Pages

Sunday 21 September 2014

Mustard, mustard, mustard - one way or another it's going to get you!

This season it's out to get you. Unless you try really hard, one way or another, mustard is going to feature somehow, somewhere, in your wardrobe. It is literally everywhere. I don't think I've seen a colour come from nowhere and dominate the High Street since brown did it in about 2002/3 (and wasn't that a season to remember?)

For me it started with a Topshop T-shirt that wasn't actually mustard at all, but when I was trying to find a jumper in the same colour, I held up a mustard coloured one and you know, it looked OK. Being of a slightly brighter hue it works with black, navy, grey and even purple, plus white. And you know, it's just nice to have a change.

The jumper in question was the textured sleeve jumper by Warehouse (£36). See how good it looks with denim? And let's face it, we all have denim don't we?


This Zara printed T (£19.99) is a subtle way to tap into the colour. Admittedly it's not so subtle on the 1960's design but if you like the 60's trend, it too is a great way to tap into that. Mixing mustard up with other "safer" colours makes it more accessible for those mustard newcomers out there.


The geometric print trousers Zara (£19.99) are also another good way of wearing mustard for those who don't like the colour next to their face. The print will attract attention to the legs so for anyone with great pins, these could be for you. I also like that it's mixed up a little with black and white, rather than being a block colour.

These trousers look great on but they do have a couple of small pleats at the waist band (you can see them more clearly on a close up photo on the site.) They do sit pretty flat  and as they're so high up a jumper would cover them but they won't to be everyone's taste. There's also a top in the same print.


For those who like the comfort blanket that grey offers, mixing mustard with it as in this Boden woven front jumper (£70.31) makes it much easier to wear. The sweatshirt styling and raglan sleeves also keep the look fresh - much more groovy than granny!


And finally I loved this Zara printed shirt (£25.99) so much that I made a special trip into town on Friday to take a closer look. The royal blue works really well with the mustard and being a fan of blue I could imagine feeling happy with this colour combination. Sadly the background was too grey for me but on some else it could look fab. It has small ties up the back but in the grand scheme of things, these are pretty insignificant.


So, is anyone tempted to go there? For many I think that it may well only be a matter of time.

Saturday 20 September 2014

And tonight, I will be wearing my....dancing shoes


Remember these days?

Mr SG are off to a black tie event tonight so yesterday morning I pulled out a couple of things that I had it in mind to wear - one of them being these Dune sparkly shoes.

Remember how a couple of days ago I said that there were certain things seemed to go down well with lots of people? Well when these were produced, the girls were like bees around a honey pot. No sooner had I prized them off the feet of the six year old, when the fifteen year old appeared and put them on.


Then there was some sisterly sharing where they opted for one each...

 
Before admiring themselves in them. See what fun we have in the mornings (!!)
 

Personally I would be equally happy in these - my new Saucony running trainers.  Although I have to admit, they're not as sparkly.

Friday 19 September 2014

Something for the weekend (and the dark winter nights)

For a while now I've been doing a little bit of groping - of the acceptable variety I hasten to add. Whenever I see a pair of joggers I have a good feel of them, not only of the outside but more importantly, the inside. I've felt the ones in GAP, Whistles, H&M, J. Crew, Banana Republic, White Company and Cos, to name but a few but today? Oh today I came across the best by far.

I was taking a little jaunt around Topshop and I came across these Topshop neppy joggers (£25) in the petite range - which is also a bonus in my book. I then came across them elsewhere in the store, although sadly not in my size. However, I will be going back because they are really, really soft inside and this is borne out by the reviews of them online which are fantastic. If I thought about it too much, I could be slightly put off by the white cord - so I'm just not going to think about it. These things can always be dealt with somehow.  The colour is good too. The black ones I have come across are too dark, some of the grey are too light but these are just that perfect in between shade.


The bottoms are also accompanied by the Topshop neppy hoodie (£22). So, for the sum of £47 you could have your "at home" winter wardrobe sorted. I'm sure that the various cashmere options out there are truly wonderful and for someone with another life, maybe. But to be honest, right now, I would so love some of these in my life!

Thursday 18 September 2014

The juxtaposition of a smarter jacket with jeans and trainers


Outfit: Mango jacket, Nike trainers, New Look skinny jeans, GAP clutch
 
Golly I've got gremlins in my computer today. Nothing is loading properly, things keep on crashing and it's all generally a bit of a dog's dinner but nevermind.
 
