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Friday, 6 November 2015

The fashion issues we face as the winter approaches - Part 1


Before the weather gets too cold, roll up your sleeves, flash your ankles and enjoy the autumn sunshine (says she as the rain batters the windows!)

When it starts to get colder I've found that as long as I stick to pieces in heavier fabrics, I can still put together a look that's not head to toe jumpers. Silkier tops in lighter fabrics have to go by the wayside for me come the start of September, unless they are layered underneath a whole host of jumpers. So the blouse is a heavy denim one from Zara, the jeans are pretty sturdy ones from Whistles and the knitted sleeveless waistcoat is from Warehouse. There may be a layer or two under the blouse too, just for good measure, which means that I can get away without a "proper" coat.


I would be interested to know what your tips are for keeping warm when the weather gets colder - without sacrificing style. And has anyone actually found any knee highs/pop socks which can be worn with ankle length fitted "work" trousers but which don't stick to them?  I was having this discussion with a friend yesterday as she had spent the previous day trying to run a presentation whilst surreptitiously trying to flick her leg so as to get her trousers down to their proper length as they had stuck to her pop socks. Oh the fashion issues we face as the winter approaches.

Tuesday, 3 November 2015

How adding a new piece to your wardrobe can inject life into older items.


H&M jacket, Topshop jumper and skirt, Whistles shoes and bag

A few days ago I was in our local H&M and this Biker Jacket (£39.99) caught my eye. I love a biker jacket and I knew that this navy one would work with lots of pieces in my wardrobe. Having bought it, it gave me the impetus to dig out this sparkly Topshop skirt that I bought a couple of years ago now.

As well as wearing a biker jacket on its own, I also like wearing one layered under a sleeveless coat. Separately a biker and sleeveless coat would be too cold for me to wear in the winter but layered together, Bob's your Uncle - plus they make a nice alternative to a more traditional coat.

Here are a couple of other shots of the jacket - just for those who would like a closer inspection.



I love how a new piece can really inject some life back into older pieces in your wardrobe. Each time I buy something I try and do a quick mental, if not physical, whizz through what it might work with and how I can use it to pull new outfits together.

I hope that you're all having a fabulous week. Are there any new purchases coming your way and if so, do you have a few ideas of how they may work with some of your existing pieces?




Monday, 2 November 2015

A Statement Jacket - a must have item for your Christmas Party Wardrobe

Yesterday I was reading an article in the Sunday Times Style Magazine about statement jackets - the kind of jacket that you can throw on with your jeans, or over a work shift style dress or with just about anything so as to lift into different territory, whether it be pub, party or pantomime. (OK so pantomime isn't really what I had in mind but I ran out of "p" options.)

For me that these jackets can be categorised into beaded jackets, embroidered jackets, sequinned jackets and velvet jackets. Oh yes dig out that velvet this winter, for velvet is having a moment!

Quite a few of the jackets in the article were pretty pricey but here are a few which come in under the £80 mark. There are plenty out there to take a look at so these are really just to give you an idea and no doubt the likes of Primark. New Look and Forever 21 will have some beauties too.

This one from H&M (£79.99) falls into the beaded category. The gold discs around the hem give a slight nod to the boho trend but it does have sparkly bits too - so it ticks a couple of boxes.


For an embroidered jacket, Zara is the place to head. An embroidered jacket such as this one (£69.99) is a great option for anyone who doesn't really do sparkle at Christmas time (I know that some of you exist!)


On the other hand, if you want to talk sequins, Topshop has this fab sequin jacket (£60). AND it has matching shorts, which obviously all of us will be wearing.


Finally, let's talk velvet. Mango has this blazer for £69.99. I love the idea of this for a Christmas party, either with trousers or over a dress, for understated elegance. 


Many of us will have a vaguely decent pair of jeans, or some black trousers, a fairly plain top and a pair of heels in our wardrobe. Pull it all together with a statement jacket and your outfit is well and truly sorted. So if I was going to recommend one new item for your winter Christmas/Party (or even Pantomime) wardrobe, a statement jacket would be it. 

Sunday, 1 November 2015

M&S Limited Edition - Another one to add to your list of "ones to watch"?

I'm quite often asked by people where I buy my clothes. It's probably more to do with the fact that people know that I like clothes and spend a lot of time in the shops, rather than because they look all "designer-ish" or anything. However it has got me thinking recently and amongst my list of favourite brands is Marks ad Spencer and in particular, Limited Edition. I really liked it when it was first launched a few years ago. Then it went a bit too pink, pastel and polyesterish, even for my liking but now it seems to be finding its feet in a whole new way. Bear with me and I'll show you what I mean....


