Does my bum look 40 in this?

Showing posts with label culottes. Show all posts

... yet you want to wear Summer clothes as that's what the shops are full of and despite most of us having lived in the UK forever, we are still insistent that it should be SUMMER come May.

Why do we do that? Surely we can count on one hand the amount of glorious Mays we have had over the years? At the very least it's a super mixed bag isn't it?

So when Marks and Spencer suggested that for this month's collaboration with them, I look at Summer clothes, I'm looking at it from my definition of Summer. Summer in the UK that is - at this time of year when it *should* be glorious (despite history telling us otherwise - details schmetails eh?!) - basically not. It's not quite warm enough to wear full on sandals, or summer dresses, or to leave your jacket at home (I can't do the Phil Collins joke again this year. Once a Spring is enough).

But the best thing about these sorts of clothes is that in reality, you're going to be getting a lot more use out of them. We're talking mix and match, we're talking dress up, dress down, I don't particularly like the term "practical" as I find it vaguely reminiscent of something cagoule related, but these are actually a practical set of clothes to wear in the UK version of Summer. Which is essentially Spring. With a couple of days of "Summer" thrown in to fox us (and where we all drag out those super Summery dresses that are usually reserved for a beach and 32 degrees somewhere we've had to travel by plane to).

However I have found some gems that you will be wearing all year. "Proper" Summer clothes I like to call them.

And what do I love in my version of summer? Am I all about the colour? Am I heck as like. Give me all the monochrome. And I have stocked up with some complete gems.

Starting with my one of my two favourites. These are amazing. They are a complete steal and I am tempted to buy two pairs as I know I will be wearing these into the Winter months. They also go perfectly with my loafers which I was having a crisis about what to wear with them.

Kick Flare Cropped Trousers £29.50 I took my usual size.

From black to white. Not so keepn to venture down the more fitted white route, so imagine my joy (I would like to say that I didn't actually whoop, but I did actually whoop) when I found these wide leg cropped trousers. I have lived in my black ones and I have navy (also from M&S actually) last year, so these were a total no brainer. I've just realised that I had also randomly tried them on before but for some reason, they look completely different when I styled them with different shoes and a more casual top... I've gone from a no to a yes. I also said size up in them last time. Well, I obviously picked up a bigger version as they were perfect. Random. Randomly good though.

Button Detail Wide Leg Trousers £35 In the end I went with a 10, although I guess I would prefer an 11....

Alternatively, you can dress them up... as you can see I've thrown all the colour at it (i.e. some yellow shoes...).

With the navy top... this is a 10 and I would say is adequate in sizing, if not on the large side. Actually it is on the large side.

Pure Cotton Tiered Sleeve Off the Shoulder top from Autograph £39.50 They also have it in a white.

And the shoes which are simply gorgeous but come up huge! Size down.

Leather Block Heel Yellow Sling Back Shoes £55

Staying with white.. well, off white, with yet another skirt which you can expect to see on repeat over the Summer from me.

Buckle Detail Handkerchief Skirt £49.50

With the matching jacket that I did have on the last blog but it was OOS. It's back in. Together I adore this look. Were I to have an event to wear it to...

Double Breasted Patch Pocket Jacket £59

But fear not, the skirt can just as easily be dressed down. Or dressed up to suit me. This skirt - I cannot describe how much I adore it.

A quick mention of a top I've found that would be a perfect alternative to the (non M&S!) top I'm wearing in the above pic.

Pure Cotton Ruffle Trim Round Neck Tee - £12.50 in navy

Staying with dressed down and skirts and all things monochrome...

Tier Striped A-Line Maxi Skirt from M&S £35

And the rather amazing black tee that I have on in both those above pics (and below with the trousers). This is the only black tee you'll need this season. Buy two. Double layer edge, loose but not voluminous, drapey and the perfect V Neck.

Lace Neckline Short Sleeved Tee £15

Speaking of maxi - not a skirt but maxi length trousers. Neutral, wide legged, dress up, dress down, what's not to love? Three different leg lengths *punches air*.

I just swapped the skirt above for the trousers.

Pleated Wide Leg Trousers from Autograph £45

And how to dress them down. They'd look amazing with trainers.

However I did venture into the colour arena. I say "venture"... and it sure is full on colour.

I need to be brave enough to wear them. I think with a black breton top and black blazer, these would look epic. White tee and trench coat. Or just how they're styled here. Night out with black pointed stilettos and a black pussy bow blouse.

