MANGO SPRING/SUMMER

Last summer, Mango did the most perfect embroidered cotton dresses and blouses. I spent much of the late summer (even into winter) kicking myself for not snapping it all up when I had the chance. Pouring over pinterest and spying Mango on tanned limbs in exotic, carefree locations here, there and everywhere. 

But all is not lost - they've done another round of great folk-inspired pieces this year! Perfect for hot summer days and breezy holidays, made for love-worn denim and tan leather sandals. 

I hunt for this sort of thing year on year - they're true summer classics which will never go out of style.

I urge you to get yourself to Mango asap to save your shins from the kicking you'd be sure to inflict upon them if you were to miss the boat. 

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NEW IN: PETER PILOTTO FOR TARGET DRESS

So, joyfully, this happened today. My beautiful new Peter Pilotto for Target dress arrived from NET-A-PORTER. I wasted no time in trying it on and prancing around. I'm really pleased with the quality, it is fully lined and there is great movement in the skirt. I'm happily adding it to my other pieces that I'm storing up for the summer - I'm amassing quite the collection!

(Incidentally - yes that is a chicken doorstop in the background. We call him Colin and I think you'll agree he's rather photogenic.) 

If anyone else managed to secure their own little piece of Pilotto I'd love to see it in action! 

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PETER PILOTTO FOR TARGET

Peter Pilotto for Target hit NET-A-PORTER.com this morning, and I pounced. I was a little late to bag another dress I had my eye on - the printed crepe dress - but was delirious to secure this pretty flippy dress. I'm hoping it suits me because it would be the perfect special addition to my summer wardrobe. It's winging its way to me as we speak, but in the meantime, get yourself over to the collection now and add some affordable Peter Pilotto to your wardrobe! 

Printed Crepe Dress, Peter Pilotto for Target at NET-A-PORTER.com, £40. 

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FOR THE LOVE OF J.CREW

Clockwise: J.Crew tee with Topshop leather leggings and J.Crew clutch, Whistles sculpted top with J.Crew shorts, J.Crew clutch, shorts and tee, Selected Femme top with J.Crew navy shorts

As Instagram followers might have noticed, I spent quite a significant proportion of my time in America seeking out the closest J.Crew store and working my way through the rails therein. 

I love the selection of prints that are used in outfits as one would use a neutral and the beautiful costume-esque crystal jewellery. What's more, the service was impeccable, making the whole shopping experience so enjoyable. The staff were so smiley, helpful (whipping out an iPad to convert the cost of my haul into sterling to ensure I hadn't spent ridiculous amounts!) and friendly - you're on first name terms from the off. 

I had to be selective due to a rapidly diminishing pile of dollars, but it would have been a breeze to add nearly everything to my wardrobe. In reality, I chose a few classic items that I know will earn their place in no time at all. Or at least tide me over until J.Crew arrives on our shores in November... 

I bought: 

3" Chino shorts in sea horse print and plain navy

Stripe pocket tee

Classic denim shirt

Crystal earrings (similar here)

Invitation cork clutch
Grey knit cocoon sweater 

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THE MATCHES SALE

This was completely unplanned. I was on route somewhere else, walked past Matches and saw the 'SALE SALE SALE' stickers in the window. I said to myself (I kid you not): 'if there is no traffic coming and I can cross the road without walking up to the pedestrian crossing, then I will go in.' That is the way I roll. 

Of course, the road was traffic free. One might say it was meant to be. Even if it had not been, it might have been one of those Truman Show traffic stopping situations just to make it so. 

Three things caught my eye that I'd added to my mental wish list in the past, but had to walk away in the interests of financial good sense. A beautiful silver Isabel Marant bomber jacket (still in the £400s, so still emphatically not happening despite the love I feel), YMC for Matches cashmere crew necks and Duccio Venturi sandals. I tried the jumper in a beautiful crushed berry shade and the sandals in black suede as well as tan leather with bright orange laces. I noticed these sandals AGES ago, and so naturally jumped all over them when their price was slashed. I left the cashmere behind, which may have been a mistake. It is hard to buy things for predominantly autumn/winter wear in the summer. But I would have congratulated myself later in the year. Hey ho, you can't win them all and I think bagging these brilliant sandals just before my trip to New York is victory enough. 

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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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JUST TO SAY...

I did make it back from holiday in one piece! My holiday has seemingly extended into a bit of a blogging holiday, which was not my intention. Time has just run away from me of late. 

There have been a number of changes recently - new season, new career aspirations, new-ish home (more of which in my next post). So all has been a little hectic - too hectic to put pen to paper - keyboard to blog if you will - let alone coordinate any nice outfits or outfit observations to share with you. A thousand apologies. :)

So in the mean time I wanted to record a few images from my holiday (as inappropriate as it is now we're racing towards Halloween and the like!!) 

It was truly lovely - beautiful weather after the first thundery day and landing during a thunderstorm no less... 

Tasty food, lots of G&Ts and Retsina, basking in the sunshine and swimming in the sea. 

The view from beneath my umbrella... naturally

The lovely view from our little villa

Greek honey of course! And lots of it!