So first of all, taking a look at a few wardrobe basics. This Limited white shirt (£29) has three reviews and all give it a 5 star rating. It's sharp and chic, a little bit Cos, which is really a little bit Acne (see below) although at £220 the Acne shirt isn't a "little" bit anything but it is quite a lot to pay for white shirt.


The Acne shirt on which the M&S shirt is probably modelled. Or it could be the other way around. 


Now these Limited high waisted skinny jeans (£29.50) are super in many ways. The all over dark colour is slimming, they come in different leg lengths and because of the high waist, there's no gape at the back. If you've struggled to find a pair of flattering jeans that stay up and stay with you when you bend down, these are definitely some to try.


Knitwear is having more of a moment this winter than in winters past. Now I admit that this all sounds a bit ridiculous given that we're heading towards winter which is a time that we tend to wear...shock horror...knitwear! However there we go, that's fashion for you. Anyway, Limited has this longline cardigan with scarf (£45) which ticks all of the knitwear boxes for the season. It's grey, chunky and long with a big scarf for extra chunkiness. At £45 it's a great price and you could easily spend double or triple on that for a cardi that, come time this year, will in all likelihood wear exactly the same as this one. (My moto for knitwear is if it's not next to your skin and if it doesn't obviously have baked beans/chocolate down it, don't put it near a washing machine.)


Jumper dresses are another example of knitwear having its time in the spot light. Limited has this polo neck jumper dress (£45) which, although lighter than the one that I'm going to show you below is not dis-similar to this one....


...from Whistles, which at (£120) is nearly three times the price and although it's not a bad price by Whistles standards and it is very lovely, it's still pretty pricey.


This Limited denim dress (£45) is a cheeky little number for a daytime dress. It looks very short on the model and in truth it is quite short but not indecently so.


For an evening outfit, the Limited floral crop top (£35) is a cracking top, either on its own, or with the skirt shown below. Together they make a fabulous Christmas outfit or alone the top is great for pairing with anything high waisted - wide black trousers, a midi pleated skirt or high waisted skinny jeans. The fact that it is both black and blue makes it even more versatile.


The Limited lace pencil skirt (£45) works so well with the top or it could be dressed down slightly with a fitted knit, or even more so with a denim shirt and a biker jacket or a sweatshirt.


The above outfit would be a great substitute for this Whistles lace dress (£220) which whilst beautiful, and whilst it is one that I would happily own, does come with quite a big price tag.



For another idea for an evening out, this Limited sleeveless longline top (£35) offers something a little different. It would be great over skinny leather leggings or skinny jeans and as it's more of a "skimming without clinging" top it is really useful to have in your wardrobe, especially at Christmas time.


Now I think that to get the most out of Limited, it's wise to have a little patience with it. Often our store is not very well stocked and what's there can look a little less than attractive. However when it is stocked well it's a whole different ball game. An on line peruse can be a better option, as can finding out when your store is replenished. So, I hope that you like my selection and that it may offer an idea or two in the run up to Christmas. Beth x

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Does anyone else dislike slippers as much as I do? If so, how about these as an alternative?

Slippers? Yuck. Don't shoot me down in flames but nope, I am not a slipper fan. I think that it comes from feeling "undressed" if I'm wearing slippers - as if I'm about to go to bed and that's not good, especially if it's part way through the day. They don't really finish an outfit off.  If anything they kill it off. Huge socks are preferable to slippers in my view but they lower the tone of your outfit too. Did you know that there's an equation for slippers? Well there is and I really didn't just make it up:

OK outfit + slippers = totally ruined outfit PLUS you're wearing slippers  

I do have a pair of ankle height Uggs that I wear indoors but it's not quite cold enough for those yet. So currently I'm wearing my Stan Smiths inside and really that's not so good, largely because they come outside with me too. No, what is needed is a "house shoe". And skater style trainers make the perfect slipper alternative with my Topshop pure cashmere tracksuit bottoms (£250) that you will find me wearing about 90% of the time in the evenings*.


*Did I say pure cashmere tracksuit bottoms? In my dreams! Crikey I'd trash those before I'd managed to tuck my tummy in them. No, what I mean is these Topshop neppy joggers (£25), which I do wear a lot when I've done for the day. Interestingly the 3 reviews on the site all give them 5 out of 5. They are lovely - warm and fleecy inside plus they come in different colours and also in the petite and tall ranges too.