I was in town for most of yesterday working and (as usual) I wanted to be able to dash here there and everywhere.  Compared to shoes, trainers are just a million times more comfortable and I hate my speed being impeded by my choice of footwear, so the Nikes made another appearance.
 
For something similar, I really like these New Balance 574 pop safari trainers from Schuh (£70) and even more I love their year long returns policy, which is great for those who are indecisive/live a long way from town/need a while to locate their lost receipt. These trainers also come in more muted colours as admittedly these aren't for the faint hearted.
 
 
The Mango jacket that I am wearing was nearly returned several times but now the jacket and I are good pals. It doesn't get a huge amount of outings but whenever it does, people always comment on it (usually in a positive way!) It just seems to catch people's eyes and I always find those things really interesting. Whenever I do an event there are always a few things that pretty much everyone, without exception, gravitate towards. Anyway, that aside, I like wearing a smarter jacket with trainers - it's that whole juxtaposition thing that it so big right now - and more importantly a smarter jacket stops me (well almost) from feeling such a scruffy bum!

Wednesday 17 September 2014

When there's a hair disaster there's only one thing for it.....a hat!

 

Outfit: Whistles Ella jacket, Hush jumper, New Look jeans, Aldo shoes (I'm sure I'll write Aldi one of these days!) Oushka bag

I think that "disaster" is probably too strong a word to describe my super short hairstyle but whenever I look in the mirror I do think to myself "Ouch, that's short." And then to top it off I decided to colour it but to pass the time quickly I blogged at the same time, leaving it on for much longer than I should have done - so not only is it slightly shorter than I would have liked but it's slightly darker too. Having said that, I did ask for it to be cut shorter partly because I seem to have to get it cut so often and also because I'm running/swimming a lot at the moment so it's constantly being washed or getting wet.

So, when it came to the blog I had two choices. First, to disappear for a few weeks until it had grown and lightened OR to share it with everyone and just get over it. I decided on the latter a) because I like blogging and b) because....actually I don't think that there is a b).

Anyway, I decided that now is probably a good time to have a hair disaster - well a couple of months time might be even better - because there are so many lovely hats around this season. From the Reiss Ava and Hattie (is that a great name for a hat or what?) (£69) to the Fedoras at Topshop, which at £28 are a good place to start for anyone heading (get it??) for the first time into trilby/fedora territory, to the Zara wide brimmed felt hat (£19.99) or the trilby (£25.99).

The Jigsaw bridget fedora (£39) is also a great choice...


as is the Jigsaw Isabella trilby (£39) which comes in a variety of different colours.


Hats really are just one of those things that you have to try on and just because one brand doesn't work, it doesn't mean that another brand won't. Often it comes down to the colour, the width of the brim, the height of the hat - and confidence too.

I saw this "Love You" beanie in Zara (£12.99) today and I think that it would look great with my New Look jumper which has "love" written across the front. It would take matchy matchy to a  whole new level.


The Hush star jumper (£75) that I am wearing is from the summer collection but they have done this winter version, for anyone who fancies having a star plastered across their chest.


I am also wearing the Ella Ponte jersey jacket from Whistles which is £45 or £95 depending on the colour. If you're tempted, do have a hunt around the site for a bargain. For anyone unsure, they do tend to come up quite large so if only the size below yours is available, don't be put off. It's a jacket that I find hugely useful and easy to wear, largely because it is made of jersey.

 
So, although it's only early I'm off to bed - I think that hair grows more quickly when you're asleep!

Monday 15 September 2014

A trip to London, a peruse around J. Crew and some cheaper alternatives.....


On Saturday I went to London to meet my friend who lives in Brighton. Whilst there, I tried on this Reiss quilted jumper in ivory (£79) (below). We both really liked it but, after thinking about it, I concluded that it was too much to spend on a top that I would probably wear in a really casual way and anyway, I already had a white sweatshirt  (above) which would do much the same job.


Roll on Sunday and I decided to wear my white sweatshirt just to see what I thought. As the end of the day was nearing, I concluded that the Reiss one would, in fact, be very handy to have and as it was a bit smarter than mine I could wear it in a slightly different way.

