It was acceptable in the 80s....and still is

And so passed another merry summer with all the smuggery of the last. Despite being so distant, in every sense of the word, from the Olympic sporting frenzy of London, we followed it feverishly. Mr French erected a great “Team GB” flag in the garden (far from the eyes of some of the more Nationalistic locals) and every morning’s breakfast conversation was focussed solely on which sport was going to be played and won by Britain that day.  The advantage of writing this entry post rather than pre-Olympics is I can get away with that kind of self-aggrandisement. Go Team GB!

I was relieved to find that there is even a chance of my competing in the next Olympics. Some may follow in the steps of great swimmers and rowers, but I chose the less glorified path of the Speed-Walker. With hips jutting wildly and arms clenched like giant claws, Rio 2016 - here I come.

Following Islay, I have safely ensconced myself back into the warm bosom of my family. With no Maclean do’s on the horizon the household is feeling rather quiet. As a break from my foremost occupation, absent-mindedly staring out the window, I have taken to wandering around the house looking at photo collages to pass the time. As I moved between them something odd struck me though, by some cross-temporal anomaly my older sister Sarah’s childhood outfits of the late 80s/early 90s appeared to be bizarrely fashionable in 2012. And you can’t deny…. By the looks of things she knows it.

Our fashion jury check out the photos below:

Take Sarah at 3. Here Sarah daringly layers a waistcoat channelling this coming Autumn’s polka-dot print trend over an 80s-inspired striped jumper. To make the look work she has coyly tucked the jumper into a simple high-waisted denim skirt and finished the look off with some white tights. Fab!

Here, Sarah (10) has taken some serious style notes from Valentino’s recent summer collection with this over-sized 90s knit. The bright clash of colour really screams summer and by adding some understated black jeans and green wellies, she has made this look wearable for both the high street and festivals. And don’t she know it? You go girl!

Sarah (4) is joined here by sassy sister Miranda (2) as they work this Autumn’s trends. We love Miranda’s use of colour blocking as she flies the flag for the Parisian style houses. By combining the bold shades of red, white and blue in her retro dungarees and t-shirt combination this girl has got chic down to an artform. We also can’t get enough of her accessorising, the red drawstring handbag and over-sized blue fimo earrings really tie the look together. Sarah meanwhile, has opted for a more whimsical look, matching an embellished cream blouse with a pink babydoll skirt and a pair of whiter-than-white ankle socks. We’re glad her trademark feisty scowl stops this ensemble being too saintly.

 We’ve seen high street stores packed with floral print jeans this summer, but once again Sarah (8) got there first. She offsets their classic slim-cut of these gorgeous jeans with a modest polo neck and boxed fleece, making sure to co-ordinate the blues all the way up to her edgy Alice band.  A wear-anywhere winning outfit!

 Where to start with this little fashion-savvy ensemble?! As always style-concious Sarah of course. Sarah (far left, 6) shows us how to work the Summer 2012 midi-skirt trend by modernising it with socks and glittering gold ballet flats. Topping it off with that casual-cool floral t-shirt adds that extra zing!

 Snapped here on her way to work, Sarah (5) brings new meaning to office-attitude. Her demure choices of pale chunky knit and floral leggings (Trend Alert!) are immediately given definition with this oversized handbag with Minnie Mouse print that we are just LUSTING after. See you at the board meeting sista!

This is what happens when I’m left to my own devices. Hold on to your seats for the next instalment….. (she adds with a heavy dose of sarcasm)