Archive for July 2018

Home Archive for July 2018

One, two, buckle my...

...BOOT. Not shoe. Yes folks, it's been pouring with rain here so I am on a boot mission.

I know this sounds all sounds of random but these really are a year round obsession for me. They are the perfect addition to a Summer dress for those cooler (or rainy) days. I will also say a biker is the perfect addition as well but I'm easing you away from the onslaught of Summery clothing one item at a time.

So it's ankle boots that are my favourite versions with the addition of a bit of bling. Yes I have this thing with buckles.

These are tried and tested - they've been around for years and show no signs of going anywhere. If anything, they're even more popular. Seriously, any sort of boot goes these days - throw in a little Western vibe or even a bit of Victoriana won't go amiss these days.

You can choose to invest in these with some designer originals or there are some amazing high street versions that are easily as good.

Starting with a pair that I bought 4yrs ago that are still going strong. I have never regretted buying them and am so looking forward to getting them out again as soon as I get home! There has to be benefit to the end of a Summer holiday.

Buckle leather ankle boot from Toga £326

EYE wateringly expensive now but I love looking at the top end to get inspiration.

Crocodile-effect faux leather boots from Stella McCartney £935

15% off at The Outnet with the code HAPPYSHOPPING

THESE. Oh my lord I love these. Like L.O.V.E...

Buckle textured-leather ankle boots from Chloe from The Outnet was £1060 now £530 (with an extra 15% off... every little helps)

Then there are the classic Chloe Susannas.

In black... £850

Susanna Suede Ankle Boots £790

So heading to the high street now and Kurt Geiger have some great options.

Far more palatable for the purse - Tiger at Miss KG £119

In red at ASOS.

Truffle Collection was £56 now £26

A bit less Rhinestone Cowboy than the Togas.

Denny Black Croc Print Ankle Boots from Kurt Geiger London £169

Kitten Heel versions at Karen Millen (not super purse friendly but if you love them...). These are a tribute to the Tabitha Simmons boots that are all sorts of awesome and I can concur do go with everything.

Kitten Heel Boots £245

A nod to the Givenchy originals this year at Carvela.

Scant Black Flat Ankle Boots from Carvela £189

Variation on the theme at Topshop - Ankle Boots £89

Full on Western Vibe at Topshop in black...

Axe Pointed Western Boots £89

Although I do prefer them in the tan £89

Admittedly not everything on the high street is very purse friendly but THESE are top of my wishlist at the minute.

I appreciate we are talking minor buckle action here but a buckle is a buckle.

AllSaints Lucie Boot £228

Similar at Office... as in similar meaning IDENTICAL!

Office Ambassador Lace up ankle boots £95

Or in the chestnut again £95

Ambassador Lace Up Boots in Snake £105

In off white leather again at Office £95

There are though some amazing.. AMAZING reductions at AllSaints.

Jason Heel Boot was £248 now £79.20

And whilst I didn't need these today, the husband has had to go back to London for a meeting and so I've asked him to pick up my Chloe boots and a biker. Just in case...

Although absolutely not needed today At All. Glorious weather (after a very stormy start - seriously thunder, lightening, the works. And there I was, all set for an early run after I managed 3.5km yesterday but alas, even I wasn't going out in that!) was the order of the afternoon spent on the beach.

Dress - Debenhams (sale ss17)
Shoes - Apiedi (gift ss17)
Hat - La Redoute (from paid partnership current)
Bag - Rae Feather (gift current)
Sunglasses - Chloe from Very Exclusive (ss17)

Tomorrow the weather looks to be amazing again. Hitting the beach all day, have ambitiously bought a couple of magazines....

Now I've done the sneak preview of AW, I have to say it's ALL I can think of!! The dresses, the coats, the shoes.. oooooooooh the shooooooooos. And the bags. Bags - now there's something that we can use all year round. Leave that with me.

Getting a head start

... get checked.

Ok so that doesn't even make sense but this is a GOOD idea.

I know it's woeful and we've had the sum total of just three days of vaguely dodgy (and when I say that - I mean "typical British Summer weather") but it has sent me full kilter into thinking about Autumn clothing.

