The jumpsuit and leopard print heels post!

Topshop denim jumpsuit (previous season) velvet leopard print court shoes from River Island (£35)

Whenever I post a picture of this jumpsuit on Instagram, people seem to really like it, so I thought that I would try and find some that are similar, which of course provided harder than anticipated!

I'm not quite sure what it is about a jumpsuit that appeals in particular but I know that whenever I see one on someone I really like it - they just look quite cool and stylish (not that I think that when I look in the mirror I hasten to add - only when I see others in them).  

And when it comes to wearing them, they are so comfortable. I've done long haul flights in mine and it's worked so well, despite there being the potential for loo issues! It's a one stop outfit which really only a dress that can compete with but a jumpsuit is so much better. Comfortable, able to be layered, can be worn with flats or for a night out, wear with a leather biker or a blazer. A jumpsuit is the perfect piece for a weekend away on hand luggage only.

This lyocell blend jumpsuit from H&M (£39.99) is one of the best options that I've come across. It's from their conscious range and comes in sizes 6 to 20. It's the most similar in style to the one I'm wearing insofar as it has long sleeves and the trouser hem isn't cuffed. I think that I could quite easily be persuaded on this one too.

The soft utility jumpsuit from Oasis (£52) is made from modal (65%) and polyester (35%) which will give it its softness but I'm slightly concerned about the VPL issue with this one and wonder whether it might just be a little too soft. Nevertheless it made it into my top 3. It comes in khaki as well as dark grey, both of which make a softer change to black.

At £75 the Hush jumpsuit is the most expensive but this too is a gem. I bought it last year and wore it virtually non stop when I was away with work for a couple of days. It was so easy to style in different ways and it was hugely comfortable too. Because it was around last summer, it has 52 reviews for you to read and it has been awarded five stars.

I haven't managed to find a denim one, despite much searching - but I will keep on looking. And as for a word about the shoes, these are my favourite heels at the moment. They are velvet and wearing them is like wearing slippers. They come in nine finishes, including metallic, orange and pink velvet (unsurprisingly I have my eye on those too!)  Because I'm not great in heels for any length of time, at £35 these are the right price for me.

So, over to you wise readers! Do you have any top jumpsuit tips that you would like to share? Could you be tempted where previously you haven't and the all elusive question - have you found a lovely denim one anywhere?! Thanking you in advance x

Sssshhhh don't tell anyone...

But I bought a new coat today. I had decided, in amongst my wardrobe musings (a post about which I started but which I have abandoned for now because it's going to take me too long) that  a "sharper" coat would be a good addition to my wardrobe. A longer coat, that would make a statement and do a good job of smartening up my go-to outfit of trousers (of some description) and a jumper (of some description) that I live in during the winter.

This coat first caught my eye in Topshop last week but we were on a mission to find the eldest a party dress for her 18th birthday so there was no time to stop. But then when I was back in town today it again caught my eye so I tried it on and really liked it.

In an ideal world I had decided that I could do with a couple of smarter coats - maybe one grey and one navy. I was going to trawl the end of the sales to see if I could find one, or buy one a year for the next couple of years. But this ticks the grey box and the navy box, with some lilac and yellow thrown in just for good measure.

I think that this is one of those marmite type of coats. Or one that people would steer clear of because they may think that it wouldn't go with everything. But I always think that if whatever is poking out from underneath your coat is - as mine tends to be in the winter - grey or navy, then on the whole most winter coats will work with anything and everything.

As I work in fashion, I sometimes wonder to what extent what is going on around me influences what I choose to wear. I also wonder what I (or any of us) would choose to wear, if left entirely to our own devices and if we weren't exposed to the likes of magazines, shows, press days, Instagram, blogs, photoshoots etc . I'm sure that, if left to my own volition, this coat would feature in my wardrobe and I haven't seen anyone wearing it yet. But then again maybe there's a reason for that!

N.B. I'm waiting for mine to arrive as they didn't have my size in store. I tried a 10 which was huge so I' hoping that the 8 will be OK, although as it comes in a 4 and a 6, maybe the 8 will be a bit roomy. Needless to say both the sleeves and the length were longer on me than on the model.

Is this the end of Style Guile?

