On the Run - Oh hec, who cares today?

When I woke up this morning to the sound of rain AGAIN, I just knew that it was going to be a jeans day. I tried really hard earlier in the week to wear a skirt but had to abandon my plan by lunchtime as I was so cold - so I wasn't going to make that mistake again.

Some of you may recognise this as a Boden tunic from years ago, It is so old that the print  has probably been archived by now. Some of you may even have it yourselves.

Anyway, I still love the tunic - both the colour, and the print, and despite my ponderings on the subject, I still haven't managed to part with it. It's great for a day like today when I am based at home but have eight trips to various activities in the evening (none of which are mine)! I can stick it with jeans and converse and not have to think any more about it all day.

Before I headed out of the door this morning in my mac, I grabbed this animal print scarf with a pink trim - which I left there all day. I like a bit of mixing of prints so was happy to keep it on - but then I would have been happy to keep it on whether it went or not, so long as I was warm and comfortable.

As you can see, trying to find a corner in the house without anything in it in which to take a photo proved difficult today.  But, there's a story with the ice skating boots. Contrary to my fear a few weeks ago that having a daughter with the same sized feet as me could be a bad thing, in fact I think it could be a huge advantage.

You see, there are one or two pairs of boots that I have spotted recently which I would like to buy.  Secondly our eldest also could do with a pair or two of boots. So, here's the plan - I officially pass to her a couple of pairs of my older boots which she has virtually adopted as hers anyway, which leaves both wardrobe space and a justifiable argument for me to have some new ones.  Oh, and I would also like to have a couple of ice skating lessons, so it's handy that she has some boots already.  Never let it be said that I'm not a glass half full kind of person.

Whereas before I was hoping that her feet would either be too small or too large to fit my shoes, I now hope that they stay exactly as they are - it's my passport to (certain kinds of) new shoes! (Why do I feel guilty writing that - as if I am using her for child labour or something? I don't actually want her to do anything at all - other than not grow any more - and then it's only her feet.)

Just one other thing before I finish.  I have been asked by Britmums to do a monthly round up and review of fashion blogs.  So, if anyone writes a fashion blog and would like to give it some additional exposure via the Britmums blog please get in touch and I will see what I can do.

Happy Friday!

Bringing you Allium B - and an interview with Clare and Mary Burgess

When I was asked by Sophia at Dee Vesali PR whether I would like to do an Interview with Clare and Mary, the Designer sisters behind the range Allium B, I jumped at the chance.

Clare and Mary Burgess live in Brighton and named their brand, Allium B, after their favourite flower and the first letter of their surname. What a lovely picture of the sisters - they look so happy and relaxed - as if they have the whole work-life balance thing sussed.

With successful careers in fashion, the sisters spotted a gap in the market for beautiful dresses, made from gorgeous fabrics with respectable hem lengths at a good price.  Clare and Mary ensured that no stone was left unturned when it came to those all important details, which is what makes Allium B so special. 

When were the seeds for Allium B first sown and how long was it before you had your first finished dress?

We both love dresses and as we've grown up have found it increasingly difficult to find dresses we love at prices we can afford. Alexandra Shulman of Vogue convinced us there was a gap and we should go for it when she wrote in her Editor’s letter in July 2010 “It is a depressing truth that in terms of fashion, there remains an enormous gap on the retail scene for clothes that older women really want to wear. While the high street goes from strength to strength at providing trend led, affordable pieces, they are, in the main, aimed at a younger audience comfortable in short lengths…. Then there is a huge jump into the sensible look that seems to be considered appealing to women….”

We went to India in September 2011 to start developing the range and we launched in March this year

Are you able to tell me a little bit about Allium B, together with the market at which it is aimed?

We share a passion for dresses, but as our styles have grown up, we’ve found it increasingly difficult to find grown-up but affordable options to match – dresses that aren’t too young, too old, too short or too long.

With two children each, we don’t have time to waste – we want perfectly-cut, versatile pieces we can throw on with a piece of statement jewellery and flats or heels for a fabulous instant outfit. 

Having worked for big companies for years, we loved the idea of filling this gap by creating a niche business based in Brighton, where we live. So Allium B was born. We’ve created a collection of simple but statement ‘forever dresses’, designed for women, not teenagers – at prices that won’t have you hiding the receipt but still allow us to produce beautifully-made products. 

Do you have a list of criteria for your designs, and if so, what are they?

We try to think about every detail – from Liberty prints and hand stitched buttons to linings, which mean you’ll never get nasty bra show-through with any of our designs.

Our dresses come in natural fabrics, ranging from pure silk to georgette, and take inspiration from vintage touches we love – beaded Peter Pan collars, intricate embroidery and lace, reworked into modern silhouettes.

