What does one wear to go to a gig?

I may have mentioned that I love a bit of live music. I’m not exactly a muso but I do like going to a gig or two to have a bit of a sing and a bit of a dance. We have some lovely gig buddies who we go to see many different bands including the likes of Embrace, The Beach Boys and Noel Gallagher. They are the cool gigs, there are a few maybe not quite so cool like Steps, Hear’Say (cringe) and One Direction – it was the kids honest! For me, knowing what to wear for a gig is pretty tricky for a number of reasons.

1) I always need good footwear especially if I’m standing, I have to have something flat but being a bit on the short side, this can mean that I struggle to see. I’m happy to end the night with an elongated neck as I strain to see the stage but heels would be a nightmare for what I call my “gig jig”.
2) I need something I can leg it out to the car or the station so whether it’s from the Corn Exchange or the O2, I love an early dart to get out first – I’m such a nerd.

3) Jeans are a no brainer for a normal gig gig.

4) But then what top to wear? Well if it’s a bit of what I call a trendy gig like Take That (yes I know but that’s’ all I’ve got) I like something with a bit of a sparkle but if it’s a bit more folky like the mighty Bellowhead I like to be a bit more flowing (like the real ale!). I got a fab top from Scope which was ace when we went to Bellowhead.

5) I always look forward to a bit of Newmarket nights but it is a bit more posh. I love a frock and wedges so I don’t sink into the grass and look like a wobbling wino.

6) Coat or not? Like on big nights out in Oldham and Ashton in the early 90’s, coats just get in the way. At a push a denim to tie round my waist but otherwise no thank you.

So you can see this is something I massively overthink, its amazing I actually get out of the door to get to a gig after trying on everything I own.

God forbid if I ever went to a festival!!!

Off to a gig

On Tuesday night I went to a proper gig. An old school, take me back to my teens type gig. That could mean anything from Wet Wet Wet to Simply Red (ahem, blushes with embarrassment) but it was a little more credible as it was The Inspiral Carpets and Shed Seven.

I was all set with my jeans, trainers, floaty top (from Scope) and a big scarf (Salvation Army). No bag, which is unheard of for me, just my phone, a bit of cash and my car keys. I did leg it into the venue because I was freezing as I’m no longer a cold proof 18 year old.  Once in the venue I was transported back to the days of Worlds Colliding, a fella called Joe, Disco Down and of course I chased a few rainbows. This will mean nothing to some but plenty to others. We had gone all the way to Hatfield to go to the Forum, which was an actual Student Union! I hadn’t been in one of these for well about 20 years!

It was while Shed Seven were playing away, I turned to my left and saw a face I recognised. Not from real life but from the Twitterverse. Caroline Jones from @knickersmyown was standing right next to me! A friend of mine recommended her and I have followed Caroline for the last 6 months. Her idea is great, she has been raising money for Cancer Research by wearing a different outfit each day for a year all bought from her Cancer Research charity shop then sold on Ebay, she has raised a whopping £36k! A real achievement!

Well I must say I was a bit star struck. A proper bona fide Twitter celeb was just there having a bit of a dance and a bit of a sing. I had to say hello so I shuffled round and babbled away with good old Rick singing away in the background.  She was ace, we had a bit of a chat and I gushed about her being an inspiration. I suppose that to me, Caroline has made charity shop shopping more cool and well normal. I think I might have said that at the time, whether she could hear me over the singing I don’t know! My friends all thought I was accosting random stranger, lets hope she didn’t think the same……


xx

The Beaver Ball and other ramblings...

I’m sure you are all desperate to know what I wore to the Beaver Ball, well, I’m sorry to say that on this occasion charity shops failed me. Serves me right for not adhering to my own rule – don’t shop for anything specific (see post entitled The Dos and Don’t of Charity Shopping).

However, while searching in the Salvation Army shop I got my best haul yet from their sale rail. That is:

• two Next tops (one of which I’d seen in Next a couple of years ago, liked but not bought)
• pair of Esprit trousers
• sparkly dress
• Jane Norman shorts

Three pounds the lot! That is less than a pint. In fact, often when I go out my drink costs more than my dress.

Even though I really like the shorts I bought I am not sure that I’m brave enough to wear them, they’re not called shorts for nothing. My husband even hinted (actually, he wasn’t as subtle as to hint) that I am too old to wear them. The cheek! But am I?

I’m going out tonight and am tempted to give them a whirl. So if you are in the St Neots area and spot a middle aged, bushy haired woman in shorts, buy her a drink. Did I mention that they’re orange?

Talking of clothes that I may never wear, numerous people, some I didn’t even know read this blog, have asked whether I’ve worn the Jean Paul Gautier short/pants thing yet. In answer, I have not. But it is the party season so you never know. Though as yet I have not received an invitation to a “wear your weirdest item of clothing” party, but that gives me an idea…

I digress. So after trips to the charity shops and trying yet more of Ingrid’s dresses, she has some beauties, but I still couldn’t keep them up, I ended up wearing a dress that I bought new from TK Maxx. I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before as it is a beautiful emerald green colour and when I tried it on in the shop my mum said “I hate that colour but it looks amazing on you”. I focussed on the amazing bit. I had been unsure about wearing it as it is very clingy but then I had the brainwave of putting a petticoat underneath it and that did the trick. If I’m the type to wear a petticoat perhaps my husband has a point about the shorts! I’m not even sure you can get them these days. This particular one I’ve had since I was a student twenty years ago. So my dress may not have been second hand but my undergarment was vintage!

Anyway we had a great time at the ball and everyone looked amazing. I’d definitely go again next year though I may start looking for my dress now.