Anyway, until the time comes that I need to resort to the Uggs, I may well be heading towards the Marks and Spencer children's department for these slip on shoes (£18) which will work really well with my (non-cashmere) joggers and a chunky polo neck jumper. This style will also make a jumpsuit work inside the house, as well as tapered style trousers and jeans. So whilst they may not be your first choice of footwear with these clothes when going outside, they're a whole tonne better than slippers inside.


I know that these Clarks glove candy shoes (£30 in the sale) will be a real marmite item but I really like the combination of the colours. They tap into my obsession with grey felt and they just feel a bit Scandi. I'm going to nip into town tomorrow and try them on. They may not work at all but that's all part of the fun.



And surprise, surprise, I really like these Mint Velvet charcoal glitter Alice trainers (£89), also available at John Lewis. It's all in the sparkle of course, rather than the price - but perhaps they could be one for the sale. 


Some of you may already have skater trainers from the summer which you could revive as a slipper alternative. But for now, I'm off to investigate....

PS By the way, did I tell you that I don't like slippers?

Friday, 23 October 2015

One of my favourite outfits. Why? Because it's warm and it feels as comfortable as a onesie!



No your eyes aren't deceiving you. Clearly the 7 year old has been on the gin but in all honesty I'm quite thankful for the "blur". Winter skin at 8am when one is slightly tired is never a good look. However, ugly mug aside, I felt really comfortable in this outfit and as some of the pieces are currently available in store, I thought that I would share it with you and link to them (where possible).

First off, the boots. Well they aren't current but they are from Zara and you can find similar here (£39.99). In fact Zara in general has quite a few similar pairs.


Moving on up... (can anyone else here that song in their head with the same lyrics - the one by M People no less?) to the new billy bargainous jeans from GAP. Personally I think that they are more of a very heavy ponte legging but the fact that they were classed as jeans meant that I got 30% off - so I wasn't going to argue. Lots of stretch, good rise these are fabulous - other than the fact that they're not on the GAP website. They come in three colours though - black, green and burgundy and they have zips on the pockets, just like the ones below. In fairness the styling over the bottom means that they are better with a slightly longer top - unless of course you have a pert Beyonce type butt and then anything goes.

Jigsaw has a very similar pair in black, which again don't seem to be online but these Zara leggings (£19.99) are cut very much from the same cloth, if you'll excuse the pun. And for their price tag they are a pretty fine specimen. I'm not really a legging fan but when they are styled as more of a trouser - somehow I can get my head around them a little more.


Moving up again, I'm wearing the Warehouse sleeveless coat (£69) which I probably ought to take off soon but it's perfect for when I'm in the shops. A coat is generally too heavy but it's too cold to go coat less, so this is a fabulous half way house.


The jumper is a current one by Topshop but it's not on the site (sorry). However it is similar to this one, also from Topshop (£39). The only thing about this jumper is that it's probably too long to see the shirt peeping below.


The shirt that I'm wearing is an embellished denim one from H&M a couple of seasons ago. I really rate H&M for their silk shirts such as this one (£49.99) although I appreciate that the placing of the pockets may be an issue for some....


...and I like this one too, also from H&M (£14.99).  It may be a one season wonder but the neckline is un-fussy so it would sit well under a funnel neck jumper and a little bit of gold never goes a miss in the run up to Christmas. It's definitely more of a blouse than a shirt, without being too OTT so I think that it has legs.


Any outfit that ticks the warm, comfortable and slightly modern look is a winner for me. The first two criteria are the most important but the third carries some weight which is good as otherwise, left to my own devices, I would be wandering around in a Onesie.

Monday, 19 October 2015

The Birmingham half marathon - it's all done and dusted (with photos as evidence!) Thank you to you all for your support!

Yesterday it was the day of the Birmingham half marathon and to those who wished me well, who made a donation to Edward's Trust, who gave up their precious time and came out to cheer, who watched it on TV in the vain hope of spotting me (thanks Mum), who made banners, who ran with me for the last half mile, through the tunnel, through the crowds along Broad Street and up to the finish line shouting encouragement at the top of his voice (thanks Freddie) a HUGE THANK YOU!

This was where I saw the family, plus friends, just after mile 12. Clearly sunglasses were not required for the sun but they have a "rose tinted" effect on my surroundings. And they help me to channel my inner Paula. Something needs to!


