Mum on the Run: Note to self. Don't commit all your thoughts to print and then change your mind a few months later. The Bowie Ash Wedge trainer. What else?

"What's wrong Mum?" the eldest asked as she found me sitting on the sofa, head in my hands, shoe box at my feet. "Are you all right?"

"I can't believe it. I just can't believe it." I responded. "I like them. I actually like them. In fact I really like them. And I've spent all this time hating them. I've even written about how much I hate them. Sometimes I drive myself mad, let alone everyone else."

Talk about the biggest volte face in the history of mankind. Well, that and the one that I did on the smoking slippers too. So here they are, in all their glory, the Ash Bowie wedge trainers, bought from the Outnet in a mad moment last Saturday, as much because I thought that it would be fun to try the "real" thing (Marants aside but that's a whole different ball game) as much as anything else. And also because with no sign of spring on its way anytime soon - anyone else got snow forecast for tonight? - and with sandals not being an option just yet, a girl has to think outside the box. Box! See below - get it? I know, it's poor.

So, this is what an Ash box looks like, just in case anyone cares. I do because I like branding and boxes. Sad, I know but it's the anticipation of what boxes contain that does it for me.

"Yuk!" I hear some of you cry. "Hmmmm. Interesting" others may muse.

At this point I have to say that there was absolutely no styling involved in terms of jeans, jeans length etc. The photos were taken in between clearing up one lot of cooking utensils and starting on the next meal.

Front view sitting down  with my legs out in front - a very stylish pose!

 

I found them true to size, very soft and comfortable too. Oh flippety flip flip. This was not the plan. Not at all. But there's no way they are going back.  I am relying on these to breathe life back into my wardrobe until the sun finally decides to show its face.

Mum on the Run - one pair of jeans, one pair of shoes, four tops - your spring wardrobe sorted!

Take one pair of Gap sexy boyfriend jeans (£49.95) - if you don't like the finish there are other options...

add in one pair of Mango leather strap ankle sandals (£59.99) (Mum you can wear your new Hotters)...

...if these are too high or you don't like the ankle strap look my earlier post on Clarks shoes for alternative non ankle strap/lower block heel options, which as we all know is where it's at right now.

Work in one of the tops below for an outfit which you should be able to wear on a day coming to you, sometime soon!!! Not jumpers, not skimpy vest like tops, these are tops that you could wear with the above two pieces to take you from day to night, into the weekend and beyond (I wrote the "beyond" bit because I wasn't sure how to describe where you would wear the spotty shirt! Cheat.)

Option 1 - the lace blouse

This is a little Zara number. With very pretty detailing around the neckline, it's not too figure hugging and is more skimming than clinging. Although it has a fairly high neck, which in general doesn't flatter curvier busts, the fact that it is sheer towards the top makes it more flattering than it might first appear. Zara has a great selection of lace tops so if this one isn't for you, there may be others that are. Lace and denim, especially beaten up denim, offers that nice contrast in the same way that leather and lace, or sequins and denim, do.

Option 2

Spots tend to be a love or hate thing. Personally, as with stripes, I love them. They signify to me all things spring like. This pink spotted Gap shirt would look great layered under either a fitted crew or v- neck jumper for a preppy look, or under a looser slouchier style knit for a more relaxed look. I think that I will try it with both. It could also be tied at the waist as another option. This shirt currently has 20% off in the GAP sale.

The non-cardi, cardi

I was shopping with a lady on Friday who was banned by her husband from buying cardigans. Whether this cardi/jacket from Mint Velvet would have passed his non-cardi test I don't know but what really appealed to me was its shape.

Bomber jackets are a big look this season but many of them are to OTT - too silk, too printed, too much. I like that this references the bomber jacket shape but that it isn't a bomber jacket at all. Right. Because that really makes sense doesn't it? No, really it does. It doesn't mean that everyone will like it and in fact some will hate it but to me it was exciting because it's a little bit different - slightly trendier (for want of a better word) than the spotty shirt option but less "going out" like than the lace top. With a cami underneath it would be great for those outings that require more than a cardi in terms of style but not the full on silk bomber jacket treatment.  

And finally, the top of the season - the sweatshirt! Worn here with a neon bird print scarf from GAP, this too would look great with the jeans/block heels combination.

One pair of jeans, one pair of shoes and several tops should hopefully kick start your spring wardrobe nicely. Obviously a striped top should be worked into the above and I have one in a box which is sitting very close to me. A Boden box in fact. But that's tomorrow's treat....

Mum on the Run - To chop or not to chop, that is the question?

Our hair. It can be our crowning glory, or responsible for everything that goes wrong in our lives, from not getting that job to a horrendous night out. So often we refer to people's hair when describing them - "You know who she is, she's the one with the very long/short/blonde/shiny/dark/curly hair."

