I blame Harvey Nichols....

It's nearly two years since I started blogging and I thought that, given that I am on my holidays, I would re-post one of my earliest posts.  If you haven't read it previously, I hope that you like it.

I blame Harvey Nichols, not for the fact that I spent too much in there, but for the fact that we are now the proud owners of three goldfish - Bob, Dora and Merlin.

This is how it all began....Having just reached 40 (I wish!)  I felt that it was my duty to consider spending some of my birthday money on an "investment" - (OK, a Mulberry handbag) and so with two of our three children in tow, we merrily headed off to Harvey Nichols, (via the local Tesco for material with which to bribe said off-spring).

 On walking through the door, we spotted the Creme de la Mer counter with....the tank of fish, which of course the 2 year old loved. Having plotted together (the persuasive power of a 2 year old is amazing) the off-spring decided that they required three fish - one for each of them and one for their brother (who was otherwise wisely engaged at tennis camp). In my effort to say "yes" more times that I say "no" each day, I agreed. And so here we are, three fish and one rather dis-gruntled husband later.

Anyway, the Mulberry bag. Needless to say that my favoured style was also favoured by many other women in the UK and is no longer available. Oh well, I am sure that an equally divine style will make an appearance in the not too distant future. As for the clothes....so wearable this year: the beautiful DVF dresses, the uniquely clever and outrageous Vivienne Westwood collection, the new Project D range by Danni Minogue (I am sooo addicted to her new series) and it's great to Amanda Wakeley's new collection in the store, after all her trials and tribulations.

So, there we go, no bag, no clothes, plenty of lusting and three gold fish. Not bad for a day's work.

On the Run - The holiday outfits so far...

Today I really wanted to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who nominated me for a Cosmopolitan Magazine fashion blog award.  The short list was announced on Monday and although I didn't make it that far, I am so happy with the short listing that I received for the Marie Claire fashion blog of the year award earlier this year, that I couldn't be too disappointed.  I am very grateful to you all though.

I recently wrote a post for the BritMums blog, in which I did a round up of the fashion blogs that I have been reading.  I included a variety of blogs, so hopefully there should be something for everyone.  The post was published today, so please feel free to take a look here if you would like to.

When packing for our holiday in Wales, I knew that it all had to be practical, warm and waterproof - no sheer kaftans or silk slip dresses for me - more like cable knits and wellies. 

Although I know the drill, I decided to try out a new approach, as most combinations for this horrible weather have been exhausted!  I layered up on the top half, working on the basis that if that part of me was really warm, I might not feel the cold on my legs so much.  My husband did ask why I was wearing such a thick jumper in July!

So, I layered a long white vest under an M&S cotton shift, added a Warehouse jumper, a belt and a waterproof Cath Kidston bag plus wedges - and we were ready for the off. Did it keep me warm all over? No! I boiled on the top half and froze on the bottom half.  So that didn't work.

I can't even remember what I wore the next day, other than wellies! It was so wet that's all we could do. Because I found them so comfortable, I wore wellies again the following day and they were required at times - so at least I didn't look completely stupid.

What I also brought with me from home, were several Jigsaw knits which the moths seem to have had a nibble at.  They are a bit holey to be worn at home but they are fine for over here. I also brought these Topshop navy trousers with me which I haven't worn for years because they were too big (and had been hiding in the ironing basket) - but now they seem to fit!

So, that outfit comprised Tesco wellies, Topshop trousers, long sleeved white Topshop top, pale blue Jigsaw knit, Gap cardi and Lola Rose scarf - as damage limitation!

Today's outfit, as with yesterday's trousers, was a bit of an ironing basket find.  The wrap over top was bought from Boden years ago and I used to love wearing it, so I decided to bring it away with me.  I put it with Gap straight jeans, a Jigsaw vest layered underneath and coral converse. 

And accessorised with a ragamuffin!

It all worked well for our day out surfing down the sandunes on body boards and crabbing off the pier at our local town.

I have no idea what little outfit gem will be created tomorrow - I have many holey jumpers to work through yet!

On the Run - A day off for me but a guest appearance by someone else!

Today I am featuring Ceri, a really lovely lady who had several events coming up and who needed an outfit or two to wear - and this is one of them.

