For now or for later....

... I'm still thinking you can never have too many.  And I've come to realise from all the comments and emails I've had over the past couple of months that others definitely agree. 

The dress is here to stay.  This weekend is a prime example - off out to a BBQ in London and tomorrow - a BBQ at ours for friends and family for the smallest's birthday.   And what would I have worn this time last year?  Well, jeans and a top.. skinnies and a blouse?  

This year however - another year older and obviously another year wiser and I am embracing the dress.  

To be totally honest with you - I'm getting my wear out of them whilst it's still vaguely warm because as much as I'm all over them in the Summer - the jury is still out as to how I'll get on with them in the Winter. 

I had hoped to fall in love with them last A/W but it didn't quite happen for day wear.  Why?  Hmmm I don't know.  Coat issue maybe?  I'm not going to expend too much brain capacity on it (let's be frank, I don't have that much to spread around) and instead just focus on the coming months. 

Especially as I keep coming across other frock gems that I haven't seen before.  The really good thing I have noticed about dresses is that they are the gift that keeps on giving, year in, year out.  I have worn all my dresses from last year and the year before (apart from one... the pink pleated one I wore to a wedding in Italy - it just hasn't been warm enough to wear it here) and even a couple from five years ago - with a little alteration to midi length, they've been given a second lease of life. 

And so whilst it might seem like slight madness to consider short dresses this late on in the season - they will definitely serve you well next year, we still have weeks and weeks of amazing weather (we're going away again in a fortnight - primarily as I have to pick my coffee machine up... in all seriousness, it was booked eons ago.  Hello hopefully sunny Suffolk again...a girl can dream...) and you can still definitely wear these with opaques for months to come. 

Starting with one that I saw at ASOS when I was looking for I can't remember what.  Oh my lord I love this.  Adore the texture (certainly makes it more wintery in my opinion.) I reckon you could even wear this layered with a thin knit polo, opaques and ankle boots - huge black cardie and you're off.  Or grey chunky knit on top, cashmere scarf.......

ASOS Shift Dress in textured stripe £42

This dress was hugely popular early in the season and is a bargain now at half price.  Following on from my love of all things striped yesterday.... It's also a thicker texture as opposed to a thin, properly Summer dress so can easily be worn into the Autumn.  Looks great with ankle boots as you can see....

Tall Striped Jacquard Dress from Topshop was £50 now £25



And the non tall version!  Again was £50 now £25





I'm not even going to attempt to suggest this is anything but full on Summer holiday or for one of those three scorchio days we get a year.  This is "summer drawer" fodder for me.  A bargain to snaffle away for next year if you've already been away.  If not, grab yourself a bargain now.

Striped Bardot Dress was £36 now £20 from Topshop




Moving on from stripe and some print - two gorgeous prints that I've earmarked on recent searches - keep coming back to them.  Simply can't justify them but I love both.  Someone else please buy them. 

Selected Cathy Printed Dress £65



However I think I might be able to sneak this one in for just £25... how gorgeous is this?  From Matalan.  Yes, you read that correctly - Matalan.  

Abbey by Abbey Clancey £25






Because I've mentioned opaques, just have to tell you that the new A/W range from hush is launched today.  Later on, I have a date with my laptop and a glass of wine and shall peruse all things gorgeously Autumnal. 

But this dress would actually work now with bare legs and sandals, as well as with tights and boots later on.  For properly inbetweeny seasons, I would wear with nude tights and ankle boots.  And of course I shall be all over the OTK boots....  Huge chunky cardigan (have become vaguely obsessed with these... ) and you're off. 

Plait Dress from hush £65



This one would look great in exactly the same guise.  Love the colour - the mix of the black and blue but especially love love love the print. 

Annabelle Dress from hush £55




However as much as I love short dresses - it's the longer ones that I am all over at the moment.  Seriously if I could find ten versions of the & Other Stories dresses, I would buy them.  Have they done anything remotely similar since?  Have they heck as like. 

But I did manage to find a couple which are marginally longer at Atterley.  Especially if you're not a ridiculous tallie like me.

Vila Black Amoret Shirt Dress was £35 now £18



Cream Drop Waist Dress £65 from Atterley




They also do it in a navy which I absolutely adore.  I only wish wish it was longer for me. 

Navy Drop Waist Dress £65 from Atterley 




However it's definitely the midi dress that I am currently obsessed with (yawn, I know I've mentioned this once or ten times) but I could honestly wear this style pretty much every day.  In the Autumn - these, with ankle boots.... oh yes, hello.  Ideal for during the day.  For everything.

Now there is a real dearth of these around at a reasonable price, so I'm back to being alteration queen.  This - cropped to midi length would be amazing.  And slightly more tightly tied at the chest.  No one needs to cop an eyeful of my greying nude t-shirt bra (be quiet at the back - I'm an A cup.  And t-shirt bras are a) cheap b) comfy and c) seam free.  All the glamour on the underwear front here.  Not.)

Glamorous Maxi Dress with lace up detail £50




However I did manage to find a midi dresses that might actually work lengthwise.  Adore it with the knee length boots.  A new designer I came across at ASOS - not the cheapest (to put it mildly...) but if they're what you're looking for and you'd get loads of wear out of it..... All very Free People if you ask me. 

Gat Rimon Yaze Embroidered dress in black £175



I'm also on the hunt for shirt dresses as I'm constantly being asked for them - for work, for play, for everything, so I'll be back with them shortly. 

And proving I do practise what I preach - here I am in yet again, *that* dress. 


Porcelain dress - & Other Stories
Black lace up sandals - Forever21
Black Mario bag - Jerome Dreyfuss

I now have to go and watch the remainder of Insurgent (which we've tried to watch three times but keep falling asleep...) with the kids.  The Husband has taken himself off to the Rugby Club for an exceptionally (apparently) important rugby match.  I did enquire as to when the World Cup did start and to how this could be of such magnitude compared to that..... needless to say I didn't bother to listen to the utter tripe that was spouted in his defence..... Rugby schmugby.  Snoozerama if you ask me. 

That's my evening with the hush website sorted then..... *punches air*