Denim dresses - if you haven't thought of one before, now might be a good time to do so...

There's going to be a lot of denim around this season, so get ready girls and dig out those denim jackets. Hmmm. Maybe. But then again maybe not.

Denim dresses, however, have caught my eye of late, which has got me thinking about them. Specifically I have a friend who loves clothes but who never wears dresses as she feels too dressed up. So, I thought, a denim dress could be a good place to start. It's just a dress version of jeans really which makes it simple to get your head around. I prefer the shirt dress styles rather than the prom style (too teenage) and even within a shirt dress there's a shape for everyone. Either belted or not, V-neck or buttoned up, short or long, fitted or loose - it's just a question of finding the right one and most have sleeves, which is an added bonus.

I like the simple back drop that denim dresses provide for a statement necklace, a big printed scarf or a change of belt. They can be layered up with a polo neck and thick tights and boots for now and then in the warmer months they can be swapped for converse/flat sandals/wedges or even, dare I say it, Birkenstocks!

The Next denim shirt dress (£30) is one that I haven't yet seen in the flesh but I have quite high hopes for it. More importantly it comes in tall and petite too. I like how the belt could be swapped on this one for something bright, studded or Perspex.

I saw this Warehouse denim shirt dress (£60) yesterday and really liked it, although I felt that at £60, it was a bit spendy. The v-neckline is good though for those with a curvier bust and the waist tie gives it some shape. The zip detail is great for drawing attention to your shoulders - if that's the kind of thing you are happy to do.

This oversized shirt dress, also from Warehouse is a different style completely. Looser and buttoned up to the neck, it just offers a different feel.

The image of this Levi's denim dress, (reduced to £62.90 from £90 in the sale) isn't great but it's worth taking a closer look at it via the link. The neckline is pretty and the belt could also be swapped on this one. The length is also quite good on it too, so no-one need flash their pants when bending over to pick up the baby/put the washing machine on and so on.

I have to say that I like the idea of a denim dress for a Saturday day time. Saturdays are those days when perhaps we want to make a little bit more of an effort than a weekday evening (unless anyone out there is lucky enough to go out during the week, in which case crack out those diamonds) but without feeling that we are dressed up to the point where someone asks if we're going out for dinner that night. I think that I have persuaded myself to the point that I now feel that it is my duty to road test my theory. Watch this space...

The 12 outfits of Christmas - Day 1: The floral jacquard top

 

Today I'm starting with the first of my "12 days of Christmas" posts. It's fair to say that so far it's not going too well.  I had to abandon today's outfit (just to be sure, this isn't it) as the photos were so blurred. Having said that the outfit was pretty terrible anyway so it's not entirely the fault of the five year old and in a way she saved me. 

You will probably recognise the top from my last post. It's the floral jacquard top from Miss Selfridge and I decided to test out its versatility during a trip to visit our family. The top is fairly short so I layered another top underneath it, in a similar colour to my trousers, just for continuity of colour. I wore it with my favourite "wipe down" Primark coated trousers which turned out to be quite a good move as I managed to chuck flour down myself when rolling out pastry to put on a pie. I also wore a Next long cardi, Zara boots and a Mulberry bag.

I'm also going to include a gift idea in each post - for us, naturally! It will be something that you may like to put on your Christmas list, or buy for yourself to pep up some plainer pieces in your wardrobe or just to have as a back up as an emergency present for an unexpected guest. Naturally if said unexpected guest doesn't happen to be female, or share the same taste, they may just have to be satisfied with a box of spare chocs and you will have to keep the gift instead. Such a shame.

This is one of my current favourites and I have had my eye on it for a while - it's the Coast Kingston necklace and costs £40. This would sit really well against grey, black or navy - so it's a winner in my book.

Let's have a little Monday night cud chewing over long cardis and coated jeans...

