Mum on the Run - Taking it slowly....

Sometimes I think that we feel compelled to carry on living life at a frenetic pace, even when there's a chance to kick back and relax.

 

With a couple of hours to spare when I arrived in London last week, I had the choice of dashing around the bigger and better versions of the stores that we have here in Birmingham - just to see what else they had in stock - battling with the crowds on Oxford Street to get to Selfridges, or heading to my favourite store - Liberty. Liberty won. I've loved Liberty for more years than I can remember and I  used to wear their scrunchies at 6th form college. Apparently scrunchies are making a come back - I know, can you believe that? However I think that mine are long gone.

 

After a quick look around the Jigsaw on Argyll Street and a mid-morning refuel in a cafe, I went in to Liberty, via the chocolate section of course.  

 

Such a beautiful display and one of only many. I was intrigued by all the different sorts of chocolate on offer, particularly the "pudding" bars but continued on my journey through into cosmetics and stationery, via the hats with this lovely display by Christys and where there's a gorgeous straw trilby with a liberty print band around it which has my name on it.

...and these lovely displays of scarves. The colours were so beautiful and a gentle reminder that spring is somewhere on its way...soon.

I love Liberty for the building (I can almost convince myself that I have indulged in something historical and cultural when I have been in there, which is a bonus) the fact that it stocks brands that I don't get to see at home but also for the fact that it is done in a really un-pretentious way. Simplicity is key.

Chinti & Parker jumpers are great to wear (I am told!) and they are lovely to touch.

The same is true of Equipment shirts, which also feel gorgeous to touch.

On I went, looking at Isabel Marant Etoile, Rag and Bone, Carven and other brands before going to the sale room (how I wish I had left more time to look there. They had some amazing savings) before heading back downstairs for a quick look at the bags, a hunt for something with "Liberty" written on it for our eldest who also loves the store, before leaving via the main entrance with the beautiful flowers.

Wandering around a store is obviously not everyone's idea of switching off, even one as beautiful as Liberty - in fact my own sister would find the idea positively ridiculous! However for me it was lovely to be able to step off the world for a little while and was I glad to have left Oxford Street to the masses? Oh yes indeed. At least I am putting one of my New Year's resolutions into play. The one about remembering to take plastic bags back to the supermarket to re-use? Not so good.

Mum on the Run - Dashing around London in GAP and All Saints plus a little gem for you from J Crew

Yesterday saw me taking a trip to London to work with a new brand - more about that another time!

 

It was an early start and with snow forecast for home on my return, I needed to be practical - which is why, having taken the p*** out of Jessica Biel for not wearing any socks with her All Saints shoe boots, I did the same - except my socks were in my bag just in case I needed them! Oddly, despite the cold, my ankles weren't cold at all, which is good to know for future reference - given that I am such a wimp.

 

Jeans seemed the most practical option, so I wore GAP (sexy!) boyfriend jeans, which were very comfortable, Zara jumper with a silky front, French Connection scarf, Cocinelle cuff, La La Rocks bracelet, Topshop necklace and All Saints shoe boots. They were so comfortable! I traipsed around London, minus socks and there wasn't a blister in sight!

 

I thought that it might be helpful to show the accessories at close quarters so here they are: French Connection scarf bought in the sale.  You know the other day when I said that the All Saints shoe boots were the only thing that I bought in the sale? Well I was wrong. I usually am.  Cocinelle cuff and La La Rocks braclet - bottom left and right - and pirate lariat necklace (Topshop £12).

Had I known the necklace was called that I am not sure that I would have bought it but on closer inspection there's nothing remotely pirate like about it, which is good. I only bought the necklace on Wednesday and really like it because although it's long, due to the way that it is fixed quite high up, it's not a swinger (if you will excuse the phrase) so it doesn't get caught in the dishwasher.

