stuff like shower, get dressed, put on make up, do my hair, and get outside to pose for a hundred plus photos to get one half-decent shot to blog, all in one go. I don't often have the strength or the pain tolerance for any of it, so if I've managed to shower, dry and brush my hair on the same day, it's been a good day.

I've basically spent most of the last couple of years living in my pyjamas, trying to stay as comfortable as possible, only really dressing in proper clothes when I've ventured out of the house, which hasn't been often. Combine that with the fact I've not had a lot of money to spend on clothes, I've just not had many outfits worth blogging about, so you really haven't missed out on much.

It does make me sad that my style has taken a back seat here because I always enjoyed sharing my outfits with you guys, and it was what I created Polka Spots and Freckle Dots for in the first place. Don't get me wrong; I love blogging about all of the other topics I do, but I miss talking about the outfits I wear. I want to get back to it. and I'm going to do my best to make it happen.

My aim for 2016 is to get out of my PJs more and in to proper clothes, make it outside regularly to soak up some vitamin D, and to share more outfits like I did in the olden days, and as you can see, I've made some progress already by combining all three!

I've actually taken outfit photos four times during the last couple of weeks, although I'm not sure if all four are blog-able yet. This one just about passes the test. It was grey, dreary, drizzly, and a little windy when I shot these photos, and the garden was a mess, so they're far from perfect. I also look a bit spaced-out because I was still feeling a little flu-ish when I took the photos, but the main thing is it's an outfit to share, which is one more than yesterday.

So, in these photos I'm wearing the tartan Audrey swing dress from Lindy Bop, which I bought over a year ago, but had never worn before. I'm not even sure why that is- looking at these photos, I really like the way it looks on me- and I don't often say that about what I wear! I felt great in it, too.

It's a beautiful dress with the most gorgeous tartan fabric, which is made up of yellow and white stripes and little green squares on a background of burgundy. The fabric is medium-weight cotton, and a little lighter than some of the other Audrey dresses I own- which is a good thing because I find the heavier ones too warm to wear unless it's freezing cold outside. (Though I am on fire pretty much 24/7). The tartan dress is still thick enough to keep you warm in the Winter, but I find it much more comfortable to wear and move around in. The skirt is lined, the fabric has a little stretch, and I'd say it's pretty true to size.

It's a little big on top on me, but that's a common problem since I'm only a c-cup, and it's nothing a cardigan or a jacket can't easily disguise. I'm not comfortable baring my upper arms in public anyway, so wearing one over it isn't a problem. I can deal with a little extra room around the girls. I love Lindy Bop's Audrey dresses too much to let that stop me! It's my favourite out of all of the dresses they make. I currently own five in different patterns and colours, but I'd own hundreds if I had more money to spend on clothes! (One day!) I love 'em! I just can't resist a good boat-neckline swing dress. Especially when they're fantastic quality and so affordable like Lindy Bop's are!

I decided not to go down the rockabilly route when I put this outfit together, and instead dressed it down with black pieces for a casual, every-day look. It's a simple outfit and only took me a minute to throw together, but I like the way it turned out, and I felt really confident in it.

What I Wore

Dress- Lindy Bop // Cardigan- New Look // Tights- Evans // Shoes- Fashion World* // Belt- Dorothy Perkins // Necklace- Maggie Angus // Black beaded bracelets- Dorothy Perkins // Silver and black bracelets- gifts from the bestie

I'll hopefully be back with another outfit post really soon!

How would you have styled this dress?

Outfit | Cobalt Blue and Red Polka Dots

I'd like to introduce my new favourite dress; Matilda, the red polka dot swing-shirt-dress. She's the latest addition to my ever-growing collection of polka dot dresses, and don't tell the others, but she's quickly becoming one of my favourites.

She's one of those dresses that I fell in love with the moment I first saw her, and one I couldn't stop thinking about until I was able to snap her up. I don't know what it is, but there's just something about polka dot shirt dresses that I go crazy for, and this one tops them all. Matilda is the créme de la créme of polka dot shirt dresses, and since she's a Lindy Bop frock, I'm not surprised; their dresses are always so beautiful and high quality.