Golly it's been a while. And I've missed you all. But I promised myself that I wouldn't start blogging again until I had finished my list of jobs. As you might expect, I haven't reached the bottom of the list..... Do we ever?

After the children went back to school, first of all there was the house to be sorted. I did a proper spring clean under the beds and on top of the cupboards. I sorted the linen cupboard, went through the children's bedrooms - and anything that got in my way went in a bin bag. Then it was the turn of the tax-return. Then trips to the charity shops, choosing tiles for the kitchen, "doing" the 9 year old's birthday, preparing for the soon-to-be-18's birthday party and with a work trip to London included for good measure, it's been hard to find a window of opportunity. But then today I received a comment asking "Is this the end of Style Guile?" Thank you to whoever left the comment because it has prompted me to get back in front of the laptop.

In all honesty I think that quite a few bloggers have taken a bit of a sabbatical. After Christmas the thought of spending money in the sales makes me feel slightly nauseous and writing about spring trends makes me feel slightly shivery. People get annoyed with exercise and healthy eating posts and I figure that sometimes it's good to just sit quietly in the corner and finish the Christmas chocolate whilst contemplating the New Year's Resolutions that I've made (and broken).

But with a living room to be decorated, a kitchen that's about to have work started on it, two bathrooms to replace, an outfit to be decided upon for both an 18th and a 40th birthday party, plus an offer to write about a new range of active wear, I won't be going anywhere far for a while.

And whilst this really isn't going to inspire many, as you know I do love a bit dash of pink and as it's "the" colour for s/s 2017 (although it's been in season for me for the past 46 years) and as it's been snowing today, I'm going to leave you with my new pink pom pom beanie from Topshop (£14)

Happy New Year to you all, have a super weekend and I'll be back soon! Beth x

Because Christmas is all about giving....or is it?

Christmas is all about giving and I understand that, really I do. But you know, if you're on your travels and you see a little something for yourself, or if you feel in need of a little addition to your wardrobe to perk it up for Christmas, then maybe I can guide you on your way. So far these are the things that I have bought for friends and kept for myself  think some of you might like....

I love these low court shoes with frill from H&M (£14.99). They won't break the bank and if you don't walk too far in them they probably won't break your feet either. They have such a cute block heel and I would wear these around the house at Christmas time instead of slippers. So whether I was in my trusty Me & Em joggers or beaten up jeans, I would still feel ever so slightly "put together."

Even if you're not a big fan of sparkle, a sparkly top coat of nail varnish is always fab over any colour - and it makes your nail varnish last longer too. Barry M diamond glitter from Super Drug (£2.99)  is brilliant. Another idea is a glittery liquid eyeliner. Topshop sell them (although not online) and I love putting mine over the top of my ordinary eyeliner. It's an easy Christmas make-up update.

I love these rings from H&M (£5.99). They can be worn on the upper and lower part of the finger. Sometimes it's just nice to try something a little bit different but which doesn't cost too much. Things like this give me a little "whoop whoop" in my stomach at least!

I love an ear cuff too. It means that you can have all the fun of an additional ear decoration without having another piercing. Claire's Accessories have a really great selection which I've linked to here but in particular I like this gold star cuff (£4.50)

And these are currently my most favourite socks EVER. They are the glitter star wars socks from Topshop (£3.50). I'm rubbish with Star Wars - I don't understand it and fall asleep when watching it but I feel that with these socks I'm no longer the Star Wars outcast of the family.

Some of my favourite presents have been ones that are personalised and I love giving them as gifts too. A great place for personalised stationery and notebooks is the aptly named Papier. They do a great selection of notebooks, such as this flamingo travel notebook (£12.99)

Or I really like leopard notebook (£12.99)

And finally, what more could a girl want than a pink fluffy bag? This one is the one that featured on the blog yesterday but it reminds me of the whole "pink fluffy pencil case" scenario in the Daisy, "Eat your Peas" books, which both of our girls loved. This bag is from River Island and costs £20

Or there's this navy blue furry bag from Skinnydip at Topshop (£28)

Oooh but before I leave, whilst we're on all things furry, how about some ugg sheepskin innersoles from Schuh (£18)? Whilst they seem the ultimate in the wholly unexciting and practical present, if you have a pair of wellies or trainers that are too big, or you own boots that are fine with thicker socks but not with tights (that might be me then) - these would be heaven. 

