Mum on the Run - What possessed me? Stripes, spots and flowers all together....

We were off to see family today so I decided on my spotty trousers, which haven't had an outing for a while.  I didn't like the jumper that I put with them initially so I cast that aside and with a couple of moments to spare, grabbed my Guernsey.

This was all starting to go down a bit of a blue route so I added the blue necklace that I was wearing yesterday...

...and also my Orla Kiely handbag.  Mixing it all up a little is fine, provided that the colour palette is the same and I quite liked this combination, for a change.

Being as it's Easter Sunday, I thought that chocolate needed to be included in the post. I took this photo in the airport on the way to Guernsey but forgot to include the pic before now.  My love of Toblerone continues.  My husband is trying to wean me off it but it's not working.

Unfortunately, in playing a game of re-hiding the Easter chocolate, our youngest put this bunny on a chair under a cushion.  Guess who didn't know it was there and guess who sat on it?  Poor (squashed) bunny.

Oh and I received some fashion advice from our son this morning which went like this:

Me: Appearing in the kitchen not quite dressed having come down for something;

Son: "Mum, could you at least wear opaque knickers rather than translucent ones?"

That's me told!

Mum on the Run - Saturday Bliss at Bicester

For the first time, in a very long time, I had a few hours at Bicester Village today and it was bliss! 

The double whammy came from the possibility of being able to buy a couple of pieces from brands which l love but which are a bit pricey for every day - such as Reiss etc and also taking a look at other brands which aren't stocked (or are stocked but only in a small way) in Birmingham - such as Tory Burch, Michael Kors, Rupert Sanderson, Marni - the list goes on.

I figured that it might be drizzling so wore my Zara trench, wide leg jeans from Mango and because they require a heel, red patent KG shoes.  For accessories I wore a statement necklace, LK Bennett bag and Hobbs belt (oh and I appear to be accessorsing with an antennae too).  Here's a closer pic of my necklace, which was from Jigsaw.

And here are the KG shoes - still as shiny as the day I bought them!

Here are a few images of things that I liked at Bicester:

a spotty sheep;

Hobbs NW3 shoes in yellow - which you may have guessed is my current favourite colour;

a pale blue Vivienne Westwood bag which I was told off for photographing (the ridiculousness of fashion never ceases to amaze me!)

a pretty going out shirt from Jigsaw, floaty and flattering.

I didn't buy any of these pieces but I just liked them - and anyway we couldn't have fitted the sheep in the car.

As a result of my shopping techinque our eldest daughter, who was with me, christened me "Ninja Shopper." I don't think that it had anything to do with fighting with other shoppers but I could be wrong.

I think that the sheep deserves it's own picture, so here it is....

Today's outfit - Zara trench, KG shoes, Hobbs belt, Jigsaw necklace, LK Bennett bag.

Hope that you are all having a lovely Easter weekend.

Mum on the Run - Sunny yellow pieces and a family day out

Today we had a family day out to Ludlow.  I am not looking skywards for divine inspiration but rather to see my husband and our eldest who had climbed to the top of a high tower at the castle. We had gone there to buy our son a wooden sword - his preferred choice of Easter present!

I knew that it would be cold and that there was the potential for us to be walking a long way.  With it being a family day out there is always a risk of ice cream splodges, spilt drinks etc so I wore jeans with flat boots and plenty of layers on the top half.  Normally I would take my coat off for the blog photo a) because it's really old and b) so that it is easier to see the outfit - not today though, it was too cold.

This rear view photo was taken by our son without my knowledge but it's quite good for showing the shape of the coat at the back.  Although stuffed full of feathers to keep me warm, it's not too "puffy" or square and does have some shape about it, which I prefer, especially if wearing skinnies on the bottom half as it keeps the proportions in check.

As you all probably know by now, yellow is the colour of the season, or one of them at least.  This is  a photograph of a patent yellow Orla Kiely bag which was in the Silver Pear in Ludlow.  It's beautifully bright and sunny and all of the Orla Kiely bags are called "buttercup" which is very sweet.

