One fashion dilemma solved, one to be solved and an embarrassing "50 Shades of Grey" style encounter (in public)

So when I volunteered to assist the (male) yoga teacher this morning in a demonstration, little did I realise that I would be asked to do the downward facing dog, with him standing behind me, belt wrapped around my hips and him tugging on it whilst the rest of the class watched. It felt more like something that you would read about in 50 Shades of Grey as opposed to something you would witness in a sleepy Birmingham suburb. Oh the embarrassment!

Anyway, moving swiftly on, there's no outfit photo today as I stayed in my yoga gear all day. It even elicited a response from my usually fairly unobservant husband who said "Are you really going out dressed like that. What if someone sees you?" As I am in strict preparation for the Birmingham half marathon tomorrow (eating lots of pizza and running around the conservatory to see if drumstick sweets were easier to pull apart and eat than jelly babies) clothes were the last thing on my mind.

That aside, several of you have asked about the M&S slip that I mentioned the other day which does a fantastic job of smoothing lines. Yesterday my lovely client from Bristol sent me a link to it with the advice that it is definitely best taken off downwards, rather than over one's head.

Marks and Spencer secret slimming light control full slip (£25)

Nervous of committing a fashion faux pas, I have taken advice from a friend on where it's best to pin my race label. It has to be on the front but I wasn't sure whether it was best placed on the belly or the boobs. The answer came back just below the boobs but thinking about it I'm not quite sure how that's going to translate in real life. There's always a fashion dilemma in life isn't there?

Trophy Trousers - the winter wardrobe saviour!

Have you noticed how the world "Trophy" is used a lot in relation to fashion? Trophy jackets, trophy ear-rings - those pieces that are a just that little bit more special than the norm. I wonder though whether the "Trophy" in relation to "Trophy wives" has been somewhat lost in translation - because last time I checked, I'm not sure that it was a wholly positive description!

Today I'm looking at Trophy Trousers. I think that these can be a winter wardrobe saviour on many levels and here's why:

• Generally they are a cigarette shape, which is a more flattering shape than a skinny trouser;
• Given their shape, they finish at the ankle and flashing a bit of ankle can be quite sexy;
• For a smart casual event, when jeans won't quite do but a dress is too dressed up, a pair of trophy trousers and heels are a great option - think school bash, Christmas drinks with the vicar/neighbours, trip to the ballet (I just re-read "ballet" back to myself as "toilet" and clearly whilst you could wear Trophy Trousers for a trip to the toilet, it may be a bit OTT), friends around on Christmas day - you get the gist;
• With pointy toe heels, they lend themselves to a real 1950's vibe, which is incredibly stylish;
• They can be dressed down for the day with a round neck jumper, flats  and a parka, or up for the evening with a blazer and sparkly heels.

So these are some of my current favourites:

1960's jacquard trousers Jaeger Boutique (£70) - arguably these are quite spring like in their print but I think that's nice for the winter. I love the cobalt blue in these and for anyone with blue eyes, picking that colour out on your top half would look really stunning. Because these are currently on sale, sizes are limited but customer services should be able to advise which stores stock your size.

Polka Dot slim leg trousers Jaeger Boutique (£60). A dark background with a lighter accent colour is a really flattering combination. Spots are a great for those who aren't really into a floral print and the navy and green makes a nice alternative to black.

I saw these Jacquard fabric tailored trousers Jigsaw (£98) yesterday and thought that they looked like  a really good option. The grey, purple and orange colour combination actually works really well and lends itself to a whole range of different coloured tops. In fact, the crystal jumper that I bought from Topshop and which I featured yesterday would go well with these. Hmmmm, I'm liking that idea....

I mentioned these camo jacquard cigarette trousers from Topshop (£45) yesterday and here's a picture of them for you. I've fallen in love with these a little bit too. Wearing shine can be tricky on the bottom half but there's just the right amount of shine so that they are on the right side of flattering.