Given the cold snap, and the fact that I know that there are lots of tall (and petite) ladies out there who have difficulty finding a coat to fit, I thought that I would show you this down filled Puffa Jacket from J Crew (£214.60 reduced to £166.34) which comes in both tall and petite sizings. The taller size is aimed at women 5ft 9" to 6ft and the small one is designed for women 5ft to 5ft 4" - and has a slightly lower price too.

 

 

I know how hard it can be to find good quality coats, especially for taller ladies so, if you are on the look out for something to keep the cold at bay, this just might be it. Happy snowballing!

Mum on the Run - An alternative to the Acne pistol boot? Thanks to All Saints, possibly.

Both the Acne Pistol (left) and the Acne Star (right) have been a popular choice of boot for A-listers and yummy mummies in recent seasons. An ankle boot with a chunky heel, they are both practical and stylish - but with a bit of a hefty price tag.

 

                               

When I was in town yesterday doing some "research" I came across some boots in All Saints.  Lower than the pistol boot both in terms of ankle height, heel height (and price!) I thought that they would be really a practical addition to my wardrobe.

 

It would appear from today's Grazia that Jessica Biel has been paying All Saints a visit too. Although if she paid the full price for her boots she was diddled!

I decided to go for the tarnished gold version, rather than the black. Obviously the flash on the camera makes them look much shinier than they are but I liked the tarnished look for a change. They will take on the colour of whatever it is that I am wearing, making them super versatile.

This is them from the side. I am planning on wearing them with skirts and dresses too but if they don't work as I hope, given that I practically live in trousers they will still get plenty of wear. I don't have a dog to take with me when wearing mine but I'm sure that a small child will be a good substitute.

 

For anyone hunting for a pair, here are the details. I know that both the All Saints store and Selfridges in Birmingham still have some (in black too) and they come up pretty true to size. Reduced to £87.50 from £175, they counted as a proper saving in my eyes.

 

Unless I am mistaken, these have been my only sale purchase.  As I said at the start of the sales, I like to wait to the end as that's when the real bargains are to be found. I really hope that the end of the sales result in some great savings for you all too.

A style of dress from Whistles which suits lots of ladies - a real gem!

Yesterday I was invited to a friend's birthday afternoon tea, which was lovely and very civilised for a Sunday afternoon. Another friend was wearing the Bella style dress from Whistles - and she looked amazing in it.

 

I thought that it was worth writing about this particular dress because it's not often that a style of dress comes along which suits lots of ladies - however this one does.  Not only that but it is a lovely style of dress - one of those styles that you might choose to wear because you love it, rather than just because it works for your shape. It's 100% stretch silk and can be dressed up or down and worn for work, for going out in, to a wedding or with a chunky knit and ankle boots. With sleeves, a longer length in some styles and with clever ruching to define the waist and disguise the tummy, it's a style worth investigating if you are after something special.

 

Whistles generally do two or three Bella dresses each season in different fabrics - usually one plain, one floral and one animal print inspired. I have found that they have worked for ladies of different sizes and although they do limited runs, the company is good at helping you to locate your size if it's not available locally.

 

This is the bodycon version which comes in a size 6 to 16 and which costs £115.

 

 

The Bella glazed floral print dress which costs £155, is available in both a longer length 96cm (back neck to hem) and a shorter length of 92cm.

This is the Bella Abstract animal print dress which again costs £155.

 

I don't work on a commission basis as I think that it's important to maintain my integrity and to do the very best for my clients without any personal benefit but if there's a particular style out there which I think you should know about, I'm very happy to share it. You can quite often find this style in the sales and Grazia usually runs a discount with Whistles each season, which is honoured in the concessions too. Hope you have all had a good start to the week.

Mum on the Run - See where my latest style inspiration has come from...

It is possible to get style inspiration from lots of places - books, magazines, nature, the catwalk or in this case, our 5 year old's trainers. I have been coveting them since she had them for Christmas and this is why...(grubbiness aside).