Topshop dress, Stella McCartney woven sandals and Essie Lollipop polish

My Topshop "holiday dress" - apologies for the headless picture, I struggled to find one of my face doing a nice, normal expression. I'm a challenging photographic subject it would appear! 

There is no denying it's a jazzy pattern, but I feel one needs a bit of jazz on holiday. 

To follow - less summer, more Autumn/Winter!! 

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A STELLA SUMMER

I'm not great with the sales. Yes they fill me with that nice sense of anticipation, they quicken the beat of my heart when I fear I've missed out or might only just have got there in time. But when it comes down to the nitty gritty of a purchase, I can't block out those rather useful sale-wisdom quotes that everyone wheels out at this time of year. 

"Would I have bought this at full price?"

"Would I rather spend this money on this, or on something I've spotted for the new season?"

"Is this even actually my size?!"

Questions like these whizz relentlessly around my head and I always end up erring on the side of caution and returning the bag/shoes/dress/top to the rail. 

I already have my eye on a few bits for Autumn/Winter (from IRO, Maje, Etoile Isabel Marant and some ankle boots from Sam Edelman), so the necessity of saving the pennies for these has ensured, thus far, that I'm uninterested in discounted wares. 

That was until I booked a last minute summer holiday to Greece for September. We have been going to the same small village in Corfu nearly every summer since the year dot - and it's my most favourite summer holiday destination ever. It simply involves stacks of new books, swimming in the sea, sitting in the sun and then eating the tastiest Greek food in the local taverna, all washed down with cheap and cheerful Retsina, only to do it all again the next day.

With flights booked, suddenly summer was back on the agenda and the crisp leaves of autumn seemed rather a long way away. 

Step up the Stella McCartney sale. If ever I was to give away my precious pounds to sale buys, it would have to be for something classic. Bar the citrus fruit print bits (I know bright fruit prints are de rigueur at the moment, but I'm not sure how much more mileage those banana earrings have in them...), you can't go wrong with the longevity of a classic, quiet, Stella McCartney item in your wardrobe. 

These summer sandals are just the thing, and after a windfall on eBay, I bit the bullet and ordered them. They are simple, classic, relaxed yet have a really polished look to them. I love a classic red nail varnish peeping out from under the raffia too. 

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?

Dreaming of Packing My Bags

Despite the moaning I went in for in my last post, previously unforeseen circumstances have led to a total 180 turn in my seasonal feelings. Work has given me time off at the end of May and I'm off to France avec the boyfriend's family who have a lovely house there. Within a few hours of hearing the news tickets and a swimming costume were bought!I went into Topshop after work on the hunt for an actual swim suit instead of the usual bikini. Since going to University and moving to London my exercise regime has suffered. Well, not only

suffered but positively shriveled and died from being left out in the cold for so long. Hence I am not about to show off my newly acquired tummy off to the French in a bikini. It is nothing a bit of exercise won't rid of, and I'm probably being a little OTT about it all, but for now I plan to be all about the swim suit. And so I picked up this beautiful little number in Topshop on Friday evening and I love it - it's so flattering and pretty thanks to some clever ruching and delicate florals. I fancy it'll look mighty decorative on a sun lounger with some 50s-esque shades on courtesy of Tom Ford.

So with this in mind I have picked out my other must have summer pieces. My approach to Summer dressing is so different to the way I operate in the Winter. I plan out each piece carefully, attempting to assemble what can only be described as a capsule wardrobe. I think this is because I find Summer dressing so much harder - I need limited, fail safe options, otherwise I know I'll make outrageous mistakes - mistakes that will haunt me as they stare out from multiple holiday photos. My inspiration this summer is without a doubt, the beautiful Kate Bosworth, and every aspect of her flawless wardrobe. Hence my need for some Tom Ford Cary's and the Mulberry Mini Messenger to punctuate my Summer style. Add this to oodles of white cotton broderie anglaise blouses and oversized jersey and I'm (hopefully) away!

Now I just need to locate said cotton tops, black patent gladiators, nude ballet flats and statement scarf. Phew - quite the challenge.

(Images: Reiss Chinos & Denim Jacket - reiss.co.uk, Topshop Floral Swimsuit and Jumpsuit - topshop.com, Mulberry Denim Mini Messenger- mulberry.com, Tom Ford Cary's: geeksunglasses.com, Byredo Blanche - byredo.com)

Kate Bosworth At Coachella

Having spied some brilliant Coachella pictures over on the Alice Through The Looking Glass Blog (see Alice's post here), I have in a matter of nano-seconds become obsessed with Kate Bosworth's easy summer style. That lace top, those denim shorts, those boots!! Between you and I, I strongly suspect I am already the owner of those little ankle boots - I fancy they are a Maje pair, which have been my trusty companions for Autumn and Winter. I'm overjoyed to see they work beautifully with summer clothes too and

I'm looking forward to trying them out with shorts when the weather permits me to do so. (Some Londonders seem to believe this time has already come - I'm not so sure?! Perhaps I'm just not brave enough!)

The pictures have also set the wheels in motion for some pay day musings - I love Kate's Mulberry Denim Mini Messenger - the perfect little summer bag with it's scalloped edges and delicate proportions.

(images from Popsugar)