Fashion - Wardrobe Essential: The Blue Shirt

Just like a LBD, black tailored trousers, perfectly fitting jeans and a breton stripe, a classic blue button down cotton shirt should be part of every woman's capsule wardrobe.  They work brilliantly for the office tucked into tailored trousers or for evening worn with leather pants, a crystal earring and some strappy high heels. You can even pair the shirt with jeans, black, blue or white, styled with a rolled sleeve and trainers for the weekend. It's such a versatile and hard working wardrobe item. 

While I own a classic style from J Crew that I wear frequently, I recently found this blue shirt with a design twist from Zara. I love the cropped side waist detail coupled with the long front and back that at first glance could be mistaken for a shirt dress. Plus it's an incredible price point.

Shirt £22.99 Zara BUY HERE

Here are a few other blue shirts with a twist that I'm coveting.

Balenciaga from Matches Fashion £605 BUY HERE

Boden £79 BUY HERE

COS £55 BUY HERE

Images: Pinterest, COS, Boden, Matches Fashion

Fashion: New Season Shopping List

However much I like to kid myself that we are going to have an Indian summer, the recent chill in the air suggests I need to cover up my bare legs and pack away my sandals. Some consolation however is that stores are filling up with lots of new season styles.  Here's a round up of the pieces I have my eye on.

Rockstud cross body bag £840 by Valentino fromMatches Fashion BUY HERE

I always like to invest in a new bag each season and this cross body style with Valentino's infamous stud detail would be a practical yet stylish addition to my bag collection. Since having the baby carrying my everyday handbag just isn't feasible, so a back pack or cross body style is the only way to go. This bag would allow me to carry all my essentials without feeling frumpy.

Bow Bomb Sneakers by Joshua Sanders from Matches Fashion BUY SIMILAR HERE

To say I am in love with these sneakers is an understatement, I've been obsessed with them since spying them on Instagram a few months ago. I adore the colour, the comically large bow and I know they'd elevate even the dullest outfit into something special. Sadly they have sold out in my size everywhere, so I'm on a few waiting lists and keeping everything crossed that one day soon I'll own a pair.

Cropped Wide Leg Trousers £170 by Whistles BUY HERE

These incredibly flattering cropped trousers are in the colour of the season, burgundy. Don't think you can't wear burgundy, it's a very versatile hue, complementing nearly all skin tones and working with black, navy, grey, pale blue and cream. I'd wear these wool blend trousers with a denim shirt and trainers to dress them down and a navy top and caged heels for night time.

Navy lace dress £59.99 by Zara BUY HERE

If you only buy one dress this season you have to make it a maxi. I don't normally wear lace as I find it too feminine, but this dress called to me from the hanger. For autumn I'd wear it with a denim jacket or leather biker with Stan Smith trainers or pointed flats and as the weather turned colder I'd layer a chunky knitted sweater in grey or burgundy over it and pair with a block heel ankle boot.

Coat £139.99 by Mango BUY HERE

I've been looking for a new camel coloured tailored coat recently. If I had a money tree I'd buy this one from Stella McCartney , however this style from Mango is an excellent cheaper alternative. 

Leather skirt £79.99 by H&M BUY HERE

This leather skirt is buttery soft, a very flattering length, sitting just above the knee, is slightly flared and has a full length back zip detail. Plus it's a great price point. It is described as dark brown, but having seen it in real life I would describe it as oxblood. I'll be wearing mine with woollen tights, ankle boots and a chunky knit sweater come winter.

Wool sweater £239 by Maje BUY HERE

Knitwear in various guises be it sweaters, dresses, skirts and cardigans, is a big story for winter as is the roll neck sweater. This oversized chunky knit by Maje is the ideal sweater, ticking both style boxes. I'd wear it with ripped jeans or khaki chinos on the weekend, then put it with a leather trouser or mini skirt with a statement earring for evening.

Double pendant necklace £35 by Made BUY HERE

This weighty hammered gold metal necklace is a great addition to my jewellery box for the new season. Wear it with round neck dresses and sweaters to add a subtle boho vibe.

Military boots £585 by Isabel Marant from Matches Fashion BUY HERE

Over the knee boots reign supreme this season,  but I still favour the ankle boot. Isabel Marant has created the perfect style with military buckle details, two-tone leather & suede and a wearable heel height. These would look equally great with skinny jeans, wide leg cropped trousers and pretty much any skirt length from mini to maxi. 

What's on your wish list for Autumn/Winter?