There's something about a long cardi in the winter that puts the world to rights. The only thing is that knitwear can be uber expensive and that brings a whole lot of different issues - the need to wear it a lot to get the cost per wear down, which can result in bobbling, which can result in a lot of combing/washing to sort it out, which can result in it wearing out quickly - and before you know it, that expensive cardi lasted only a season. (Or alternatively you don't wear it at all for fear of the above so the expensive cardi sits in the wardrobe.) I know that there all the handwash/dry it flat/wool responds well to washing arguments but sometimes there just isn't the time in the day for that, so I have found that the answer is to buy a cheaper version.  In fact, a little bit of acrylic mixed in with the wool (or in this case vice versa) is not always such a bad thing.

I recently bought the Next stitch cardi, which at £35 wasn't too bad. In terms of styling, I like a long cardi to be long, rather than finishing right slap bang across the widest part of the thigh, like a big horizon with arrows on it pointing to them.

I also like a bit of femininity within an outfit, however casual or basic the pieces are, so I put a Topshop printed blouse under the cardi, in the same colour tones.

I was talking to a friend from Brighton the other day and we always have a little clothes chat as part of our conversation. "Bethy G," she said "What tips can you give me for what to wear this season?" Having discussed the boots/parka/Topshop being great for jumpers issue and bearing in mind that she has two young boys and a dog, I pointed her in the direction of coated jeans. They are a good alternative to jeans, a little push at the boundaries without knocking the fence right over, and more importantly with two children and a (slightly slobbery) dog, you can give them a bit of a wipe over and no one is any the wiser.

The ones that I am wearing were bought from Primark for £10 last winter and I've definitely had my wear out of them. In addition to the cardi which I have featured below, I've also included a couple of options for coated jeans.

Next stitch cardi (£35), which also comes in an oatmeal colour.

GAP coated biker legging jeans (£32.99 to £42.99)

NEXT coated skinny jeans (£36) which come in several colours.

 

If you're tempted to give them a go, do let me know how you get on!

Mum on the Run - literally - and a very stylish plaid outfit from Next

At last, the day of the Birmingham half marathon dawned. Despite the initial downpour, the sun came out and as we were warming up true Brit style, complete with an instructor who was doing some serious 80's moves, it was really warm.

 

For the most part, I had a blast. The course is relatively flat most of the way and I remember having a little sing along to my extraordinarily bad play list. In fact my friend and I concluded prior to the race that if anything were to happen to me during the race, any possible street cred that I may ever have had would have gone right out of the window when they realised what I was listening to.  Hanson anyone? See, I told you it was bad!

 

OK, so I had spotted family at this point hence the inane grin but I fear that I looked like that quite a lot of the way round - other than at the evil hill towards the end but fortunately a friend was at the top to cheer me on. I just remember shouting to her "It's hard, it's really hard."

Anyway, the point of the post is to show you my lovely Next grey checked - but let's be "fashiony" shall we and call it "plaid" - Onesie, given to me by my friend as a pressie to be worn specifically after the race.  Ah, it's lovely and warm and I plan on wearing it from now until Spring.

The bobble positioning may require a little attention but you know, all in good time.

I made this last night, specifically for today as a treat on returning home. Sadly I haven't made as much of a dent in it as I would have liked but there's always tomorrow.

And to all my lovely friends, family, followers and twitter peeps - thank you for your phone calls, texts, banners, cheering, tweets, tips and belief in me, all of which meant so much. And special thanks to my hubby - amongst other things he's a brilliant chef and great taxi service. Yes, I can highly recommend him (but like lots of husbands, his jokes are still REALLY bad.)

Beth x

Trophy Trousers - the winter wardrobe saviour!

Have you noticed how the world "Trophy" is used a lot in relation to fashion? Trophy jackets, trophy ear-rings - those pieces that are a just that little bit more special than the norm. I wonder though whether the "Trophy" in relation to "Trophy wives" has been somewhat lost in translation - because last time I checked, I'm not sure that it was a wholly positive description!

