Archive for April 2014

Home Archive for April 2014

What I have learned recently.

That buying white skinny jeans is a task of nightmarish proportions.

That even if you have thin legs, white jeans can make you look horrific.

That jeans designed for the younger amongst us do not take into account the muffin you may have accrued at a certain age, regardless of your size.

Low cut jeans suck.

So. To cut a long story short, every single pair of white jeans in Mango looked like they have been hermetically sealed to my legs. Think sausages trying to burst their skins. Oh such a good look, I can't tell you.

I have the photographic evidence to prove it. NOW I could have tried on and perhaps should have tried on a larger size. But the problem was that these did fit - I've made this drastic mistake before and a bigger size always ends up being too big on the waist. I just end up with a belt digging into my muffin or a saggy arse - pure joy.

These are the Eva and the Patty2 jeans.

Zara was the same story. Even a woman in there said - oh my lord how they can do that to your legs. (I had tried on some other trousers which she had told me were gorgeous so I wasn't remotely offended. She was right - they were ming)

And it's nothing to do with the angle of the photo. Believe me. Spray painted on white jeans which cling to every ripple of flesh don't look great from any angle.

They were all so thin as well - such rubbish flimsy quality which doesn't have as much significance when you're looking at a blue or darker denim pair but in white? Well that equals see through. Barfo mucho.

I did strike gold though. Firstly, it will probably come as no surprise, in Levi's.

Demi Curve White skinny jeans £75 This is a "modern rise"... Which is Ok as rises go.

And on me. Errr, except they didn't have my size in the white so I tried grey. (you can see how well my day went, can't you?)

Although they did assure me these were the same as the white, it does appear they don't make the above in the white so these must be the:-

Modern Rise Slight Curve Skinny jeans in Grey Freeze £80 These are designed for those with a straighter torso whereas the ones above are for a more hourglass figure. I'm liking this so far and these were definitely the best I had tried on all day.

But the very lovely sales assistant then suggested I try on their Demi Curve which they did have in the white.

These are a slim cut and come in a Classic Rise which is clearly code for "Old Lady Super Comfy RIse" as that's exactly what these are.

Classic Rise Demi Curve Slim Jeans in Winter White £80

Now these clearly are much much shorter on me, but I actually quite like the tiny kick flare look. I think these look a lot more Audrey and are just that little bit different from the myriad of skinny jeans out there. I am wearing a 30 inch leg here.

They do also do this in the pale grey as well:-

Classic Rise Demi Curve in Grey Freeze £80

With the success of my old lady rise jeans fresh in my mind, I thought in for a zimmer, in for a pound, I was going to try the jeans on at M&S. Now. I have never even contemplated buying jeans jeans from here - coated skinnies yes (even though I have never got round to it as they NEVER have my size - irritation noted please) - but actual jeans? Err, hello, from M&S?

Well more fool me. I am a total total convert.

Thick, proper denim, not that flimsy papery stuff that is elsewhere for the same price, a host of different leg lengths and proper "mum tuck your muffin in" high waist. Not Simon Cowell proportions, just perfect. However do not be tempted to try the Limited Edition ones with the zips at the ankles - awful and see through. And their white jeggings. Good god. Why would you even make them? I could see the label through them, let alone my pants (I didn't try them on by the way)

M&S Sculpt & LIft Skinny Jeans £35 And I swear to god - for only £35 the sculpt and lift bit actually works.

Then, inspired by my straight leg Audreyfied success in Levi's, I thought I'd try on the M&S straight legs. Oh hello. For £35. Really really great (this is actually an 8 so may be slightly on the snug side - as you can imagine, the selection of sizes in store was totally woeful)

Sculpt & Lift Straight leg jeans from M&S £35

Now I appreciate this is not an exhaustive list by ANY stretch of the imagination. I also did venture into New Look (too thin - ghastly fabric), Dorothy Perkins (didn't have any instore), River Island (didn't have any instore), Armani Jeans (horribly low cut and very expensive) and somewhere else I can't remember. I didn't try Next as I have white jeans from there and they are great. For about 20 mins after which they stretch to double their size. Which is more than just a tiny bit irritating.