Here's a closer shot, showing the Orla Kiely branding. At £350 ish it's not cheap and if you are looking at spending a "tapping into a trend" amount rather than an "investment" amount, this might be the answer...

A yellow handbag from H&M, which is priced at £24.99.  I have seen this in the flesh several times and it's really quite good.

Carrying on with the yellow theme, I spotted this yellow coat in Jaeger. The bright colour caught my eye and I thought that as the sun has disappeared for now, I would bring a little sunshine to you via the blog instead.

I also just had to include these dresses - also in the Silver Pear in Ludlow. They are so cute with their smocking and pretty prints. Oh to be little enough to wear one!

Mum on the Run - The citrus yellow Cos skirt makes an honorary appearance

It was a chilly old day today so I decided that my yellow Cos skirt, which has served me so well of late, deserved an outing. You may remember that for the Easy Living Magazine schoolrunway competition I styled it with a white shirt, black Boden jumper and black loafers. Today I put it with a breton top, my husband's cashmere jumper (don't tell him) with the sleeves rolled up and a striped scarf.  Due to the jumper being "oversized" I needed to wear heels to balance it all out, so I wore my Jigsaw shoe boots...

There is a feature in this month's Red Magazine on how to wear, or rather tame, Citrus colours, which have continued as a trend into the summer. The odd uber-bright piece in your wardrobe can be a fantastic addition, particularly if you happen to have lots of neutral pieces in it because they demand nothing else in terms of colour. The article in Red is well worth a read for some ideas.

In the photograph below you can see that Nicola Rose, the Fashion and Creative Director at Red, is wearing a pleated citrus yellow skirt - also from Cos, and priced at £59 - I think that it must be their summer equivalent of my wool one.  You can see that she has kept her top half very plain, letting the skirt do all the talking.

Today our youngest was up, dressed in her party dress and party shoes with her hair braided, crown on, wand in hand and two birthday cards written for her best friend - all by 7am.  Her friend, whose birthday it was, refused to wear her pretty new tutu and was instead sporting her brother's pirate outfit which she has become very attached to, complete with hook for a hand.  So funny to see.

Today I gave our son a maths lesson - of the best kind. Baking! All that weighing, timing, controlling oven temperatures and having to adjust the recipe to make a three tiered cake rather than a two tiered cake - I reckon we covered a whole term's topics.  And the end result was very satisfying! Here is the chef in action...

and the result of all his hard work (it's looking a little decimated now though, I must confess!)

Today I wore: Cos yellow skirt, Marks Cashmere jumper and tights, H and M breton top, Jigsaw shoe boots

Mum on the Run - Anchors Away!

Firstly I would like to thank anyone who has dropped by Style Guile as a result of reading the article in Woman & Home Magazine. Thank you for taking the time to come and say "hello". I hope that you like what you find.

Today I am tapping into the whole printed jeans trend which is so big this season.  If bright flowers perhaps aren't for you, these more subtle jeans may do the trick of being something slightly different but not too different. From Oasis, I bought them on a whim not sure how the anchors would translate onto a leg - would they become stretched, distorted - who knew.  In actual fact they were fine.  Phew!

I put them with navy patent Carvela slingbacks which I find are a good height and comfortable.  I also wore a Topshop knit which I bought in a sale just after Christmas and a Boden blazer, which was also a sale purchase.

I love the spotty lining on the blazer, which you can also see on the cuffs below.  I felt quite patriotic in my red blue and white outfit - just like I did in 1977 for the Queen's silver jubilee.

As well as the practical, there's also a little room on Style Guile for dreaming and this is top of my wish list at the moment - the Lily bag from Mulberry which is part of the "cookie cutter" collection, so called because the items in the range look as if they have been cut out with a cookie cutter. 