Today I'm looking at Trophy Trousers. I think that these can be a winter wardrobe saviour on many levels and here's why:

• Generally they are a cigarette shape, which is a more flattering shape than a skinny trouser;
• Given their shape, they finish at the ankle and flashing a bit of ankle can be quite sexy;
• For a smart casual event, when jeans won't quite do but a dress is too dressed up, a pair of trophy trousers and heels are a great option - think school bash, Christmas drinks with the vicar/neighbours, trip to the ballet (I just re-read "ballet" back to myself as "toilet" and clearly whilst you could wear Trophy Trousers for a trip to the toilet, it may be a bit OTT), friends around on Christmas day - you get the gist;
• With pointy toe heels, they lend themselves to a real 1950's vibe, which is incredibly stylish;
• They can be dressed down for the day with a round neck jumper, flats  and a parka, or up for the evening with a blazer and sparkly heels.

So these are some of my current favourites:

1960's jacquard trousers Jaeger Boutique (£70) - arguably these are quite spring like in their print but I think that's nice for the winter. I love the cobalt blue in these and for anyone with blue eyes, picking that colour out on your top half would look really stunning. Because these are currently on sale, sizes are limited but customer services should be able to advise which stores stock your size.

Polka Dot slim leg trousers Jaeger Boutique (£60). A dark background with a lighter accent colour is a really flattering combination. Spots are a great for those who aren't really into a floral print and the navy and green makes a nice alternative to black.

I saw these Jacquard fabric tailored trousers Jigsaw (£98) yesterday and thought that they looked like  a really good option. The grey, purple and orange colour combination actually works really well and lends itself to a whole range of different coloured tops. In fact, the crystal jumper that I bought from Topshop and which I featured yesterday would go well with these. Hmmmm, I'm liking that idea....

I mentioned these camo jacquard cigarette trousers from Topshop (£45) yesterday and here's a picture of them for you. I've fallen in love with these a little bit too. Wearing shine can be tricky on the bottom half but there's just the right amount of shine so that they are on the right side of flattering.

For a slightly more subtle option - and perhaps a good place to start for those dipping their toes into the Trophy Trousers water - these floral jacquard PJ trousers Topshop (£35) are a good option. The "navy within the navy" combo is a great one. A silver sparkly top, a white shirt, or pale knit or a bright pink/yellow/ top would work brilliantly.

 

These Jacquard cigarette trousers Next (£35) will appeal to those who prefer something other than a navy or black option. Great with cream, camel, pale blue or turquoise, they could go from work to party quite easily.

I'm quite intrigued by these Jacquard Harem trousers Zara (£29.99). They could either be brilliant or a big fat fail. Unlike most of the others, I haven't seen these in the flesh but if anyone has, please feel free to report back. If not, I may be forced to go on another research trip and frankly that's all proving a little too dangerous at the moment.

A masterclass in how to mix your prints.

With the other Mrs Goodrham visiting this weekend, it gave me an opportunity to feature someone else on the blog.  My sister in law, who is Venezuelan (half indigenous, half Trinidadian) had the pleasure of meeting my husband's brother 14 years ago now. What lucky ladies we are!

 

Yazury was wearing a fabulous outfit in which she had mixed the prints on her top half and on her bottom half. On her top half she had a pink leopard print F&F short sleeved blouse, whilst her Next jeans were a tonal damask print. Working in a trench, Office desert boots and a Jigsaw tote, she was the epitome of early autumn chic.

 

Apparently Yazury's outfit stemmed from the fact that when she was out with friends the other day, it was noted that she was wearing black, which wasn't like her. So she made up for it by introducing some colour and mixing her prints. Working from the same colour palette, and ensuring that the scale of the prints works together, is the best way of mixing prints successfully. I love how this outfit is interesting but also subtle.

With her Trinidadian heritage, Yazury has incredibly curly hair. About twice a year, she has a Brazilian Keratin treatment which makes her hair much easier to handle - especially during the damper winter months. It also reduces the time that it takes her to dry, and straighten her hair, from around an hour, to twenty minutes. The intricacies associated with long, curly hair, are clearly something with which I am not familiar - but for those who do have styling difficulties, I thought that this might be worth mentioning.

Mum on the Run - Skirting around the issue. Skirt styles to tempt you into summer.

