Thursday, 9 April 2015

Dressing for the sun in my "Indian Summers" inspired outfit - in the very loosest sense!

The more I think about what I've written below, the more I realise...well, I'm not sure what I realise. Anyway, all I can say is, please just humour me!

I know, don't laugh, it's only a pair of wide jeans and a white shirt, but this is my "Indian Summers" outfit. I guess that it's more to do with the silhouette and the fact that it doesn't contain ripped jeans, skinny jeans, flared jeans or trainers - as opposed to anything else.

For anyone who hasn't been watching, Indian Summers is a drama which tells the story of the decline of the British Empire and the birth of modern India. As you would imagine there's a lot of "no good, argy bargy" stuff going on it and the clothes are beautiful; very stylish and simple, typical of the era. OK, so I was playing crazy golf in my outfit rather than croquet and I wasn't wearing a dress, a hat, or gloves either, but in my head I could see the similarities. Sort of.

I bought these Whistles wide leg jeans (£95 minus the 25% Grazia discount) quite a few weeks ago now as an alternative to skinnies and I held on to them until the timing was right.

The shirt is a Boden one that I have had for a couple of summers and the gold chain belt is from Reiss. The Jigsaw bag is probably ten years old. Incredibly, a very observant instagram follower in Brisbane recognised it as the bag that I had repaired by the handbag clinic a couple of years ago. Impressive!

These Aldo sandals may just have come my way yesterday when it became clear that the sun was promising to shine for a few more days. As you know I've had my eye on them for a while and so far, so good. I wore them for the whole day (they're not very Indian Summers I admit) and they were really, really comfortable.

Loving seeing everyone out and about having fun in the sun. Hope that it continues for many more days yet.

Wednesday, 8 April 2015

Jigsaw sunnies and a French Connection shirt because the sun is continuing to shine (yippeeee!)...

" I liked your recent blog post." said Mr SG when he came home from work the other day. "You called me the lovely Mr SG. Except the Jigsaw gift card that this lovely Mr SG gave you for Valentine's day was for £100 but the Jigsaw shoes you bought were £149." Okaaaay. Anyway, all it took was a little bit of explaining and Mr SG got the picture.....silk top or a piece of knitwear for £100 which I would probably trash in one season, or £149 on a pair of shoes that would last me for 10 years? (I have plenty of evidence to back this up.) You see, I was doing the family finances a favour after all.

Now I don't know about anyone else but it takes more than just the first sign of sun before I can even contemplate getting anything out - but today, after the second or third day, I braved it and out came the ankles and a forearm (or two). And as for accessories? Time for the espadrilles - I know, steady on - and the sunnies. Oh there was so much flesh on display in Birmingham today that it would have been easy to mistake it for Rio carnival.

I'm wearing the Jigsaw Imogen sunglasses (£55) above which I liked just because they were a little different. They're not too dark so I can keep them on all of the time. For some reason darker lenses disorientate me slightly. No idea why!

I'm also wearing this French Connection cropped shirt (£50) which felt about right for today. It's made of tencel so it's soft and a little bit draped but it has some weight to it too. For me it's an easy no brainer type of shirt.

Before it got too warm I wore a khaki Kew jacket. This one is very old now but if I was starting from scratch I would probably go for the Mango one that I featured on my last post or the Hush military jacket (£65) below.

I hope that the sun continues, or starts, to shine wherever you may be!

Saturday, 4 April 2015

However you look at this Topshop boiler suit and this Baukjen playsuit, they're still onesies - the disguise doesn't fool anyone!

I seem to have taken to buying onesies of late. They may be hiding themselves behind such titles as "boiler suit"and "playsuit" but it's a thinly veiled disguise that doesn't really work. I may as well just face up to the fact that both of them are very closely related the lovely fluffy, warm and cosy onesie that I am sporting as I write.

First there's this Topshop boilersuit (£65) which I am hoping will be an easy piece to wear with trainers or heels and everything from brogues, to loafers and sparkly sandals, in between.

Just after Christmas I ordered this Baukjen Mia jersey playsuit (£47 down from £95 and it also comes in khaki) which, well at the time that I tried it at least, seemed more flattering than I had anticipated. It could be dressed up or down but I think that I will be heading more for the "down" look.

The lovely Mr SG gave me a Jigsaw gift card for Valentine's Day and I recently bought these Jigsaw Monique City Sandals (£149) which should work really well with the Topshop jumpsuit and potentially with the Baukjen playsuit too - although perhaps not for me.

With my favourite Jigsaw striped top (£39) layered underneath when it's chilly....

together with this Mango military style jacket (£59.99) which is a real favourite of mine right now....

...I think that we're starting to head towards having a casual summer wardrobe wrapped up.

Thursday, 2 April 2015

Boho tops - one of my favourite styles of top for the spring and summer and in great supply at Mango...

I know, I'm a big fat cheat. As you might imagine, this isn't a recent photo. For a variety of reasons outfit shots are in short supply at the moment but I wanted to write a post about boho tops, so I've resurrected an outfit from last summer.