Before every race I skim through my favourite book - Running Like A Girl" (£6.79) taking comfort and inspiration from some of the quotes in it, such as:

"The moments of anger or desolation that runners experience at desperate points of a lengthy race are basic physiological reactions to the situation. But once you have accepted what they are then you have learned to conquer them, and you will begin to believe that anything is possible" i.e. It's normal to feel really, really terrible at times. It's all part of the process. You've just get to get on with it and things will get better. And it's true, they do.


This is another of my favourite quotes: "[Running] is an honour, a privilege and a gift." And it truly is. When the going gets tough - and it does get tough, especially when slogging up a hill at mile 11 - I remind myself how lucky I am that I am able to do this and that I mustn't ever, ever, take it for granted.  

And this is the reason why I really like this book, especially for those women who think that running really isn't for them - even though they may secretly want it to be:

"This book is the one I didn't have but would have liked to have read before I went on my first (disastrous) run. Something for those people who think they can't run for whatever reason. For the women who think they aren't slim enough to wear running kit or that it's not worth it if they don't want to compete an entire marathon, for the women who think that running around in circles is an idiotic way to spend the best part of an hour. For those women who don't yet trust that it really is a source of immeasurable pleasure, self-belief and unexpected companionship, rather  than a necessary purgatory - that they might, just might, enjoy the confidence, the physical ease or the mental clarity that running brings."

Mr SG did a fab job of taking photos, especially given that I whizzed past at such a cracking pace (!!)



I think that I've yet to find a running outfit that is actually flattering but I do have favourite brands and one day I may do a post on them. One thing I do really like though are my Saucony Guide trainers (£110). These are about my 5th or 6th pair now. Earlier in the summer I went off grid and bought some Asics, really because I found the colours of the Saucony ones boring (hello, Mrs Shallow alert here) but I paid the price in more ways than one and I won't be making that mistake again. Although I should add that some people love Asics. It's just what works for you as an individual really.

I realise that the time has sort of passed but if anyone would still like to make a donation via my Just Giving page, it will be open for a while longer. I am so, so grateful to everyone who donated. Some of you know me only through here so once again, thank you! (And special thanks to Libby, my running pal who made every step so much more fun.)

I am hoping that next year I will be accompanied by a group of friends who will either be running a half marathon for the first time, or who will be running again having had a couple of years off. So, if anyone wants to join in, you know where to find me! In the meantime, London beckons....



Sunday, 18 October 2015

Bella Jane - A range of beautiful silver handmade jewellery, which definitely hits the spot!

A few weeks ago I was contacted by Annabel Davies at Bella Jane jewellery. Annabel designs and sources the beads and charms to make her sterling silver charm jewellery, which is utterly charming. (Guess what I'm watching on TV (under sufferance)? Yes, Downton!

When Annabel asked me whether I would like to receive a couple of her bracelets, I was only too delighted to. I loved what I saw on her site and I've barely taken the bracelets off since receiving them. They just seem to work with everything and I love how they sit with my Kate Spade silver watch. They are such an easy way to add a little bit of interest to my outfits. (Apologies for the slightly blurred photograph - I was all in a bit of a tizz at the 1D concert, which is where they had their first outing.)


There is a huge choice of bracelets at Bella Jane from anchors, to bees, to crosses and elephants, there's something for everyone but there are also earringsrings and some gorgeous necklaces too.  Annabel's bracelets have recently featured in OK! The Daily Mail online and  Closer Magazine.

Here is an example of one of Annabel's bracelets, the large star bracelet (£38). Stars are continuing to have a moment, appearing on everything from cushions to rugs and bedding, to clothing and jewellery. They really have established themselves as a design classic (which is a bit of daft thing to write really as stars are millions of years old!)


Another favourite of mine (surprise, surprise) is the pink heart bracelet (£35)


And who doesn't love a little bit of personalisation? Cue the initial bracelet which is perfect (£35)


Or for a real impact of layered bracelets, there's the divine stack of five bracelets (£160)


As for a necklace, I love the star pendant necklace (£60)



In my new YouTube vlog (How to dress the part without losing the plot) you can see the bracelets at close quarters, so do nip over to see them in all their glory, together with three different outfits for a smart/casual event, in my case, last Sunday's 1D concert.

