We're going out out.
And sod's law, when I was looking for a top to go for lunch in a month or so ago, could I find one? Could I heck as like. So a little look on Topshop turned into a mammoth peruse as there were simply so many I could wear. (I swear there were none last time I looked)
These are the perfect night out tops. Out out. I don't mean to a club (dear lord, I can't remember the last time I went to a club - actually I can. It was a woefully embarrassing middle aged disaster trip to Mahiki after a girl's lunch earlier this year when we turned up at..... 8.30pm. Kicking as you can imagine. All the shame and then some.)
So no, when I say Out out, I mean basically leaving the house with make up on when you have a babysitter. When you drink the equivalent of a week's alcohol in four hours because you haven't got your children with you. Those nights.
What do you wear with them? Pretty much anything goes bar trackie bums (and to be fair, I'd wear them if they were pleather.) So let me amend that to anything you wouldn't actually sleep in. And that you would wear heels in. Heels are like magic dust to me. A wand that can make so many normal outfits Out out ones.
And throw on one of these tops and you're laughing for sure. I would go so far as to say I'd even wear with jeans.
Starting with a plethora from Topshop as once I started I couldn't stop. Yes I did consider going in today to try some of these one - for all of about 5 seconds seeing as I had the three children with me. Topshop Oxford Circus. Can you imagine?
Now I know I said no bare arms as that would mean fake tan but since I've done my kettlercise DVD (four times in the last two weeks - check me out.) I may consider this (and no you can't see any difference in my arms but in my head, by November I will have triceps like Cindy Crawford. Bien sur.)
Sleeveless Drape top £32 fromTopshopSo no, when I say Out out, I mean basically leaving the house with make up on when you have a babysitter. When you drink the equivalent of a week's alcohol in four hours because you haven't got your children with you. Those nights.
What do you wear with them? Pretty much anything goes bar trackie bums (and to be fair, I'd wear them if they were pleather.) So let me amend that to anything you wouldn't actually sleep in. And that you would wear heels in. Heels are like magic dust to me. A wand that can make so many normal outfits Out out ones.
And throw on one of these tops and you're laughing for sure. I would go so far as to say I'd even wear with jeans.
Starting with a plethora from Topshop as once I started I couldn't stop. Yes I did consider going in today to try some of these one - for all of about 5 seconds seeing as I had the three children with me. Topshop Oxford Circus. Can you imagine?
Now I know I said no bare arms as that would mean fake tan but since I've done my kettlercise DVD (four times in the last two weeks - check me out.) I may consider this (and no you can't see any difference in my arms but in my head, by November I will have triceps like Cindy Crawford. Bien sur.)
Which they also do in a white £36 (still think the black pips this)
This again would hide a multitude of sins. The perfect eating and drinking top - like the ones above. Christmas Day with a pair of leather or pleather trousers?
They also do this in a red... (just add a Christmas hat? Tis the season to be jolly)
And a navy.... oh hello with denim. Boyfriend jeans and my navy satin shoe boots from last year.. or even black pleathers or leathers and the navy shoots.
Oversized silk blouse by Boutique £80 and DAMN this is sold out in my size. This is the perfect mince pie munching top that I Need. I would genuinely live in this. The buttons are undoable - personally it's ever so slightly too straight jacket for me done right up to the top but I guess for a certain minimalist look it could definitely work.
And the complete opposite - for me this is a "nil by mouth top". I love the idea of this with a full or A Line skirt. Culottes?
Surely this is the perfect compromise? Bling for the festive season but an easy to wear blouse that you could feasibly wear with jeans and ballet flat for Boxing Day.
But I did manage to look elsewhere and hey presto - it seems that a looser version of the pussy bow blouse is de rigueur this season.
Tie-neck blouse from Mango in offwhite £24.99 (and also available in black) But I have to say, I quite like this version in the off white - gorgeous with denim. This is an amazing price and handwash viscose, not even polyester.
(note - leather shorts have not made any wishlist of mine this year)
Another cream (well, ecru) blouse top thingy now and love the simplicity of this. I have some great navy cigarette trousers which would look fab with this with killer heels and huge earrings. Also would be great over pleather joggers...
Blucked (their word not mine..) flowy blouse from Mango £34.99
Speaking of things to team with peg leg trousers and whilst we're there, skirts too... (I have a new purchase to reveal, that's for later in the week. The Husband went on a mission for me. Genius shopping plan) this is another sort of top that would be perfect for them. For the record, I would not be wearing this over any sort of skinny bottom. Wannabe catsuit is not the look I've gone for in the past twenty years.
Eldred Slash Neck Slinky Knitted Tee £39 from Finery. And another 20% off discount code - PAYPAL20. Don't say I never give you anything..
