Mum on the Run - All "tucked in" in Hobbs, Gap, All Saints and H&M

This is probably going to be the shortest post in the history of the blog but if I don't finish up here soon I'll have suitcases under my eyes tomorrow, rather than just bags.

 

I look a bit "buttoned up" and a bit "tucked in" in this outfit but as I was once described on Mumsnet as being too "tucked in" it would seem quite apt. That phrase made me laugh, largely because it's absolutely true. As a child I would spend hours tucking my vest into my pants and if it wasn't right, back to square one I went until it was all smooth and as it should be. 

 

I'm wearing a Hobbs jacket, Gap jeans, All Saints boots, Cos collar, H&M jumper and Orla Kiely bag.

Out of interest, is anyone else a fan of being all tucked in or is it just me?

Mum on the Run - Anathema Designs - uber cool jewellery designed Sian Rookwood, a Trainee Architect

The good thing about Anathema Designs is that the jewellery does the talking which, you will all be relieved to know, means that I don't have to.

The jewellery is made by Sian Rookwood, who is a trainee architect moonlighting as a freelance jeweller.  Sian specialises in recycling broken or unusual objects and materials to create unique items of jewellery. Her aim is to change people's perceptions about what is beautiful and what isn't.

This heart necklace is made of Japanese chain mail and costs £25 which (I think) is far too little, given the fact that it is a unique hand-made piece. It's a limited edition item and it's the only one left, so anyone who wants it needs to be quick as I have my eye on it.

In October 2012, Sian was selected as a Judge's favourite on BBC2's "Paul Martin's Handmade Revolution" and has since gone on to have her pieces used by stylists in photoshoots.

As jewellery making isn't Sian's full-time job, and because she is currently studying towards exams, there can be a time delay in turning orders around - but how much would you enjoy the anticipation of waiting for it to arrive?

 

You know me, I'm a sucker for anyone with amazing talent and I love the fact that with her architect's training, Sian probably sees things completely differently to most people. Her jewellery is so different and would look equally great with a plain white T-shirt and jeans as it would adding edge to a LBD.

I have my sneaking suspicions that Anathema Designs is one to watch.

Mum on the Run - Seeing spots thanks to Boden, plus a little bit of Cos, Gap, Oasis and Warehouse for good measure

Right now I'm really hoping that Mary Berry's recipe for Chocolate Fudge Hot Pot Pudding is as good as her taste in Zara printed jackets. The idea of making the chocolate sponge mixture, putting it in a dish ready for baking and then pouring a combination of hot water, cocoa and sugar over the top goes somewhat against the grain.  The eldest two are on stand by with spoons and ice cream as I type, so fingers crossed that it's not a total disaster.

 

During the school holidays I always think that there will be so much more time to do things but I never fully understand why I should think that - and why I keep on thinking it even when I know it's not the case. The phrase "memory of a goldfish" springs to mind. There are lots of things that I want to write about but for tonight at least, I'm afraid, I am just bringing you a couple of photos of recent outfits.

 

Having not worn the Cos Chelsea boots for a while, I gave them an airing last week with a Cos roll neck jumper (you may remember that I was obsessed with it when I first had it but haven't worn it for a while). I also wore the Boden spotty coat which is now 11 years old and my Mulberry handbag which my husband gave me for my 40th. So that's nearly a year old now (ha, yeah right and the rest! 

If ever the occasion arrives when a more expensive gift is coming my way, I need a sign to convince me that I am making the right choice. Maybe it's just me wimping out. Perhaps in handing the decision over to fate I feel that it abrogates me of all responsibility. It was the same with this Mulberry bag. I loved it but was "umming" and "ahhing", as there were so many other lovely options. However, when I found out that the colour was Mouse grey, and given that "Mouse" is the nickname for our youngest, I decided that this was the one. I find that if I persevere hard enough, a sign eventually comes my way!