 

 

For the past 5 summers or so I have bought a new pair of converse. Now having them in cow print, pink, coral, turquoise and pale blue I can't pretend to need any more. However I do love the comfort of flats and trainers are great for nipping up to school and back in and whizzing around the stores when not with clients. They look great with skinny jeans and ankle length trousers too and worn in the right way, they are a fantastic alternative to loafers, brogues and other flat styles.

I loved the collaboration between Nike and Liberty and featured a pair of their trainers here late last summer. They were too small for me and so were returned but not before someone left a comment asking me whether, if I had kept them, would they have featured in my outfits of shame for the year. Hardly! Boob tube, leather mini skirt and white chipped stilettos maybe but not trainers.

Anyway, I digress. What I like about the pink Clarks trainers is the sole and the slight addition of height that they give without being too chunky. I remember a friend at school having some red gola trainers that weren't dis-similar but they don't seem to make them any more. I have had Adidas Gazelles in the past but they are a little too flat. Anyway, they just make me wince. I was wearing mine once when I was using some shears in the garden and I chopped the lace off. Good job I wasn't barefoot.

These are the Puma Classic trainers but again, they're just not quite right.

I have worn Nike Air Max in the past for the gym/running but they are too "trainer like" for what I am after. I also have worn Campers in the past but no, it's time for a change.

So that's why these Clarks ones would be perfect. I could probably manage without the flashing lights and the velcro isn't really necessary for someone my age. A different colour would be good but other than that they are exactly what I am after. Having trawled the shops and the web, in the words of U2, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for." But I will - of that I am sure.

Off for a day in the shops in a little Hobbs, Reiss, Jaeger Boutique, Zara and LK Bennett - and all bought in the sales

 

Yesterday I hit the stores to do some shopping in preparation for an event at a set of Barrister's Chambers tomorrow. As well as being on the look out for pieces which do a particular job style wise - whether because they are perfect for a particular body shape, because they are a great basic, because they are versatile, a great accessory or representative of new trends - I was also on the look out for bargains!

 

For some of the pieces that I was after, Hobbs was the best option by far. Some pieces had up to 70% off, they had a good range of sizes and they hadn't just recycled the things that hadn't sold in the summer. From Hobbs perspective it wasn't so great but it was good for me - and possibly for the ladies tomorrow. I will try and bring you some pictures of some of the pieces, depending on their "hanger presence".

 

Jaeger Boutique, Whistles and Ted Baker also had some great reductions, as did Aubin & Wills - although the brand will cease to exist soon so it may be worth checking it out sooner rather than later.  

 

 

I always need to be really practical and comfortable when I shop as I end up walking so far and carrying so much. So, I wore skinny Hobbs jeans, Reiss navy pea coat, Zara boots, LK Bennett cross body bag and neon pink Jaeger scarf for a pop of colour.  I bought the Hobbs jeans just before Christmas and have had to persevere with them as initially they weren't that comfortable but they have been worth the effort.

  

Today I was doing shopping of a different kind. Although I have recently had some amazing party invitations - in particular to one at which Mark Wright and Arg from TOWIE will be present (!) I was shopping for our now 5 year old's birthday party. It was really embarrassing and, as I was unpacking the contents of my trolley on to the converyor belt, I felt like saying to everyone that I don't normally buy ten tonnes of jammy dodgers, ice cream, party rings, chocolate fingers, hula hoops and fruit shoots (plus one bag of carrots) for our weekend's food consumption. Well, not every weekend anyway.

Sale buys that I am wearing!

Zara boots - summe sale, Hobbs jeans - just before Christmas, Reiss pea coat - 2 years ago, LK Bennett bag - Bicester a few years ago, Jaeger scarf - in store now!

Walking on the sunny side of the street thanks to Karen Millen, Reiss, Boden and Whistles

The rest of the family don't believe that I like watching Home and Away and Wild at Heart for the sun but it's true. I would imagine that I am one of very few people to be sad that Wild at Heart has finished but it kept me going through the winter months.