Ceri and I have worked together before and on that occasion, as one of her outfits, we opted for a black, v-neck style ruched  jersey dress from Coast. 

This time we decided to go for a different colour and fabric, with a hint of an Adele look about it. Ceri prefers a knee length dress, and the lacy fabric and sheer lace sleeves worked really well for her. The fact that it nipped in just under her bust was also really flattering to her figure. This dress was also from Coast.

On this occasion, Ceri put the dress with black tights and high black patent Kurt Geiger Assemble shoes, which you can see here

                                                       
                     

On another occasion, Ceri styled the dress with nude tights...

....and these amazing sparkly Anna shoes, also from Kurt Geiger, which she found really comfortable to wear when dancing away to Abba! She says that whenever she wears them, people always ask her where she got them from.  Ceri is definitely a shoe girl - the higher and brighter the better!

                                                        
  

I love these shoes - they are proper Cinderella shoes.

Ceri loves her dress, which she has said was her best buy ever - with her shoes being her second best buy ever. I love it when people have things in their wardrobe which they enjoy wearing.  I have come across several ladies recently who have cancelled a night out as a result of not having anything to wear, which is a real shame.  We all need at least one lovely outfit we can call on when an opportunity comes our way - because we never know when that may be.

On the Run - Hot off the press, turn ups are back!

You can only imagine my relief to hear that turned up jeans are back! Actually, thinking about it, I wasn't sure that they had ever really been "in" or "out" - in the same way that stripes aren't ever really in or out - they just "are".

Anyway, Jennifer Aniston, SJP and Cheryl Cole have all been spotted wearing them - so we too now have permission to wear them - excellent stuff!

Actually, looking at Jennifer Aniston's outfit, I'm not convinced by the whole turning up baggy jeans look. I don't think that the turn ups stay there very well - and the thought of ironing them in place - no thanks. I would just rather wear them full length. Then there's the whole "down on the farm" element about them. So, whilst Jen may just be about able to pull them off with her tanned slim ankles and uber white pumps (bet she doesn't wear hers more than a couple of time - or stick them in the washing machine come to that) I don't think that I will be going there.

No, I will just be sticking to my Gap straight leg or high waisted skinnies  - rolled up as they have been on and off for many years, just by way of a bit of variety whilst the bloomin' rain cloud which hovers over the UK refuses to shift!

On the Run - (though not in these shoes) on a night out

Just to let you know that I am off today, not so much for a change of scene as a change of rain.  We are heading away from the Birmingham rain, to the Anglesey rain, which, with its Royal connections, is obviously a far superior kind of rain to the type we have here. I have scheduled a couple of posts to come out on Monday and Tuesday but it may go a little quiet after that, depending on whether my dongle works or not!

We were off out to a friend's birthday party last night and given the chance to dress up, I thought that I should make the most of it.

Here is a closer look at the dress which I showed you a couple of days ago.  I found it at Reiss in Bicester - it has been there for ages in fact - at least since the last time I went but that didn't put me off. (Although maybe it should have)?!! It was reduced from £189 to £126 to £76 and my husband declared that it was a "bargain". Little did he realise the effect of his comment! Green light or what? I wonder whether he realises just quite how many "bargains" there are to be had out there at the moment.

I loved the vibrant green colour. I have had a green Jigsaw dress for many years but it is falling apart at the seams and needed replacing.  People always commented on the colour when I wore it and being of a fair (OK, pale) disposition, a bit of colour is good for me. The length was also very civilised!

I didn't get a chance this week to find the right necklace to go with it, so opted to go without one.  Sometimes less is more. I also wore the sparkly Dune shoes which I bought for the party I had at Christmas and which you can see here

Fortunately my friend whose birthday it was brought along some tape to hold it in place as again, I didn't have time to get any, which saved us all from embarrassment!

On the Run - Jigsaw sale buys

I just wanted to say a big "Thank You" to everyone who gave their opinion on the leather jackets featured in yesterday's post.  I found it really beneficial and would certainly do it again.  If anyone else out there has a similar kind of style query, please feel free to send photos through and I will happily post them so that others than comment.

