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Thursday 12 July 2012

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...

Wednesday 11 July 2012

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.

Cutout Holdall Bag

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! 

Tuesday 10 July 2012

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.

Flare Jean
  • 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.


                             Star Sandal               Embassy Sandal


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.




Monday 9 July 2012

On the Run - A round-up of leather jackets that are in the sale

It was a long time before I owned a leather jacket but since owning one, I can't imagine life without it. I wear it over evening dresses, to dress things down, to dress things up, to make them more up to date and most importanly, it's warm without being bulky.  In fact, due to having worn it quite a lot, it has gone for a trip to the dry cleaners - so it won't be featuring on the blog for a while.

In its absence, I have taken a look at the leather jackets that are on sale - some of which I have tried on - and here is a selection of  jackets of different styles, and prices, below.  Some of them are showing limited stock so if you like any of them I would advise you to go ahead and order one - remember, it doesn't count until you decide to keep it!


Chic Leather Biker (Bark)


This is the Chic leather Boden biker jacket in bark reduced from £350 to £210. Although described as brown, it is more grey. I used this jacket for a style event some while ago and it is a very flattering shape.


Leather Biker (Black)

This Leather Biker Jacket in black reduced from £350 to £175, is also from Boden. Obviously a different style to the one and due to its length, less easy to style with little flippy skirts and dresses but it's a great jacket to wear with jeans, trousers and long skirts.

                                                Sky Leather Jacket

This is the sky leather jacket from French Connection, reduced from £320 to £182.50. I have tried this one on and it's lovely. Not as harsh as black but slightly more practical than cream, it's a great fit. Also good for those who tend to wear more navy than black as a base colour.


  
Reiss Milly Leather
    
                          
       
This Milly pale blue leather jacket is from Reiss and it is reduced from £350 to £175.  More distinctive than either black, navy or cream, if you are looking for a coloured leather jacket this is a great option and at a good price too, for Reiss.


                                                          Joseph
The Joseph quilted leather biker jacket is  in a league of its own. Reduced from £945 to £567 it is by no mean inexpensive but this is a fantastic reduction for Joseph.  A true investment piece, it would last for years. 



                                                 Isabella Oliver 365 - The Leather Jacket
             



This is Isabella Oliver's "the Leather Jacket" and it is reduced from £299 to £209.30.  Isabella Oliver is known for its style staples and is always a good option for those hard wearing pieces that we all need in our wardrobes.  They do a leather jacket, or two, each season.  The lack of collar on this jacket makes it more flattering for those who either don't like collars or who don't have a particularly long neck. The sleek line and lack of breast pockets is also good for those with a curvier bust.


                                 

The Zara leather jacket reduced from £149.99 to £99 is a fabulous jacket at a good price. It's showing as out of stock on line but you may find some stocked in your local store still.


                                   
          


This is an alternative to the jacket above.  The Zara leather jacket is again reduced from £149 to £99.99 The metal work is possibly slightly on the yellow side but it may be a compromise worth making for the price and with time, it will dull.


                                                   washed-leather-belted-jacket
 
Finally, this Jigsaw washed leather belted jacket is reduced from £495 to £295 A beautiful practical jacket, nipped in at the waist and with plenty of pockets for those all important pieces we carry, there's no need for a handbag. If you factored the cost of a bag into the equation, it really is a bargain (OK, it's not, but we can pretend.)

So, I hope that you have enjoyed the round up of these leather jackets. I also checked out Warehouse, Topshop and Oasis but didn't think that there was much on offer. If anyone has come across any others, please feel free to share them with us all.






Saturday 7 July 2012

On the Run - in Liberty for Nike trainers

Always eager to try out something a bit different but comfortable in the footwear department, I was excited to receive this box from Liberty this week...




...which contained these imperial purple liberty print free 5.0 trainers by Nike.  One of several styles, you can see the rest of them here.  They are part of a range of heritage and modern Nike classics, which have been remixed with Liberty's iconic lagos laurel print. Having loved liberty prints for as long as I can remember, and being a fan of trainers too - although more often in a sporting kind of way - for me they were a match made in heaven.



The first thing I noticed was that the laces and the toe details were slightly off centre - which took a while to get used to. However, never one to be put off by things that are slightly different, I grew to like them.




Unfortunately they were a tad on the small side for me and Liberty have sold out of the next size up, so I guess that it just wasn't meant to be.  However, were they to become part of my wardrobe, this is how I would wear them - very simply with navy trousers and a breton top.