Cropped Wide Leg Trousers in red £45 They also do these in a fuchsia.

Finishing with the yellow. You may have seen this dress an abundance of times on Instagram (or even in real life). Yes it looks perfect with a boho style sandal but for the rest of the year? Yellow and black. Perfect.

Tiered Long Sleeve Midi Dress £49.50 And I will come back to the sandals. I must come back to the sandals before they all sell out. That's the problem with the weather in this country - by the time the heat does pitch up, the shops are full of Autumnal fare. I need to get onto the sandal train. Watch this space.

But finishing where I started with the black kick flare trousers. Perfection. And they've given a new lease of life to the red loafers (not a bad photo for an 8yr old, is it?!).

Blondie tee - Hollister

Camel blazer - Stella McCartney

Black kick flare trousers - M&S

Red loafers - Gucci

Black Tools Bag - Balenciaga

So this really is what Summer is all about isn't it? Dressing for Spring. Or Autumn. Clothes that you at least get lots of wear out of. Colourwise - if you had to do one colour to inject some Summery vibes into your wardrobe, what would it be? I have to say, I'm going to give the yellow a go. But I am loving the red. However there's always pink... hmmm talk me through your choices.

Subscribe to: Posts ( Atom )

Labels

activewear ( 1 )
ankle boots ( 51 )
aviator ( 1 )
backpack ( 2 )
beauty ( 40 )
belt ( 5 )
biker ( 15 )
black ( 23 )
blazer ( 48 )
blouse ( 83 )
blue ( 1 )
boho ( 2 )
bomber ( 2 )
boots ( 22 )
breton ( 5 )
broderie ( 1 )
burgundy ( 2 )
camel ( 5 )
camouflage ( 2 )
cardigan ( 11 )
cashmere ( 9 )
check ( 7 )
Chelsea boots ( 1 )
classic ( 4 )
clutch ( 8 )
coat ( 58 )
cowboy boots ( 2 )
cream ( 1 )
cropped ( 16 )
cropped top ( 1 )
cul ( 1 )
culottes ( 14 )
denim ( 2 )
denim jacket ( 4 )
dress ( 156 )
dungarees ( 4 )
earrings ( 1 )
faux fur ( 1 )
flatforms ( 1 )
flats ( 20 )
flats. ( 1 )
floral ( 5 )
gifts ( 1 )
gilet ( 4 )
gloves ( 2 )
green ( 5 )
grey ( 1 )
handbag ( 38 )
harem pants ( 3 )
hat ( 6 )
heels ( 13 )
hoodie ( 2 )
jacket ( 47 )
jeans ( 47 )
jewellery ( 17 )
joggers ( 14 )
jumper ( 94 )
jumpsuit ( 19 )
kaftan ( 1 )
khaki ( 1 )
kids ( 1 )
kimono ( 1 )
knitwear ( 41 )
lace ( 3 )
leather ( 22 )
leather jacket ( 26 )
leggings ( 4 )
leopard ( 24 )
lilac ( 1 )
loafers ( 9 )
loungwear ( 1 )
maxi ( 48 )
metallic ( 7 )
midi ( 63 )
mini ( 11 )
monday must have ( 16 )
mules ( 5 )
navy ( 9 )
orange ( 2 )
parka ( 3 )
pink ( 8 )
pleather ( 16 )
polo neck ( 12 )
print ( 23 )
red ( 7 )
ruffle ( 1 )
sandals ( 41 )
scarf ( 11 )
sequins ( 11 )
shirt ( 14 )
shoes ( 51 )
shorts ( 3 )
silk ( 3 )
skinny ( 4 )
skirt ( 84 )
sleeveless ( 1 )
sneakers ( 20 )
stripe ( 13 )
suede ( 4 )
suit ( 5 )
sunglasses ( 4 )
sweatshirt ( 18 )
swimsuit ( 3 )
swimwear ( 1 )
t-shirt ( 32 )
tan ( 2 )
thermals ( 1 )
tights ( 1 )
top ( 43 )
tote ( 1 )
trainers ( 27 )
travel ( 5 )
trench ( 16 )
trousers ( 75 )
v neck ( 2 )
velvet ( 14 )
vest ( 2 )
waterproof ( 1 )
white ( 11 )
wide leg trousers ( 2 )
yellow ( 3 )

Pages

Navigation Menu

And the long, hot Summer continues...

A capsule Summer wardrobe..

When it's not quite summer...

Instagram