For a slightly more subtle option - and perhaps a good place to start for those dipping their toes into the Trophy Trousers water - these floral jacquard PJ trousers Topshop (£35) are a good option. The "navy within the navy" combo is a great one. A silver sparkly top, a white shirt, or pale knit or a bright pink/yellow/ top would work brilliantly.

 

These Jacquard cigarette trousers Next (£35) will appeal to those who prefer something other than a navy or black option. Great with cream, camel, pale blue or turquoise, they could go from work to party quite easily.

I'm quite intrigued by these Jacquard Harem trousers Zara (£29.99). They could either be brilliant or a big fat fail. Unlike most of the others, I haven't seen these in the flesh but if anyone has, please feel free to report back. If not, I may be forced to go on another research trip and frankly that's all proving a little too dangerous at the moment.

Not so much camouflage, as a jacquard skirt in a camouflage print, from Topshop

I would have felt it rude to have visited another City and not headed straight for the shops so, within less than an hour of arriving in Belfast yesterday I was in Topshop.

 

Initially I was on the hunt for a pair of shoes that I'd seen. Sadly they didn't have them in the colour that I was after but at least I could establish which size I needed and thanks to the internet they are now on their way. So anyway, instead I had a good look at the clothes.

 

I decided to try some leather panelled leggings (BIG mistake - along the lines of the "Big mistake" comment made to the shop assistant by Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman). There was something else that I tried that was also so bad that it has been wiped from my memory. However the jacquard print camo skirt and crystal jumper were much more up my street.

 

I bought the crystal jumper in grey marl but it also comes in pale pink, deep berry and charcoal. For what it's worth, I think that this could be a wardrobe winner on many levels, particularly in the run up to Christmas. It would do a good "pepping up" job of a plainer bottom half, from jeans, to black trousers or a simple skirt.

 

And this is the jacquard skirt, which is in a camo print. I was attracted to the skirt by the finish and colour as much as the camo and it's the perfect camo piece - less army, more luxurious. I really like the trousers and the dress in it too - and the tiles on the hotel floor for that matter but sadly I couldn't bring those home with me.

 So, the whole outfit was Topshop crystal grey marl jumper (£46)

Topshop camo jacquard skirt £38

I also wore LK Bennett Sledge shoes in grey

 

Here's also the link to the Camo A-line dress, trousers and bomber jacket, all from Topshop .

H&M's little gems - premium pieces at the perfect price

Many of you may know about this little gem on the H&M site already but I thought that it was worth mentioning. Whilst there are some fabulous products in the store each season, it can be hard to find them online but H&M have a special section which lists their  PREMIUM QUALITY PRODUCTS of the week - products made of leather, silk, nubuck and cashmere.  This is what you will find this week and I'm pleased to say that nothing that I've shown here costs more than £59.99.

Cashmere jumpers in navy....

....and grey and they also come in orange and camel.

 

 

Silk shirts which come in a variety of colours....

 

  

This amazing black and blue textured leather cross body bag...

 

The palest of pink leather bags - great for those who don't fancy committing the money to a pale pink coat - or also for those who do!

 

Burgundy leather ankle boots, which also come in black...

 

 

 Nubuck ankle boots...

  

 

Lovely leather gloves...

 

 

As you might imagine, not all pieces are available in all stores but that's where a bit of plotting can come in handy. There's a 25% off voucher with Grazia this week (sadly only redeemable in stores) so this could be the perfect time to invest in some quality basics at a great price if you can get to one of the larger stores (or if you can get a friend to go for you)! 

 

Seeing spots in Hobbs

Today it was the turn of an old favourite of mine - a navy and white Hobbs spotty dress which is fairly fitted and then flares out a little around the hem. I normally like to wear a bright Armani lipstick when I have this dress on but despite having found it yesterday, today I seem to have lost it again - I think it's probably at the bottom of a tardis bag somewhere.

 

It was the first time that I had worn winter tights and, despite shedding a tear or two for the fact that summer is now over, I'm glad to say that I have just about reconciled myself with it. Like stripes, spots always make me smile and they are a good way of adding some interest to your wardrobe, without having to embrace a trend, or a print, full on.