 

When I was last at the hairdressers, we were chatting about how it often seemed to be the case that women who experimented with short hair quickly decided that it wasn't for them and grew it again.  A straw poll in the salon drew a consensus that Halle Berry, as beautiful as she is, suited short hair better than long hair.

 

Long hair means so much to so many women, whether they use it as protection, for seduction, because it suits them or because they (or their other halves) can't imagine life without it.

 

I can't imagine how awful it must be to lose one's hair as a result of illness and I don't feel qualified to go there - so this is all about preference and in some cases hysteria when a cm too much is chopped off. We've all been there! 

 

With Jessie J agreeing to have her head shaved for comic relief (how amazing does she look?) I thought now might be a prudent time to look at those stars who had had their hair cropped and who, in some cases, had grown it again.

 

 

I know that she's paid millions, and I know that it grows back, but I thought that Anne Hathaway was brave in having her hair cut for Les Miserables.  I don't think that she's planning on keeping it short. It seems to be getting a little longer each time I see it which is a shame (if I may be so bold as to express an opinion) as it really suits her.

Ah, the lovely Michelle Williams. Her short hair is so much a part of her style which is chic, elegant, a little bit 1950's and very Miu Miu. I read that she kept her hair short as someone to whom she had once been close loved it so much. I assume by this that she meant Heath Ledger, the father of her child who sadly died.

Carey Mulligan is apparently unable to grow her hair long as it has been so damaged by extensive colouring. Whether it is true or not who knows but she's another (cropped) blonde bombshell.

Danii Minogue is a bit of a chameleon when it comes to hair in that it always seems to look different. Perhaps that just comes from having a good hairdresser and enough length to it to style it in many ways. I don't really think of Danii as a true "shortie" - just a visiting one!

After being contractually bound for so many years not to cut her hair, when Emma Watson finished filming Harry Potter, it's one of the first things that she did. This was a growing up/rebellious chop as much as anything else but not one that lasted - although again I think that it suited her.

Sienna Miller, she who epitomised the boho look for so long, was never a convincing shortie and as much as it suited her, it was only a matter of time before she grew her crop out again. It was great whilst it lasted!

Halle Berry did more for short hair and orange bikins in "Die Another Day" than anyone could have done for either, in anything else, ever. She just looked stunning.

VB's crop was the start of her transformation from the WAG of the Baden Baden days, to the fashion designer that she is today. Whilst she didn't keep her short hair, losing those long curly extensions was probably the best thing that VB could have done for her style credentials. Having said that, I love her hair now.

For a long time Winona Ryder had short hair but she is wearing it long again now. In some ways the look of long hair which is tied back is not that dis-similar to cropped hair. Everything is exposed and there's nowhere to hide. Again, I think that it suits her but maybe I'm biased.

In fact, I can't think of many stars who have had their hair cropped and who it hasn't really suited - and anyway that would be unfair to say so. On the other hand, I guess most of them think long and hard about it before braving the hairdresser's chair. So, what do you think. Would you? Wouldn't you? Have you? What would your other half think and would you ever do a Jessie J for charity?

Here are some girls who probably have enough hair for all of us!

Mum on the Run - Spring is definitely on its way - in my wardrobe at least

There's nothing like sorting out other people's wardrobes to get you thinking about your own.  Having done three Wardrobe Consultations this week, it was inevitable that mine was going to be well and truly in for it.

 

More than anything I have had enough of the weather dictating that the same jeans and jumpers are the best things to be wearing when not working, so I have taken matters into my own hands and had a little swap around.

 

In addition to my wardrobe(s) - if you include my husband's and daughter's into which my clothes creep (no idea how that happens) - I find it useful to have a separate rail on which I hang things. I put them there either because I've neglected them, or because they're on last chance saloon before being culled or because they're new and I like looking at them - which is slightly sad I know but it's cheaper than buying new artwork.  

 

 

The aim of the rail at the moment is solely to bring some colour into my life - and also because knowing the UK weather, we will suddenly wake up to temperatures of 20 degrees and I will be totally ill-prepared for the warmth (which could of course be the only warm day of the year.) I have to say, it also makes the room look a hec of a lot better too.

 

In addition to a little re-arranging, I've also got a few parcels on their way to me - all of course in the name of research, naturally. I figured that it was about time to kick start the spring wardrobe and it's quite nice to have the expectation of something lovely waiting at home after a long day, even if it doesn't ever actually become mine.

 

As and when they arrive, I will share the pieces with you because you never know, they could be just right for someone else too. (I think I'm doing a good job of convincing myself that this exercise is for the greater good. What do you think?)

