The Flora Top from Baukjen - the perfect summer top

Quoting STYLEG15 at the checkout will get you a lovely 15% discount on new season stock until midnight on 8th September.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by the girls at Baukjen whether I might like to write a preview piece ahead of the launch of their Pre-Fall collection. We decided that it would be nice for me to style a few of their pieces in my own way, feeling that if I've worn the pieces about which I'm writing, it adds to the authenticity of the post.  

So this post is all about tops, and in particular the Flora top by Baukjen (£59). 

I have to say that I haven't got on particularly well with off the shoulder tops this summer. The ones that I have tried or bought have generally sidled their way back onto my shoulder, or the elastic has been tight, or the armholes too small or my movement has felt compromised. I've been worried that if I move my arms something will flick up, or off, or ping me where I don't want to be pinged. However I have a one shouldered dress that I find really comfortable and so when I saw the Flora top, I really wanted to try it.

I have to say that I really loved wearing this one shouldered top. If anyone is on the hunt for an all round fab summer top, then for me this would have to be it. Unlike full on "off the shoulder" tops it feels anchored. Securely in place, it doesn't move around.  This top has a little "shelf" inside it. which for some may mean that a bra isn't necessary but for those who do still need to wear one, it keeps the strapless bra in place (we all know how those little blighters can end up around your waist by the end of the day - with its contents not far behind!)

Here I've pulled the shoulder down to make the top slightly more asymmetric. And the good thing about it is that wherever the neckline is placed, it doesn't feel, or look, out of place plus it stays there which makes it hugely versatile and much more interesting to wear and re-style.

Here I've gone even more "off the shoulder" but still it works. It remains comfortable - and I'm all about comfort. 

Now as the shorts are my own, I didn't mind doing a little kerb perching, just so that you can see the top from the back. It's quite a deep frill but as it's jersey it's soft and not too "sticky outy" so it's not one of those tops to feel self conscious in, despite its frill. And because the frill sits quite flat, it would still flatter a curvy bust. Substantial too - yes, that's the word I'm looking for. It feels substantial whilst still being feminine and summery.

Here the frill has flicked itself over on my right shoulder but that's what I love about this top - it can be worn all sorts of ways and it can flick its frill where it wants but it still works.

For information purposes, I'm wearing a size 8 which was perfect so I would say that it is true to size. It was fitted but not tight, with enough room in it to accommodate a BBQ and quite a large slice of oreo cake, plus it had a good length to it too. I think that the sun is due to shine again this weekend so for anyone on the look out for a new top to wear, I can highly recommend this one.

As with all good shoots (OK, Barbie films) my 8 year old Photographer/Creative Director and I decided that we needed to include some Out-Takes....

So of course any photographer worth their salt knows how important it is to take their spoon with them on a shoot so that they can eat the contents of their Cornetto on the way home, which was payment for the taking of these photographs. She doesn't like the cone, hence the spoon. (As it was she stung me for the most expensive Magnum in the shop!) I guess that it was a fair exchange really.

And a passer-by offered to take our photograph together...so that had to go in. 

Oh and how I wish I could do this with my eyes. She's very proud of herself.

But anyway, enough of that. Whilst we're on the subject of tops, here's a selection of tops that Baukjen has this season.

Beacham Top (£59) - Now this is a great colour for people like me who don't look good in paler colours and also for those who want the versatility of a top that can be slightly off the shoulder/asymmetric but still really easy to wear. It also has a great length to it and ruching at the waist, which I can vouch for as being very handy!

Fleur  top (£59) - I'm intrigued by this top and it's definitely on my list of ones to try. Perfect for those who want an off the shoulder look but who just don't do strapless bras. Or for those ladies who do, but who like the double strap idea.

Calvin Top (£69) - I'm loving the slightly 80's vibe about this top. My best friend at University always used to pull the shoulders down on her top so it reminds me of nights at our Friday night disco. I love the volume in the sleeves and the body too - sports luxe meets 80's disco. Very cool and easy to wear. I think that it's fair to say that I have my eye on this top also.