 

Yesterday I finally got around to sorting out my winter shoes and swapping them over with my summer ones, which has now given me more options. Much as I love my new shiny black boots, I think that it's time that I wore something else for a while, so here I am wearing Jigsaw shoe boots which are great with both dresses and trousers. I don't know about anyone else but I find something lovely and comforting about wearing old faithful pieces - it's as if I'm coming home!

Luxurious loungewear

With the days getting colder and darker, my thoughts inevitably turn to warm, snuggly things to wear at home. I am sure that over the years "leisurewear" must have become a multi-million pound industry in its own right.

 

Leisurewear can encompass anything from an old University tracksuit, to your husband's oversized jumper and PJ bottoms, to something altogether more luxurious. It's possible to spend a small fortune on cashmere to wear at home - and it would be lovely to be able to do so - but....

 

With Christmas coming up however it may be a good time to ask for a contribution towards something stylish to wear at home, even if only to convince ourselves that we lead the perfect life in which the front door is beautifully adorned with a wreath, there's a roaring log fire in the grate, the kitchen is filled with delicious smells a la Nigella and the children are playing together beautifully (rather than the half dead wreath, a gas fire with a dodgy knob, burnt offerings from the kitchen and badly behaved children.)

 

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has added to her range for M&S with some luxurious Rosie for Autograph pieces. (Please accept my apologies for the lack of specific links - they're a little more generic today as there are so many pieces but everything should be easy to find.) 

 

The pout may be difficult to emulate but the Cashmere blend cocoon wrap (£45) shouldn't be too hard to get hold of. Its shape doesn't scream "loungewear" either, so it should be pretty versatile.

 

These Cashmere blend pyjama bottoms with cuff (£35) look lovely and toasty. Some like a cuff around the ankle, others don't - but they do lend themselves to being tucked into ankle boots quite well if you need to do an emergency dash to the garage to buy Toblerone. Not that I would know or anything like that.

I can hear my friend Sal laughing as she reads about this cashmere jumper with detachable snood. It's the "detachable snood" that will amuse her - handy though if you want to wear your snood with anything else. I love the colour - and the neckline would be great for catching the stray bits of Toblerone. 

The Rosie for Autograph cashmere poncho (£99) is a lovely piece to wear either in or out of the house. Great for snuggling up under when watching TV - just like Rosie. I think in all likelihood I would be wearing more under it than she is though - which appears to be nothing.

There are also these pure cashmere bottoms (£99) from the Rosie for Autograph collection, which come in a darker grey too. These are a good style for those who prefer a wider leg, either for comfort or for the proportion balancing job that they do.

  

Hush is one of my favourite brands for loungewear and they've really got to grips with styling their loungewear, so that they are almost selling a lifestyle choice.  The colours are muted caramels, grey, taupes and pale blues, the fabrics soft and luxurious and the styling relaxed but feminine. It's clever because it's accessible to us all, certainly in terms of practicality.

 

As to their pieces, for those wanting to tap into one of the major trends this season, look no further than the Camouflage joggers (£45).  

 

The Fold over trousers (£45) are fantastic on many levels. Great for anyone who is in the early stages of pregnancy, post-op or who suffers from bloating, the waist band can be folded down to a comfortable level.

The slim leg joggers (£39.50) come in a variety of colours, including a bright red. Again styled with ankle boots they could do just as well at home or for a trip out.

And some of my favourites of all are these star print slim leg joggers (£45). I think it would be a brave person who wore them outside - I would fear the risk of being told that I was in my PJs - but I still love them for their slight cheekiness.

Wrap is another lovely on-line brand, as they have this Alohia fleecy dress (£65) which makes a pleasant change from trousers.

The Bella Hoodie (£69) has a lovely lace detail along the sleeve, which adds that touch of femininity and stops it from being too utilitarian.

The slouchy Emma trousers (£49) make a great partner to the Bella hoodie, above.

Now, my Mum likes a good velour lounge suit in the winter but has trouble finding one a) in velour and b) with a waist band high enough. So, I uncovered these little beauties from M & Co (£18) whilst away last week. I do worry though that I've failed on the tops - most of them had hoods (not on), were sleeveless (not on) or had a high neck (not on, she gets her make-up on them.)

