Asides

One World Together

“Being homeless is the outcome of a much bigger story….”

Hazel Ozturk

This blog has been stripped bare to signify how little some people have.

With 22 days until the autumnal equinox and conversely only 22 days of summer left, the careful balancing act of clothing begins.  Will we have a scorching September like that of 2016 which saw the hottest September for 105 years or will it be wet and windy?  What would you do without shelter on those stormy days?

For those of us permanently based in the UK we never really put our raincoat and woollies away.  With that in mind, September is really much the same as the rest of the year.  We keep a little of each season’s clothing in the bottom drawer or top shelf just in case we need it.  I suppose that’s what makes living in the UK great and why we are credited for always talking about the weather!

As the days begin to shorten and we slowly slide into autumn, the trick is to dig out key pieces from the departing season and plan for cooler and wetter weather.  If you are anything like me, you will also be keeping an eye out for key pieces for the party season. 

Although I yearn for summer, particularly as this one has just passes by in a cloud, I really love autumn.  Crimson leaves falling from the trees and piling up on the ground and the chance to layer my clothing in 101 different and colourful ways.  I think it is that use of colour in what can be a very grey season which is so uplifting. 

If you do nothing else this weekend, take stock of your wardrobe.  Give to charity, particularly the homeless charities which do so much good.  You would really be surprised by how many ordinary people like you and I are actually on the streets and heartbroken to see very young adults sleeping in cardboard boxes.

When you feel cold this autumn, think about just how cold you really feel and be grateful that you have several clean jumpers and coats to wear. Most of all, be grateful that you have the capacity to change someone else’s life by just giving a little from the comfort of your home.

So, this year, if you are able, donate the cost of one outfit to help others.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/

https://www.crisis.org.uk/get-involved/donate/

https://centrepoint.org.uk/donate/

https://www.mind.org.uk/donate

OkanDesigns.com

– Bag a Bargain –


After comfortably shopping online for what seems like a lifetime, 1,000s of us are now pounding the pavements for some old fashioned retail therapy.


Most outlets are selling off their old and slightly seconds stock to make way for new items to tempt us so, well worth a look.

I like to seek out such bargains and I am also a fan of picking up key items which would cost much more if bought in season. Things like chunky jumpers, bought in summer ready for autumn or swimsuits bought at the end of the summer season but great for next season or winter sun.

Personally, I love shopping online; if it’s in my size I can just ‘click and collect’ and wait for my order to arrive direct to my door. For me, gone are the days of searching through the rails for something which turns out to be OUT OF STOCK in my size. I became tired of hearing, “If we have it, then it would be out”. Sometimes the pursuit of the one item I just had to have turned me in to a crazy person. Has anyone else covertly followed someone around the shop just because they looked your size and were holding the very item you wanted to purchase for a night out?


I do miss wandering around with by friends though and finally collapsing for lunch with lots of bags sprawled around me. Yes, we all know that most of it will be returned but there is something satisfying about a shop with friends and I certainly always buy more. I also miss getting home and trying everything on again.

I don’t however miss dragging the bags back to the shops and explaining why I don’t want the item I bought just the day before. I certainly don’t miss queuing all over again either. Where did I put those receipts!

I am not saying that I won’t hit the shops again but it’s certainly less embarrassing buying two of everything online and I enjoy the anonymity of sending them back. Particularly when I’m keeping the larger size!

One plus for shopping on the high street is to support local businesses. The smaller independent shops which struggle when footfall drops. Those shops quite often have unexpected bargains and items that one won’t see everyone else wearing so worth a peek.

Well, however you shop, stay safe and …… don’t become that crazy lady!

O K A N D E S I G N S . C O M

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