Breaking us in gently

To the Christmas Frock. 

So.  I'm sure no-one will remember but I *may* have said that I didn't need a new dress this season.  There's no easy way of saying this.  I lied. 

I honestly hadn't planned on buying a new one but..... well, when we were moving bedrooms around, I came across a pair of fuchsia stilettos that I had bought for my hen do from Zara.  This was 11 years ago so this makes them vintage.  They are fabulous.  Yet I have not a lot of fuchsia in my wardrobe (read none) 

Couple this with a Kenzo dress that I had my eye on (literally - it was an Eye dress from last Winter) but couldn't justify getting.  Plus I knew it was ridiculously short so would have been rubbish (the fact it was £200 plus even in the sale may have had more/everything to do with it...) 

And then I saw this dress from Boden.

Eliza Dress was £99 but with the code A54H you can still get 25% off (and it works on EVERYTHING!) 

It arrived and it's perfect.  I love love love LOVE it.  Now I haven't taken a photo of me in it but suffice to say it is great.  I got it in the long and it's still short enough to be cool but not short enough to be indecent.  I promise you, it wouldn't look out of place on Matches or My Wardrobe.

I'm also still loving my Felsted Shirt Dress from Baukjen (earmarked to wear again to a Christmas lunch on Friday) - in fact, on my recent shopping trips, there are a fair few print dresses that I've thought "they'd be super useful".  My plan is to wear them for up and coming dinners I've got and of course there is the Christmas Day and New Year's Eve Dress dilemma for which I need some options.

So, whilst I am the ultimate LBD fan and have a huge soft spot for all things sequin (oh do I have some gems for you coming up shortly), there is definitely room for print dresses in my wardrobe. 

Others that I've seen on my travels include this properly fabulous one from Autograph at M&S. 

This is honestly A.Mazing.  Think DVF for around the £50 mark.  This would work on anyone - if you don't have shape it gives you shape, if you are lucky enough to be well endowed, then this would flatter.

Twisted Front Animal Print Bodycon Dress from Autograph £55












Whilst we're on the subject of animal print (and heaven's knows I love a bit of leopard or snake). I think this one, you could dress up dress down particularly well. 

Animal Print Jacquard Tunic Dress - £35 also from M&S a hint of the A McQueen's about it for me.









This one is a pale pink and black and would be super flattering, I've seen it instore. 

Floral Scuba Bodycon Dress £59 also from Autograph at M&S (it's much much prettier in real life)






Another floral print which I saw that I loved (yes I might just have had my pink shoes in mind....) was this from Alice Temperley at John Lewis. 

Somerset by Alice Temperley Winter Floral Silk Dress £160 (it may be silk but it's machine washable.....)



A beautiful Boho number which would work perfectly for a dinner party or during the day with biker or knee high tan or black boots, also from Temperley. 

Somerset by Alice Temperley floral print dress £130 (now randomly this one is 100% viscose but personally I'd hand wash it)



It has pockets.  Enough said.



Bargain of the day though, has to be this animal print dress, yet again from Temperley.  I have eyed this up on more than one occasion and it's fabulous.  However, whichever way I try and skin the cat, it's just too similar to my Felsted Shirt dress. 

Somerset by Alice Temperley Animal dress in camel was £99 now £69 (and yes, it goes in the machine *fist pump*)



Actually I say that was the bargain of the day - call off the dogs, this is.  I have eyeballed this dress more than once, again it would work for any shape, giving you what God didn't.  I've had this on the blog before but it's obviously now become old stock as they're making way for more glitzy Christmas numbers. 

Coast Estra Print Dress was £85 now £55






Actually if you thought these were bargains then I must just mention that My Wardrobe currently has 40% off everything.  Which is unreal.  This is normally their best offer in the sales so it's quite unbelievable that they're giving this much off already. 

And there are some really lovely print dresses it's worth taking a squiz at. (I'm not going to mention the bags.  Or boots - Ash & Uggs galore.... I know what I'm doing when I finish typing this up.  No code required, it's already on the price so no need to attempt to do those sums in your head.

Michael Michael Kors Wrap Printed Long sleeve dress was £140 now £96  



Helmut Lang Ressid Print Jersey Dress was £250 now £150  I love this.  Absolutely love it.  If I could be bothered to fake tan my arms in the Winter.  Which I can't.





I'm keeping all mention of sequins till another day BUT if you are after the green sequin trousers from the other day from FCUK, then Christmas has come early with the code NOVFC20 giving you 20% off all stock. 

And whilst I was looking at the trousers, I also saw a number of print dresses which were surprisingly, even at full price, cheaper than I had expected.  With 20% off, these are really great.  All prices are pre discount.

Stable Jacquard Dress £69 - ideal if full on colour and print is not your bag.  This is a much more subtle option.  And it would still carry you well into the Spring with a pair of black sandals.  (she's clearly brave enough to wear them into the Winter.  I'm not.)



Another dress with very clever draping and ruching which again is much more flattering than a straight cut jersey job.  And yet again, this one has seasonal staying power and would work easily on holiday in the Summer. (or at home for that matter)

Calliope Printed Jersey Dress £75 FCUK



Finishing with Chris De Burgh's favourite - a red dress.  I love the waistband and draped skirt which is ideally suited to both those with a waist as it flatters and gives some definition to those who don't have one (me) 

Wildcat Long Sleeved Dress from FCUK £60 (this is before the 20% off - I could have sworn FCUK was much more expensive than this....)




I haven't touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to print so I will be back in the next couple of weeks with more. 

Finishing with my outfit from yesterday.  Not a print dress but my favourite print jeans from last year. 



Black polo neck with zip back - Zara
Leopard print jeans - Great Plains
Black buckle boots - Toga Pulla 
Black drape front boiled wool coat - Ronit Zilkha 
Black Faridah bag - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Tomorrow I shall be sporting new boots.  A trend I have finally finally conquered.  YES.  Oh and I'm going on my painting course.  Which makes a change from yet another trip to Ikea which I had to do today (seriously I could have it as my specialist subject on Mastermind).  And the sun is supposed to be shining.... What could be better?