"". September 2019 | Is This Mutton?

Fashion for the over 50s with books and beauty

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Sunday 29 September 2019

Autumn Colours With Vionic Mystic Maple boots

Seated outdoor shot of Is This Mutton blogger Gail Hanlon in striped orange and green jumper with Vionic Mystic Maple brown boots
It's a great time to take photos when the trees are changing colour and the light is still good. Our Virginia creeper is almost in all its red glory: I will give it a couple of days before I pose outside the garage where it's best.  It seemed appropriate to wear autumnal colours to show off my new Vionic Mystic Maple ankle boots (gifted).
Vionic have nailed it in terms of both style and comfort.  The boots are the lovely warm, burnished colour of conkers and have a striking woollen inset.  Inside the boots there's the usual Vionic foot bed designed to make these boots amazingly comfortable, and some fleecy inserts for extra warmth. They would be perfect for walking through leaves (as one usage model).

I'm wearing the boots with a cosy jumper from TU at Sainsbury's (last winter) and old khaki trousers, plus a wide brown belt.  Wide belts, corset belts and thin belts worn in multiples, are all the rage for AW which is good news for belt lovers.
A flash of red Virginia Creeper for this autumn shot of over-50s blogger Gail Hanlon wearing Vionic Mystic Maple brown boots and an orange and green striped jumper

Woman wearing striped jumper and khaki trousers with brown ankle boots poses with cat in garden
Look who I found!

Disclosure:  I was gifted with a pair of Vionic Mystic Maple boots.  Copy approval was not sought nor given, and my editorial opinions are always objective and honest.

Sharing this post with #CreativeMondays at Claire Justine, Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, #IWillWearWhatILike at Not Dressed as Lamb, TurningHeads at Elegantly Dressed and Stylish#Stylewithasmile at StylesplashChic&Stylish at MummabstylishTop of the World Style at High Latitude Style#ThursdayTell /Mutton Style Monday at Muttonstyle, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion StyleFabulous Friday at Pocketful of Polka Dots, Anna at The Glamadventure,  Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee On The Edge#BloggerClubUK or #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings Grace at Color and Grace, Julie at This Main Line Life and Weekend Wear LinkUp at Mom With Style 

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Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter.

Come Back on Wednesday

I'll be reviewing autumn/fall as a great time for making changes to health and beauty regimes.  Plus #WowOnWednesday, the link up featuring the best of reading from over-40s bloggers all round the world.







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Wednesday 25 September 2019

The Last Days of Summer - and Link Up

UK style blog Is This Mutton on a day to remember - the last Saturday of summer 2019 and a welcome to the world party for a new baby
Autumn or Fall has officially started, but we were gifted with the most fantastic day of sunshine, all over the UK, on Saturday. It was a special day for the Muttons anyway because we were at a special "Welcome to the World" party for our first grand child.  Promises were made by the parents, godparents and grandparents/aunts/uncles.

I would love to show some pictures of the gorgeous baby but in common with Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex, the parents are protecting the baby's privacy and only sharing pictures among the family on a password protected site.

When I got home, the light was wonderful so I took a few pictures of an outfit which was shamelessly "summery" for one of the last days of summer.
Style blogger Gail Hanlon from Is This Mutton in a white embellished coatigan from River Island, white flared jeans and a floral patterned top.
I wore my white flared jeans, an old top with big pink roses, and my embellished kimomo / coatigan.  Accessories were silver including the Vionic Kaitlyn wedges (gifted) in Pewter.
A white cat glistening with bugle beads and sequins worn by over-50s blogger Gail Hanlon from Is This Mutton?
Bird feeders are optional.
Silver accessories add some more shine to this mostly white outfit with a spectacular embellished coat worn by over-50s style blogger Gail Hanlon from Is This Mutton?

My face says it all:  bliss! I love being in the sun and seeing a blue sky.

Sharing this post with #WordlessWednesday at Claire JustineChic&Stylish at MummabstylishTop of the World Style at High Latitude Style#ThursdayTell /Mutton Style Monday at Muttonstyle, Fancy Friday at Nancy's Fashion StyleFabulous Friday at Pocketful of Polka Dots, Anna at The Glamadventure,  Linkup on the Edge at Shelbee On The Edge#BloggerClubUK or #AnythingGoes at My Random Musings#Stylewithasmile at Stylesplash, Grace at Color and Grace, Julie at This Main Line Life, Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style, #IWillWearWhatILike at Not Dressed as Lamb
Now it's time for #WowOnWednesday, a celebration of beauty/fashion/travel and anything else with a bit of Wow for Hump Day.

