Yes I'm on a knitwear roll.
It was a toss up between this and something beauty related (I promise I will bring you that next week - I was wondering why my skin looked so bereft of colour and that I was looking more corpse than human and I remembered what I usually use at this time of year. So I've gone and re-bought it and am going to give it a go this week to see if it's as fabulous and as miraculous as I remember. Watch this space next Monday).
In the meantime though, I am bringing you another oldie but goodie.
I will confess that I have mentioned this many a time. But I'm not sure I've give you the full on talkie experience - as seen over on Insta stories.
And they (as I do have in two colours) are SO fabulous and I have genuinely never found another one as good despite being gifted many very similar that are much, much more expensive - these are KNITWEAR GOLD.
May I present the extra fine merino crew neck jumpers from Uniqlo. We are talking the perfect basic jumper.
We're not reinventing the wheel by any stretch of the imagination. It's back to basics.
My favourite plain crew neck jumper. WHICH they also do in a v neck - exactly the same shape but with a different neckline, ditto a roll neck.
I have mentioned them numerous times over the years, as the ones I bought, must be four years old now. I have black and navy - I layer them over shirts, I wear them with jeans, trousers and skirts. They wash like a complete dream and are the same texture and shape as the day I bought them.
The difference is though.. these are the men's ones. The women's ones aren't the same (in my humble opinion...). They have a different hem - this one is slightly gathered - actually it's the same shape as a perfect sweatshirt. Hides a multitude of sins round the middle whilst not being shapeless.
They obviously know they're onto a good thing, as they do the same ones every single year. And they nearly always sell out.
I take the small which I would say is a large 10 or a small 12 and there is also an XS and an XXS and medium, large, XL and XXL.
Men Extra Fine Merino Wool Crew Neck Jumper from Uniqlo £29.90
And in the navy.... again £29.90
The other colour I have to say I am rather partial to (again, I am not reinventing the wheel here at all) is this blue shade.. charmingly entitled.. "blue". Perfect.
V necks now in 13 colours but another sneak peek at my favourite blue - £29.90
In 8 colours in the roll neck but my choice would be (after black and navy), the off white = £29.90.
And then, if you've seen my Instastories (so you can see the jumper "in the flesh"), you'll know I've done a double bubble this Monday.
Only as this skirt arrived today and I love it so much, I just have to share.. all pics over on Instastories, I will definitely be wearing this week.
This is superb. It's very swishy, there's a lot of fabric, I sized up to a 12, so it falls slightly longer on me and I don't like something sitting on my waist (this one rests on my hips). I am always being asked for more reasonable versions of the La DoubleJ skirts and this is the best that I've found so far. I would say true to size.
ASOS White Stripe and Spot Full Maxi Skirt £95
As I said - for talkies of each, head over to Insta stories but here is the jumper as I wore it today. And I'm so sorry but before anyone asks, the skirt is from Zara - it must be 7 years ago now.
Jumper - Uniqlo (4yrs old but still in stock)
Skirt - Zara (7yrs old)
Jacket - Jigsaw (gift aw17)
Earrings - Aldo (ss17)
Susanna boots - Chloe from Matches (ss16)
Puzzle bag - Loewe from Matches (current season)
I have a couple of great additions to your wardrobe in the next couple of days. Easy accessories, new in knitwear gems and one elusive item that I can't quite master. Not to mention the most random bag of the season.
In the meantime - hope everyone loves the bargain jumper! Don't forget you can see both the jumper and the skirt "in action" (you will see what I mean when you see it!) over on Instastories on Instagram.
Oversized but definitely not overrated.
These are the jumpers that you need for the upcoming holidays. For days on long walks in the crisp, winter air to a lovely country pub... or perfect for lying on the sofa hoovering Quality Street. Your choice.
The ultimate in dress down luxury if there is such a thing and there IS such a thing - it's the perfect slouchy, cosy, chunky jumper.
First up we're easing you in gently with the plain ones. In my dreams, I have visions of swanning through the park in leather leggings, a divine oatmeal jumper, cashmere leopard accessories, holding hands with my lovely husband whilst my three gloriously behaved children skip ahead of me singing Christmas Carols as we meander along in a winter wonderland of snow tipped loveliness.
