Annual Seasonal Style Event at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens - 17th May

I just briefly wanted to mention to you the event that I'm styling and presenting at the Botanical Gardens in Birmingham on 17th May. It's a lunchtime event with a fizz reception and a gorgeous sit down meal.

I have four amazing models modelling for me and I will be styling outfits for events from Ascot to a Summer Wedding and the from a trip to the Polo, through to the Tennis and a Festival - with clothes kindly being provided by John Lewis. This is the third year that we've held the event and we have Jo Malone coming along, together with Marc Jacobs make-up and jewellery by local brand Livto, as well as Stella & Dot.

Tickets for the event are £45 each or £400 for a table of ten and can be bought via the Botanical Gardens website here The event is a really fabulous afternoon out and it would be great to see some of you there.

In the meantime, have a super bank holiday. Beth x

Gift Pop Boutique - for all things tasselled, sparkly and neon!

Sorry to those of you who have already seen this post. I published it a while ago and then it seemed to "in-publish" itself...so here it is again!

Sometimes you just come across a new brand and you love everything about it. For me it was love at first sight with Giftpop Boutique. I got in touch with Hannah, who runs it, via Instagram and she kindly agreed to lend me a few pieces to write about (plus she very kindly gifted a star necklace and some star ear-rings to me, which are gorgeous.)

Pink Star Basket (£45)

Hannah had a desire to set up something that was fun and colourful, so she took the plunge and put together a small collection of bright, happy and wonderful things, vibrant things that she would like to buy for herself, or her family and friends. Everything she chooses is meant to be exciting, individual and affordable and with an abundance of sequins, hearts, tassels, pom poms and neon, she doesn't fail to disappoint.

"Happy" Basket (£15) which also comes trimmed in white with the word "Love" on it

I adore this "Happy" basket, which I used today when I went to the beauticians to have my legs sprayed a less bluer shade of blue. The sun was shining and in it I popped my flip-flops, my keys and my purse. Equally it would be great to use around the house, disguising those bits and bobs that get in the way but which are a necessary part of life. A bit like children really. Only joking - I mean keys, lipsticks and bits of lego.

And Eric, our reindeer, much looks more seasonally appropriate with his tassels and pompoms. All of which could be draped around almost anything in our homes, from the star basket above, to a shelving unit, round a plant, on an Easter tree or a from a window catch.

Next on my list is one of these Gift pop throws (£85) which is just what our living room needs now that the warmer months are (hopefully) here. It's time to store away the faux fur and embrace the pom poms instead!

I'd also love one of these sequin baskets (£15) for my magazines (or loo rolls!)

Hannah is constantly sourcing and stocking new products for her lovely online boutique so do nip over and take a look. It's hard to head her way and not come away with a smile (and a few new bits for yourself!)

Cove Cashmere - a niche knitwear brand with pops of neon!

I don't know about where you all are but it's certainly still very chilly here. Even when the sun is out there doesn't seem to be much warmth in it - well apart from that one weekend when I was sure that summer was here and that it was time to pack  my winter clothes away. How wrong was I?! It's Mr SG's 50th next Wednesday and at one point, snow was forecast. For one who isn't really relishing the thought of being 50, this was not good news.  

Eva cashmere neon jumper - navy with pink trim  (£155)

With all of the above in mind, and given how much I feel the chill, it's always nice to come across a niche brand on Instagram - especially when the words "cashmere" and "pops of neon" are involved. Hello! Count me in!

By way of background, Cove Cashmere was launched in 2011 by local friends and entrepreneurs, Sarah and Jacqueline,  after they identified a niche in the market for an affordable knitwear collection. Their pieces are aimed to serve busy women of all ages who want to look good effortlessly.

Maybe it's a bit corny having photos taken of "Cove knitwear" in a Cove - a bit like matching your bag and shoes (although to be fair matchy matchy is sort of having a mini comeback) - but the ice cream here was good. Not to mention the view, of course.

Eva cashmere neon jumper - navy with pink trim  (£155)

The Eva is a neat poncho style, which can be worn on its own - as can the Florence (below) or over another layer or in my case, two or three! Sometimes I feel that I don't need as much coverage on my arms and so long as my body is warm, I can get away without the need for thick jumpers.  And I love the fact that I can just roll this up and pop it in my bag whipping out my extra layer, Mary Poppins style, when the need arises.