 

There's a top from Whistles which I bought with a 25% off voucher. There are a few bits from Boden on their way, some trousers from Cos, some Ash wedge trainers (I know, I'm so shallow) a pair of the Next trousers I wrote about on Friday and of course there's a list in my head with one or two pieces on it, including a Topshop coat, some Mango shoes and some cobalt blue jeans. As I always remind myself, and others, it doesn't count until you decide to keep it so with the sun on its way (surely?) now is the time to shop with gay abandon and without any guilt. I'm such a generous soul aren't I?!!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tapered jersey trousers  from Next (£18)

 

M&S sandals (silver £45, blue £25)

 

Lurex tweed jacket (Warehouse £46)

 

Jigsaw raw edge silk cotton T (£59)

Cecily - a collection of eight elegant dresses. Loving them!

A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to be invited to an event held by new brand, Cecily. The designers, Sarah and Louise, have known each other since they were at school together. Having pursued independent careers, they have recently launched Cecily and have created a capsule collection of eight beautiful dresses.

 

Here is Sarah, looking stunning in Cecily's Caroline dress. Who needs models?! Louise and Sarah are the best ambassadors possible for their brand.

 

When designing the dresses, Sarah and Louise take great care to ensure that the length is just right, that some designs have full length sleeves in them and that whilst they are fitted, there is enough stretch in the fabric to keep the dresses feeling comfortable all day long.

These shots were taken at an event which Cecily held at Coutts in London. The dresses are perfect for days in the office in that they are simple, stylish and elegant.

This setting looks perfect for showcasing Cecily dresses - just look at that decor. The chandelier is incredible!

The Cecily Helen dress (left) is cut with a little more flare to the skirt, whilst the Anastasia (right) is really elegant, with a striking collar. All of the toiles are fitted on Louise, who is a size 12, as it's really important to Louise and Sarah that their dresses are flattering on everyone. I love the addition of the statement earrings to the Helen dress, which takes it from day to evening brilliantly.

This is Cecily's Josephine dress, which comes in both black and navy. It is the perfect LBD, or LND. I can imagine really feeling the part at work in one of these dresses - especially if you need to kick some ass!

The lovely open neckline of the Sophia style (left) flashes just enough clavicle to be subtley sexy and there's a great design detail on the sleeves.

Here's a closer shot of the Anastasia, which has a pencil style skirt and a narrow waistband to it to give extra shape.

And here's the Anastasia again as worn by Lucy Kite on ITV on Tuesday. It featured on TV several times during the day and was well and truly put to the test. Lucy loved the comfort and fit of it, in particular its length. From what I gather it caused quite a stir on twitter and in the emails that she received, asking where it was from.

The dresses are made in Portugal, in the same factory as the Victoria Beckham collection. In fact, Louise and Sarah were quite excited to see the collection of uber long zips that go into her dresses.

For those women who are desperate for smart, elegant dresses which are designed by ladies who understand what women want from their dresses in terms of length, comfort and design, Cecily is definitely a brand to watch.

Mum on the Run - Hot to trot in what? Hotters? Are you sure?!

Watch out Nottingham, the fashionistas are coming to town! I went to see my Mum and her sister today and between them, having dissected the fashion pages of Grazia, they decided that a shopping trip was in order. So armed with their bus passes and Hotter shoes (more of which later) they will be launching an attack on the unsuspecting Monsoon there to investigate their boho quilted jackets. I daren't tell them that Zara has a good selection too. I don't think that Zara is quite ready for my Mum and her sister.  They concluded that the Hobbs NW3 version was too expensive so at least Hobbs is off the hook - well for now anyway.

Whilst at Mums we also had a chat about the Hotter catalogue and I was informed by my Aunt, the font of all knowledge when it comes to M&S, that they are launching a new range which will be made in the UK.

Anyway, the chat about the Hotter catalogue got me thinking because a while ago now I bumped into someone who asked me to write about comfortable shoes. Whilst pregnant, she had suffered from oedema which had left her with one foot larger than the other. Quite often clients of mine comment that they can't find comfortable shoes but I think that maybe Hotter has one or two styles that may appeal to those who, up until recently, wouldn't have given them a second glance.

So, for those days when you would like to look as though you are wearing these: (Christian Louboutin Flo sling)

but what you are really looking for is the comfort of these (which I have now fallen a little bit in love with. Drat you Nike Air Max, I thought I had got you out of my system when I owned a pair of you 20 years ago.)

Then you could do worse than take a look at these Carly shoes from Hotter. I know that they're not cool and I know that they're not sexy. I also know that I will lose any tiny amount of street cred that I ever had. Actually scrap that - I know I never had any - but Hotter really are trying to up their game. Their website isn't too bad, their customer service is good and they have used attractive models - not like the Zara misery pants ones at all, so it's actually quite a nice site to look at. Their shoes comes in extra wide fittings as well as EEE and have additional padding for comfort.

