You are always on my mind - the Baukjen leather leggings

Much as it's my job to know about the upcoming trends for the season, and what's in the shops, I try to steer clear of thinking about winter clothes for myself until...well....the winter. If I miss out on a winter coat in August, I'm sure I'll manage.

But, as in the words of the Elvis song "Always on my mind" these navy leather leggings from Baukjen (£350) really are always on my mind. Well not always, that's a slight exaggeration - but more than they should be, given the time of year.

But then again just think of the endless ways that they could be worn - from now until, well, probably all year round - other than one or two vaguely sunny days. With a silk shirt/pyjama top type combo, through to a chunky jumper or cashmere round neck. With loafers, heels, trainers and winter boots. Now they're not only on my mind. I've talked myself into a full blown obsession.

For now I shall hold off. But watch this space. One day they may appear....out of the blue (I know. Terrible pun.)

Is there any other piece of clothing that is "Always on your mind" at the moment?!

The Baukjen Brook Relaxed Pants - an alternative to jeans

There's something about wearing skinny jeans in the summer which can make me feel just a bit "eugggh". They can be a bit hot and sweaty which is never a good feel. The trouble is, come the winter, everything feels a bit snug - so from time to time, it's good to get the skinnies back on. And let's face it with our unpredictable weather, there's usually the odd arctic day, even in the summer.

So when Baukjen asked me to choose a few pieces to style, I immediately headed for the Brook relaxed pants (£95). With a composition of 97% cotton and 3% elastane they are a winning combination because they are lovely and cool plus they also have that bit of stretch for comfort.  

I'm also wearing the Eleanor blouse from Baukjen (£79), which I absolutely love. With a composition of 95% viscose 5% elastane, it's a lovely feeling fabric - soft and silky and the neck ties just add that little bit of something cheeky. It's really good for work or casual and the v-neck is fabulous for women with curvier busts.

The fab thing about both of these pieces is that being neutral they will work with so many other pieces in your wardrobe colour wise. And being simple shapes you can do the whole dress up, dress down thing. The trousers could be worn with heels, wedges, slides, trainers, espadrilles - you name it, they work with them. And as for tops, Bardot style, peasant style, nautical, de-constructed - they'are all for the taking. Plus, the top can be hugely dressed up for the evening or dressed down with busted jeans or cut-offs.

So, I hope that gives you something to ponder over the weekend. Good wardrobe basics are so essential in creating the building blocks for everything else and these truly are lovely items to have in your wardrobe.  Have a super weekend! Beth x

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.

Lipsticks and bracelets

Wearing: Franklin off the shoulder striped dress from Baukjen

A few weeks ago now I thought that I would use the service offered by Boots to find out which lipstick colour their colour match system suggested for me. I usually buy something with the word "Berry" in it, but I have veered across colours from paler nudes to hot pink, occasionally with a bit of red thrown in.

They start off by using their little machine to find out which colour foundation suits. When the machine came up with "warm ivory" I started to feel a little more confident about the whole process. Quite often I buy an ivory colour (it's normally the second palest!) and I know that I have a warm skin tone, so that all added up.

Having identified the foundation colour, the machine then suggests different colours of lipstick, from paler pink to brighter pink and red. In all honesty a lot of colours were suggested but I knew that I was after quite a bright pink and out of the 4 that were suggested, I liked the idea of rose berry moisture drench lipstick (£9.95). 

Having bought one, I have now gone on to buy 4 more as I'm terrified that they'll stop making it. However using various vouchers that were available, I only paid for two. I've been asked quite a few times on instagram which lipstick colour I'm wearing, so here it is. I wouldn't hesitate in going back to get some more colours and I would definitely recommend the service - but I would be interested to hear what others think too!

And for a really long time now I've been meaning to thank Annabel at Bella Jane Jewellery for the gorgeous bracelets that she sent to me this time last year to wear. I absolutely adore them and wear them day in day out. I've linked to the selection of bracelets here - which is huge! Annabel also does sells necklaces and rings as well as making bespoke pieces, just so everyone knows. They make a fabulous present!

So I hope that you have all had a fabulous bank holiday weekend and that the prospect of some more warm weather is keeping everyone happy :) x

The Baukjen Berwick off the shoulder jumper...

Berwick off the shoulder knit from Baukjen (£109)

As some of you will know, I've been doing a review of a few pieces from Baukjen's Pre-Fall collection and being such a chilly creature, I decided to include a piece of knitwear - albeit of the cold shoulder variety.

I'm fairly certain that you will find me reaching for knitwear before most people but I don't want a life lived in crew neck jumpers. And whilst having one's shoulders exposed is hardly snuggling up, I find that if my torso is warm, I can sometimes get away with having shorter sleeves, or exposed shoulders (I'll leave the exposed midriff to someone else!)