So yesterday we went to visit family. I can't remember how the idea for this outfit came to mind (see, memory of a goldfish and all that) - not that it's particularly wow or anything but there's usually a reason somewhere - even if it is just because it's close to hand. I think that I wanted to wear the wedge trainers again, this time with my slightly not so tight skinny jeans which, thanks to Easter, some of my others are.

The cream leather jacket from Oasis, cream Warehouse bag and Lola Rose scarf lightened it all up a little, which felt right given that the sun was actually shining. At one point it even felt quite warm - and for that brief moment I was quite happy to be sitting in the play area of a service station off the M40.

So, did anyone make it to the shops on Saturday and did anyone make any purchases that they would like to share with the rest of us?! It's going to be a whole 8 degrees tomorrow - let's bare all!

Mum on the Run - If the weather were warmer I would think about wearing this....

Another deal was struck on Easter Sunday. If I wanted photos taking, I had to hold the rabbit. So, the rabbit it was, although I don't think that the photographer kept to her side of the bargain. The quality of the photos is slightly questionable and I think she must have gin in her milkshake but then as I've said before, I like the soft focus look.  

 

This is the Zara lace blouse that I bought a couple of weeks ago, together with the Next trousers that featured in yesterday's post. I think that they will work either in the day or for the evening. I'll obviously wear a cami underneath the top when out on the town, so to speak.

This is the monster who held me to the deal, looking as if butter wouldn't melt...

Some of you will remember that I have written about Cecily previously. Sarah and Louise launched the brand in the Autumn and today their Tess dress was worn by Kate Garraway on Daybreak. They have a collection of eight dresses which are made in the same facotry as Victoria Beckham dresses in Portugal. You can see from this shot that the dresses have a great length to them and most of the designs have sleeves in them too.

I can't remember whether I took this shot prior to inadvertently switching the TV off when trying to re-position it, or after. Anyway, whichever it was, I couldn't put it back on again and had to have assistance from the youngest member of the family. I don't think I'm alone in that - but it speaks volumes!

Loving Kate's bangs with the dress - somehow for me, they just work together and I think that it's a great colour on her too. For anyone wanting to follow Cecily on twitter you can do so here and you can "like" their fb page here. I have it on good authority that more Cecily dresses will be appearing on TV next week, so I'll keep you posted.

 

Just as an aside, you see that dot at the top of the climbing wall? Well she is the chief negotiator referred to above. The mad scootering five year old knows no fear and will have a go at anything.

Fortunately shortly after we arrived home, this parcel arrived which calmed my nerves. I haven't yet opened it, saving the treat for a quiet moment sometime over the weekend. I have a sneaky feeling it will still be sitting there on Sunday night!

Wishing you all a lovely weekend. I suspect that a few of you may head to the shops on the basis that spring must surely be just around the corner (and if you're off with the children, a break would be good for everyone's well-being). If you do make it to the shops, I hope that they are full of lovely finds.

Mum on the Run - If the weather was warmer part 2!

Being such a total wimp, I've realised that the cold weather really doesn't have much of an impact on me at all. The reason for this is that unless it's 20 degrees outside, I still wear four layers of clothing so whether it's 4 degrees, 8 degrees, or 12 degrees, I'm still frozen.... I wonder, do you think that a bit of reverse psychology works as well on the weather as it does on (young) children? No, I suspect not either.

 

However, if the weather was a little (or a lot) warmer, I would be tempted to wear this outfit, which again I photographed having failed to negotiate the youngest away from her Barbie film. Well, if you've bothered to do your hair and make-up you've got to take advantage of it before it all goes flat/slides down your face.

 

The trousers are the Next ones I have written/tweeted about before. They are £18 and described as Harem Pants but I can assure you, there's not a drop crotch in sight. There may be a bit of bottom drooping but that's an entirely different matter and I can categorically assure you everything is where it should be in the crotch department.

 

The trousers are quite a lightweight fabric so it would need to be warmer to wear them.  Here I am wearing the navy ones but they also come in grey and black. At £18 I think that they are a great price for anyone tempted to venture into the non-harem, harem style of trouser.

