For our anniversary supper at the weekend I wore: a Sandro gold sequin jacket (similar here and here), Topshop Jamie Jeans, Whistles sculptured blouse and Isabel Marant Dicker boots, with Clinique Black Honey on my nails. 

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WHAT I WORE: J.CREW OXFORDS

Yes I've got them out again. Can you tell they're my favourite new things? Here I am on the weekend at my parents' house in Devon. I wore this to a casual evening out at a local restaurant. I'm wearing: Topshop Jamie jeans, Whistles sculptured blouse, Reiss Fontaine cardigan, J.Crew silver oxfords and J.Crew earrings. 

A word on the cardigan - it is rather divine and in the sale now. Beautifully soft, cosy and fluffy (without the fluff getting on everything in sight), yet still smart and chic. A true winner. 

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WHAT I WORE: STROLLING UP RICHMOND HILL

Owing to my feeling a little on the 'blah' side yesterday, we spent the day out in the fresh air, walking around Richmond Park in the morning and then up to Richmond Hill Bakery for a piece of date and hazelnut cake in the afternoon. 

The weather is a tad unpredictable at the moment.  I find myself veering between cursing myself for ever thinking it was acceptable to wear jeans in August, and putting my sunglasses away, groping around for the nearest available layer and grimly declaring Autumn's arrival. 

I wore a Topshop sleeveless blouse, Topshop Jamie jeans, Russell & Bromley ballet pumps and Miu Miu sunglasses. Funny story about the shades - I have, for now at least, moved past the big shade time of my life, but I brilliantly left my Tom Ford Cary sunglasses sitting alone on a train to Waterloo a few weeks ago and have thus had to return to said bigger shades. I still feel affectionately towards them, but am a tad conscious that they make everything look a little "done". Like I'm the kind of gal who keeps hairspray in my bag at all times and would hate to attempt any task that might risk my french manicure. Not a look I enjoy. 
A new pair of sunglasses are winging their way to me as they speak, so if they're a success I'll be sure to share them on here sharpish. 

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WHAT I WORE: STRIPES & PRINT

In which I treat stripes as a neutral! Which they are aren't they? I wore this yesterday evening for the jazz night at our local pub. 

I bought this paisley quilted jacket from Zara a while ago after seeing it on Anneli of What I Bought Today (she wears everything so well it is a challenge not to snap up everything she blogs about!). The stripe top is a JCrew find from when I was in America and is my favourite striped top to date. The little pocket and cut of the hem make it pretty much perfect to my mind. I paired the whole shebang with Topshop Jamie jeans, Russell & Bromley flats, Monica Vinader and Bijoux by Desi F jewellery and Lipstick Queen lipstick in Medieval. 

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WHAT I WORE: EVERYDAY UNIFORM

This outfit is very much my day-to-day uniform, and what I reach for when in doubt. Pretty broderie anglaise blouse, trusty Topshop jeans and ballet flats. It's easy, simple and I think, quite classic. Admittedly, I edged this particular number up with ripped knee jeans - the in laws were most perplexed by said rips, but they made sitting cross legged on a picnic blanket at the weekend an absolute dream!! 

I'm wearing: Whistles Teardrop broderie cotton blouse, Topshop Jamie jeans and Russell and Bromely ballet flats.  

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WHAT I WORE: ZARA BLOUSE

I make no secret of the fact that my wardrobe is almost exclusively made up of white/cream cotton broderie anglaise blouses, so adding this green Zara blouse into the mix is certainly new territory for me! I love the shape - pretty cut outs on the sleeves and at the hem, and the material is quite thick, so it is slightly more boxy when on. I'm sorely tempted to get it in the powder blue version too... 

I'm wearing: Zara jacquard pattern blouse, Topshop Jamie jeans, Isabel Marant Dicker boots and Bijoux by Desi F initial necklace. 

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ODE TO JAMIE

So... um... do you think I might have a bit of a problem? Nothing hints at addiction better than a pile of the same cut of jeans in (let's face it) pretty similar washes. But I am utterly unashamed and would make every purchase again. Ten times over. These jeans are just SO good. Buying two more pairs in the past week prompted me to think it might be a nice idea to share my passion on the blog seeing as I'm a distressed wash away from being a pair of Jamie jeans myself. 

Why these little beauties are basically my 'perfect storm' of denim: 

1. They are slightly high waisted (so no fears about the awful exposure that can follow with other cuts when you want to say... pick something up off the floor). This is also much more flattering - no muffin top. 

2. Crucially for me - they are designed to fall at the ankle. Not too high above it, and not too low. Just right. I find having jeans hit the right bit of your ankle lends an effortless, pulled together Parisian vibe to most outfits. I'm a person that sometimes has to resort to tucking my jeans under at the bottom in order to achieve this. No need with Jamie. They are the perfect length for ballet pumps and loafers, and down right ideal for wear with ankle boots like Isabel Marant Dickers, when it's nice to see a flash of ankle. 

