Boden Serrana Sandals - Something sparkly for your spring Wardrobe on a non-sunny Sunday!

 

With our son having been poorly, I have spent quite a lot of time recently watching survival programmes, together with programmes about sharks, crocodiles, snakes and "Bakery Boss." With our daughter, I have watched many bridal, and toddler and tiara, type programmes. Enjoyable as it has all been, I am so grateful that they are both now better. 

It was during one of these many TV sessions that I decided to try on my new Serrana sandals from Boden (£52.51 to £61.41) which come in a variety of colours including gold, aqua, black, hibiscus, navy glitter, tan and zebra. I didn't like the shots against the carpet but thought that the ceiling made quite a good backdrop, which explains the spotlights. It must be gravity that makes the sandals look slightly too big - but they are fine when my feet are where they're meant to be i.e. on the ground!

I can't wait to wear them and this is exactly where I would like to take them with me - Shell Beach on Herm - my favourite beach in the world.

How to look good naked...but I think that I prefer these ladies with clothes on! (From Warehouse, Coast, Karen Millen, Dune, Ted Baker, Jaeger)

 

Yesterday evening I was working with the Solihull BID  at the Mell Square Shopping Centre and specifically, with House of Fraser. The photo above shows the seating area where I sat and chatted to my ladies. Put together by the interiors team, I would quite liked to have picked it all up and taken it home with me.

These were part of the team with whom I was working.  Boy were they heavy (sorry ladies). Dressing these models was so tricky - their arms kept falling off, they wouldn't bend or move in the way that I wanted them too, I kept groping their boobs (and apologising to them)!  I have so much respect for the VMs who work with them on a daily basis in the confined space of shop windows.

The models were to be dressed in work wear so I wanted to include a dress option and a trouser option, print on the top half, print on the bottom half, colour, texture, matching bag and shoes, clashing bag and shoes, open shoes and closed shoes, together with classic, and more on trend, pieces.

Model 1 wore printed trousers and a pale blue lace top from Warehouse to reference the pale blue in the trousers, a Ted Baker mac with Dune shoes and bag - very matchy, matchy - but they could easily be separated out.

I love Dune for their range of inexpensive but stylish bags. They have a lovely coral one plus some nice tan and black ones too.

The great thing about these trousers is that there are so many colours with which to work. I felt that the print of the trouser and the texture of the top demanded a simple, classic shape in a coat.

The shoes are black at the back. I like the closed toe for those who don't feel that open toed shoes are appropriate at work. Love the leopard print lining in the coat too!

Model 2 sported a little neon and black number from Coast -which almost looks like a skirt and top option - together with a softly tailored jacket, also from Coast.

The leopard print bag is from Biba. I fancied introducing a print as a black bag, whilst safe, was a bit too predictable. The patent shoes were from Kurt Geiger.

I wanted to break the neon pink up, so chose this large linked necklace from Karen Millen. I like this necklace for work. It's really versatile and has a good weight to it, with just a little bit of bling in the smaller links.

Model 3 wore a printed kimono style jacket from Yumi, a cream Warehouse top, Episode trousers, Dune shoes and a Jaeger bag.

I love the colours in this softly tailored jacket as there are so many different ones that could be picked up elsewhere in an outfit. It would also be great with jeans at the weekend. The Warehouse top has a slight texture to it and the necklace, which picks up the brown shades in the jacket, is from Ted Baker.

I love this Jaeger bag! It's as near as it needs to be to the shade of blue in the jacket and the shoes pick up the coral in the jacket. The shoes may be a bit high for work but maybe not. The trousers are a lovely fabric - nice and drapey with just the right amount of room in the leg.

Ladies, it was lovely working with you - even the ones that were rigid and not very chatty!

Double denim - with a touch of sparkle from Zara (and Boden) and hot pink from Alice's Wonders

 

After my terrible admission yesterday, today I had to wear something different. Not too different of course, we're still talking jeans but I put them with a Breton top, a denim top from GAP (£29.95) which I bought a couple of weeks ago and a fabulous bright pink solitaire necklace from Alice's Wonders (£8). The silver shoes were from Zara a few seasons ago now.

 

I'm sure that I will get a huge amount of wear out of this top. It provides a great backdrop to a statement necklace and it's such a versatile top to wear with casual, non-denim, trousers - or jeans too, if you don't mind a bit of the old "DD" going on.

