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| Demure at the start of the night |
This is a Tale of Two Birthdays. Last year I turned 30, and rather than getting depressed about it I decided, for the first time since I was 18, to have a big party and invite all my friends and be badly behaved and simply have a marvellous time. I found a fabulous Joan Collins-esque sparkly beaded cocktail dress from the 80s, which I proceeded to hem up into a mini (got my measurements wrong so it turned out to be borderline indecent, but ho hum). I put on my red lippie, bullied Mr Dreadful into wearing a kilt (phwoar), and any time someone asked what I wanted to drink I said ‘suprise me!’
In a photographic timeline you can see that things started out well behaved, with my hair neatly combed and me simpering into the camera. We then descend into:
Stealing friends’ spectacles:
The hair comes down and we have an impromptu photoshoot in the ladies loos:
Leaving the pub at closing time, I screech ‘take a photo so it looks like Mr Dreadful has drugged me!’ You can’t see his face here but take it from me, he does not look impressed:
Fortunately there is no photographic evidence of the final part of the night, where we all troop back to our little flat, I have one more fatal drink, my eyes start to glaze over, I throw up into the kitchen sink and am put to bed by Mr D in the middle of my own party. Just as well I had already made the resolution to be badly behaved.
This year was rather a contrast. We’ve both been, frankly, working our arses off lately, and since my birthday fell on a working Friday more than anything else I wanted a quiet night in with no company. Outfit details here are: 60s paisley dressing gown, woolly socks (unseen), and wet hair from the shower.
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| Blazin’ doughnuts Batman! |
Mr D jazzed my birthday doughnut up with candles, and then we had pizza and champagne for dinner.
We did still go out for dinner, but on the 23rd rather than the 22nd. We went for Japanese food at Jinkichi in Hampstead, which was totally delicious. They even have proper toro tuna, which if you haven’t had it, is a fine grade of tuna used for sushi – it really melts into your mouth, and is so much more tasty than the chewy stuff. I wore a vintage hippy style paisley dress, which looks quite 70s but I think is actually 80s. Paired with a waist belt from Primark and tan boots from Kurt Geiger.
Let’s hope next year contains a few more sparkles!
1960s polka dot mod dress by Berketex
1970s green and red tartan knit jumper dress
1960s black and white check blanket dress
1970s floral print hippy smock dress by Emanuelle
>I love, love anything 80s, so free, beautiful and shiny. Your first dress is a real jewel, but I also love this years. You cannot go wrong with paisley. And the belt, wowwwwwwwwwwwwww.
Un abrazo.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
>Ha ha, you should let your hair down more often, literally, it looks very pretty xx
>Dear Penny D,
both the frocks are totally fabby!
Well done for getting Mr D to wear a kilt on your big b'day.
My hubby liked wearing the rented kilt get-up for his friends' wedding so much that he is now scoping eBay out for kit to complete his own ensemble.
I personally think Scottish guys should wear traditional attire more, they don't even have to go the whole hog…casual trousers & a kilt jacket looks the bomb!
…xXx
>You are awesome. That's all I can say.
>Hi my dear-I really love both your birthday dresses, last years one is perfect as a mini and the paisley one is fabulous-very Autumnal and perfect with tan boots. Hope you have a good week ahead my dear! xx Fabulous pics too!!
>I.LOVE.YOUR.SEQUIN.DRESS. that is totally gorgeous. and i love the paisley for that matter! Good idea to bully mr D into wearing a kilt too haha- men in kilts: phwoar for real!! LoL!! xD
*Claudia*
http://emoltofashion.blogspot.com/
>they r two amazing dresses :DD
>Both of those dresses are blinking gorgeous!! I think I maybe prefer this year's though – so, so stylish.
>Happy belated birthday! You looked fab – this year and last!x
>I cannot believe that you are in your thirties. No. I think you're lying to us all. I THOUGHT YOU WERE 22. Don't I feel tricked. xx
>You look fabulous for both birthdays! I'm leaning towards this years' if I was forced to choose a favourite. Doesn't your waist look tiny in the last photo?
Happy belated birthday, My dear! I've done a knit-related blog post today, especially for you. xxx
>Oh wow i love both the outfits! x
>I love your party photos! You look so great! I turned 30 this year as well and it was a bit of a bummer to be sure – but I still like I'm in my 20s so I'm sticking at that age for a while I've decided.
xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com
>Oh yeah, go for the crazy party again next time!
>I don't know which dress I like better! But both perfect for their very different modes of celebrating. And loo shots are always the mark of a successful birthday party.
>Wow I never realised your hair was so long, I always thought it was quite short!
Love both looks, you cant beat vintage sequins for a night out. That last photo of you being carried home is so funny!!
>Just realised obviously you had your hair cut LOL!
>First of all- Happy belated birthday!
