Boden round up

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First day of Spring?  Not in Bristol.  It's cold, wet and grey and I'm swathed in 400 layers and an enormous parka. 


However, if there's one thing guaranteed to get me thinking about long sunny days it's new spring/summer stock and filthy weather notwithstanding, today the shiny new Boden catalogue dropped into my post box.  A quick flick through and it's safe to say that Johnnie B and team are (as the kids would say) "on fleek" this season.  Here are my favourites, clockwise from top middle...

relaxed boho dress
Alice A-line dress
Lottie linen tassel trouser
pony slide sandal
Bonnie studded flat
gauzy boho top
broderie top
Oxford lace dress
pink silk shirt


The Freida lace up sandal is also a bit special with more than a hint of the Isabel Marants.  What are your favourites? 

Small and perfectly formed

Ah bags, my favourite subject.  How many hours of my life have I spent thinking about, talking about, looking at, saving for and of course, loving bags?  Many, far too many probably.  However as this trait shows absolutely no sign of abating I thought I'd tell what I'm loving at the moment and recommend some good investment buys.


Most recently, small (ish) cross body bags are really ringing my bell.  After years of using bags large enough to fit all my childrens' rubbish in, and the child herself in some cases, I am (THANK GOD) back to only having to worry about my own shiz which I find, without sounding like too much of a dick, rather liberating.


Cross body bags are super practical, don't give you back/shoulder/arm ache and look cool and chic to boot.  If you're considering sizing down to a cross body I'd say look at simple styles in classic colours - most of us need our bags to last longer than one season, much longer.  Below are a few that I like and own. Whilst some are more reasonably priced, a couple are on the more expensive side - I bleedin' love a posh bag.


If you're buying for the first time, the Gucci Disco is an excellent place to start.  It's not cheap, granted, but I guarantee you will use it endlessly.  I have one in red.  It's THE perfect size - large enough to fit the essentials without them getting squashed but small enough to look neat and feel compact on the body - and looks great with smart and casual outfits.

The bag I seem to reach for just as much as my Gucci is my Anya Hindmarch Gracie in black.  It's a past season style but you can pick them up on eBay at really reasonable prices.  They are made from beautifully soft leather and have an elegant, timeless style.  The black has neutral pewter hardware so if you're super fussy about matching your bag hardware to your jewellery, it will "go" with either.

 


Now, the Chloe Drew has been popular for a while and whilst I'm not usually crazy about a chain strap, I love how chic the strap is here.  They're on the smaller side and the shape would possibly limit how much you could get in there but they come in a huge selection of colours and they're all absolutely beautiful. My choice?  The grey - it's just divine with the gold hardware.

This Coccinelle is the grey bag that I do own (currently pimped with Anya Hindmarch rip off stickers from Topshop).  It's infinitely useful and great quality despite being on the cheaper end of the scale.  I bought this as I couldn't justify £800 or so (who can?!) for a Celine Trio.  Instead I found this at Bicester Village for a fraction of the cost.  With a detachable strap and pale gold hardware it's perfect for evenings too.  Coccinelle do variations on this style every year - they're brilliant little bags.

My most recent purchase is this little gem, the Aurora Willow.  Very similar to the Coccinelle, I couldn't be more pleased with it - it's gorgeous quality, comes with the option of personalisation and is a very reasonable price.  It's perfectly understated and they come in loads of colours with more dropping for Spring shortly I'm told.  The red is beautiful.

Still with understated, the APC Half Moon would be so useful.  Perfectly sized and perfectly chic, I adore how minimal it is - these lovely little bags are now firmly on my radar.

And I'll finish with a burgundy cross body bag conundrum that I'm currently having (not a sentence I ever thought I'd write.)  I've rationalised in my head that I "need" one and can think of little else.  If you wear a lot of black, grey and white (which I do) a burgundy bag (or oxblood if we're gonna talk fash-un) will lift your oufit beautifully.  The obvious choice, if money was no option, which unfortunately it is, would be the YSL Camera. 

I mean they're just delicious aren't they?  Back in the real world where I have a mortgage to pay and children to feed, it's not gonna be mine.  Cue much research until I thought I'd found a suitable and much more husband-friendly alternative in the form of the Cloud bag from Cambridge Satchel Company Cloud.  I was however, thwarted at the final fence as the very minute I made the decision to click 'buy', it went out of effing stock.  Back to the drawing board I went and several try ons later it was between the Blossom Pochette from Mulberry and the Gotham from Marc Jacobs.  The Mulberry was too small so the Marc Jacobs won and as is the way of the world, as soon as my eBay auctions finish, I had planned to buy it. 