Here's a closer shot of the lovely necklace which arrived out of the blue from Cathy, who runs Alice's Wonders.

For anyone after a flat glittery sandal for the summer, these Serrana sandals by Boden (£59) could be a perfect match. I have a pair on the way and I can see them being hugely versatile with jeans, khakis plus dresses and skirts. The reviews say that they come up narrow so for anyone who finds that lots of sandals are too wide, these may be worth investigating. They come in lots of colours so if looking like a Christmas tree isn't your thing, don't fret!

When I was looking at Cathy's site, this pink crystal necklace Alice's Wonders (£13) leapt out at me so I just thought that I would share it with you - it's just so lovely!

Embracing the warmer weather, little by little....

OK, I'm going to come clean - I've been wearing pretty much the same outfit every day for two weeks, as it's that long since no.1 child started with a horrendous virus. The day that she went back to school, no. 2 child was struck down.  No. 3 has a nasty cold so she too could be off and no. 1 has also picked it up - so we're a pretty grubby infected household at the moment. You know that things are bad when you get the time to put all the aprons and running stuff on a hot wash, just to get them super clean. And when you get around to getting up the step ladder to clean out the top of your husband's wardrobe - well, that says it all!

 

Today's outfit was positively haute couture! Being slightly warmer, when I went to get the youngest from school, I wore my All Saint's trench plus an animal scarf which is graded in colour and which a lovely friend gave me for Christmas - both for the first time. I had been saving the silk scarf for a warmer day - and today was the day. Warmer weather allowed me to go sockless too. Despite everything, the warm sunshine made me really happy!

 

I thought that I would share with you this Mother's Day present from our eldest. As soon as she started to feel slightly better, she started to make these origami flowers, which took her hours and hours. On each piece of paper she wrote the same word over and over again before making it into a flower. A pressie that costs so little in terms of money but which is priceless. I know that it's a bit late in coming but I hope that everyone had a lovely Mother's Day - or just a lovely sunny Sunday.

 

 

 

 

Some lovely pieces from the High Street - sparkles, stripes, spots, sheer, denim and neon brights. Take your pick!

 

After my weekend working with the Touchwood Shopping Centre, I thought that I would bring you some photos of some of my favourite pieces, which I put together in (loose) themes in between presentations. Some of the clothes moved around in the breeze so I had to keep dashing to straighten them before running back to photograph them - so please excuse any wonkiness! I haven't linked to each piece but from left to right, I've listed the brands.

 

The QR code above was amazing. It was able to be scanned and went straight through to the Touchwood Look book. A really innovative piece of PR!

 

Pretty in (shades of ) pink

 

Next, French Connection (x2), Hobbs, Bravissimo, Office, River Island (bag)

 

Soft Citrus Sparkles

River Island, French Connection x3 and French Connection mules.

A type of monochrome

Next, Hobbs, French Connection x2, Bravissimo, French Connection mules

True Blue

French Connection, Hobbs, River Island, French Connection, Bravissimo, River Island (hat and bag) Office (cobalt shoes) Next (striped slippers)

Pale and interesting

GAP, French Connection, Hobbs, Next, River Island

Nineties throwback

All GAP other than jumper (French Connection) shoes and trainers (both Office)

Working Girl

Hobbs, French Connection, Phase Eight (dress and shoes underneath), Hobbs, Next, Office (blue and pink shoes), River Island (bag)

 Tropical prints

River Island, French Connection, River Island x2, Next, Office (pink, blue and green shoes) French Connection (mules)

Chic in White

Hobbs suit, River Island top and bag, Office shoes

I am hoping that there may be one or two pieces there to get you thinking about your spring/summer wardrobe, now that we finally have some sun. Ooh and there's a competition running at the moment, the prize being £250 to spend in Touchwood, which you can enter via their website. Don't let a small thing like distance put you off!

Printed trousers - Can I tempt you?

I'm having a bit of a trouser moment right now but I have to be quick as tomorrow I am up and out early, working at the Touchwood Centre in Solihull. I spent several hours last week selecting the clothes and many more choosing the outfits and topics I'm going to talk about. I'm there for nine hours tomorrow and only a few less on Sunday - and I was up late last night watching Jaws 3, which was so terrible it was brilliant. You can tell the husband was out last night as usually it's Top Gear, Wheeler Dealers, Man vs Food or something like that on the TV.