I have no doubt that the Lily bag will remain a wish, rather than become a reality but that's fine with me.  Part of the fun in life is dreaming about the things that I would like to own!  Instead I spotted these shoes in New Look.  The same colour with the same pretty detail, they would fill that gap in my wardrobe for a nude accessory with a pretty edge. OK, so they are a pair of shoes and not a bag but that too is fine.

I tried them on and actually despite the heel height, they are really quite comfortable - and at £24.99 easier on the purse too!

Today I am wearing: Oasis jeans, Topshop jumper, Carvela shoes, Mango scarf, Boden blazer

Mum on the Run - Another Cos creation

Content wise, I have given Style Guile a bit of a face lift (to be honest I wouldn't mind having one myself but that costs money and it's a dangerous road to go down.) All this has come about as a result of some very constructive feedback on Mumsnet - so thank you ladies for your input.  

I have an action plan, a mission statement, aims and objectives - all of which I have written on the back of a serviette which I have now lost.  So, in essence, I will be including more images, closer images, less text, better photography (need an evening or two to get to grips with that one) and, by popular demand, some curvier ladies too.  So far you can see that I am failing on the less text front.  I also have a bit of a problem with close up shots - it's the crows feet you know, they're not pretty.

You may well ask what the hec I am wearing today.  Not really one for tunics and leggings, this is a Cos creation with jeans - I would imagine that the draped fabric would be very handy for carrying a newborn baby. 

What I liked about it when I saw it was that I had absolutely no idea what it would look like when on - or indeed how to get it on - and because of that I figured that it was my duty to give it a whirl. Once I had finally managed to work out which way up it went,  I was pleasantly suprised - it is a little different and hugely comfortable. I have done the "stand in front of the mirror sideways and breathe out" test and it's impossible to detect a tummy under there.

It would work equally well on curvier ladies because, although there's lots of draping, the neckline is low, which is more flattering on a fuller bust, (you could put a cami underneath instead of a high necked top) and it isn't tent like in it's design. So whilst it disguises, it doesn't add volume.

Today we went to John Lewis and bought some new shoes.  At last, Clarks have some traditional styles of sandals for children.  These are so cute - they won't go with a thing in our youngest's wardrobe but if you can't clash your colours and mix your prints at four, when can you? 

Now, for the next photo, you can see that I was experimenting with different photos by playing with the filters on Instagram.  This morning the youngest and I made our Easter tree. This bunch of twigs serves several purposes throughout the year, from being a shoe tree at Christmas (see below) to a jewellery tree at the four year old's party.

The first time I made an Easter tree was with our eldest when she too was four. I was very proud of our creation, complete with foil covered chocolate eggs, around which I had tied cotton to hang them from the tree. I placed it in the front window, only to come home and find a mass of mishapen melted chocolate eggs hanging from our beautiful tree as the sun had appeared after we left for our trip out. 

Christmas shoe tree.....

Anyway, for my last pic I thought that I would show you a necklace which I saw in Hobbs today. It's part of a pretty range and it celebrates a traditional British afternoon tea. Based on an original illustration, it features sandwiches, chocolate eclairs and a bakewell tart.


Sorry for the less than clear image (not my fault) - this was the best I could get from the Hobbs site. Don't forget that there is a 20% discount with Woman & Home magazine this month, which will significantly reduce the £49 price tag.  T's and C's apply.

What is she wearing today: Gap jeans, Topshop shoes, Cos creation, Mango scarf, Cos long sleeve top

Mum on the Run - A Miss Selfridge necklace, a feature in Woman & Home and a second photo of my lovely curvy friend.

Today I have decided to do a sort of a "tapas" style blog, a bit of a smorgasbord if you like, partly because I have a few things to show you and partly because tonight I am lost for words! No particular reason other than it has been a busy day with all three of the children at home. It has involved tears and tantrums (mine) the eldest making things out of plaster of Paris and glue (a huge mess), various other activities of a crafty nature - not a strength in our household - and lots and lots of washing, to include a mobile telephone in a pair of salopettes - oops.