Secondly- I was wondering how old you are for some days now… but would have never guessed it starts with a 3! Thought you were 25 or something :)
Now, the dresses. Like everyone above has already mentioned, they're both perfect for the occasions. You look very chic and beautiful with long hair, red lipstick, crazy demeanor, and a short sequin dress. And that 70's look gives you a sort of a boho touch! Chunky wooden rings are missing in my opinion though :)
>Hahaha love your 30th birthday party – hilarious. And so demure this year Margaret you disappoint us!!! xx
>Yowza. Yeah, that's a mini. ;) Very cute.
Happy belated birthday.
>I am always grateful for a lack of photographic evidence of my descent into drunken sequin adorned fun.
>happy birthday!
and who can not have a good one with a birthday donut!
:)
donuts rule!
>wow, I thought I adored the first dress, and then I saw the second. absolutely divine. that is a dress worth stealing off you with my imagination (I am wearing it now…pretend like…I feel just lovely ;-).
Your party sounds awesome.
And I must mention, you are absolutely stunning. I do hope you know that!
I can't wait to turn thirty (next year). Right now I am 29…and it feels so old…yet not interesting like 30. Like, when I'm thirty I am certain a lot of people will tell me "wow, you don't look thirty". But right now I am an unremarkable 29. That said: "Wow, you don't look 31…you look about 26". :-)
heart: Kimberellie
>Happy belated Birthday! I don't think it matters when you celebrate. Sometimes it lovely to stay in. I'm so into staying in at the moment.
You look gorgeous and so do both your dresses xx
>this is so 8os! but you rock it!! :D lookin fab hun!! <3 <3
>here's to good times and happy memories. (ps: you look great both prim and not-so-proper)
>30th birthdays must be the thing, I love yours, mine was a riot too, included lots of people and drinking, starting with champagne at 11am eek!
I'm 44 this weekend, YES 44 aaaargh! Anyway I'm going to have one like you did, despite mine being a saturday, everything that is on is a Halloween party and I refuse to wear a costume on my birthday, birthdays should be glam! So I will spend my birthday at home, drinking cocktails!!
>Thank you my dears, you are all very sweet
Sacramento – Un abrazo to you too! x
Sarah – too late! I chopped it all off!
Calamity Jem – all men should wear kilts, it should be a British LAW
Baroness – you too, you deco mermaid you!
Sharon – thank you, those tan boots are certainly coming into season right now!
Claudia – haha yes, glad I'm not the only kilt perv!
Christine – thank you possum :)
Alex – aw thanks. I am such a sucker for sequins, I thought I was being very boring this year!
Lena – thank you, you flatterer x
Em – I LOVE YOU. Please stay here forever.
Vix – I luuurve your crochet dress. And tiny appearence of waist must be all down to cheap Primark belt, because it certainly isn't in real life!
Constance – thank you dear :)
Courtney – I loved turning 30, but 31 was a bit more sad!
WendyB – oh you KNOW I will
Fashion Herald – haha yes, if there are no loo shots it hasn't been a good party
Pearl – yep! Got sick of my hair always being messy so I got rid of it all earlier in the year :)
Mademoiselle Antonova – chunky wooden rings are now on my shopping list!
Kate – I'll try and up my game for next year!
OWO – I know, crotch-grazing huh. I'll be surprised if I didn't flash anyone that night.
Robyn – digital cameras have a lot to answer for in that respect!
Jennine – doughnuts AND donuts rule together! Cakes are a poor second.
Kimberellie – I have imaginarily stolen your entire wardrobe already. And yeah, turning 30 feels sort of glamorous – but I wish I had been married and divorced three times by now, because that would make me feel even more decadent.
Christina – all the people in the know are staying in these days. Crosswords are the new club nights x
Missy – I love the bad taste 80s!
Bella – thanks dear, happy memories are a must :)
Fiona – EVERYTHING with you is a riot, hehe! Drinking cocktails at home is the way to go, but I hope you will be doing it glamorously xx
>I adore the 80's mini you wore for your 30th birthday. It looks great on you.
http://xoxoebony.blogspot.com
>*Gasp* Penny, you had a birthday and I missed it? Late Happy Birthday!
The sequined dress adorable, by the way!
>*is* adorable–whoopsie. This is what happens when you type without your contact lenses in. :-/
>hahaha, what a great post and some truly fun pictures. The vintage dress is amazing and you look stunning. I miss having a bday like that, partying and drinking like there's no tomorrow, but had the lovely quiet version this year.
>Love your blog and love your style. Yo have a new follower!
Kisses from Spain
http://cherryishername.blogspot.com/
>Love the dress. Your blog is great. I also visited your Etsy store. Very cool stuff!
http://www.coffeetalksandcatwalks.com
>You look lovely…and I have Life Envy – not for the first time! I have determined to be badly behaved for my 30th in Jan. Don't think I could pull off a Joan Collins look though…
Happy Birthday x