There's a whole array of printed trousers out there at the moment, including big floral prints (quite high on the scary scale if you're not used to wearing them), graphic prints (ditto), paint splash (ditto plus some), spots (slightly less so) and jacquard - less so for some, not for others. Personally I like a bit of jacquard and I particularly like these Topshop jacquard trousers (£42) - which is why I bought them. They're not dis-similar to these...

...J. Crew lattice trousers (£98) which I also like but not as much a) because the Topshop colours are more up my street and b) because they were a whole lot cheaper. There's no time to do clever collagey type things tonight so I'll just give you some tips on how to wear them....

• Printed trousers can often lead to concerns about bottom/thigh coverage, so opt for a long line blazer or top and some heels for their elongating properties. This is a good look for work or for a night out. For those with long, slim, legs and narrow hips, crack out that crop top. OK, maybe not quite cropped but do go slightly shorter;
• I'm liking the whole J. Crew preppy look for the spring, so for a more casual look opt for brogues or loafers and a crew or v neck jumper, or a chambray shirt, such as the ones featured a couple of days ago. Throw on a trench and that's the job done;
• For a look that's more high summer, wear with a slouchy linen top and sparkly thongs (UK version, not US, thank you very much).

Can you be tempted?! Anyway, tomorrow I hope to post what I'm up to on Instagram and twitter so do follow me @BethGoodrham. Hope to see you there!
 

Having a moment in one of my favourite high street stores - GAP!

Now I have to say that these trousers aren't the easiest colour to wear - and I'm not sure that I've got them quite right yet, which is probably more to do with the time of year than anything else. Some will balk at the thought of pale pink/flesh/flamingo coloured legs and I totally get that but I liked the idea of them for a change. When it's warmer, there will be other options in my wardrobe that will work slightly better. I'm thinking that a slouchy cream jumper and heeled sandals will work well, or a printed silk shirt and silver sandals.

Anyway, these are the trousers in question, the super skinny GAP khakis (£24.95). They come in navy, khaki, grey (as well as flamingo colour) - oh and as you might expect from GAP, they are really generous so it's worth trying a size down. I've always found them to be really hard wearing and great value too.

I particularly like the biker style detailing around the knees and the panelling down the side. It just makes them a little more interesting.

I love all styles of GAP khakis and each season I take a good look at them. For those who don't like the idea of the skinny ones, the broken in straight style aren't so skinny, in fact they are more of a straight leg, so they can work really well as an alternative - love them with these brogues too.

 

I'm having a bit of a GAP moment right now. The sale is fantastic and it's so good for basics. In addition to the blue shirt that I have bought recently, I have also bought a couple of bargain basement items - a plain long sleeved top and a running top - and I also picked up this denim zip back top (£29.95), which with its discount was about £17. It will work really well with most of my non-jean casual trousers and it will make a great backdrop for a statement necklace. Luckily I have just the one to show you...really soon!

Chambray Shirts....the hunt is on for the perfect one!

To keep the event that I am doing over the weekend with Touchwood Shopping Centre interesting, I am doing a series of presentations on different topics. With it being Mothering Sunday, I'm going to do a presentation entitled "Like Mother like Daughter" during which I will take a selection of pieces and style them for both a mother and a daughter.

 

On a slightly different note, there are a few bits of clothing in our house that are fought over by said Mother and Daughter and the chambray shirt that I am wearing above is one of them. It was a fairly inexpensive shirt from H&M which, there is no denying, was bought for our daughter. Then I got my mitts on it for a while but then I felt bad so I handed it back and to be honest, seeing both of us scrabbling to get hold of the clean shirt as soon as it was dry just wasn't a good look.