Florence cashmere swing poncho in charcoal and yellow (£180)

This is the Florence style of poncho which I'm wearing on a particularly windy day! If like me you are freelance and if you don't want to heat the whole house during the winter, an extra layer in a poncho makes for a great - and stylish - way to keep warm. But out and about with jeans or pleather leggings, or at work with smart trousers and instead of a blazer, either the Eva or the Florence would work a treat.

Whilst Sarah and Jacqueline began with their signature reversible ponchos Cove continues to grow with new styles with eye catching details including (that all important) pop of neon, a standout motif or a flash of lurex sparkle. The collection continues to include both cashmere and cotton cashmere pieces that focus on great colour combinations, quality yarns and original designs.  

You can follow Cove on Instagram and you can see where they are going to be when they're out and about  at various events around the country here. For a taste of what else is available at Cove, just look at this gorgeous Holly Star Jumper in navy and pink (£120) -  such a beauty!

One of the lovely aspects of my job is working with smaller, as well as larger, brands. Whilst I borrowed these pieces for the purpose of trying them and photographing them, and whilst this post was written in conjunction with Cove, the pieces have now been returned and all views are my own. The only money that exchanged hands in the writing of this post was me giving our youngest 50p for her efforts in taking the photographs. Is that too light?!

The Soft White Baukjen Blazer - A summer essential

Blazer: Baukjen (current season - link below) other items all previous seasons - Jeans Gap, Shoes Jigsaw, Belt and T-shirt Topshop

It wasn't until a few seasons ago that I had a white blazer. I really wasn't sure whether I would get the wear out of it and I wondered whether I might trash it really quickly. So, I bought an inexpensive one from Zara to test the water on the basis that if it earned its way, I might invest in one further down the line.  

And then I found that I wore it A LOT. It just gave a lift to my summer wardrobe and it felt fresher than my usual navy or black. And I found it surprisingly versatile - with jeans, pleather leggings, dresses, for a night out and to a wedding (thankfully saving me from pastel pashminas) - and it made me feel pulled together.  

That was a while ago now, so when the chance came along for me to select a few pieces from the current Baukjen collection to style, unsurprisingly their Lexden blazer (£199) jumped out at me. I really wanted to see what the fit was like, as well as whether it felt any different to my considerably less expensive Zara one.

The good thing about this white blazer (and what I should have checked, and failed to do so when buying my Zara blazer) is that it is machine washable at 30 degrees. It is a soft ponte jersey fabric which is comprised of 70% viscose, 25% polyamide and 5% elastane. Whilst I used to think of viscose as some horrid fabric (wait for the nerdy comment) it is in fact structurally similar to cotton, being produced from a variety of plants such as soy, bamboo and sugar cane. So there you go!

The reviews of this blazer online are really good and I can vouch for its fit and comfort. True, I didn't keep it on for long (I didn't want to enter dangerous Ribena territory) but because it's made from ponte it isn't stiff and boardy. It's a neat shape without being too fitted (no doubt the elastane helps with this) and I found the length of both the jacket and the sleeves to be good on me - I'm wearing a size 8 so it's true to size.  Whilst it clearly is not the cheapest of blazers, it's such a classic style that it won't date. My only observation is that there wouldn't be a lot of room in the sleeve width to get much by way of another layer underneath it. But that could just be particular to me as someone who always thinks about how many layers they can squidge under something else.

As with all of these things, it's just a matter of trying them and seeing how they work for you. But if you're on the hunt for a new white blazer, of if you weren't but this one piques your interest, it could be a real wardrobe gem.

Wardrobe Update - Edgy, spiky, cool jewellery

Now I'm just warning you in advance - there are some scary and slightly too close for comfort photos coming up. Let's just focus on the jewellery shall we and not the wrinkles? I took these photos after a recent Friday night out to celebrate Mr SG's upcoming 50th. Say no more!  

We all know that there's a huge trend for huge ear-rings this season and whilst they are fabulous, as I've said before, I do feel a bit Pat Butcher in them. I'd love not to - but I do and there's nothing that I can do about it.

But I do love ear piercings and pretty ear adornments. I went and had a good look at Maria Tash in Liberty when I was last in London as she has some beautiful ear-rings and her piercings are like works of art. However with each piercing being over £100 - and without a lot of spare room in my right ear to have any more piercings, I moved away from the idea.