So we sat down to our evening meal of home made burgers, home made rolls, salad and home made ice-cream (all thanks to Mr SG), the latter of which I doused liberally with salted caramel sauce (the ice-cream that is, not Mr SG). The trouble was that before it even reached the ice cream, I doused myself in it - and what I mess a made. And then, in taking the sweatshirt off to give it the fairy liquid treatment, I managed to get the sauce everywhere - up the sleeves, down the back, on the inside. By the time I had finished with it the top looked like a baby had projectile vomited (and the other) simultaneously and it was at that point that I realised that for once, just for once in my life, I had actually made a very good decision in not buying the Reiss top for had I done so, I would most definitely have been wearing it at that point.

Obviously whilst in London, a visit to J. Crew had to be on the agenda. Now I don't want to be a party pooper, and more than anyone I understand the joy that clothes can bring, but we did enjoy our game of spotting where else we could find less expensive alternatives to what they had on offer. Banana Republic, GAP, Zara and Topshop featured. Of course some of the things are lovely and it's great to see a successful brand but as with anything that has such a strong brand identity, it's important not to get seduced by that, rather than the clothes on offer.

Now one of the items that has featured quite a lot recently is this J. Crew jewelled bib shirt (£495). It's pretty much sold out on line so there are obviously plenty of people who can get their heads around spending that much on a shirt and I have to say, not being one of them, I'm pretty impressed by that.


But for those who can't imagine spending that on a shirt, this H&M  embellished shirt (£29.99) would probably do just fine.


You could even sew a few more embellishments on it to make it sparkle a bit more AND, it would leave £465.01 to put towards this Dulcie coat from Shrimps (£595) which is very covetable.


Anyway, whilst in London I wanted to try this H&M beaded sweatshirt (£29.99) which I had seen in the window of our local store last week but which I hadn't had time to try. When I put it on my friend said "Oh my God, you look like you've been inflated." Which naturally left me very deflated but on looking in the mirror I couldn't argue. The fabric was stiff and the shape wide but on others I wouldn't rule it out - it just might work.


And whilst I'm on the subject of embellished bits and bobs, this H&M  grey beaded sweatshirt  (£24.99) could do a good job of adding a bit of bling as the nights draw in.

Friday 12 September 2014

Now these Boden waxed jeans are a pair of jeans that I am very happy to wear again...

 

Outfit: Boden waxed jeans, Whistles jumper, La Redoute jacket, Oushka bag, Mango shoes

Subsequent to deciding that there was no way that I was ever going to wear my Primark coated skinnies again, I needed to find an alternative. I like coated jeans as a change from blue denim and being black, the coating adds that little bit of texture which stops them from being too "flat".

Yesterday the super skinny waxed jeans that I ordered from Boden arrived and today I tried them out. I've concluded that wrinkles in coated jeans are unavoidable but I've also concluded that there are more important things in life to worry about! So, moving to the jeans themselves, they are generous in the leg length and the rise on them is also good which means that they don't fall down (that's the Primark problem solved then!) I like the addition of the ankle zips and zipped pockets on my Primark ones but you know, sometimes you have to sacrifice a bit of zippage for comfort.

The reviews about this style of jean on the Boden site are really good and I have to say, so far so good. Of course the problem with jeans is that they don't always reveal their true selves until after you've spent a bit of time with them (a bit like boyfriends really - from recollection at least) by which time they can't be popped back on the shelf unless they are faulty (unlike boyfriends, which can quite easily be popped back on the shelf from which they've fallen).

I can't vouch for the other finishes in this style but for anyone who struggles with getting skinny jeans to fit, I would definitely consider giving them a go.  

Wednesday 10 September 2014

My pick of the High Street prints

 
Outfit: Jigsaw jumper and printed trousers, Topshop shoes
 
Prints - we either love them or hate them, pretty much instantly. They can remind us of our grannies' curtains, outfits we wore as children, or something the cat brought up. But equally they can lift our spirits, change our look and give us a new lease of life.

Some shops are known for their prints - or indeed for their lack of them. Zara always has lots of different prints (although it's better not to go in there after 9.35am because it looks like a jumble sale). Warehouse is always strong on both print and colour - plus the quality is better than Zara too and walking in there is so refreshing, compared to some other stores. Both the Monsoon and Boden prints stand out a mile away - and not always for the right reasons. Whistles has great prints each season which they usually also do in a scarf for anyone who just fancies a touch of one. Sometimes it's just about giving them a go.