For Style Guile readers, Annabel has kindly offered a 10% discount which is valid until 31st October 2015 and which can be redeemed by quoting the code STY37. I do hope that you take a peek and spot something that you like, either for yourself, for a gift, or perhaps one to add to your Christmas list.

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

Having my hair styled on the blog....and introducing Luke Lehmann, the man who wielded the scissors!

Recently I was introduced to Luke Lehmann a London based session stylist, who has recently moved to Birmingham. When in London, Luke styles the hair of models who appear in Vogue and ASOS but now that he's in Birmingham, he's keen to build up a personal client base here.

We had a very nice chat in the pub which resulted in Luke very kindly offering to cut my hair for me and in return I offered to write about him on here. 

These images are taken from Luke's website. Can anyone spot Laura Bailey? Yep, I was glad that I didn't find out until after Luke had cut my hair that he had worked with Laura Bailey. Had I known beforehand I think that I may have just hidden in a cupboard somewhere. 


Bravely - more so for Luke than me as he had to take the up close photos, poor guy - we decided to do some before and after shots. And whilst I never use filters on any of the photos that I use on the blog or instagram, frankly I just couldn't inflict the close up photos of my wrinkles on you in colour. So here I'm appearing in black and white instead.  

So, here goes. This is a before shot, hair newly washed but without any product in it. I have masses of hair and it tends to grow outwards rather than down so suddenly I'll wake up one day and have a mushroom head. Sometimes I wake up looking like a lion. Or Ken Dodd. And that really isn't good. 


I would guess that my hair is probably longer than most people would imagine as I always tuck it behind my ears. I've been growing it since we came back from skiing in February. I hated how I looked that week. My hair, my skiing clothes - hated the lot. Yuck. So that's when I decided to start growing it. To start off with I did really well but then I got sick of it and a hairdresser lobbed most of it off  - so I'm not as far forward as I should be but hey, first world problems and all that.


Luke came to the house on Sunday morning. I don't see the trip to the hairdressers as the highlight of my day or a luxury trip and often I ask them not to wash my hair but just to spray it.  I hate my hair being blow dried with brushes too, so I get them to blast it with a dryer and off I go. Therefore, the idea of someone coming round appealed to me. It's time efficient and I don't have to look at myself in huge, brightly lit mirrors. Double bonus.

Luke started with a razor and we discussed the whole approach to using razors to cut hair. They're great for taking the weight out of my hair and Luke likened it to using a blow torch on a creme brulee. In the right hands it makes the dish perfect. In the wrong hands it nukes it. I liked that analogy.

This is the official version of what Luke did to my hair: "To loosen up the weight around the ears and back, I texturised. This gives a freedom to create flicks and different shapes and styles more easily. I blended the short layers on top to the mid-length with the intention of growing them longer. And I smartened up the perimeter to keep the elfin look for longevity as the top layers grow into the new style."

We did three different "After" looks, just to show the versatility of the cut, which was great for me because I always tend to wear my hair in the same way.

Number 1 - This is quite mussed up. It's worn longer at the front and is very different for me but I like how it sits.


Number 2 - Slightly tamed. It's partially tucked back here but still with lots of texture and individual pieces pulled in different ways, which you can see more in the second photograph.


 

Sleek and chic - Luke made everything really sleek for this look but, in so far as I remember, without really doing anything to it. I don't think that he used any more product but just tweaked it in a way that hairdressers do, making it look really easy.  Until you try and do it yourself and then you end up looking like Worzel Gummidge.


Apparently this is the "red carpet" look which is a favourite of ASOS.  Rather than just showing the back of your dress but with the head looking forward, you turn to the side slightly and look down your arm. So now you know!


Then it was my turn to have a play. I decided that (being as rubbish as I am at this malarky) the side bits were a little bit long for me and that I wouldn't be able to work with them properly, so Luke re-visited them and feathered them over my ears a bit more. And this was how it looked after that.


And from the other side!


And this is what I am aiming towards hair wise. Don't laugh! 


And you know what? The same night that Luke cut my hair, we went to see 1D. Amazingly, Flo and her friend and I were on the big screen at the side of the stage. So now Luke's hairdo has been seen by about 10,000 people.

For anyone who would like Luke to give their locks some attention, the cost of a haircut is £49 and he can be contacted on 07782 197646, or by email at mail@lukelehmann.com

 NB: Products used:

L'Oreal Hair Mix Supreme Smooth - smoothing cream for dry hair (used on wet hair)

TIGI bedhead wax stick for texture

L'Oreal Ellnet hairspray for hold.