Having said that I still fancied some slightly edgier jewellery. Something a bit more "rock chic" than I might have had previously. So when I was invited to a Stella & Dot jewellery party, I knew that I would be in luck. As we were heading off for the weekend, my decisions were quick! I started with the Pave triangle ear climber (£32). For a ring, I opted for the winding arrow ring (£25) which I wear on my thumb. It's a S/M and it can be made smaller, which is really handy as I have quite small fingers.

The bracelets that I'm wearing are ones that I love and that I wear every day. They are from Bella Jane  jewellery and they were gifted to me by Annabel a long time ago now. I love bracelets layered up together and these are just so easy to wear as they go with everything. So to add to my collection I bought the Renegade Cluster Bracelet (£45) from Stella & Dot - which is a spiky little number. If I put it around my neck I could do my best punk impression.

As we get older and things soften around the edges soften - I'm thinking jawline, waistline, cheekbones etc - it's nice to counteract it with a bit of something slightly more angular! Or if you just fancy a change and a move away from more traditional pretty style jewellery, this could be an option - still delicate but just a little more edgy and it feels fresh too.

Hope that you're all having a lovely Easter Monday. Beth x

The perfect Baukjen boyfriend jeans....

I should just qualify the assertion that these are the "perfect" boyfriend jeans, because of course we  all come different shapes and sizes. Some of us go in more at the waist than others, others of us have curvier hips, or slimmer , or longer, or shorter legs. BUT in so far as I have tried on lots of pairs of boyfriend jeans over the years, these are without a doubt, the best fit. Oh and the eagle eyed amongst you will notice that I am wearing the flowy shirt from Mango (£19.99) that I wrote about yesterday. I'm a bit like that when I get something new - I wear it with everything so as to bed it in and to see how it will work with my other bits and bobs in my wardrobe. 

Shirt: Mango, Jeans: Baukjen, Shoes Aldo (previous season); Bag Reiss (previous season)

These boyfriend jean from Baukjen (£99) come in five colours with these, which are off white, the washed indigo and the black wash, being 97% cotton and 3% elastane. The soft blue and soft pink have a slightly different composition of 98% cotton and 2% elastane - which if you're a jeans expert is all highly relevant. And because the soft blue and soft pink have less elastane in them, it is recommended to go up a size in these two shades.

I like the versatility of boyfriend jeans. I love them for a night out with heels and a blazer - and here I've gone for more of a monochrome look but equally they are great in the day time with a slogan T and a biker jacket, or with the whole neon/tassel/pom pom look that I love for the summer.

Shirt: Mango, Jeans: Baukjen, Shoes Aldo (previous season); Bag Reiss (previous season)

In terms of sizing, I'm wearing the 25" which is equivalent to an 8 and I could possibly go down to the 23" which would be a 6 - but I think that they would then lose their "slouch" which is the great thing about them. Lots of boyfriend jeans just don't have that element of slouch and tapering which is so crucial to the boyfriend fit. And when supposed boyfriend jeans just look like skinny ones when you try them on, it's beyond demoralising.

I like that these come in so many different colours too. Lighter colours aren't practical for everyone's lifestyle and also the darker ones may be more flattering for some, so at least there's that element of choice. And whilst generally I'm not one for more expensive jeans (£40 or less is normally my price bracket) I always say to my clients that if you're someone who wears jeans a lot, and if you're looking for the perfect shape (whatever that shape may be), it's better to pay that bit more to secure the right ones.

All I can say is if the idea appeals, give them a whirl. Delivery is currently free for orders over £59 and returns from some Collect + shops are free, subject to parcel dimensions and weight. Have fun!

Seeing Stars on a night out...

Hello everyone! I hope that you are having a fabulous Easter! Yesterday I did the quickest of whizzes into Birmingham with the three children for visits variously to H&M, Topshop and GAP (them) and to Mango (me!) where I bought this Flowy shirt  (£19.99).

I first saw it a few weeks ago and have pondered over it ever since. I have a real thing about stars at the moment (you may have seen me wearing my star jeans ALOT on Instagram pic and link below). Anyway, the shirt was a winner for a night out last night as I don't really have any longer tops, other than  jumper dresses, to go with my pleather leggings and as we were going out to eat, I really wanted to wear something with an elasticated waist. And the scoop on the back of this shirt is great for bum coverage. So the outfit worked well for me....I could eat a lot without getting uncomfortable, whilst keeping my bum covered at the same time. It was a win win. Oh, and for info purposes, I'm wearing an XS.