I absolutely adored my Boden jeans from last year but they have bled from the leather tab on the back of the jeans so we're in the process of sorting that out. When they have, I will be able to report hopefully on their white jeans from this season.

I will have a look in John Lewis tomorrow to see what they have in their jeans collections and I'd also like to try them on in Hobbs with the 20% off voucher.

So my lesson learnt is that you have to think maturely when it comes to white jeans. At a certain age with certain well earned lumps and bumps that you don't have in your twenties. But I also discovered that you don't necessarily need to throw money at them.

I shall report back shortly.

Outfit for today.

White vest - H&M

Bat sweatshirt - Zoe Karssen

Grey cargo pants - Hush

Black ponyskin skater shoes - Next

Black Diego Bag - Alexander Wang

See you tomorrow xx

Thank heavens for Discount Codes & new Shoes.

Every now and again things really do work out for a reason. Normally, the phrase "ask and thee shall receive" is a crock of the proverbial. But, like I said, every now and again, the shopping Gods smile down on us.

The other week I posted my lust list and then very nicely enquired on Twitter as to whether there was a Hobbs code floating round. As, the more I thought about the black strappy flat shoes, the more I needed them. I needed them as I was fast becoming addicted to flat shoes and my beloved black skater shoes from Next were about to become surgically attached to my feet. You know when you get something in your head and simply every outfit would look perfect with said item? (probably just me I appreciate) But these shoes were becoming a total necessity.

And lo and behold, two days later, what drops in my inbox but a 20% off code from Hobbs. Now may I please point out at this juncture, I have absolutely no contacts whatsoever within Hobbs, I haven't been asked, paid or had anything donated to write this post and in fact unless I specifically mention it in an article, we can take it as read that there are just some shops I like shopping in and am happy to share my views on them.

I also had one pair of shoes left to buy in April and so the timing was perfect. Et Voila - my new shoes. For the record, I have learnt that these are very much love them or hate them. The family loathe them (I honestly thought The Husband looked like he may vomit) but I know that others do love them - clearly I am in the latter camp. Finally I have a pointed black flat that doesn't crease ridiculously within two seconds of having them on your feet, that don't pinch over the toes in order to fit and that you don't have to size up to be able to get them on. They are the Mary Poppins of black pointed shoes - pretty much perfect in every way. (to me anyway)

These have been on my lust list for a while - I first papped them a month or so ago with a whole load of other goodies from Hobbs when I popped in with a friend and I have been meaning to do a blog dedicated to them as they've definitely upped their game this season.

What better time to do it than when there is 20% off. Code is SUMMER.

Starting with the shoes in question.

NW3 Delphine Pump £129

Officially obsessed with becoming a fully pair up member of the fugly brigade, with these...

Selma Sandal in silver (also available in black, white or oxblood red) £129

Now as much as I've said I'm having a total flat moment, there is something I love about these. Monochrome of course.

White Freya Sandals £149

These again are high - love the idea of lots of coverage for those whiter than white feet at the moment.

NW3 Lyla Shoe £149

Moving onto dresses and there are some great day or night dresses in Hobbs.

Grey NW3 Lois Dress £79

NW3 Effie Dress - perfect for dress down or dress up. £89

Very La Beckham inspired but this is a much more wearable version.

White Invitation Knighton Dress £199

This rather corporate looking but is the perfect foil for more statement shoes or a fabulous print coat (of which obviously I have my eye on)

Grey Tessa Dress £139

I love the very subtle detailing on this.

Shirt dresses - I'm quite liking these dressed down with *obviously* flats.... These do of course go in the washing machine.

Blue Sarah Dress £129

Moving onto separates and good old culottes - in navy.

Blue NW3 Lily Culottes £79 (dry clean only...)

And in white

NW3 Jenna Culottes £85. Love the huge pocket detail on the front of these. These ones are handwash which is obviously brilliant.

Now I will go report back with my light coloured jean search - perhaps tomorrow or Thursday but in the meantime, I wish I'd tried these on last week.

Pink NW3 Voyager Skinny jeans £79

An obvious choice when there is 20% off is leather.

This is the most impractical top but I have to say I think it's pretty darn gorgeous.

