A Whistles hand-me down

There are many emotionally significant benefits to having a sister - love, support, advice, understanding, comfort...a whole plethora of wonderfulness. There are also fashion benefits, otherwise known as hand-me-downs.

Just this past weekend, my lovely sister bestowed on me two dresses from Monsoon and Gap and this gorgeous skirt from Whistles. All in perfect condition, hardly worn and now hanging happily in my wardrobe.

Floral Whistles skirt worn with a jumper from one of the
original Autograph ranges at M&S. It's so old, it pre-dates
my decade-long relationship with my husband!

As much as I'd love to be wearing the skirt with bare
legs & a t-shirt, at least the freezing weather allows me
to wear my gorgeous pink Exeter coat.

Pink & floral teamed with a bit of leopard print!

A close-up of the print...& a Lola Rose ring

The Clarks Yarra boots...which are always on my feet

& Other Stories

I’ve spotted a few things in magazines recently from a new brand called & Other Stories. Lovely little leather bags in bright colours. Tops in soft, draped fabrics. Dresses with interesting detailing. And then I walked past the new shop on Regent Street and knew I had to investigate!

I’ve not had time to go into the shop yet – I was power walking to the tube station on the nursery run – so had a look online instead.

& Other Stories is a new brand from H&M – it’s a bit more grown-up and design-led than H&M, but a bit more fashiony than the higher-end COS line (which I love!).

I read some of the background to the brand and I’m not sure I totally get it. I think the idea is that they’re telling fashion stories – selling total looks, so you can get the whole get-up in one place. I think most savvy high street stores do this already. I also don’t know many people who do buy complete looks in one place. Most of my friends like the individuality of not wearing an entire outfit from one shop. But then I guess perhaps the idea is just to offer inspiration and to show you how you can put looks together.

Anyway, regardless of the brand spiel, it does actually stock some lovely stuff. I’m not sure whether it’s like H&M and has only a fraction of its stock online...I'll have to go into the shop and report back. But these are some of the lovely bits and pieces that caught my eye online...

Silk top with raw edges - £39

Leather patch sweater - £55

Cape dress - £65

Gathered dress - £45

Leather & brass bangle - £25

D-frame sunglasses - £39

Mini leather bag - £65

Leather flats - £55

Leather sandals - £65

Exeter part 2 - the pink coat

The pink coat. What can I say?! It's very special. I looked at it one day, tried to show some financial restraint and ended up going back to the shop the next day, trying it and buying it!

When a vintage coat fits perfectly, you know you have to walk out of the shop with it...especially when it costs a bargain £37! You'd struggle to get a run-of-the-mill Topshop number for anywhere near that price.

Just casually looking at the blossom on the tree...

It was bought from Relevant by Lady Lace in Exeter. If you love vintage and are ever in that part of the world, you have to visit the shop. It's a treasure-trove of beautifully selected vintage pieces.

This coat is my new favourite item of clothing. I may even be looking forward to the cold snap this weekend so I can wear it!

Quite a subtle pink and mustard colour combination...
for a grey day in Exeter!

I love the two little pockets, such a lovely detail.

And found in one of the pockets...

And in the other.

My vintage, mustard crocheted dress - which I was very pleased
I could finally fit into again...if I held my belly in!

Two Nights in Exeter

Mr W and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary last week...and the ten year anniversary of our first meeting. Neither of us tend to be 'Mr & Mrs Wine & Roses' but it was a special anniversary, so we arranged to celebrate it on our first weekend away together since Laney May was born. She happily toddled off to her grandparents for the weekend and I don't think even noticed our absence!

We headed to Exeter for two nights. Neither of us had been before and we wanted to do a city break, somewhere new, but not travel too far. I'm not going to be an Exeter tourist guide or ramble too much, other than to say it was delightful! We stayed in a gorgeous hotel called The Magdalen Chapter - I don't have a bad word to say about it. It wasn't cheap but I think it's great value for money.

And I discovered one of the best vintage shops EVER in Relevant by Lady Lace. An amazing selection, a really beautiful shop, 1940s music playing in the background, and really good pricing. It was divine. I bought a dress, a matching blouse and skirt (shown here) and a coat...and that was showing restraint!

