Re-visiting the Acne pistol boot - a definite wardrobe hero...

Recently I received an email from someone I've worked with for many years, who told me that she had finally treated herself to some Acne Pistol boots. She had coveted them for many years and in line with her New Year's resolution of buying fewer things, but things that she really loved, she had at last taken the plunge. I work with many women, some who are so desperate with the state of their wardrobe and their body image that they are close to tears, so it's always lovely to hear from someone who is thrilled with something that they have bought.

Acne Pistol boot

Coincidentally on the same day, I had decided to wear my own version of the Acne Pistol boots, these being the Sweep by Kurt Geiger (now so old they don't make them any more!) 

I realised that I hadn't worn them all winter and that this year I had instead been wearing black boots a lot, probably because I have quite a lot of grey jumpers. However I fancied a brown and navy combination and on wearing them I was reminded of why they are such a good style. The shape of these boots is flattering on the foot, with a nicely rounded - but not too rounded - toe. The heel is solid and a good height, getting that perfect balance between leg elongation without tottering. And whilst now is not really the time of year to be writing about boots, people wear them well into the spring and summer with shorts and pretty dresses too. Plus the weather is still pants and I can't think of wearing much else on my feet other than boots. Or perhaps flippers. 

So as to some other options which are currently available, should anyone feel the need to add a pair of ankle boots into their wardrobe, as opposed to sandals or flip flops, or indeed flippers.

The Kurt Geiger Tanga are currently reduced from £150 to £89. They don't look significantly different to the Sweep style, other than perhaps being slightly less chunky. 

The Dune Pollie (£99) are also a good choice and they come in navy, tan and burgundy as well as black.

The Dune Phillie (£135) are my current favourites. They have a lovely texture to them. Slightly beaten up and a bit scaly/reptile like. Selling them well aren't I? But seriously they are worth a closer look. They are from the Dune Black range which has some real gems in there. They also come in tan but the finish on those is a flat leather, rather than a textured finish.

For my money, the Pistol boots have earned their fashion stripes and despite detractors who felt that they wouldn't be here to stay, I think that they will be. The reason? As with many other classics such as breton tops, cashmere jumpers, trench coats, loafers, cigarette style pants, skinny jeans, diamond studs, a well cut white shirt, the list goes on....they just work. And after putting my (copies) back on after a year or more off, I could see that - or more probably feel it - as plain as day.

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Smartening up the pink front door and two practical, but lovely, sandal options reflecting the orthopaedic trend...

I've had to abandon today's planned post because technology is not playing ball as it should. However instead, I'm bringing you this photo of the pink front door having its annual tart up. Each year I canvas opinion from the family as to whether we should change the colour and each year I receive the same answer. A resounding "No", even from the boys. So pink it will remain, as it has done so for the past 11 years.

Instead of any outfit shots, I thought that I would bring you two things which I'm currently coveting and which reflect the colours on the front door.

The two brands that I've featured below are favourites of mine due to their good price and fab styles and if you haven't done so already, I would recommend taking a closer look at them.

Miss KG pink sandals (£55) - chunky and slightly orthopaedic but still with that element of pretty/girlie which I can't help but be attracted to.

Aldo Draedia sandals (£50) - again chunky and orthopaedic but this time in silver (OK so we don't have a silver front door but the postbox and lock are silver(ish)) which, predictably, appeals to the girlie/magpie in me. The good thing about Aldo shoes is that the 4's and 5's - and maybe a few others, also come in half sizes.

I'm liking the thought of these sandals on a number of levels - comfort and price included but also because they will give some much loved items that I already own a bit of a facelift. And we could probably all do with one of those from time to time!

A couple of M&S beauties (including some nightwear) and a compliment....or not?!

Following on from my last post, I didn't get an opportunity to get a photo of what I wore on Saturday whilst working with M&S but the only thing that I substituted was the top and I wore this Kimono top (£29.50). It's a lovely silky fabric, not too clingy, not too long, lovely wide sleeves and a pretty print. It also comes in the M&S blossom print (£29.50).

The top comes up on the generous side but I managed with the size 8. It's a great top to throw on to smarten up a pair of jeans or to wear to work without the need for a fussy blouse or the faff of ironing a shirt. If you feel that it might be limited in its appeal because of its wide sleeves, which might make wearing a jacket tricky, rest assured, you can get plenty of layers underneath it!

Whilst perusing the undies and nightwear section, I came across this lovely range of nightwear...