 When deciding if a dress makes the final cut, we always ask ourselves – ‘do we love it?’  If the answer’s yes, it’s in.

Although you both had careers in retail, with Mary being head of buying and Clare being head of merchandising at Topshop, were there any issues that you came come across in creating the range which you hadn’t anticipated?

Yes loads it's very different launching a start-up to working for a big established company with teams of people. It's very exciting and we have learnt so much in the last 6 months, you have to be prepared to get involved in everything.

You must have been so excited to see Kate Garraway wearing one of your dresses on TV – how did that feel? Was it a surreal moment?

Yes very exciting, she has worn 3 already and looked lovely in them all. The best thing about creating a range is seeing women looking and feeling fabulous in our designs.  

Can we expect to see Allium B expanding into other areas of clothing or is it your intention focus on dresses for the foreseeable future?

We intend to focus on dresses and establish Allium B as a must-have dress label. 

Do you have any plans to have Allium B stocked in stores or are you planning on keeping the business on-line only?

Our plan was to keep the business on line but we have had requests from stores to stock Allium B so it's something we are considering for S/S 2013. We have done some Pop Up stores this season, which have been very successful, and we love meeting our customers.

How soon can we take a peek at your next collection?

Autumn Winter 2012 is in production and will be on line at www.alliumb.com in August. 

What advice do you have for all those busy Mums juggling careers with a family?

Be organized have a family timetable!

Finally, two questions to you both:

A walk on the beach or a walk in the Downs?

Brighton Beach is always a family favourite

Montezumas or Hotel Chocolat?

It has to be Montezuma’s giant chocolate buttons

Montezuma's giant chocolate buttons? Now, these are my kind of ladies - especially if they buy them in jars! If you would like to see more picures of the dresses above, and more besides, nip over to Allium B to take a look. 

On the Run - Alternatives to the Acne Pistol boot

Following on from yesterday's post, several of you have been good enough to contact me with alternatives to the Acne pistol boot. I know that under normal circumstances, looking at boots in July would be considered a little odd but there's not much that is "normal" about the weather at the moment. And anyway, it's good to get ahead of the game.

Although I could quite feasibly see myself kicking against something that I "should" be wearing, I do quite like the style.  I think it's the fact that they are sturdy, have a bit of a heel - most of us like to feel a little bit "raised" - and are pretty versatile too.  So, here goes:

The Cream Zip Cowboy Ankle Boots for £19.99 from New Look.  Thanks to Bare Faced Cheek for bringing these to my attention. Great price!

Next up, we have the the Sam-Edelman-Louie-Fringed-Ankle-Boot reduced from £200 to £81 Thanks to Joanna from Poppy's Style for that one.  Apparently Joanna wears them in the US with her shorts - cool chick!

                                               

Following on from those, Michelle from Mummy Rates It told me about these Mighty black leather zip boots from Topshop, for £45. Thanks Michelle!

                                                            

Finally, I saw these boots in Zara today. Reduced from £79.99 to £29.99 I thought that they were a bit of a bargain. I can't find them on the Zara website but the stores seem well stocked - or at least the Birmingham one was.

You may also remember the Kurt Geiger London boots [Sweep]which I featured yesterday.  Reduced from £195 to £99, there aren't many pairs left in the company - so if you are tempted, you may need to act fast.


                                                       

There will be lots of other versions available, so if these aren't for you, but you like the idea, it shouldn't be hard to find some to suit.  And thank you to everyone who contacted me with these alternatives to the - oh so pricey even in the sale - Acne ones. (Can't say I'm impressed with that name for a brand. Does it mean something else in Swedish?)

On the Run - A challenge for a swimwear brand!

I am going to be touching on a delicate subject this evening, so anyone who is a little squeamish may want to look away now.

Swimwear.  That's the delicate subject.  Or rather my swimwear in particular. I don't know what has happened to my swimming costume recently but it has all gone rather wrong. For a start it has faded and the elasticity has gone slightly.  But even worse - and this is nothing to do with the swimming costume - I have misplaced the extra padding for the bra area - and here's where the problem lies.

[H&M dress, Gap jeans, Dune shoes]

Swimming on my own isn't too bad as I don't need to reveal myself between getting in and getting out the water - and then a strategically placed towel does the trick. However, when swimming with the four year old, that's a different matter.  It seems that I have to get in and out of the pool several times when we are together, either to get a towel to wipe her eyes, or a tissue to wipe her nose and then the towel again to wipe her goggles - you get the idea. 