Except that instead of my usual trick of stocking up on coats and cashmere, I'm thinking about far more functional things we can wear as transitional clothing. Things that we CAN wear now with a tee and sandals but also into the Autumn. Actually I would have LOVED to be wearing this now but I rather foolishly listened to the weather forecast and confused the Suffolk coastline with a Greek island and have mostly a plethora of skimpy sun dresses with me.

However the weather is due to improve (WHOOP) but I am still stocking up on these as a wardrobe staple for both the Summer and the Autumn.

Check. Mate. (had to get it in there.. sorry!)

Ganni Charron Tartan Cotton Blend Skirt from Matches £150

A much more purse friendly version from ASOS. This I absolutely love - dare I say, prefer it to the Ganni above? NAVY! And yellow. What's not to love? I've ordered..

ASOS DESIGN Yellow Check Pleated Midi Skirt £35

Check again in the sale from Weekday.

Weekday Ruffle Skirt was £40 now £28

This I also have waiting for me when I get back..

Gingham Track Skirt from ME+Em £159 If you sign up for their email you can get 15% off your next order.

Tops are perfect for this time of year. Throw on with jeans or shorts. Obviously ideal for heading into the Autumn. These also double up as perfect Out Out tops. Skinnies or boyfriend jeans and heels or statement flats and you're good to go.

A top which matches the Me+Em skirt - they look amazing together.

Gingham Check Pleat Blouse from ME+Em £149

ASOS Check Smock Top with Ruffle Detail was £28 now £16.50

Another bargain at ASOS.

Fashion Union Shirt with Ruffle Layer was £32 now £12.50

Or the Tall version which is now reduced to £9.50

Check Shirt Dress from Mango was £39.99 now £15.99

Dresses which are super versatile - which I'd obviously say seeing as I am the biggest dress aficionado there is. So easy to wear and so little to think about it. One dress. One pair of shoes. Done. Sleeves a good idea (she says staring hopefully at her sleeve free options she's packed!)

Soft Checked Shirt Dress from Warehouse £52

But THIS has my name all over it.

Gingham Check Dress from Uterque £150

Moving onto co-ords now and this is perfect to wear together as a suit with a slogan tee or separately. Love the trousers with a fitted jumper and biker, the jacket with a tee, jeans and heels is the perfect slightly dressed up dressed down outfit (we all know we need one of them).

ASOS DESIGN tailored mensy wide leg trousers £38

And the matching Blazer.. £55

And finishing with an investment blazer. So perfect for so so many occasions.

Joseph Grimaud Prince of Wales Check Jacket was £595 now £297

I did bring one outfit with me that has sleeves (seriously, the only thing I bought that has sleeves!). Stripes not checks.. my new co-ord set from my M&S blog from the other day.

Culottes and top - M&S (part of paid partnership current)
Sandals - Forever 21 (5yrs ago)
Bag - Hill & Friends (gift ss18)
Sunglasses - Chloe from Very Exclusive (ss17)

I've also put done another Insta TV - Part 2 of my journey as a parent of a child with ADHD and Aspergers. All about how we got the diagnosis, medication and how we've navigated primary school.

I will be back tomorrow with another transitional favourite.. take a guess....It's a perennial favourite of mine!

Normal weather alert

As in - maybe a jacket required? As in - RAIN!

Ok so obviously this is the second day of our UK holidays.. by the sea.. where 30 degrees is perfectly feasible seeing as there's a lovely breeze on the beach. When it's 18 degrees, the breeze is less lovely and more goose bump inducing. Did I mention the sideways rain? AND whilst we usually take refuge in the cinema (big shout out to the Aldeburgh Cinema which is probably my favourite cinema ever) but this week, they're showing Mamma Mia 2. Shoot. Me. Now. Admittedly I may love it, but seeing as I haven't, in ten years, seen the first Mamma Mia as I'd rather poke forks in my eyes than watch Pierce Brosnan murder Abba classics....

SO the kids are snuggled up with a movie and I'm having a small peruse of what's new in.

Is there anything better than when the New Season stock starts to filter through? Well, I'm sure there is, but right now, this is heaven for me (I have a glass of wine.. could it be better?) and I'm planning for Autumn BUT with something you can wear now.

We're talking skirts. Skirts that can be worn now with vest tops when it's super scorchio, throw on a tee when the temperature drops a couple of notches and silk blouses and jumpers are your friend come much cooler days. They work with blazers, with denim jackets, with bikers or with trenches.