I always like Great Plains. The price point of the brand is good and they often do more than one piece in a particular print. The Hoxton top from Great Plains (£40) is a nice fit and is a non scary print type option. It also comes in a long sleeved knee length dress.


Despite being largely a dark print, the blue in it is really vibrant and it looks great on people with blue eyes.


The Great Plains City Scape trousers £60 are a good place to start for anyone tempted to try a print on their bottom half. The print has a dark background and can be worn with black, navy or grey. Also they're smart enough for work with a blazer, or relaxed enough for out of work with a jumper, so they're pretty versatile.


The French Connection wilderness bloom comes in both a pencil skirt (£75) and a fitted dress with a zip up the front. Made of cotton and with stretch in it, it also straddles the work/casual boundary really well. It's easy to pick up the navy, cream or burgundy in a top. The model used is 5ft 11" so on most people it will come up longer.


Generally known for its very plain and slightly more architectural pieces, each season Cos does a couple of prints. This one has been around for a while and Cos have done this print in both a bomber style jacket (£79) and a pencil skirt.


This Warehouse floral jersey tee (£28) is good for a first foray into the world of prints. It's plain grey on the back but with nice shaping down the side and the print is modern but subtle - it's the kind of top that could work its way into your wardrobe and sit their quite happily amongst those black and grey pieces until it's required to give the a bit of a lift. Do suss out Warehouse if you're after a printed top.


And whilst this isn't my favourite print of all, LK Bennett can always be relied on to do a couple of striking prints each season. The Joe Rose print full skirt (£195) has a graphic floral print which is great for a winter wedding.


At this time of the year the stores can start to look a little dark and flat and I think that can be true of our wardrobes too, so it's good to pick up a print every now and then, just to keep everything balanced.

Monday 8 September 2014

A trend to try - a metallic, or leather, pleated skirt...and possibly the last knitted Jigsaw sheepskin jacket in the company

OK, so bear with me on this one.  As we, let's say, move on in life, the trends available to us start to narrow down slightly. Clothes may need to be a little more forgiving, less embellished perhaps. The hemlines may need to come down slightly and perhaps the neckline needs to go up. You know what I'm saying - unless we want to look like Liz from the Rovers Return, we need to tread with a certain amount of caution - without playing it too safe which can be a travesty in its own right.

When metallic and faux leather pleated skirts first hit the scene I didn't get them at all. The Daisy foil skirt from Whistles (see below) was one of the first around and I didn't see what all the fuss was about. But now that they have been around for a while, they're starting to grow on me. A pleated skirt is very much accessible to lots of different shapes. It is the equivalent skirt version of a boot cut jean, so it does a good job of balancing out curvier hips, broad shoulders or a curvy bust. It might be necessary to try a few different ones and (generally) the top needs to be fitted but there's definitely room to experiment. The length on them is good too - although inevitably some kind of heel makes them "swish" just that little bit better. Well, that is unless one has the height, or the legs, not to require the assistance of heels.

There are many pleated skirts available this season with pale pink or pale blue ones at Whistles and various styles at Zara, so if metallic or faux leather isn't your idea of fun, there are plenty of other options. Equally if a pleated skirt isn't your preferred choice but the length of one appeals, there are lots of full midi skirts in brocade (Monsoon), floral (LK Bennett) or stripes (Whistles).

So here's a quick whizz of the options out there:

Foil coated pleated skirt Jigsaw £139


Faux leather pleated skirt Whistles £135


Faux leather pleated skirt Zara £39.99 (I'm liking the Zara site now, much better with the additional use of pictures).


Faux Pleated skirt Zara £39.99


Daisy foil skirt Whistles £125


So we're not talking about an everyday shop to Morrisons to wear this - although far be it from me to dictate what anyone should wear at any given time. However for anyone with a winter wedding coming up, or a black tie event, I'm very much liking the idea. It's a bit different, a definite change from a Coast dress or a LBD, or something short and fitted. At an event such as that you could wear some great heels with it, maybe a short fur jacket and it would be a great outfit. On a more daily basis it could be worn with knee high boots and a fur gilet, or a chunky roll neck and flatter shoes. Anyway, the thought got my cogs whirring to the point that one of these is now definitely on my winter wish list.