This is the M&S neon embroidered short set (£25) - which I might just have bought. I love shorts and a top for the summer and as this is 100% cotton it will keep me cool on those boiling hot summer nights, which are of course on the way now that the clocks have changed (!)

The range also contained this M&S neon embroidered chemise (£17.50), together with a wrap which doesn't appear on line but which is definitely in store.

This range also appealed to the navy fan in me...

M&S ikat print short (£12.50) - I didn't see a printed top in store or on-line but I recall that they were being sold with a navy vest top.

There's also the M&S Ikat print chemise (£16)

And the M&S Ikat print wrap (£19.50). It's easy to neglect our nightwear but one or two new pieces can make your wardrobe feel complete. Of course it's much easier when you find something that you would be happy to wear as outerwear too - either because of the print or colour - and for me these tick that box perfectly.

So, recently I've had a couple of conversations that have got me thinking about getting older - not that it bothers me I hasten to add, I just count myself lucky to still be around. Both conversations have made me smile. Both were meant to be compliments. But I think that one was slightly more successful than the other.

First conversation:

I was taking our eldest to an interview for a sixth form place at a local grammar school. On walking in, the receptionist looked at our daughter and asked her to sign in. She then looked at me and said: "Mom, it is Mom isn't it? I didn't like assume because you look too young to have a 16 year old daughter. Can you just wait here please?" Now that was a good compliment.

Second conversation:

This took place with someone who was working on the loyalty event with me at M&S this weekend. She told me how she had been for a casting with QVC to sell a range of clothing but that she hadn't been successful because she was too young and too glamourous. And then her exact words to me were: "You would be perfect for it though." Hmmm. The conversation then turned to my age and when I told her that I was 44, she commented that she really was surprised to hear that I was quite as old as that. Once again. Hmmmm.

Working with M&S and wearing their Autograph floral blouse and Limited Collection striped shoe (with just a little something between the two!)

I've been working with M&S in Birmingham today at their loyalty event, presenting hourly shows between 11am and 6pm and I'll be there again tomorrow for anyone who would like to drop by and say hi. As well as selecting the outfits and accessories to talk about, I have to choose something to wear myself. I usually end up leaving about 20 seconds flat to choose something and today this is what I ran with.....

...collared neck floral blouse Autograph (£35)

This sold out in store today, so tomorrow I think that I may have to swap it for something else. It's a really lovely shirt though and I also managed to layer a vest and long-sleeved top underneath for added warmth. Although the 8 fitted fine and would have worked with a skirt, because my trousers were so fitted I wanted a slightly looser silhouette on the top half so went I with a size 10.

I still cannot believe that I am about to say this but this pair of Treggings (£35) is quite possibly the most comfortable pair of trousers that I have ever worn. I had a microphone pack clipped to the back of them all day and they didn't move an inch. No gape, no moving when I bent down, thick supportive fabric and no bagging whatsoever. Everyone on the team was really impressed with them.

I've read the reviews just to see what others thought and it seems that people were unanimous in their love of the quality but reviews were mixed as to fit, which is understandable really given that we come in all different shapes and sizes. They come in black, navy and burgundy and different leg lengths too.

I also wore this Limited Edition striped shoe, which are sadly out of stock on line but there were still a few pairs in our store.

As to things that I have my eye on, a draped mac is steadily heading its way up my list of "items I would like to have in my spring wardrobe." I've been working with the one from M&S Collection (£75) all day, although I haven't had a chance to try it yet (there's always tomorrow) and there's also one at Autograph (£99). Personally I prefer them when they are un-done and a little more flappy!

I've also been working with these wedge loafers by Limited Edition (£23.60) today and I really like them but I must try them tomorrow to check them out for fit and comfort. I love a metallic shoe and these would look great with boyfriend jeans, a breton top and a mac like the one above.

I will be in the store early tomorrow so that I can suss out what has been delivered overnight, so that I can swap the outfits around a little and so that I can choose a different top to wear. Watch this space! Oh and one of the Managers was wearing the leather ponte leggings (£99) today and she swore by them - just in case anyone was tempted.

Can I per(suede) you to come along for the fringing ride?

I've never really been a fan of fringing and I'm thinking very much no to these....(Zara £99.99)

But on the other hand I could quite easily be persuaded by these - they are much more subtle. Love the suede - such a big fabric for the season - and I'm always a sucker for a wooden heel...

and as for these, well they're pretty much a done deal. Lovely with pretty white dresses, lovely with flares, great with a boho style dress...

and as for this. Well this would integrate itself easily and seamlessly into my wardrobe...

 ...and this is just fun, fun, fun - and all wardrobes need a little bit of that from time to time!

