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Wednesday 5 September 2012

Style Guile Smile - A suede Mango biker jacket in six colours and an alternative to the Russell & Bromley leopard heeled loafer of yesterday

I was going to post an outfit today...but that can wait until tomorrow because I wanted to show you this little beauty  - the Mango suede biker jacket which comes in 6 colours and costs £99.99.

As you know, I am a bit of  fan of a biker jacket. I love the versatility of them - the way that they can make a classic evening dress more edgy, they way they can be put with biker boots and layered with skinny jeans and a longer top underneath, they way that they sit so well with a lace pencil skirt. I could go on...

I have a theory behind building the perfect Wardrobe, which goes something like this: A good Wardrobe can be built in the shape of a pyramid, with three sections layered on top of one another.

On the bottom section are the basics: good jeans, black and navy trousers, white shirt, mac, lbd, day time and evening skirts, plus basic knits. These are the foundations if you like - and for some, a biker in a neutral colour, such as navy, black or brown, may fall into this section.
 
 


On the next level are some pieces to make your Wardrobe a little more interesting and up to date: coloured or skinny jeans or cords, day time sparkles, a denim shirt, stripes, lace and this could be the place for a biker jacket in perhaps a slightly more "adventurous colour" - perhaps to be added in when you already have one which goes with everything already - or just because you fancy it!


On the top layer are the on trend pieces for the season. There will generally be fewer of them and they will tap into the trends that you like - whether in terms of colour/style/shape/print and so on. Over time, some may work their way into one of the lower two tiers whilst others may have a shorter life span. This neon blue jacket, and this red jacket, would fall into this top category. They won't go with everything but they will make a real statement.

 
 

None of the above is set in stone - and some may head straight for the red jacket without having any other coat at all - just because they fancy it - and I totally get that too! But for longevity and to ensure that you have something that works with everything and for every occasion, the pyramid idea is a good starting place.

Following on from yesterday's post (and under orders from my friend to "work my magic") I have done a good deal of hunting for an alternative to the Russell & Bromley leopard heeled loafer. I haven't had a great amount of success so far but these are the nearest to anything which may vaguely work in the same way.


These are the Next leopard effect panel heeled loafer At £30 they are one tenth of the cost of the Russell & Bromley ones.  Whilst definitely less of a statement, the reviews are good so at the very least, they may be worth investigating. But I know only too well how it is when you fall in love with the real thing...