 

This is a great jacket from Mango. It has a really good weight to it, so in theory it could be worn anytime soon. There are a whole host of jackets around in this tapestry/aztec print and also in this style. Zara had a good selection last year and for me they are a great way of tarting up (excuse the expression) one's jeans a little, or putting over a simple dress to take it up a notch. Jackets like this are multi-functional, sometimes a life saver and a kind of "one size fits all" piece to have in your wardrobe.

The trouble is that the image of this Topshop boucle coat (£79) which I wrote about several months ago now just won't leave me and I feel that I really need to bottom it out before too long. I know some of you will shout "yuck, granny coat" or think that it looks like something that the Queen would wear but I love the colours and the fact that the yellow on it looks as though it's there because a kiddie has gone up to it and crayoned on it. Why that should appeal I have no idea but there we are.

 

Once again, for the sake of research, I am prepared to go and try it and report back. My generosity knows no bounds!!!

Mum on the Run - Heading for a fall in my Ash wedge trainers

When I say I'm heading for a fall, I don't mean literally. No, I'll leave that to our eldest who, in avoiding something she saw on the floor at school the other day, tripped over it and then realised that it was her own foot.

 

What I mean is that so many of you were so complimentary about yesterday's outfit that I know it will be a different story today. Not only am I back to the winter clothes but I am also wearing the Ash wedge trainers. A friend has just texted me to ask me whether I've worn them yet as she is still undecided whether to get any or not so perhaps this will help, one way or the other. Actually, as she only lives around the corner, I might take them round to her for a little try on one day soon.

 

The photos aren't that great but on the positive side, the wedges are fairly innocuous in terms of colour, which suits me. I love the look of some of the summer coloured ones but I think that I would feel too conspicuous in the yellow or turquoise ones. These I can wear with navy, black, grey or tan.

For me they have their limitations in that I will only be wearing them with skinny jeans or trousers but I can vouch for their comfort wholeheartedly. I wore mine all of yesterday and all of today and they were incredibly comfortable, which is a huge bonus. I also like the extra height that they offer me.

I've added a couple of the other photos which I took when they first arrived so that the colours are eaiser to see. 

Having worn them and bonded with them a little, I am now hoping that I will be able to pack them away until next winter. Having been around for a few seasons now, I think that they will be here to stay and even if not, now I've bought the flippin' things I will be wearing them anyway. I've really enjoyed wearing something that's just a little different.

 

Normally I would ask here, would you or wouldn't you but I'm not going to do that! Instead I'm going to ask whether any of you have tried anything different recently and if so, how have you got on?

Mum on the Run - If we had some warm weather, I think that I would wear this....

If the warmer weather won't come to me, I'm just going to have to pretend it's here, even if it is only for ten minutes or so whilst my photos are being taken. I tried to negotiate with the youngest in an attempt to persuade her to take these shots but I was given the choice of waiting for 20 minutes until Barbie had finished or doing them myself. I didn't have the heart to drag her away from Barbie, hence the mirror shots - which I don't like doing but there we go.  

 

I thought that something bright was called for after all the dull weather we have been having, so coral colour block it is! This is the Boden cashmere jumper which I unpacked the other day, worn with GAP legging jeans, which I bought in the sale for about £23. It's definitely a bright outfit but I don't mind colour -  in fact I am so fair that colours work better on me than neutrals.

I'm also wearing the Mango shoes I have written about a couple of times now. They come in black or pink (they are less pink and more nude really) and go with everything. I like that the ankle strap does up with a stud (see below) rather than a buckle. They are minimalist in their design, a good price and comfortable - particularly now that I have decided to keep them, as a result of which I can take the scratchy label out. Also, because they are nude, the ankle strap doesn't act as a leg shortener in quite the same way that ankle straps in other colours can.

So, if we had some warm weather, what would you be wearing?

Mum on the Run - Loving Wrap for its linen T's, tan boots, paisley trousers and all things sequinned. A little bit Jennifer Aniston, a little bit LA - we just need sun on the side.