Last week's most clicked was petite over-40s blogger Grace from Color and Grace with her post Styling Stripes with Stripes for Fall 
Stripes worn with stripes by over-40s blogger Grace Liang from Color and Grace
You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter





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Sunday 22 September 2019

Why You Need a Sports Bra


Is This Mutton the style blog for the over-50s on why a sports bra is important and featuring the Shock Absorber purple and green Ultimate Run Bra

Today we're going to talk sports bras. You may be among the 44% of women who don't wear a sports bra when they exercise, so I'm hoping to convince you to do so.

Research carried out by the University of Portsmouth found that breasts move not only up and down but side to side during running. Joanna Scurr, from the Breast Health Research Group, said that if breast movement is not reduced, women risk damaging the fragile Cooper’s ligaments which, once damaged, are irreparable.

She explained: “When the breast is not supported correctly and there is tension on the ligaments and skin of the breast, it can result in strain and over time this may lead to a stretching of the breasts natural support, which could lead to permanent breast damage."

One way of removing the strain on the breasts is the right sports bra.

There are two types of sports bra: compression and encapsulation. The latter have two cups like a normal bra, but with extra support. Compression bras press your breasts against your chest, and are usually pulled on over your head.

Is This Mutton on why a sports bra is important and how to choose a good one such as the Shock Absorber Ultimate Run Bra

Choosing a Sports Bra

Select one in your normal size and experiment with different brands. Once you've found a bra that works for you, you'll probably stick to it.

I was gifted with a Shock Absorber Ultimate Run Bra which is tested to reduce bounce by up to 78%. These bras are always highly rated in studies. I like the padded straps which add to the feeling of protection and security, even though it's the band of a sports bra that does all the work. This bra is also in fun colours, purple and lime green.

Your sports bra is probably not the right fit if you have any of the following:

  • breast or back pain;
  • the bra band rides up your back, or you’ve got your bra on the tightest hook;
  • the straps are digging into your skin.
You can get fitted in a store, or you can make a selection online to find the right fit.  UK Lingerie has a great range of active wear, including sports bras from Shock Absorber, Pure Lime, PrimaDonna and Anita Active. You'll also get distracted on the site by all the gorgeous lingerie and  silk nightwear, as I was!

Disclosure:  I was gifted with a sports bra by UK Lingerie. Copy approval was not asked for or given, and my editorial opinions are always honest and objective.

Sharing this post with Visible Monday at Not Dead Yet Style; BloggerClubUK at My Random Musings; Creative Mondays at Claire Justine;  #ShareAllLinkUp at Not Dressed As Lamb ThursdayTell at Muttonstyle

FOR MORE MUTTON

Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter.

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Wednesday 18 September 2019

Look Polished and Save Time with Just Three Make-Up Products - and Link Up

Mid life blogger Gail Hanlon after using just three products to achieve a full but natural makeup


There's a make-up tutorial doing the rounds on Facebook and Instagram where a make-up artist in her 40s creates a fresh face using just three products. I'm not normally suckered in by any of those ads on Facebook but my curiosity was piqued. I took a look and saw that the Beauty Boutique sells a range of good quality products and the tutorial was quite compelling, given that Katie looks like the girl next door.
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Wednesday 11 September 2019

Surprise Birthday Lunch in Dublin - and Link Up

Posing by beautiful hydrangeas Gail Hanlon from Is This Mutton fashion blog
We spent the weekend in Dublin, a short hop from the UK and so similar yet so different. It's always a fantastic place to visit.  The reason for our trip was a surprise birthday lunch for John's sister Sue, celebrating a milestone birthday.  She knew she was going to Ireland for a few days but she didn't know that her nearest and dearest from the UK, Ireland and Nice were also going to be there.
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Monday 9 September 2019

High Octane Glamour at the Vionic AW Runway Show in London

Is This Mutton blogger Gail Hanlon in Vionic Kaitlyn espadrilles, silver skirt and pink jacket
Innovative shoe brand Vionic first ran a runway show to show off the new season's styles a year ago, and since then the event has got bigger and bigger. This year it moved to BAFTA in London and the champagne was flowing. It was great to see blogger friends Jacqui from Mummabstylish and Michelle from Fifty and Fab and to meet up with some new faces.
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Friday 6 September 2019

Five for Fri-Yay: September 6

A contemporary pale pink armchair from Marks and Spencer
My occasional round-up of five things I'm loving right now. First, let me introduce you to Mimi my new bedroom chair! I've always wanted a pretty chair for the bedroom but have never found one in the right colour. Then I saw this Mimi chair in Marks and Spencer - the perfect pink. It will add a little variety to my indoor blogging shoots. It's so comfortable I may even sit on it and read a book.