Anyway, here are the Mango jeans (£49.99) which I really like, as I've already mentioned, for the stars but also because they're aren't any rips for saggy bits to fall out of! :( I find that they come up true to size and mine are a size 8. They feel a bit "low in the crotch" for want of a better phrase, when they first go on but when they warm up, they can be hoiked up a bit more so they are more comfortable.

And finally, I've barely taken this star necklace from Gift pop boutique (£30) off since it was gifted to me a couple of weeks ago now. I love that the stars are all the way around the necklace so you constantly get a glimpse of a little shiny star.

 There are so many gorgeous star pieces out there at the moment - one day soon I'll bring you some more but for now I shall say night night. x

An event not to be missed!

Apologies to those of you who don't live locally but I just wanted to let you all know about an upcoming event that I'm involved in. And of course if you don't live locally, I would love you to come and give Birmingham a visit!

May is always a really busy time for me and I have two events coming up but this is the first one in the diary.

The Parent's Association at Old Swinford Hospital School have kindly invited me back to style and present their Summer Style Evening. We have four lovely (and very brave!) models who work at the school, variously as Matrons and in Communications. I will be styling different looks for the summer months - some trend led, some everyday looks, some for a break away and some for a smarter event.

We also have the fabulous and award winning hairdresser Tim Scott-Wright who will be up on stage  styling and tweaking the models' hair showing how to create different looks, along with International make-up artist Ali Davis who has worked with many celebrities (I can't wait to ask her about Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsey and Gary Lineker.)

The clothes will be bought and borrowed from a wide variety of High Street stores and online brands and jewellery will be provided by Stella & Dot

Tickets go on sale on 24th April and must be bought in advance. Sadly we are limited to 150 tickets so if you would like to come along, don't delay as last year we sold out and had to turn people away.

It would be great if any of you wanted come along. Support from blog readers is always very, very, welcome!

Have a super Easter everyone! I hope that the sun shines and that you all have a great time. Beth x

By popular request! How to start exercising....and how to keep exercising......

I've had a lot of people ask me recently about my exercise journey and what I do on a daily basis. I'm always slightly nervous of such posts because there's a risk of coming across either as smug or patronising (or both) and I don't want to be either.  However so many people have asked me to do a post that I thought that I would at least give it a shot. Oh and apologies for the lack of pictures. No-one wants to see pics of me leaping around and I'm nervous of getting sued if I use something that's unauthorised.

I've always loved sport and exercise but I think that between the ages of 22 and 34 it was all a bit hit and miss. I was probably 39 before I got into running again on a regular basis and it's only the last two years that I've seen a real difference in my shape - and that started when I was 44. So all I would say is that no-one is ever too old to start something new, or to change their habits!

In response to the requests that I've had, I've decided to do two posts - a more general one about exercise and then a more specific one about what I actually do during the course of a week.

Before we even get on to exercise though, just upping our activity levels is a starting point. The first things to ditch are the lifts and escalators. It's amazing how much of a workout you can give your heart and legs just by going up a few flights of stairs in a shopping centre. And it probably doesn't take any longer either - and time, as we all know, is often the crux of the exercise problem. 

When it comes to exercise, my first observation is that it definitely helps if you love what you do, whether it's dancing, netball, running, football, tennis, squash, swimming, boxing, Zumba or going to the gym. I think that the only way that anyone keeps motivated or keeps something up, is if it is fun first and exercise second - most of the time. Then it doesn't really feel like you're exercising at all. So working out what you like to do when working out is key. And often going back to what you loved when you were younger is a good starting point.

For me, I like to combine seeing my friends with exercising - so basically if I'm chatting I'm happy. Or I like to watch TV (I know, how bad is that?!) Stick me in a British Military Fitness class and you're likely to find me shouting back at the instructor and stomping off - or just refusing to do it. I like to pit myself against myself and I don't like being shouted at. What that says about me I'm not sure - but there we go!  Also I don't like the time wasted in driving to a class, sorting myself out, doing a class and driving home. The wasted time makes me really stressed. So I'm not a big fan of classes - but for others they're a godsend. For me, exercise needs to be both time efficient and enjoyable (most of the time) - oh and cost efficient too.

