A style event at Hobbs - and a preview of the Autumn Collection - so exciting!

A couple of months ago, I was invited by the Hobbs store in Birmingham to run a Style Event with them.  The evening, which took place two weeks ago, consisted of cocktails, champagne and 20% off their new season's stock.

I gave a presentation on some new season pieces that I had selected, together with advice on trends for the season and some capsule pieces for the winter wardrobe.  The audience were great and the presentation generated a lot of chat and questions, which gave for a lovely atmosphere.

These are three of the NW3 necklaces which I styled on one of the models.  I love the look of them layered together and it is a much more modern way of wearing more dainty pendants which, on their own, may not amount to much. Try it with some pieces that you already have in your jewellery box at home to see if you like the results!

Whilst they wouldn't stay like that when on, this is a nice way to display them. From left to right they are the NW3 horseshoe pendant (£25) the  NW3 sparkly bee pendant (£29) and the NW3 doormouse pendant (£25).

This is a photgraph of me mid flow, animatedly talking about what I love best - clothes!

and this is something, which, I think you can tell from the photo, I seriously have my eye on.

It's the Lisset Bag which costs £199 and which also comes in black and patent

                                  

These are some of the lovely ladies that I met on the evening.

And now briefly for a few of the pieces:

This is the NW3 gallop dress, (£129) aptly named given the print. It reflects beautifully the equestrian trend which we are going to see so much of this season.  What I really like about it is that it's a feminine way of wearing the trend - and there can be no suggestion that you have just jumped off your horse.

The gallop dress isn't going to work for all bodyshapes, so as an alternative, there's the NW3 gallop shirt (£75) which is also lovely.


                                     


I loved this simple, elegantly stylish Talitha Dress (£159) which is in one of the hottest colours of the season - Red. Neatly fitted with elbow length sleeves, I wouldn't be suprised if we saw a certain Duchess wearing it at some point!

                               


This Coco dress (£189) is a great shape for pear shaped ladies. With a neat fitted top half and a slight flare to the skirt, it will flatter in all of the right places.  The white trim will ensure that the eye is drawn to the cuffs and collar.

                                

As I was driving along today, I saw a woman walking along the road wearing a fab white collar over a black dress. I thought to myself "Wow, she's rocking the trends way ahead of the season, and I thought how similar her outfit looked to this dress.  Only as I drew level did I realise she was a nun! (Hope I haven't put you off the dress!)

You are going to see this dress EVERYWHERE this season! This Caravaggio Dress (£199) reflects perfectly the decadent floral prints which were seen at Erdem and Dolce and Gabbana. If you find the combination of the print and the peplum a little overwhelming, Hobbs have done a separate skirt and blouse in the same print, which you can see here


                                    




I loved this unstructured Jean Bag £229.  It is quite a departure for Hobbs from their more structured, traditional style handbags and whilst not inexpensive, it could easily be mistaken for a Balenciaga bag.


                               
 



This Maris Peplum belt (£99) is a little different.  It taps into both the trend for leather, and peplums - but obviously being a belt it provides more versatility as it can be swapped between skirts and dresses.  I have seen another one at Asos and there are also designer versions too.  What do you think?

                                    


And finally, the Mara Toecap court (£149).  Toe cap shoes are a big trend at the moment. Jimmy Choo, Yves Saint Laurent and Louboutin all have shoes with toe caps and they have now filtered down to the High Street, where they can be found at Topshop, Dune and Kurt Geiger.

This pair also come in other colours.  Irrespective of trends though, I think that these are beautifully elegant and the animal print on the shoe will do a fantastic job of adding some interest to any plain work outfit - from a trouser suit, to a skirt suit, to a pencil skirt and black polo combination, or a shift dress. They would also look fabulous out of work with a pair of black cigarette pants and a trench coat.


                                          

For more pictures of the evening, and also her great write up,  please pop over to  Emma at fashion mommy. Thanks to Emma for providing the photos of me in action!

