For now or for later....

... I'm still thinking you can never have too many.  And I've come to realise from all the comments and emails I've had over the past couple of months that others definitely agree. 

The dress is here to stay.  This weekend is a prime example - off out to a BBQ in London and tomorrow - a BBQ at ours for friends and family for the smallest's birthday.   And what would I have worn this time last year?  Well, jeans and a top.. skinnies and a blouse?  

This year however - another year older and obviously another year wiser and I am embracing the dress.  

To be totally honest with you - I'm getting my wear out of them whilst it's still vaguely warm because as much as I'm all over them in the Summer - the jury is still out as to how I'll get on with them in the Winter. 

I had hoped to fall in love with them last A/W but it didn't quite happen for day wear.  Why?  Hmmm I don't know.  Coat issue maybe?  I'm not going to expend too much brain capacity on it (let's be frank, I don't have that much to spread around) and instead just focus on the coming months. 

Especially as I keep coming across other frock gems that I haven't seen before.  The really good thing I have noticed about dresses is that they are the gift that keeps on giving, year in, year out.  I have worn all my dresses from last year and the year before (apart from one... the pink pleated one I wore to a wedding in Italy - it just hasn't been warm enough to wear it here) and even a couple from five years ago - with a little alteration to midi length, they've been given a second lease of life. 

And so whilst it might seem like slight madness to consider short dresses this late on in the season - they will definitely serve you well next year, we still have weeks and weeks of amazing weather (we're going away again in a fortnight - primarily as I have to pick my coffee machine up... in all seriousness, it was booked eons ago.  Hello hopefully sunny Suffolk again...a girl can dream...) and you can still definitely wear these with opaques for months to come. 

Starting with one that I saw at ASOS when I was looking for I can't remember what.  Oh my lord I love this.  Adore the texture (certainly makes it more wintery in my opinion.) I reckon you could even wear this layered with a thin knit polo, opaques and ankle boots - huge black cardie and you're off.  Or grey chunky knit on top, cashmere scarf.......

ASOS Shift Dress in textured stripe £42




This dress was hugely popular early in the season and is a bargain now at half price.  Following on from my love of all things striped yesterday.... It's also a thicker texture as opposed to a thin, properly Summer dress so can easily be worn into the Autumn.  Looks great with ankle boots as you can see....

Tall Striped Jacquard Dress from Topshop was £50 now £25



And the non tall version!  Again was £50 now £25





I'm not even going to attempt to suggest this is anything but full on Summer holiday or for one of those three scorchio days we get a year.  This is "summer drawer" fodder for me.  A bargain to snaffle away for next year if you've already been away.  If not, grab yourself a bargain now.

Striped Bardot Dress was £36 now £20 from Topshop




Moving on from stripe and some print - two gorgeous prints that I've earmarked on recent searches - keep coming back to them.  Simply can't justify them but I love both.  Someone else please buy them. 

Selected Cathy Printed Dress £65



However I think I might be able to sneak this one in for just £25... how gorgeous is this?  From Matalan.  Yes, you read that correctly - Matalan.  

Abbey by Abbey Clancey £25






Because I've mentioned opaques, just have to tell you that the new A/W range from hush is launched today.  Later on, I have a date with my laptop and a glass of wine and shall peruse all things gorgeously Autumnal. 

But this dress would actually work now with bare legs and sandals, as well as with tights and boots later on.  For properly inbetweeny seasons, I would wear with nude tights and ankle boots.  And of course I shall be all over the OTK boots....  Huge chunky cardigan (have become vaguely obsessed with these... ) and you're off. 

Plait Dress from hush £65



This one would look great in exactly the same guise.  Love the colour - the mix of the black and blue but especially love love love the print. 

Annabelle Dress from hush £55




However as much as I love short dresses - it's the longer ones that I am all over at the moment.  Seriously if I could find ten versions of the & Other Stories dresses, I would buy them.  Have they done anything remotely similar since?  Have they heck as like. 

But I did manage to find a couple which are marginally longer at Atterley.  Especially if you're not a ridiculous tallie like me.

Vila Black Amoret Shirt Dress was £35 now £18



Cream Drop Waist Dress £65 from Atterley




They also do it in a navy which I absolutely adore.  I only wish wish it was longer for me. 

Navy Drop Waist Dress £65 from Atterley 




However it's definitely the midi dress that I am currently obsessed with (yawn, I know I've mentioned this once or ten times) but I could honestly wear this style pretty much every day.  In the Autumn - these, with ankle boots.... oh yes, hello.  Ideal for during the day.  For everything.

Now there is a real dearth of these around at a reasonable price, so I'm back to being alteration queen.  This - cropped to midi length would be amazing.  And slightly more tightly tied at the chest.  No one needs to cop an eyeful of my greying nude t-shirt bra (be quiet at the back - I'm an A cup.  And t-shirt bras are a) cheap b) comfy and c) seam free.  All the glamour on the underwear front here.  Not.)

Glamorous Maxi Dress with lace up detail £50




However I did manage to find a midi dresses that might actually work lengthwise.  Adore it with the knee length boots.  A new designer I came across at ASOS - not the cheapest (to put it mildly...) but if they're what you're looking for and you'd get loads of wear out of it..... All very Free People if you ask me. 

