The Joys of January {2026}

 

Dear friends.  It has an unfair reputation as the worst month of the year. True, the weather is not great, and there are no public holidays until April. But if you're determined to make the best of it, January can still be joyful.

Inspired by Demi Moore

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends. Have you discovered Landman on Paramount,  starring Billy Bob Thornton, Demi Moore and Jon Hamm? We absolutely love it, having discovered it recently when we swapped Disney for Paramount. 

Demi Moore is married to wealthy oil company CEO Hamm. I was very taken with the power dressing outfit she wore when addressing the oil barons (plus some snippy young women who made a swipe at her). 

It turns out her cream suit and blush sleeveless Lavalliere blouse are by Tom Ford, and the blouse has sold out. Not that I would have bought it.  I bought a similar style from a new brand to me, Holland Cooper (not an affiliate link).

Blouses with bows are trending at the moment. They've become associated with Margaret Thatcher to our generation but I think the Demi look with the cream and blush is not at all Thatcher-looking. It's a different kind of power dressing.

I don't have much need for power dressing now I'm retired, so I paired the blouse with these fabulous new jeans from M&S. I noticed on the train that young women were all wearing flared jeans with a visible seam above the ankle. I'd nipped into M&S for some food bits and spotted these jeans with their patch pockets. And seam above the flare!

I'm wearing a 10 in Short (say it as it is, M&S!) which are a good length, provided they don't shrink.  I'm 5'3. (1.60). They look smarter and dare I say more flattering than barrel jeans. I wasn't quick to embrace flared trousers and jeans this time round but they are growing on me. 

Strangely,  although these jeans were in abundance at their Oxford Street flagship, they're not available online. I even tried the product code. They cost £40.  M&S stock other brands which have similar patch pockets jeans. 

The blouse I bought, the Ariella, is lovely quality, which is important for this type of fabric. It can be tied several ways. As you can see it's sleeveless and I shall enjoy wearing it on its own in the summer. 

I didn't add a belt because it would have looked cluttered with the bow and patch pockets. 

Demi wore hers with a cream blazer. I don't have any blazers but I tried it with my cream moto style Chloe jacket from Kettlewell. 

Best Footwear for Flares 

According to The Times, the best shoes to wear with flares are  pointy toed boots or kitten heels, or “low profile” trainers. These are streamlined and flat-soled, rather like a plimsoll.  They provide a sharper, more elegant finish than anything clompy. I added a little more glamour with gold ankle boots. Pointy ones! (Oliver Bonas, old). 

Have you discovered Landman yet?  What's your view on pussy bow blouses? Too Mrs T, or a fresh new look? Do tell in the comments.

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Disclosure:  Is This Mutton is a hobby blog and non-monetised for the best reader experience.  Nothing was gifted for this post. 

GIVE US A TWIRL

Bloggers from all over the world are adding their posts to this week's link-up.  I'd urge you to check them out and leave a comment or two.  Blogging is a lonely pastime but comments make us smile. 

For the joining instructions, scroll down to below the thumbnails. No recipe posts please. 

LAST WEEK'S FAVOURITES

How to Wear Tweed with Ageless Style from Amy at Amy's Creative Pursuits

Finally Getting Around to It:  I Give Up by Rena at Fine Whatever. Fortunately she's not referring to blogging but letting go of gimmicks, themes, and over-planning & (sadly) the Fine-Whatever Link-Up.

Is This Mutton Favourite

DIY Earrings - Vineyard by Mie at MooisVanMie. How pretty are these earrings, and the pictures are great too - very difficult to do.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Book Update with New Arrivals

 

Dear friends. Today I'm sharing what I'm reading, new arrivals on the Kindle, and what I'll be reviewing shortly.

I'll start first with four new arrivals.  I'm currently reading Eight by Paul Gascoigne and Life Plan by Amanda Prowse. 

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

 And #TuesdayTwirl

The inspiration for today's post comes unashamedly from Dutch blogger Greetje from No Fear of Fashion. She recently featured outfits from past posts, which she classified as good, bad or ugly. See her post. 