I'm sure that I have said this before but skirts can be tricky. Tricky to find in the first place, tricky to find the right tops to go with them and tricky because unlike a dress which is an outfit in it's own right, they require more thought in terms of shoes and accessories.

 

Separates are always billed as being the way forward but finding a good, everyday, skirt is no mean feat. Whilst pencil skirts are having a moment, they're not for everyone.

 

The skirt that I am wearing below was from Jigsaw last summer. It's their trench skirt and I liked it for it's length, its volume which allows me to move around easily, and for the fact that I can put lots of things with it - except tops with buttons as it then looks like there's a bit of a button fest going on.

 

 

 

For a skirt along similar lines, there's this Hobbs skirt (£69). It's an easy fabric in the sense that it's not too far a departure from jeans - it's just jeans in the guise of a skirt really - which can be a good starting point. With it's slight fullness, it is flattering over curvier hips and the wider hem has the effect of making legs look slimmer.

I like to be able to wear my skirts with lots of different shoes, from heels, to brogues, to converse or flat sandals (not asking much am I?!) and for me the Hobbs Millie Derby (£139) would be the perfect complement to this skirt. However for those not so fond of brogues, there are lots of other options that would work equally well. It goes back to this being the skirt version of jeans really.

 

 

This French Connection skirt (£65) has a great print on it. It too is fuller in the skirt and therefore requires a fitted top to counteract that, so as to keep the silhouette neat. Depending on your height, it's designed to be knee length, as opposed to mid thigh or midi. Again, one to be worn with heels or brogues, it could take you from a sunny day out with flats and a strappy vest, to a night out with heels and a silky top.

The challenges that tall ladies face in finding a skirt with enough length to it are just as great as those faced by petite ladies who find lots of skirts too long.

This Pixel python skirt (£95) from French Connection is more of the midi variety - depending on your height - and arguably requires slightly more styling to keep it out of frumpy territory. However, that can be done with the usual suspects which I use to "rescue" outfits from going down the wrong route. These might include a denim shirt, some neon jewellery, a biker style jacket, a silky fitted top and shoes in the shape/style of the season. We all know how the "right" shoes can make all the difference to an outfit.

The Crochet pencil skirt (£87) also from French Connection comes in dark blue as well as this pretty cream/ivory colour. When thinking about what types of skirts to include in this post, it reminded me of a navy Mango pencil skirt that I find really useful in both summer and winter. It's great in the winter with thick tights and a short fitted jumper and in the summer with lighter weight shoes and a denim shirt, breton style top or a pink vest top. There's also a cheaper one in Next - just go to the webite and search for skirts/blue and it should come up on that page.

I love this Zara pencil skirt (£29.99) for its print. It's so pretty and there are lots of colours which could be picked up in a top to go with it. The Zara blazer which I wrote about yesterday comes in a fantastic blue colour which goes with this skirt perfectly, for anyone needing a smarter outfit. It too has a decent length to it but don't be put off if at first instance it appears an inch or so too long. If heels don't take it to the perfect length for you, having it turned up even slightly makes it look completely different. For me, the length that it is shown at below is about right but sadly not all of us are as tall as the model!

This skirt is a great style and the polka dots keep it really young and fresh. The Next flippy skirt (£28) is a good price. It is shorter in length and the fabric and shape make it a really flattering style for ladies with curvier hips.

For those ladies who prefer to keep largely covered up but don't mind flashing a little leg through a side split, the Hush maxi tube skirt (£40) could be perfect. Some maxi style skirts and dresses have way too much fabric in them adding pounds and drowning out smaller frames. However the neater lines of this skirt avoid that and are good for those ladies who perhaps aren't quite so fond of their knees/lack of tan/blemishes/veins - and I include myself within this category - but who don't want to wear trousers all year round either.

 

Hopefully that may have given you some ideas as to where to head now that the warmer weather has, hopefully, arrived and because skirts are now, hopefully, going to be an option (as was mine until the sun went in and the jeans went back on)!

Mum on the Run - If the weather was warmer part 2!