Gat Rimon Yaze Embroidered dress in black £175



I'm also on the hunt for shirt dresses as I'm constantly being asked for them - for work, for play, for everything, so I'll be back with them shortly. 

And proving I do practise what I preach - here I am in yet again, *that* dress. 

Untitled

Porcelain dress - & Other Stories

Black lace up sandals - Forever21
Black Mario bag - Jerome Dreyfuss

I now have to go and watch the remainder of Insurgent (which we've tried to watch three times but keep falling asleep...) with the kids.  The Husband has taken himself off to the Rugby Club for an exceptionally (apparently) important rugby match.  I did enquire as to when the World Cup did start and to how this could be of such magnitude compared to that..... needless to say I didn't bother to listen to the utter tripe that was spouted in his defence..... Rugby schmugby.  Snoozerama if you ask me. 

That's my evening with the hush website sorted then..... *punches air*

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CONVERSATION

23 comentarios:

  1. I love the Selected Cathy print dress it's looks just a bit longer which I need as I'm 5'10 but only a size 6 left on Asos. I love the print and colour of the Hush Annabelle print dress but it's a bit short for me.

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    1. It does look that bit longer doesn't it? And BOO for the sizing. Yes, Hush dresses are often on the short side. I"m off to see their new collection this week, so I'll let yo know. The Triangle dresses from last year were refreshingly long though x

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  2. Love, love, love the ASOS maxi dress, it's just gorgeous! X

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    1. It's gorgeous isn't it? I think with block heel knee high boots..... or chunky ankle boots and a big coat in the A/W....

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  3. Your hair is looking consistently amazeballs in every outfit pic lately! Is it that clever gadget thing you mentioned a while back? Cos at this rate i'm going to have to buy the darn thing, and I bet I still won't get my hair looking that good!

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    1. Oh thank you! Yes - it's definitely the Babyliss Curl Secret - go forth and purchase. It takes me about 15 mins to do my hair. Amazing

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  4. I think I just want to be the hush model. She looks like she has such a lovely life. Here she is off to a poetry reading at the wine club. Here she is on her way back from a ski holiday with friends. Here she is on her way to after work drinks with her hot new lover...she never looks like she's on her way to nursery before making yet more pasta and then spending 30mins looking for Optimus prime's head???

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    1. Ok if you can be her, I want to live in The White Company catalogue. Deal?

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    2. How do we feel about her in the Toast catalogue though - not keen on standing in peasant smock by run down shack holding rusty ladle in hand with turning shepherd behind me!

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    3. You can keep the world of Toast. Lovely but I bet they don't have Sky tv.

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  6. What a great selection of dresses and most could be worn in A/W with boots. Talking of OTK boots I bought the black Stuart Weitzman ones recently and then saw them in grey and couldn't resist and had to have them. They are adorable and so comfy (bring on the season so,I can wear them). If you know anybody who might be interested in buying the black ones in size 40, brand new in box, cheaper than SW or Russell and Bromley, let me know. Xx

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  7. I spent a happy hour on the Hush website yesterday, loved the same dresses. It's a pity I have thunder thighs and no money, but Matalan and thick tights maybe? Very sorry about the coffee machine totally understand I need it to survive! x

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    1. I am in love with SO much of the hush stuff - can't wait to see it in the flesh hopefully this week x

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  8. I've just stocked up on dresses from Allium B - specialist dress company - which (very sadly, for me) is closing down and so has massive reductions. They won't be for everyone (maybe less urban than the selection here?) but are such lovely quality, really lovely cut and true to size. I could honestly live in them and they are an absolute steal just now. Elizabeth x

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    1. They definitely have a very specific look to them and I know they suit lots and lots of people - for me, alas they're just not a style that suits me but I do know they look amazing on others. Such a shame they're closing x

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  9. Kat how did you get on with that long beige ASOS cardigan you planned to buy, any good? Im a similar build and height to you & im thinking of getting it although not sure. Also a blog on black or neutral chunky cardigans & long skinny trousers that can be worn to work and nights out would be amazing. X

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    1. Right - well I LOVED it in terms of colour and in terms of length. And fit - it really was gorgeous (I'm a 10 and bought the large as I wanted it oversized and super slouchy) My only concern was the fabric which, for me, was just ever so slightly the wrong sort of acrylic knit.... for £35 I actually thought (although it's a bargain compared to loads) it was slightly - so so so slightly expensive for acrylic. Had it been £10 cheaper I would have kept it. The fit and colour was GORGEOUS

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  10. That's really helpful Kat, I would love a black & also a camel chunky knit cardigan, if you find anything nice do let us know :) also did you get the me&em blouse, it looked nice online but not sure how it was in reality. Kat I took the plunge and bought the LV leopard print scarf, it's a huge splurge but think it's going to get loads of wear.

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    1. Yes I did but haven't worn it yet! Still not cold enough for me... I LOVE it - have tried it on for the photo shoot and it will be amazing in the next couple of months. And huge congrats on the LV scarf - you won't regret it xxx

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    2. How much are they now? Im saving and the price keeps going up! Would love one!

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    3. Not sure - I know I paid £495 for mine almost 8 yrs ago. OUCH! But honestly honestly it's been worth it.

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