Lila cold shoulder top (£59) - Style it up or down, this is a really versatile top, showing just enough but not too much.

Masham lace up top (£65) - I like this as an option for ladies who want something a little different but who would prefer to keep their shoulders and arms covered. The lace up detail is a nice addition.

I think that one of the things about doing this post that really struck me was just how lovely Baukjen clothes feel when on. I have a t-shirt, some jersey trousers and a jumpsuit of theirs already but in some respects a summer top that is stylish, stays in place, doesn't reveal too much and is fitted without clinging is a REALLY tall order. So maybe I've been looking in the wrong place all along for those summer tops.

Remember, quoting STYLEG15 at the checkout will get you a lovely 15% discount on new season stock until midnight on 8th September.

The New Look Camo Shacket

Apart from wearing some blue camo GAP trousers that I've had for a really long time now, I don't have much camo in my wardrobe. Sometimes it's all a little bit too green for me and it also has connotations associated with it which mean that I'm not quite sure it should be worn in a fashion sense - a bit like wearing tribal, or religious, symbols really. It's something that I've thought about quite a lot over the years....

...but then I saw a shacket from New Look (not showing online but mine was £24.99 and is called "camo shacket" on the label. It's very similar to this one, also from New Look) and I demonstrated to myself how truly shallow I am by buying it and wearing it many times since. But then maybe it's not shallow. Maybe I was just over thinking things before and maybe it doesn't cause offence. I'm not really sure now.

Aside from the whole camo debate though, a shacket is great for this time of year when there can be a chill in the air despite the fact that it's meant to be the height of summer. It means that whatever lies beneath can peep through, without it being covered up by a jumper. Also a shacket is something that can generally be kept on all day, inside or out, so it's not like a blazer or jacket that needs to be taken off and put back on time and again (because obviously that is such a hardship!) It's more the lack of faff and just keeping on until bedtime what I first put on in the morning, that appeals to me.

Like a denim shirt but a bit of an update, a camo or khaki shacket is good for keeping the chill at bay on those Guernsey beaches that we will be heading towards shortly.

I've debated whether I should have gone for a larger size - mine is an 8 - but I like how it feels. Sometimes over sized is good - sometimes it just looks like I'm wearing someone else's clothes.

Here are another couple of options for anyone mulling the idea over. Maybe they are a little more "jacket" like than the one that I am wearing but they just provide a feel for what's out and about at the moment. Hope that you all enjoy taking a look!

H&M Cargo Jacket (£24.99)

H&M twill jacket (£24.99)

Khaki camo print jacket New Look (£29.99)

Zara military shirt (£29.99)

Going a bit boho in Monsoon

Today I'm going a bit boho. Tomorrow I'm going a bit orange. Who knows what the next day will bring? Actually hopefully I won't be orange but rather a lovely nut brown. My phone assures me that this weekend we will have some sun and given that we're not going away until the end of August, I'm going to have to pretend instead. So if in my next post I'm a different shade, that's why.

I seem to have a bit of a thing with red at the moment too, which is pretty unusual for me. Red accessories (and coats) I can do...but I have a feeling that it's going to spill over into clothes this coming season. I've already tried to buy my first red piece of the season but it was out of stock. So that bodes well then. The bag is from GAP and the shoes were from Kew (anyone remember Kew?) a very long time ago now.

But anyway as to the jacket - I bought it a few weeks ago when it looked as if it was a very long way from the sale rail but when I went into Monsoon yesterday, there it was, bold as brass, half price at £27 give or take a few pennies. It's lightweight - more of a blouse than a jacket really. For me, to qualify as a jacket, it needs to have some warmth about it but call it what you will it's a smashing little number. The only thing that I would say is that it's not hugely long in the body, so that's worth bearing in mind. Honestly, if anyone can find this top/jacket on the Monsoon website they can have mine! I've searched jackets, cover ups, embroidery and sale but I can't find it anywhere.*

*Having just read Sue's post about this very jacket, it appears that it's no longer available online, which explains why I can't find it. Maybe I won't be handing mine over after all.