Along with this black top from Jigsaw, I also had one from Boden and they were so useful all through the summer that I wanted to add a couple more to my wardrobe for this summer.

As to why they work so well? They can be loose without being maternity like, so they are good for those who want something that skims rather than clings, many have sleeves, the neckline is flattering on a larger bust as it can be left slightly open, they are neat over the shoulders so don't swamp a smaller frame and they work with virtually all slimmer fitting summer trousers/shorts.

I think that the main decision is deciding whether you actually like them or not. So far I've found the best selection to be at Mango. Zara has a few and whilst Boden had a great selection last year this year that doesn't seem to be the case - yet. But for anyone not close to a City who wants to do a mass on line order, Mango offers the best chance of success.

In all honesty I'm meant to be packing and sorting out for a few days away so I'll keep this brief on words but more comprehensive on the pictures!

For my favourite blue and white colour combination, and for a top with the ubiquitous tassel, there's this 100% cotton Mango printed shirt, (£34.99).

If both tassels and feathers are your thing - and for something not too far down the boho track, this Mango feather print blouse (£34.99) might just do the trick.

The Mango ethnic print blouse (£44.99) is also 100% cotton and it has more of a pretty ethnic/boho/folky look about it.

For anyone just dipping their toe into this style of top, the Mango honeycomb pattern blouse (£29.99) is a nice gentle introduction and not too full on festival chic.

Ditto the Mango embroidery ethnic blouse (£39.99)...

I don't really like to use the word cute when it comes to clothes - or anything other than kittens really - but this Mango floral print blouse is just that.

For some reason I prefer the look of these tops with long sleeves but I'm sure that could change in a flash. So, for a shorter sleeved option, there's the Mango floral cotton blouse (£34.99)

And finally following on from yesterday's post, the Mango lonny girlfriend jeans (£34.99) look a good option in the white jeans department, as do the Baukjen white boyfriend jeans (down to £66 from £95). They have great reviews and five stars too so who knows, maybe they are the holy grail of white "not too skinny, not too see through, not too wrinkly, just the right length, waist fitting" jeans. Not really a tall order at all.

And if I get lost under a whole load of packing (actually I'm more likely to be lost in amongst a whole load of Easter Eggs) then I wish you all a very Happy Easter and for anyone tucking into anything yummy after having given it up for lent - ENJOY!

Wednesday, 1 April 2015

The hunt for the perfect white jeans is on and has been for some time now.....any ideas anyone?

Today I just couldn't face the idea of jeans again, so I forced myself kicking and screaming into a dress and unsurprisingly, it wasn't all that bad. This Whistles denim dress has really wide sleeves so I'm limited as to what I can get over the top. With a trip to soft play planned (oh the joy) there was a risk that it could be cold and so it was all about the warmth and not the style. This Barcelona cardi from Boden stepped up to the mark though.

A couple of days ago I got some of my summer clothes out. I'm not quite sure why because there hasn't really been any suggestion that summer is on its way but you never know when it's about to appear and I would hate not to be prepared.

One of the items that I found, with some slight glee I have to admit, were some white flared jeans from H&M that I've had for about three or four years now. When the time is right, assuming that I like them when they're on, I will wear them. I also have some GAP skinny ones with rips in them but they irritate the wotsits out of me because they are too low rise and when I bend over they slide down my bum, which is not a good look on any level.

So what I am really after are some straight/boyfriend style white jeans. My search started a couple of weeks ago with the Hush white boyfriend jeans (£75). I had high hopes of these but even when they were on their way I was given the heads up by a friend that the 8 were big and she wasn't wrong. They were really big on the waist, to the point that they were a bit slouchy around the crotch. Again, not a good look. The model can get away with it - less so on mere mortals!

Next I looked to GAP but they didn't have any in store, although they had these destructed boyfriend jeans online for £44.95. I like the shape of these but I'm not after rips (this time).

Topshop didn't have what I was after in store either but I do like the Moto Mom jeans (£40 online) and as I haven't tried any of those (well, not since I wore them when they were last trendy in 1989) I have ordered them. I figure that they could be good - or failing that, good for a laugh!

My other plan, which I have to admit failed spectacularly, was to buy some high rise H&M skinny jeans (£7.99) in a much bigger size than I would normally take, to see whether I could get some slouch into them. As I've eluded to, it didn't work. They didn't seem any wider on the legs so they kind of got stuck on my calves but then the waist stood out by about 4" and the crotch was around my knees. Again, not a good look. But had it worked they would have been a real coup. They're not online so I can't share them - sorry.

I love the fit of these from Seven but at £180 they're not going to be happening any time soon.

I've also checked out Whistles, Oasis, Jigsaw and Warehouse, just in case anyone was after some slightly slouchy white jeans too but they haven't come up with the goods (so far).

The Next relaxed skinny might be an option (£26) but I've just realised that they are distressed and so am I now too as I didn't want ripped ones. Well they're for the high jump before they've even been ordered.

So the hunt continues. If anyone has top tips on slightly slouchy boyfriend/straight jeans, please do share them!

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

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.