Whilst the UK High Street may be the best in the world, for anyone who doesn't fit the standard shapes and sizes of clothes and shoes, it can be a nightmare and ladies are often left feeling despondent. I have come across this time and time again with ladies who are particularly tall, or petite, or who have a very curvy bust. However, Hotter may offer a little light at the end of the tunnel for anyone who suffers with uncomfortable feet - or for anyone who is on their feet alot.

I am now off to have a cup of cocoa and to prepare tomorrow's post. Damart or Jacques Vert anyone?!!!

Oh, by the way, has anyone been to the new & Other Stories store in London. I saw it when I was meeting up with some other fashion bloggers in London (says she, desperately trying to recover some street cred) a few weeks back and with its launch on 8th March, I am dying to know what people think.  The collection looks good online but you can't beat a good feel of the fabric to know how things really are shaping up.

Fashion round up of the week - things I have bought, spotted and found on my travels

It has to be said that my husband is far too good a cook by anyone's standards. Combine that with a son who has a penchant for baking chocolate cakes and this is not a house to be in. Which is why I find myself blogging from my bed - it's the only comfortable place to be right now.

With friends round for dinner last night, brunch today and home made calzones this evening, it's all I can do to lift my fingers to type. Added to which I had the bright idea of doing a blindfolded chocolate tasting session as part of the Mother's Day activities. Never to do things by half, the family bought 17 different types of chocolate to try. I gave up at ten. Those rows of Easter eggs in the Supermarket hold no temptation for me right now. Give it a couple of days and I am sure that it will be a different matter but as for now....

Fashion seems to be standing a still at the moment. I cracked out the converse a few weeks ago, only to return them to the wardrobe when my feet nearly fell off through being cold. We have had snow flurries on and off all day so it doesn't feel as though we are any further forward than we were just after Christmas. However even if it's still the same jumpers and jeans being worn on a rotating basis like many others, that doesn't stop me from planning.

I had a brief trip to Bicester last week, which saw this All Saints dress come my way. Reduced from £110 to £33, I really liked the print and the fact that it was slightly longer at the back than at the front. I can do a little layering with it when it finally does start to warm up and when it's really hot, it will work pretty much on its own. 

 

I am a big fan of Hobbs NW3 shoes and liked that these were a little bit quirky. Reduced from £189 to £45, they will work with the above dress, tailored ankle length trousers, wide and skinny jeans and I have a couple of skirts in mind to wear them with too. Still need the sun for these though!

I love All Saints for their leather jackets, particularly when they are on sale at Bicester. With all things metallic being so big for s/s '13 I thought that I would show you this silver one, just in case anyone was on the hunt for one right now.

I also spotted - excuse the pun - this spotty dress in Hobbs. For those of you who have been reading Style Guile for a while, you will probably recognise it as one that I have worn on here several times. I know that there were some of you who were after one and for a while they were hard to get hold of but there is a good stock of them at the Hobbs in Bicester and in all sizes too.

Whilst flicking through the Johnnie B catalogue this week, I also came across this quilted jacket. You may remember that I wrote a post about them a while ago now, including some from Anthropologie, Zara, Hobbs and I have also seen one in Monsoon too. I really like this navy and white spotty one with the floral trim and at £38 it may be worth a whirl. The link gives a much better idea of how it really looks. I suppose there's a risk that I could bump into an 8 year old wearing one but if it's the right jackt for me, I'm happy to take the risk.

Moving on to a different topic of conversation, Dungarees - would you or wouldn't you? My initial reaction was not in a million, no way, never, been there done that at University with monkey boots, just for good measure. I haven't deviated far from that position but think that they actually look OK in the picture below. This is probably the first photograph of dungarees that I have seen on a non-model and I like them on her. I'm still not saying that I would go there but I can see the appeal - slightly. These are from Topshop but I can't see them online at the moment.

As an alternative, Topshop has this frill pinafore by JW Anderson - £75. This is a back shot, just in case you were wondering about the dodgy design! I really like these but maybe it's because I have a Muji apron which is really similar in design, which I also like wearing. Some things just can't be explained, so it's best not to try to.

                                                  
River Island (£40) has these dungarees which are in a smarter, non-denim fabric. I can see these appealing to those who have already worn denim dungarees and who are looking for a pair to wear in a more sophisticated way.  I can imagine that you might still be likened to a three year old in them - and no doubt there would be retorts from witty males - but again, I can see the possibilities for them, just not for me. Not yet at least. What say you?