When those situations arise, I have to glance furtively around to check that no-one is looking and then when I get out of the pool, I have to place my arms in such a position to cover myself, that it looks as though I am praying - because of course there is always some 18 year old male lifeguard there, just for good measure.

To convey the gravity of the situation (and gravity has had no small part to play in this delicate subject) imagine.... well actually no, don't. It's just too horrendous.

So anyway, if there are any brands out there who would like to get a 40 plus Mum of three to put one of their swimsuits to the test then I would be more than happy to oblige. In fact, it would be music to my (spaniel) like ears.

p.s. I was going to call this post "A Tale of Two [something that rhymes with "Cities" but which begings with a "T"] - but I thought that was a bit rude!

On the Run - Are you too cool for school?

I was really pleased to read in the Style section of the Sunday Times today that when it comes to parenting, "getting it wrong is the new getting it right".  For once I am way ahead of the current trend - by about 13 years by my calculations. 

[Mango jeans, Topshop blouse, Oasis jacket, Carvela shoes]

Today's article was all about the "Death of the Yummy Mummy" and how "the Mums of Middle England are turning their backs on smug perfection and chintzy prints" and instead are having a hip makeover.

Essentially the article was telling us why the image of the modern day Stepford wife is no longer aspirational but rather, outdated. The article is really one (although quite an interesting one) in a long line of articles telling us what's cool and what's not. No more cupcake baking for us ladies - it's rock cakes all the way from now on! And if you like Cath Kidston - well you are so uncool (that's me then!)

As well as telling us what's cool and what's not, a lot of these articles involve making judgments, largely negative, on the choices that other women make and they often cite brands either in support of, or against, the point they are trying to make.

Boden came in for a bashing last year.  Seen as the brand representing "Yummy Mummies" someone on Mumsnet commented: "When I look at Boden ads I want to say 'Stop looking so bloody smug.'"

I was very excited to read that because someone on Mumsnet said that about me too. I wonder if it was the same person and if so, what a claim to fame. In fact I was referred to as being "smug and London-centric" which I would have thought was a bit tricky for someone living in Birmingham but what do I know? Anyway, I got in touch with the woman involved and it transpired that she was actually OK.

According to the Sunday Times article, Acne, Joseph and Isabel Marant are OK, as are Maje and Sandro.  Apparently there's a new wave of cool Mums "led by the Alexander McQueen - wearing Samantha Cameron." Great. And from which of those brands, exactly, can you get an item, let alone an outfit, for anything less than three figures?

Reiss, J. Crew, Peter Pilotto, Thu Thu and sunglasses for £295 by Cutler and Gross are all OK. Floral Hunter Wellies, Farrow & Ball, Cupcakes and Cath Kidston prints apparently, are not. Right, that's us told then.

[Mango jeans, H&M cardi, Jigsaw necklace, Carvela shoes]

There was one postive thing to come out of the article though.  As you could probably tell from yesterday's post, I was quite pleased to have ironed my husband's shirts for the week ahead. I have now done it two weeks in a row, having had about the last four years off from that task. However, given that running the perfect home is now passe - I will immediatey desist with my efforts - so there you go Mr SG, that shirt ironing job is now yours again. Great article. Fantastic.   

On the Run - It doesn't count until you decide to keep it...

Having had a hectic Saturday, I haven't really had much time to devote to clothes - other than ironing my husband's shirts for next week - but I can't really create a blog post out of that.  Well I suppose I could, but not right now.

A few days ago I read a comment that had been left by someone who had read one of my earlier posts - and she liked it!  Having taken a look at it again, I see that only about four people have read it.  Given that three of them were probably in my family and the fourth was the lady who left the comment, I decided that I could probably re-cycle it without feeling too guilty - so here it is:

It doesn't count until you decide to keep it ...

No, seriously, it's official. Incidentally, who first coined that phrase and what does it really mean? Who decides what is "official" and what isn't? Bizarre. Anyway, enough of that. I have decided that it's official that, until you decide to keep something ("something" being clothes of course) it doesn't really count (in the bank department).

Unlike food, which can't be returned and which therefore does count the minute that you've paid for it, it is possible to buy clothes with wild abandon and until you decide that they are yours, you haven't really spent the money. That's my philosophy anyway.

Take today as an example. Today I was good to my children and took them to a soft play area.  We made sure that we left the house on time so that we were second in the car park - even though we had to go via the local newsagents so that the eldest of the two who were with me could nip in and buy the latest copy of Grazia for me. Poor boy, imagine being 8 and having to go into the newsagents to ask for the latest copy of the magazine his Mum wanted. I had to stress the importance of it being the latest copy as sometimes they are a week behind - tut tut.

