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Right.  I'm going to mention the big C. CHRISTMAS.  What are we all going to be wearing. Lots of glitzy dresses and heels?  Frankly no.  Well, you might be, but I'm not. 

But does that mean I want to be wearing my trackpants and a tee shirt for the festive season. HELL NO.  I will be doing my darndest to find wearable gorgeous things that are little bit special but that are still casual and can be worn with.. well trackpants.  Or bottoms that can be worn with a huge cosy knit.  

We're going to reinvent the casual glamour look.  How hard can it be... I'm also tempted to start wearing them NOW.  Surely November and the whole of December we deserve some cheer and if something with sequins can bring an iota of joy, surely it's worth having a look.  

Or you may find you have something similar in your wardrobe that you wouldn't have thought of dressing down but hopefully this might give you some ideas. 

Let's go sequins! 

First up - the easiest to wear ever from hush.  Now they have similar to these every year and they sell like hot cakes so do not leave it too long if you want one as they will not be around (this was me last year with the sequin skirt from hush last year which I had to chase down!).

Ryker Sequin Sweatshirt from hush £89

Devere Sequin Velvet Top from hush £69

Then this gorgeous sequin number from The White Company.  With stretch in the title. What's not to love about this?  This would work perfectly with leather trousers for a smarter look (or team with chunky boots for a dressed down daytime look).  Or just with jeans, trainers and a long line blazer, huge scarf and you're done.  

Stretch Sequin Top from The White Company £119

Or more subtle with a glitter tee at hush...this one very much appeals to my inner belief that I am actually Parisienne.

hush Egalite Glitter Tee £35

High Neck in silver again at New Look was £19.99 now £7

V Neck Tunic top - ideal for leather leggings and to hide a multitude of sins over the festive season. 

BUT THESE BAD BOYS.. OH HELLOOOOOO.  

Trying to work out how much I actually love them.. maybe they're just worth "trying"... 

Love Moschino sequin joggers from ASOS were £255 now £105 

However these are probably a lot more useful and I'd get a lot less Disco MC Hammer jokes from the husband so there's always that. 

They would actually be super versatile.  FAB to dress down in a lockdown casual style with a sweatshirt and trainers.  But let's imagine that we have somewhere vaguely to go... silk blouse and heels and a tux blazer.  Or the middle ground - a black cashmere knit and flats.

Sequin Trousers from hush (these are new in and will NOT last long) £99

But an amazing version at Mint Velvet! 

Mint Velvet Sequin Trousers at John Lewis £89

And new in at H&M! 

Wide sequinned trousers from H&M £39.99

And leggings... 

Sequinned leggings at H&M £17.99

SUPER easy to wear with an oversized knit now - 

Glitter Leggings from hush £49

Orrrr there's a skirt. NOW.  This might not seem the most relaxing. BUT one of these, with a sweatshirt, hoodie, biker jacket and chunky boots can actually be very dressed down and casual.  Tee and trainers and it will also take you into the Summer.  I LOVE a sequin skirt.

Phase Eight Giana Sequin Skirt was £125 now £62.50

And another fab version from Whistles which will work beautifully now with grey, taupe and camel shades - AND into the Spring (oh can you imagine THE SPRING if we can all go out!) with pale greys, creams, off whites - perfect perfect perfect. 

Champagne Sequin Midi Skirt from Whistles was £119 now £69 

Now here's an option.  A short flippy skirt from Whistles.  This I wouldn't personally counter wearing without tights but with a thick pair of opaques and a silk blouse of knit that would be amazing! 

Black Carly Sequin Flippy Skirt was £109 now £65

And a DRESS!!  This is on offer at H&M if you are a member. 

Long Sleeved Sequinned Dress £34.99 or £27.99 if you're a member. 

The other option is of course a jacket. 

Relaxed Sequin Jacket from M&S £65

Another sequin blazer at hush £129

A double breasted version at Whistles. 

Black Sequin Double Breasted Blazer was £169 now £99

Now there are subtle options as well... if you don't fancy full on sequins, fear not - how about just some sequin detailing. 

Mint Velvet Sequin Lips Sweater from John Lewis £69

But perhaps the super easiest option is a pair of trainers.  Just throw them on and go! 

Leather Lace Up Trainers from M&S £45

Or... how about channelling your inner Audrey with a pair of ballet flats.  PERFECT with an all black outfit.

Princely 2 Black Crushed Glitter Slides from Kurt Geiger were £139 now £69

And I could go on and on and on but I'm going to leave it there as I need to get on with WINTER WOOLIES!!!  Ones to keep out heads, hands and necks warm AND ones that we can wear with our sequins. I'll be sorting both on my walks on the weeks before Christmas.  Oh and they'll also make great presents too!  

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...seeing as it's here to stay for the time being at least.  The mood of the nation is heading into (being forced into?!) relaxed mode.  And what better way to celebrate not being able to go out with the purchase of something we will be able to wear day in and day out - the sweatshirt.  

So this isn't really a reinvention as such, more of a rediscovery and an easy segue from pure slobbism into something we can wear every day.  With a slight rejig of an outfit (ie maybe don't wear with tracksuit trousers that you wore when you were pregnant with your 12 yr old - just me?) suddenly these can be your go to dress down top to wear with jeans, wide leg trousers, maxi or midi skirts - you name it, you can wear it.  Throw on an oversized coat or a blazer for a slightly smarter look. 