Oh well, I am sure that there is something out there on the High Street that I can look at to remind me of the sun instead. Every cloud and all that...

Earlier on I asked the children to come up wtih an analogy for something that is under-rated. Something that is, if you like, a poor second cousin until you try it - because that's how I feel about yellow.

At first I thought about the Quality Street that are left behind in the tin but then I realised that there's a reason that they are there and it's not because they are under-rated but rather because they're not very nice. Our eldest thought that something that was under-rated until you tried it was divorce - but I decided not to pursue that train of thought any further. Anyway, I think that you get my drift.

Whilst white is without a doubt "the" colour for s/s '13, yellow is a great way of freshening up your wardrobe for the spring. It goes well with navy, white and black and for those who like mixing brighter colours, purple too. Yellow isn't really a colour worn in the winter but, as with the daffodils, the arrival of yellow in the shops heralds the arrival of spring. As the sales end and more new season stock arrives in store I am sure that there will be a wider selection of pieces but here's what's available for now.

So, in no particular order, there's this lovely Karen Millen bowling bag (£225) which I would be very happy to carry around, should it come my way...

Or there's this Boden peplum jacket (£63.30 down from £79). Peplums are something about which I have been very sceptical but this jacket is a mere nod to a peplum, so that's OK. I like the idea of this jacket with some skinny, or slightly scruffy jeans and a white shirt or breton top - rather than as part of a smarter outfit.

This button back jumper £59 from Boden would work well with a denim shirt layered underneath it, or worn simply with a smarter pair of trousers or a skirt - pencil, A-line, flippy or bell shaped, take your pick! The buttons up the back of the jumper make it just that little bit more interesting and it may even work as a cardi too.

This Jinny top from Reiss (£60 down from £120) is more of a trend led piece and great for those who would rather wear yellow on their top half but not next to their skin. This would be really versatile - great for pepping up your jeans with heels for an evening out, or worn with some silky sports-luxe trousers. Whistles has had some great grey ones in the sale. I have it on good authority that there will be 70% off in the Reiss sale as from tomorrow, so it could be worth checking out.

For those wanting just a hint of yellow to their outfit, this Whistles neon lightweight scarf (£45) could be perfect. Jewellery is the obvious other way of incorporating yellow but in a very minor way -  any more minor than that and you would be looking at your undies!

Tomorrow I am shopping in preparation for an event that I will be at on Saturday. Any finds that come my way I will be sure to share with you here!

Mum on the Run - Running away from the beauty business as fast as her little legs will carry her....

 

 

 

I don't usually write about beauty, largely because I am fairly sceptical about the whole beauty business and the claims that are made. With clothes you can instantly see whether they work for you or not - whether the colour and fit are right, whether they sit properly and whether they are flattering or not.

 

Except this Christmas I deviated from my usual thought process and lived to regret it! Although I religiously remove my make-up every evening and use moisturiser and sun screen, I'm not particularly devoted to any one brand and often use samples from magazines, alongside the odd pot of whatever is on offer and which isn't too perfumed.

 

So, off I headed to Selfridges to a brand whose samples I had used briefly and, after a detailed skin analysis, I invested in what I was advised to buy (it might have involved the words "anti-ageing" pah!) However only one day after using it I developed a rash. The products were duly returned,  my money refunded - which was good of them - and week's worth of samples to fix the problem obtained. 

 

So, where does that leave me? Am I even more sceptical than I was before - or not?  Having started down the rocky road that I was for so long eager to avoid, rather than ignoring articles and adverts about the latest creams and the miracles they work, I have now started to read them. I feel slightly ensnared and confused by the whole business and if I am honest a little bit vulnerable, which is not good.

 

My answer? To take back control by heading to Aldi and investing in one of their creams instead. It makes all the same claims as more expensive brands, has had rave reviews and at only £4 a pot isn't going to break the bank. I'd like to think that there was some miracle cream out there which could do wonderful things but I'm not sure that I do - or do I? See what I mean. The beauty business has got me at last.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mum on the Run - but possibly not in these, even if they are Prada, Celine and Nike.