Anyway, the soft play area was relatively civilised. I even managed to read the said magazine, with half an eye on the children and at the end of it, I decided to try and work out how some of the functions worked on my phone - particularly the "notes" section as I wanted to make a list.

When I tapped the icon I realised that one of the children had already worked out how to use it before I had. It transpired that our eldest, who was 10 at the time of the entry, had written "Buy Flo iPhone for Christmas". Yeah right. Not only had she beaten me to it but she had beaten me to it by nearly 8 months.

Anyway, I finally worked out how to enter the heading for the list, which unsurprisingly read: "Shopping List A/W 2010". Beneath it I made 8 entries.

Now, lists are made for one purpose and one purpose only, and that is for acting upon (unless they relate to jobs you have to do, particularly in the house) in which case the purpose of a list is to add to the bottom of it the things that you have already done, just so that you can cross them off and feel as though you have achieved something, even when you haven't.

Finding myself with ten minutes or so to spare - oh yes, ten minutes - even after hanging out the washing and doing the lunch, I decided that I really did need to act upon the list or what was the purpose in making it? 

And herein lies the crux of the matter. Those Whistles trousers that I ordered, those items from Next (more about those in another post!) and those several Boden items, some in two colours and two sizes - none of them count. I haven't spent a bean. Not only have they not been delievered yet (although apparently the Boden ones are on their way - yippee) but even when they arrive, I still won't have spent a penny and nor will I until I make that fateful decision that they are to be mine. When they enter my wardrobe, that's when I have to hold my hands up. Until such time I had a very pleasant, guilt free, half hour (I know, I said ten minutes but that was a little exaggeration) shopping without the crowds, the travelling, the parking or the children fighting and I didn't even spend a penny. Result.

On the Run - At last, the White Jeans get an outing!

I spent most of the day inside today, working away listening to the thunderstorms and the rain.  We had to go out this evening though to look at prospective secondary schools for number 2 so I thought that I had better swap my skinnies and converse for something else.

The thing is, that when it gets to that time of day, unless I am showering and starting from scratch for a proper night out, I don't really feel like putting a dress or skirt on. I feel a bit like I am wearing fancy dress.  In any event, the white jeans haven't had an outing yet this summer and I do like wearing them because there's always a Liz Hurley joke in there somewhere. Seriously, that lady must own every pair of white jeans known to man.

Speaking of Liz Hurley, that whole Shane Warne thing is getting way out of hand.  He looks more like a waxwork of himself than a waxwork would, with that shiny complexion and those overplucked brows.

The jeans are from H&M, the shirt Gerard Darel and the gold T-bars, Carvela.  Given their capacity to shorten and widen, I prefer to wear white jeans long, flared and with heels. Having said that I do have some skinny Gap ones which I wear with flats but their days are numbered because when I bend down, they slide down - and that is so not a good look!

On the Run - In those shoes? Standing up is hard enough!

You know those heart stopping moments? I had one of those today. Our youngest had been swimming and we were in the changing rooms, where she observed a woman getting changed.  When the words "Excuse me?" came out of her mouth, I froze. What was it going to be? My mind went into overdrive thinking of how I could interrupt and deflect the possible insult that was on its way.

Fortunately, she said "I like your swimming costume." Which, being as it was flouro pink and spangly, she would. The young woman was suitable flattered, giggled approvingly and thought how sweet she was. Oh how different it could have been.

I was off down to Warwick today to do a Wardrobe Consultation, which had been given to a lady by her sister as a birthday present. I love meeting new people and we spent a great few hours together.

After that it was swimming, followed by collecting the older two. These photos were taken whilst waiting in the heat for our eldest to return from a school trip. How hot must she have been in her cut-offs with opaque tights.  Remember those days? Definitely an early '90's kind of outfit!

I haven't worn these Jigsaw shoes for a long time but enjoyed wearing them with my Gap high rise skinny jeans, White Stuff blouse, Topshop belt and La La Rocks bracelet.

What utterly, totally ridiculous shoes to wear when having to walk around the edge of a slippery swimming pool.  There's something about them which make them really hard to walk in. It could be the rigid sole because they're not that high - but they are definitely precarious. I pretended that I was holding our youngest's hand for support but really it was the other way around.

Now that I am home, I am wearing my favourite "Waynetta Slob" outfit of PJ bottoms, vest and trainers. That should frighten any cold callers off!

On the Run - Where did those cheeky numbers come from?

So, how is everyone? Are you enjoying Wimbledon - or the fact that, for us at least, the football is now over? 

I had another busy day in the shops today, hence the flat shoes. I wear my navy Cos trousers at least once a week and today they had their outing.  As with yesterday, the weather looked unpromising so I wore my leather jacket with this Minnie lace blouse from Monsoon underneath it. It was the first time that I had worn it but already it's in the sale! I also used my pink Russell & Bromley bag, largely because I didn't have time to change it.