I am slightly concerned that in wanting a velour lounge suit she's also going to want to start wearing her rollers in public - and believe me she has plenty of rollers. She's not quite there on the fake tan and fake nails yet though so I think that for now the world is safe but I do fear that I may have to have a little pep talk with her soon.

The Fold's Autumn/Winter '13 Fashion Show

Sometimes as a result of being a stylist and running Style Guile, I am invited to fantastic events - events I never could have dreamed of attending a few years ago when working as a lawyer.

 

A few weeks ago now I was invited to the launch of The Fold's  Autumn/Winter 2013 collection.  The event was held at their fantastic showroom in Clerkenwell.  Some of you may remember the Fold featuring on Style Guile this time last year when I featured in a photo shoot that they were doing.

 

For those not familiar with the Fold, the brand was co-founded by Polly McMaster, who comes from a background of finance and accounting, and who has a PhD in Molecular Biology.  In her words "The Fold is about understanding a professional woman's needs in her daily life and trying to create a stylish contemporary wardrobe for them, but particularly focused around work." She also says "We really believe that being serious about work shouldn't compete with being interested in fashion."

 

So, just to give you a flavour of the event, here goes....

 

Lovely peonies - my favourite flowers of all times! Obviously it's nothing to do with the fact that they are pink!

 

In preparation for the guests, who also had an opportunity to shop the collection after the event.

The guests started to arrive, which resulted in us all starting to get a little nervous because not only had I been invited along, I had also been invited to "model" some pieces from the collection.  There were several of us - one model really was a model in the proper sense, in fact she was one of the original supermodels from the 1990's and had worked with Christie, Linda, Naomi and Cindy. I can confirm for sure that I was the shortest and widest of the models by a long way!

 

Here I am wearing the Le Marais long sleeve tunic in blush pink (£159) together with the Le Marais cropped black trousers (£159). The Fold are happy to make trousers to a bespoke length, should it be required.  

We were asked to take our own shoes along to the event and here I'm wearing my LK Bennett zebra print shoes from Bicester.

This outfit is the Brunswick dress in plum, which costs £225. Worn with a hat that was provided for the occasion, together with the Flinders Black Patent Belt (£65) which I love because it's so simple and elegant.

For my last outfit I wore the most beautiful dress, which is the navy winter Camelot. It hasn't yet been released but will be available in November, in time for Christmas. From it's length, to its neckline, to the navy fabric with a touch of sparkle in it, to the fit, the detailing - this dress is heavenly.

The Stratton top also comes in the sparkly fabric which again would be nice for Christmas, either with smarter trousers or with jeans.

You can see more images from The Fold's A/W '13 fashion show here. It's definitely worth taking a closer look at this season's collection - there are some beautifully elegant and stylish pieces.

Let's mix some Primark with some Whistles, Zara, All Saints and Mulberry to fight off the chill!

It really felt like the first day of winter today, which gave me the opportunity to wrap up warm.

 

I'm a big fan of lots of things - being warm is one of them, another is being comfortable and another is wearing "cheat" items - namely those pieces that look stylish and polished but which feel like the most comfortable PJs that I own.

 

When I'm styling clients I often say that the ideal is to feel as though you are wearing a onesie, whilst looking as if you are wearing something (anything!) much more stylish and sophisticated. It's definitely something to aim towards.

 

Here I'm wearing the Whistles Annabel jacket (£155) bought with the Grazia 25% discount. Our Selfridges didn't have it in the navy (shown below) which is probably just as well really as I could quite happily own both colours. It's boucle, which makes it soft, very warm and because of it's nice shape and styling, one of those cheat items I was talking about. Given the choice I would happily wear my fleecy dressing gown jacket for the entire winter - and behind closed doors frequently do - but it's not really acceptable in public, so this jacket is a much more acceptable alternative.