However, it looks like the Cloud is now back in stock and like the muppet I am, I'm completely unable to decide between the two....

 

Block

Any fashion observer worth their Gucci will know that at the moment, it’s all about the low block heel.   As a lover of high heels but with an increasingly temperamental back (old age, you’re a bitch) I’m all over this style. 

The shoe of the moment and inspiration for a plethora of copies on the high street, the Celine glove shoe, I love in theory but would look beyond ridiculous wearing.  Enter stage right a million alternative styles.  Phew. 

For me the block heel journey started, as so many other things have, with a blurry pap shot of Kate Moss.  In true style stalker fashion, last summer I tracked down a similar pair - hers are Repetto, mine are good old John Lewis.

I think as this style can veer towards fugly and, let's be honest, a little frumpy, they work better with more casual, cool outfits - a leather mini, a pair of frayed hem jeans.  I'm looking forward to wearing block heeled sandals once the weather stops being so bloody wintery but in the meantime, here's a quick round up of what's on the high street: 

Gatsby mary janes - TopShop
Juno glove shoes - TopShop
satin and glitter mary janes - Next
Josephine flared heel shoes - TopShop
Joni velvet shoes - TopShop
slingback shoes - Zara

And here I am wearing my Zara sale bargains...

breton teeshirt - Uniqlo / blue jeans - TopShop / cream faux fur coat - Zara / red clutch - Marc Jacobs / gold glitter block heels - Zara

Work wear part 2

Mega soz for the lull in activity since the last blog.  Have been feeling generally a bit rubbish but onwards and upwards - let’s talk about work wear bottoms.

 

Mini skirts (I say mini, they hit around mid-thigh on me, we’re not talking bum skimming here, fear not) - now I know a “mini” won’t be for everyone but bear with…  I have a few wool mini skirts and they work so well with the aforementioned polo and crew necks and opaques in winter.  Go for ones with a very slight A-line shape (so much more flattering) and look for a heavier, woollier fabric.  If mid thigh is too short, try a skirt that hits just above the knee but keep that slight A-line shape.  I should say, for me, these are a winter only option as I’d only wear them with the safety net of opaques.  For those with longer/younger/generally nicer legs who can get away without tights, look for tailored, stiffer fabrics and perhaps a subtle ‘60s nod.  I love a bit of brocade on a mini skirt.  M&S do an excellent woolly version every year and Zara and Mango always have plenty of choice (just watch the length as some are rather short!)

black wool skirt - M&S
tweed skirt - J Crew
tweed mini skirt - M&S

pink mini skirt - Whistles
 

Midi skirts –  I LOVE midi skirts.  They’re so flattering, hide a multitude of sins and I adore that whole Dior “New Look” silhouette.  They can be pencil, gathered, pleated or A-line but make sure they’re midi and not knee length or even worse above the knee.  A proper midi should hit mid-calf although you can probably go a little shorter with a pencil skirt, say just under the knee.  I have lots of midi skirts, some plain some more statement-y.  I find that statement skirts (Wanky Fashion Term Klaxon -  sorry) work better in summer with a bare leg and the aforementioned grey teeshirt or white shirt.  My plainer, woollier ones, unsurprisingly, are more suited to winter and an opaque leg.  I always wear with a heel.  M&S, Whistles,  Zara, Warehouse and ASOS are all good starting places.  This one from H&M, modelled so perfectly by chloelovestoshop on Insta, is on my list.

floral skirt - H&M
lace skirt - H&M
grid lace skirt - Warehouse 

checked pencil skirt - Whistles

A final (important) note about skirts: ditch your bobbly, shiny, Nora Batty tributes and invest in some decent tights.  Tights made by brands such as Falke and Wolford are expensive but will last for years if you look after them.  Generally I don't really rate M&S tights (although my lovely friend and I did find a brilliant pair of cotton based ones last year that are slightly sheer and in no way shiny (The Actual Holy Grail of Opaques) - have we been able to buy more this year?  Of course we haven't.  Aaaaanyway...)  John Lewis have a great reasonably priced selection.

Trousers -  these are completely subjective as we’re all so very different as to what suits us.  Flared, tapered, straight, relaxed, peg, boot cut, cropped - Christ, it's almost as tiresome as buying jeans.  My personal preference is a slightly slouchy tapered leg as they're the most forgiving on my less than toned bottom half but get out there and try on as many different styles as you can.  Zara is a good place to start.  Sit, bend and walk in them to see how they feel.  A classic straight cut will always look stylish whereas I find flared or bootcuts have far too many late ‘90s poly trouser suit connotations and so I avoid these like the proverbial plague.  I don’t wear trousers to work that often so only have a couple of pairs but black is always going to be a winner.  I think with lighter fabrics you have to be reeeeeeeally careful that you’re not flashing the outline of your knickers/less than perfect backside to the world (although, of course, I always keep an eye out for that so far elusive perfectly cut, slightly relaxed grey pair).  