                                                             

 Monsoon Minnie Lace Blouse

On another note, when I was trying on some Whistles trousers in the sale the other day, I noticed something unusual about myself. You know how men have man boobs (moobs) and there's such a thing as a muffin top or a double chin?  Well the things I'm talking about aren't any of these but possibly a combination of all of them. They can best be described as "bum boobs" or "double cheeks" or "bottom creep" and are that additional bit of flesh at the top of your legs (or the bottom of your bottom)! 

Some hours later, when getting changed, I pointed them out to my daughter and said "You see these, these are made from Toblerone and ice-cream" to which she said "Shouldn't they be in the shape of  a triangle then?" Perish the thought! Bridget Jones knickers, here we come! (ps Does anyone else suffer from this affliction or is it just me?)

On the Run - Running around House of Fraser!

I had a very pleasant three hours this morning in House of Fraser (formerly Rackhams), Birmingham, styling a lady for her 40th birthday.  We have worked together previously and because of that, and because she was short of time, I had the luxury of spending an hour choosing twenty plus dresses, and several pairs of shoes for her to try when she arrived.

Anyway, we managed to stretch the need for one dress into two, and then into three and two hours later, we left.  After a quick trip to a shoe store to find the right shoes, our task was complete.

I don't really feel that any of today's shots are worth sharing but then I wouldn't be playing ball, so share them I will in any event.  By the time we got home everyone just wanted to get inside (not that I blame them). Our eldest had the joy of taking the photos and, in true teenage fashion, she delights in taking them whilst dancing around.  This is the girl who also regularly nearly blows up the chemistry lab at school - so you can see what I am up against.

The forecast was good for today but I didn't dare brave the whole full on summer dress experience so instead I opted for a heavier weight cotton A-line skirt from Cos, Jigsaw breton striped top, leather jacket and statement necklace. I was so pleased not to have gone the whole hog on the dress front as it was freezing first thing but fortunately it brightened up later on.

I am now making a tiny plea as I don't like asking for help.  However....nominations will soon close for the Cosmopolitan blog awards.  If you would like to nominate Style Guile, and haven't done so already, it would be great if you could do so .It doesn't take a minute and a nomination can be made by clicking on the pink box with "Cosmopolitan blog awards" written in it on the right hand side of the page. It would mean a lot to me to get as far as a short listing.  Being a part-time blogger, who has to fight for the use of her lap-top and with a daughter who dances whilst taking photographs, I don't fancy my chances of getting very far - but I would love to give it a go. Thank you! (Again!) Oh, and by the way, I am in the "Best established fashion blogger" category.

On the Run - A BIG Thank You to you all!

I decided that I didn't want today's post to be about me, but rather about all of you instead.

I was delighted to find out, some weeks ago now, that Style Guile was a finalist in the "Style" Section of the Bibs (Brilliance in Blogging) Awards, which are held by BritMums. 

BritMums is the largest and most influential network of parent bloggers in the UK, and it receives over 17 million page views per month.

As some of you will know, Friday and Saturday saw the arrival of the BritMums conference, with the Bibs Awards ceremony being held in London on Friday night.   

The lovely, and utterly deserving, Amanda Start from the Online Stylist won the award.  It was only as a result of seeing an article about Amanda in Woman & Home, two years ago this August, that Style Guile was born  - so I am ever indebted to Amanda for that.

Anyway, I wanted to take this chance to stop for a moment and to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who nominated, or voted, for Style Guile - to anyone who leaves comments and to anyone who takes time out of their busy day to read the posts. I really do appreciate your on-going support and I just wanted to say "Thank you!" I don't always get an opportunity to respond to comments as quickly as I would like, or as in as much detail as I would like, so I hope that you will forgive me, knowing that that they are all read and thought about during my day.

On the Run - In flowery jeans (part 2)!

It had been my intention to take the jeans that I am wearing, below, back to Primark.  I went in twice but just couldn't face the 20 minute wait each time in the queue - so in the back of my car they remained - until today.

I saw these jeans (below) when I was in Selfridges the other day. They had been massively reduced from over £200 to somewhere in the region of £70/80, I think! It reminded me that I still had my £13 Primark ones in my possession and with a grey day dawning today, I thought that it was the perfect day to wear them.

 

Here is a picture of the jeans as they appeared on the blog back in May when they weren't particularly well received. I have to say, there is something slightly unsettling about posting a picture of an outfit which you know in advance is unlikely to be well received!