The slip dress round 3 - layering underneath and over the top!

I've done two posts now using this slip dress, which can be read here (when it was a sunny day and I wore it with flip flops and a sun hat) and here (when I wore it with trainers and a silky, waterfall oriental print jacket).

For its third outing, on a much colder day than when I wore the dress the first time, I layered a silk printed shirt with a pussy bow underneath it and a Jigsaw bomber jacket over the top. For shoes I wore some heavier Zara flatform  style loafers, which have bit of an espadrille sole to them.

All that's needed to achieve something similar is a blouse or shirt that you like and a blazer or jacket too. As many of you will know, it can work with a slip dress, a shift dress and some styles of sundresses. Sometimes it's just good to have a play and see where it takes you. But anyway, that's the slip dress done for now. I promise.

A Quick OOTD and some New Look sandals - my new favourite purchase of the summer

Shirt: John Lewis weekend (last summer); shorts: Gap, Belt: Boden (previous seasons); Shoes: Aldo (previous seasons); Basket: Guernsey Boutique (similar here)

Stars, hearts, neon, flouro, metallics, stripes, sequins, flamingos, palm trees, smiley faces and pom poms - I am a sucker for them all. Stick them on an item of clothing, preferably all at the same time, and I'm there like a shot.

So tapping into merely the stars, hearts, metallics, sequins and the tiniest bit of flouro means that there's a lot left for another day. Note to self: Must try harder.

Before I go, I wanted to share with you these pink leather beaded lace up sandals from New Look (currently available sizes 4 to 8) which I bought today for £11. I've been on the hunt for some "proper" summer sandals for a while. It started with some pom pom ones that I saw at Matches. Unsurprisingly it finished there too. New Look had a less expensive version but they had sold out and having looked a few times I'd decided that it was going to be a project for next year.

But then I spotted these and the deal was done. I've worn them around the house this afternoon and they are really comfortable, plus the ties don't come undone - which is always an added bonus. I painted my toenails especially to take a photo of me wearing them, then trashed my handi-work, tried again, trashed it again and gave up as I had to go and make a lasagna for dinner. To be honest I think that the family appreciated that more anyway.

Dahlia - an inexpensive, independent brand

Has anyone else come across the brand Dahlia yet? I walked past the store on Carnaby Street when I was in London last week but didn't have time to nip in. However there was something about what I saw as I glanced through the door that resonated with me, so when I got home I took a closer look.

My initial thoughts were that even if I liked the clothing, given its location, it was likely to be really pricey. However I was pleasantly surprised. What I found was an independent brand run by two sisters, with some pieces being produced in quantities of no more than 50. Some of you may have come across it in Topshop where it is also stocked. 

So, here's a flavour of some of the pieces available...

First off the Haggerston striped off the shoulder top Dahlia (£59) caught my eye. It also comes in pale blue here. It's slightly dramatic without being too OTT and taps into the offer the shoulder trend - although it can also be worn on the shoulder - the big sleeve trend and the striped trend all in one go.

For more stripes, there's the black stripe top with contrast frills (£65) Dahlia. This top is also available in navy stripes and also in white stripes. Again it is just that little bit different to most of what is out there at the moment.

I love the combination of the cute collar and stripes on this grey cropped smock top Dahlia (£45). There's also enough room to accommodate a food baby, should the need arise!

For anyone who prefers a slightly more fitted look on the body, there's this cheesecloth ruffle sleeved top Dahlia (£51).

For some "bottoms" these culottes with one pleated leg by Dahlia (£59) are different and a great price. They also do several other style of culottes - some shorter than these, the proportions of which can work well on petites.

And for a dress or two, there's the black sun dress with tassels at the sleeves Dahlia (£58) which would be great with pom sandals and a holiday tan (or a fake tan if a holiday one isn't an option!)....