Oh, for the evening I wore a French Connection dress, Hobbs belt and Pied a Terre shoes.  One of the most exciting things for me was being shown through to the back of the store and the staff room!  Best of all, I noticed that on one of their noticeboards they had pinned up the article of me in Woman & Home magazine. The girls are so lovely in the Birmingham store! Thanks to Eleanor, Jenny and Suzie for a great evening.

A collaboration between three bloggers and their printed Primark jeans!

A while ago now, Avril from School Gate Style suggested that those of us who had featured the same Primark printed jeans on our blogs, might like to do a joint post together. And so here we are: Avril on the left, Joanna from Poppy's Style  in the middle and me on the right.

It was always my intention to return my jeans, not because I didn't like them but because I didn't want to tread on the fashion toes of our thirteen year old.

However, for various reasons I didn't manage it and they remained in the back of my car until it was too late to do anything other than try and see if I could make them work for me.

These jeans aren't the easiest piece in the world to style and they do require some perseverence. A light background is always less flattering than a light print on a dark background.  Also, because they do add a little bulk, I prefer them with heels - and it's quite hard to find heels to wear with them for a day time look. Here are some of the ways in which I have styled them.

Outfit 1 above: Topshop sequin T, Jigsaw necklace, H&M shirt, New Look desert boots, La La Rocks bracelet;

Outfit 2 below: With plain grey Jigsaw top and cream Dune brogues for a day time look.

                                                 

Outfit 3: With wedge desert boots, sparkly Topshop top, open shirt (H&M) and Zara boyfriend cardigan.  Out of all of the looks, this is my favourite - a bit of height from the heels, coverage from the boyfriend cardi, and a less fitted top than the one above means no breathing in required!  

Outfit 4: Dune brogues, Coast grey silk vest top, H&M shirt

Outfit 5: Lilac striped French Connection jumper, H&M blazer, LK Bennett Sledge shoes.  This is obviously more of an evening outfit.  The lilac stripes in the jumper pick up the lilac of the jeans.  However I  then toned it back down with the addition of a white jacket.



                                

I think that I got there in the end and that the £13 ish that I paid for them won't have been wasted.  Now that I have found a combination that I like (outfit 3) and which I can wear locally without feeling too daft,  I will try to get maximum wear before the summer is out. 


So, here we are again! Avril looking beautifully serene and stylish as ever, having styled her jeans for an evening out.  Joanna, in one of  my favourite Boden blazers, which adds a stylish sophisticated feel, and me in a casual look with heels.

Why not head over to School Gate Style  and Poppy's Style to see how Avril and Joanna have styled their floral jeans and also to read their fabulous blogs, which I am sure you will love.

Smoking Slippers - Where do you stand?

 

         

From left to right:

Jeffrey Campbell at Harvey Nichols £125
Heraki Glitter Slipper Shoe from Ted Baker £75.
Jimmy Choo Wheel for £235

I can feel a Volte-face coming on. It happens at least once a season.  The signs are there - I can't ignore them - and it's not good.
 

This is the usual pattern: I see a particular item (in this case smoking slippers) and have an instant and intense dislike of them.  Even being exposed to them on a daily basis, via magazines and in the stores, still I can't shift my irrational dislike. I even try them on, just to be sure that I'm not being narrow minded - and still I hate them.  I write about how I dislike them and then something happens.  Having committed my thoughts to writing, they somehow worm their way into my consciousness and I start to see their appeal. It's predictable, it's fickle but it happens.

That doesn't mean to say that I am going to rush out and buy a pair but I am starting to see their appeal - especially the sparkly ones, because really they don't look like something Hugh Heffner would wear. No, not at all. Rather they are more of a cinderella slipper without the heel, a ballet pump with an extra piece up the front of the foot - and that I can get my head around.

Smoking slippers come in many, and various, finishes, from leopard print to sparkles and patents to pastels.


  
                                    



                                     
The leopard print ones above are  Alvin by Sam Edelman at Kurt Geiger and cost £150.However, again you can find versions at Dune, Topshop, New Look, Kurt Geiger and now even Clarks has a leopard print pair for £39.99. Yes, they too are on the Slipper Shoe bandwagon! 