Someone went as far to say that they thought that they were pretty bad and asked whether I would wear them if they weren't in fashion. I was also asked whether they would be in the photo album of shame by Christmas. Ho hum.

Well here are the jeans, both in, and on, the flesh! For what it's worth, I really liked wearing them - although that could have partly been due to the fact that, being from Primark, I went up a size - so they were uber comfortable!

I started off by putting them with a white shirt but in the end opted for a very plain grey Jigsaw top and cream brogues from Dune, just to tone it all down. Our youngest said that my flowery legs were "lovely" and that I could take them to gymnastics with me if I liked. Granted, she's only four but you can always rely on children for an honest opinion. Our son didn't comment either - and he's normally the first one in there with the "Mum....I don't really like...."

Ultimately I don't think that the overall view was as bad as our score in the Eurovision song contest!

I think that my husband is slightly miffed with me. For many years now, we have only had one TV between the 5 of us - and you can guess who never gets a look in, So, after all this time, I had a cable installed into the kitchen so that we could have a TV in there.

Today we went off to get a TV and not only is this one (which my husband refers to at "your TV") newer, slimmer, bigger and more technologically advanced than the family one but it is going to be installed in time for tomorrow's England game - and my husband hates football! I do actually feel quite sorry for him as he loves his TV - whereas really, if I'm honest, I just like to make a fuss about never getting to watch any!

On the Run - Where do you go when you need to buy a new bag? BagServant of course!

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by Michãela Deasy-Smith, the Online Fashion Editor for BagServant, which is The premiere handbag site for lovers of luxury & style.

Somewhat flatteringly, Michaela liked Style Guile enough to ask whether BagServant may write a guest post.

Essentially, BagServant brings together in one place, all your favourite brands (to include Mango, Mulberry, Radley, Anya Hindmarch, Cath Kidston, Michael Kors plus many more) from trusted retailers, to include John Lewis, House of Fraser, Selfridges and Harrods.

The site is easy to navigate and it is possible to search for a handbag by style, shape, colour, brand, price - you name it, it's possible.  So, if you wanted a yellow sherbet Mulberry Bayswater but didn't know where to go to get it, BagServant would have the answer.  Which is John Lewis, by the way (and it's in the sale)!

It's such a simple, great concept and an easy and convenient way to shop - perfect for those who are short of time. And let's face it, who isn't?

Additionally, BagServant offers us the opportunity to find out which one of twelve "Handbag Personalities" we are.  I found that little bits (for want of a better phrase!) of me fell into more than one but the Personality into which I fitted most closely, was Miss Practical.

Now, the lovely girls at BagServant have written some very complimentary words about why I fall into that category - but we all know that the truth of it is that I fit the description of having a bag full of shopping lists and food wrappers and that all good intentions to keep my bag tidy have fallen by the wayside by Tuesday morning.

Anyway, we thought that it would be nice for BagServant to tell you all a little bit about some of the different handbag personalities, so here goes....let's have some fun on a Friday!

For some of us, fashion can be a complicated affair. Stepping out of the carefully tailored wardrobe chosen by your parents and into your own can be a liberating and terrifying experience. There are clothes in bright colours, clothes with flowers on them or spots or stripes, clothes made out of denim, leather and satin, clothes for the super rich and clothes that are just plain ugly. While some individuals get lost in the jungle of fashion trends and sparkly lip gloss, some of us are quite content with a minimalist pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

We spend a great deal of time thinking about what we should be wearing and how to keep up with the trends until the whole business can seem like a massive bore. Eventually, all you end up doing is looking at how other people look in magazines, becoming more and more disillusioned with how you look. This is not a productive use of your time.

But you know what? Once you’ve realised an important truth that is so obvious, you’ll wonder how you didn’t see it before.

Underneath all your clothes, accessories and makeup, there is a little thing called your PERSONALITY. To quote Monty Python’s Life of Brian: ‘we are all individuals!’  

Should this be the only thing that dictates your style? When we really get the core to what kind of people we are, your mind becomes like a sieve and sorts through your wardrobe. You could pick up items you have had for years and say ‘ugh, what was I thinking?!’ Soon it becomes about what you want to wear, not what you think you should be wearing. Then finally, when all we have is what makes us happy, we ooze confidence and give off vibes of self-belief. Surely these two things never go out of fashion? 

At BagServant, we have embraced this idea and have been helping women and men find the right hand bag for them. Enter our 12 specially designed bag personalities, we call them our flirty dozen, each one as unique as all of us.  

 And we would like you to meet a few of them.