Identifying when you are at your best and what your windows of opportunity are, are essential. There are points in the day when the thought of exercise couldn't be further from my mind. I'm hugely admiring of people who are up and out exercising at 5.30am. I just don't think that I could do that. But then again, if it was my only window of opportunity then perhaps I would do it.

And then you just have to accept that sometimes exercise is purely functional - it's not necessarily fun, or sociable and it might be uncomfortable and hurt a bit - but the results are worth it and most of those sessions are fairly short lived. Here I'm talking about specific work-outs for abs, or legs, or arms for example.  But do a session in front of Broadchurch and it's all fine. Or do hill sprints with some great music and it makes all the difference. Or just do half a session. A bit of "cheating" is better than not doing it at all. And as for HIIT workouts which are uncomfortable and sweaty - well the feeling afterwards always makes them worthwhile and at most they last 25 minutes. And if you just can't face it, or feel the need to give up, don't beat yourself up about it. Some days your body and mind just don't work as they should and so it's better to have a rest and try again another day.

But I think that my main advice would be to be kind to yourself and to up your activity or exercise levels slowly. If you chuck yourself into something head first and hate it, it will be demoralising and act as a dis-incentive to keep going. So (power) walk before you run, or do a couch to 5k app, or start with a beginners class, or do it with friends and set realistic, achievable goals for yourself. Or don't set any goals at all to start with and just see how you feel.

And sometimes when it comes to exercise you just have to be a little bit selfish. Try and make a time commitment and stick to it so that you get a routine going. With young children I know that's difficult and frustrating. When ours were little the amount of times I had to cancel plans left me feeling disappointed and frustrated but there's so much that you can do without leaving the house that it doesn't have to be a problem. But more about that in the next post...

Velvet shoes - comfortable and chic!

I'm all for comfortable shoes. Gone are the days when I'm prepared to tolerate any kind of discomfort in the shoe department - although to be honest I'm not sure that I ever was. Maybe shoes just hurt more these days. But what I have discovered (huge drum roll please) is that velvet shoes are the best. They're soft, they come in all styles, velvet is a great - albeit not terribly hard wearing - fabric and what's more, they're often quite reasonably priced.

I think where velvet shoes really come into their own is for a night out. Heels and leather can sometimes be a terrible combination. Heels and velvet however, well that's a whole new ball (of the foot) game.

And of course instead of writing completely about velvet shoes, I'm going to start with a pair of leather ones. I love these. I keep looking at them. Backless loafers with pom poms and tassels? Craziness in a pair of flat shoes.

Mango leather shoes £49.99

And speaking of craziness in a pair of shoes (but this time velvet ones) - finally I'm getting back on point - these are on their way to me as I type. Pink, with a lobster on one shoe (anyone remember the whole "Friends" lobster thing of the 90's? We have a house full of lobster stuff) so what better reason to buy lobster shoes?

Mango velvet loafers (lobster shoes!) £59.99

And for something else flat, gorgeous and comfortable, take a look at these slip on loafers. Great colour and a good all rounder for now and into the summer.

Next grey slip on loafers (£28)

And then the heels! Let's talk about the heels. These are so gorgeous. They're a beautiful pink colour and the adornment is pretty. Perfect Cinderella shoes for a great pri(n)ce.

River Island pink velvet buckle court shoe (£45)

And I can vouch for the comfort of these because I have a pair. If I'm going to wear a pair of heels, they are likely to be these.

River Island  leopard print court (£35)

Whilst I get that none of these may appeal just bear velvet in mind as a shoe option. Velvet is for all year round - not just for Christmas!

The product that gives you lashes that go on forever....

With a post like this, I really should do before and after shots but trust me on this, you wouldn't want to see my face up close! But equally I'm going to ask you to trust me when I say that this is an amazing product that really works.*

Now usually if I had come across a product like this with such a hefty price tag (more about that later) I would have just walked on by. It's the cynic in me! But because I witnessed its effects on someone first, I really wanted to give it a go. 

Although my eyelashes are dark, I wasn't blessed with long ones. Now whilst it's obviously not the worst affliction in the world, I've always wanted longer lashes. And then, when I was having my make-up done by a make-up artist a couple of months ago, I commented on how fabulous her lashes were and I asked her if they were false. She told me that they weren't, that her lashes used to be like mine and that she used Revitalash. And in my mind, the deal was done!