Brown Vida Top £299

And a really useful navy top - which is a great price to dress up or dress down - ideal with coated skinnies and heels for the evening or would work just as well over any sort of denim for during the day. Or even with shorts - yes, we shall be approaching the thorny subject of shorts very soon.

Blue Seren Tee £79

There is also a matching skirt which would transform a plain tee into a great outfit, fit for any dressy occasion. These are the sorts of items which would work perfectly if you were looking for a dress for a wedding or something *fancy* but didn't want to end up with a dress you'd never wear again. You might not get as much use out of the skirt but at least you'll have a top that you could wear again and again. Skirt wise though, I do think this would also look great with a little close cut jumper and flat shoes.

Blue Seren Skirt £99

Slightly upping the budget but you would definitely get more wear out of these. Do remember to factor in the 20% off..... And it's a classic you would wear again and again and again......

Cali Skirt in leather £399 (ouch)

Here is the matching top in silk - this would look also fab with skinny indigo jeans or black jeans, black capri pants for an evening out or with a pair of sloberama boyfriend baggy jeans for the day time (just add Birkies - wink wink). Team with a cream leather skirt, or even white for a different look too - or even a black one (that Wishbone one hasn't disappeared from my wishlist yet)

Cali top in Silk £110 and it's hand wash.... (suddenly has a very new appeal....)

And I'll just slip in here the Vida Skirt which matches the Vida leather top above. I've seen these instore together and they look amazing as an ensemble (fabulous huge revamped store in Covent Garden if you're ever in the neighbourhood)

Vida Skirt £399

And on the subject of clothes, leaving my favourite till the end. I am actually having to sit on my hands not to buy this coat. I'm not going to lie - it's not looking good. The justification stakes have reached an all new high and I am desperate to buy this. I could perhaps, *perhaps* swing this in that the two coats (three actually as the green Zara one is a similar shape) I have that are the same style - FWM leopard print one and navy H&M one I have on today, I get so much wear out of. They are the most versatile coat/jacket/thingy that I have ever come across. Smart, out to dinner, out with the girls, even to a wedding, these work as well as they do totally dressed down with skater shoes and boyfriend jeans.

Actually thinking outloud - my 6 year old 3.1 Phillip Lim dress coat in grey is the same collarless 3/4 length shape *air punch*. I think I would love this coat as much as I would love a puppy. Maybe even more.

Blue Elise Coat £269

Do I cave or do I wait for the sale..... Which, actually, can't be *that* far off seeing as they get earlier every year. Will it be reduced more than 20%? Will there by any left? Do I want to just get a navy dress and be sorted for all my smart occasions that I have coming up......? (dashes off on a navy dress quest.....)

So here are my outfits with my new shoes on.

Pale Grey tee - H&M

Dark Grey linen top - Zara

Triple zip skinny black trousers - Mint Velvet

Leopard Print Coat - Fenn Wright Manson

Delphine Pump - NW3 at Hobbs

Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang

And today

Black short sleeved shirt - Hawes & Curtis

Navy and white breton top - H&M

Dark Indigo straight leg jeans turned up - Jigsaw

Navy coat - H&M

Delphine Pump - NW3 by Hobbs

Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang

So have Hobbs managed to elevate themselves from the very corporate, dare I say, rather safe haven where I personally feel thy used to sit, to a real contender for the "not ready for Windsmoor yet" 40 year old crew? I feel they've definitely turned a corner this season and I am so so looking forward to A/W14 (where I reckon I could still wear that blue check coat... in the Autumn at the very least......)

Next I shall be knitting my own lentils.

You know what's coming, don't you? I've caved. I have properly caved, much to the hilarity of most of my friends, and am more than slightly open to the prospect of a Birkie.

Yes, you read that right, a Birkie. Now the last time I wore Birkenstocks when I was pregnant with the 9year old and the weather was so hot and my water retention so bad, if you'd painted my feet green, I honestly would have passed as a Shrek body double. And the only thing that would fit my totally humungous feet were good old Birkies.

I'm not going to lie. I hated them. And I haven't worn them since. I've held them in exceptionally low regard - essentially I thought they were totally minging.

But, hey, the story of my life is eating copious amounts of humble pie and I don my pathetic Fashion Sheep hat with pride.