Being such a total wimp, I've realised that the cold weather really doesn't have much of an impact on me at all. The reason for this is that unless it's 20 degrees outside, I still wear four layers of clothing so whether it's 4 degrees, 8 degrees, or 12 degrees, I'm still frozen.... I wonder, do you think that a bit of reverse psychology works as well on the weather as it does on (young) children? No, I suspect not either.

 

However, if the weather was a little (or a lot) warmer, I would be tempted to wear this outfit, which again I photographed having failed to negotiate the youngest away from her Barbie film. Well, if you've bothered to do your hair and make-up you've got to take advantage of it before it all goes flat/slides down your face.

 

The trousers are the Next ones I have written/tweeted about before. They are £18 and described as Harem Pants but I can assure you, there's not a drop crotch in sight. There may be a bit of bottom drooping but that's an entirely different matter and I can categorically assure you everything is where it should be in the crotch department.

 

The trousers are quite a lightweight fabric so it would need to be warmer to wear them.  Here I am wearing the navy ones but they also come in grey and black. At £18 I think that they are a great price for anyone tempted to venture into the non-harem, harem style of trouser.

 

This is a great jacket from Mango. It has a really good weight to it, so in theory it could be worn anytime soon. There are a whole host of jackets around in this tapestry/aztec print and also in this style. Zara had a good selection last year and for me they are a great way of tarting up (excuse the expression) one's jeans a little, or putting over a simple dress to take it up a notch. Jackets like this are multi-functional, sometimes a life saver and a kind of "one size fits all" piece to have in your wardrobe.

The trouble is that the image of this Topshop boucle coat (£79) which I wrote about several months ago now just won't leave me and I feel that I really need to bottom it out before too long. I know some of you will shout "yuck, granny coat" or think that it looks like something that the Queen would wear but I love the colours and the fact that the yellow on it looks as though it's there because a kiddie has gone up to it and crayoned on it. Why that should appeal I have no idea but there we are.

 

Once again, for the sake of research, I am prepared to go and try it and report back. My generosity knows no bounds!!!

Mum on the Run - An outfit for the weekend which is a welcome alternative to skinny jeans

At £18, these jersey tapered trousers from Next are just what I need to update my wardrobe.  Lovely and soft, they are not too loose but not too fitted either. Not quite black, but not quite grey or navy, they will go with lots of things. Don't be put off by the label on them which says "harem" - they're not, believe me, because frankly if they were, I wouldn't be writing about them.

Unless you are super leggy this style trouser looks better with heels, although given that they aren't too voluminous they are definitely more flattering than some styles.

I like the idea of them for an evening out and below I have given you a top, jacket and a couple of pairs of shoes from which to choose to go with them.

On the top half, the Chanel inspired tweed jacket could be swapped for a leather or a biker style jacket. The white silky T could be swapped for a simple vest style, or linen top and H&M has a great selection of tops with a bit of ruching over the tummy area.

Anyway, just an idea for the weekend - something a little bit sports luxe, not too far out there but a welcome change from skinny jeans - and surprisingly comfortable and flattering too. I just need somewhere to go now!

Tapered jersey trousers  from Next (£18)

 

M&S sandals (silver £45, blue £25)

 

Lurex tweed jacket (Warehouse £46)

 

Jigsaw raw edge silk cotton T (£59)

Mum on the Run - From Glamourous to Grungy in a few easy steps!

 

So, this was the deal last Thursday, with the benefit of a make-up artist...

 

 

...and this was the deal today, without. Please move in with me Leah (the make-up artist)!! I could have made today's shot smaller - but that would be cheating. In my defence, it was 5.30pm when this was taken and I hadn't done any re-touching during the day but...

I do think that there is something to be said for us all, once in a while, having our make-up done professionally.  I am hoping to bring you a post shortly from a make-up artist with whom I worked on a shoot the other week, with lots of hints and tips on how to update your make-up and what to wear (or not wear) as the years progress!

Today's outfit started off much better than it ended up. I was working with a client this morning and so wore a dress and heels but there wasn't anyone on hand, who was willing, to photograph it. Having returned home, I felt all "wrong" being dressed up and so changed for the school/ballet run into something much more comfortable and practical.