I'll do another post soon on the coat. It's a good 'un!

But this is our first full day in the Exeter sunshine...I'm wearing what Mr W calls my 'clown coat'. He's not a fan.

My 'clown coat' is from Sara Berman, bought once for a
massive discount at London Fashion Weekend.

Holding my new coat from Relevant by Lady Lace...wrapped in brown
paper & string. I spent the day in my amazingly comfortable
Yarra boots from Clarks Originals.

The turquoise skirt is a recent purchase from Vintage Hart
(in Crystal Palace). It's vintage St Michael from M&S...
which I love! The black & white polka dot blouse is from Zara.

Star print jeans - to buy or not to buy?

I spotted these the other day and had one of those reactions when you think you love something but it's tinged with this unsettling feeling that they may actually be revolting...

Only star print skinny jeans

I made the mistake of consulting Mr W on them and he made a few disinterested comments, one of which sounded - alarmingly - like questioning whether patterned jeans would suit my thighs! The conversation was cut very short after this!

If you lived through the eighties, you are quite naturally wary of patterned jeans. We've seen the best and worst of times. I hope my sister won't mind me sharing her worst of times...a pair of jeans with the Flintstones printed on them. And I actually coveted them.

I know I wouldn't wear jeans with a pair of heeled court shoes, as these have been styled on the Asos website. But I did start to think how would I style them and this is what I think I'd wear...

Cos silk back cotton top - £59

Nike dunk sky high trainers in teal - £85

Made Enzara pendant - £35

Biba Gretal leather shoulder bag - £95.40 (down from £159)

So I think they're definitely now on the 'watch and have a think' list. What do you think? Have you braved patterned jeans yet?

Fashion weekend fashion excitement

Last Friday my sister and I hit London Fashion Weekend amid much excitement...and fashion challenges posed by freezing weather conditions. It's been two and a half years since we last went. A lot has happened in that time - not least the creation of two new human beings (in the form of our little ones!). So I think we had even more of a skip in our step as we entered the Somerset House courtyard. Fashion, shopping, bubbly...and our other halves on toddler duty...whoo hoo.

If you haven't been before and you enjoy shopping, this is the event for you. There are lots of great discounts, lots of interesting designers and all in a lovely setting. We also saw the season's trends catwalk show for SS/13, which is great fun. It was styled by ex-fashion editor of the Telegraph and fashion icon Hilary Alexander (who we stood next to in the toilets afterwards, washing our hands together. I wanted to say how much I loved her but it didn't quite seem the setting for it!).

Anyway, I'll blog again about my purchases. I had birthday money to spend, so treated myself to a few bits and pieces...including jeans, hurrah.

But I wanted to blog two outfit shots of what we finally decided to wear. My sister had, at one stage, considered just wearing a chiffon top and coat...until the zero degree temperatures slapped some sense into her!

She worked the monochrome trend, with this top from M&S Limited Collection (and Uniqlo heattech underneath!). Her bracelet is a Katie bracelet from Marc by Marc Jacobs and necklace is from Lulu Guinness.

I eventually plumped for this outfit after a lot of trying on...including inadvertently coming full circle and trying on the same outfit I'd worn two and half years ago. Only checking this blog saved me from a new fashion low.

The dress is from the Mary Portas range at House of Fraser, the belt is from a charity shop, I'm also wearing a Lulu Guinness necklace and carrying my fabulous Vivienne Westwood Bambi bag. She deserved a day out!

We both accessorised with some bubbly!

Casual crisis

I’ve been in a bit of a style quandary of late. I have my work wardrobe pretty sorted. I can rustle up a fairly good outfit on my rare night’s out. But casual? Cue endless staring at my wardrobe and wondering ‘Whaaaaaaat?!’

I’ve mentioned before my stack of ‘at home’ clothes. These tend to get thrown on as soon as I get through the front door – clothes that I don’t give a toss about and are toddler-proof. She can do her worst.

But what to wear on days when I’m armed with a toddler but will be in the company of adults? I just don’t have a stock of clothes that work for me – I frequently end up trying to cobble together a ‘casual’ outfit out of my work clothes or – on particularly clueless days – my eveningwear!

