All Creatures Great and Small
Monday 21 November 2022
They're back! Yes, Jane and Beryl return from something of a fashion hiatus, to hopefully amuse you with more antics and dressing up.
And their current inspiration?
Well, the third series of All Creatures Great and Small and the much anticipated Christmas special, naturally! Jane, who is undoubtably 'great', is somewhat worried about her 'small' friend, who seems to have wandered off into some sort of 1930s Yorkshire-based veterinary parallel universe.
That aside, Beryl maintains (correctly in her own opinion) that there is much inspiration for some practical everyday wear to be found in this era's fashion, without veering off into the realms of fancy dress. Jane knows better than to argue when Beryl is having an episode. She vividly recalls the time Beryl had to be talked out of wearing a nun's habit, accessorised with a Gladstone bag, during season five of Call The Midwife.
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Jane wears: jacket, charity shop Paul Costello, £15, trousers, vintage Toast |
It is Beryl who is the dog lover of the duo as Jane is really a cat person, but Beryl's hound is seemingly attracted to her juggling skills. Jane has slipped back into a strangely brown mode she sported several years ago, but the 1930s were a strangely brown decade as far as she can tell. Teamed with red, it is pepped up somewhat and she has to confess that the charity shop jacket has been a complete find, well over the 30 wears required to be eco friendly and that's on a new garment.
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Top Shop dress, £24, charity shop vintage Clarks shoes, £30, vintage hat, Jane's |
Generally our gals both find 1930s inspired clothes remarkably easy to wear, and a constant in their respective closets. Take the humble tea dress for example. A garment that grew out of the fashion for looser attire, worn in the afternoons to receive visitors. Beryl takes the 'tea' part of her gown very seriously indeed, and will not even consider popping one on without a strong brew and a Garibaldi (Yorkshire, of course).
Fair Isle jumper £158 Eribe, boots Gabor £120, Jacket Joe Browns £59
The lovely Helen Herriot, nee Alderson, played by Rachel Shenton, often wears a red Fair Isle sweater, wide cords and a flared tweed jacket, with stout footwear. Modern versions of all these stalwarts are all in Beryl's wardrobe.
Oh, look how the tables have turned! It is Jane who will not be restrained and has insisted she dresses up in what can only be described as the full Mrs Pomphrey. Yet again, Beryl can feel any hint of being taken seriously as fashion blogger and influencer, slipping from her grasp.
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Jane aka Mrs Pomphrey wears: top to toe vintage except the £3 plimsolls from Primark |
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Jane wears: hat, vintage from Phoenix Emporium, Salisbury, £8, jacket, Zara, £69, dress, Ghost, £138, shoes, charity shop,£ 8 |
'Is this really Mother's ruin?' asks Jane. All she longs for is a cup of tea and a nice sit down. She is sure that Mrs Hall wouldn't stand for any gin swilling nonsense in the afternoons, even in a tea dress.
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| Jane wears: shirt, The Seamstress of Bloomsbury, £40, jacket, vintage, trousers, Everlane, £65, scarf, vintage |
Beryl and Jane must coordinate in all things, so Beryl has acquired a Morris Minor: white will go so well with teal (Jane's). While they are a great bit of kit, journeys are somewhat restricted to the local area as reliability is not in their remit. Anyway, when they do break-down, Jane is dressed for action in her comfy cords and a tweedy jacket. 'Pass the spanner, someone.' A cow is in labour in the next valley and Jane must hurry.
There is a wonderful moment in the first series when Helen walks into Mrs Pomphrey's party in a midnight blue velvet dress. Up until this moment we, and indeed James Herriot, the young recently taken on vet in the practice, have only seen Helen (who is a farmer) in her working clothes. James is suitably tongue-tied. This purple velvet dress is a favourite of our Beryl's and makes an appearance every Christmas. She has added a deco diamanté broach, just because she can.
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Vintage dressing gown £75, Hobbs boots £120 |
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