What sets Matilda apart from all the rest is that she is a swing shirt-dress, so she has an amazing full, flared skirt that gives a gorgeous silhouette, and also has plenty of room for a petticoat underneath, to make it even fuller. Unlike most shirt dresses, she is only buttoned to the waist, which I personally love because there's no worry of popping or losing a button and accidentally flashing your underwear to the world. She's made from good-quality cotton, but the fabric is still light enough to wear during the Summer. It's a sleeveless frock, too, so it's ideal for those hot sunny days. You can be sure that I'll be rocking this dress with pops of yellow when the weather gets warmer!

As it's still a bit early for wearing bright yellow, I've been wearing Matilda with bold cobalt blue, and a little bit of black. The colours of the dress and the blue pieces haven't been captured well in my photos, though. It was a cold and dull, grey day when I shot these photos, and the light kept changing from grey to dull yellow. I took over a hundred photos, but I'm not happy with how any of them came out. To be honest, I'm not pleased with the ones I'm sharing, but I decided to share them anyway, because I loved wearing this outfit and wanted to show you this dress before it sold out. So... just imagine that the dress is a really vibrant tomato red, and the blue shrug, belt, bracelet, and satchel are very bold shades of cobalt blue, because they are in real life.

I had so much fun wearing this outfit, which is just as well, as I had a nightmare with the sizing of the dress. I actually had to order Matilda three times, sizing up once more each time in determination to get the dress to fit! I loved the dress too much to give up on it. I found my usual Lindy Bop size and the next size up too tight on the waist. They fitted nicely over the bust, but I still had problems with gaping buttons, as I always do with buttoned shirts. While I'm not very busty, I am naturally broad shouldered and chested, so I never get along with shirts. I almost always have to size up a few times to avoid gaping, so it's rare that I ever get to wear a properly fitted shirt. I'm wearing a dress three sizes larger than I generally wear here. It doesn't gape (hurray!), but it's not actually all that loose around the bust or waist. It isn't perfectly fitting, though; sizing up has meant the top button starts over the bust, and the waist is a little further down, but it's nothing that cinching in the fabric belt, and adding a stitch or two can't sort. Just bare that all in mind if you're broad shouldered or chested, and want to buy one. She really is worth persevering for, though!

She's a gem of a dress, comes in sizes 8-26 UK, and a bargain at just £29.99! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll be made in other colours; if she is, then I'd happily buy them all! I bloody love this dress!

Outfit Details

Dress- Lindy Bop // Shrug- M&Co (similar) // Satchel- ASOS // Brooch- Cath Kidston //

Bracelet- Cath Kidston // Shoes- Fashion World* // Tights- Evans

JD Williams Knitwear Review

I'm one of those people who rarely wears a coat or a jacket; I prefer to just layer a jumper or a cardigan over most of my outfits because I get over heated really easily. (Thanks, spine). I find that knitwear is usually more than enough to keep me warm and cosy, and though I wear some form of knitwear almost every day, it had been a while since I last added some cosy new pieces to my wardrobe.

So, when online fashion brand JD Williams invited me to review some knitwear, I was more than happy to oblige! I was asked to choose some pieces from their current selection, and I chose three cosy pieces that I think you're going to like as much as I do!

First up is this wonderfully quirky fairisle poodle jumper* by Marisota, which I chose because of the cute motif. Any excuse to add a bit of whimsy and personality to my outfits! Motif jumpers are big news this season, but the poodle is so different to any other design I've seen, and definitely one of the best! If you're sad to pack your Christmas jumpers away for another year, this jumper is a great alternative and unlike your Christmas jumpers, you can keep wearing it through 'til Spring! (And beyond if you fancy it!)

This jumper is one of the softest, cosiest jumpers I've ever worn; it as cosy as a fleecy dressing gown, but with the added bonus of being a socially acceptable garment for wearing in public. It's like wearing a giant hug! It's surprisingly warm for a light-weight knit, and it's just the right thickness for layering. As you can see, I layered mine over a heart-print skater dress, and just folded the hem under a couple of inches for a neater look; I really like how the two pieces look together. This jumper is so versatile; I think it would look great with everything from dresses to jeans, to skirts and shorts; it's the perfect cream jumper!

If ivory isn't your thing, the poodle jumper also comes in red, which I'm quite tempted to treat myself to. Both colours are currently just £10-11 in the sale, and available to sizes 12/14 to 28/30. I'm between two of the dual sizes, so I sized up to the 20/22. It's a little loose on me, so I'd say it's pretty true to size.