And it turns out, the easiest way to totally update your wardrobe is to be asymmetric. These will work perfectly with all the existing tees, jumpers and jackets that you own. An IMMEDIATE injection of new season now and you'll happily be wearing these into September and beyond. Winner, winner, asymmetric skirt dinner (I may be onto my second glass of wine... I am on holiday after all. AND it's raining....).

Shoe wise - well - the footwear world is your oyster. Sandals, slides, trainers or boots.

I'm going all lengths (well - I'm not going too short as frankly anything above the knee these days includes a flash of foliage which I'm not sure anyone needs) so hopefully there will be something for everyone. I say that - actually asymmetric is usually midaxi, but some are shorter than others.

First up - CHECKS! I'm going to do a whole blog on check, maybe tomorrow, maybe this week as I am having a total table cloth obsession.

In the meantime - check out (sorry...!) this baby from Topshop.

Mixed Check Print Midi Skirt from Topshop £39

A crop top is optional...!

Multi Stripe Asymmetric Skirt from Topshop £36

And it seems like yes, this is THE length to watch this season.

Rainbow Stripe Midi Skirt from Topshop £36

Spots at M&S.

Spotted Asymmetric Midi Skirt £35

More spots in the sale at Topshop.

Spot & Striped Ruffle Midi Skirt was £42 now £20

LOVE this from ASOS in the sale.

Rahi Cali Bluebell Skirt was £130 now £58.50

Floral at Studio by Preen at Debenhams was £65 now £45.50

Star print at ASOS DESIGN for £32

Another amazing option which would look heavenly with an oversized red jumper.

In Wear Piritta Skirt was £75 now £50

Stripe again at Studio by Preen at Debenhams was £55 now £16.50

Rainbow heaven for less than half price at ASOS.

House of Holland Asymmetric Rainbow Skirt was £250 now £100

I could genuinely wear every single one of them. Yet here I am, on hols, having foolishly listened to the weather forecast, which means I have a WHOLE suitcase - for two weeks - of super summery clothes, sandals and just TWO denim jackets. I kid you not. WHAT THE CHUFF WAS I THINKING??

So I was marauding around in the sandals. Splashing in all the puddles. I'll give it two days and I may have to rethink...!

Dress - Ridley London (gift ss17)
Bag - Village England (gift 3yrs ago)
Sandals - Becks Sondergaard (ss17)
Denim Jacket - La Redoute (part of paid partnership ss18)

And finally we have arrived at holiday "everyone is happy" time. Yes it may be raining which meant we all hunkered down, doing whatever we wanted today. BLISS. Ipads, movies, lighting fires (in the official - not just Lord of the Flies style all over the house or garden - fireplace) and holiday mojo was reached.

A tripe to Snape Maltings this avo, followed by dinner at Prezzo in Aldeburgh (which is HIGHLY recommended... the one local to us is utterly pants but the one here we've been coming to for years, it's genuinely like a really good Italian trattoria).

To be fair, maybe it's the rain that has been a welcome break but now, all I can say is BRING ON THE HOLS (and can we please bring back the sunshine now?!).

I've come over all Russell Crowe...

...as in Gladiator. Not going to lie - when I say in my head, Gladiator, it actually comes out as GLADIATORS.... READY... in a Scottish accent, courtesy of the, with hindsight, horrendous (although didn't we all watch it?) programme from the 90s.

However I digress - it's Russell we're after today as he wore WAY better footwear.

Yes, it's my beloved gladiator sandals that I'm a crushing on. Seeing as the sunshine shows no signs of abating (bar a minor blip - although I do seem to have swerved all massive downpours), we can definitely squeeze in another pair of shoes for the next couple of months.

Plus, they're a perennial classic which you will have in your wardrobe for years and years.

And I'm looking at flats as they really are the most versatile (with a tiny heel thrown in for good measure).

Starting with a variation on the theme - chucking in a flower addition.

Flower Toe Loop Sandals from Topshop £42

And in black.. again £42

Back to a classic. I LOVE these.

Rope Sandals £22 from Topshop

And in black...

Classic Tan for a bargain price in the sale.

Raina Tan Flat Sandals by Miss KG were £49 now £19

Or if you'd prefer a black pair... again now only £19

A pair of white sandals is actually much more useful than you would think... they literally do go with everything.