Fabulous Cleanser 


Special 10th anniversary packaging for Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm with exfoliating seeds
I absolutely love Emma Hardie's Moringa Cleansing Balm, and this is the special packaging for the product's 10th anniversary, which includes some exfoliating seeds.  It's a large jar and although it seems pricey, I'm still using the same size jar I bought before Christmas. It's the most luxurious of cleansers: it feels so indulgent yet it's highly effective and leaves your skin smooth and glowing.


The Beauty Podcast with Sali Hughes

This has shot into my top 10 podcasts  (and indeed, the national podcast chart). The first episode featured beauty blogger Caroline Hirons and cosmetic scientist Sam Farmer discussing the notion of "Clean Beauty."  It was jaw dropping! Apparently there is not one 100% natural beauty product - they all contain chemicals of some sort. In a no-nonsense way the team dispelled myths about parabens and sulphates, and laughed at how some products claim to be "not treated on animals"  (which is actually the law!) and "gluten free," as if beauty products actually contain gluten. Well, maybe one or two do, but you get the idea.

The second episode was on bridal beauty - but don't let that put you off, it was fascinating. They even discussed something which has always intrigued me: why do brides suddenly decide to have ringlets or put their hair up, when they never do it normally?

Latest Reading


I'm going through a phase of reading crime thrillers. It's unchallenging and all I need for 30 minutes before I fall asleep.

I've just read an intriguing book called Sleep by C.L. Taylor. A woman is stricken by guilt after being the driver of a car in an accident which killed two of her colleagues and paralyzed a third. She flees to a hotel job on a remote island in Scotland. She seems have a stalker who's obsessed about sleep. In a sinister way. Which hotel guest is it?

Latest TV Viewing

I'm kind of enjoying Interior Design Masters (BBC2), mainly for Fearne Cotton's outfits, but it's not as gentle and informative as the programme it replaced, The Great Interior Design Challenge. In this new incarnation, the team of hopefuls is quite spiteful about each other's efforts, and it's rare that they turn in a decent design in my opinion - too little time or budget. They don't even seem to see the rooms they're designing until they turn up on the day with the brief already prepared.

I'm looking forward to the inaugural episode of Strictly Come Dancing although we'll be watching it on catch-up later as we're out on the big night.

Arrival of a New Season

It feels decidedly autumnal today and the trees are rapidly changing colour.  I used to dread the arrival of autumn but this year I'm welcoming it. I don't do gingerbread lattes or Halloween but these are my top 10 reasons for liking autumn this year:
1. Put away the fake tan! I use it mostly on my legs but in autumn you don't have to.
2. Get the tights out. I love tights in crazy colours and patterns.
3. No need for pedicures.  I still look after my feet in autumn and winter but I don't have to keep applying new polish to my nails because they're going to be seen every day.
4. Crunchy leaves to walk through.
5. The garden can have a well deserved rest, and so can I  (apart from sorting out myriad containers and planting bulbs for spring).
6. The winter clothes.  I welcome them down from the loft as old friends. The soft caress of cashmere. The satisfying ping of leather in an ankle boot. The hats, the gloves. The fleeces. A far more pleasing selection, to me, than summer's flimsy offerings.
7. Snuggling. No fear of missing out (FOMO), it's best to stay in on dark cold evenings and watch TV or read.
8. The promise of Christmas. Our ancestors were very wise in creating this festival in the middle of winter. This year I've already booked a Christmas carol concert at the Royal Albert Hall and ordered a wooden Nativity Set - something I've always wanted.
9. The occasional perfect winter's day:  blue sky, crisp coldness, and winter sun.
10. No need for sun cream.  Not in the UK in winter.  Yay!

Sharing this post with Share All Link Up at Not Dressed As Lamb and #WelcometotheWeekend at Claire Justine.
Style blogger Gail Hanlon dressed for a winter's walk in Epping Forest
 winter's walk, February 2018

Are You Muttoned Up?

Stay in the loop: follow Is This Mutton? on Bloglovin or Feedspot. I post extra goodies (handbags and shoes) on the Is This Mutton? Facebook page. Check out the Is This Mutton? Pinterest boards, including boards on other bloggers in fab outfits plus beauty, jewellery, hairstyles and fashion picks. Is This Mutton? is also on Twitter.












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Wednesday 4 September 2019

Creating Your Signature Style - and Link Up

Blogger Gail Hanlon from Is This Mutton on the personal touches that make our style our own:  featuring her favourite, the Peter Pan collar
What's your signature style?  You may be perplexed by the question, because according to the Is This Mutton? fashion and beauty survey, many of you are confident enough to flirt with different  styles depending on your mood.  You can switch easily from boho to classic with a twist or trendy. But even if you like to stick to one style, you're no doubt making it your own with a few of your signature special touches.
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