I know that I keep wittering on about sale buys, so to those who have had enough - sorry.  The thing is, if I can help even one person find an amazing piece at a great price, which they would never have found on their own - I'm happy!

For those of you who have followed Style Guile for a while, you will know that I have been a big fan of Jigsaw for many years.  So it comes as no surprise that I eagerly await their sale, to see what they have on offer.

Having had a poorly little one this week, I didn't think that I would get an opportunity to take a closer look at the sale in person before going away. However, I had a small window this morning and I took full advantage of it - only narrowly missing a car parking ticket in the process.

Some of the items below I saw or tried on, whilst others are available on line only.  Quite a few pieces are from the A/W '11 stock but our local Birmingham store still had some in their stock room, so it's always worth asking.

So, here are the pieces which I thought were either a particularly good price, or would work well for the season ahead, or would be a great hard working piece for your wardrobe.  There are lots of other lovely pieces too but the reductions aren't always that great first time around - although it all helps!

Cashmere Jumper

This Pure Cashmere Cocoon Sweater has been reduced from £170 to £69.  The two other colours in which it comes are still priced at £99 but I really like this colour.  The bat wings obviously won't be as flattering for those ladies with curvy busts - but not everyone has one of those! You will either like the central seam or hate it.  I quite like it because it is a bit different.


Suede Skirt

As something slightly different, I thought that I would show this washed suede wrap drape skirt. Reduced from £249 to £98 it is a really good price and as suede is such a supportive fabric, it can work wonders for those with curvier figures - a bit like spanx but in a skirt.  Again, an either love it or hate it kind of idea, I know that after some ladies have owned one, they would never want to be without one again.

Jacquard Skirt

This Paisley Jacquard Skirt has been reduced from £110 to £69.  Paisley was a huge print trend this season and will continue into A/W '12 too. Jacquard and Brocade will also be huge and this skirt with its neat pencil shape will ensure that you are well ahead of the game.

Day time skirt

I always think that it is quite difficult to find a day time skirt which works well.  This trench coat tie skirt reduced from £99 to £69 fits the bill nicely.  It has a good length and with some fullness, it should flatter your shape, rather than add bulk to it. I tried this skirt on and although the 8 fitted perfectly on the waist, I preferred the extra length of the size 10 as it sat lower on my hips.  I could imagine wearing this now with wedges and a fine knit or silk shirt and then with tights, boots and a chunky cream jumper in the winter. 


Good solid pair of winter boots!

The sheepskin Eva boot was one of last year's style. However a style such as this will serve you for many years to come. Reduced from £289 to £169, the buckles on them are a nice nod to the equestrian trend which we are going to see so much of next season. Hard wearing and versatile, I would definitely be happy to invest in a pair of these.


Classic style winter boot

 This is the Jigsaw Luxury leather boot, reduced from £249 to £159. I love this classic style - elegant but not too high, it will work well for those who have a walk from the train station to work and the style won't date so they will last for years. The finish on them also makes them extra smart and stylish (with a limited need to polish them - always a bonus!)

Going out shirt

I love this sparkle cluster blouse  which is reduced from £139 to £69.  With so many of us wearing skinny jeans or trousers with heels for a night out, this top will create a lovely silhouette.  For anyone with a curvier bust, I would open a couple of the top buttons and put a lacy cami underneath, giving the illusion of a v-neck, which will be more flattering.  The floaty fabric should prevent it from being too maternity like and also being sheer, it will still be possible to see your silhouette through it which again, is more flattering.

Trench Coat

Unfortunately, this classic trench coat with belt which is reduced from £239 to £129, is only available on line in a 12 but I would imagine that there is still some stock left in store.  I like the colour and the fact that it isn't too long. With over £100 off, it's also a good saving.

I really liked the Jigsaw Jewellery this season so it's worth taking a browse if you are after a statement necklace or a chunky ring.

As Jigsaw has only recently gone into sale, there should be a futher round of reductions at some point, so it could be worth keeping your eye on a piece or two.  Deliveries over £100 are free at the moment but if an order is less than £100, try entering SUMMER43 as a promotional code and you should get free delivery. Hope that you have fun and please do let me know if you find anything lovely.

On the Run - Leather Jackets: Either or Neither?

