Just add confidence.

Right.  So there are certain styles which, as I career past 40 (time PLEASE slow down - my children are growing up at the speed of light and I hate it.) that I find i'm having to now stop and think about with a more sensible head on.

The fact that in my mind, I still think I'm 28, doesn't exactly help.  It also is not remotely helpful that I am a fashion goldfish.  One minute I think - oh no I can't wear that - the next day, I'm all over it like a wasp on jam.  As I've mentioned more than once, I do think I'm a fashion schizophrenic - one day my aim is to be the epitome of all things classic - I aspire to channel the Parisian chic look, which is effortlessly elegant.  

And the next minute, I'm hoofing through Topshop like a frenzied old bag lady (who probably has a lot of cats) with teenage aspirations, picking up the latest fashion, convinced I can pull it off.

So where do you draw the line?  Well, that's the beauty of fashion - I've come to the conclusion that the older you get, the more you can focus on your own style.  All you need is a bit of confidence (and a very very honest friend is also handy, if not essential) 

Today - the contentious item that I'm looking at is The Jumpsuit.  Dungarees were mentioned by a number of people as the possible item to discuss - let's shelve that for the minute but fear not, I will be back to it.  

This season, it appears to also be going under the guise of The Boilersuit.  Which frankly, I do find somewhat more intimidating.  The risk of me getting it wrong and looking like a transvestite dressing up as Charlene circa 1987 is high.  Alternatively I'll look like i've eaten Charlene - Kylie Minogue being the size of a 10 yr old and me being 5ft10 and wide of shoulder. 

Handy Manny's Mum is another fear of mine - let's just face it, this is going to be tricky.  Which is where that little bit of confidence comes in.  At the end of the day - finding your personal style is about having the confidence to wear it.

So here is where the inspiration this season has come from - yet again, a mag on the plane (no I haven't had that long on my own with no interruption, in about 9 years.  And I seriously wish I was joking but I'm not)

The M&S one jumped out (boom boom) at me and last night I got an email telling me it was IN STOCK. GO GO GO GO GO. 

Twin pockets Jumpsuit from M&S £49.50  And I KNEW I should have ordered it last night as some sizes are already sold out.  Maybe this isn't as contentious an item as I had thought it might be... 



However I think I may have come across a better option which is slightly cheaper too.  What's not to love about this one...... especially seeing as it's in, my new and easy to obsess over, khaki shade. 

Khaki Tencel Jumpsuit now only £35



And they also do a black one - for me I think the khaki is more versatile.  I think it would look great with a denim jacket or black or navy blazer.  I'd even consider wearing it out in the evening with some gladiator heeled sandals.  Shall I go for it?  But the black of course would also be a classic to have (well, as classic as a jumpsuit can be... I'm sure we also said this about skinny jeans years ago and could we live without them now?) 

Black Tencel Jumpsuit now only £39 (£4 more than the khaki one for some reason)



Short sleeve and collarless at Kin by John Lewis, again in the sale.  Love this styling in the pic - goes to show how easy to wear it can be. 

Kin by John Lewis Tie Waist Jumpsuit was £99 now £69



Similar shape but with long sleeves is the gorgeous Emmeline Crepe jumpsuit from FCUK which was £150 and is now £75.  A classic that will take you into the Spring. 

Also available at Atterley Road at only £70 and with an extra 10% off with the code FINAL10




Another one in the sale - and it would be surely rude not to take advantage of the dregs of the reductions to suck it and see if you're not sure about a jumpsuit.  This has a D ring belt which is all the rage apparently (judging by the research I've done - just buy it and wear it.... you'll see) 

Mango Hoops Tencel Jumpsuit was £59.99 now £29.99





Navy now - this is more but it's 70% off and would look as good with flipflops as it would be to wear to a First Holy Communion with strappy sandals (not saying my Reiss navy and black ones wouldn't look fab but.... not to mention navy satin shoe boots....).  This is from Matches and actually has free delivery till tonight.  And they have free returns... so it's like going to the shops but having them delivered to your bedroom.  Couldn't be easier.

V-neck Jumpsuit from Issa was £450 now £135 at Matches




If we're upping the budget, we should look at By Malene Birger.  I do have a strapless jumpsuit which I got five years ago (yes, FIVE years ago!) from there in a khaki (polishes fashion halo) leopard print which I wear religiously every Summer (to be fair every year I do need a better quality strapless bra as gravity is a bitch.  What once were pert, be them small breasts, now bear a striking resemblance to dead hamsters hanging off my chest.  Just charming).  However persist I will and the jumpsuit (which wasn't cheap at the time) has been beyond useful.  I wear it during the day in the Summer with flat sandals and a denim jacket for the school run - throw on strappy sandals and it's been the perfect night out ensemble for years. 

My point (that I'm making in a very longwinded fashion) is that it's been an amazing investment.  And they wash in the machine, like a dream.  Which would make them serious contenders, considering some of the other options - is this better than the Issa one above?

Isina Jumpsuit from By Malene Birger £185



Also found this one at The Outnet - oh hello.... I simply adore both of these.  These would look absolutely rooting tooting amazing with sneakers, sandals or skater shoes during the day - a denim jacket thrown on.  I'd wear for a smart lunch, again with skater shoes or Stan Smiths (which are supposed to have arrived but haven't..... the whole debacle is a fiasco.  What was I thinking?) and a blazer......  Strappy heels for the evening.  This would pay for itself within a month, I guarantee.   In my experience, BMB does come up big. 