Like the wedge trainers, I think that they provoke strong emotions in us - which camp are you in - love or loathe, like or dislike or on the fence - but kind of falling off?!!

Tapping into next season's trends for all things Oriental, Embellised and Baroque (you can take your pick with these), IF I were to buy a pair, I would them with these Orienatal Floral Cigarette trousers from Topshop, which are £45, and a plain black knit - just to avoid looking too fairy like!




                                             

How will you be wearing yours - or won't you - never in  a million years!

Style Tip: It's the little things that can make a difference: Embellished collars

Collars are big - not in the literal sense but in the fashion sense.  The past few seasons have seen them brought to our attention to the point where it is often the collar on a garment which takes centre stage, rather than the garment itself.

Zara has, for a while now, been adding studs, sequins and other embellishment to the collars on its blouses as shown here on this Zara new season blouse, which costs £39.99


                 


 Zara also has this parrot shirt with diamante on the collar which costs £29.99.  


                             



Adopting a slightly different theme, they have also released this embroidered tulle blouse with pearls around the collar for £32.99 - so pretty.


                                

For a white cotton shirt which is crystal embellished, take a look at Maje at Net-a-Porter

Embellished collars aren't going to appeal to everyone, so as an alternative way to get a similar look but with a little more flexibility, an embellished collar necklace can do a fantastic job. The obvious difference is that they can be worn with a variety of different pieces, from breton style tops, to fine knits, to collar-less shirts and plain t-shirts.

I have already shown you the NW3 beaded collar, which I wore when on holiday. It can be worn at a variety of different lengths, which makes it extra versatile.

 

   

For an alternative, look to Galibardy for a black pearl collar which, at £7.00, is a great way to test the water if you're not sure.

                                   



Dorothy Perkins offers a pastel bead collar for £12.50


                                                           


together with this soft cream bead and pearl collar for £12.00


                                                  
  

For velvet, sequins or fur options, look to Gemma Lister for a fantastic selection of collars, or to Zara for this black and lime mesh bib with gemstones which would be perfect for those who prefer something a little less girlie.

                                  
   

Primark, Next, Oasis, New Look, H&M - you will find them everywhere and from velvet, to sequins, to fur, to heavy embellishment to lace and leather - there will be something for everyone if you are tempted to dip your toe in the water.

Style Guile Smile

I love it when the September issues of the magazines thud onto the door mat because, as you will all know, they contain the trends for next season. 

Fortunately my not inconsiderable stash of new magazines arrived before going away, which meant that I spent a very pleasant few hours in the car perusing, poring, ripping, sorting and studying the pages very closely, before organising my style files for A/W '12. 

I constantly update these files throughout the season, editing and re-organising them as the season progresses.  I use them as a reference point for trends, micro trends, wearable looks, up and coming brands, new designers and so on. It's very easy to identify those trends, and pieces, which are going to be huge - and I will post about them soon.

As ever, there are always a few pieces each season which set my stylist's heart racing and make me smile - hence the title of this post. And this is one of them - the Wooly Paillettes handbag, designed by Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton.  It is an oversized structured shape - half doctor's bag, half carpet bag - which is embroidered with purple, terracotta or burgundy sequins.

Of the bags, Marc Jacobs said: "They came from a concept of magic and bewilderment, an idea of surface, texture, sparkle, and shine. This meant that there was a kind of otherwordly quality."

At £2,750 I don't expect one to be making an appearance in my Wardrobe any time soon - but I have absolutely no doubt that it will inspire many high street versions - and I can't wait to find them.

Big enough to be used in the day time, it will add an element of sparkle to any outfit and will go equally well with jeans, a crombie coat and brogues, as well as with a pencil skirt, leather jacket and heels.

Many of my clients love a little bit of sparkle and I can't imagine a better way to kick start your A/W '12 Wardrobe by including a bag of this design in it.  I can guarantee that a bag reflecting this design will still be on trend for many years to come and no matter how much you invest in it, it will be worth every penny.