Now, at £65.95 this is by far and away one of the most outrageous purchases I've made but I've squared it off by trading in more expensive mascaras for cheaper ones for the next....ten years or so.

So as to how it to apply it. It comes with a very fine brush and you simply "paint" the product along your top lashes. And you have to be patient - very patient. At first the changes are imperceptible - just as they would be if you were measuring your hair growth. But then suddenly they look much longer and there's more of them. And then with mascara they really come into their own.

I'm not sure when they reach their "optimum" length but I've been using this for about 6 weeks now and I'm definitely getting there.

As an alternative, I've recently come across this No 7 Lash Impact Lash Serum (£16) and the reviews for it are really good too.  I will definitely be investigating it in the future.

This product seems to be great for people whose eyelashes are thinning due to the menopause, or which have suffered due to having false eyelashes, or if the lashes have fallen out through stress. Or if you just fancy a little va-va-voom in the lash department.

*I should just mention that although the product has worked for me and I've never had any problem with it, I do think that it's worth doing your research and reading the reviews before buying - just in case you decide that it's not for you. I would love to hear from anyone who is a long term user, who has used different brands and what they think of each, or from people who hated it!

An H&M gem of a summer dress

This post comes with a warning - and several caveats! First, please excuse the tired face. The day that these photos were taken, I went up to Durham with our eldest and we had to be up at 5am to get there for a 10am start. And it doesn't matter how early I go to bed the night before, I always feel like a bag of poo by about 11am. Secondly, yes, I am wearing a purple bra! I don't think that I was planning on taking my clothes off in Durham :) And thirdly, yes I am also wearing my fitbit. Oh, and the reason I'm leaning against the changing room wall (apart from being in need of a rest) was so that I excluded from the photo, the pile of clothes that I'd just chucked on the floor.

So, now we've got all of that out of the way, let's take a look at this H&M dress which I found in the Durham store. Apparently it's new stock and I can't find it on the website yet - but it's one of those dresses that I felt was a bit of a gem and which I wanted to share before they all came and went.

It's gorgeously pretty - if you like that sort of thing. Personally I find summer dresses quite hard to find, well at least ones that I like enough to buy, although oddly I've recently added one or two to my collection (thanks Mr SG for being 50 soon. Very convenient.) But this one has sleeves, a good length to it and enough coverage so as not to feel too naked. The under slip is too low on me at the front (I had to choose my photos carefully show as not to flash any cleavage) so I will either turn the under slip around and wear it back to front, shorten the straps, or buy another one.

Now at £69.99 admittedly this is quite pricey for an H&M dress but there is enough about it to make me think that it's worth it. It only comes in two sizes - XS/S and M/L (I think!) I'm wearing the XS/S and it's pretty big - possibly too big for me. On the other hand the style of the dress means that it can get away with being slightly looser and of course a pair of heels can fix everything in life. Also, I like the idea of wearing it to a festival or a summer party and not worrying about it clinging in all the wrong places :(

Have a super weekend everyone and let's hope that the sun shines!

(One of) THE shoe shapes of the season - the V throat toe sandal (no, I don't really understand that either!)

Next £38 - they also come in black, red and orange

I'm going to have to ask you to bear with me on this one because these shoes really don't make a very good first impression do they? If you were out on a date with them you'd maybe have a G&T with them before making your excuses and leaving. And as for thinking about having them in your wardrobe? Well in some ways they're not really an obvious choice. But then let's take a minute to think shall we? Because stranger things have happened. I mean people wear furry Birkenstocks after all.

Darcey flats from Office (reduced to £32 from £58)

I tried a pair of these yesterday and in that odd sort of "these are so horrible I quite like them" kind of way, they suddenly became quite appealing. For a start they're a little different to what has been around for the past few seasons (well, other than way back in the 90s) and that's always a good thing because when you've done quite a few summers (like I have) it's good to see something different.

Office grey leather slingbacks (£69)

And they're flat. Which for Mrs Sensible in the corner (i.e. me) that's a really good thing. They also offer a decent amount of foot coverage so for people who don't want too much on display, that too is a good thing. But the sling back makes them slightly more summery. Am I persuading you?!