Liggaso stretch jersey jumpsuit in Charcoal was £185 now £74



Or in black was £185 now £83.25 




More navy at Vila.  This one isn't as smart and therefore not as versatile as the Issa one but is a fraction of the cost.  

Vila Utility Jumpsuit £28



Another option which is much more difficult to find for day time is a wide legged one.  I love this navy version from ASOS, even though I think the styling is a bit meh here.  Personally I think it's too short for the model - I'd wear it with flat sneakers for day time, a much easier to wear look. (little collarless fitted denim jacket would look absolutely amazing - *rushes off to see if they do a tall version*)  Heels would be fine for the evening if the length is right but I have to say these chunky shoes wouldn't be my first choice.  

ASOS Jumpsuit with wide legs £50



Now moving onto this season - we've upgraded from The Jumpsuit and apparently now we're all about The Boiler Suit.  This (from what I can work out and believe me, I am no expert whatosver..) is that the look is more utilitarian.  We are morphing into full on mechanic status (which is ironic, if like me you don't actually know where the lever to open the bonnet is in your car.  I wrote that down as a flippant comment, but on reflection, embarrassingly I really have no idea) 

The key difference is that we are now being encouraged to embrace denim.  In my book of fashion translations for the more mature amongst us, I would put anything in a silky fabric or with a dressier look to it under the heading of Jumpsuit.  If you look like you're in need of a wrench and a spanner and are wearing a denim/cargo style fabric then we're talking Boilersuits.  Clear as mud eh?  I'll also add, a boiler suit must have sleeves and an opening down the front.  That's that sorted then.

I've also managed to find some that are in the sale and you would be well ahead of the game snagging these. 

Cipputi Boiler Suit from Aries £325 now £97 from Matches.





In khaki - not as great a reduction but they do have more sizes in stock. 

Cipputi denim boiler suit from Aries was £325 now £162



Another from Current Elliot.  The Mechanic cotton jumpsuit (clue is in the title, see?) was £315 now £189


A much more palatable price point though for beginners (that'll be me...) at ASOS.  Some people may prefer a belt, some may not. 

ASOS Soft Denim Jumpsuit with Utility Styling (they call it a jumpsuit - I think maybe I need to rethink my definition.  I'm going with perhaps a Boiler Suit doesn't have a belt?  Does anyone actually care?) £50



Case in point.  They call this a Jumpsuit and it has a belt.  Ergo Boiler Suit = no belt. 

Sod's law says this is the one I LOVE and this is the one that is scarily expensive.  

BA&SH Madison Boiler Suit in Denim £210.  Exceptionally tempted to try just for research purposes... one of those itches you need to scratch otherwise it will haunt you.  Mind you, at that price, it's more the stuff of nightmares.  The fact that she is young and nubile and I would probably look like a tool in it, is neither here nor there.  In my head I will be Alexa Chung (from a distance - like France)



Definitely think no belt seals the definition.  We have belt loops here but definitely no belt itself. 

Daisy Street Denim Boilersuit £34.99




Orrrr, could the definition be that if there is a zip down the front, that = a boiler suit?  Who knows... I think I may need to try some.  My concern is proportion related which could equate to a camel toe disaster but maybe I need to try some on to see.  I should probably track down those which come in a Tall. 

Multi-Zip Boiler Suit from Topshop £58




So I think that's enough food for thought for the moment.  Are we in on the action or not?  I appreciate it's not going to be for everyone.  I have worn strapless jumpsuits for years now and I think I could get lots of wear out of ones with sleeves (short sleeves at the very least.  I am ridiculously tempted by the By Malene Birger ones from The Outnet.  They strike me as being excellent value for money and cost per wear, I think they may be a good investment.  The quality of her clothing is truly excellent if you haven't ever tried her wares)

For me, I'm not sure the boiler suit is on the edge of Baaaaaaaa but I think with the right footwear, the right fit (this is seriously important) and a huge slosh of confidence, it *might* work....... 

So finishing with my outfit from yesterday.  It was my niece's Christening so I was up at 8am making two pavlovas (practically the only pud that I can make which other people apparently rate.  Don't ask me how - they just work.  I put it down to a good oven and an egg separator from Lidl...)




Print dress - Sandro
Black boiled wool coat - Ronit Zilkha
Black quilted leather bag - Zara
Black shoe boots - M&S

And last night - well here's my rock and roll Valentine's Saturday night.  We've got my sister in law staying with us for 9 days so we had a movie night with the kids and then I couldn't face a takeaway so The Husband said he'd cook if I went to the supermarket.  Therefore here's my, in my slobs in the lift at Waitrose.  All the glamour.  I thought maybe a Louis Vuitton scarf might make me look less like a tramp.  Alas the hole in the toe of my Uggs (which you can't see but believe me, is there) probably shattered any illusion. 




Leopard print sweatshirt - Zara
Black Lola jersey pants - Whistles
Dune monogram scarf - Louis Vuitton

Tomorrow is the start of half term.  I'll be back with a slightly off the wall post for me but it's aimed at getting us through without losing our minds which can surely only be a good thing.