Back in my comfort zone - do I need any more?
So whilst I was on the hunt yesterday for tops to go with skirts, what did I mainly come across? Yes that's right - obviously the one thing I have absolutely no need of but am magnetically drawn to.
I had all sorts of problems finding the perfect fitted top but there are the most gorgeous boxy tops in abundance. Yes I have an obsession with skinny trousers and these tops are just the ideal things to go with them. Ridiculously easy to wear and so handy to have a plethora of in your wardrobe to drag out and throw on season after season.
Except that I already have loads of them. Probably the one thing in my wardrobe of which I am embarrassed to have too many.
However since I cannot justify even a small one, I am sharing them with you in the hope that I can shop vicariously.
Having said all that, I don't have a black lace top... and one of these, over black coated skinnies with either heels, ballet flats (cute) or.. dare I say it... over the knee boots (more on these later) this would be amazing. And no, I don't have one. I do though have the trousers, jackets (a little black tuxedo blazer would rock with this) and shoes (if not the boots.. yet....)
How perfect would any of these be with distressed skinnies and black heeled ankle boots for a lunch out in London (which I have a couple pencilled in in January...). I was doing so well being abstemious as well. I have just pressed buy on one of these.
Rise Clara Top was £45 now £30 (would also work with a pencil skirt... just saying)
Springfield Flower Lace Top from FCUK was £99 now £49.50 Into the Spring, this would serve you well. I love having tops like this for those impromptu nights out with friends. (clearly by "impromptu nights", I mean ones that have been meticulously planned months in advance as that's what happens to us all when you have kids, no?)
Silk Lace Panelled Blouse from Jaeger was £199 now £99 Or.................. oooooh
Now these below I can't justify as I do have enough knitwear and I have enough navy. But this is such an easy to wear top - I'm just preferring the all black lace versions above (this is black and navy together though. Gorgeous detailing at the back. Perfect with black skinnies or jeans. My favourite sort of versatile)
Coast Estar Knit top in navy was £75 now £49
This has nothing to do with boxy tops - I just love it for the Summer and were I to have a glamourous weekend away planned somewhere super warm, this would be mine.
Wishbone Charlie Broderie Cami in Black was £60 now £30
Moving onto more casual boxy tops now - perfect for during the day. These are timeless - I have a similar (ok it's not similar - it's a tunic and it's bone and khaki stripe, but it's a classic shape and colour and there in lies the similarity) from Toast that I bought five years ago and I still wear it every year.
In a blue shade from Jigsaw. Cotton Herringbone Kimono Sleeve top in blue was £49 now £34
Another boxy patchwork top from Jigsaw - Patchwork Herringbone top was £98 now £49
Denim Patchwork Sweatshirt in blue from Jigsaw was £79 now £39 I need this one in my life. I need this to go with all the navy things I own. And every single pair of jeans in my wardrobe. This is a no brainer.
Je Parle Francais Sweatshirt from Etre Cecile was £105 now £73 Some may say tacky. I say I don't care - it's the oatmealy grey and navy that I love. (and I can speak French. HA!)
Can you ever have too many Breton tops? Hmm does this go against my new Resolution?? Hmmmmmmm This isn't cheap but cost per wear, I can guarantee this would be worth it. I can pretty much say I wouldn't be getting the shorts as well, seeing as I'm 41 and not 6.
Striped French-terry sweatshirt - T by Alexander Wang was £178 now £106 at Matches (as soon as there is an extra 10% off sales prices I am pressing buy. I appreciate that a) I've already missed one they had and b) this will obviously have sold out by then. Maybe I should just cave on this now. It does remind me of a Joseph one I had when my kids were tiny (I had a 3 yr old, a 1yr old and a newborn at one point. I rocked in a corner for years). I had spent ages trying to justify spending £100 plus on the most stunning Breton top. Only on its first wash for the middle child (who was then 2) to whack up the washing machine from a cold hand wash to - oh yes a 60 degree wash. I still want to throw up when I think about it. Scarred? Yes I am.
So there we have some things I thought I couldn't remotely justify but have done a pretty good job of persuading myself that I'm not sure I can live without them.
Which leads me on nicely to the over the knee boot issue. One pair worked. ONE PAIR. All the rest were stupidly short on me (basically all the others in Kurt Geiger etc and Dune.) The extra long Office ones have sold out instore and aren't available online in my size.
So these are the Vanessa from Kurt Geiger which I love........ I am slightly concerned that they will go baggy and slide down but if they do, KG are usually excellent at accepting their stuff is faulty so I would feel confident that I could return them. I did look at some amazing ones in Russell & Bromley - the Stuart Weitzman Lowland boots but they are £595. Yes, you read that right. £600 bar a fiver. Oh. My. God. I would have to wear these every day for the next year to justify them. Not happening (wonders if they are any cheaper in the US as they're an American brand...... Or contemplates selling a child or kidney... Thank god I didn't try them on in case I loved them more than my little finger or something)
These suddenly seem quite reasonable with the 10% off if you sign up to their newsletter..... (reasonableish....)