A round-up of holiday outfits to include Jigaw, Hobbs, Zara, H&M, Gap, Next, Warehouse, Reiss, French Connection, Pied a Terre, Carvela and Sea Folly (plus others)!

Wow! It's so good to be back!

I didn't get any time to blog whilst on holiday and, after returning home, I made a pact with myself that I wouldn't blog until I had finished certain (really interesting) jobs - such as filing, sorting - you know, the usual domestic chores that get left until they reach the stage where they have to be addressed or else everyone disappears under a pile of magazines, rather like something on a poor quality TV show when the front door can't be opened because of piles of old newspapers.  Except in my case they are piles of Grazia, Red and Easy Living magazines, plus endless receipts!

We had a fantastic time away.  We stayed at the Watergate Bay Hotel in Cornwall which I can thoroughly recommend for families. The views of the bay were fantastic, as was the food, the rooms and the relaxed atmosphere. For the first time ever, since since we have had children, we took advantage of the childcare that was on offer and the youngest loved going to "night-time nursery" for a couple of hours.  The hotel thought nothing of people walking around in wet-suits, dripping wet having just left the pool - or anything else really, which was great.

This was the view from the pool - amazing! It was closed to children until 9am which meant a lovely peaceful swim every morning. Other than the day when there were six maintenace men cleaning the pool one morning - and only me swimming in it!

                                           

 

Anyway, having spent more time in the water than at any other point in my life, it left little time for photos, which was probably quite good on the whole as I was wrinkly most of the time with slightly red looking eyes from the saltwater/swimming pool.

We did manage shots of a few outfits, so here they are:

Dinner first night

H&M shirt, Gap trousers, Pied a Terre shoes, Reiss and Coccinelle cuffs, H&M ring (I thought that I blended in quite well with the surroundings!)

 

Lunchtime day 2 - Fifteen Cornwall

Next trousers, Warehouse knit and bag, Carvela shoes, Jigsaw necklace;

            

        
My husband was impressed that I managed to continue my birthday celebrations even a week later! Impressive huh?! This lemon polenta cake was lovely.

                                                  


Body boarding days 1, 2 & 3

Wetsuit (borrowed from a friend as I had leant mine to our daughter) and thermal vest! The waves on the last day were like nothing I've been in before. They were huge! The lifeguards were out with their loudspeakers, on their jet skis and generally doing an amazing job, and it was brilliant.

Dinner day 2

Jigsaw trousers (current and in the sale) NW3 top (sale) plus new season NW3 necklace and pied a terre shoes;

 

This is a closer look at the Hobbs NW3 beaded collar £29 (post to follow shortly on beaded collars, which we are going to see a lot of next season).

 

My first hero piece

French Connection maxi dress which was great for layering over my swimming costume on my way to the pool and then going to breakfast in afterwards.  I also layered a French Connection knit over the top and a studded belt so that I could wear it in the day time, with converse.

And the middle of these three costumes was my second hero piece.  A while ago, I wrote a post about how my swimming costume had seen better days. In fact, it was almost at the point of being indecent. Anyway, amongst others, Seafolly sent me this middle swimming costume below, to try out.

I thought long and hard about how to include it, without looking like an exhibitionist - or an idiot! Anyway, when it came to it, it more than earned its place in my Wardrobe, so it therefore definitely warranted a mention.

I wore it every day to swim before breakfast, again under my wet suit and then again in the pool later on in the day with the children. For once I loved wearing a swimsuit - not in a "hey look at me" kind of way (I still made our son get out of the pool to retrieve the ball with which we were playing) but I felt covered, held in, and respectable - more as if I was wearing clothes rather than underwear - if that makes sense. So, whilst Seafolly are more expensive than some brands, and I would never previously have spent that much on a swimming costume, I think that they are worth the investment and would do so now.

So, in the spirit of seeing what it looks like on a "real" person, here's a shot that we took in the garden before going away. 