I need your help to decide, should it be either or neither when it comes to the leather jackets?  Flo (eldest) initially decided neither, on the basis that she preferred my Oasis cream one. She felt that both were too big but then decided that she did, in fact, like the blue one . Okey dokey.

I also thought that these pictures may help anyone else who was thinking about ordering one of these jackets, come to a conclusion. I decided to simply put both jackets on over jeans and a jumper, without any accessorising.

So, this is a front shot of the French Connection one, size 8 and priced at £182.50 instead of £320.  I decided to order it on-line because the in store return policy isn't great and I like to have the option of returning things if I'm not 100% sure.

This is the Boden one, again size 8, priced at £210 instead of £350

This is the back of the French Connection one.

...and this is the back of the Boden one. I have to say, despite being too big, I really like the detail and shaping on the back of the Boden one.

This is the French Connection one from a distance...

...and the Boden one from a distance.

The French Connection one is much thicker, which is great for me as I can tell it would be warmer.  It also fits better than the Boden one (which is definitely too big) and I like the colour.  However, I think that I marginally prefer the style of the Boden one. 

Whether I keep either of them or not (and I'm honestly not convinced about either of them - which probably answers the question) I do believe that it is worth bottoming things out properly, especially if something is quite pricey.  Seeing the back shot of the Boden jacket made me appreciate the detail on it, which I am not sure I would have done otherwise. For now my conclusion is that I need to sleep on it. But ultimately, if you don't love something that is as pricey as this, it doesn't deserve a place in your wardrobe!

ps Apparently the Next sale starts at 5am tomorrow - it's a brave person who battles the crowds and shops at that time. There are also further reductions at Whistles and Pure Collection.

On the Run - Doing a bit of a wardrobe up date of my own!

July was meant to be the month where I didn't spend anything on clothes but I have changed it to August instead. It doesn't seem right to stick to a principle for the sake of it and the sales have been so good...

Having come to the realisation that quite a few of my pieces had passed their best, I decided to practice what I preach so, here are the results of a morning's work in which I topped up on some basics. I have stuck to a similar colour palette throughout, bearing in mind that I have grey and teal jeans already and a lot of navy - so everything should work across the board.

Jeans  - These are the Jaeger Boutique high rise wide leg jeans which I featured two days ago. Reduced from £125 to £35 in Selfridges, I thought that they were a great buy. They are very long but given their price, I am happy to pay to have them altered.

 

Zara Boots - Reduced from £79 to £30, I also featured these a few days ago.  I like the colour and the height of the heel. I haven't worn them yet but they will be getting a good spray with some protector spray before I wear them.

Blazer - Another Zara purchase, I found it in the more casual section. It too was in the sale, reduced to £30.  Try as I might, I couldn't peel the labels off to find its original price. Such as shame as I always like to know what saving I have made!

I thought that the blazer was really well made and loved the green trim on the inside, together with the breast pocket.  I always wanted to whip a warrant out of my inside pocket, Cagney and Lacy style!

Every day skirt - I spotted this in French Connection and really liked the print on it.  Too short for now, I will wear it with thick tights and ankle boots in the colder weather. This was also in the sale and was significantly reduced.

Smart day dress - Bought in the Boden sale, and as featured yesterday, I liked the blouson style and also the collar. I have only had a chance for a quick try on so I am not sure whether it will be a keeper or not.

Here is a closer shot of the print. I quite like the idea of picking up on the yellow/green tones in it, for a change.

Breton Jumpers - Again, spotted in the French Connection sale.  This jumper also comes in lilac but the prices of the different colour do vary.  They are a great fit - a decent length in the body and the arms and with some cashmere in them they are very soft.  They were half price, so again a good buy.

Zara blouse - Another sale purchase, it was around the £20 mark.  I have had my eye on it for a while. I really liked the print and it will go well with grey or teal coloured jeans that I have, as well as blue ones.

Here is a closer shot of the print - it's obviously fairly light and girlie so the skull shaped buttons are a nice contrast - and being gold you don't really realise from a distance that they are skulls.