Part of the problem has been my jeans still don’t fit properly. Nineteen months after giving birth they still won’t sodding button up! I’m squeezed into a pair now – it’s 10.30pm and I’ve been wearing them for 13 hours. I’m not sure I’ll even be able to get them back off; they’re welded to me!

I’m off to London Fashion Weekend with my sister on Friday (squuuuueeeeeeaaaaaaal!) and Levi’s Curve will be there. I’m hoping I’ll find a pair of jeans that will be comfortable, flattering and hold my belly in. I’d love to hear if any of you have tried this range and whether you were happy with them.

Once I have jeans sorted, I need a few more knits. I have a paltry selection of knitwear – god knows why, we have enough months freezing our arses off in this country!

These are some of the jumpers that I’m hoping will revolutionise my casual days...no more not knowing what the hell to wear. Jeans and a jumper - job’s a good ‘un! (and the patterned ones will hide grubby toddler hand prints!)

M&S crew neck heart knitted top - £35
(possibly not the most practical with a toddler in tow!)

Asos heart elbow patch striped jumper - £22

NW3 by Hobbs basketweave sweater - £55

A Wear heart fairisle jumper - £35

Oasis animal collar crew top in red - £38

River Island cream textured stripe boyfriend jumper - £35

Cooperative pattern block jumper - £42

Dorothy Perkins black cross jumper - £17.99

I almost included this one from Asos before realising that there was a definite risk of looking like you’d got a lobster hanging off your nipples! 

More Mary Portas

When I blogged about my growing addiction to the Mary Portas range at House of Fraser a few weeks ago, I forgot something in the list of what I've got hanging in my wardrobe. It was this gorgeous leopard print blouse from the collection, which I got for Christmas.

It's not for the faint-hearted as the print and colours are quite a statement...but a good one I think! I wore it for work but toned it down with black trousers and a heritage-inspired grey blazer.

You can't see them very well but the shoes are another
Clarks sales purchase which are again as comfortable as slippers
(& hopefully a bit more stylish!)

Lola Rose ring and bracelet which is wonderful but I don't
know where it's from as it was a gift

Kenneth Jay Lane monkey necklace - a first mother's day
present to me from my little monkey!

Workwear uniform courtesy of Mary Portas

Finally I've managed to rope Mr W into taking a few outfit photos. It seems to be a logistical feat to get us in the same building together, at a reasonable hour, with me in something other than my scuzzy 'indoor' clothes (i.e. anything worn out, ill-fitting and generally quite knackered which I seem to have taken to wearing in the house!). Either that or I'm in my pyjamas.

It only takes about ten minutes of being at home before I've had something spilled on me by my 18 month old, so I've resigned myself to letting style standards nosedive a little at home. Mr W is thrilled, as you can imagine!

Anyway, with that rambling preamble, here are the outfit shots...

Taken yesterday, I wore one of my Mary Portas for House of Fraser dresses, which I love. I cannot recommend her range enough. I've bought four dresses, two pairs of trousers, a skirt and a top...oh, and a pair of shoes too. All of it has been bought in sales seasons and has been massively reduced. In the January sales, I bought two dresses (which will feature on Edna one day) both of which were reduced from £115 to £34.50. Bargain. Mary Portas dresses are slowly starting to become a work uniform for me.

If you do get a chance, I'd really recommend visiting a Mary Portas department at a House of Fraser. The customer service is joyful - and anywhere where they give you a cup of coffee while you try clothes on is a win with me!

Primark hat, a present from my lovely sister and not off
my head all winter. Mini snood made by my very talented mum.
And Kenneth Cole handbag.

Nicola de Main jacket bought a few years back on a particularly
spontaneous Friday night shopping trip at pop-up Swanfield on
tour boutique. I even had to leave the store, find a cash-point
and go back & pay for the jacket as they didn't take cards.
Clearly it was love at first sight!

Orange lipstick, nail polish, ring and hair may have been overkill?!

My Clarks Yarra desert boots (now £39 in the sale)...
as comfortable as a pair of slippers