New Look suedette slingbacks (£18)

A lot of the styles are fairly pricey - but the New Look ones (above) are a good price point and a great choice for those who prefer not to wear leather.  And whilst we're considering the pros of these little babies, let's look at the "V" styling at the front - which makes them really flattering and leg lengthening. Which may go some way towards counteracting their ability to create cankles.

These Autograph leather slingbacks from Marks and Spencer (£49.50) come in black, as well as white, and they also come in half sizes. It's good to see M&S in on the act!

Block heel slingback from Office (£68)

Now maybe a block heel will increase the appeal of these slightly ugly ducklings - which I have to say are growing on me the more that I write this post. I like the idea of these  with a midi skirt - probably my pleated Topshop one that I lived in last year and that I'm wearing now. I'm trying to get myself out of trainers but I'm finding it hard to wean myself off them as they're so comfortable.

Magic bow back slingheels Office (£68)

With straight leg, slightly cropped, jeans these too would be great. I think that for people as pale as I am, a little fake tan on the ankles also assists against these paler grey and cream colours.

Sling back court shoe by Topshop unique (£115)

But where this style of shoe could really come into their own is with a heel. Maybe if there's an event coming up, such as a wedding, the races, or a birthday party and you have an outfit that's been worn before but which just needs a lift, these could inject what's needed to bring the outfit up to date. Plus, they can be worn again with jogger style bottoms and a white shirt, or jeans and a fancy pants top.

Grey suedette v-throat toe pointed slingback New Look (£22.99)

And again, for some that are a great price, look no further than good old New Look.

I'm heading into town in the next few days so I'm going to have a good try on and see what I think. Where do you stand on the v-throat toe sandals? Love them, loathe them or sitting on the fence?

The top five trends on the High Street this spring - Gingham

There was a time when gingham was only worn by those going to fancy dress parties dressed as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, or by those wearing it as a summer school uniform i.e. the under 11's. But now? Well now it's everywhere. There's just no escaping it - which doesn't mean that we have to wear it but if you fancy it, perhaps now is the time to give it a try.

Gingham ruffle midi-skirt Topshop (£39)

I have two distinct memories of wearing gingham. On my 7th birthday I was presented with a pale pink gingham shirt and some denim dungarees made by my step-mum and I loved them both. Thinking about it my outfits choices haven't really changed much over the last 40 years have they? I also bought a pale blue and white gingham shirt in Bali when I was travelling. I loved that shirt. It had a tie at the waist and it was probably the most sophisticated piece in an extraordinarily non-sophisticated travelling wardrobe.

So the Topshop skirt above, I owned for a while and although I liked it I didn't love it enough to keep it, so I returned it. But don't let that put you off - the length is great, it has a little split which means it's OK for taking big strides in and it was comfortable too. It also comes in plain colours for anyone who likes the idea of the style but not the gingham.

You know how I mentioned that the skirt came in other colours? Well here's one of them! And it's worn with this mutton sleeve blouse from Topshop (£29) which I first worked with a few weeks ago when I went to talk to some soon-to-be 6th formers. I loved it then and I still love it now. It's not as fitted as some tops, so that's just something to look out for but tuck it in, nip it in with a belt or just leave it loose for a more relaxed look.

However this option from New Look (£19.99) looks more fitted so it could be a better option for some.

If I could I would but I can't (well I don't think that I can) so I won't be! Topshop shorts (£29)

And for outerwear, there's this gingham cropped frill jacket from Topshop (£49). This jacket also comes in four other colours and if I was contemplating buying a summer jacket, it would definitely be one of these. I keep walking past it in our local Topshop and looking at it longingly.

And finally from Next the black and white trench coat (£90). I'm kind of intrigued by this coat! Some of the reviews say that the print is too much and I wondered whether that's why they photographed it in black and white. However it looks really good on Alex at the Frugality so I'm going to order it and see what I think. Despite it forming a huge part of their marketing material and being featured on huge boards in the store, our Next didn't have them in, which wasn't their fault at all but I do think that if a store is asked to have an image of a piece on its walls it should be at least sent some. But maybe that's just me!

So there we are - gingham. You'll see a lot of gingham on the High Street this season not only on clothes but also bags, shoes, bikinis and trousers, so if you haven't already done so, give it a whirl and let me know how you get on.