3. They are made out of a material that actually lets you bend your knees without summoning the super human effort some jeans call for when you want to walk a normal walk, or lunge, should the fancy take you. I HATE being restricted by jeans, and frankly there is just no need to be. People say you look your best in your clothes when you're comfortable. This may not be the case for evening dressing I'll admit, but to be anything other during your down time would be sad. These jeans let you move, but they don't go down the jegging route (like Leigh jeans do) - they retain a jean thickness and a jean material. 

All in all - the perfect jean in my opinion. The latest additions to my Jamie collection are the navy ripped knee ones and the classic clean blue/indigo ones. You can find them here and here. I'm holding myself back at the moment, but it won't be long until I have a white pair in the collection for Spring/Summer. 

I urge you to run out and stockpile them, before I buy them all. 

Topshop Jamie Jeans - £40

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TOP-HOT

See what I did there? Topshop is on fire for Autumn/Winter. The first new season bits and bobs started appearing over the past few weeks and they're soooo good. 

During that recent spell of Autumnal weather, people in London were starting (tentatively and begrudgingly) to break out their new season pieces. But then the sun came back and it was back to high summer. I for one like to save my precious Autumn purchases until the time is really right. 

If I had a beautiful antique trunk, I'd put my recent purchases into said trunk. 

It's no secret that often the best bits of the chilly season come out during the summer and it pays to pre-buy even before the leaves start to fall and the drizzle sets in for good. And there are certainly a few key pieces I'm keen to bag asap.

You saw my new coat in my last excitable post - I'm still very pleased about it and shall be for some time. Whilst in Topshop, making the coat my own, I was rather keen to add a few more items to my shopping basket, but financial restraints have to be considered and hammered home by loved ones at all times and so I could only give in to the coat. I'll be adding the below to my Autumn would-be-trunk soon I hope. Very soon.

Spike necklace, denim dress, bead necklace navy jumper, lurex thread jumper, faux fur gilet, charcoal woolly hat, western denim jacket with shearling-ish collar, wine Jamie jeans

If I were only to get one thing from this list - who am I kidding - it would be the denim dress. Deceptively simple but it is the perfect denim dress that I've been looking for forever and a day. My boyfriend is dubious, he hates denim in any other incarnation than jeans and even has a fear of the pearlised buttons found on denim shirts... I'm not overly sure what his problem is but it's deep rooted. Regardless, so good is this dress that I simply don't care. I'm going to wear it with woolly tights and my Isabel Marant black sneakers with my new boyfriend coat casually thrown over the top. The thought makes my heart flutter. It really does.

The fur gilet will be the queen of wardrobe layering. I want to do it in a nice way though, over khaki and with boucle jackets, NOT extensions and fake tan. The jumpers are just chic, pretty and easy and I'm drawn to the denim jacket because I think it is something a bit different and will be a tonic to all the khaki jackets with leather arms that are going to be multiplying before our eyes rather soon.

Lastly - a word on the jeans. Yes they're in a delicious deep burgundy colour, but the best part is that they are the high waisted, ankle grazer Jamie jeans. Jean nirvana, I kid you not. Some Jamie jeans are not cut this way - be warned. So when I come across them it's a sprint to the till. They fall precisely on the most flattering part of the ankle, are stretchy (allowing for knee bending and proper circulation for health and well being) and are high waisted without being too high waisted if ya know what I mean. It means denim wearing does not become a constant hitching marathon every time I wish to move, or say, reach across the table for a biscuit. My dignity in these jeans remains intact at all times and because of all the above, they are comfortable. Not always a given with skinny jeans.

I urge you to dash to Topshop soon - brilliant bits are hitting the rails on a daily basis. 

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NEW THREADS

Me trotting around by the fridge at home (where else?) in my new Isabel Marant Etoile Haca jacket. 

I LOVE this little fellow. It's brilliantly quilted. It's cut so perfectly at the wrist. It has just the right narrowness in the arms. It even has a slight biker vibe from the side. Oh it's divine I tell you. I've been enjoying wearing it enormously (as you can see...)

Wearing: Topshop black Jamie jeans and white neppy tee, ancient Converses and Essie varnish in Clam Bake.

I'd had my beady eye on this lovely jacket for quite some time but hesitated initially. I was worried it might be a one-season-wonder. My dawdling of course ensured I missed my chance - it promptly sold out. Even the good people at Matches gently tried to encourage me to let the jacket go - it had sold out everywhere. 


Naturally, therefore, I took it as a sign when one day I was milling around their website and magically my size appeared. And I'm really pleased I took the plunge - it's so special and will only grow more so as time passes. Sometimes it's the best thing to take a little more time over a piece you think you love. Let it go, let the hype die down and then see if you still feel it's you. I always have a fluttering heart about many a thing I see on glossy pages, but it's learning to separate such passing whims from true love that is the key. I'm getting better at it in my ripe old age! 


Incidentally, I wore it last night to the theatre as part of a different ensemble from that above, and a friend said it reminded her of something, she wasn't sure what. I've decided it reminded her of far flung travels morphed with of-the-moment effortless cool. At home anywhere and always ready for an adventure. I'm sure she'd agree. :)


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