I had come round to the Fugly Sandal even though I hadn't decided which I was going to buy but in the meantime, I have gone even further, to a place I never though I would visit and am coming round to the idea of the BIrkie.

Clearly there is someone to blame here and I can throw the book firmly at the head of JCrew. It's nearly always one pic that throws me over the edge - one pic can actually catapault me from loathing something to developing an overriding obsession with it.

This time, it is the Birkenstocks - the Arizonas in particular, that are the lucky recipient of my all consuming lust. And actually, to be fair, it is the fault of two pictures. Looking at JCrew's Summer Seven wish list - I had my epiphany.

This pic first:-

Followed by this pic and I thought - put the two together and hey presto - proper love. Mixing the above sandals with the outfit below. I am saying nothing about how much I am in love with this top and jeans. I honestly haven't seen an outfit I have salivated over so much in a long time.

Here are the sandals in question - The BIrkenstock for JCrew Arizona sandals in navy

and in white

Have I lost my tiny mind? Well apparently no as it took just a hint of a google to be further inspired. I am sort of ignoring the fact these are young, painfully trendy whippet of things without a hint of dried 5yr old's toothpaste/pizza/porridge stuck to a trouser leg.

They look good, don't they?!

Ok. Now I appreciate if you haven't even had your head turned a teensy tiny bit by the fugly sandal then the chances of you buying into these, aren't high. At all. I was there, believe me but I have been WORN DOWN.

I now can't contemplate living without these. I've decided if you're going to go fugly, you've got to do it properly and may as well go whole hog with the original sensible sandals. The classic, knit your own lentils variety. At the very least, you can guarantee they're going to be comfortable.

However, very unlike me, I am not buying into the whole JCrew branding thing. I won't lie, they certainly nudged me in the right direction - ok they may have done more than that, they may have catapulted me into the heights of unprecedented Birkie adoration.

But I simply cannot see how they can justify that money. I have scrutinised the photos online of the JCrew ones and I think it *may* say something JCrew-esque in the writing on the inside of the sole ie under your feet. Errr, bothered.

Especially when they have them at ASOS, in leather in white, which to me look totally identical for £59.95. Although, although, although, these are the men's versions (I have seen talk on German sites about narrow or regular but they don't seem to bother with that here) - which are just bigger sizes. And you need to size down in these. I am normally a 39.5 or a 40 so either a 6.5 or a 7 yet in these I am definitely a 39 (a 6). And they're obviously sold out in my size. (yes, alright so suddenly the fact I can't actually get hold of a cheaper pair in leather does make the JCrew ones seem slightly supply and demand driven. Gits)

Birkenstocks Arizona Sandals in leather £59.95

Now there isn't a navy leather pair that I can find. Well, I can find one at Matches but they're £140 which sort of defeats the object, but I have managed to find a bargain navy normal (not full strap leather) pair at Zalando for a mere £35. Plus if you sign up for an email from Zalando you can get £10 off your first order (although I'm not sure if there is a minimum spend, it may well be worth looking at the other Birkies, if there is)

Birkenstock Arizona £35 in blue reduced fro £50

Apparently most people don't actually buy the leather ones (I thought they were leather - go figure - they're a leather lined sole but the top is imitation leather, something special that Birkenstock use, I haven't bothered doing much more research into it, I confess, it appears that the non leather ones are totally fine) and these are the normal ones that the majority buy.

Birkenstock Arizona in white £50 This would definitely be worth exploring the £10 off voucher for (I may have used another email for another voucher....)

Alternatively there is the black normal pair - £49.95 from ASOS - they don't have them at Zalando. I am now going to be seeing Birkenstock Arizonas in my sleep, I have looked at that many, including stumbling across by accident second hand ones on Ebay. Boak. No no no.

Birkenstock Arizona in black £49.95

Feel free to all guffaw. I will have to wait till a couple of days till I splurge as I have done the April Quota for shoes - I will bring them to you tomorrow with another 20% off voucher I've found. It would be rude not to explore what there is at a High Street store that is really having a storming season. We have until next week to use this so thank goodness there isn't the rush that there was with the Mango code. They're also not a sandal (and not a boot either). Perfect for this rather unpredictable weather we're having.

I wore them yesterday so shall keep my photo from then till tomorrow but here is my outfit from today.