The reality is, it will be pissing with rain, I will have a stonking hangover, I won't be talking to the husband as he used up the last of the milk for his coffee and it's the ONE thing I didn't buy more of. The boys will be fighting and physically tearing chunks out of each other, the dog will have got loose and be chasing a deer and the teenager will be moaning as we didn't let her bring her phone which has been surgically attached to her hand for the entire holiday and she's stepped in fox shit. TA DAH!! Sound vaguely familiar? Surely we can't be the only ones who don't exactly have The White Company version of Christmas...
SO the least we deserve is a new jumper? For sitting on the sofa stuffing our faces with cashew nuts and oven baked party food from your favourite supermarket whilst mainlining gin.
Jumbo Turtleneck Sweater from & Other Stories £69
Long at ASOS. Rokoko Oversized Jumper £28
Roll Neck Ribbed Jumper from Topshop £39
Ecru at Mango £49.99 And don't forget your 30% off with the code VIP17.
Multicoloured hand knitted.
OneOn Hand Knitted Oversized Multi Coloured was £145 now £101.50
Rokoko Oversized Sweater £28 I LOVE this one... seriously seriously love. So much so I've just placed a sneaky order even though they only have it in large left but it's perfect for over that tan pleat skirt. In fact over any skirt...
Grey Turtleneck at & Other Stories £89
Getting brighter.. these are all perfect additions to any neutral wardrobe.
And in yellow... mohair blend turtleneck £69 from & Other Stories
Green frill neck from Topshop £39
And finally one for those who hate a roll neck. You get one today...just the one. SORRY!
Oversized cable knit sweater from & Other Stories in Coral £89
Actually there is one more....
Extreme Long Sleeve Knitted Jumper by Boutique £60
And they just keep coming... this one from H&M although only in small. *weeps*.
Jacquard knit Jumper was £34.99 now £27.99
The perfect option for today. A day on the sofa. With the Gilmore Girls and a whole load of guilt at not having done more.... ARRGGGHHH. Eight days left. Just thought I'd throw that one in there.
Jumper - H&M (couple of years ago)
So I now HAVE to do some laundry. Ugh. Am very much looking forward to next week when I will absolutely allow the children to wear pyjamas all day. For no other reason than I can throw them in the tumble dryer and not have to hang them up. Yes, my laziness knows no bounds. And then there is a glass of mulled wine with my name on it and the final of Strictly as I still haven't watched it... the Gilmore Girls are the tv equivalent of crack..
So the temperatures seem to be dropping. Apparently it's going to get "freezing" according to a headline I saw at the beginning of the week (before Royal Wedding mayhem took over). To be honest - it's hardly the hugest surprise is it? It being "winter".... Or is still Autumn? Whatevs, we're hardly expect to crack out the bikinis any time this month or next.
And seeing as I struggled to find any amazing long sleeved black dresses the other week, it seems time to unveil my cunning plan for this A/W (note - I am not reinventing the wheel - I should probably dial down those excitement levels...).
It's also a great tactic to make the most of all your favourite Spring/Summer/Autumn jumpers and sweatshirts. It also means (I'm on a roll) that you can then still wear your lighter coats and jackets without resorting to the Nanouk of the North option.
We are talking layering.
For me - the favourite option is, without a doubt, a polo neck. Truss me up like a Christmas turkey, I am THE biggest fan of these. Have been for years - I blame Ali McGraw. So yes, I love a wool version but the last couple of years, I have become quite addicted to layering with the thinner versions. Perfect under all your dresses from the Spring and Autumn to transform them into a Winter number.
My favourite - as it has long arms - is found in the not so glamorous, but oh so useful thermal section at M&S. Size up. Unless you like the "vacuum packed in jersey" look. Each to their own and all that...
Heatgen Thermal Polo Neck from M&S £16
So I only have one but I'm definitely going to order the navy as well.
This version I think is new in this year. And for layering under dresses - all the smoooooooooooth. GENIUS.