In the colder months I would also add a sleek tailored crombie style coat and a smart handbag.  They would have been perfect for the days I spend a long time in the shops - comfortable but a bit quirky.


Hopefully it won't be too long before there is an A/W collection out. This time I just need to be quicker off the mark!

Today's outfit - Cos trousers, FC jumper, Liberty trainers

Friday 6 July 2012

On the Run - Oh hec, who cares today?

When I woke up this morning to the sound of rain AGAIN, I just knew that it was going to be a jeans day. I tried really hard earlier in the week to wear a skirt but had to abandon my plan by lunchtime as I was so cold - so I wasn't going to make that mistake again.


Some of you may recognise this as a Boden tunic from years ago, It is so old that the print  has probably been archived by now. Some of you may even have it yourselves.

Anyway, I still love the tunic - both the colour, and the print, and despite my ponderings on the subject, I still haven't managed to part with it. It's great for a day like today when I am based at home but have eight trips to various activities in the evening (none of which are mine)! I can stick it with jeans and converse and not have to think any more about it all day.



Before I headed out of the door this morning in my mac, I grabbed this animal print scarf with a pink trim - which I left there all day. I like a bit of mixing of prints so was happy to keep it on - but then I would have been happy to keep it on whether it went or not, so long as I was warm and comfortable.



As you can see, trying to find a corner in the house without anything in it in which to take a photo proved difficult today.  But, there's a story with the ice skating boots. Contrary to my fear a few weeks ago that having a daughter with the same sized feet as me could be a bad thing, in fact I think it could be a huge advantage.

You see, there are one or two pairs of boots that I have spotted recently which I would like to buy.  Secondly our eldest also could do with a pair or two of boots. So, here's the plan - I officially pass to her a couple of pairs of my older boots which she has virtually adopted as hers anyway, which leaves both wardrobe space and a justifiable argument for me to have some new ones.  Oh, and I would also like to have a couple of ice skating lessons, so it's handy that she has some boots already.  Never let it be said that I'm not a glass half full kind of person.

Whereas before I was hoping that her feet would either be too small or too large to fit my shoes, I now hope that they stay exactly as they are - it's my passport to (certain kinds of) new shoes! (Why do I feel guilty writing that - as if I am using her for child labour or something? I don't actually want her to do anything at all - other than not grow any more - and then it's only her feet.)

Just one other thing before I finish.  I have been asked by Britmums to do a monthly round up and review of fashion blogs.  So, if anyone writes a fashion blog and would like to give it some additional exposure via the Britmums blog please get in touch and I will see what I can do.

Happy Friday!

Thursday 5 July 2012

Bringing you Allium B - and an interview with Clare and Mary Burgess

When I was asked by Sophia at Dee Vesali PR whether I would like to do an Interview with Clare and Mary, the Designer sisters behind the range Allium B, I jumped at the chance.

Clare and Mary Burgess live in Brighton and named their brand, Allium B, after their favourite flower and the first letter of their surname. What a lovely picture of the sisters - they look so happy and relaxed - as if they have the whole work-life balance thing sussed.






With successful careers in fashion, the sisters spotted a gap in the market for beautiful dresses, made from gorgeous fabrics with respectable hem lengths at a good price.  Clare and Mary ensured that no stone was left unturned when it came to those all important details, which is what makes Allium B so special. 


When were the seeds for Allium B first sown and how long was it before you had your first finished dress?

We both love dresses and as we've grown up have found it increasingly difficult to find dresses we love at prices we can afford. Alexandra Shulman of Vogue convinced us there was a gap and we should go for it when she wrote in her Editor’s letter in July 2010 “It is a depressing truth that in terms of fashion, there remains an enormous gap on the retail scene for clothes that older women really want to wear. While the high street goes from strength to strength at providing trend led, affordable pieces, they are, in the main, aimed at a younger audience comfortable in short lengths…. Then there is a huge jump into the sensible look that seems to be considered appealing to women….”

We went to India in September 2011 to start developing the range and we launched in March this year

Are you able to tell me a little bit about Allium B, together with the market at which it is aimed?

We share a passion for dresses, but as our styles have grown up, we’ve found it increasingly difficult to find grown-up but affordable options to match – dresses that aren’t too young, too old, too short or too long.