 

 

Underneath the jacket I wore an All Saints cashmere jumper, Whistles camo print scarf, Primark coated skinny jeans, Zara boots and Mulberry handbag. Cold weather - I'm ready and waiting for you!

One guaranteed way to make legs look longer and hips narrower....

One guaranteed way to make legs look longer and hips look narrower is to wear a high waisted, dark rinse, flared jean with heels. Tone those heels to the colour of your jeans and hey presto, you look like you are on stilts (not that I do here; in fact this shot doesn't demonstrate the point particularly well at all but I'm sure that you get my drift.)

So what is it all about then? Well the high waist on the jeans makes legs look as if they start higher up than they do, a dark rinse is instantly slimming, the width of the flare in comparison to the width of the hips and thighs makes them look narrower (which is why tapered trousers have the opposite effect), heels obviously add height and the whole trick of toning shoes to jeans continues the lines without interruption.

I bought the jeans that I am wearing in the Jaeger Boutique sale last summer. With the trend being for skinny and boyfriend jeans, flared jeans are quite hard to find on the High Street but now and again I really like wearing them - and it means that I still haven't had to wear tights! Mango has this pair for £39.99, which should do the trick.

The jumper is going to get a post of its own devoted to it and the statement necklace is an old Hobbs favourite.

A walk along the beach...

A weekend away with three friends in Dorset meant a capsule wardrobe of comfortable, practical pieces which I could layer and which I didn't mind getting mucky. I think that the emphasis was more on comfort than anything else. I seem to remember donning PJ bottoms at about 6pm on Saturday evening. 

 

Our Saturday started with a wander around the local town, progressed to lunch at a beach café after which we went for a walk along the beach. It was warm enough for me to go down to two layers - shocking, I know - hence the coat around my waist and the jumper around my shoulders.

 

Even if in scruffs I still like a bit of jewellery so on went the yellow necklace, which picked up the yellow in the jumper and also in the bag. The grey jeans, green parka and navy wellies (I have to be so careful with that word as it always auto-corrects to "willies") were a bit random but who cares - I was on holiday!!! I don't think that I did the whole wellies in the town thing - choosing to wear Zara ankle boots instead.

 

[The denim shirt was sold out online and I still can't find it although they were meant to have had new stock. Although I have seen the Parka in Zara, it's not on the site (it's a basic one) but I have included links to the ones they have. Mine is closest to the one on the top left of the link. Again the COS jeans are the nearest that I could find.]

 

Zara  Parka

New Look denim shirt

Primark jumper

Cos jeans

Joules Wellies

Cath Kidston bag

H&M necklace

 

Does anyone recognise those cliffs?!!

 

If there's one thing that I would like in my life right now...

If there's one thing that I would like in my life right now it's one - or maybe all four but that's a little greedy - of these cuffs from Jaeger (£65). I like jewellery to have something about it - whether it's smaller pieces layered together, or one more significant piece like this, if it doesn't make a statement, I don't really see the point in wearing it (sentimental pieces aside of course.)

The orange one is lovely and bright and would make a nice addition to a grey, navy or black outfit. It has enough about it to turn a very simple black jersey dress into something very stylish. I think that the orange is appropriate for the whole Halloween/pumpkin thing that will be going on soon. So that's the orange one sold to me!

I love the richness of this purple one for an evening out. Worn against a gold or black sparkly top, with black velvet skinny trousers and heels, it has quite a decadent feel about it. It reminds me of the berries that we saw when walking in Dorset this weekend - so that's a purple one sold to me too.

Now I know that not everyone likes their jewellery to stand out, so this subtle grey one would be perfect for those who don't like the idea of a bright orange one - and who prefer to know in their own minds that they have something lovely lurking under their sleeve, without advertising it to the world. I love this one for its simplicity - so that's the grey one sold too.

And the black one is just beautifully simple. I'm not really a head to toe black girl but for those who can pull it off, wearing a piece like this with their black outfit, especially with the gold detailing, can look uber chic. Not that it has to be worn with black of course. Yep, I wouldn't say no to one of these either.

What would you like in your life right now and why do I fear that I may regret asking that?!