Jean Jacket Joy

A little while ago I purchased this denim jacket from my high street favourite Gap and I've been pleasantly surprised by how much I wear it. It works brilliantly for day with skirts and dresses and equally well slung over my shoulders to dress down an evening look. I especially like this Gap jacket as the arms are fitted, the denim is a little distressed plus it's now in the sale so go forth and buy, you won't regret it.

Jacket Gap, Tshirt COS, Skirt H&M, Sandals Birkenstocks

Here are some other denim jackets catching my eye.

Topshop £45

My love affair with white continues with this oversized denim jacket from Topshop.

J. Crew £128

A very flattering cropped jacket from J. Crew.

Acne Studios £220 from Net-A-Porter

A light denim style from Acne Studios, perfect for summer.

Marques'Almeida £275 from Matches Fashion

I adore this offering from Marques'Almeida in dark denim with concealed buttons and frayed edges.

Images: J. Crew, Topshop, Net-A-Porter, Matches

Weekend Scenes

This isn't strictly a Weekend Scenes post as I spent the majority of my weekend on a plane flying home, trying to force myself to sleep. Instead it is a round up of last week which I was lucky enough to spend in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on a photo shoot.

We stayed at the incredible Boardwalk Hotel situated on the Indian ocean front.

My room was wonderful and I spent as much time as I could in the relaxing roll top bath!

The view from my bedroom was worth waking up for and I could hear the waves from my bed.

Every night we ate at a delicious restaurant called Ginger which served the most incredible vegetarian food, so yummy and such good value.

I managed to fit in some triathlon training by running along the ocean front as the sun came up.

The scenery around Port Elizabeth was stunning and we were lucky to have beautiful blue skies. It wasn't very warm but I couldn't resist taking my shoes off and dipping my toes in the freezing ocean when we were working on the beach.

Jacket Gap, T-shirt J. Crew, Trousers Zara, Sandals Gap

Vest Alexander Wang, Jeans Topshop, Sandals Birkenstock

Shirt Zara, Jeans Topshop, Sandals Birkenstock

I was hoping for warmer weather when I packed shorts and summery dresses (damn you incorrect BBC weather report!) but thankfully I'd over packed and ended up living in jeans, trousers and layers.

Thank you Port Elizabeth for a great trip!

Weekend Scenes

What a wonderful weekend. I love the sunshine and blue skies are a definite mood elevator. We started the weekend on a productive note with 5km Parkrun and I managed a personal best!

It was finally warm enough for me to wear my MiH stripe dress.

Dress MiH, Sandals Birkenstock, Bag Chanel

My new Gazelles arrived and made me feel like a Jamiroquai loving teenager again! I opted for grey, more summery than black and the neutral colour will work with 99% of my wardrobe.

Trainers Adidas

The beautiful sunshine encouraged me to paint my nails in the most summery tone I could find.

Nails Topshop

The balmy evenings called for alfresco dining.

The BEST guacamole & tortilla chips from Wholefoods

Sunday night BBQ action

I also introduced the boyfriend to Twin Peaks. He's hooked and it's as good as I remember. Watching one too many episodes is why I'm feeling less than fresh as a daisy this morning!

Twin Peaks

All White Everything

Grey, navy and black. That pretty much sums up the contents of my wardrobe. Sometimes a little animal print (mainly accessories), definitely some stripes. Recently however I find myself drawn to white. Not head to toe white, I'm far too messy and clumsy for that, but elements of white, just to give my outfits a nod to summer. 

It began back in January when I had a work trip to Australia and needed something to freshen up my dark wardrobe. I found this skirt that has since proved to be so wearable due to the midi length and it's ability to work well with trainers and sandals. Plus the paper-y look and feel of it draws many comments.

Skirt £65 Topshop Worn with COS sweater & Miu Miu trainers

Soon after I purchased some comfy Birkenstocks in white. Not as impractical as you'd think. I wear mine weekly, they still look fresh and make a less-than-exciting ensemble of jeans and grey sweater instantly feel more modern.

White sandals, £49.95 Birkenstock

On my weekly visit to COS I found this dress and fell in love. The fabric is subtly rippled and thick enough to hide lumps and bumps, it has pockets (yay!), a beautifully curved shoulder and is a flattering length. My perfect white summer dress.

White dress £69 COS

White nail polish has been around for a few seasons now. No, you won't look like you've painted tip-ex on your nails! It's an easy and inexpensive way to feel more summery. I think white toes look especially good and I've been painting mine with Topshop's Spilled Milk. Paint 2 coats on quite thickly and it lasts for days. 

Nail polish in Spilled Milk £5 Topshop

I found this shirt in Zara a few weeks ago. I tried it on, um-ed and ahhh-ed, didn't get it, then woke up the next morning still thinking about it so ordered it online! It's the right side of slouchy, dips down at the back and has side pockets! I've worn it twice already with skinny leather trousers, then slim jeans to balance out its oversized proportions.

White Shirt £29 Zara

I'd been searching for a simple plain white sweatshirt since my love of white began at the beginning of the year and finally found one while prepping for a job earlier this week in River Island. It's a soft brushed cotton jersey, has a slight batwing and a rolled sleeve. I went up a size as I wanted it to look like I'd stolen it from the boyfriend.

Sweatshirt £28 River Island

And finally I've been deliberating over these Mom jeans for weeks but still haven't bought them. I love the high waist, the slightly loose fit, the rips, the price tag, but something in the back of my mind is telling me 'no'. Maybe it's just because I've done too much shopping recently! I'm not sure...shall I get them???

Mom jeans £40 Topshop

Images: Zara, Topshop

Seeing Stripes

I love a stripe top. I have far too many, 33 at the last count. But I'm lacking in the stripy dress department. Sure I have some in various incarnations, navy and grey with leather pockets, black and white with a neon zip, but as the weather hints at turning warmer, I find myself needing a classic style, navy and white with a sleeve and not too short, something I can go to work in but also wear on the weekend. Here are a round up of the ones that made it into my shopping bag.

MiH dress £185

This style by MiH is a little pricey, but I love the unique mash up of summery pale blue, navy panels and classic stripes. There's a cute vent detail at the side and the length is just right. Wear with white Birkenstocks for a fresh summer look.

White Chocoolate £55 from ASOS

ASOS has oodles of stripe dresses to choose from but I especially liked this style by White Chocoolate. It has handy chambray patch pockets and an interesting chambray panel at the back. If it had been a bit longer and in navy rather than black it would have definitely made it into my wardrobe.

Topshop £29

Ah Topshop, always reliable in a clothing crisis even if wandering around your Oxford Street emporium makes me feel aged. I found not 1 but 2 great options. First up a classic daytime cotton dress. I choose one from the tall section and went down a size. It's an affordable and simple option, with a nice turn up detail on the sleeve and a mini zip detail at the back. 

Topshop £70

Finally I purchased this dress when it was still woolly hat and tights weather. I loved it from the moment I saw it. Contrasting side stripes that make you look thinner, long gold zip at the back, flattering curved hem. Perfect for daytime with a ballet pump (worn here with Chanel pumps) or evening with a simple strappy heel.