 

You're probably thinking that you've heard it all now and really how could a chambray shirt be such an important part of a spring wardrobe?  But it is! Since the day that shirt walked itself back down the landing into our daughter's room, I've really missed it. It was just so soft and easy to wear. The fit was loose enough to make it comfortable but it was neat around the shoulders. I wore it over a maxi dress, tied at the waist. I layered it over vests and wore it with denim cut-offs. I liked the fact that because the fabric was so thin, on a hot day I felt cool but not exposed.  I've tried to replace it and failed but this year I will succeed. Maybe with this one... 

the Skye cotton shirt from Whistles (£75) - lovely but maybe slightly too tailored and formal for what I am after. So maybe it will be this one...

the H&M lyocell shirt (£24.99) it's a definitely maybe but the fabric could be too thick, although it will have the softness and drape that I am after. So maybe it will be this one...

 

the GAP boyfriend shirt (£34.95) the colour is perfect but I'm not sure about the button down collar. So maybe it will be this one...

the soft wash utility shirt from Banana Republic (£39.50). Yes, this could be it but I'm fussy about the colour of the shirt that I'm after so maybe it won't be.

It could also be the one that I bought from GAP at the weekend which for some reason isn't online. I couldn't possibly show you mine because it is pretty screwed up and you would all think that I was a tramp. But one day soon I will try it and let you know whether it is the shirt I have been longing for. There again I may throw my motherly instincts to the wind and just go and ransack the daughter's bedroom.

Baukjen Spring/Summer 2014 - Just a little bit of loveliness!

With some brands you have to do a bit of rummaging and hunting around and before you come across something that you like. That's not the case with Baukjen, where virtually everything I look at I can imagine incorporating into my wardrobe - it's stylish, simple, elegant and very wearable. 

 

Not only that but with my stylist's hat on, I have more time for those brands who think about their demographic and who reflect their customers wishes in the design of their clothes. That little bit extra length in the hem of a dress, the addition of a sleeve, some clever ruching, a scooped or v-neckline and a wide range of colours - it all goes a long way.

 

So with that in mind, here are a few of my favourite pieces from this season's collection.....

The Marseille trouser (£79) is a soft, draped, lightweight style of trouser. The choice of summer trousers which can be styled for both in, and out of work, is quite limited but this style fills that brief really well. With heels, a shirt and a blazer, they would work well for the office but with flats and a linen T they would equally well for the weekend.

The Madrid cropped jacket (£179) is made of ponte jersey which, for its warmth and comfort, is one of my favourite fabrics. I think nowadays, with a less corporate feel in the air,  many of us look for pieces that are super versatile and which can be worn both in and out of work. With our love of jeans, it's also great to be able to dress them up for a night out and this jacket does just that.

For me, the print on the Maya shirt makes it really accessible and not too challenging for those who tend to steer clear of prints. Whilst it has a presence, it's not too domineering and will quietly go about working hard for you, whilst you get on with what you need to be doing. This shirt also comes in a blazer (£195) and trousers (£105) which are shown below.

A patterned jacket is a great way of drawing the eye upwards, either as a means of attracting attention to the top half, or as a way of distracting it from the bottom half where sometimes, let's face it, heaven knows what goes on.

I love a printed trouser with a pair of heels and a simple top. The vertical design within the pattern makes them really flattering.

For anyone who hasn't yet tried a jumpsuit, I would seriously recommend that you give one a try. I know that I keep on saying this but as we move on in life (OK, get older) the choice of what's available for us to wear does change, if not reduce slightly, so it's good to keep ahead of the game and try something either new, or that we haven't tried for a while.

The Elisa jersey jumpsuit (£99) has that versatility that's so important and with a scooped neckline, a reasonable sleeve and with some room in the legs, it's a definite winner for lots of different shapes. Styling one with heels will make all the difference.

I sometimes think the search for that perfect, holy grail, of day dress is never ending! I love the cobalt blue colour of this Sabina wrap dress (£95). There are lots of fantastic styles of really versatile and flattering dresses with sleeves and in great colours too.

This outfit is a chic and stylish way of incorporating leather into a look in an understated way. It's not too rock chic, not too Cher, or too Sandy from Greece but just simple and elegant - with a bit of a kick ass feel about it! The Ravenna leather skirt is £309 and the Santorini Tee is (£55).

Finishing a long day with a relaxed feel is always a good thing! The summer joggers (£59) are pretty high up on my list of things to acquire within the next few weeks together with the Iona striped tee (£45). I have visions of long car journeys to Cornwall in mind, quite possibly with a Baukjen brochure on my knee as I plan another purchase - well, July is "birthday month" after all.