Richmond cigarette trouser - Boden (Boden also do their bestselling Bistro style which are very similar to these)
pleated cropped trouser - Zara


Next time, my favourites - DRESSES!

Work wear part 1

One thing that I know a lot of women struggle with is stylish office wear.  I’m a PA for a large corporate firm and whilst I don’t attend client meetings, there is still a requirement for me to dress smartly.  But dressing smartly doesn’t have to be at the cost of dressing stylishly and as we spend so much time at the coalface, why shouldn’t we give our work wardrobes the same care and thought we give our off duty ones?  Several years ago someone gave me some really useful advice.  The advice giver wasn’t particularly nice actually but I’ve referred back to her school of thought over and over.  I can’t remember the exact phrasing but it went something along the lines of “don’t wear anything to work that you wouldn’t be happy to be seen in after work in a cool bar or nice restaurant”.  I’m sure it was actually more succinct than that but you get the gist.  I still remember this advice when I’m shopping and dressing for the office and clearly, I’m not saying that I roll up to the office in sequins and cocktail dresses but likewise, I'm not pulling on poly trouser suits and a sensible court either.

 

I have quite a large work wardrobe because I like lots of choice but you can easily dress well for the office with just some core pieces.  All my work wear is from the (excellent British) high street but I cherry pick natural fabrics (wool, cotton, silk, leather) and stick to classic colours and prints.  Another thing that works for me is taking influence from past eras – personally I love ‘50s and ‘60s style but I also think nods to those eras lend themselves well to an office environment.  Pencil skirt, fitted jumper, classic stilettoes?  Perfect timeless ‘50s chic.

 

So let’s start and I apologise in advance for any wanky fashion terms that may creep in.

 

Starting at the top with, er, tops...

 

Fine knit crew neck and polo neck jumpers in cotton or merino wool – the polo necks are a God-send during the winter months and the crews look great on their own or with a white shirt underneath.  The crew necks can be long or short sleeved as both work well in an office wardrobe.  Don’t buy acrylic or polyester – you’ll sweat in the summer and freeze in the winter and the jumper will look fit for the bin after a month.  Uniqlo, Boden, Zara (check the fibre content) and J Crew do brilliant versions.  I have these jumpers in lots of colours but a grey, navy, black and maybe a colour (I love a red jumper) are a good place to start.

red and black Tippi crew neck - J Crew (these are brilliant and currently on sale)

grey polo neck - Uniqlo

pale pink crew neck - Boden

White cotton shirt – to go under the crew necked jumpers for a classic preppy look in the colder months or to wear on its own (tuck it into a pencil skirt and roll the sleeves up) in the summer.  I have lots of different fits but a classic slim (but not fitted) cut will  be an excellent all-rounder.  Check ASOS and H&M for great value thinner shirts (ones that you’d probably only wear under a jumper) and Boden, J Crew and Uniqlo for thicker, dressier styles.  White shirts do go grey after a time so I don’t spend too much on these.

white cotton shirt - H&M

 

Statement top/blouse – for me, these have to be silk or cotton or at the very least viscose as polyester makes my skin crawl but I realise that most people aren’t as freakishly fussy as me.  TBH most of my statement blouses (sorry, that’s is such a bad phrase) were originally bought for “going out” and have been relegated to work wear.  Look for pieces that still have that smart edge but don’t scream corporate, so perhaps something that you would imagine wearing with a smart pair of jeans and heels for an evening out.  These little gems pop up everywhere on the high street so keep ‘em peeled.

navy Gwyneth blouse - Boden

ivory Tamara blouse - Boden
black pussy bow blouse - Warehouse
black and white ditsy blouse - M&S

 

Grey fitted teeshirt – one of the hardest working pieces in my wardrobe.  As well as being perfect to throw on with jeans at the weekends, a well cut grey teeshirt will look awesome with a statement skirt or fitted trousers.  I always go for crew neck and I’ve just bought a few more from Uniqlo to add to my collection – can’t rate them highly enough.  J Crew do a more expensive and equally as perfect version.

grey teeshirt - Uniqlo
grey Perfect Fit teeshirt - J Crew




This is one of my favourite, no-brainer looks for the office worn with black tapered trousers and heels.

Next time, bottoms...