As we all know, the February issues of the magazines are the ones which reveal to us what the trends will be for the forthcoming season and what we "will" (or in this case "won't") be wearing.

Amongst all of the lovely trends - more of which I will share at a later date as yes, my list has been started - there's a worrying trend for flat shoes. Not just any flat shoes but really ugly flat shoes. And boy if they look ugly on the models who are young and who actually have ankles, what hope is there for the rest of the us - the cankle sporting majority?

Now I love flat shoes and will happily wear brogues, loafers, converse, trainers and smoking slippers. I will also be the first to admit that there are some pieces which, after taking an initial dislike to, will grow on me over time. Smoking slippers and, dare I say it, wedge trainers are such examples. I know, I never thought that the day would come when I would take a look at a wedge trainer and quite like it but the new prune and black ones from Ash are quite appealing. Well, apart from the word "prune" in their description, which just conjures up images of school lunches. No brand should ever use the word "prune" to describe anything. It's nearly as bad as "avocado" which just conjures up images of dodgy 1970's  and 80's bathrooms.

Speaking of dodgy pieces from the 1980's, what do you make of these rubber sandals from Nike which have been used in one of the glossies this month?

I know for a fact that my Dad had a pair of these in the '80's. He bought them at the same time that he bought some rather brief Speedos, so that image is firmly imprinted on my mind - unfortunately. I didn't like them then and I don't like them now so I don't think that's likely to change. Good for stopping the spread of verrucas - I'll grant you that but not much else - and I'm not quite sure that they work with an outfit from Paul Smith which cost over £1000.

Or there's these little beauties from Prada. I definitely remember our son having some beach shoes in exactly the same shape as these when he was tiny. These Prada ones which are leather, will set you back £420. Perhaps? Perhaps not!

Or these from Celine. Furry Birkenstock style shoes. I'm afraid I'm having a little difficulty in getting my head around them, from a style perspective at least. On the plus side however they do look very comfortable and I am all in favour of that.

 

Really, this is all tongue in cheek and the world would be a boring place if we all liked the same things. However if I ever say on here that I am starting to come around to the idea of plastic Nike shoes, Prada style beach shoes or furry Birkenstocks, please take me to one side and have a quiet word.

In the navy now: Loving these boots from Whistles

Recently, and I can't remember who they were (sorry), but I have had a few people ask me where they can find navy boots and navy shoes. In a way it's a little bit odd that navy footwear isn't more readily available, given that navy clothes are so easy to come by.

 

So, when I saw these Kir Royale Suede boots (£150) in Whistles, I knew that they would appeal to many. They are a great style, a great colour with a great heel height.  I have no doubt that in the fullness of time a Whistles voucher will appear in Grazia - so that may be worth holding out for. As to why they are called Kir Royale I have no idea. Mine never look this colour.

  

                                                 

 

As part of my research (and just to make sure that I wasn't talking utter nonsense when I said that navy footwear was hard to come by) I came across this Aleen PA court shoe from Dune (£65).

                                                   

With an 8cm high heel, they may be on the high side but M&S usually has a couple of styles with a slightly lower heel. I know, I should do further research and bring you the photos of them too but I just don't have the will to navigate the M&S website tonight - it can be soul destroying at times.  Also the film "The Holiday" is on TV and I like seeing Cameron Diaz looking fantastic in pale coloured cashmere whereas, as I think I have mentioned on here before, I would just look like a lumpy marshmallow.

The first of the season's trends - will you or won't you?

If someone said "I've had a brilliant idea. I'm going to design a handbag made of plastic, which is see through and which costs a couple of thousand pounds," I'm not sure that many of us would say "Yeah! Fantastic! You're right, it is a brilliant idea and why didn't I think of it earlier?"

