Taking a sequin free breath.

Just for today.  I have so much more to explore on the party outfit front but a bling free day is on the cards.  I may have got to the point where I can't see the wood for sequins and need a day to gather to my thoughts, take a breath and I can come back to it tomorrow.

It's a subject I've attempted to cover numerous times and have always fallen at the last hurdle.  I'm banging on about culottes again.  Or wide legged trousers.  Of the cropped variety.  I've tried and tried them and they've always looked... well just sort of meh.  I've never quite mastered what to wear with them.  And more importantly, I've never mastered the length. 

Until now.  Move over skinny trousers - there's a new competitor in town.  Although I do fear these won't work for everyone as the main issue I've had problems is that I'm 5ft10.  And most people that they make trousers for - aren't.  So clearly they've normally too short on me.  Now I've assumed that culottes are a shorter version and wide leg cropped are just that - shorter trousers as opposed to a longer skirt that's in two pieces as opposed to one (which would be culottes).  Am I right?  Who the heck knows.  There doesn't seem to be a clear fashion definition of these - to cut a long story short, some suit some people and some suit others. 

And I've never found that work for me.  Or have I....?? 

YES.

Renee Wide Leg Crepe Trousers from Whistles £95

Actually there's a, dare I say it, slightly better pic at ASOS.  



And here am I in them (bunching up a jumper dress round my waist.  All the flattering this is not).  But I still think they work.  I LOVE them in fact.  


However I'm still not sure if they're a tad too wide in the leg and maybe these would be better from Me+Em which I have toyed with for ages.  Made all the more attractive with a 15% off voucher that I've got...HRDJ3. 

So do I want full on wide or the slightly narrower (but still wide!) cropped versions?  One in black and one in navy maybe?

Wide Leg Crop Trousers from Me+Em £98



And in the navy again £98 pre discount.  (I have the matching blazer for this and I think with a print longish tee and sneakers this could make quite a cool retro suit look...for the Spring for sure.)



A similar wider pair in black at Mango but I don't think they'd be long enough for my ridiculous length legs. 

Cropped Palazzo Trousers £49.99 from Mango




Also love them in the camel shade. 




Back to black - just to prove that these can also work for evening... These are new in from M&S.  

Jet Pocket Culottes from M&S £45



Another evening pair at ASOS. 

ASOS High Waisted Satin Culottes with button detail £32




Other colours other than black although these are apparently black.  To me, they look grey.

Jaspe Trousers £49.99 from Mango




So for me - it's definitely a toss up between the Whistles ones and the Me+Em ones.  I really think they would make a great difference in my wardrobe and with my trainer obsession verging on out of hand, I will get great wear out of them.  I also think they'd actually work with ankle boots that are close cut to the leg - my Togas for example which I had on for the first time in ages yesterday - reminding me what a fab buy they were last year. 

With a bargain H&M jumper that I lived in last season and will do so again this Winter.  And not forgetting the New Look coated jeans.  Best £24.99 I have spent this year. (apart from the £22.99 that I bought the Tall ones for)




Fairisle oversized jumper - H&M
Coated high waisted skinny jeans - New Look (yes I am living in these)
Black buckle boots - Toga
Grey wrist warmers - Black
Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang

Speaking of bargains at H&M, I have success to report.... Oh yes.  Will be reporting back tomorrow on what I found but suffice to say, they don't have the top I LOVE online anymore - head over to Instagram (@doesmybumlook40) to see what I bought if you can't wait till tomorrow and if you happen to be heading to an H&M and can nab one instore.

Am hoping that tonight, the poor 7yr old who has caught the 9yr old's cough and is waking me up on the hour with his hacking (it was so bad last night I was forced to shop online at 4.40am) manages a better night's sleep.  As then, so will I.  And I won't be forced to wander online armed with my Visa...... For the record, Vicks on the feet doesn't work.  It just makes the puppy sneeze and gag when she goes near him.