What you lose in leg length by having the 1950's cut on the leg, you gain in decency and comfort!

Today I wore some other pieces that I took away, but which I didn't get a chance to wear:

Jigsaw khaki skirt, French Connection pale blue striped knit (same as the navy one above) Topshop blue belt, Warehouse bag, Zara shoes (excuse the bucket - the fish were having their Saturday morning water change!)

Later on in the day I swapped the blue belt for a Topshop leopard print one, and brogues for our walk in the park.

So, that's my round-up of the last week or so.  Keeping to a simple colour scheme really worked for me but being on the go so much, I pretty much stuck to the same few pieces without much time to think about what I was going to wear.

I am now looking foward to our next trip, which is a few days on a narrow boat with some friends. Altough not the narrow boat we had booked, as I have just been informed by our friend that it has sunk. It doesn't bode well! Better get that cozzie back on!

On the Run - Here you can take a peek at the contents of my suitcase for a trip to Cornwall

We're all excited because we are off on on a break down to Cornwall tomorrow to stay in a hotel.  For our trips to Wales, I usually just chuck together whatever I can find (moth eaten items included you will recall) so it's lovely to be able to take some nicer pieces with me.

As always with packing, I sorted everyone else's clothes out first and then dealt with my own.  This is just a snap shot of some of the pieces I have taken, rather than a comprehensive run down - and also to show you the colour scheme I have chosen. As you can see, I have gone for blues/greys/khaki/creams and not much pink for once!

If you are anything like me, you will like to take a peek to see what someone else packs for their time away, so you will be able to get a vague idea from this. But as it's not very comprehensive, I promise to bring you lots of shots when we are away.

Here you can see the obligatory breton knits from French Connection, new Jigsaw trench skirt which I wore yesterday, Lola Rose scarf, denim and chambray shirts, sparkly vests and out of shot chino style trousers and heavier knits.  

As always, I have packed plenty of accessories, again largely keeping to the same colour scheme.

Two pairs of flats and two pairs of heels, again in the same colours (apart from the pink heels I have since added!)

And three bags -  Cath Kidston every day bag: a chuck it all in kind of bag which is indestructible;

Cream Day Bag: Soft and slouchy and it will go with everything. This one was from Warehouse last summer;

Marc Jacobs evening bag in flouro snake print: I will use this in the hotel in the evenings for phone/keys/lippy and such like. This was a birthday pressie from my in-laws, which I am very much looking forward to using.

So, that's me done! I'm really looking forward to our trip away. It's almost 14 years to the day that I last stayed in a hotel so it will be lovely to have the chance to enjoy whole days without thinking about shopping/cooking etc. Yipppeeeeeeeee! Hope that you are all enjoying the summer and don't forget to get snapping away so that you have photos to send me for a blog post of outfits worn in the sun!

Women Behaving Badly - what to do with a flamingo and a donkey (whilst wearing a Jigsaw skirt!)

You may remember that a while ago I highlighted some pieces in the Jigsaw sale which I thought were particularly good buys, and this trench skirt was one of them.

When I first put it on, although I really liked it, I wasn't 100% sure about it.  However I then got a second opinion from my husband, who has a really good eye for these things, despite not caring in the least what he wears himself. He gave it a very positive "yes" so that was a done deal.

I put it with this sequinned top from Topshop and then, for our evening out, wanted to use my new Orla Kiely bag which my husband bought me for my birthday.  It was way back in January that I first mentioned that I was after a blue bag - and the search has gone on for this long but some things are worth waiting for!

So I wore a coral belt to pick out the red/coral clasp on the bag...

...and my blue Pied a Terre T-bar sandals, to pick out the blue in the bag, and to pull the whole outfit together.

However, on arriving at our friends' house for a birthday celebration, it all went rapidly down hill on the style stakes. With a strong Mexican theme for the evening, a sombrero and chilli necklace were added to the outfit, together with a pink flamingo (not sure of the relevance of that but we found it funny) whilst my friend sported a rather stylish striped pinata.

Oh what fun we had!