So I chose the Berwick off the shoulder knit from Baukjen (£109) in this gorgeous shade of blue.  When I put it on, I loved the wide neckline and the way that it moved. I'm sure that there's a "proper" way to wear it but I just liked pulling it this way and that to see how it sat. 

Now is it only me or does anyone else have visions of Christmas Day as soon as they start thinking about knitwear? I see myself wearing this jumper sat in front of the log burning stove with snow gently falling outside whilst watching "the Holiday" on TV. Of course the reality is always different - more like the smoke alarms going off with the windows wide open whilst watching re-runs of Only Fools and Horses - with everyone arguing just for good measure.

So whilst I would happily wear this jumper at this time of year, it will also head way on into the winter months for parties and family gatherings, when it's time to dig out the leather leggings.

And for when the sun really does stop shining and it's time to head outside, I will be wearing the Whitburn long line knit from Baukjen. I'm a big fan of a raglan sleeve and the baseball styling is right on the button for the upcoming season.

For anyone wishing to take a closer look, Baukjen's jumpers can be viewed here. And don't forget, with the code STYLEG15 there's 15% off new season clothes until midnight on 8th September. 

The Baukjen striped off the shoulder midi dress - Perfection in a dress...

As part of the review of Baukjen's Pre-Fall collection, I've included a dress to style. I mean, who doesn't love a good dress? Even more, who doesn't love a good striped dress? Especially one that can be worn at different lengths and styled from modern, to smart, to casual? So, let me introduce the Franklin off the shoulder dress (£99).

Having worn this dress, I can see that there is a lot of clever styling that has gone into it, from its ruching on the tummy area, to its subtle slide split, sleeves of a good length and a fantastically versatile neckline.

The day that these photographs were taken was crazily windy - but we persevered, occasionally crossing the road for a quick dose of sunshine to warm up.

Having worn shoe boots and minimal jewellery above, I swapped my shoes for some spotty heels and a navy and yellow tassel/pom pom necklace - for a slightly different feel.

A splash of colour in the shoe department would also work well with this dress and for those who wish to flash their legs, it can be pulled up much shorter than I'm wearing it which would make it great for a beach holiday look. Being a soft jersey fabric, this dress really wouldn't feel out of place at a wedding, in the office, or on the beach.

For an everyday look, of course it had to be the silver Adidas Superstars which I wear with so many outfits and which mean that I can stride out in the way that I like to.

I've pulled the dress up here so it's slightly shorter - more knee length than midi but again, it's one of those great pieces that does what it wants to and which looks good however it sits. The other good thing is that, unlike some dresses which I own and which feel a bit dressy for everyday, I could (and would) wear this casually and still feel "me".

Off to the ice-cream shop to pay the photographer her shoot fee...

So this time she didn't sting me for the most expensive Magnum in the shop, instead opting for the white chocolate one instead - and she was happy for me to pretend to take a bite - as long as I did only pretend.

And if I really wanted to go to town with this dress, I'd wear it with this gorgeous everyday biker jacket which is just fabulous and which would work with so many outfits in my wardrobe :)

For anyone who would like to receive 15% off new season clothes, just quote STYLEG15 at the checkout. The offer is valid until midnight on 8th September. Happy shopping!

The Flora Top from Baukjen - the perfect summer top

Quoting STYLEG15 at the checkout will get you a lovely 15% discount on new season stock until midnight on 8th September.

A couple of weeks ago I was asked by the girls at Baukjen whether I might like to write a preview piece ahead of the launch of their Pre-Fall collection. We decided that it would be nice for me to style a few of their pieces in my own way, feeling that if I've worn the pieces about which I'm writing, it adds to the authenticity of the post.  

So this post is all about tops, and in particular the Flora top by Baukjen (£59). 

I have to say that I haven't got on particularly well with off the shoulder tops this summer. The ones that I have tried or bought have generally sidled their way back onto my shoulder, or the elastic has been tight, or the armholes too small or my movement has felt compromised. I've been worried that if I move my arms something will flick up, or off, or ping me where I don't want to be pinged. However I have a one shouldered dress that I find really comfortable and so when I saw the Flora top, I really wanted to try it.

I have to say that I really loved wearing this one shouldered top. If anyone is on the hunt for an all round fab summer top, then for me this would have to be it. Unlike full on "off the shoulder" tops it feels anchored. Securely in place, it doesn't move around.  This top has a little "shelf" inside it. which for some may mean that a bra isn't necessary but for those who do still need to wear one, it keeps the strapless bra in place (we all know how those little blighters can end up around your waist by the end of the day - with its contents not far behind!)

Here I've pulled the shoulder down to make the top slightly more asymmetric. And the good thing about it is that wherever the neckline is placed, it doesn't feel, or look, out of place plus it stays there which makes it hugely versatile and much more interesting to wear and re-style.

Here I've gone even more "off the shoulder" but still it works. It remains comfortable - and I'm all about comfort. 

