SPRING/SUMMER WARDROBE PLANNING

 

 

I have been using wardrobe planning as a most welcome revision distraction lately - it reminds me there is life post-exams which consists of trips to New York, Washington, France and Greece, as well as not spending each and every day at my desk and being able to wear proper clothes again as opposed to lounge wear (and that's putting quite the gloss on leggings and sweatshirts I won't lie).

 

To achieve my aim of having a pulled-together, reliable seasonal wardrobe this year I have without a doubt upped my game. I've been pretty darn ruthless. I don't want to have any concerns about over-exposure on the chest or legs front, or that fabrics are too clingy, too hot, too restrictive. I'm sticking to what I know I like, what works for me and, where appropriate, buying in multiple colourways (see the Topshop lace collar tops which I already own in red, navy and white and may well add black to the collection). The Whistles sleeveless blouse and Selected Femme vest made the cut because they can be relied upon not to reveal too much. I've historically bought pretty sleeveless blouses which end up sitting forlorn in my chest of drawers because of this very problem.

I rely on white tops all year round - they're fresh and classically spring/summer/Little House on the Prairie/Amanda Seyfried in Mama Mia. I love the beautifully intricate lace sleeve on the Zara blouse. Perfection with distressed denim shorts.

I've never bought from Mink Pink before, but saw this dress on ASOS and took a chance on it - it's lightweight and perfect for hot temperatures. I enjoy a touch of boho now and then and this dress does just the trick!

White jeans are going to be the cornerstone of my Spring/Summer drobe - I can't WAIT to wear them. I also can't be without a good denim jacket and recently sold mine to replace it with this over sized one from Topshop.

I've set my cap at these cotton jumpers from French Connection: one a slightly Marant-ish grey and black knit and the other a classic cream/white cable knit.

 

 Being keen on an investment sandal, I would happily welcome one or all of these sandal options from Duccio Venturi, Ancient Greek and Tabitha Simmons.

 

I LOVE Topshop swimsuits - note - swimsuits. Their bikinis are an endless source of disappointment for me. They just. don't. fit. someone. with. boobs. There - I said it. However, their swimsuits are perfect - super prints and patterns, cut low at the back. This cream cover up with a scoop back is also the bees knees. Note too: Monsoon are also doing some pretty rad cover ups this year as what seems to be part of their return to their roots.

Accessories provide the perfect opportunity to add a bit of a tribal edge to simple outfits - through over-embellished clutches (this one is Accessorize) and OTT Aztec earrings (Topshop).  

And nothing would be complete without a seasonal fragrance - mine this Spring/Summer will be Love in White by Creed (it just smells of simple, happy, sunny summers).

Top: Topshop lace collar blouses, Selected Femme Norma Top, Whistles Thea Top, Whistles Structured Tee, Topshop Neppy Stripe Tee, Zara Combination Crochet Blouse

2nd: Mink Pink dress, Topshop White Jamie Jeans, Topshop Oversized Denim Jacket, French Connection Slub Speckled Jumper, French Connection Cable Classic Jumper

3rd: Duccio Venturi Suede Sandals, Tabitha Simmons Felicity sandals, Ancient Greek Iphigenia Sandals, Topshop Newbie Sandals, French Connection Nina Sandals, Converse Light Grey High Tops

Bottom: Topshop Swimsuit, Topshop Guipure Cover Up, Monsoon Henrietta Heritage Kaftan, Lily and Lionel Viper Scarf, Topshop Aztec Earrings, Topshop Overlay earrings, Creed Love in White, Accessorize Indigo Mirror Clutch

 

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SPRING / SUMMER

It's been gloriously spring (even summer) like during the last few days in London. And it's got me to thinking about my summer wardrobe. 

I’ve never found summer dressing easy. I suppose the problem is I know what I’d like it to be, and somehow, more often than not, I seem to miss the mark.

As I’ve said on many occasions before, I love easy, effortless summer dressing. The kind of clothes that go hand in hand with a healthy tan, that speak of road trips, balmy nights, sea-tousled hair and sun-warmed skin. I tend to look pale, slightly wilted and like the sun and are just long lost acquaintances that have never felt comfortable on first name terms.