...And finally this off the shoulder smock dress Dahlia (£59)

I really liked what I saw and can't wait to see the Winter collection. I would be interested to hear your thoughts. Have you bought from Dahlia before - or are you tempted to do so now?!

An Interiors Post - Creating a compact study area

Before we had the work done on our house, I didn't have a space of my own for working or blogging. I would move from the kitchen table to the kitchen island and back again, leaving leads trailing and people flailing as they tripped over them.

So, when the chance came for me to think about what we wanted from our new space, it was important to carve out a work corner. It didn't need to be big but as it's not hidden from view, it needed to be tidy. (The rest of my files and paraphernalia are currently in cardboard boxes but they will be stored in a cupboard that has yet to be built.)

As to the furniture, I looked at lots of desks and finally chose this John Lewis gravity desk in walnut (£250). The design really appealed to me. I didn't want anything too "officey" looking and it was just really different - plus it wasn't extortionate. The shelves are, as you might predict, the high gloss lack shelves from Ikea.

I love listening to the Radio and my husband bought me this Roberts Revival Mini Radio from John Lewis for a recent birthday.

The tall vases are handmade by Susan Nemeth and I've probably had them for ten or so years now. I love ceramics and particularly the colours that Susan uses. The squarer shaped vase is by Jessie Higginson. I carried around a postcard with her work on it for a very long time and then a few years later some of her vases appeared in a local shop and my husband bought this one for me as a present. That was about 16 years ago now and I love it now just as much as I did then. The vases used to be in our living room but the colours seem to work well with the colour of the wall, so they're living here for a while now instead.

And I know that this sounds a bit up my own bum but as everything is on display on the desk, it needed to be pleasing on the eye whilst also functional. I had some John Lewis vouchers saved from Christmas and so I treated myself (and it was a treat, to the point that I had slight palpitations) to this Kate Spade stapler, tape dispenser and letter tray whilst my husband bought me the Kate Spade tumblers so that I had something nice to drink out of when I was working. Bless him! The notebooks are from Home Bargains (the gold striped one) and the turquoise and white one is from Kate Spade at Selfridges, although it's no longer online.

The chair that I am using is one that we already had and it's the Macadam folding chair from Habitat. These chairs cost £10 and come in variety of colours. They are brilliant, really sturdy and comfortable plus fantastic for their price. I must admit to quite fancying the pale pink one too. To soften it up a little, I bought this faux fur cushion in silver stripe from John Lewis (£15). A review that I have just read says that it sheds fur over everything but I haven't noticed that to be the case. Although I could well be walking around with a furry bottom without knowing!

And this is my study area in context. Tucked away at the back of the room it is cosy and all mine (for now - wait until the A-level revision starts. I fear that I will be back on the kitchen table!)

An interiors post - tips for creating cosy corners and places to chill!

When thinking about how to use the space in our new room, it was important to create lots of cosy corners and places to chill with soft blankets, cushions and a nice view. Although there is one big settee where we can all sit - which is in front of the large TV (entirely Mr SGs domain) - it's nice to have little nooks and crannies so that we can all be together, without being all together. 

OK so this bench isn't necessarily somewhere that you might choose to sit and chill but it's one that we've had for a long time and we like the design (it's called a "love" bench and it's by Ercol). My husband really loves mid-century furniture as it reminds him of the furniture that his parents had when he was growing up.  With an Orla Kiely cushion and a selection of straw hats that we can grab on our way to the garden, it's quite a nice feature (and one that I can see from the kitchen sink!)

This Ercol rocking chair is a new addition to the family and it was from Cherry Tree Interiors in Harborne. Maxine who works there has made blinds, curtains and cushions for us over the years and she is incredible. Cherry Tree also buy vintage furniture, such as this piece, and restore it - plus they will source pieces too.  This chair was a present to Mr SG from me.

I quite often find our youngest sitting in it reading her Enid Blyton books. It's in a really cosy corner of the room, right in the sun.

And as I was writing this post, someone else came along and plonked himself down and started reading his new book...