Images: Matches Fashion, Whistles, Zara, Maje, H&M, Mango, 

Fashion - Bargain Buy

After seeing the image below on Instagram a while back I've been on the lookout for a pair of loose, slouchy, wide leg, relaxed trousers that I could wear with sandals, trainers or a pair of pointed toe flats should I need to dress them up.

Image: LittleSpree

I was recently prepping for a job, rummaging through the rails at TK Maxx when I came across these trousers by Maison Martin Margiela for the bargain price of £39.99! They are super slouchy, in a heavy cotton/silk blend and they fit my comfy but stylish trouser criteria perfectly. I wore them rolled up (as they are extremely long) on the weekend to meet a friend for coffee with an old Dries Van Noten khaki sweatshirt and Russell & Bromley snakeskin plimsoles.

Trousers by Maison Martin Margiela from TK Maxx BUY SIMILAR HERE, Sweater by Dries Van Noten, Plimsoles by Russell & Bromley, Watch by Rolex

This style of trouser are ideal for the weekend/school run/lounging around at home. I've scoured the internet and found some others that fit the bill.

Trousers £360 by Y's by Yohji Yamamoto from Matches Fashion BUY HERE

Trousers £54 by Sister Jane From ASOS BUY HERE

Trousers £59.50 by Banana Republic BUY HERE

Fun Fur

Helen Moore Scarf £120 BUY HERE

Now that the Helen Moore faux-fur scarf of my dreams is part of my wardrobe and attracting complementary comments wherever it comes out to play, I've started looking at other furry accessories to add to my stroke-able collection.

Eugenia Kim beanie £215 BUY HERE

I love a beanie hat in winter and this cosy wool version with colourful fur pom pom will ensure you are easy to spot in a crowd.

Topshop sandals £58 BUY HERE

An easy way to add some fur into your life with these budget buy fluffy high heeled sandals.

Jigsaw pom pom keyring £19 BUY HERE

For a little while now I've spotted fluffs of pom pom dangling off of bags. Attaching a little puff of fur is a simple was to do the faux fur trend.

MissGuided Scarf £15.99 BUY HERE

Now I haven't seen this scarf in real life so can't vouch for the quality, but it is a pretty good looking scarf at an incredible price point. I love the mix of burgundy, grey and white.

Whistles Mittens £45 BUY HERE

These cute mittens also come in pink and leopard print, but being a lover of all things grey I think the above are the chicest colourway. I love the mixture of textures and would happily sport these on a freezing day with a navy or black coat.

Zara sweatshirt £29.99 BUY HERE

I know a sweatshirt isn't an accessory, but I tried this on in store when the weather was warmer and instantly fell for the strip of fluff running down each arm. It's a really easy way to wear the trend and would add instant fun to a weekend outfit of jeans and trainers.

Shrimps Pablo Clutch Bag £185 BUY HERE

Oh yeah! I adore this colourful clutch. The mix of orange and baby blue is just perfection and I'd love to give this bag a cuddle on a night out.

Images: Shrimps, Zara, Whistles, Miss Guided, Jigsaw, Topshop, MATCHESFASHION

It's Coat Time!

As I sit here writing this blog the sun is high in the sky and I'm wearing shorts. However now is the time to snap up your winter coat because believe me ladies, when the weather gets cold and grey the coat you want will be long gone, on the back of some savvy shopper who invested months ago.

Coat £2195 by Roksanda Ilincic at StyleBop.com

The above coat by Roksanda Ilincic is my dream coverup. Oversized, mid-calf length, and in 2 shades of blue it would keep me warm and cosy, but most importantly it would lift every out I wore it with. Sadly it's a bit out of my budget (a bit! Ha!) 

Here is my round up of key coat trends to buy this season for all budgets.

Mabel coat £595 by Shrimps

As I've mentioned previously fur is a massive trend for winter. One of my favourite brands, Shrimps, have created fun faux-fur coats in dreamy colour combinations.

Coat £69.99 by Zara

Alternatively Zara have this cute faux-fur jacket in a zingy yellow, perfect for brightening up a grey winter's day.

Rina blanket cape £2300 by The Row at net-a-porter.com

Next up the blanket/cape coat is a relaxed way to cover up on chilly days. Seen on the catwalks of many designers from Stella McCartney to Burberry Prorsum who monogrammed theirs, this divine cashmere grey blanket coverup by The Row is so decadent, but so classic you'll keep it and love wearing it for a lifetime.