 

Except that's exactly what Burberry has done with their Blaze bag. I wouldn't mind betting that it will be a great hit, that is until those long lenses zoom in on what the A-listers are carrying and the contents of their bags appear in OK and Hello.

 

Oh and as for the muggers, these bags must be a dream come true. Not only does the bag have a tidy value in its own right but it's abundantly clear to see where the purse and car keys are positioned within it.  Excellent.

 

 

 

I'm not convinced that most women would want to flash the contents of their bag to the world. Oat cake crumbs, a half eaten packet of almonds, nerf gun foam bullets and crumpled up receipts anyone? How delightful!

For me the biggest irony of all is that the bag that this one most closely resembles is the Chloe

Paddington which was best known for its huge padlock.

I predict a whole underground movement of people with their Blaze bags on view but with a sneakily concealed bag elsewhere on their person with the "real contents" of their bag in it. So if you see anyone carrying one of these bags but with odd protrusions elsewhere about their person, I wouldn't mind betting that it will be that sneakily hidden "real" bag - quite possibly one from Sainsbury's or Waitrose, which cost precisely nothing.

I know that it doesn't sound very generous of spirit but I can't wait to do a bit of A-lister spotting when it comes to this little gem!

 

The 12 outfits of Christmas: My greatest style inspiration of all...Happy New Year!

For my last post of the year I wanted to thank you all for your support, your comments, your input and your loveliness, particularly when the going has been tough. Style Guile has grown beyond my wildest expectations and I have you all to thank for that.

 

Some of you, I know, have been with me from the start and have watched Style Guile grow. The majority will have joined along the way. Some are family and friends and others have become friends. Some of you are on the other side of the world and from you, I love hearing about how sunny it is whilst we sit here in the rain and cold.  

 

For many bloggers, their style inspiration comes from such people as Diane Kruger, Miranda Kerr and Victoria Beckham. However I particularly wanted to share with you my true style inspiration - and here he is.....

 

 

 If you look closely, you can see that not only do we share a love of "sweaters" but we also share the same hairstyle - other than our partings being on different sides.

For today's shot I am in front of the fire - no rocking chair or guitar I am afraid - but I am sending you warm wishes, lots of love and soon I shall break into a Val Doonican song which, fortunately for you all, you won't be able to hear.

So, I shall do no more for now than thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time out of your busy lives to read Style Guile, for getting in touch and for leaving me comments - all of which I appreciate more than you can imagine. I hope that next year will be amazing for you all. x

 

 

 

The 12 outfits of Christmas - A mix of Warehouse, Jigsaw and French Connection for visiting friends

Continuing with the theme of taking photographs in front of different Christmas trees, this weekend we are in Newcastle visiting friends for the New Year.

 

Having two sets of friends who live there means that we can do lots of catching up. We have on occasion wondered why, when our friends from Birmingham move, do they go as far away as they can whilst still remaining in the same country (just)? Perhaps that is a question best not pondered too deeply.

 

Given that we had a long trip in the car, being comfortable was important. I haven't yet worn this Warehouse jacket/cardi but wore it over a couple of plain tops together with a new scarf from French Connection. Black Jigsaw trousers and shoe boots served me well.

 

 

 

Back to jeans and a jumper tomorrow for a walk along the beach, lunch out and various other activities. It's not going to be a glamour New Year's Eve outfit for me!

The 12 outfits of Christmas: An outfit of masculine tailoring from Zara, Dune and Benetton

Tonight it was all about the shoes! We went round to see some friends which meant that I could wear these ridiculously high shoes with an equally ridiculously thin heel. Less car to bar - more car to living room - but, luckily for me, the principle was still the same.

 

With the taxi outside, the shots were done in 2 seconds flat but I think that you can see enough to get the idea...

 

 

I already had the shoes and trousers in mind but didn't really feel like going for a sparkly top or silk shirt so dressed it all down with a denim shirt. The shape of the pink coat - less girlie, more masculine, seemed to lend itself to the outfit - so that's the road I took.

