Throwing in a curve ball.

And the plan was all going so well.  For two days.... Ok.  So.  I'm going to actually think of this as being an addition to the plan, instead of a divergence away from it. 

We're talking a whole new addition to the wardrobe which, to be honest, I have discussed back in the Summer, but I ended up swerving.  For various reasons, the main one being, there was always something that could do the job better - ie a dress....  

Oh and not forgetting the dilemma - what does one wear with them?  Tops, shoes and coat - yup, this is where it all starts to get horribly complicated.  If you haven't guessed, I'm talking culottes.  

The risk is, falling into the trap of adding one thing to your wardrobe but then needing to buy the rest of the outfit to go with it.  Bad bad bad (albeit rather fun if you can find things that work) shopping. 

Now I say bad shopping but I may have just done this with the outfit below.  In my defence a) I have bought neither item yet and b) the top is another must have on my list for my A/W wardrobe - I'm just peaking early here.  

Here is the evidence of me trying them on - and thinking they work.  I have to say I also love with the boots.  I would never have in a million years thought these boots would work with them, but what do you know?

And they are from..... good old M&S.  I was actually looking for something totally different which they didn't have (more about that another day) but then I saw a sign for "The Culottes" and hey presto, found the above. 

These are them.  

Front Zipped Wide Leg Culottes £29.50



But a word on sizing (obviously this wouldn't be easy....).  The above ones on me are a 12 - there wasn't a 10 but I did try a pair of 10 trousers on and to say they looked sprayed on wasn't even the word (they were supposed to be loose.....)   Now I haven't been to the gym recently but I didn't think I'd put on any weight particularly (gravity has been a bitch but things have only sagged downwards not outwards).  And in fact I then went into Zara and tried on a 10 which I normally am in there and perfect fit (jeans as well, which are notoriously unkind in their sizing) 

So I can only deduce that M&S have changed their sizing?  I honestly don't think I'm too delusional about my expanding waist band but you never know.  

Oh and length wise - those above are a short.  Yup, you read that right, a short.  I'm not entirely sure how long they are supposed to be but I honestly think they're an ok length as they are - I might try the Medium but I think the Long would be way too long (which is handy as they've sold out) 

I do love M&S (in fact we have a huge one opening locally next week - more excited about this than I should be - we're going to the opening.  The Husband couldn't be less excited.  Can't think why) but oh my lord they are SO frustrating.

THIS is apparently their rail of culottes - not any culottes but The Culottes.



Two.  Pairs.  Yup TWO pairs.  In the entire shop.  Which is one of their flagship stores.  I can't imagine that they've sold oodles and oodles of them as they are in the most random part of the shop (that strange unbranded place which has a mixture of suits, workwear and old lady stuff).  So I'm guessing that they probably only ordered about 5 pairs which possibly did sell.  To be honest, I don't care what their excuse is - it's just frankly a bit rubbish (and there are also some pairs sold out online as well)

But but but but they are the most amazing quality. I honestly couldn't believe they were only £29.50 and machine washable.  They feel like a gorgeous heavy, quality wool that I would have bet a small child on being dry clean only.  I defy anyone not to be super impressed with them.  That's if you can get hold of them, of course......
They also have this navy pair which look pretty great too - I now can't decide whether I want black or navy.  

Pleated Front Wide Leg Culottes £35 in navy (they also do these in black as well)  To be honest, these in the long might look pretty amazeballs.






I also appear to have found a top I love as well - and I think goes pretty niftily with the culottes.  This would also work with an A line leather skirt and look great with boyfriend jeans or wide legged trousers (a hint of what might be coming up next week....) 

Polo Neck Top With Modal from Autograph £22.50



So at the moment, we've got two out of three sussed (and we all know that two out of three ain't bad.  Boom boom) - footwear and top to go with them.   I will also be covering more tops that I think will work, in the coming weeks - the same tops that will go with my midi skirt so we're doing double bubble here (as if we needed any justification to shop....) 

Alas, it's not such a positive story when it comes to a coat.  As you can see I'm over the moon with the look.  




Suffice to say, a straight coat or a cocoon coat is not going to work with these.  How awful does it look exactly?  I think the same sort of coat that would go with a midi skirt is going to be the answer - something loose with a bit of fluidity to it.  Handily something like my new dressing gown camel coat.... You can see where I'm going with this, can't you?!

Interestingly I put the first photo of me wearing them on Instagram and asked people to guess where they were from as certainly I don't think they particularly look like they're from M&S.  One person guessed correctly but other guesses included Dotty P's and Next.  I did yesterday go and see if I could see them in store and nada.  Zilch.  None. 

Not one pair in Mango, not one pair in Zara and only pair of slightly randomly textured white ones in Topshop which funnily enough I didn't bother trying on. 

However on looking online, I found these beauties at DP's.  Pleated front so the same style as the M&S ones I tried on which I think are probably a lot more flattering than flat fronted ones.  Having said that, I guess it depends on whether you want the look of a skirt or a cropped wide trouser which the flat fronted pair would give you.  For me, I like the ones I tried on and so won't deviate from the theme.

Black leather look culottes from Dorothy Perkins £28




From Next, I'm not sure which ones everyone has (but everyone who has them from there does rave about them) but for me, these look great. 

Culotte Workwear Trousers £35 


There are other options I've found as opposed to black.  Check at Warehouse - I simply adore this styling.  Love love love. 

Grey Check Culottes £42 from Warehouse (you see maybe I do want them longer....) LOVE these boots. 


Whilst we're talking of gorgeous things, I have to say I am ridiculously tempted to try this.  Instead of a dress this Christmas, a Black Culotte Jumpsuit? (their singular, not mine) Divine.  (I even have shoes to go with this already so it might be silly not to *try* it..... Warehouse discount hanging around anyone?!)

Black Culotte Jumpsuit - Warehouse £70


Gorgeous in grey at Hobbs - obviously these are dry clean only.  Sob. 

Grey Darcy Culotte (apparently it's in the singular at Hobbs as well) £99.  Clearly a polo neck is the "done thing"... 




In wine at ASOS - they also do these in black as well. 

ASOS Longline culottes in wine £30


To be honest there aren't "that" many around.  Certainly in the whole of Bluewater I could only find one pair but I think they're here to stay for a while.  So will you or won't you "culotte"?! 

And here we have my pic from the other day.  I have since washed this - first time I washed it, it was fine but this time the blue has all smudged into the white. Irritated and then some.  Zara - I'm bringing it back.



Navy and white shirt - Zara
Navy coat - H&M
Beige Kirsten jeans - Topshop
White leather tennis shoes - Zara
Tan bag - Prada 

Tomorrow I have yet more exciting dress news.  And my other favourite colour of the season. (we're back on track...)