So, photo 1 is me wearing my Guernsey which I have tarted up a bit with a pink and "diamond" necklace from Miss Selfridge.  Worn with skinny jeans and navy slingbacks, rather than converse, it gives it a different look.

Photo 2 is a photo of the feature in which I appear in Woman & Home magazine this month - due to be released any day now it has Fern Britton on the front. Cop those jeans!

Apologies for the distant shot of Liz, who I introduced you to yesterday.  This was the second outfit she wore for the style event that I did a while ago and it comprised palazzo pants from Wallis, a Boden leather jacket, which I love, and a Debenhams bag.  This was her "intermediate" look - not too casual, not too smart - but a bit distant! As ever, the audience loved her.

Right, I'm off to scrub some plaster of Paris off the worksurface - boy I know how to live!

Sunday Best - featuring a real lady with curves!

On today's Sunday Best, I am featuring Liz, a lovely lady who often models for me at style events.  She is very modest, always slightly self conscious but incredibly well received by the audience who love to see ladies with curves.

This was the first of the outfits that Liz wore on the evening. The cropped trousers are great for her as she has such lovely slim ankles.  Teamed with a printed wrap top which flattered her bust and emphasised her waist, the elbow length sleeves made her feel comfortable and the print did a great job of keeping the eye on the move.  Both items were from Preen at Debenhams, a fantastic range which goes up to a size 18.  The top was £45 and the trousers were £38. In my view Liz does a much better job of modelling the top than the lady below - some items are just designed to have curves in them!

 

We put it with some yellow Guess wedges, also from Debenhams at £50,  which Liz assured me were very comfortable .......

...and a grey bag with yellow trim from Oasis, which was £40.  I wanted to tap into the yellow trend with accessories and these two items did that job really well. We also layered a cami under the top for modesty purposes.

I have been in discussion with some mumsnetters who would love to see more blogs from ladies sized 14/16 so, if you are one such lady, or if you would like to feature on Style Guile, please just drop me a line at style@bethgoodrham.com There are ladies out there waiting to see what you are wearing! 

Mum on the Run - on the beach

Firstly, thanks to you who have dropped me a line about Guernseys.  I love that you have fond memories of seeing your parents and grandparents wearing them.

What a beautiful day it was yesterday in Guernsey.  My sister plus myself and the two girls sat on the beach for the whole afternoon, having first visited town to buy a UV suit for the youngest and shorts for the eldest. Hard to believe how cold it is today, now we are home!

Remember I said that I had planned and packed three outfits for our trip - ice cream, nautical and layering? Well that went out of the window on the first day! I went for the "ice cream" look on day one ie, white shirt, pale pink jumper and jeans - but within a couple of hours was in possession of my new striped Guernsey so had ticked the nautical box too.  This left the layered look for yesterday but I concluded that the top I was going to wear was too nice for the beach so had to cobble something else together - and this was it.

Having only two pairs of jeans with me, I went for the kermit ones and then layered two shirts, one over the other and added a pink scarf from Mango.  From a practical perspective it was great - the right temperature, cotton next to my skin, the white lifted the denim shirt and the scarf added some colour. It wouldn't win any style awards but what I liked was that I was forced to try a different combination, namely layering two shirts (probably something which lot of you do all the time but something which I haven't really done up until now) - and trying something different is always a good thing.

I was grinning like an idiot as my sister was pulling a face at me.

This is part of the sandcastle that our youngest spent at least two hours making - collecting the shells etc and note the colour of the bucket and spade!

Today's outfit: White shirt Gap, denim shirt Next, green jeans River Island, scarf Mango, Converse, Cath Kidston bag. The M&S towels we were sitting on belonged to my Dad and are easily 30 years old!

