Fringed, flat and navy plus three great brands....

I used these Kin navy loafers (£79) at an event that I styled and presented last week and amongst all the sky high shoes, over the knee boots and soft leather ankle boots, these were the ones that I loved the most.

I styled them with this Finery full midi skirt (£65) a soft fitted pink cashmere jumper and jewellery from the Birmingham Jewellery Quarter. It was styled as a gorgeous, but practical, outfit for an evening out.

For similar, take a look at the Uterque methacrylate loafers (£145).  As we all know there are lots of fringed loafers around at the moment - many with square toes and more of a heel than these. But I like the pointed toe - and the patent (or high gloss as it's now known) is a huge trend for the season.

With kick flared ankle jeans, a midi skirt, coated leggings or a slip dress I really like them for a refreshing change and an instant update.  And whilst I can't pretend to need any more shoes of any description, if I was going to add to my collection, it would definitely be with these.

For those not familiar with Kin, it's a John Lewis own brand which is Scandinavian inspired, so it's a bit cutting edge, cool and quirky. I've linked to it and I think that it's definitely worth taking a look at. The price point in particular is good.

Uterque too is a great brand. It's Spanish and is known as Zara's sophisticated online sister.  With a definite edge it really offers something different to so many things that are out there at the moment.

And finally, Finery which I first wrote about a while ago now when it arrived in John Lewis, is a fabulous brand. Again, it's well cut with a quirky feel to some of its pieces. Most things can be worn all year round and it's designed by women who have a great track record in fashion and who have lived a little. And that appeals on many levels!

Kin by John Lewis - Good basics at a good price - one for your radar maybe?!

I've had my eye on Kin, the clothing range by John Lewis, for a while now and it is getting stronger each season. It offers clothing which is "affordable, well designed, contemporary but timeless". The range offers pared down basics with simple, clean lines, which (to me at least) take inspiration from the Scandinavian brands such as Other Stories and Cos, with a bit of GAP thrown in as well.

I've chosen a few of my favourite pieces to show you but you can see the whole range for men, women and children here. Whilst the pieces are slightly different from a typical JL brand, I like the comfort of knowing that it will be good quality, good value and with a sensible returns policy too.

For anyone tempted by a bomber jacket this quilted bomber jacket (£59), which also comes in grey, would be a good place to start. It's a beautiful soft colour for the spring - arguably a little more "out there" than a black or navy one but it's less heavily styled than some of the varsity style ones.

This linen blended jumper (£45) is a fairly typical Boden/Gap style piece but I like the fitted sleeves, scooped hem and boat neckline. It could be layered over a camisole in a contrasting colour and worn with a long pendant necklace, just to jazz it up a little. Or throw it on with shorts and converse in the summer months.

I know that a lot of you struggle with work wear. You may be pleased to know that culottes (£69) are firmly on the fashion radar this season. If I still worked in an office environment I would definitely try a pair of these - just because they are a little different to the norm, without being too challenging. I'm not sure that the photo does them justice and they do require high heels to make the proportions work properly, and for the shape to look right, but they could open up a whole new host of wardrobe ideas.

A navy blazer (£49) is always a great addition to a busy woman's wardrobe and this one is 100% cotton which makes it great for those who either prefer, or need to wear, natural fibres.

This tan tote (£89) is a fabulous wardrobe staple and big enough for essential baby items or papers/ipad etc for work (or many cases, both - altogether and all at the same time.)

And I love this ankle boot (£120) which also comes in pistachio (see below) white and brown. The navy and pistachio are particularly nice for this time of year when we're starting - very slowly - to think about heading towards warmer weather and lighter colours.

For anyone on the look out for a relatively inexpensive brands, with some good basics that not everyone else will be wearing, Kin could be worth a peek around.