Today's outfit: GAP jeans, Next denim shirt, French Connection jumper, H&M coat, LK Bennett bag, Topshop shoes

Tomorrow I will share with you details of  my trip to Rigby & Peller where it's true - they really do fit your bras by sight! Oh help!!!

Mum on the Run - on the beach

Firstly, thanks to you who have dropped me a line about Guernseys.  I love that you have fond memories of seeing your parents and grandparents wearing them.

What a beautiful day it was yesterday in Guernsey.  My sister plus myself and the two girls sat on the beach for the whole afternoon, having first visited town to buy a UV suit for the youngest and shorts for the eldest. Hard to believe how cold it is today, now we are home!

Remember I said that I had planned and packed three outfits for our trip - ice cream, nautical and layering? Well that went out of the window on the first day! I went for the "ice cream" look on day one ie, white shirt, pale pink jumper and jeans - but within a couple of hours was in possession of my new striped Guernsey so had ticked the nautical box too.  This left the layered look for yesterday but I concluded that the top I was going to wear was too nice for the beach so had to cobble something else together - and this was it.

Having only two pairs of jeans with me, I went for the kermit ones and then layered two shirts, one over the other and added a pink scarf from Mango.  From a practical perspective it was great - the right temperature, cotton next to my skin, the white lifted the denim shirt and the scarf added some colour. It wouldn't win any style awards but what I liked was that I was forced to try a different combination, namely layering two shirts (probably something which lot of you do all the time but something which I haven't really done up until now) - and trying something different is always a good thing.

I was grinning like an idiot as my sister was pulling a face at me.

This is part of the sandcastle that our youngest spent at least two hours making - collecting the shells etc and note the colour of the bucket and spade!

Today's outfit: White shirt Gap, denim shirt Next, green jeans River Island, scarf Mango, Converse, Cath Kidston bag. The M&S towels we were sitting on belonged to my Dad and are easily 30 years old!

Mum on the Run - A casual look (at any age!)

It was colder today than it has been of late so I knew that layers would be the order of the day.  After years in the wilderness, my denim shirt has now become a favourite piece in my wardrobe.  Combined with khaki cargos, a pretty blouse from Zara, a leopard print belt and pink shoes, I was sorted for the day ahead.

On reaching my friend's house she observed what a pretty blouse I was wearing and then realised that her (12 year old) daughter had the same one - and similar coloured trousers.  Oh flip - so I am now dressing like a 12 year old. 

On reflection I have concluded that it is not that I am dressing too young for my age, or that she is dressing too old for her age - it's just that these days when you reach 40 you don't have to head for the block pleated skirts with twin set and pearls. However I am conscious that I should not tread on my own daughter's fashion toes, and one should never close one's mind to new fashion possibilities so - Eastex and crimplene here I come!

Trousers Gap, Denim shirt Next, Blouse Zara, Shoes Clarks

Mum on the Run day 25 - Garden Party

Having spent the morning shopping with our daughter, I decided to spend a bit of time outside with the other two who wanted to go on the trampoline.  This also gave me the chance to hang out the washing - I know, the excitement of it - and take photographs of where the shed had been broken into (the insurers needed it). 

On reaching the shed I realised that it had been broken into again - my, the commitment and dedication of the local thieves - but all was not lost.  Fortunately the police had used the other side of our fence to put up a notice with their number on it, should we find that we had been the subject of a crime.  How convenient was that?  So, no more than sixty seconds later and the crime was reported.  As we are "repeat victims" someone will be out to see us within the next hour.  Great service but I do wonder whether their energies might be better spent three miles down the road in the heart of the city.

So, to the outfit.  Having removed the boots that I was wearing for my earlier shopping trip I simply donned my apron and spotty wellies and I was done.  Tres chic (or not) as the case may be.

Outfit: Gap jeans ultra straight, Navy Cardigan Warehouse, Apron Cath Kidston, Wellies Next, Scarf Cos