I’m not sure how much of this is to do with having very fair skin that refuses to tan, and being the type of girl who is not willing to cover every inch of my in high maintenance fake tan to achieve the desired look. I’ve flirted with the idea of a very, very light spray tan – but I have visions of emerging orange and foolish.

 When I bemoan my tan-less state, I’m often told I have that classic ‘English Rose’ colouring and that it suits me down to the ground. I put it to you that this could be the case because they’ve never known me look any other way. :)

Is it this fair skin that lends me my air of anti-summerness? It may simply all be in my head. Either way if one is pale and proud, (which to a certain extent I am), then one has to accept that skin requires a lot more maintenance come the summer months. A tan can hide a multitude of sins, and without this cover you have to keep up a strict regime of exfoliation and moisturisation! (I feel a summer beauty post coming on.)

Skin shade aside, I think the clothes can often be a problem too. I am always on the look-out for structured shorts and skirts of a certain length – they must be lined, not see through and not show off more of my bottom than public decency allows. This is not as easy as it seems. The majority of shorts in my usual haunts are unlined hot pants – structured, slightly longer short seems to be a rarity. I don’t like feeling over exposed – and to be honest it is rare that it is hot enough to necessitate this.

 I don’t find holiday dressing difficult – when temperatures soar and you’re in another country, off duty, it is much easier. But at work, and in the city, on a normal week day, there are certain standards to be observed, don’t you find? And so often you see people who get a whiff of warm weather and break out their summer holiday clothes, and these just aren’t quite appropriate somehow. Perhaps I’m too strict. :)

My summer wardrobe staples would be made up of pieces like the above – silk round neck (scoop neck at a push) t-shirts, and silk vests in muted colours, grey marl t-shirts, aforementioned shorts, lighter weight trousers in place of jeans, a selection of sandals and a pair each of nude and black ballet pumps. I love lightweight but cosy jumpers over the top too when things get chilly – either that or a light boulcé jacket for a smarter look. And bags – in an ideal world, the BEAUTIFUL moss green Balenciaga bag would work a treat, as well as a smaller day bag where necessary (a Mulberry Lily might fit the bill).

I find that with my summer wardrobe I have to be much more strict, because I am less confident with it. I have to know exactly what I have, what outfits each piece forms part of. It becomes a lot more like style Sudoku if you will! I don’t think this is the death knell to creativity that it may appear, but just the way I find works best for me during the summer months.

Do you find summer dressing a challenge or is it the season you love best? How do you approach it?

tinker TAYLOR soldier spy..

It is nigh on official - Rebecca Taylor holds the key to every pretty wardrobe conundrum I find myself faced with. Beautifully delicate wispy of floral dress? Check. Denim jackets that don't stary into scary biker territory for those who really couldn't pull of such a look (me.)? Check. By adding feminine but cool touches to every piece she has - the peppering of polka dots on the denim jacket and the wonderfully fitted arms are what did it for me - Rebecca Taylor creates clothes that scream Spring and I wish I could buy them all.

I first noticed that this might be a label I'd want to explore when slavishly reading Olivia Palermo's daily diary on Vogue.co.uk at the moment. After shedding a tear or two over the incredible way she puts her outfits together, be they made up of Zara, Topshop, sequinned Converses (where can I find these?!) or Hermes and YSL, everything looks so perfect.

Now my name sake owns quite a lot of Rebecca Taylor, and I don't blame her.

I'd love to have the above outfit tucked away in tissue paper ready to wear to the wedding next Saturday! Alas a little self control must be practiced and unless my numbers come up I shall be wearing a similar (let me dream) floral yellow layered dress from Oasis.

It is the accessories that are giving me sleepless nights - I am currently jacketless which is a must for the service itself! It's looking like it'll be a little cropped black number from Topshop. It goes well, but here's the thing... does wearing black to a wedding end up whispering 'I disapprove of this union' on my behalf?! I do hope not. It is a worry.

(image from Net-A-Porter.com)