Blanket cape £25 by ASOS

ASOS have taken inspiration from Chloe's lighter coloured version making this an ideal pieces for the transitional weather.

Coat £814.56 by Carven at FarFetch.com

One of my favourite shapes in fashion is the cocoon, be it in a dress or a coat. This curly textured wool coat in navy by Carven is incredible. I love the architectural collar and the raised pockets.

Coat £89 by Topshop

Topshop's cocoon coat is a great budget buy. It's in a textured wool mix fabric with popper fastenings and in a skin flattering olive tone.

Parka £790 by McQ Alexander McQueen at MATCHESFASHION.COM

If you don't own a parka you really should. It's a wardrobe staple, perfect for wearing on the weekend with jeans or for dressing down a mini dress with high heels on a night out. This version by McQueen Alexander McQueen has an arm pocket detail, fur trimmed hood and tartan lining.

Parka £175 by Whistles

Whistles' waxed cotton parka in black looks super cosy with it's fur lined hood. 

Camel Coat £1450 by Adam Lippes at Net-A-Porter.com

Another wardrobe staple is the tailored coat. It will elevate a daytime jeans look, work well with tailored separates and chic with a pencil skirt and shirt. This camel coat version by Adam Lippes is perfection, I especially like the boned cuff detail and the gold buttons.

Coat £139 by Marks & Spencer

Marks & Spencers have a good range of coats, but be quick they are selling out fast. This tailored coat in navy by Autograph, with concealed buttons and wide lapel is the epitome of chic and a style you will wear for many seasons.  

Happy coat shopping!

Sx

Images: shrimps.co.uk, stylebop.com, Net-A-Porter.com, FarFetch.com, MatchesFashion.com, Zara, ASOS, Topshop, Whistles, Marks & Spencer

New Season Lust List

Now that the summer sales are over all the stores are filling up with new season goodies enticing you to part with your money. It's the perfect time to invest in a winter coat, new boots or cosy knitwear. While I will be hitting the high street for my new season buys here is a list of what I would purchase if I had a money tree.

I'll start with the accessories. These Isabel Marant boots are perfection. I adore the gommet detail, the wrapped leather and side tie. They'd work perfectly with both jeans and a skirt.

Aubrey Boots £845 Isabel Marant from www.mytheresa.com

Jil Sander Navy has put a dotty spin on these lace up shoes. I live in flat shoes and these would be a fun edition to my shoe cupboard.

Shoes £285 Jil Sander Navy from www.matchesfashion.com

I'm on the search for a cross-body bag and this offering from Saint Laurent would make me so happy.

Cross-Body Bag £1,110 Saint Laurent from www.matchesfashion.com

Fur is massive for A/W. I will be buying into the trend with a faux fur coat or scarf. I am in LOVE with the coats from Shrimps, plus they have the cutest website. They also sell gorgeous scarves in fantastic colour combinations. I love the pink and red combo but am also lusting after the blue and orange.

Ivana scarf £175 Shrimps

Navy and black is a favourite colour combination of mine and this wool fedora will add interest to my winter outfits.

Fedora £118 Hat Attack from www.mytheresa.com

Now for the clothes. A coat is an item of clothing you should invest in and this cape version (capes are a must buy for Autumn) in two-tone grey would be a welcome addition to my wardrobe.

Cape coat £1000 Richard Nicoll from www.matchesfashion.com

Tailored wide leg trousers are another strong trend for Autumn and one I will definitely be buying into. This version by JW Anderson have a flattering high waist and I adore the quirky oversized ankle detail. I'd wear these with some trainers during the day and with a strappy sandal for evening.

Wide leg trousers £430 JW Anderson from www.net-a-porter.com

I love mixing textures and fabrics and colder weather lends itself to this. I'd wear this leather midi-skirt in merlot (a major colour trend for the new season) with a navy chunky knit and those Isabel Marant boots.

Skirt £1650 Pedro del Hierro Madrid from www.net-a-porter.com

The love of logo tops continues into autumn and I am coveting this oversized version by Acne Studios.

Sweater £220 Acne Studios www.mytheresa.com

You can never have too many LBD's in your wardrobe and this duchess satin dress with a fringe hem is perfect. I love the high collar, short sleeves and loose cut. I'm crossing my fingers a similar version will turn up in a sample sale somewhere!

Dress £1795 by Stella McCartney from www.matchesfashion.com

What's on your shopping list for the new season?

Images: www.matchesfashion.com, www.net-a-porter.com, www.mytheresa.com