With two children each, we don’t have time to waste – we want perfectly-cut, versatile pieces we can throw on with a piece of statement jewellery and flats or heels for a fabulous instant outfit. 

Having worked for big companies for years, we loved the idea of filling this gap by creating a niche business based in Brighton, where we live. So Allium B was born. We’ve created a collection of simple but statement ‘forever dresses’, designed for women, not teenagers – at prices that won’t have you hiding the receipt but still allow us to produce beautifully-made products. 



Do you have a list of criteria for your designs, and if so, what are they?

We try to think about every detail – from Liberty prints and hand stitched buttons to linings, which mean you’ll never get nasty bra show-through with any of our designs.

Our dresses come in natural fabrics, ranging from pure silk to georgette, and take inspiration from vintage touches we love – beaded Peter Pan collars, intricate embroidery and lace, reworked into modern silhouettes.

 When deciding if a dress makes the final cut, we always ask ourselves – ‘do we love it?’  If the answer’s yes, it’s in.



Although you both had careers in retail, with Mary being head of buying and Clare being head of merchandising at Topshop, were there any issues that you came come across in creating the range which you hadn’t anticipated?

Yes loads it's very different launching a start-up to working for a big established company with teams of people. It's very exciting and we have learnt so much in the last 6 months, you have to be prepared to get involved in everything.

You must have been so excited to see Kate Garraway wearing one of your dresses on TV – how did that feel? Was it a surreal moment?

Yes very exciting, she has worn 3 already and looked lovely in them all. The best thing about creating a range is seeing women looking and feeling fabulous in our designs.  

Can we expect to see Allium B expanding into other areas of clothing or is it your intention focus on dresses for the foreseeable future?

We intend to focus on dresses and establish Allium B as a must-have dress label. 

Do you have any plans to have Allium B stocked in stores or are you planning on keeping the business on-line only?

Our plan was to keep the business on line but we have had requests from stores to stock Allium B so it's something we are considering for S/S 2013. We have done some Pop Up stores this season, which have been very successful, and we love meeting our customers.

How soon can we take a peek at your next collection?

Autumn Winter 2012 is in production and will be on line at www.alliumb.com in August. 

What advice do you have for all those busy Mums juggling careers with a family?

Be organized have a family timetable!

Finally, two questions to you both:

A walk on the beach or a walk in the Downs?

Brighton Beach is always a family favourite

Montezumas or Hotel Chocolat?

It has to be Montezuma’s giant chocolate buttons

Montezuma's giant chocolate buttons? Now, these are my kind of ladies - especially if they buy them in jars! If you would like to see more picures of the dresses above, and more besides, nip over to Allium B to take a look. 

Wednesday 4 July 2012

On the Run - Alternatives to the Acne Pistol boot

Following on from yesterday's post, several of you have been good enough to contact me with alternatives to the Acne pistol boot. I know that under normal circumstances, looking at boots in July would be considered a little odd but there's not much that is "normal" about the weather at the moment. And anyway, it's good to get ahead of the game.

Although I could quite feasibly see myself kicking against something that I "should" be wearing, I do quite like the style.  I think it's the fact that they are sturdy, have a bit of a heel - most of us like to feel a little bit "raised" - and are pretty versatile too.  So, here goes:

The Cream Zip Cowboy Ankle Boots for £19.99 from New Look.  Thanks to Bare Faced Cheek for bringing these to my attention. Great price!


Winter White (Cream) Cream Zip Cowboy Ankle Boots | 255135212 | New Look




Next up, we have the the Sam-Edelman-Louie-Fringed-Ankle-Boot reduced from £200 to £81 Thanks to Joanna from Poppy's Style for that one.  Apparently Joanna wears them in the US with her shorts - cool chick!

                                                Image 1 of Sam Edelman Louie Fringed Ankle Boot

Following on from those, Michelle from Mummy Rates It told me about these Mighty black leather zip boots from Topshop, for £45. Thanks Michelle!

                                                             MIGHTY Black Leather Zip Boots

Finally, I saw these boots in Zara today. Reduced from £79.99 to £29.99 I thought that they were a bit of a bargain. I can't find them on the Zara website but the stores seem well stocked - or at least the Birmingham one was.





You may also remember the Kurt Geiger London boots [Sweep]which I featured yesterday.  Reduced from £195 to £99, there aren't many pairs left in the company - so if you are tempted, you may need to act fast.