Sugar Delight

She’s the sweetest thing in our office and it would break your heart to see her with a frown. She’s the woman that has a smile on a rainy day and a spring in her step on her way to work. Her sweet sentiment comes through in her style with her endless amount of pastel pinks and yellows from designers like Miu Miu and Riki Rosetta. If you’re not adverse to pretty bows and sprinkles of diamantes, then you and Sugar Delight should probably get together for some tea and bright coloured macaroons.   

Little Miss Label

Now we might have sounded like we were against the fashion magazines and trend culture of chasing after celebrities and catwalks. But we know that some women love indulging in designer fashion and the latest styles, none more so than our lovely Little Miss Label. She’s the kind of girl who will drag you through Bond Street with her credit card as her weapon of choice. Jimmy Choo, Victoria Beckham, Alexander McQueen and Givenchy are just some of the labels this girl goes gaga for, but we love her for it. Although, we do wonder where she finds the money to fund this passion of hers...

Confident Classique

She is the well dressed elegant bag lover. The girl about town minimalist who will wear the Parisian style Breton striped top and classic trench, she even wears simple knits with effortless ease. She loves structured shapes in basic colours which she knows will work effortlessly for her, whether she's wearing a suit or a little black dress. She prefers to shun trends for timeless pieces, and is always therefore fashion desirable. She is calm and confident and loves nothing more than a good giggle with her friends.

Miss Practical

One of our most popular personalities. She knows what she wants in a bag and in her style and doesn’t usually indulge in anything too elaborate. We’ve been told that the lovely Beth Goodrham thinks she is one of our Miss Practical's which we thought was brilliant as this girl is as elegant as she is well-dressed.

Sometimes her friends look at the way she casually throws together an outfit and think ‘how does she do it?’ The truth is, she just knows what works for her, similarly to the reason why Audrey Hepburn adorned ballet flats as her staple item, it just worked for her. Although her casual ways cause a bit of clutter in her handbag, she always makes time for a weekly cleanup. She even has her own Twitter account, why not drop her a line?

We have many more to discover on our website. Find out which one you are to help you give your look some personality!  

On the Run - A day at the races with a little fashion show courtsey of Harvey Nichols

Today I was at an event where I got the best bits of being at the races but without the worst bits - and it was fab!

It was a real treat to be offered champagne at 11.30am (I say offered because I was driving so was on the soft stuff), to watch a fashion show by Harvey Nichols and to have a lovely sit down meal at the new Marco Pierre White restaurant in Birmingham.

This was one of the models who was showing the new A/W '12 collection from Harvey Nichols.  There's a strong equestrian trend coming through, as reflected in the Alexander McQueen jacket.

Although not an obvious pairing, I really liked the leopard print Louboutins with the jacket...

...because there is that danger that, in wearing a jacket like this with boots of pretty much any description, you might look as if you were about to leap on your horse -so shoes were a much better option.  I am sure that we can rely on Zara to do lots of interpretations of this style of jacket.

This too was a great combination and not an obvious one.  White jeans, amazing heeled ankle boots in purple and a Proenza Schouler bag, also in purple, and which cost £1100 - or thereabouts. Wow!

The model in this shot was wearing some amazing Michael Kors snake print trousers which looked great on her. Perhaps hard for the rest of us to wear, but great on her. They weren't a skinny fit so it's possible that they may be slightly easier to get away with for those of us on the, let's say, more mature side. If you get my drift.

 The top is a great colour and totally lifts the neutral colours in the trousers.

What can I say about this dress? It looks great on the model but it's one that would be difficult to translate for the rest of us. I suppose a bit of length would help! You seriously wouldn't want to bend over in it would you?

I loved this dress - despite it being a pale colour, which can be hard for some to wear, the sparkles make it less tricky. The overlay is a really lovely feature and stops it from being "just another short dress".  The addition of an overlay all of the way round would make this dress accessible to even more shapes and sizes.

So pretty isn't it?

In comparison to the looks above, I look a bit bright! The dress code dictated that we be race appropriate - or something similar.

I hadn't contemplated that women would go the whole hog and wear fascinators etc. To coin a phrase from a lady who left a message on the blog the other day, I personally would have felt a "bugaloo" had I been wearing a fascinator, or hat, sitting in a restaurant in Birmingham on a Thursday afternoon - but good on others for embracing the event head on (excuse the pun).

By the time these were taken, I had been drenched twice. It was soooo wet today. At one point our youngest had asked me to retrieve her hat from inside my handbag to stop her from getting wet. The trouble was that my handbag was stuffed under my coat so that it didn't get wet - so she too had to suffer for the sake of fashion.  I reckon it's a good lesson to learn whilst young. (For those concerned, she didn't get that wet).