1. Leather fringe t-bar black sandals Next £58

2. Leather fringe t-bar tan sandals Next £58

3. Blue fringe hobo bag Next £34

4. Fringe cross body bag Next £30

Are you with me or running to the hills at the thought of a little bit of fringing. If I can't tempt you with fringing, how about a tassel - or two??!!

5. Blue tassel bracelet Next £10

You know the saying that the apple never falls far from the tree? Well our youngest has been invited to take part in gym competition but has refused on the basis that....she doesn't like the leotard. As I started to roll my eyes in despair, I was suddenly struck by a memory of a little girl who refused, point blank, to even consider joining brownies because she didn't like the horrible brown outfit that they had to wear and as for the yellow neck thing. Yuk. Hmmm. Wonder who that might have been? Time to un-roll those eyes, if that's possible.

A layered look from H&M and Jigsaw

You know me, I love a bit of layering. In this outfit I've layered tops of different lengths to create a bit of a "look" - rather than just layering lots of tops to keep me warm, which is what I spend quite a lot of my life doing. Unless you're on the leggy side, I think that it's better if the shirt layer isn't too long, or else it can make one's legs look shorter - and then to get a cropped outer layer.

The shirt is an H&M one that I bought a while ago. It was an alternative to a J Crew one which cost a fortune and which was never going to feature in my wardrobe. The sweatshirt is a Jigsaw one that I bought after Christmas in the sale.

I've received a few new things through the post recently which I hope to share with you shortly and I've also worked with some truly lovely ladies recently so there's a lot to share but for now I'm going to have to save that for another day....

Adding warmth to your outfit - this time in the style of a kimono shaped jacket

For a chilly wimp bag like myself, I have to come up with new ways and styles of keeping warm. Quite often I will wear a jersey blazer over a finer knit jumper, or a boucle style jacket, of which I have a couple. However just before Christmas I ordered the Barcelona cardigan from Boden (£44), which also comes in navy and charcoal.

Liking the fact that I could wrap it around myself to keep myself snug, I went on to order this Rye Kimono jacket from Baukjen (reduced from £169 to £84). So much of the knitwear available at the moment is oversized so if like me you can't carry it off, or if a bit of waist definition suits your shape better, these style jackets/cardis are a pretty good option.

I think that I look a bit like I'm off to do my karate. I'm not quite sure how you translate the sound of a karate chop into words but I'll try "Haaaaaa Yaaaaa." How did I do?

Speaking of going off to do things, tomorrow a friend and myself are going to do a 12km mud run. The words "lung busting, lung burning and waist deep water" feature in the literature. Sounds fun don't you think?

It may still be too cold for an ankle flash and I don't dare to bare my legs, so the only answer is to lighten the colour palette....

Zara coat, Boden jumper and jeans, Marc Jacobs bag, Whistles boots, Reiss scarf

I don't know about you but I'm looking forward to those days when it's warm enough to go without socks or, just imagine this, tights! The thought of losing a layer is bliss but for now, that's not going to happen. Despite today's sun it was still only 3 degrees (cue a 1970's pop song) so whilst in my head it was sunny enough to be in a floaty summer dress, in reality it was anything but.

However, lightening the colours can lift the spirits, so after choosing a lighter coloured jumper I followed the trend with a lighter coloured coat and a scarf too. I drew the line at a bag of the same colour. That would have been a Duchess of Cornwall step too far.

Just a little Mother's Day hello...

Jeans: Zara. boots and jacket: Whistles, Roll neck jumper: Boden. Coat: M&S, Bag: Kate Spade

I hope that you have all had a lovely Mother's Day and that you have been very spoiled. 

It's been fun here. It started with a very long run through some interesting areas of Birmingham. The "arse end" I think were the words that I used. "Victorian" was the description given by my slightly more refined friend but in any event it involved lots of canals, tunnels and industrial buildings. Naturally the day included a little bit of shopping, albeit of the online variety. 

When it came to the purchases, I was quite liberal with my finger on the button but I had the wise words of a friend ringing in my ears. "It's only like going to the changing room really isn't it?" Oh indeed it is. And if you're going to end up going to the sorting office to pick up a parcel, it may as be a big one.  

As to the outfit, a friend of mine always sizes up in a coat and it's a wise move to make as it allows for an extra jacket to be worn underneath, which on occasions can be handy. 

I wasn't sure whether I would wear my ripped jeans much but so far I think they've justified their expenditure and in fact they were nearly pilfered by our eldest for a party next week. I have to keep a close eye on things in this house, I can tell you.