We are going to a friend's birthday party on Saturday night and I bought this dress from Reiss at Bicester at the weekend. It was hugely reduced from something like £179 to £70 (ish).  I love the vibrant green colour and the slightly grecian feel about it.  As it is a stand alone piece, it doesn't really need to work with anything else in my wardrobe, so the bright colour was an added bonus.

With a poorly ones on our hands, I don't have time to get to the shops to acquire the necessary decency tape, so I am hoping that my friend can take some along and meet me there with it, otherwise it could be a bit of a disaster!

I also picked up this Coccinelle leather cuff from Bicester for £18. It didn't have its original price on but I would imagine that it was probably at least twice that.

Finally, the Boden leather jacket arrived today. I think that it will look better with a body in it! I haven't had time to try it yet but I will let you know how it fits.

The other item that I bought was some half price navy trousers in the Cos sale, to replace the ones that I wear a lot and which are looking a bit shabby.

The only problem is, since buying these pieces, the Jigsaw sale started. Fortunately (depending on how you look at it) being away next week means there isn't enough time to get anything delivered before we leave.  But I might just bring you a few pics instead of some pieces that it would be nice to have...

On the Run - Life Begins at 40 (Part 2)

Following on from yesterday's post, in which I looked at some of the items you could include to kick start your wardrobe, today it's the turn of accessories.

For lots of women, accessorising can be tricky.  I think it's really important to love your accessories and for them to make you feel special - because really they are the icing on the cake which is your outfit. It may take a few years to build up a collection of accessories that you like. Some may be inhereited, some coveted and bought in sales, some collected abroad, at vintage shops or immediately that you see them because you just fall in love with them and can't walk away without buying them.

We all have our views on what we can wear and what we like. Some ladies don't like the feel of necklaces and some don't like the feel of chunky bangles.  Others don't feel that they can wear belts and one client told me that the best thing about becoming dis-engaged was taking her ring off because she hated wearing it!

So, here are some items which I think do a great job of pulling your wardrobe, and an outfit, together:

A silk scarf, tied like the one above which is from Jaeger (reduced from £99 to £35) has a modern animal print.  Essentially neutral, it has coral and turquoise in it and will work well with lots of basic colours.  Larger light wool or linen scarves are also a good way of adding interest in to your wardrobe in terms of colour and print but without committing lots of money to them. My favourite shops for scarves are Mango, Zara, Oasis (they usually do a great silk one each season which goes into the sale) Lola Rose and John Lewis.

Sunglasses - the Queen of the sunnies has to be Victoria Beckham. Not only functional, they can give an outfit a whole new look - and also attitude! I can't bring myself to wear them other than on very hot days because I just don't feel right (see above)! Some can carry them off all year round and have that cool sophisticated look to go with them - I just feel as if I am playing dress up!

A statement necklace can bring the most simple outfits together.  What works for you as an individual will depend on lots of things, including bust size, length of neck, width of neck and so on. Some ladies don't like swapping their "proper" jewellery for costume jewellery so it could be a case of finding something which works with a necklace that you wear every day or finding a brand which does jewellery which isn't too "costumey." Stella and Dot, Coast, Hobbs, Jigsaw and Red Online are all good for jewellery - but there are hundreds of brands out there.

Statement cuffs are another way of adding sophistication to a simple outfit. Leather ones are great if they are likely to bash on a desk or if you have young children (Reiss has some nice ones).  Otherwise the bigger the better - if you like that kind of thing. The above one is from Jaeger again.

Bags are another great way of adding some style and colour to your outfit.  The shopper on the left is from Zara and costs £15.99.  The middle one, which is a bowling bag style and which will be a huge style next season, is from Orla Kiely and has been reduced from £380 to £247.  It also comes in several different colours.  The green tote is from Zara reduced from £59.99 to £49.99 it also comes in pink. Bicester is a fantastic place to get a designer bag at a good price. If it is something that you plan on keeping for years, the fact that it may already be a season out of date is neither here nor there.

As an alternative to the Orla Kiely bowling bag, Topshop has this cut out holdall bag for £42.

A final word - when it comes to belts, just keep an eye on their proportions. Wide ones can be hard to wear if you are short bodied or have a very curvy bust. Skinny ones tricky if you are very curvy. If your trousers fit well, a belt can be used as a lovely accessory, rather than as a necessity to keep your trousers up! 