And as for the betting - I won! I actually won! I decided to bet on a horse called "Reckless Abandon" - because it's so not me! I am the sensible one - not drinking because I am driving, swapping my heels for the school run, dashing via Tesco to get snacks for the children after school. So to be £20 better off for being square - I'm not complaining.

I had a great day out and would like to thank the lovely people who invited me and also the lovely people that I met.  I even spoke to Bob Champion who won the Grand National in 1981. When I explained to my friend's son what I had been doing today he looked at me in amazement and said: "Wow, have you been riding horses in races today. And winning? That's so cool." I didn't like to disabuse him of the notion!

What I wore: Reiss dress from Bicester, reduced to £77 from £179, LK Bennett Sledge

On the Run - Oh yes, the sun is out and I will wear that new dress!

And so it finally arrived. A day when it was actually warm enough to wear a dress.

I bought this dress a while ago now from GAP, knowing that it would be a good every day kind of dress and I finally got the chance to wear it today.

It's a good length for me and the addition of a leopard print belt in place of the navy tie belt with which it came made it a little more up to date. There's enough fabric in the skirt not to limit my movement but I had to watch that the wind didn't take hold of it and reveal a little more of myself to the world than would have been good for anyone.

Whilst working on some articles at home this morning, I got a call from the BBC asking if I would mind going on air to talk about a feature they were doing on keeping diaries - blogging being the new form of diary and all that. 

Having spoken to two other guests at length (!) about the contents of their diaries, the presenter then came to me, allowed me about 30 seconds to speak before telling me that a blog wasn't really a diary at all and then cut me off.

I thought that it was an interesting idea to invite me on the show to give a different perspective and then tell me that I was talking rubbish.  I just find those kind of things so funny as it happens to me all the time - which probably says more about me than anyone else! However as my daughter so rightly observed: "That's why it's called a blog and not a diary. It's different."

So anyway, I am off to a very swish event tomorrow for Ladies' day at Ascot. The event is being held at Marco Pierre White's new restaurant in Birmingha. There is a fashion show from Harvey Nichols and the races are being shown on the screens.  Remember the My Fair Lady "Move your bloomin' arse" comment? That has my name written all over it! However I shall try to put thoughts such as those out of my mind and act with grace and decorum befitting of the occasion...

On the Run - Having fun in the Reiss sale

Late last week I received advanced notification from Reiss that they would be going into sale today. I was asked not to advertise the fact and so left it until this morning to tweet about it.  I then spent a pleasant few minutes checking to see what the reductions were like.

I was really grateful for the fact that it was sports day this afternoon as it meant that I had an hour or so this morning to go and have a whizz around the sales.

I started off at Reiss, the brand know for providing clothes of designer quality and style at (top end) high street prices.  Together with Whistles, it's a firm favourite with fashionistas.  Any items that I have bought from Reiss have always been bought in the sales, which is when their prices become slightly more accessible.

When it came to the sale, there was a slightly interesting arrangement in the Birmingham store. It was on, although not advertised as such, and the clothes weren't marked accordingly. The benefit of this was that there wasn't a mad rush on. The disadvantage was that one of the assistants who works there (and who is fab) had the fun task of checking a print-out to establish whether the items I liked were in the sale, or not.

These are just a few basic pieces that I liked but there's so much more - pale blue tapered trousers,

pale blue shorts, leather jackets, blazers and silk shirts. The images on the Reiss site aren't that great, which is why, in most cases, I have included a link to the product - just so that you can get a clearer look.

 

Working around the images in a clocwise direction from the dress, here are details of the pieces I have chosen:



1. I love the vibrant colour of this Karina dress. It has a great length and is stylish but comfortable. The back is slightly unusual so it might be worth checking it out. They are showing only UK size 4's on line but the B'ham store has 14's too and I am sure that there will be more to be had. It's reduced from £169 to £118;

2. I really like this Fell textured jumper.  It's a love it or hate it kind of jumper and it won't suit all shapes but I love it. It's reduced from £89 to £63;

3. I brought this mini Bleecker bag to you a while ago when I went to Leeds. A great colour and perfect size, it's now reduced from £195 to £136;

4. This striped Nellie dusty rose top is perfect as an alternative to a classic breton top and is reduced from £59 to £42;

5. Another rose coloured top, this is the Chloe cotton pointelle jumper reduced to from £110 to £77. It comes in stripes and rib knits too;

6. There's always space in my wardrobe for some smart navy trousers and these Dilly tapered trousers would fill that gap nicely.

  

Remember, this is only round one of the sale and there will probably be better reductions further down the line - although availability becomes more of an issue.  Bicester also has some great pieces but it's just best to go with an open mind.

Have a browse of the site and see what you fancy - and then while away the time plotting how to make it yours!