When it's not quite summer...

... yet you want to wear Summer clothes as that's what the shops are full of and despite most of us having lived in the UK forever, we are still insistent that it should be SUMMER come May. 

Why do we do that?  Surely we can count on one hand the amount of glorious Mays we have had over the years?  At the very least it's a super mixed bag isn't it?

So when Marks and Spencer suggested that for this month's collaboration with them, I look at Summer clothes, I'm looking at it from my definition of Summer.  Summer in the UK that is - at this time of year when it *should* be glorious (despite history telling us otherwise - details schmetails eh?!) - basically not.  It's not quite warm enough to wear full on sandals, or summer dresses, or to leave your jacket at home (I can't do the Phil Collins joke again this year.  Once a Spring is enough).

But the best thing about these sorts of clothes is that in reality, you're going to be getting a lot more use out of them.  We're talking mix and match, we're talking dress up, dress down, I don't particularly like the term "practical" as I find it vaguely reminiscent of something cagoule related, but these are actually a practical set of clothes to wear in the UK version of Summer.  Which is essentially Spring.  With a couple of days of "Summer" thrown in to fox us (and where we all drag out those super Summery dresses that are usually reserved for a beach and 32 degrees somewhere we've had to travel by plane to).

However I have found some gems that you will be wearing all year.  "Proper" Summer clothes I like to call them.

And what do I love in my version of summer?  Am I all about the colour?  Am I heck as like.  Give me all the monochrome.   And I have stocked up with some complete gems. 

Starting with my one of my two favourites.  These are amazing.  They are a complete steal and I am tempted to buy two pairs as I know I will be wearing these into the Winter months.  They also go perfectly with my loafers which I was having a crisis about what to wear with them.  

Kick Flare Cropped Trousers £29.50 I took my usual size.




From black to white.   Not so keepn to venture down the more fitted white route, so imagine my joy (I would like to say that I didn't actually whoop, but I did actually whoop) when I found these wide leg cropped trousers.  I have lived in my black ones and I have navy (also from M&S actually) last year, so these were a total no brainer.  I've just realised that I had also randomly tried them on before but for some reason, they look completely different when I styled them with different shoes and a more casual top...  I've gone from a no to a yes.  I also said size up in them last time.  Well, I obviously picked up a bigger version as they were perfect.  Random.  Randomly good though. 

Button Detail Wide Leg Trousers £35 In the end I went with a 10, although I guess I would prefer an 11....




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Alternatively, you can dress them up... as you can see I've thrown all the colour at it (i.e. some yellow shoes...).

With the navy top... this is a 10 and I would say is adequate in sizing, if not on the large side.  Actually it is on the large side.

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And the shoes which are simply gorgeous but come up huge!  Size down. 




Staying with white.. well, off white, with yet another skirt which you can expect to see on repeat over the Summer from me. 

Buckle Detail Handkerchief Skirt £49.50




With the matching jacket that I did have on the last blog but it was OOS.  It's back in.  Together I adore this look.  Were I to have an event to wear it to...

Double Breasted Patch Pocket Jacket £59




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But fear not, the skirt can just as easily be dressed down.  Or dressed up to suit me.  This skirt - I cannot describe how much I adore it. 

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A quick mention of a top I've found that would be a perfect alternative to the (non M&S!) top I'm wearing in the above pic. 

Pure Cotton Ruffle Trim Round Neck Tee - £12.50 in navy



Staying with dressed down and skirts and all things monochrome...

Tier Striped A-Line Maxi Skirt from M&S £35



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And the rather amazing black tee that I have on in both those above pics (and below with the trousers).  This is the only black tee you'll need this season.  Buy two.  Double layer edge, loose but not voluminous, drapey and the perfect V Neck. 

Lace Neckline Short Sleeved Tee £15



Speaking of maxi - not a skirt but maxi length trousers.  Neutral, wide legged, dress up, dress down, what's not to love?  Three different leg lengths *punches air*.

I just swapped the skirt above for the trousers.  

Pleated Wide Leg Trousers from Autograph £45





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And how to dress them down.  They'd look amazing with trainers. 



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However I did venture into the colour arena.  I say "venture"...  and it sure is full on colour. 


I need to be brave enough to wear them.  I think with a black breton top and black blazer, these would look epic.  White tee and trench coat.  Or just how they're styled here.  Night out with black pointed stilettos and a black pussy bow blouse.  