If you haven’t discovered Greetje's blog you're in for a treat. She goes out with friends to take her photos and explores different parts of the Netherlands with a lot of humour and style.

Hamnet: Film or Book? January Reviews

And #WhatsOnYourBookself 

 

Dear friends. The hype around the film Hamnet inspired me to read the book and then go to the cinema.  I share my thoughts on this, and also my reviews for January. 

I bought those marked with an asterisk.  The rest were digital advance copies from NetGalley, provided free in return for an honest review. 

Winter Brights

 And #TuesdayTwirl 

Dear friends. Winter is wonderful for wearing colour. So many opportunities to layer up! I wear colour throughout the year. It's badly needed in the colder months. Here are a few of my outfits lately.

I was recently ironing (yep, still do it) when I noticed what a good combination this light blue is with pink. It's a colour called Hawaii from Kettlewell,  worn with pink rose sleeveless cardigan and mock turtle neck in shocking pink. The necklace is by Kama4 You at Etsy. I have it in several different colourways. 

Staying with blue and pink, this is a silky roll neck in Dutch Blue with wrap in Flamingo Pink and chinos in Coral. I had these chinos in size small and they were a bit too big. I was thrilled when an XS pair suddenly appeared in the Kettlewell sale. They're a little shorter than I would like (I prefer my ankles not to be grazed!) but very soft and comfortable.  Scarf is one of the Spring variations at My Season. Leopard belt, old, Kettlewell. 

Wearing the same chinos with a crew neck jumper in Apple, silky roll neck in Pale Peach (both Kettlewell) and rose gold boots, old. Necklace from Polka Dot Drawer at Etsy. The silky roll necks are wonderful for layering - I have several.  Below: adding my trusty Barbour, which is exactly the right colour. It's very warm and hooded - I often wear it on forest walks.

How are you finding winter so far? (And summer, for those in the southern hemisphere, where it's very HOT at the moment).  Also - do you still do the ironing?! Do tell in the comments. 

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Subscribe for 1 email a week from Is This Mutton for an update on posts you may have missed, or follow Is This Mutton on Feedspot. Find us on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky

TUESDAY TWIRL LINK-UP

Bloggers and Instagrammers are invited to share up to 3 posts.  For the joining instructions, scroll down to below the thumbnails. 

Please make a blogger's day by commenting on one or two their posts, or pinning or sharing them.

LAST WEEK'S FAVOURITES

A New Year and New Beginnings - Hopefully! by Penny at Conversations with an Older Woman

The Best Things I Bought in 2025 Part 1, by Cheryl at Cheryl Shops

Is This Mutton Favourite

Just Because by Jill at Grownup Glamour

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Transform Your Health in 30 Days

Dear friends. I like to keep abreast of nutritional trends and research, and today I'm reviewing a new book which explores inflammation in our bodies, the harm it causes and how to eradicate it.

It's particularly interesting to those of us "of a certain age" because some of the changes brought on by getting older are exacerbated by inflammation.

The book is called "The Anti-Inflammatory 30 Day Reset" by Sophie Richards. She suffered for 10 years with chronic pain, bloating and fatigue. No medical help was available. She set out to find her own way to alleviate her symptoms and completely transformed her life.

I bought the book and this is my honest review.

A Sparkling Start to the Year

 And TuesdayTwirl

Dear friends. Here's a sparkly daytime look which echoes my mood. Full of positivity for a New Year.

You might think white jeans is a bizarre option for winter but I rarely wear jeans in summer (too hot) and think they're perfect for the dry sunny days we're having at the moment. 

Books Lately

 

Dear friends. Welcome to one of my occasional what I'm reading posts. I've indicated with an asterisk books I bought myself. The rest are from NetGalley, who supply digital advance copies in return for an honest review.

In a new development I will share a long book review each week, rather than waiting for the monthly review.  The monthly review will still happen and will capture all the books newly published for each month and everything else I have read. Find it on the third Thursday of every month.

Don't Tread on Peas: December {2025}

 

Dear friends. Here's how I spent December. It was quite lively.