I know from my conversations on twitter that some of you also have husbands who think that they are comedians. Today my husband helpfully suggested that in order to make my life easier we could take away the cupboard next to the washing machine and put another washing machine in next to it so that we had two, enabling me to complete the washing in half the time. He's sooooo funny.

Each season the Wrap look book drops through my letter box. Unsuprisingly I always flick through it but for some reason this season it caught my eye and I was pleasantly surprised with what I found.

Wrap sells under-stated, largely unstructured clothes in a muted colour palette. Interest is added with the use of sequins and lace for a laid back LA look. Their linen vests and T's look great and they also have a good selection of tops with sleeves, which I know will appeal to Helen over at The Flaky Fashionista who suffers from psoriasis. Additionally their clothes start at a size 6 and many go up to a size 22, so they are good at catering for a broad market.

We all know that it's a particularly tricky time of year. Our instincts tell us that it should be warmer than it is but if we were to dress as we would hope to be dressing at this time of year, it could result in hypothermia. It should warm up soon so to start with I've looked at some lighter knits. With free p&p and returns at the moment, I'm tempted to put in an order to see where it gets me...

Being the magpie that I am, the Roxy sequin cardigan (£89) appealed to me. It also comes in a top with a Peter Pan style collar. I like wearing sequins in the day time with worn in jeans as styled here, to stop them looking too formal. The cardigan also comes in several other colours.

The Tatiana lace sweater (£89), again worn with slightly scruffy jeans, is a great way to wear lace in the daytime. I had someone contact me recently looking for a top such as this to wear at a baby shower and I can imagine it fitting the bill perfectly for that kind of occasion. It comes in a wide range of colours too.

I like the Georgie sweater (£89) for adding a block of darker colour to something which is brighter on the bottom half. For a first foray into brighter jeans or printed trousers, wearing something which is pared down and darker on the top half can make you feel more comfortable and less "out there". This jumper is navy but grey marl does exactly the same job. The jumper has an open back with a button detail on it, which is what attracted me to it.

For when it finally warms up, the  Koko sequin t-shirt (£49) is a lovely addition to your wardrobe. Available in black, white, grey slate, soft teal, soft gold and rose gold, there's a neutral colour in there for everyone. Worn with ankle length skinny jeans, wide jeans and wedges or printed trousers (see below) it's a T-shirt with interest.

All things paisley are big this season but it can be hard to wear it without feeling too conspicuous. These Paisley trousers (£59), especially in the pale aqua (these are dusty pink), which have a grey background, aren't too bright. Paired with a neutral top and shoes, they can be the focus of your outfit without screaming too loud. The reviews suggest that they come up quite short but I think that I might put them to the test just to be sure. The fabric is well received by those who have tried them and I think that they are a nice alternative to jeans or linen trousers in the summer months.

I also like the look of the Taylor slouch jeans (£99), which come in two leg lengths.  Wrap has slim leg, skinny, crop, slouch and flared jeans. I can't (yet!) vouch for their quality or fit but if you have exhausted all usual options and are looking for a new pair of jeans, trying a totally different brand can sometimes work wonders.

Prior to going into sandals or summer shoes, lightening up the colour of your boots is a good way to start making the transition towards spring clothing. As with lots of things it's totally psychological - but it's also a fab excuse for another purchase - should one be needed. These Studded suede boot (£229) aren't too high and will still work well with darker skinny jeans and casual trousers. For those with the legs for them (not me) they will also work with pretty white dresses and denim shorts, when the warmer weather finally does arrive.

So, if you're ready for a new different brand at which to take a peek for some relaxed clothes, Wrap could just be for you.

Mum on the Run - Testing out the new Nike trainers

With the other three due back from ski-ing today, I knew I was in for a busy morning as I had to try and make it look as though I was on top of my game. I had a lemon cake to make (I find that making a cake always makes it look as though you are in control), shirts to iron, washing to do and a stew to make. I also had to empty out my husband's car, which he keeps immaculate but which was slightly less so after I had used it - but then we are talking a weekly hoover and clean, a special leather cleaning kit, no food or drinks allowed - you get the gist.