And finally, this is something that I have my eye on and absolutely love. It's the ultimate star from the White Company (£42). It's sold out online but I've seen plenty of them in our local store. And for me this wouldn't just be for Christmas - it could stay out all year round.  As one who has been looking at wall art for a while now, I have about 75 places I would love to put it! In this picture it's had some fairy lights woven through it but it's made of glass beads so it will catch the light without them.

We give so much to others at Christmas - both physically and emotionally - that it's important that we nurture ourselves too. And if that's not a fabulous excuse for treating ourselves to a pressie or two that we can wear/make lists in/look at whilst tidying the house/cooking the food/doing the washing etc - then I don't know what is!

Double sequins - faux pas or OK?

You may remember that a few posts ago, I mentioned my double sequin outfit. Well here it is. Get that for sparkle overload!

The top was from H&M last year. It was bought by so many bloggers that between us we probably kept H&M going through the winter period. It wasn't expensive but I loved it then as I do now. H&M has done another version this year but it's a slightly different shape - looser maybe - which may work better for some, than for others.

Sequin top H&M (£29.99)

As to my trousers, they are the coated skinnies from Boden from a few seasons ago now but they have been such a great buy. New Look has a great pair this season  and here I've linked to all of their coated skinnies and leggings - for they have a few.

And the shoes - well these are the Topshop glitter shoes which have pretty much sold out now and which I've probably worn in every post for about the last three weeks.  But there is the odd pair lurking here and there in store and Topshop are pretty good at tracking them down - so don't give up if you have your heart set on some! Plus the silver are available online in a size 40.

Please bear with me whilst I release my inner fairy....I fear that there may well be many more sparkly and glittery outfits to come in the upcoming weeks.

The (gorgeous) pussybow ruched sleeve shirt by Me & Em

There's a simple formula for a smart/casual outfit that's an absolute fail safe every time. We've all used it over and over again and it's this:

Fancy top + battered jeans + sparkly shoes

The fancy top that I'm wearing in these pics is the Me & Em pussybow blouse (£119) and it's an absolute gem of a top for a night out with the girls. Equally with leather leggings it's super stylish or with more tailored trousers it's the perfect work outfit, with a lovely modern relaxed silhouette.

I'm a sucker for a bow, or a frill, or for something pretty and this top is just gorgeous, having both the pussy bow at the neck and a frill at the sleeve. The frilly sleeves are perfect for peeping out from under a coat with three quarter length sleeves, or for wearing with a long line gilet - but they're not so wide and loose that you can't go about your everyday business without trapping them in the dishwasher or dangling them in the cooking.

The "swing" in the top is fabulous too. It's not so full that it feels maternity like in nature but it has enough shape so that it doesn't cling. Plus the movement and slight "swish" to it makes it feel really elegant.

I love the length too. It hits at just the right point to keep it modern and given its wider hem, it has a slimming effect on the hips.

Plus - and it was only a matter of time before I came to this, there's room to layer plenty underneath, which is one of the reasons that I chose this top. I have a vest and one of my trusty short sleeve cropped tops underneath so it was perfect for a daytime outing too. Obviously in the evening I might even lose a layer. I know, how daring!

I like it when a new shape arrives in my wardrobe and I can see myself wearing this top in all sorts of different scenarios. When a top ticks the navy/pretty/versatile/can be layered up, boxes - I'm there every time.

Now obviously if I'd thought about it, I would have taken a couple of shots before I had tied the bow not after, by which time I had made it slightly crinkly. But it's lovely undone and arguably better for those ladies with a curvier bust who prefer more of a v-shaped neckline.

Now that's what you call a bow! So gorgeous!

Whilst this top was gifted to me by Me & Em, all the words and thoughts are my own and I can honestly say that this is a truly lovely top!

Winter white at its best from Me & Em

[Styling the Me & Em cable weekend jumper for a Saturday shopping trip with jeans, Topshop fringe loafer boots and a sleeveless coat.]

Recently I've been lucky enough to work with the wonderful brand that is Me & Em. Many of you will be familiar with Me & Em already but for those who aren't, Me & Em started out as an online brand in 2009. I used to pore through their catalogues both religiously and longingly!

