& Other Stories

Kat 3/13/2013 13 Comments Edit

No, not another random blog title, but the name of a new store to our shores. Oh do I love a new high street store. And especially when it's one from our friends at H&M. I'm already a huge Cos fan (darn you not having one remotely near me) and so was super keen to see what the next baby from the family was offering.

There is a canny concept to the store. According to the PR hype that is. Here is what they say on their website:-

"& Other Stories is a fashion brand offering women a wide range of shoes, bags, accessories, beauty and ready-to-wear to create their personal style, or story. Our creative ateliers in Paris and Stockholm design diversified fashion collections with great attention to detail and quality at an affordable price.

Today, a woman with a love for fashion creates her own style.

She wears things that feel right to her and reflect her personality. & Other Stories is about bringing everything she can wear into one place, focusing on the whole look. We believe shoes, bags, jewellery, lingerie and beauty are key for styling and just as important as clothing.

Our collections are built around inspiring fashion stories. All our lines are diverse, ranging from masculine tailoring to feminine chic and designed to provide endless styling choices.

Carefully selected materials are an important ingredient in every piece. & Other Stories aims to design lasting wardrobe treasures within a wide price range."

Not entirely sure it's any more groundbreaking than a number of other shops that sells clothes. But hey ho, even an alleged change is as good as a rest and any opportunity for another fantastic high street store, plus online shopping? Yes please.

There is only one at the moment on Regent Street. I am so looking forward to paying a visit, fingers crossed I can squeeze one in next week.

One thing I think they have definitely mastered (and I reserve the right to backtrack hugely on this after seeing the items in the flesh) is the smart casual work market, especially on the basics front. Pretty much spot on, which isn't a surprise as Cos is always my go to place for similar requests.

So here we have my cream of the crop.

Sleeveless Blouse - £29 Also available in black and white. But here, continuing my love of yellow. Perfect for under a blazer but equally as fab with a pair of jeans - be them standard, coloured or patterned. It also looks like it would be a winner for a night out top as well. Something I really struggle with actually - a plain basic top that is in a smarter fabric than most plain tees.

Panel Top £19 I love this for all the reasons I love the above top. Perfect day to night number. And I have done a full turnaround on this colour. Adore it now. I shall no longer refer to it with a hint of derision as electric blue but in true head up behind fashionista style, the word "cobalt" shall tumble from my lips.

And in grey

They have a great selection of more directional jewellery than the majority of what the high street is offering. This is probably one of the more mainstream pieces. Will report back on quality.

Necklace. £17 I know a lot of people struggle with mixing metals but this makes it easy as it's already done for you! A lovely longer length for summer - perfect for adding interest to a plain teeshirt and jeans.

A stunning selection of shoes. Lots I love, again very different from most of what is out there at the moment. These widow peak effect ones won't be everyone's cup of tea but I love them. I could easily get both pairs..... (if they weren't already sold out in my size in the nude. Foiled)

Shoes £69

Not something I'd wear very often at all but I love love love these satin sandals. £45

High Heeled Sandals Stunning detail to the back.

I know I've mentioned that I don't suit a wrap dress but this one appears to be a fake wrap, in that it actually attaches at the waist (so it is really a wrap but isn't a dressing gown stylee wrap. The former works, the latter doesn't. All of that makes sense in my head). It also looks to be slightly longer which may or may not be of use to you, depending on your height and how short you like or dislike your dresses. Nothing like covering all my bases, is there?

This is the most useful wardrobe dress. In fact, I have a dinner party this weekend which it would be perfect for. Unfortunately I'd have to buy some new shoes I've also set my heart on (not from here - I shall save that for a blog another time...). When there is *probably* something I could ferret out from my wardrobe.......

Gorgeous dress £55

Cropped Trousers in White £55 Love this look. Haven't worked out if it's the shoes or the trousers. Would probably make sense just to buy both, no?

And I could go on and on but why don't I just pass it over to you to have a peruse. I'm sure that there is no-one out there as sad as me (!) who can think of nothing better than a glass of red and a brand new clothes website to get your teeth stuck into. Perfect way to spend an evening in my book. Armed with a credit card and you actually have heaven.

Have to say I was most impressed by the photography. As much as I love Cos, even I admit that it is an incredibly difficult website to order from. Utterly impossible to ascertain how an item is going to look on, what length, how the fabric will hang etc. & Other Stories seems to be a lot more user friendly. Let me know what you think!

A quick round up of me in the snow. Yawn. I refused to bow to the weather today and happily the sun came out so I wasn't particularly chilly at all (I did spend exceptionally limited time outside it does have to be said)

Black l/s longlined top - Baukjen
Navy jumper - H&M
Black, navy, camel leopard print trousers - Whistles
Navy pleather jacket - Primark
Navy and black leopard print scarf - By Malene Birger
Mardy boots - Caterpillar
Sunglasses - Dior
Chestnut cross body bag - Campomaggi

Dark Charcoal l/s top - H&M

Charcoal harem pants - Toast

Quilted jacket - Zara

Grey marl scarf - Cos

Gold bee necklace - Alex Monroe

Gunmetal Virgins - Ash

Sunglasses - Dior

Charcoal wrist warmers - Toast

Grey cross body bag - Whistles

Tomorrow I am in a fashion charity show which is very exciting. They're great fun and I have spent the whole of today having the hair and spa salon who host it, attempting to defuzz, thread, dye and titivate me, turning me from lazy ass duckling into swan. No mean feat. Looking forward to tomorrow!