 

Despite the foot of snow in the back garden, I just couldn't face any more thick socks and sheepskin boots around the house. I figured that I had to make some kind of bid for freedom from the shackles of the winter weather and having taken delivery of a pair of these some time ago now...

 

 

...I thought that it was time to wear them. I wasn't sure how I would get on with them but having put them to the test, I found them really comfortable and I liked the slightly over the top bright fuchsia and yellow combo. For their first outing I broke  myself in gently, purposefully keeping the rest of the outfit plain, with a Warehouse sequinned jumper, H&M breton top and Gap skinny jeans. Maybe next time I'll slip in another colour.

So that's another recent purchase shared. More to follow tomorrow... 

Mum on the Run - Boden Beauties!

Some of you may have noticed that I've been away for a while. With the eldest two and my husband off ski-ing, the youngest and I paid my Dad a visit in Guernsey. I decided not to put the gale force winds, rain and cold to a "fash off" knowing that I would lose. There's no point pretending it's spring when it's 2 degrees outside. No instead our luggage, which weighed in at 19.6kg (our allowance was 20kg - that could have been embarrassing), contained jeans, the warmest jumpers I own, fur gillets, wellies, coats, hats, scarves and gloves.  The youngest wore it well. Whilst down there, I did a radio interview and wrote an article for W&H Magazine. Having done that I felt that it would have been rude to blog - but it's good to be back.

 

 

Before I went away, I received a few parcels. I shared the contents of the Ash one but didn't get a chance to open the Boden one. I like to do these things when I have time to enjoy them, which wasn't the case before we all went away. Whilst getting ready to go away, does anyone else get the urge to wash all of the bed linen, the bath towels and the kitchen towels too - just because it would be  nice to come back to everything clean? Why do we do that to ourselves?!!!

 

This was one of the items. A Johnnie B jacket which I wrote about a few posts ago. I've given it a quick try on and, so far so good. This one is an age 15/16 and it's quite roomy. The sleeves are also long enough for me which was a bonus. It's much warmer than the Zara and Anthropologie ones I have tried, which wouldn't work for everyone but for me that's good.

 

I also have this cashmere jumper to try on. I really liked it in the lemon and grey colour way too, so it may yet get exchanged. I liked the detail at the neckline and it will definitely do a great job of moving my jeans and darker trousers towards spring. And when I get the coral gap trousers on that I've just bought - well, it will definitely be time to reach for those sunnies.

Whilst at Guernsey airport this morning, I saw a lady looking really beautiful in this Guernsey style jumper (£41.40 to £48.30), which I recognised as being from Boden. She wore it with a navy scarf and navy trousers (I think), together with a the Boden rainy day mac. We got chatting and it transpired that she loved Boden and had lots of pieces from them. So, hello to Maggie from Northampton, who also had the Boden pouch bag (below) but in yellow, which looked great with the jumper - it was lovely to chat to about one of my favourite brands on one of my favourite islands.

My Dad is a bit of a fashionista on the quiet and has just bought a really cool camouflage jacket from an army store. He also has an Osprey man bag for all his flying bit and bobs, a Barbour and yesterday when we went out he wore an amazing hand made jacket with a peacock blue lining, which the youngest commented on several times.

Anyway, I spotted this shirt in his bedroom and said that we had to get a photo of him in it, so yesterday we went down to the harbour and had a mini photo shoot on his boat. When he was working on the boat a while ago, he was approached by a photographer and two models who used it to take a whole stack of photos and he was told that the photos being taken were for the new catalogue. There's definitely some joke in there somewhere about Fat Face/Fat bellies etc but I can't quite extract it right now!

I think that the shirt is very similar to a liberty print. It's not this season's which is a shame but to be honest I was just relieved that it wasn't Boden's "Italian Stallion" shirt because no-one should write that about their father, whatever the context. Dad is also wearing the Boden chino trousers too.