Banker White Flat Sandals were £69 now £34

Slightly more utilitarian looking now - these look like you could actually do some gladiatoring in them...

Malin Khaki Studded Gladiator Sandals from Kurt Geiger were £119 now £39

Finishing with my favourite flat sandals though from Carvela.

Marci Tan Flat Lace Up Sandals were £99 now £39

Which are as awesome in black... again £39

But maybe best in white. LOVE these.

And for those who love a little heel... I know there are some who can't wear a flat flat heel at all.

Fable Strappy Sandals from Topshop £46

And in green, again £46

And here I am in mine. Which are ancient. Like verging on originally Roman. Well.. in fashion terms anyway! They were £15 from Forever 21 about five years ago and I absolutely love them. They owe me nothing but they still do exactly what they say on the tin so I carry on wearing them.

Dress - M&S (see blog here - part of paid partnership current)
Bag - Rae Feather (gift current)
Sandals - Forever 21 (5yrs ago)

And now.. in Aldeburgh! WHOOOP. This was me last night, giddy at arriving with high hope of an amazing two weeks ahead of us.

Dress - Zara (sale 3yrs ago)
Bag - Skyn Iceland from Gift Pop Boutique (gift current)
Sandals - Forever 21 (5yrs ago)
Hat - La Redoute (part of paid partnership)

This was me today - broken with the realisation that the first two days of holiday are utterly miserable. Doesn't help that I'm married to Victor Meldrew who acts like the children are some sort of hideous species from another planet and it's clearly my fault that we've reared such vile creatures. It takes a couple of days and he's then THE best Dad and husband on the planet....

Tis definitely my fault that I have Disney level expectations, forgetting that we have a child with special needs which means our holidays always come with a totally different level of "challenge" and throw a hormonal teenager into the mix and it's essentially a disaster movie.

Dress - Boohoo (ss17)
Bag - Skyn Iceland from Gift Pop Boutique (gift current)
Sandals - Forever 21 (5yrs ago)

BUT give us a couple of days and everything calms down... well, I hope it does otherwise I will be a bona fide alcoholic come the 10th August!

However the sun is shining, we are staying in an amazing house and I have no meetings for two weeks. AND I have loads of blogs on the horizon - hiding in my room for an hour whilst the children take control of the tv is my little holiday haven!

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activewear ( 1 )
ankle boots ( 51 )
aviator ( 1 )
backpack ( 2 )
beauty ( 40 )
belt ( 5 )
biker ( 15 )
black ( 23 )
blazer ( 48 )
blouse ( 83 )
blue ( 1 )
boho ( 2 )
bomber ( 2 )
boots ( 22 )
breton ( 5 )
broderie ( 1 )
burgundy ( 2 )
camel ( 5 )
camouflage ( 2 )
cardigan ( 11 )
cashmere ( 9 )
check ( 7 )
Chelsea boots ( 1 )
classic ( 4 )
clutch ( 8 )
coat ( 58 )
cowboy boots ( 2 )
cream ( 1 )
cropped ( 16 )
cropped top ( 1 )
cul ( 1 )
culottes ( 14 )
denim ( 2 )
denim jacket ( 4 )
dress ( 156 )
dungarees ( 4 )
earrings ( 1 )
faux fur ( 1 )
flatforms ( 1 )
flats ( 20 )
flats. ( 1 )
floral ( 5 )
gifts ( 1 )
gilet ( 4 )
gloves ( 2 )
green ( 5 )
grey ( 1 )
handbag ( 38 )
harem pants ( 3 )
hat ( 6 )
heels ( 13 )
hoodie ( 2 )
jacket ( 47 )
jeans ( 47 )
jewellery ( 17 )
joggers ( 14 )
jumper ( 94 )
jumpsuit ( 19 )
kaftan ( 1 )
khaki ( 1 )
kids ( 1 )
kimono ( 1 )
knitwear ( 41 )
lace ( 3 )
leather ( 22 )
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leopard ( 24 )
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midi ( 63 )
mini ( 11 )
monday must have ( 16 )
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sandals ( 41 )
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skirt ( 84 )
sleeveless ( 1 )
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One, two, buckle my...

Getting a head start

Normal weather alert

I've come over all Russell Crowe...