I wear cardigans almost every day, so I couldn't do a knitwear post without including one! They are a wardrobe staple, after all. I was drawn to this bold heart print cardigan* the moment I first saw it; I'm not much of a pink person, but the amazing heart print won me over. It's exactly my style.

When I picked it, I was expecting a run-of-the-mill cotton cardi, so I was surprised to discover how thick and warm the fabric was! It's made from acrylic, but it feels just like a thick wool jacket. It's the perfect Winter cardigan to wear with jeans and dresses without freezing to death! When I took this photo, it was barely above freezing, but with this cardi on I was comfortably snug outside in the bitter air- and I only had a thin chiffon dress and leggings underneath! The quality of the fabric is incredible for the original RRP of £20, and it's even better now that it's on sale for a purse-friendly £15! The cardi is available in sizes 12-32, although I think it could cater to a couple of sizes larger, too. I got the cardigan in my usual cardi size, but as you can see it swamps me. I'd say it runs about two sizes big, so size down at least once, where possible. If you're looking for a statement cardigan this January, I highly recommend this one.

The third and final piece I chose was the popcorn-knit love jumper* by JD Williams, which has got me out of dresses and in to my first pair of trousers in about two and a half years! Yes, really! Do not adjust your screens; this really is me wearing something other than a dress! Hello, jeggings; it's been a while!

This jumper features a textured 'love' motif made from yarn and eye-lash knit, which I think is really eye catching. I love the design! I'm not usually a fan of clothes that have large words or logos on them, but this one is really tasteful, and I don't think you can ever go wrong with a chunky cream knit over a pair of dark blue jeans or jeggings.

What sets this one apart from all the other cream motif jumpers is that it's a popcorn knit. I had never heard of a popcorn knit before I saw this jumper, so this one is a whole new experience for me. After doing my research, I learnt that a popcorn knit is made up of lots of clusters of stitches that give it a bumpy texture and look like little flat bobbles. The stitches have been spaced quite far apart for this jumper, so it's got quite an open weave, and isn't completely opaque- although you can't really tell in my photo. You can see my bra and skin through this jumper, so you may wish to wear a top underneath to protect your modesty and / or to keep you warm. It doesn't hold the heat in as well as most chunky knits.

I'd also recommend sizing down at least one size, if not two as it's very generously sized. I made the mistake of sizing up for an over-sized fit, but the jumper swamps me. You can't actually see just how baggy it is on me in the photo, but it's two or three sizes too big, and not in a good way. It's a shame as it's a gorgeous jumper and the right fit would turn this in to a winter staple, but it'll still be perfect for curling up in to relax with a good book on a cold winters day. This knit comes in sizes 12/14 to 32/34, and is priced at £35-41, depending on size.

So, that's just three of the lovely pieces in JD Williams current knitwear collection. If you'd like to check out what other knitwear they have to offer, you can find their full selection of women's knitwear here. The brand stocks a fantastic selection of fashionable knitwear in sizes 8-36, and with almost 400 pieces in their current selection, there's likely to be something for almost everybody.

Have you bought any new knitwear lately?

*JD Williams provided me with the featured knitwear in exchange for a review. As always, all words, and opinions are my own.

OOTD: Brown and Yellow Polka Dots

Today's outfit is one I wore back at the beginning of September when the weather was still hot and it still seemed acceptable to wear pastel yellow. It seems so long ago now!

I had been playing dress up that day, trying different colours with my new Lindy Bop brown polka dot Audrey dress. I don't usually find it difficult to pair colours together, but my wardrobe is lacking in colours that compliment brown, like rust, mustard, chocolate, and dusky pink, so I started experimenting with other colours. That's how this unconventional brown and yellow combo came about.

And... I look like I'm wearing the Brownies uniform from the early nineties! I'm just missing the sash! Does anybody remember how vile the colour of the culottes and trousers was? It looked like bile! I remember always hating them, especially since my Mum made me wear the culottes and not the trousers. What kid wants to wear bile coloured culottes? Seriously? None of them do!