Now, on another note, this knitted sheepskin jacket Jigsaw (£395) that I am wearing is quite possibly the last in the company. It has only been released for two weeks and has sold out everywhere, however this one in a M/L is currently in the Birmingham store. Clearly it's too big and I look very much like an overgrown chick but oh my goodness it was so lovely to wear. So for anyone coveting one (and there must be many for it to have sold out so quickly) the store is happy to do a postal sale for anyone who wants to give them a call.


Sunday 7 September 2014

A lazy bottom (half) with a silk kimono style jacket and a great excuse to buy shoes....

 

Oufit: Jeans and belt GAP, shoes Aldo, vest Whistles, jacket Oasis, bag Indica, Guernsey

I'll admit it - I was a little lazy this weekend when it came to clothes as is evident from the jeans and espadrilles.  However, the silk kimono style jacket is one that I have had for a few years and never worn, so it was nice to wear it on what was a lovely late summer day when a little assistance in the warmth department was required. Also, earlier in the summer I bought a ribbed vest top in the sale from Whistles. Its full price was £35 (for a vest, seriously?) but it was £10 in the sale which seemed a whole lot more reasonable and in fairness to it, now that I've worn it, it is far more substantial than a vest of the variety that I usually wear.

The sparkly bag can only mean one thing - time to go swimming!


The design on the jacket is really pretty with what almost looks like hand painted flowers with a shot of silver through it. It may just become my new BF when it comes to jackets.


Now someone had a confession to make this morning when I found my new espadrilles under our daughter's desk. When questioned, she admitted that she likes to wear shoes which relate to the subject she's studying - apparently it helps her to identify with it. This morning it was latin and the espadrilles made her feel like a Roman. We've also had my winter boots with tracksuit bottoms tucked in so that she feels like a soldier when studying World War 2 and my high Hobbs lace up shoes to represent what the women of WW2 would have worn in the 1940's. There are some pretty big exams ahead this year so I'm intrigued to see what she will come up with. Obviously if a particular style is missing, it will be my duty to fill that gap....

Friday 5 September 2014

Aldo espadrilles for the last days of summer...


I have half had my eyes out for some decent espadrilles since the start of the summer but had pretty much decided to park them for now and pick the search up again next season.

When they first appeared on the scene I couldn't get my head around them at all - too much like Cliff Richard in "Summer Holiday" for my liking. Well that and teenage boys in shorts and vest tops. I'm not quite sure where that image came from but it was one that I definitely couldn't shift.


Anyway, then I came across some Penelope Chilvers ones whilst on holiday in Guernsey and my view towards them started to change. The problem was that whilst they were pretty, they were hugely uncomfortable. They weren't lined on the inside, so it was like walking on a straw bale. They were also deathly flat and I don't really do deathly flat - there just too much cankle going on for that.  
 
But then when I was in House of Fraser the other day, I happened upon these espadrilles - the Aldo Fesien (£65). Initially I balked at the price but then I tried them on and I started to get it. They're made of leather so much harder wearing than the canvas or fabric ones that I have come across. But most of all they had a 3cm height sole, which stopped me from feeling as though my bum was scraping on the ground. And oddly, on researching espadrilles further, very few of the Dune, KG, Steve Madden or Bertie ones are in the sale, which is slightly odd.

They come in this black hair finish....


...as well as these gold snake print ones which I am wearing above.... 


....and these rather lovely leopard print ones...
 

Initially I was slightly concerned about the sizing. The size 5 was great on one foot but a little snug on the other, so I brought them home wore them around the house for a while, put some shoe trees them over night and today they were a great fit. Being such soft leather, they have given slightly so the risk paid off (this time). We've all had those occasions when it hasn't!

Anyway, I suspect that I won't get much wear out of them this summer but they will be ready and waiting for me next summer. I won't pretend that they will go with everything but they are probably more versatile than I might initially think. I'll pretty much wear them in the same way as converse - so with skinny jeans, shorts, wide jeans and possibly the right casual dresses and skirts.

And for those who don't need the assistance of a slightly built up heel a la Tom Cruise, there's these fab Enzo Angiolini alternatives on sale in House of Fraser, reduced from £60 to £15 - and they come in half sizes. If I had the legs I would so go for these! I've searched online and don't seem to be able to find them so perhaps they are in store only - or perhaps they've all been shipped to Birmingham but here's a link to a better pic for anyone who fancies taking up the search.