A recent study found that British women dress for themselves and other women rather than for men. While they intend to choose clothes that flatter their figure and colouring (although with over 70% wearing the wrong size bra one has to wonder…) the main aim is to feel good about themselves and elicit compliments from other women. I’ve written before about how great it can feel when someone tells you they love your shoes or dress. But on the other hand I have worn dresses on here recently that languished in the wardrobe for a year because of a negative comment or two from Euan. I’ve been shopping with friends who have excitedly handed over their debit card to buy that glorious new hat they just had to have for the winter, but equally I’ve had emails from and conversations with friends whose boyfriends are less than enthused by their latest bargain.

Today’s dress is one of my “Ugly Betty” numbers. It combines a pattern I love in colours that suit me with the nastiest, scratchiest, stickiest polyester. It combines a lovely mandarin collar, flattering shirt front and pleats at the hips with a not-quite-right length and too-short shirt-sleeves. It perfectly sums up the love it/hate it aspect of dressing that we face when we love something our partner hates, only in my case part of me loves it and the other part hates it.

This morning, love won.

60s/70 polyester dress: charity shop
Black tights: Tesco
Red shoes: Topshop (Ebay)
Belt: Jaeger (Ebay)
Red patent headband: New Look

Off-topic somewhat, on the coach journey from York to Darlington yesterday (the joys of UK train travel..) I had some time to think, and I now have a plan. A plan to get over my man. Which strangely enough might actually involve jam for those of you who get the quote! I have been mulling over a couple of business ideas for a while now. This is going to be the springboard to actually go for it. I’m going to book an appointment with businesslink that first week home and actually write a business plan. Something good HAS to come out of this.