WHAT I WORE: RELAXED WEEKEND

An easy, breezy, casual outfit. I'm wearing: Whistles Alice slim boyfriend jeans, Topshop thin knit jumper (old), Russell & Bromley ballet flats, Zara necklace, Bijoux by Desi F gold necklace and Essie "Clambake" on my nails. 

THE ZARA CAMEL COAT CONUNDRUM

So. As you may have noticed in my last fall planning post, I am hankering after a certain hooded camel coat from Zara. It's the perfect colour in my opinion, and deliciously soft. 

BUT. After going to visit it in store yesterday, I had a few concerns. Well, just the one really. I fear it looks like a dressing down (a bath robe for my friends across the pond)...

I'm still considering whether I can get over this and whether it really looks dressing gowny or if I'm just being a bit silly. 

I'll keep you posted!

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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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WHAT I WORE FOR SOME IMPROMPTU SHOPPING

 

Apologies for my unplanned leave of blog-absence! I'm afraid work and the looming exam period has taken over. Hopefully I'll be able to get the knack of super human time management and not neglect the blog completely over the next two months! 
 

I had a few hours spare this afternoon and had a splendid time pottering around the shops. In addition to some pretty rad silver leather converses which I sadly did not photograph (but trust me, they're the stuff dreams are made of), I encountered the above pieces which will be being included in my spring/summer wardrobe. I made a sort-of promise to myself that I wouldn't buy any more purely winter things seeing as it is SUPPOSED TO BE SPRING. I am a dreadful summer wardrobe planner and summer dresser, and I'm hoping to improve this year by getting my game together nice and early. I'm a winter soul, so summer dressing doesn't come naturally to me. I end up eBaying most of my summer wear when the first leaf  starts to quiver in Autumn, and then by the time the freak early-spring heat wave arrives, I have absolutely nothing to wear. I panic buy and fill my summer wardrobe with awkward things that I don't enjoy wearing. I don't want to do it this year. I won't do it this year. 

In the winter I enjoy quite a simple, minimalist aesthetic which I find quite hard to snap out of in the summer. But in truth I like to add more colour to my summer 'drobe (who doesn't?), and like to compliment simple shapes and colours with an spot of ikat print and tribal detailing. I become obsessed with the idea of tops that conjure up an air of Mama Mia (the film) - don't ask me why. I love Greece, perhaps that's it.

Colour also comes from statement jewellery  - but none of those neon, oversized jewel necklaces that H&M have the market wrapped up for. Oh no, I once again lean towards the tribal. Set against something simple or proudly clashing with a patterned top or dress. The Monsoon blue necklace is perfect for this kind of idea. 

I love this white and blue flowing top from Zara - it's very on the sheer side so I plan to throw it over plain bikinis with cut off denim shorts for afternoon holiday strolls. 

This beautiful lace top, also from Zara, is just perfection. It'll be perfect for home or away, again with denim I think.
 

For my all-to-brief shopping trip my outfit was altogether more wintery, in keeping with our current weather! Uniqlo boucle coat, Whistles cashmere jumper, Topshop Leigh coated jeans, Report Jude biker boots and Balenciaga City bag. 

 

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INSTAGRAM DIARY 2

Snapshots of things I've been up to and bits and bobs I've been purchasing over the past few weeks. From L - R:

Top row: lovely blustery beach walks in Devon, one of my bestest pal's 26th birthday cake, pancakes and bacon for my brother in law's birthday. 

Middle row: New beach cover up from Topshop - so beautiful. Now I just have to wait for a summer holiday! The colourful Zara coat I am currently lusting after for early Spring, tea served at Taylor Taylor salon in Spitalifields. 

Bottom row : The much needed Tangle Teezer for my newly dyed locks, new leopard print shoes courtesy of Topshop, and last but not least... my newly obre-d hair! 

If you should so wish to follow me on Instagram (go on - we'll have a hoot), you'll find me at gonewiththefashion. 

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HOLIDAY TIME

It's that time of year again - hurrah! The coral nail varnish is out, the exfoliating, buffing and moisturising has begun in earnest, and I'm getting a little over excited about my impending trip to the mecca that is Heathrow Terminal 5 (you think I'm joking, I'm not. I love it. I already know what my airport outfit is.) 

I'm off on holiday in but a few days, and as per, have been crafting and re-crafting my 'what to pack' list. 

I really like having a clear list of things to bring so that a) I know what to pack (duh) and b) so that when I'm on holiday I don't have outfit panics and can glide from one darn fine outfit to the next. This is mostly for evening and day trips, because realistically much of my time is spent with my nose in a book by the pool, much to my boyfriend's chagrin. He's a pool games and bike rides sort of a fellow...

We're off to the same place in France that we've been early-"summering" at for a few years now with his parentals (Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse). I only need one or two evening outfits, most evenings are spent in what I hope resembles a sort of effortlessly stylish comfort - navy mariners and cream light cable knits for when a chill is in the air; white cotton blouses and cut-off denim shorts or jeans. 

My summer packing elements remain much the same as last year and form the foundations of my holiday wardrobe. Basic tees, pretty blouses, denim cut offs, one pieces and bikinis, fine gold jewellery, simple neutral sandals, black havaianas and converses, a favourite perfume or two (mine are Jo Malone Wild Bluebell for day and Pomegranate Noir for evening). 

I've always favoured white cotton blouses for Spring and Summer, and I recently came across these two little fellows in Whistles - they're everything I ever wanted from white cotton blouses and more. I stumbled across them in a post-exams haze, so glad am I that even with my befuddled brain their brilliance still shone out from amongst the rails. 

Whistles blouses - perfecto. 

I've fallen pretty hard for Topshop's new Neppy tees. Have you seen them? Yes they have that strange curved hem that hangs a little too low at the back, but they are so good. I've been wearing them so often. Some would say too often. I highly recommend. 

  

As well as the usual basics I think it's really nice to have a few bits and pieces that you feel are really special and you look forward to wearing whilst you're away. My new hero bits and pieces for this holiday include my delumptious Isabel Marant blue jacket, red frill Topshop shift dress and simple black Topshop blouse with lace panels. 

I'm very excited, and will be taking photos to share on Le Blog in no time at all! 
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THINGS I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT OF LATE...

All the sunny weather we've been having of late has found me yearning for all things summer-coloured. The above is but a small sample of the kind of thing I'm rather keen to get my hands on at the moment to take away on holiday next week.

Outfit posts and holiday packing montages to follow, it's been TOO long! 

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On another note...

Just tried on my new Zara shorts I purchased yesterday for a snip at 19.99! They called to me from the rail. I think they have rather a 3.1 Phillip Lim air to them, and that can only be a good thing don't you think? I'm off to take them on their first outing now for wedding wine tasting and no doubt some vegetarian fair to accompany it with the boyf and his brother and soon to be wife!

Shorts and belt - Zara, T-shirt- Topshop, Tights - Wolford