I've not worn culottes since my Brownies days (thank God), and I hadn't worn brown and yellow together, either, until this outfit happened in September... but I actually liked the result! I think the colours look okay together, and it was fun to try out a new colour combination. It seems a waste to leave this beautiful dress hanging in my wardrobe unworn until I buy some pieces that compliment it better. It deserves as much wear as possible; even if the most exciting place it gets worn is the garden and the only person I'm dressing up for is myself!

Outfit Details

Dress and Belt- Lindy Bop // Cardigan- New Look //

Shoes- New Look // Bag- ASOS // Necklace- Giveaway Win

Would you wear brown and yellow together?

Polka Dots and Vampire Teeth

If you can believe your eyes, I have an outfit post for you today! I'm on a roll at the minute; a slowly moving one, but a roll just the same! I actually have a few more outfits snapped and ready to show you over the next few weeks! I'm spacing them out to make them last, since I never know when I'll have the strength to take some more, or even get out of my PJs long enough to wear outfits worth snapping.

This is an outfit I threw together a few weeks ago while I was waiting on a delivery. I thought it was best I didn't scare the courier by opening the door in my PJs!

It was about 9am when I took these photos, and I'd only had about two hours sleep, so I look rough as hell in them- and felt it, too. I just had to take advantage of the bright sunny morning, though, and got myself in the garden with my camera while I listened out for the door.

The chiffon asymmetric dress I'm wearing is an old one from Matalan, but it's one of my favourites. I always feel great in it, so I return to it time and time again, as I do with almost all of my favourite clothes. I'll never be one of those girls who won't wear anything twice. One: I can't afford to live like that, and two: even if I could I wouldn't; I get too attached to my favourite clothes, and enjoy wearing them regularly! Plus I live in the real world, where it's normal to wear clothes and accessories again and again, until they fall apart. There's no shame in it!

This outfit, apart from the bag, is actually made up entirely of old pieces. I didn't realise it at the time; I was just focused on selecting pieces to wear that I thought would work with this amazing novelty clutch bag. It's a simple look, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Excuse the nails; I was half way through painting them when I fell asleep!

The best part of the outfit is definitely the amazing vampire lips clutch bag, which I'm pleased to say is a current line. It's one of ASOS's novelty Halloween pieces, and it's without a doubt the best novelty bag I've ever seen (or owned)! The novelty bag trend has become so popular over the last few months, and there are so many great bags to choose from, but what could be better than a lip-shaped clutch with vampire teeth?? Nothing!

It was one of those bags that had me squealing at my laptop screen and there was no question about it, I had to have it. For £20, it's so well priced, and the quality is surprisingly good for an inexpensive high-street clutch. It's well made and sturdy, and the design is just fantastic! There's also a surprising amount of room in it for the essentials. I can't afford a Lulu Guinness clutch, so this ASOS novelty is the next best thing!

If you want to embrace a little Halloween spirit but don't fancy dressing up this year, the vampire lips clutch is the perfect accessory for adding a little fright-night fun to your outfit. It makes a statement on it's own without needing the cape and fangs to go with it! It' definitely grabs people's attention, and it's a great conversation starter, too!

Looking back on these photos, the only thing I think the outfit was missing was a belt or a statement necklace. I forgot to add one or the other at the time, but two hours sleep will do that to you!

I'm also not quite sure why my hair looks so dark in these photos; it's still the same bright red it's always been since I began this blog! I think my camera's just shit!

Outfit Details

Dress- Matalan // Cardigan- TU at Sainsburys // Tights- Evans //

Shoes- New Look // Brooch- Cath Kidston // Bag- ASOS // Glasses- Roxy

How would you style the vampire lips clutch bag?

Thanks for reading!

It Must Have Been Love

For as long as I can remember, I've been dying to get my hands on a brown polka dot dress, just like the infamous frock Julia Roberts wore to the races in Pretty Woman. Show me a woman who didn't want that dress at one time or another!

This Summer I finally found my perfect brown polka dot dress; a swing dress by Lindy Bop, which I was able to snap up with some birthday money back in July. The fabric was far too thick and heavy for Summer, so I've had to wait until now to wear it, but it was definitely worth the wait.

The dress is beautiful, the quality is amazing, and it's so comfortable to wear. I feel great in it! The only way this dress could be better is if it was custom made to my measurements, but now I'm just being greedy!