Here he is wearing the Bloomsbury printed shirt which is this season's. When I did the photo shoot with the Boden staff there was one lady who regularly wore the men's shirts, even though she was quite petite. So for anyone looking for a printed shirt this could definitely be worth taking a look at. In fact, taking a look through lots of the prints, I have to say that I am quite tempted to give them a whirl.

This was just one of those magical moments that doesn't arrive very often but I thought that I would share it with you. High above the clouds, the sun shone!

Mum on the Run - Shappos hats - one to keep your eye on

 You know the Remington advert "I liked the shaver so much I bought the Company" well this is a case of "I liked the brand so much I decided to write about it."

Shappos makes fantastic hats. From bright trilbys to berets, to retro style hats and occasion wear too.  Hats were once such an important part of a woman's outfit but that's no longer the case and many of us feel self conscious wearing hats.

There's a great story behind the brand too, which was set up by Tom who grew up in the back room of his parent's hat shop in Covent Garden. When looking into going into retail many years later, he decided that he wanted to fill the gap in the market between cheaply made imports and couture pieces and so created Shappos. This hat retails at £58.

I would love to wear more hats and as I mentioned in a post many months ago, I have my eye on a straw trilby for the summer, so perhaps I'm about to start branching off in a slightly new direction.

I would like to photograph this hat on a few different people to see how it works with different hair colours and lengths (I fear that I am slightly lacking in the length department) - but I am afraid of dropping it in the snow at the moment! It would also be good to style it in different ways but again the snow has its limitations when it comes to outfits.

Only today I was talking with a friend about how tired we are of wearing the same jumpers, so with the endless cold still hanging around, a trilby could be a great way of adding a little spice to your spring - OK full on winter (still) - wardrobe.

Mum on the Run - A few High Street Heros - including a sharp trouser suit

Trouser suits have been hailed as one of "the" new looks of the season yet on the High Street they are actually few and far between.

Most of the trouser suits featured in the magazines easily come in at £350 plus and that's not a small amount to pay. So I was excited to see this trouser suit when I was in Mango today.  It's made in a lovely fabric and is very different to the traditional suiting prints/fabrics that are out there. Not a pin stripe, fleck or check in sight!

This is the Mango Blazer which at £59.99 is a fantastic price. It could easily have walked off the rails at Whistles. I love the panelling which makes it striking but still smart enough for work.

These are the Tapered suit trousers (£49.99) which go with the jacket. They are a great shape - really modern and as the name suggests, they taper in to the ankle, finishing at a flattering length. They make such a great change from either bootcut or wide trousers, which are the shapes of most trouser suit trousers.

With these Leather ankle strap sandals (£59.99) - I know that I featured them earlier in the week but they really are great - this is a really sharp and smart outfit for work.

Whilst in Mango I saw this Ethnic fabric jacket (£79.99) which again looks great with the above sandals. What I really l liked about this jacket, aside from its print and colour, is the fact that it has a really great weight to it, such that it could be worn as a coat in its own right some time soon.

Finally I wanted to show you this Pleat back shirt dress (£55) from Warehouse (apols for the grainy picture, Warehouse ones are never great). It's a lovely style because unlike shift dresses which are fairly square, straight up and down and a little work like and prom style dresses, which have lots of pleating around the tummy area, this one has a slight fullness to the skirt but is nipped in at the waist with a belt, giving it a lovely shape.  I find this style of collar works with lots of different bust sizes and the top few buttons can be undone to create the illusion of a v-shape neckline, which is more flattering on a curvier bust. The sheer fabric at the top of the dress also helps to break up the chest area.  The dress skims without clinging and is slightly longer at the back than at the front, giving it a modern shape. The pleating down the back is really pretty too.

I would probably change the belt to a slim tan leather one or a bright skinny one and wear it with block or wedge heels, or classic courts for work.  Anyway, it's just an idea for anyone who is looking for a dress which can be styled up or down and which needs to work very hard for them.