Being fifty and fab in October #beingfiftyandfab

It's time for my monthly round-up again!  Being fifty and fab is my monthly post where I share what I have been doing to 'be' fabulous - lots of fashion for us over 50 women, style ideas and inspiration. I'd love you to get involved on Instagram too!

What do you do to be fabulous?  Have you worn a fabulous outfit?  Tag me!  Have you been exercising regularly and really pleased with your progress?  Tag me!  Have you had a super fun day out?  Tag me! 

​All you have to do is use the hashtag #beingfiftyandfab on Instagram and tag me @fifty_andfab so I see your post and then at the end of every month I will do a round-up of the best ones on stories or on my main Instagram grid.  You can get involved at any time, there is no specific day, it can be any day when you did something to feel and be fabulous.

And this is what I have been doing to be fifty and fab in October ...

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Exercising - I've got a great routine going on now.  I've not overloaded myself, I know what I can manage and twice a week in the gym works really well for me.  I go on a Tuesday and a Thursday.  I have learnt I need someone to exercise with for accountability so I have two PT's - fortunately they are both really sensibly priced and I have joined a regular programme which is really keeping me on track.

Reading - this month I attended another book launch, this one was at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London and it was for the first in a series of books called The Gemstone Detective, the first one being about Sri Lanka.  Kim Rix is a Gemologist and she realised how difficult it can be to safely buy gemstones when you are travelling, it is so easy to end up buying a fake.  She has put together a series of travel guides so if you are considering purchasing a gemstone whilst travelling then these guides will be essential! They contain insider information and practical tips to help you better understand the gemstone and jewellery market.  And gives a 'country-specific' guide to help you buy a unique souvenir in countries around the world.

Otherwise I finished Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and moved onto The Break by Marion Keyes which I haven't finished yet!

Doing - I guess the big highlight this month has been my son's 21st birthday!  I wrote about it on this post.  We spent the day in London, we went to Kennington and did an Escape Room game - this one was based on The Battle of Britain.  It was our first experience of an escape room and it was really good fun!  We had no idea at all when the clock started and we were faced with a room and some elusive clues.  But we got the hang of it, didn't do too badly for our first time, had a really good laugh and it was all excellent for 'family team building' - it was myself and my husband, our daughter and our son and his girlfriend.  

I might sound a bit mad but actually a particular highlight for me was where the escape room was - it was in an old factory unit in Iliffe Yard in Kennington (near Elephant & Castle), the cobbled street was full of character and so pretty.  I was keen to find out more about the history - the yards were purpose built with craftspeople and small traders in mind and represent an original Victorian example of live/work space as originally each ground or first floor workshop opened into one of the two flats situated behind it.  Eventually these yards fell into disuse and become derelict until the local community got together to save them from demolition and they were restored to their former glory in the 1980's.  Really perfect photo opportunities - very insta-worthy!

The escape room we did was with Escape Plan Ltd and they have several locations and games in London - you can find out more on their website here.

We then got the underground to Tower Bridge where we had a late lunch overlooking the bridge.

Wearing - a few new outfits to share with you this month, although did you watch the Stacey Dooley Investigates episode recently?  It is called Fashions Dirty Secrets and it really got me thinking (again) about fast fashion and the amount of stuff I have, way too much 'stuff' not just clothes though.  I am really thinking and planning very hard to try and get properly organised and do a thorough declutter as well as review my shopping habits.  More on that soon ...

This is me arriving at the Sri Lankan High Commission, I am wearing my Zara snakeskin dress (full details on this post) with my black leather biker (details below) and my Gigi Cross Body Bag from Aurora London.

This was a networking event at The Compleat Angler Hotel in Marlow and I wore a new pair of Paige jeans from Brookes in Marlow along with a black biker from Mint Velvet and my scarf from Sweet Bea (which I used a lot this summer as a sarong, I love the colour).  My black biker has a removable fleecy lining - Black Borg Lined Leather Biker.  I find leather quite cold to wear so I thought this might extend the opportunities for wearing.

This looks very bright!  It isn't that bright but the combination of yellow and the sun right on me made it look much brighter!  It is the Heidi jumper from Boden and I have paired it with a Boden spot scarf that I have had forever - probably ten years.  I am wearing it with rebound denim jeans from French Connection and my Vionic trainers.  I really recommend the shape of this jumper, it is just the right amount of chunky and warm without being too bulky and it comes in a really good selection of colours.

Out for an autumn walk with my dogs and I wore this LOVE jumper which was gifted to me from Mooch in Marlow.  They have an eclectic selection of clothing, accessories and gifts, do check them out if you find yourself in Marlow, they are on Institute Road, just along from Mint Velvet which is on the corner.

This dress was £45 from Marks & Spencer and is still available here.  It is a black mix, it has a tie waist and a tiered detail on the skirt.  It has statement sleeves, and they are elasticated so you can pull them up if you want to.  Open neck with buttons.  The model is wearing it on the website with the tie waist loser whereas I pulled it in and defined my waist.  I wore it to London for my son's 21st with my Vionic Whitney black boots.  It was very easy to wear, I layered it with a vest under and my black leather biker from Mint Velvet (linked above).  

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Today is the last day for voting in the Asquith Adores Blogger Award and I am shortlisted in the Best Over 40's category.  If you haven't already voted and you'd like to support me then you can do so on this link - VOTE HERE - thank you so much.

I didn't win the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging (Fashion and Beauty category) but I was still absolutely delighted to be a finalist!

Thank you so much for reading my blog and do join in #beingfiftyandfab on Instagram, I'd love to meet some more of you!

Love from
Michelle xx​

October posts you may have missed:

Autumn planning ... 
Embracing Life (in Midlife) | Chloe Leibowitz - Inspiring Women
29 really useful things you need to know when travelling to Sri Lanka
An anti-aging facial and skin care from Crystal Clear COMCIT
Embracing Life (in Midlife) | Kate from Sweet Bea
Reflecting back on the last 21 years as my son passes this milestone birthday

Disclaimer: Some of my links are affiliate links which means that the brand knows you have come to their website from here and I may get a small commission if you buy something and keep it.  This small income goes towards the running costs of my blog so I am very thankful for every click.  

​I'm linking up with
Not Dressed as Lamb
#ShareAllLinkUp

and
Mutton Style
​#continentaldrift

All shopping my wardrobe!  Poncho is from Jigsaw (similar here), jeans are French Connection rebound denim and my trainers are from Vionic.