This is the view from the chair into the garden - please excuse the washing line! It will be nice to sit in this chair in the winter and watch the snow come down.

I bought this chunky grey felted stool from Cox & Cox and it tucks in nicely against a post in between the windows. I really liked the textures that it added to the room and it's good for me to perch on when putting on my trainers before commencing some hideously sweaty exercises.

This piece was handmade for us by Gary of Nu-Trend Interiors in Stapleford, just outside of Nottingham about 15 years ago now. Stapleford is a couple of miles away from Long Eaton, the sofa making capital of England. The sofas for Loaf, Laura Ashley, M&S, Harrods and virtually every other brand come from Long Eaton. Gary from Nu-Trend used to work for one of the manufacturers there but set up on his own over 20 years ago now and the two sofas that I have had from him are still going strong.

Despite the fact that the frame of the sofa is untouched, the fabric is starting to wear slightly - just due to general family wear and tear really. So for now I've bought two big sheepskin cushions from Ikea (at £15 each I thought that they were a pretty good price) and added this Scion Mr Fox cushion from John Lewis plus a blanket from the Conran shop which we've had for a while.  It has given it a new lease of life and has avoided the need for it to be re-covered.

The lamp is the Laura Ashley pineapple lamp that I wrote about on here previously.  The wooden unit will be sanded, undercoated and painted in Farrow & Ball's moles breath - when I get a chance. This is one of my favourite chilling corners - it's brilliant for when we're all ready to go out and then someone has to go upstairs because they've forgotten something and rather than getting annoyed, I just plonk myself down here for a couple of minutes and look at a mag until the faffing is complete (because of course I'm never the one doing the faffing!)

This is the view from the "green settee" into the rest of the room and down the garden. Close enough to the main action but far enough away to do something else instead.

But guess who has the best seat in the house? Surrounded by her Build A Bears and with remotes finely balanced so that she doesn't have to exert herself to change channels. Someone has it sussed far better than I have!

Slip dress round two!

Remember the £14 slip dress from Marks and Spencer that I wore here? Well I didn't want it to be a one slip wonder and I like the fit (not fitted) and the length (not short) so it seemed a good idea to try and re-work it.

I found this sort of silky, oriental printed, waterfall throw on type "jacket" in my wardrobe which I've had for a long time but not really worn, and thought that I would give it a try. I think that we all got on OK together.

The dress that I am wearing is sold out but this lace trim dress also from Marks and Spencer (£6.50) is similar(ish)

Anyone remember this song? I've been thinking about all the time that I've been writing this post...

Slip slidin' away, 

slip slidin' away, 

You know the nearer your destination

The more you're slip slidin' away

You can't beat a great 70's hit! 

It's that dress again!

Dress: & Other Stories, Sandals: Jigsaw, Belt: Cos

Who hasn't seen this dress a million times on various bloggers? I've also seen it on lots of people out and about. In black, in cream, it has been a winner for many with its midi length and "helpful" sleeve plus that little bit of pom pom detail. So sorry to be a bit boring... hopefully the tan accessories will help - a little. I was in London today and I took a look at & Other Stories, hoping that there would be an updated version this season, which there wasn't. Maybe next year....

Denim and (not quite) Dancing Shoes...

I've been on the hunt for a denim pinafore dress for probably over a year now, trying them in Warehouse, Topshop and Zara but not finding one that worked until I came across the Karolina denim pinafore dress in Monsoon (reduced from £59 to £29.50). This one I knew would be different because it was less rigid than the others that I had tried, plus the skirt had slightly more room in it meaning that I could walk around properly without tottering and tripping over my feet. I'm wearing the size 8 but I've ordered the 10 too, just for comparison purposes.

And these shoes were in the Zara sale. They were £19.99 and I have to say that they are so comfortable. I love a bit of a chunky shoe and they're a modern take on a brogue. They also come in full on gold - but navy is a little more me.

I'm not sure that I'm quite a Dancing Queen in these shoes - they probably should have a higher heel and lots of glitter - but for now I'm happy to strut my stuff on the door step!