I haven't gone down the hoody route - seeing as this is something for which there are a LOT of options, I'll do a WHOLE hoody one on its own.  Purely selfish of course, as if I look back at my wardrobe - these are one of the items that have lasted the test of time.  From throwing on over your jamas to do the school run, to grabbing to go to the gym, to wearing over leather leggings and a smarter jacket for... well - will we be allowed to leave the house by the end of the week?  If so, this is what you can be wearing.

Starting with a black and white theme - possibly the easiest way to start if you're not a fan of the larger logo.  These will fit in perfectly with all your neutral wardrobe favourites.

Black Phoenix Arizona Logo Sweatshirt from New Look £17.99

Deliciously perfect and in the sale from Moschino at ASOS.

Love Moschino Sweatshirt was £160 now £95

And a grey version - ideal for winter whites or with blacks... perfect with navy too.

Grey again with an embroidered motif in gold at H&M

Grey Mon Amour Sweatshirt from New Look was £16.99 now £8

I shouldn't love this one as much as I do and it's white would be a disaster for me as I am so messy and can't drink a cup of coffee without wearing half of it. BUT a high neck polo neck... oh.. hello...

Levi's High Neck Gardenia Sweatshirt from Urban Outfitters £75

Dark charcoal grey.

ASOS DESIGN ACDC print in charcoal £28

Grey.. now please don't panic about the cropped aspect.. it's actually pretty perfect with high waisted jeans.  NO MIDRIFF ON SHOW! 

Hollister graphic sweatshirt from ASOS £29

Levi's Peanuts Crew Neck Sweatshirt £60

And in yellow - again £60. I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS!

Red is definitely one of my favourite colours for a top.

Claudie Pierlot Relaxed Fit Jersey Top £81

Red Chicago 98 Sweatshirt from New Look £17.99

LOVE this one from Whistles. 

Red C'est Chic Logo Sweatshirt £79

Oversized now and actually my absolute favourite one that I've had for years is from Missguided.  Don't laugh.  I know... BUT it's such a good sweatshirt that I've had for about 4yrs and haven't found a huge one as good.  This is what's on offer for this season. 

And a Rolling Stones one - also at H&M.

And a FABULOUS grey one with a vintage vibe... again at H&M

So so so many options but fear not, if a logo sweatshirt isn't for you, I have other winter warmer options coming soon.  Plain knits and their antithesis, the fairisle - all the print you could ever want in a jumper.  Not to mention bottoms to wear with them... 

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..the one that is making all the headlines this season is the check version.  These are EVERYWHERE.  You can't move without hitting a coat of the checked variety and there's pretty much one for everyone. 

These aren't, however, new to me (or many others I would think).  You will either love them or hate them BUT - I do think there is a version that you might like out there.  As when it comes to checks, the varieties are endless.  Bright checks, neutral checks, big checks, small checks, chunky coats, faux fur coats, trenches, jackets, belted or shirt style. 

The key to finding one that you love is - in my book - relatively simple. Identify the style that you like.  You will know what sort of style works for you - what's the style you wear most often and that goes with the majority of your wardrobe.  Or what sort of coat do you have a hole in your wardrobe, that a new checked coat would fill.

And then - the check itself.  You will know when you find a check that you love.  It will fill you will JOY.  You will look at it and you will utterly love it.   I have a few and they're the sort of check that you come back to, time and time and again.  When you look at it, the shades should make you happy.  That's it! It's as easy as that.  Yes, it also helps if it goes with the rest of your wardrobe but I'm going to hazard a guess that if you do genuinely love it, it will also work with the other things that you already have.  And if not - just keep the rest of your outfit very neutral.

Without further ado, let's see what is out there.

Starting with my favourites which are the longer ones...

This whilst being super striking is actually also very versatile and verging on a neutral.  Undoubtedly one that would last the test of time.

YAS tailored longline checked coat in camel with tie waist £160

ASOS DESIGN TALL Neon Maxi Coat was £95 now £61.75

ASOS DESIGN Neon Check Maxi Coat was £95 now £41.80

Two longer slightly lighter ones from Glamorous at Topshop.

Green Check Duster Coat at Topshop £85

Kin Utility Check Coat from John Lewis £169

Liquorish straight coat in navy and beige check was £130 now £78

ASOS DESIGN Curve Balloon Sleeve Check Coat was £75 now £54

This is a mid length one in the sale with over 60% off.  It's a Helen Berman coat at ASOS and interestingly, it's not perhaps the styling that I would pare with the coat... a plain white tee and jeans and this would be amazing on warmer Autumn days.  With a navy knit, jeans and trainers or chunky boots, ideal for cooler times that are a coming.

Helene Berman belted coat was £210 now £74

And then there are the shacket styles... 

Object longline shacket from ASOS £90

Wool-blend Coat at H&M £99.99

Boel Coat from Weekday £110

hush Marjo Check Jacket in Blue £169

Another belted version at In Wear in the sale at ASOS.

In Wear Silju Jacket was £180 now £120

Checked shacket at La Redoute in red and black £58

Check faux shearling coat from Stradivarius £59.99

Checked Boyfriend Shacket at La Redoute £48 with 35% off using the code AUTUMN

And a black and white classic trucker number from Warehouse on offer.  To add a more feminine edge, maybe wear over a black dress with knee high boots... or wide leather cropped trews, a black polo neck and black mules.

Check trucker jacket from Warehouse was £79 now £53.30

And I am sure there are more... I will be hunting them down and bringing them to you as soon as I find them.  That's not the end of the coats though but I shall be taking a break and bringing you the weekend's special that we find ourselves wearing during the week now - the sweatshirt!