Sales 'n' stuff

The sales have been really kind to me this year and I've picked up some absolute bargains (plus a couple of brilliant non-sale bits).  On pain of death and divorce, I've been banned from looking at anything more extravagant than Topshop and by some miracle I've managed to stick to the high street.  (Although for anyone not about to embark on a full refurb of their house, Matches have 70% now......)

striped Breton - Uniqlo
burgundy flats - Topshop (sold out)
cropped jeans - River Island (can't rate these highly enough)
Stan Smith trainers - Adidas
red dress - Monsoon (sold out)
coated leggings New Look
grey cashmere jumper - La Redoute (size up for a nice slouchy fit)


Here are a couple of outfits from the last few days.  The Stan's have barely been off my feet.....

black leather jacket - Zara / black fur stole - New Look / olive shirt - Zara / grey cashmere jumper - J Crew / trainers - Adidas

camel coat - La Redoute / white shirt - French Connection / pink cashmere jumper - M&S / black leather Gracie bag - Anya Hindmarch / trainers - Adidas / black cashmere wrist warmers - Johnstons of Scotland

The beginnings of a S/S wishlist

Is anybody else furiously toe-tapping, just willing new season stock to hit the stores?  I know I am.  Every season, as all the lovely new shapes and styles are revealed I embark on an episode of frantic list writing followed by weeks of ups and downs as expected sure-hits turn out to be duds and initially dismissed outsiders develop into full blown obsessed-over must-haves.


Things will start arriving over the next few weeks but until then I've a few things on my list for S/S already. 


I'm feeling a lot of love for the cropped flared jeans which first appeared mainly on French fashion editors (and Alexa Chung) a year or so ago.  Pinterest has loads of inspo....

I've already DIY'd an old pair of black J Brand Lovestory's which I'm pleased with but which are rather snug (to say the very least) having bought them just after I'd had my eldest when I was super skinny and lived on nervous energy, toast and not much else.  I think the blue work really well and would certainly fit into my wardrobe (not to mention around my waist) better.  A word of caution: unless you actually are Alexa Chung (or the bird bottom right who I think looks AWESOME), these bad-boys require a heel.


Last summer's fashion bloggers' obsession, Self-Portrait, has also continued to pique my interest.  Not cheap admittedly but I think their pieces are pretty damn special.  I'm fairly sure we don't have a wedding to tart up for this year but there's a whisper that we may be going to Ascot in June.  I bloody hope so - a Self-Portrait frock would be just the ticket.....

Next up, something which I wear repeatedly, all year round; the classic Breton.  I'm looking for a breton in a heavier cotton with a boxier fit this season.  Saint James for J Crew do a brilliant version but I don't think I can bring myself to pay £80 for a t-shirt.

Boden did a great one for A/W but it sold out stupidly quickly (or before I had chance to bag one in any case - I spent the rest of A/W checking to see if any had come back into stock and cursing myself every time I saw that they hadn't).  They have a "Essential" version in their new S/S stock but it'll be just my luck they'll not include the heavier Mariner version.


Finally, let me tell you about the object of my affection that I can neither get out of my head nor afford.  GAH!  I'm so late to this particular game it's tragic.  They weren't even on my radar a month ago and then.  And then.  I was in Bath, in Russell & Bromley with my husband as he continued his seemingly eternal search for The Perfect Desert Boot.  Don't ask.  Anyway, I saw the Stuart Weitzman display and I'd heard and read SO much about the Lowland boots that I thought, sod it - I'll try them and see if they're All That.  Big mistake.  Oh the biggest of big mistakes.  Because they ARE All That.  And then some.  They are boots of pure beauty and look and feel so so good on. 

I fell hard and fast right there.  It was and continues to be unrequited love.  Sob.  They ain't gonna be mine any time soon because they are hideously expensive.  Even secondhand via Fleabay you're looking at £400 plus.  The further fly in the ointment is that our long planned loft extension will be kicking off soon and therefore all funds will of course be poured into that.  Bugger.  Perhaps we'll hook up next A/W (although of course I have a search saved on aforementioned auction site juuuuust in case a pair in my size pop up a bargain price).




Finally a couple of outfits from the last few days.


For lunch and buzz around The Mall (as it was effing raining again and none of us fancied yet another AirHop/Jump/softplay visit).

coat - Zara / cashmere jumper - Boden / jeans - Topshop / trainers - Mango






And for a painful return to work on Wednesday.

grey merino jumper - Gap / black dirndl skirt - Gap / heels - Zara / pearl and diamante necklace - Zara


Until the Sales rubbish is cleared and nice things start appearing I shall mainly be bundled up in scarves, moaning about the rain.