Heatgen Polo Neck Thermal Bodysuit from M&S £16
So when I've asked around about these - the other name that comes up loads is Uniqlo. Their HeatTech range.
There are loads in this range but for me - it's the turtle neck that I would be most interested in. As these look like a poloneck.
HeatTech Turtle Neck in off white from Uniqlo £12.90
So you can see the fit.. the dark grey £12.90 Huge apologies as I don't know what the sizing is like. I've only tried their jersey wide leg trousers (awesome) and their men's crew neck extra fine merino jumpers (a small is a large 10..).
Upping the budget but these are amazing... AND if you are of longer limb, they are definitely long in the arm. I don't have the roll neck version but years ago they had a round neck one. I remember sizing up....
Roll neck wool top £45 from Cos
Also in a silvery grey...
Or the beige...
Then there are the non polo neck options. Which, I think might be more popular as there are a gazillion more colours of these at M&S whereas only a couple of colour options in the polo necks. So what do I know...
Heatgen Thermal Long Sleeve Top £16
It comes in pretty much any colour you can think of - I quite like the pale rose..
And superfine knitwear at & Other Stories.
Wool Sweater in Grey £39
And in the pale pink... these can definitely be worn on their own under a jacket or are ideal for layering.
BUT it's all about the polo neck for me.
Which I'm not wearing today.. DOH. I could have done with one though as it was freezing. I have had the most amazingly surreal day. Shooting something super special for Stella Magazine at the most gorgeous house in North London. And we had to choose our own outfits to wear. No pressure there then...
I wore two of my own dresses but I also asked Debenhams if I could borrow two of their Studio by Preen press samples (as the dresses haven't even been produced yet) that I saw at their SS19 show last week. They were utterly sublime. One they did shoot which means I get to show you a sneak preview of the other one.
They're packaged up to be couriered back but I managed a photo to whet your appetite before they land in February.
HOW AMAZING? And when it does arrive in February and it's still freezing - this is the ideal sort of dress under which you can layer a polo neck. TA DAH!
The dress I did wear for the shoot is over on my Insta Stories - the most amazing blue and yellow shirt dress which is also coming in February. I don't think that either of them will be as long as the ones I have on (which are touching the floor long on me at 5ft10 - BLISS) as these are just the samples. So good for all you of normal height and bad for me being of Gulliver proportions.
Will reveal all when the edition comes out but suffice to say - it was genuinely one of those "pinch me", how did I get here, experiences. Am trying not to overthink it or get too excited before I see it in print. I then came home to arguing children, a dog who's rolled in fox poo and mounds of washing with no food in the house. And back in the room - reality bites!
...a pair of boots. And from there, the need for navy has grown.
So yes, I am obviously a black obsessive - my staple question for when I see something that I love is "does it come in black?".
But maybe it's an age thing, maybe it's the need for a change up, maybe it's just the boots, but I am having a pang for navy.
There is no arguing that, as a shade, it is more flattering for mature skin than black. Is it possible to find things in navy that I love as much I adore their black counterparts?
A quick (ha ha, yeah right) foray into Pinterest throws up some gems and proves I'm on the right path.
For a start - it is THE perfect partner to denim.
And with black...
And simply head to foot in navy. I need no more persuading that this is Very Good Idea.
The quest is on. But first of all, I should show you the boots.
I know I say this a lot, but every now and again you come across an item that you LOVE. You don't just like, you adore.
I have come back to these boots time and time again and they just get better every time I look at them. I agree they're not going to be for everyone but I love them. And yes, there is white on them which means they're not ALL navy but I think they just work.
All vom NOW.
Andi Multi Buckle Boots from Topshop £82
So what goes with these? Why all things navy. Starting off with knitwear. And my favourite crew neck, classic jumper. Men's extra fine merino from Uniqlo. A small is a big 10. You're welcome. These are simply the best.
Men Extra Fine Merino Sweater from Uniqlo £29.90
And straight into the ultimate shape for me - the polo neck.
Cable Knit Polo from Topshop £65
Longer polo neck.
Ribbed Roll Neck Jumper from Topshop £36
Navy Raglan Hoodie £26 from Topshop. This looks so, so much more expensive than it actually is.