I had all sorts of problems finding the perfect fitted top but there are the most gorgeous boxy tops in abundance. Yes I have an obsession with skinny trousers and these tops are just the ideal things to go with them. Ridiculously easy to wear and so handy to have a plethora of in your wardrobe to drag out and throw on season after season.
Except that I already have loads of them. Probably the one thing in my wardrobe of which I am embarrassed to have too many.
However since I cannot justify even a small one, I am sharing them with you in the hope that I can shop vicariously.
Having said all that, I don't have a black lace top... and one of these, over black coated skinnies with either heels, ballet flats (cute) or.. dare I say it... over the knee boots (more on these later) this would be amazing. And no, I don't have one. I do though have the trousers, jackets (a little black tuxedo blazer would rock with this) and shoes (if not the boots.. yet....)
How perfect would any of these be with distressed skinnies and black heeled ankle boots for a lunch out in London (which I have a couple pencilled in in January...). I was doing so well being abstemious as well. I have just pressed buy on one of these.
Rise Clara Top was £45 now £30 (would also work with a pencil skirt... just saying)
Springfield Flower Lace Top from FCUK was £99 now £49.50 Into the Spring, this would serve you well. I love having tops like this for those impromptu nights out with friends. (clearly by "impromptu nights", I mean ones that have been meticulously planned months in advance as that's what happens to us all when you have kids, no?)
Silk Lace Panelled Blouse from Jaeger was £199 now £99 Or.................. oooooh
Coast Estar Knit top in navy was £75 now £49
This has nothing to do with boxy tops - I just love it for the Summer and were I to have a glamourous weekend away planned somewhere super warm, this would be mine.
Wishbone Charlie Broderie Cami in Black was £60 now £30
Moving onto more casual boxy tops now - perfect for during the day. These are timeless - I have a similar (ok it's not similar - it's a tunic and it's bone and khaki stripe, but it's a classic shape and colour and there in lies the similarity) from Toast that I bought five years ago and I still wear it every year.
In a blue shade from Jigsaw. Cotton Herringbone Kimono Sleeve top in blue was £49 now £34
Another boxy patchwork top from Jigsaw - Patchwork Herringbone top was £98 now £49
Denim Patchwork Sweatshirt in blue from Jigsaw was £79 now £39 I need this one in my life. I need this to go with all the navy things I own. And every single pair of jeans in my wardrobe. This is a no brainer.
Je Parle Francais Sweatshirt from Etre Cecile was £105 now £73 Some may say tacky. I say I don't care - it's the oatmealy grey and navy that I love. (and I can speak French. HA!)
Striped French-terry sweatshirt - T by Alexander Wang was £178 now £106 at Matches (as soon as there is an extra 10% off sales prices I am pressing buy. I appreciate that a) I've already missed one they had and b) this will obviously have sold out by then. Maybe I should just cave on this now. It does remind me of a Joseph one I had when my kids were tiny (I had a 3 yr old, a 1yr old and a newborn at one point. I rocked in a corner for years). I had spent ages trying to justify spending £100 plus on the most stunning Breton top. Only on its first wash for the middle child (who was then 2) to whack up the washing machine from a cold hand wash to - oh yes a 60 degree wash. I still want to throw up when I think about it. Scarred? Yes I am.
So there we have some things I thought I couldn't remotely justify but have done a pretty good job of persuading myself that I'm not sure I can live without them.
Which leads me on nicely to the over the knee boot issue. One pair worked. ONE PAIR. All the rest were stupidly short on me (basically all the others in Kurt Geiger etc and Dune.) The extra long Office ones have sold out instore and aren't available online in my size.
So these are the Vanessa from Kurt Geiger which I love........ I am slightly concerned that they will go baggy and slide down but if they do, KG are usually excellent at accepting their stuff is faulty so I would feel confident that I could return them. I did look at some amazing ones in Russell & Bromley - the Stuart Weitzman Lowland boots but they are £595. Yes, you read that right. £600 bar a fiver. Oh. My. God. I would have to wear these every day for the next year to justify them. Not happening (wonders if they are any cheaper in the US as they're an American brand...... Or contemplates selling a child or kidney... Thank god I didn't try them on in case I loved them more than my little finger or something)
These suddenly seem quite reasonable with the 10% off if you sign up to their newsletter..... (reasonableish....)
And these are the Lowland if anyone had a spare £600.
So there we have the tale of two boots. Literally the only two boots there are that would be vaguely over the knee on me. What to do.......??
Finishing with pic from today - car park chic again, this time at Ikea. Which wasn't too bad. Bluewater on the other hand - dear lord alive, I have never ever seen it so rammed. Hideous isn't the word. Smash and grab at Lush for the 10yr old and then queued at Game for half an hour as I promised the two small boys I would buy them a new Xbox game with their Christmas money. For me? Zilch. Nada. Didn't even have the time or inclination to fight the crowds looking. And there's me thinking that people would have gone at the weekend... Clearly we all thought the same thing!
Fairisle jumper - H&M
Black coated skinnies - Cos
Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang
Black buckle boots - Toga Pulla
Off to watch Harry Potter as we promised the two oldest they could have a movie night. I have a date on the sofa, snuggling with my 8yr old and a large glass of red. xx
