bex variations

I don't know about you, but I love those little articles (or sometimes, someone will do a post) on 'what to pack when you go away.' This is a big issue for me: I can't seem to travel light, even for a weekend. I'm getting better (or so I think), and then I slide back into my old ways. It's insecurity, I'm sure. When I'm feeling confident, I can put together a tide little bag, and just KNOW this is what I want to wear. But when - as is usually the case - it's 8:00 a.m. Mr. Dot is shouting (and you've stupidly thought that if you saved packing for the less minute you'd pack less but instead, started getting into Evacuation Panic Mode), and like this time, for the Hay Festival, we were bringing the cat and there was all the loading the car with cat litter, etc etc, - not to mention getting the cat, who was wising to the idea, having seen his travel case, that he was about to be reintroduced to the dogs-in-law, and had gone into hiding..

This time, anticipating previous gloriously sunny Hay Festivals past, I brought about 27 tee shirts and bikinis, half a dozen summery frocks, two pair of swim goggles, six - no, seven, pair of sandals, if you count the 70s platforms, three of which were hot pink or orange, only for it to be wintry and rainy most of the time. I actually had to borrow a pair of men's green Hunter Wellies from one of the sheds, and then just layered everything I brought, in no particular order.



Which brings me to this post. I found it fun to see what Bex wore each day, how she creatively put together whatever she'd packed in what I like to think was a neat, confident, organised little 'weekend' bag. Which she made work for her the entire ten days. (I bet, for example, she had the confidence to say 'right, this jumper will be my ONE jumper for cold weather'). Note how the same little black boots worked for the cold weather look as yesterday's post - with bare legs. That's smart, confident packing skills.



As per previous post, neither of us had time to really pose the shots, and while I'm such a perfectionist about the background not ruining my composition, this time it was a rather 'what the f**k' situation. I started embracing the bad backgrounds and have included my favourites for your viewing pleasure, or amusement.



Most people at Hay - of all ages - were really stylish. I swear. And I love the joy on one of the sunniest glorious days, when everyone brought out their most girly, flowery frocks.

hay, bex!

Back home in London after ten days at the Hay Festival - lovely lovely. My head is so filled with ideas and soaking up all the goodnatured stuff - the people at this festival are just amazing - and it was such a privilege to be one of the festival's photographers this year. Such a great group of people that are part of the festival itself.

Case in point: Bex. I met her soon as I arrived - she happened to be on the desk - and we both ran into each other (literally) - we'd always be rushing in opposite directions but she became kind of my muse.. I just loved the way each day she'd evolve her clothes (she must have packed for all eventualities) so I'll start her series off with the one most glorious hot day of the ten days - but I love how she's wearing this dress with bare legs and black boots:



Not the most ideal of compositions and backgrounds but I didn't want to hold her up - she was rushing into the bookshop (where the book signings take place - each event is separated by half an hour so everything is run with like military precision. You should see the offices on site: it looks like a war room but everyone's so chilled: if only governments were run so smoothly). So just a few quick snaps (note the plastic carton of strawberries in her hand - that must have been lunch on the run - they were selling the BEST local Hay strawberries, cherries, asparagus.. the flat is loaded with them now).

I saw in one of the style sections recently, an editorial where the model was wearing a sleeveless white dress (belted), bare legs, black ankle socks and black flats. I've worn that look for years but it got me so in the mood for it. Alas today is absolutely pouring, dreary, cold, and I must run out but couldn't leave without at least starting off the Bex series.. haha. Hope you're well and thank you for stopping by - it's such a nice warm cosy feeling to know that you're out there. Miss you (virtually) and will be back visiting your blogs soon.