Now as the shorts are my own, I didn't mind doing a little kerb perching, just so that you can see the top from the back. It's quite a deep frill but as it's jersey it's soft and not too "sticky outy" so it's not one of those tops to feel self conscious in, despite its frill. And because the frill sits quite flat, it would still flatter a curvy bust. Substantial too - yes, that's the word I'm looking for. It feels substantial whilst still being feminine and summery.

Here the frill has flicked itself over on my right shoulder but that's what I love about this top - it can be worn all sorts of ways and it can flick its frill where it wants but it still works.

For information purposes, I'm wearing a size 8 which was perfect so I would say that it is true to size. It was fitted but not tight, with enough room in it to accommodate a BBQ and quite a large slice of oreo cake, plus it had a good length to it too. I think that the sun is due to shine again this weekend so for anyone on the look out for a new top to wear, I can highly recommend this one.

As with all good shoots (OK, Barbie films) my 8 year old Photographer/Creative Director and I decided that we needed to include some Out-Takes....

So of course any photographer worth their salt knows how important it is to take their spoon with them on a shoot so that they can eat the contents of their Cornetto on the way home, which was payment for the taking of these photographs. She doesn't like the cone, hence the spoon. (As it was she stung me for the most expensive Magnum in the shop!) I guess that it was a fair exchange really.

And a passer-by offered to take our photograph together...so that had to go in. 

Oh and how I wish I could do this with my eyes. She's very proud of herself.

But anyway, enough of that. Whilst we're on the subject of tops, here's a selection of tops that Baukjen has this season.

Beacham Top (£59) - Now this is a great colour for people like me who don't look good in paler colours and also for those who want the versatility of a top that can be slightly off the shoulder/asymmetric but still really easy to wear. It also has a great length to it and ruching at the waist, which I can vouch for as being very handy!

Fleur  top (£59) - I'm intrigued by this top and it's definitely on my list of ones to try. Perfect for those who want an off the shoulder look but who just don't do strapless bras. Or for those ladies who do, but who like the double strap idea.

Calvin Top (£69) - I'm loving the slightly 80's vibe about this top. My best friend at University always used to pull the shoulders down on her top so it reminds me of nights at our Friday night disco. I love the volume in the sleeves and the body too - sports luxe meets 80's disco. Very cool and easy to wear. I think that it's fair to say that I have my eye on this top also.

Lila cold shoulder top (£59) - Style it up or down, this is a really versatile top, showing just enough but not too much.

Masham lace up top (£65) - I like this as an option for ladies who want something a little different but who would prefer to keep their shoulders and arms covered. The lace up detail is a nice addition.

I think that one of the things about doing this post that really struck me was just how lovely Baukjen clothes feel when on. I have a t-shirt, some jersey trousers and a jumpsuit of theirs already but in some respects a summer top that is stylish, stays in place, doesn't reveal too much and is fitted without clinging is a REALLY tall order. So maybe I've been looking in the wrong place all along for those summer tops.

Remember, quoting STYLEG15 at the checkout will get you a lovely 15% discount on new season stock until midnight on 8th September.

Off the shoulder in French Connection...

It's been a while since I've worn this dress but with the weather being as hot as it has, I felt that it was time for it to earn its keep. I bought it from French Connection many years ago now and with all things shoulder related being such a big trend right now, it fitted the bill.  With heels and a clutch it could make an evening outfit.

For those who like this style, I've found a similar dress in the Baukjen Birkdale dress, which is down from £95 to £38 and which is available in sizes 6 to 16. The skirt isn't as full as the one on my dress and it has an extra strap but that could easily be removed, or tucked in.

After heading off down the smarter route with this dress, I then pulled it back and went for something more casual with some sparkly Aldi shoes and this fabulous animal print tote which a friend gave to me for Christmas. I'd held on to it until now so this was its first proper outing and you know, we all got on really well on our trip on the swan pedalos followed by a ride on a roller coaster (I hate those things but a certain small person loves to watch my terrified face.)

The sunglasses are Oscar de la Renta and they are from TK Maxx. They're not actually mine....our eldest bought them for £15 but she's tottered off for a month so they sort of just tottered into my wardrobe for a while in exactly the same way that things of mine seem to totter into hers from time to time (largely never to be seen again.)

Hope that you are all enjoying this glorious weather! 

Plain and simple sometime work the best - a new Baukjen T!

Apologies for the selfie in this post - I think that all photographers were on strike. This is just a quick OOTD from our trip last week and what I really wanted to share was this Baukjen Drue Top (£55), which also comes in grey.

One of my favourite things about this top is that you can faff and fiddle with it, get the position just right so that it's the right length/covers any lumps or bulges and then it stays there all day, so that you don't have to faff again (other than when you've been to the loo. As to the rest of the outfit, I've just whacked a Jigsaw tassel scarf with it from last year (similar here). I shared the Dune shoes a couple of days ago and the battered jeans are from Zara.