Feeling the navy love at hush.
Love Jumper from hush £85
Or how about a blouse. With the addition of a black tie so it's a no brainer to just throw on with all your favourite black outfits.
Levine Forever Blouse from Finery £59
Textured silk at hush £129
A bottoms option.
Ness Navy Wraparound Skirt in Navy from Finery £99
And navy harems. NEW IN. Be still my beating suddenly navy obsessed heart.
Long Harem Trousers in Midnight from hush £55
Slightly smarter at Baukjen in the their mid season sale.
Brook Relaxed Pants in Blue were £95 now £47
My beloved leather leggings.. in NAVY!.
Liv Leather Leggings from Baukjen £399 (if you sign up their newsletter, I think you can get 15% off your first order... it comes up as a pop when you first click onto their site).
Not forgetting my beloved dresses.
Cochrane Dark Navy Draped Dress from Finery £79
Finally up clothes wise - coats. I actually love a navy coat. It's the one thing I possibly have more of than black ones (ok maybe not....).
I will come back to the coats as I have found so many, they deserve a blog all of their own. It's pure coat porn out there, I promise you this. Must be done soon as they sell out and often aren't repeated. I kid you not. It was pitch black at 7.15pm tonight. Winter is coming... (and yes, I've obviously got some Jon Snow style ones up my sleeve. In my dreams I do actually live in Game of Thrones - and fess up who else does, as I know I'm not the only one).
Christie Coat from hush £170
And other shoes which are definitely worth looking at. If it's not an ankle boot then it's got to be a trainer. Hi top adoration here.
All Star Hi Trainers by Converse £47.99
Not forgetting these ankle boots which are simply a thing of lust.
Gaskell Laced Sock Boot £135
So have I been wearing all things navy? Hmm no. Because I don't actually have a lot. I will be remedying that but in the meantime, this is what I have been wearing over the last couple of days.
Apologies for not being around - family life has definitely got in the way of blogging, not to mention work. I had two fantastic days on Monday and Tuesday with Celtic & Co, talking through my favourite pieces from their new A/W17 collection.
Monday at Pennyhill Park. Yes it was pouring with rain when I left the house at 8.15am.
Slouchy Fine Knit Roll Neck in black - Celtic & Co
Black Leather Leggings - Celtic & Co
Sheepskin boots - Celtic & Co
Camouflage raincoat - Topshop
Leopard Happy Satchel - Hill & Friends
Tuesday it was off to The Bath Priory.
Slouchy Fine Knit Roll Neck in black - Celtic & Co
Black Leather Leggings - Celtic & Co
Black Leather Chelsea Boots - Celtic & Co
Premium Leather Jacket - Jigsaw
Black Tools Bag - Balenciaga
And then a quick change in the train loo on the way back to London as last night, I was invited to the launch of Red Magazine's Smart Women Week and their Career Shifters party. As I had been selected as one of their Career Shifters. See the whole article here, but suffice to say, I am ridiculously honoured and flattered to be included in such an illustrious list. So I did treat myself to the Ganni dress for the occasion. It will also be my Christmas party dress - so get used to it!
Leopard dress - Ganni
Boots - Zara
Premium Leather Jacket - Jigsaw
Tools Bag - Balenciaga
Today, I have had a lovely morning with The Brand Ambassador's Agency at my favourite boutique - Quattro Rish in Reigate and then it was off to Chiswick for a tour of the Sipsmith Gin Distillery. Which was superb. I am now all the glamour in my jamas (hush harems which I now NEED in the navy..), with a takeaway (treat Wednesday), catching up on Bake Off. I've already done Dr Foster (errr how weird?? What planet do those people live on?) and am doing an excellent job of distracting myself to not think about how the 10yr old is coping on his residential.
Tomorrow, I've got some work to do in the morning and then it's off for a super treat. I will reveal all on my Insta stories but suffice to say, I am giddy with excitement.
In the meantime though - more work needed on the navy coat front. So is this the blog of dreams for you with the "nothing but navy" theme? Or are you a "does it come in black", dyed in the wool afficionado?
