Humble Pie time.

Yes, as I mentioned yesterday, there is a store (and a concession) on the High Street of which I have always been rather vilely judgemental.  The main reason being that I was (ok ok am) a super snob (in my defence I like to say Aquarian....) with regards to all that is vanilla.  And to me, Coast epitomised all that was wrong with the High Street for my age group.  It dictated what you "should" wear for a wedding/Christening/Christmas Party, along with a couple of other HS suspects.  They had our market cornered.   With the predictable.  

You could pretty much guarantee that if you wore a dress from Coast to any black tie function or "occasion", the chances of someone else wearing either a) the identical dress, b) the same dress in a different print/colour or c) one of the other dresses you tried on was high.  Very high (and yes, I know I'm going to get someone saying they've bought a Coast dress and have never seen anyone in it - there are always going to be exceptions to every rule and I am pontificating and generalising hugely.  Poetic licence).  I know people say that they have their place and yes, perhaps they do but it was never really my bag. 

The hilarious thing about my woeful snobbery was that I am not and never have been any sort of super style guru - that concept definitely exists only in my head (and even then only on the odd day).  Whilst I was berating the likes of Coast et al, I was happily shopping like a complete sheep at Whistles, Zara, Reiss, By Malene Birger and All Saints with a gazillion others (and yes, I'm sure I've turned up somewhere with someone else in something v similar/identical to me) - hardly the cutting edge of Avant Garde.  

But that being what it may - it was still very wrong of me to ever scoff at the alleged predictability of Coast.  It would be an exceptionally dull world if we did all like the same thing (especially as if that were the case, we would all rock up in the same dress!) 

Except I now have to proffer up apologies of monster proportions as I am truly in love with a large amount of what they have to offer this season.  

So have they changed their tack and direction somewhat?  Or, yet again, is it my seniority creeping up on me?

Starting with my current favourite obsession - dresses.  

Willamina Dress  £75  Absolutely love this, the colour, the shape, the print.

Does this one have my name written all over it or what?

Bobbi Dress £95





Remind you of anything?  If I hadn't tracked down my yellow Sculptured top from Whistles, then I would have bought this in a heartbeat.  I am even vaguely tempted to try the other colour they have as I love this shape so so much. 

Bobbi Dress in Orange (although looks red to me - they even have Whistles delusional colour chart - alternatively it's highly likely I'm the one with colour issues)  £95




Love the zip detail which goes all the way down the back. 



Whilst we're speaking of Whistles, to me, this has a definitely whiff of the W about it and is definitely a colour palette with which I'm far more comfortable. 

The Rivi Dress £115



Love the flattering ruched detail around the waist 





A similar colourway (which I happen to love) is the Emlen Dress - another of my favourite shapes (hides a multitude of sins). 

Emlen Dress £115    This colourway now only £92 at the discount days at HofF  (only this colourway it seems - none at all at John Lewis who are matching some of the prices) 




And yet again, as if it were made for me in my favourite hints of lime yellow and grey. 

Emlen Dress £115




And in a cobalt blue - perfect to add your own interest with statement jewellery. 





Speaking of statement jewellery, they have some amazing choices for really good prices.  

All the jewellery can be found on offer HERE at House of Fraser for the next 48 hrs! 

The Marion set would in fact work really well with print as well, them being so neutral.  Perfect for giving one of the above tunic style dresses that extra bit of oomph for a much dressier occasion. 

Marion Earrings £15

Marion Bracelet  £30



The Hudson earrings would give a plain cream or blush blouse or dress an entire new lease of life (she says again justifying purchase of the Freya Hush Blouse in Powder!  Absolutely perfect to make it into a much dressier outfit) 

Hudson Earrings £15


And divine matching bracelet 

Hudson Bracelet - £35



Christa Earrings £15.  These need nothing to go with them.  They sing all on their own. 


Kingston Earrings £18


Vermont Earrings £18 - if reds are your colour, these are just the most Christmassy earrings ever.  


Moving onto necklaces of which they have a truly marvellous selection. 

Not sure I'd wear a matching earrings and necklace set but this on its own would be up my street and transform a plain black top or dress. 

Vermont Perspex Necklace £40




Cleopatra Necklace £55 Which I could have included in my favourite black necklace blog of the other day. 



And the necklace that, I'll be honest, had me look at Coast in a different light.  That and the bag below.  I saw this in the concession in House of Fraser and would have sworn on a Rugrat's life that it was the Stella & Dot Tempest necklace.  Which I own so I know exactly what it should both look and feel like.  Identical to this is the answer.  Well, identicalish as it's not reversible and it does have a different clasp but seeing as the price differential is about £140odd, I think I could live with that.....


Clayton Necklace £50



And to add insult to the injury that has been my rudeness over the brand, I have actually bought a bag from there before (which I may have a) broken as I tried to cram too much into it  - moi? and b) then left at the Italian wedding last year as I overindulged on 14 hours of Prosecco.  This was the other bag I saw online when randomly searching for something and thought WOW, I love love love that.  

These ones aren't for sale at House of Fraser or John Lewis. (which is good in that not everyone will have them! - see I just can't stop myself - slaps wrist) 

Ostrich Feather Clutch £45   Now my ever so slight concern is that, as I haven't seen it in real life, the bag itself may be see through.  I carry around a lot of crap that I'm not sure other people need to see.  Doesn't stop it being a work of art in itself though. 




This one is definitely not seethroughable and is beyond gorgeous.  Taking glitz unashamedly to another level. 

Grey Ritzy Bag £100 






And I really shouldn't love this but I absolutely do.  

Black Snake Clutch £55



It would be remiss not to include a couple of what I consider to be more typical of Coast but with slightly more edge than I think they've had before. 

But still perfect for the occasion when something special is called for.  

Freya Feather top £75  Having said that, I think this would look just as fabulous for a night out with jeans.  Utterly.  Love. 




Harlem Lace Dress £180  There really isn't a lot about this which I don't love.  If I had a Winter Wedding to go to, I would wear this and if anyone wore the same one, I would swear blind mine was DVF. 

Now only £144 with the offer at HoF!  





Finishing with a skirt which I think is just gorgeous in so many different ways and I can think of so many people it would look fabulous on.  I'd love to have the cojones to wear it but..... my excuse is that it would be too short.  (and it probably chuffing would as well) 

The Rita Skirt £125







I should probably finish with some witty and self deprecating riposte but frankly I've had one glass of wine and my pizza is ready.  Suffice to say, Coast now sell some fab things and I've been a dick. 

Have I been massively unfair in my previous musings of Coast?  Have they always been a trove of hidden treasures?  Or have they slightly branched out in their style......?  Like I said, I am chomping down on this humble pie - anyone to join me?

Finishing with my outfit for today as I am totally Hank Marvin.