Cropped Wide Leg Trousers in red £45  They also do these in a fuchsia. 





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Finishing with the yellow.  You may have seen this dress an abundance of times on Instagram (or even in real life).  Yes it looks perfect with a boho style sandal but for the rest of the year?  Yellow and black.  Perfect. 

Tiered Long Sleeve Midi Dress £49.50  And I will come back to the sandals.  I must come back to the sandals before they all sell out.  That's the problem with the weather in this country - by the time the heat does pitch up, the shops are full of Autumnal fare.  I need to get onto the sandal train.  Watch this space.




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But finishing where I started with the black kick flare trousers.  Perfection.  And they've given a new lease of life to the red loafers (not a bad photo for an 8yr old, is it?!).

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Blondie tee - Hollister
Camel blazer - Stella McCartney
Black kick flare trousers - M&S
Red loafers - Gucci
Black Tools Bag - Balenciaga

So this really is what Summer is all about isn't it?  Dressing for Spring.  Or Autumn.  Clothes that you at least get lots of wear out of.  Colourwise - if you had to do one colour to inject some Summery vibes into your wardrobe, what would it be?  I have to say, I'm going to give the yellow a go.  But I am loving the red.  However there's always pink... hmmm talk me through your choices.

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CONVERSATION

18 comentarios:

  1. I bought those red trousers - they were absolutely massive (I am a 10/12 and even the 10 drooped sadly at the waist) and had to go back. They are so, so nice though. I imagined them with a striped t-shirt, white Stan Smiths and a denim jacket.

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    1. The red ones are gorgeous aren't they? Although I'm in a 12 here.. !! Didn't think they were as big as the white ones which were HUGE!

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  2. Love the white skirt on you, in fact the whole lot looks great.
    This just goes to show white can be done without looking like a milkmaid/ Laura Ingalls! It's also great to see you in M&S clothing, it looks totally different on you than on the model. I always think their trouser photos make the trousers look frumpy, which is a real shame.
    So the take home message for me, is if I want to go white, go tailored/ minimalist. I do have a pair of off white trousers, plenty of outfit inspiration here.

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    1. Their trousers really can be fabulous. And yes, I think for me - this is the white look that works. It's all about finding a look that works for you!

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  3. Love the sandals! And the navy top...although I have enough volume of my own up top to get away with those layered sleeves. Have you got anything on 'out out' dresses coming up? Got a ball to go to this summer back in the UK...I don't know anyone who is going and can't work out what to wear! Aargh...

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    1. I will have another look at out out dresses!

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    2. Yay! Thank you so much...can't find anything quite right here and have spent a fair few wasted evenings trawling through websites!

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    3. Lucky you! Haven't been to a ball for years, about 25 to be precise, I had two within a few months of each other. My lovely mum altered a vintage Laura Ashley with boned bodice so it fit like a glove (lots of swearing and many adjustments were required).

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  4. Cat - did you take long or short in kick flares? Would love a pair. am 5 foot 10.

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    1. No I didn't - I've just checked! I took the regular.... DOH!!!

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  5. You actually make me want to buy things from M&S...you style them so much better than they do Kat (although it's very dangerous for my bank account!)

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    1. Honestly, the value for money is amazing. I am in LOVE with their white skirts!!

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  6. Hi K. Is the white Jackets a proper white and what size are you wearing? xd

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    1. It's definitely an off white as opposed to a white white and I have the 10 on here. Definitely generous with regards to the jacket sizing.

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  7. Fab! I bought the red culottes a few months ago and have worn them with a breton and with black for evening, really comfy and get looks (people probably going oh my how loud ;-)) and they hang and wash perfectly. Plus they have POCKETS!! So I then found the white ones a few weeks ago and they are amazing too and are going to be my replacement white trousers for this summer. They even worked with a logo sweatshirt. I'd given up on M&S until I found your blog end of last year Kat, but all these treasures are to be found. I hope they pay you commission! Thank you for the continual top tips xx ps still pining for a white dress but think it's actually for swanning around in my make-believe world ha ha

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    1. Oh you're so welcome! They have THE most amazing building blocks for a wardrobe I think and quality wise are superb for the money. AND (old lady alert) they all wash really well (that's such a mum comment, isn't i?!)

      I've totally kaiboshed the idea of a white dress!

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  8. Hi Kat

    I absolutely love your necklace with the 3 hoops. Can I ask where it's from?

    Anna

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