Recently Me & Em have gone from strength to strength and they now have a store in Connaught Street in London and also a pop up store in Belgravia.  Clare Hornby, Me and Em's founder and Creative Director, seeks to offer "high quality affordable clothes that are contemporary, flattering and classic."  Essentially she takes classic wardrobe items and tweaks them, making them stylish and relevant - and lovely to wear.     

In this post I'm featuring the cable weekend jumper from Me & Em (£149). You all know me by now - always running a little chilly and much as I would love to waft around in gorgeous silky tops, unless I can get a few layers underneath them they're just not going to work for me. But I've always loved a cable knit jumper and I have been on the look-out for the perfect one for a number of winters now, rejecting many along the way. I have an old one from Warehouse but it's a bit "porridge" in colour where as this is a lovely warm, creamy, soft white, which works much better for me. It also comes in grey marl and antique blush

I love the chunky neckline on this jumper, together with the way that it falls - plus it's incredibly warm. But don't be fooled by its chunkiness and casual nature, with some heels and sparkly socks, this gorgeous jumper could easily be worn in the evening.

If you're looking for an item that doesn't cost much but that will transform lots of you shoes and outfits in an instant, look no further than the glitter double lace ankle socks from Topshop (£3.50). I love them and will be heading back for more!

Same outfit but with different socks and shoes. These socks are also from Topshop...

...and the shoes are Carvela. They are many years old now but they are surprisingly comfortable and I really love their vintage styling.

And then for somewhere in between the "I'm going shopping" look and the "I'm wearing heels" look, I've put the jumper with my favourite pleated skirt which gets an outing at least once a week. I love the juxtaposition between a chunky jumper and a silky skirt and it's hugely versatile. Wear with boots, or heels, or sparkly socks and heels - it's a go anywhere combo.

And here's a shot of the jumper from the back too - because it's always good to check your view from the rear!

This post was written in conjunction with Me & Em but all words and views are my own and I can honestly say that I've hardly taken this jumper off since I received it (which you may, or may not, want to know!)

Twinkle twinkle little star (jumpers)...

I'm so sorry to have been away for so long. Last week was bonkers busy and the nights that I wasn't working were taken up with fireworks and wedding anniversary celebrations so it was all good - just busy. I would love to have time to write about gorgeous winter coats, the best winter boots, party outfits and all sorts of other things but for now, I'm afraid, we're talking jumpers.

I love a good chunky jumper for when the weather gets cold and I've already had huge amounts of wear out of this funnel neck shaker sweater from GAP (£39.95).  Here I paired it with my also much worn pleated skirt from Topshop (look here for similar), which I still plan on getting plenty of wear out of throughout the winter.

OK so the light gives me a slightly alien like glow but here I wore the jumper under this sleeveless Zara coat that I've had for a few winters now. On that particular day it was warm enough to get away with it. I'm not so sure about today however. Brrrrr.

Or for a casual take, it works quite well with track pants - these are silky ones from Topshop - and sneaker boots. Ooooh, I do love a winter jumper that goes with everything! I know that I will wear it to death and how well it will fare after this winter I'm not so sure but for now? Well, I'm just living in the moment.

The GAP honeycomb cable knit sweater (£44.95) is a great alternative for those who don't like the idea of a funnel neck...

...and all things star related are always a winner! For people who aren't fans of print, or colour, stars are wonderfully accessible and just a little bit cool. So start off with, there's this GAP star crew neck sweater (£39.95) which is a great price.

Or new in there's this HUSH twilight jumper (£85). A cream jumper is also another favourite of mine, especially with gold stars - just not near to tomato soup, or beetroot. But this jumper is a fabulous option for those who choose not to head down the whole "Christmas dressing" route but who want something with a little bit of detail.

There's also a star jumper in Baukjen (£115) which I like because it has a different style about it. The v-neck is so much more flattering on some shapes and the longer length means that it works so well with skinnies.

But this is what I'm really after - the M&S star jumper (£25). It won't be overly warm but it will be great for layering...

...or maybe perhaps the M&S star roll neck jumper (£35)

We seem to be back to chunky jumpers, just with stars on them!