Layer me up

I am the most ridiculously huge fan of layers.  I think my obsession with them may well have been born out of the fact that I live in an old, hugely draughty and insulated with sawdust house and so a couple of layers is prudent if one doesn't want to freeze to death. 

And really it should be easy to find them no?  Well you would think.  And you would be wrong. (purely in my opinion of course)  Proverbial rocking horse poo.  The law of layering also says that once you've found your perfect piece and dare to venture back to buy a second one, of course, they have sold out.  Never ever to be restocked.  You fool, did you think you could break the laws of layering?   As I said.  Rocking horse poo. 

There are many problems associated with locating the ideal layering item. 

• Fit.  They can't be too snug.  I am not a large lady, in fact I'm pretty slim.  But I have things that wobble.  And I have no desire to accentuate the wobble with tight fitting lycra.  Or anything too snug for that matter.  This mainly applies to upper layers.
• Length.  Either too long or too short.  The bottom layers need to be longer and tighter (you don't see them so it's not such an issue if you look like a sausage squeezed into a too small skin in it.  So long as you know you're not going to delayer during the day.  You can't.  Ever.  Just sweat.). The top layers need to be slightly shorter otherwise you risk looking like a rectangle.  Or a massive triangle.  Either way, not good. 
• Fabric.  At this point I could go on forever.  Under layer needs to have lycra or elastane.  Otherwise it will stretch.  In my experience.  However I am well known for my washing disasters so that may be just me.  I like some stretch otherwise I find they lose their shape.  Top layer - well you can be much more flexible.

However it's the most versatile of beauties as far as I'm concerned.  Great for this time of year with either a longsleeved layer underneath if it's really chilly, making it a super warm option.  Or coming into Spring, (should it ever get above 10 degrees) then with a vest underneath.  Perfect for a dress down option with a leather jacket, jeans and a huge scarf.  Dress it up with trousers (skinny in my case of course), a statement necklace and a blazer.  Layer with different colours for an alternative look. 

There are lots of them around at the moment, but these are my favourite ones.  I should also add that H&M do them.  Occasionally.  When you see them, you need to buy them as they sell like hot cakes.  Obviously they're not online as that would be flouting the laws of layering - being able to easily get hold of a perfect specimen. 

Firstly starting with the old faithful Zara.  Their summer ones are my staple go to piece of clothing come the warmer weather but they also do a longer sleeve version which is perfect for the inbetweeny weather.  In 7 colours!

The White Company have got some gorgeous long sleeve t-shirts in either white or midnight.   Now these are very similar to the H&M ones in style - although they do look longer and narrower which would be preferable to me.  At £45.00 though and the H&M ones are £14.99. However seeing as you can't ever get hold of them - pretty moot point and the reason why there I'm listing the TWC ones and not the H&M ones. 

Coming down slightly in price are the linen slub raglan tees from Boden.   I know, I know, again, it's Boden and this used to be a Boden free zone but a) I'm 40 so it's got to be vaguely legit and b) they have genuinely changed their ways.  Honest guv.  Well, for a start they never had these fab linen tees which I live in.  7 colours to choose from.  Admittedly some of them are a bit errr jolly for me, but the Soot definitely floats my boat. £29 but there's always a code floating around.

Massimo Dutti have also come up trumps with what would be my first choice.

These for me are up there with being practically perfect, bar maybe a slightly lower neckline. I love the simplicity of them, the curved hem at the bottom and the button detailing at the back which separates them from the rest of the linen tees in my book.  And a pretty reasonable £29.95 for such a wearable top.  Definitely on my list of must haves. 

I'm sure there are others out there - I shall be taking a look.  What fits one person definitely isn't going to fit another.  For example having limited boobage, the Zara one probably isn't the best for me.  I benefit from something slightly higher cut.  Otherwise I verge into Skeletor territory.  Attractive not.  And for someone with a more generous bust, the high cut tops probably aren't going to work as well either.  But there will be a linen top out there for you.

So there in lies my first layering love.  Are you a linen tee fan?  Do you have a whole host of them in every colour?  Or is there something about them that leaves you cold?  Have I missed a blinding linen bargain somewhere?! 

Alternatively are you a layering fan or is it something that you just can't stand the look of?   Look away shortly if that's the case, as there is more on layering to come.  Maybe I can convince you.....

A quick round up of what I've been wearing the last couple of (freezing) days.