Mum on the Run - Guernsey Jumpers

A while ago I wrote a post about Guernsey jumpers.  Guernseys have been around for centuries.  Traditionally they were heavy woollen jumpers, hand knitted by Channel Islanders.  Often navy blue, with distinctive stitch patterns designed to mirror a sailing ship's rope ladder, a panel depicting waves breaking on the beach and stitching representing pebbles, stones and sand.  Apparently Admiral Lord Nelson recommended their use as part of the naval uniform and in more recent times they were worn by local fishermen.  However since the decline of the local fishing industry, and the rise of synthetic fabrics to keep us warm, Guernsey woollens, the only company in the world making these amazing jumpers, has had to find a new market - which they seem to be doing with great success.  More about that later.

I was lucky enough to be given a voucher for a Guernsey as a present by my Dad, so whilst on the Island, I went along to choose my Guernsey, and to see where they are made - and this is that place! No bigger than a large garage, here they make 8,000 Guernsey's a year.

These are some of the newer designs of Guernseys - ecru with navy stripes.  They weren't quite yet complete when I was there.  Still in pieces, they were then to be sewn together, part by hand and part by machine by.....

these two lovely ladies who are incredibly skilled at what they do.

As to the way in which the company has adapted to reflect the change in the market place, they are now supplied to Sea Salt, Fred Perry and Pedlars.  Alexa Chung is pictured here wearing an ecru Guernsey with navy "tips".  Cardigans are now also available and the jumpers can be made in cotton, as well as wool with a different neckline to the traditional one.

The jumper that I am wearing above is the only one in the world!  A sample made for the Japanese market because the company were experimenting with a different design, it is slightly more boxy in design that the traditional ones.  It is made of cotton and, surprise surprise, is striped! I knew that it had my name on it from the minute I saw it. However I must say that I also fancy the striped one above, which is in the traditional style.

In addition to the fact that these are beautifully made jumpers with a great history - something really special in a world of disposable fashion - the most amazing thing about the company is the fantastic service that they offer.  If, for example, you were a size 10, Guernsey woollens would send out a size 10 jumper to try which you would then send back, together with your amended measurements.  Whether it's a couple of inches off the arms, an inch or so on the length, or a change to the chest measurements, they will make a bespoke one for you.  Saville Row service from the Guernsey's Island home.

You can find out more by calling Arthur Eldridge on 01481 258183 or taking a look at www.guernseywoollens.com  - but I would ring Arthur if I were you. I am hoping that there might be enough of us out there to get some pink striped ones made!

Mum on the Run - Packing for a few days away

All went well yesterday for our journey to Guernsey.  The only time I was fearful was as we approached security and I realised that I had absolutely no idea at all what the 4 year old had packed in her trunki.  It could have been full of scissors and kitchen knives for all I knew.  When questioned (by me) she denied possessing any guns or knives but confessed to having drugs in there (together, it transpired with a tea set and a cross from her Easter service at school.)

With only a 15kg  baggage allowance between the three of us we had to pack light.  With that in mind I planned my outfits in advance taking into account that we were likely to be doing the following : Collecting eggs from the ducks (muddy) going on the beach and rockpooling (sandy/wet) eating ice creams (potentially messy) - you get the idea.   So I laid my clothes out and named them as follows : nautical/ice cream//layering.  Packing like this really organises your thoughts and stops you from taking items that are unlikely to be worn. Here are the photos of each outfit:

                                                                    Nautical

                                                                         
                                                                       Ice cream

                                                                        
                                                                         Layering

To travel I wore the Cos shirt dress which I wore earlier in the week (which I had actually managed to wash and iron in between!) with green River Island jeans and patent loafers.  I should really have belted the shirt dress but I just wanted to be comfortable for travelling.

I am going to get my Guernsey jumper made today which I am really looking forward to.  Alexa Chung has helped to maket them popular again as apparently Colin Firth, after wearing a Guernsey in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  Now imagine bumping him today.  What a nice thought!