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.  

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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




And now we have a variety of fabrics - faux suede at M&S. 

We wonder why we find what to call these confusing.  These are apparently culottes.  Which I had always thought to be shorter (as I said), yet these are longer in length.  Ankle grazers if you ask me, which makes them cropped trousers.  God I'm boring myself with trying to work out the semantics.  And who cares?  These are a sale bargain if you're looking for a pair that you can rock the 70s vibe in.  Or just make it a mere nod to the era and add a black polo neck, knee high boots and a long cardigan and you're off. 




Clearly I have developed a (possibly unhealthy..) addiction to leather and pleather.  In my experience, nothing is quite as shiny in the flesh as it looks on an ASOS photo.




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)


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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.

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CONVERSATION

24 comentarios:

  1. I've got similar ones to the Me&Em in black and navy. The longer, tailored ones seemed to work better for me. Gosh they're hard to get right aren't they x

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    1. Completely ! Because everyone is a different height and depending on your style - what shoes you normally wear, lifestyle etc etc, I think these are the most subjective fashion item out there at the mo! (well of course they're not but they're one of them....)

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  2. I bought the whistles ones in the summer and they're great! I've been wearing with with Stan smiths, and love the look. Just trying to work out how I might wear them in the winter when my ankles can't take the cold anymore.....possibly knee boots and a polo neck? Need a trying on session to see what works! Looking forward to seeing what you do with the style!

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    1. I reckon knee boots although the only ones I've got are quite 70s stylee with a chunky heel which I think will look pap. Maybe no... OOOH actually I have my Acne Cypress ankle boots so you'll see a smidge of flesh but not too much. I may have to crack out the knee high pop socks (all the glamour..!!)

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  3. I have black pleather ones, black crepe ones, camel suede ones, dark denim ones, light denim ones & white leather ones....but I don't have those longer length Whistles ones....YET!!

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    1. OMG You are the mutha of culottes!!!! Much respect. What's your favourite footwear with them?

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    2. In the summer I prefer to rock a daytime black Birk', or silver or white (can u see I am able to fully commit to a trend?!). Black pleather ones look gorge with a whistles suede black stiletto. white leather & denim ones look best with my Sweedish Hasbeens (in black, tan or red!). OMFG when I write it all out like that I have shamed myself! I need a hobby other than shopping, clearly!

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    3. Oh I think I love you! are you me?! I am on it like a rocket. I have the Zara Givenchy style birks which would look fabulous with them in the Summer. And I can't get enough of the sneakers for now.... I reckon with block heel ankle boots they'll look ace (handily I have a pair in mind....) I also have peep toe lace up heels that would work too I reckon...I'll start with one pair and see how I go!

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    4. Ha! When I came across ur blog I thought...Home Counties mummy, rugby, fashion....have i started blogging in my sleep?!! Enjoy your culottes journey! x

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  4. I love culottes! They just seem to up the cool factor in an outfit! For winter, I've already bought 2 black wool ones (one shorter, one longer) from COS. They do great ones. Highly recommend you check COS out before buying (although the Whistles one also looks fab on you!)

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    1. This is a great point. I will indeed check Cos out. Off to London next week so will have a look then. Thank you xx

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  5. I can't choose - I love them all. And all the sequined trousers from yesterday! Lorraine x

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    1. I am in new trouser heaven too, it does have to be said!

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  6. Love the blog and love our look from yesterday, am trying to find the wristwarmers, but when I google Black I just get Blacks the camping shop ... help!

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    1. AHA! IT's here www.black.co.uk Hope that helps x

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  7. They sound gorgeous - I would be wearing them every day! With a long chunky cardigan and sneakers... I need a pair so so so badly now! I think I could probably go more than one pair. The pleat down the front does make them different. They're not big on me (they are REALLY tight on the waist and they're a size 12!!) But yes they're definitely oversized and floaty as opposed to a neater line. But I've got the new cigarette crop trousers in navy from Me+Em which I think tick the smarter, minimalist look. Maybe I should order them to try.......

    And yes, beyond pleased with my H&M haul at less than £75 for everything!

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  8. For the cough, try Piriton. As the mother of a baby who had whooping cough and who now fights The Cough multiple times every single winter, it's the only thing that helps as it works by relaxing the cough reflex. Toosh x

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    1. Spookily this is the second time today i've been recommended this so thank you thank you thank you thank you - I have a vat of that I'll give to him tonight (recommended dose only obviously....!) I was looking for drowsy cough med tonight and you can't bloody buy it anymore!! A lovely lady recommended Piriton instead. DONE! Thanks darling xxx

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  9. Have you tried a humidifier for the cough? Argos sell the wondrous Vicks one which has reduced night waking significantly with my anklebiters

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    1. If the Piriton doesn't work, I'm off to buy one of these tomorrow. Thank you so so so much xxxx

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  10. The pain of a coughing child!!! I have had 3 with croup, so we are pros at this thing now...I agree Vicks on the feet definitely doesn't work...Piriton is great for opening the airways and helping them to sleep BUT THE MAGIC is in being able to prevent the cough reflex and we use anisthetic throat spray! It is amazing - can't even begin to tell you...but I might need to take a wee look at age on it (I see these age limits as a rough guide most times!) At the same time I put Olbas Oil drops on their pillows after thay have gone to sleep (they are not at all keen on the smell!) Good luck tonight... PS Just checked and the Difflam Throat Spray is permitted for kids even under 6 yrs old! Bit like the effect of having sucked a packet of strong throat lozenges in a nanosecond. xx

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    1. He has downed the Piriton and so far so good... off to buy it in bulk tomorrow along with the throat spray. THanK YOU ALL!! xx

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  11. Hi, I picked up a pair of culottes in the Debenhams sale in the summer, only paid £18 for them by BettyJackson Black. Have worn them twice to black tie dinner functions with different tops and a pair of nude Jimmy Choos (Abel). I have long legs and they come just under the calf muscle and I love them! Not too sure for day wear for me, but may try with my long flat boots and a big chunky knit! Happy shopping!x

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    1. Oh wow, they sound amazing! I have to say I don't often look at Debenhams but I should give them more consideration for sure. thanks for the reminder xx

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