These black Zara trousers have a subtle leopard print worked into them.

These glittery numbers, previously known as shoes and now re-named by the fashion world as single sole shoes because they don't have a platform (how totally bonkers is that?) were from Dune last Christmas.

This is a pink Mulberry which I used as an oversized clutch.

 

Luckily I was warm and comfortable and appropriately dressed, minus the heels, for a session of "Just Dance" -  a great form of exercise which I think could be quite addictive!

 

We are off up to Newcastle tomorrow so I shall bring you a couple more outfits whilst I am away and then  I will give you all a much needed rest from me! With that in mind, if anyone would like to feature on Style Guile - perhaps you had a favourite outfit over Christmas, or a present that you loved wearing - please let me have your photos to share with the rest of us.

The 12 outfits of Christmas - The Primark Jumper and the Whistles dress

Thanks to our eldest who wanted to spend her Christmas money, today I was treated to a couple of hours in the shops. Whilst it was very enjoyable, I must admit to being a little ambivalent about the sales.

 

The best of the bargains were snapped up on Boxing day when the locusts descended and in any event they would probably still have run into a few hundred pounds. What's left still seems a little on the expensive side, although there are lots of nice pieces in Whistles - primarily cashmere and leather. No, I shall wait a couple more weeks to see whether the things that I have identified are reduced further.

 

I think that the crux of the matter is that my sights have moved on to Spring/Summer '13 - not in a "I need to have" way but more of a wistful kind of way. The brighter colours, the lighter fabrics - they all just look so appealing. Which probably accounts for the fact that I left town with two pillow cases.

 

For today's trip I wore grey GAP trousers, Primark jumper, Cos shirt, Topshop belt, Rockport loafers and a Reiss bag. I fancied mixing lemon and grey together for a change and I liked the pop of colour that the turquoise belt added - but of course others may disagree! The trousers are quite a good shape as although not a boot cut, they have a slight flare which does a good job of balancing out the hips.

This evening saw us nipping out for some drinks so I wore the Whistles Isabella dress that I wore on Boxing Day together with a Whistles scarf (on the basis that it could add a layer of warmth if needed) Hobbs necklace, Boden clutch and Jigsaw shoes.

 

I hope that everyone is still having fun and that for those who have had to return to work, it hasn't been too bad. Time to gear up for those New Year celebrations soon!

The 12 outfits of Christmas - Continuing a little further with outfits 13 and 14

Yesterday saw us visiting family in Leeds and I wore this Isabella dropped waist dress from Whistles. The great thing about it is that it is really comfortable and easy to wear and has the added bonus of being warm. In fact for once, I was very toasty. Our sister in law is Venezuelan and their house is truly tropical - even by my standards.

 

 

On this occasion I thought that it could do with a flash of colour and so I wore this enamel necklace from Next. I also wore Hobbs NW3 shoes but it would work well with shoe boots, heeled ankle boots or a smarter court style shoes - depending on the occasion.

 

Today we had friends dropping for lunch. I was at law school with my friend Jo and it's probably fair to say that we spent every spare moment that we had together chatting about clothes, rather than about the law. When she visits she always likes to have a look to see what new things I have in my wardrobe, which of course is just a good excuse to go upstairs and have another natter about clothes.

Anyway, it being such a miserable day weather wise, I thought that sparkles were in order so I wore skinny jeans (high-waisted from GAP) - still one of my most comfortable pairs ever, my Zara sparkly flats which are serving me well, a Reiss top and a Jigsaw pendant.

I'm off to the sales tomorrow for quick whizz around so I will see what I can find. I will try to adopt the advice that I gave on the radio on Boxing Day when, once again, I missed the first call from the station as I was in the shower. Last time I was in the bath. I seem to have developed a habit of doing most of my radio interviews in a towel these days but fortunately no-one has yet asked me what I am wearing at that particular point in time.  Perish the thought!