                                                        Kurt Geiger London Sweep

There will be lots of other versions available, so if these aren't for you, but you like the idea, it shouldn't be hard to find some to suit.  And thank you to everyone who contacted me with these alternatives to the - oh so pricey even in the sale - Acne ones. (Can't say I'm impressed with that name for a brand. Does it mean something else in Swedish?)

Monday 2 July 2012

On the Run - A challenge for a swimwear brand!

I am going to be touching on a delicate subject this evening, so anyone who is a little squeamish may want to look away now.

Swimwear.  That's the delicate subject.  Or rather my swimwear in particular. I don't know what has happened to my swimming costume recently but it has all gone rather wrong. For a start it has faded and the elasticity has gone slightly.  But even worse - and this is nothing to do with the swimming costume - I have misplaced the extra padding for the bra area - and here's where the problem lies.



[H&M dress, Gap jeans, Dune shoes]

Swimming on my own isn't too bad as I don't need to reveal myself between getting in and getting out the water - and then a strategically placed towel does the trick. However, when swimming with the four year old, that's a different matter.  It seems that I have to get in and out of the pool several times when we are together, either to get a towel to wipe her eyes, or a tissue to wipe her nose and then the towel again to wipe her goggles - you get the idea. 

When those situations arise, I have to glance furtively around to check that no-one is looking and then when I get out of the pool, I have to place my arms in such a position to cover myself, that it looks as though I am praying - because of course there is always some 18 year old male lifeguard there, just for good measure.

To convey the gravity of the situation (and gravity has had no small part to play in this delicate subject) imagine.... well actually no, don't. It's just too horrendous.

So anyway, if there are any brands out there who would like to get a 40 plus Mum of three to put one of their swimsuits to the test then I would be more than happy to oblige. In fact, it would be music to my (spaniel) like ears.

p.s. I was going to call this post "A Tale of Two [something that rhymes with "Cities" but which begings with a "T"] - but I thought that was a bit rude!

Sunday 1 July 2012

On the Run - Are you too cool for school?

I was really pleased to read in the Style section of the Sunday Times today that when it comes to parenting, "getting it wrong is the new getting it right".  For once I am way ahead of the current trend - by about 13 years by my calculations. 


[Mango jeans, Topshop blouse, Oasis jacket, Carvela shoes]

Today's article was all about the "Death of the Yummy Mummy" and how "the Mums of Middle England are turning their backs on smug perfection and chintzy prints" and instead are having a hip makeover.

Essentially the article was telling us why the image of the modern day Stepford wife is no longer aspirational but rather, outdated. The article is really one (although quite an interesting one) in a long line of articles telling us what's cool and what's not. No more cupcake baking for us ladies - it's rock cakes all the way from now on! And if you like Cath Kidston - well you are so uncool (that's me then!)

As well as telling us what's cool and what's not, a lot of these articles involve making judgments, largely negative, on the choices that other women make and they often cite brands either in support of, or against, the point they are trying to make.

Boden came in for a bashing last year.  Seen as the brand representing "Yummy Mummies" someone on Mumsnet commented: "When I look at Boden ads I want to say 'Stop looking so bloody smug.'"

I was very excited to read that because someone on Mumsnet said that about me too. I wonder if it was the same person and if so, what a claim to fame. In fact I was referred to as being "smug and London-centric" which I would have thought was a bit tricky for someone living in Birmingham but what do I know? Anyway, I got in touch with the woman involved and it transpired that she was actually OK.

According to the Sunday Times article, Acne, Joseph and Isabel Marant are OK, as are Maje and Sandro.  Apparently there's a new wave of cool Mums "led by the Alexander McQueen - wearing Samantha Cameron." Great. And from which of those brands, exactly, can you get an item, let alone an outfit, for anything less than three figures?

Reiss, J. Crew, Peter Pilotto, Thu Thu and sunglasses for £295 by Cutler and Gross are all OK. Floral Hunter Wellies, Farrow & Ball, Cupcakes and Cath Kidston prints apparently, are not. Right, that's us told then.



[Mango jeans, H&M cardi, Jigsaw necklace, Carvela shoes]

There was one postive thing to come out of the article though.  As you could probably tell from yesterday's post, I was quite pleased to have ironed my husband's shirts for the week ahead. I have now done it two weeks in a row, having had about the last four years off from that task. However, given that running the perfect home is now passe - I will immediatey desist with my efforts - so there you go Mr SG, that shirt ironing job is now yours again. Great article. Fantastic.