On the Run - Life Begins at 40 (Part 1)

I read a really interesting article at the weekend about the former tennis player, Annabel Croft.  It was about how her daughter, Amber, took control of her Wardrobe, which was stuck in the 1990's.

This is what Annabel said about her clothing:

"For a good 10 years, after I had three kids, I got used to throwing on a uniform....I suppose I went into a bit of a tunnel and a lot my friends did too.  It wasn't until my children started growing up that I discovered I was completely out of the loop with fashion.  I'd forgotten that it could be fun, and I lost faith in my own judgment."

Having worked with so many women who find themselves in this situation, I found her last comment really inciteful. A lot of women have a really good innate sense of style but having not devoted any time to themselves, have just lost confidence. Once we re-ignite that dwindling flame, there's no stopping them!

She also went on to say: "Looking back, I can see that my look had got locked in the 1990s, before I 'd had children. I'd had the same shoes for seven or eight years and wasn't updating them. So, thank God Amber spoke up, or I'd still be wearing my Dynasty suits now."

Once her daughter took control, she taught her Mum how to layer things and to mix high street and designer pieces.  She styles designer pieces with something clever from Topshop or Zara and looks to brands such as Elizabeth and James (designed by the Olsen twins), Acne, LK Bennett, J Brand, Issa (a favourite of Kate Middleton) and All Saints. 

Having the figure of a former tennis player and probably a relatively healthy clothing budget makes it easier for her to look amazing but nonethelss, the point remains the same.

So, where to start if you have reached that stage where you finally have a little bit of brain space, and time, to devote to yourself?

Without wanting to do a "capsule wardrobe post" these are the items that I would look to add to a Wardrobe first to give it a new lease of life:

A good pair of jeans - and by good I mean well fitting, not necessarily pricey. I like these high waisted flared jeans (below) by Jaeger which at £35 in the sale are a great buy. I would also look to Not Your Daughter's Jeans, Hobbs, J Brand at Shopbop or Levi's,  curve ID as all are cut for women's figures.

• A good trench coat. Why? Because it covers a multitude of sins beneath and whilst also looking stylish.  I like this one from Aubin and Wills which is reduced in the sale from £325 to £150.  Made in the UK, it's of great quality and will last for years. It also comes in navy. It isn't too long so will look equally good with jeans and trousers as well as with a dress or skirt.

                             
Shirts or blouses. Why? Because they are so much more forgiving and flattering than T-shirts or clingy tops. Shirts with darts are particularly flattering and ladies with curvier busts will know to avoid breast pockets. Zara always has a great selection. I particularly like this Loas print blouse from Monsoon which is now £22.50 in the sale. It's a blue and turquoise delicate animal print.

I also like this pink Esther shirt also from Monsoon, together with...

this Suzy colour block sandy shirt also from Monsoon.

                                                           

             

Add in a blazer to add a bit of structure such as this NW3 boyfriend jacket reduced from £179 to £89 (and likely to be reduced further).

Zara always has an excellent selection of blazers and if you already own a plain one, then an embellished or tweed blazer is a great option.

                                                     

     

Some wedge shoes such as these Kara 2 strap espadrille reduced from £119 to £59, which also come in navy would be comfortable yet stylish.

  

                                                           
  or these LK Bennett Star Sandals (£45 instead of £125 or Embassy Sandals (£65 instead of £125) Even though they may not be available on line, I have seen plenty in the stores.


                                           


An A-line day time skirt such as this one from Boden reduced from £45 to £33.80 (Cos has similar) would work wonders and is a flattering shape...

and a day time printed dress is always a useful addition to your wardrobe.  This dress, also from Boden will lend itself to being put with lots of different colours.

Everyone's needs and demands will be different, as will their budget and bodyshape. However, with the addition of a few other pieces, such as a couple of knits - I love this one from Orla Kiely reduced from £265 to £132.50 which also comes in navy.

 

a breton top such as this one from Boden...

some day time sparkles and perhaps a lace skirt you would be well on your way to kick starting your wardrobe.

Tomorrow I will look at those all important accessories which will complete your wardrobe, making sure that you are the glamourous 40 something you deserve to be.