This is a very similar version but called the Bedford with short sleeves £35 - also from Finery (price pre discount)
Now I have come across an abundance of really gorgeous silky shirts in a variety of shapes, colours, styles and budgets which would be absolutely ideal for those tricky work to night out scenarios that I remember well. So I've decided to keep those for a separate blog as I'm always being asked for work ideas - these will also double up for casual wear and nights out so definitely deserve their own space.
Finishing with outfit from yesterday in fact. Was a morning of rugby followed by a super long walk in our local park with the eldest and the youngest whilst the middle one and The Husband were at a rugby festival (and then a trip to M&S to pick up my massive order with 20% off that I had done - lots and lots of presents which I AM going to start wrapping later and a couple of gems for me that I haven't even had time to open yet. Last night tonight of the offer - OCT15EM. )
Champagne Off Duty Jumper - Boden
Porridge waxed high waisted skinnies - Boden
Fairisle ring scarf - Aubin & Wills
Fleece socks and boots - Ilse Jacobsen
Pom pom hat - Amelia Jane
So today - a wonderful day in London with the three children. We survived the first day of the hols... Will report back tomorrow. Clearly I am rewarding myself with a glass of wine and the Harry Potter 2nd movie (which was a much bigger success than the X Factor - probably due to the fact that I'd fallen asleep before he even got to Hogwarts)
Love the red top. xx
ReplyDeletewww.assessorise.com
It's a gorgeous shade isn't it?
DeleteLove, love those wellies/socks, I'm so very tempted to invest...are they the 3/4 length? Are they true to size?
ReplyDeleteYES! Mine are the medium length and yes, I think they're absolutely true to size. Best place to order them from is from the only Ilse Jacobsen shop in the UK which is in Tunbridge Wells - alas they don't have a website now but ring them and they will be the best people to advise you. +44 1892 537 241
DeleteThank you! x
DeleteThat first drape top from Topshop is gorgeous. I love it! Lorraine x
ReplyDeleteIt's gorgeous isn't it? I just couldn't face going in yesterday....
DeleteHa Ha - just realised the Mango blouse description is a misprint - d on't they mean buckled???
ReplyDeleteOMG that's so true! That is absolutely hilarious. Cretins! (mind you, I didn't even notice it...)
DeleteThose first ones and the embellished one from Topshop would look great with my new fake leather skirt (£49 from M&S and totally in love with it!)
ReplyDeleteOoh definitely x
DeleteWhat size did you go for in the Boden Off Duty jumper?
ReplyDeleteRight, my jumpers are from last year and mine are an XL. But I've heard that this year apparently they're more oversized? Having said that, if this was a tad bigger, I wouldn't have minded at all! I wanted mine super overszied - almost verging on poncho jumper BUT I am 5ft10. I love them and could happily have had them a tad bigger too!
DeleteI have got my massive new M&S navy jumper on as we speak - ACNE TASTIC!! For £36. Utter bargain. And NO my bloody capes haven't arrived yet. I have a Christmas jumper thread up my sleeve.. but with a difference.
ReplyDeleteI love some of your Topshop picks, particularly the sleeveless draped blouse and the 70s embellished blouse. I realised on my last night out out (love your definition including babysitter, makeup on and child free- so true) that I was lacking a dressy black top, one that can be worn with jeans and, once heels are added, makes it a perfect going out out outfit. Also love that deep red one- decisions, decisions....
ReplyDeleteThe red would look gorgeous on you! Plus I think everyone wears black so it is nice to have another colour - ooh maybe a bottle green silk.. (even though I shy away from that colour as it was my school uniform) but I think it would work in a silky fabric. Maybe that's another blog post - evening tops that aren't black?!
Deletehttp://www.marksandspencer.com/cowl-neck-boxy-ribbed-jumper-with-wool/p/p22433526
ReplyDeleteKat is this the jumper you got from M&S? You said it was £35 but this one seems similar but is £45.
YES it is - my mistake - it was £36 with the 20% off. DOH. To be fair, it doesn't look anything like that on me... they are SUCH gits putting it on the day after the 20% finishes. Plus I specifically asked them on Twitter when it was going to be online (I had the code) and they said the last weekend of Nov. Have I been sleeping in a time machine??!
DeleteThanks Kat. I'll just bite the bullet and order!! It looks fab on you! Don't think M&S too impressed withe at weekend, I was handing out the 20% vouchers to anyone in the queue who didn't have one. Made a few people smile!
ReplyDeleteI also got the mint one on Monday instore - had to go all the way to Oxford St to get it! (I was next door at lush so it wasn't too much of a hard ship....!) Had it on today on Insta - will post a link tomorrow x
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