I would have loved to have styled it like Vivian, but I don't own a boater hat, thick brown waist belt, or white shoes, and I've not owned a pair of white gloves since my first communion in 1992, so that was never going to happen. It also wouldn't have been very 'me'. This isn't the eighties anymore.

My first thought was to turn to some simple white pieces, since I'm lacking in colours which compliment brown. The dress came with the white belt, and I dug out an old cropped cardigan from New Look, which I think look okay together. Looking at these photos, I don't think the yellow polka dot ballet pumps or necklaces look great with the dress at all, but you win some, you lose some. I only chucked it together for a walk around the garden.

I need to invest in some black and tan shoes this Autumn (I have none!), and I'd like to hunt down some rust, mustard, and chocolate cardigans, jackets, and accessories to wear with this dress this Autumn and Winter. It's the perfect dress for AW because the fabric is about as thick as a medium-weight pair of jeans and it's lined, so it should keep me warm when it's freezing cold outside.

It's also wearable for every day, without looking ridiculously over-dressed, but it could be dressed up for a special occasion with a big tulle petticoat, heels, and some red lippy! I'd love to wear it with a petticoat every day, but I think I'd get a lot of odd glances in suburban Oxfordshire!

The Audrey dress comes in a huge selection of colours and patterns in sizes 8-26 for just £29.99! They are fantastically priced! I recently blogged about the red gingham and red polka dot Audreys in outfit posts, if you'd like to see them.

Outfit Details

Dress (inc. belt)- Lindy Bop // Cardigan- New Look //

Shoes- New Look (Wide Fit) // Necklace- Rachel's giveaway

Red and Yellow Polka Dots

Ladies and gentlemen: do not adjust your screens; do not rush off to get your eyes tested; what you're seeing isn't a mirage or a trick of the eye. This really is an outfit post! I might just die of shock!

Today's outfit is a combination of three of my favourite things; polka dots, colour, and novelty handbags. A perfect combination if you ask me!

This outfit came together organically; and it wasn't until I came to edit these photos that I realised I was channelling a bit of Minnie Mouse with my red polka dot dress and yellow shoes. She's a style icon, so I can live with that.

(I'm not feeling my looks at the moment, so I just wanted to hide away behind the clutch bag.)

I'm not sure if I've ever worn red and yellow together in my adult life, but I had a random urge to try yellow with this dress, and I really loved the result. Who knew red and yellow worked so well together? In my opinion, it's one of the best outfits I've worn in a really long time. I love everything about it; the colours, the patterns, the accessories, and of course, the dress!

This gorgeous red polka dot dress is a Lindy Bop "Audrey", which is one of those dresses I just had to have. Well, you know me with polka dots and full skirts! I was so smitten with the dress, that I visited the website every day until I was able to purchase one, just to check it was still available! Sad, I know. I snapped one up last month, but the cotton is so thick and heavy that I've been waiting for the weather to cool down just so I can wear it without passing out. The cotton is as thick as a medium-weight pair of jeans and it's also lined! While the quality of the fabric is fantastic, it's just not suited to weather above, say, 20'c; less if you get easily over-heated like me. It was about 25'c when I took these photos last weekend and I was roasting. It's definitely better suited to chilly Autumn and Winter weather, and I think it will be the perfect dress to keep warm in when it gets bitterly cold.

The deep, dark red of the dress is also more of a wintry colour; it's more crimson than it appears in these photos. I love wearing dark reds from Autumn to Spring, which is the reason I'm so in love with this dress. I think it would look great with mustard and forest green, but I don't own much of either at the moment. I thought I'd add bright yellow to have one last fling with summer brights before I retired them until next Spring.

The dress comes in sizes 8-26, and it's so affordable at just £29.99! I had to size up twice for a comfortable fit since I don't have a narrow waist, but other ladies say it's true to size, so check your measurements against their size guides! My dress is very loose on top because I've sized up, but I think I've disguised that reasonably well with the cardi.

I accessorised the outfit with a sunny lemon wedge clutch bag by Monki, and a pair of yellow polka dot ballet pumps from New Look. As it's a midi dress that sits a couple of inches below the knee it would be more flattering with heels, but I have to keep my feet on the ground in flats because of my bad back. I hate the way my legs look, but c'est la vie.