Category Archives: Style

Possibly the best save vs. splurge of the year

I’ve lusted after them for some time. Even if I could justify $1100 on a pair of shoes they sold out in days on NAP. Well just for you I bring you the best save vs. splurge of the year. Meet the TopShop Webster in black or tan – the best Chloé tribute I have seen. I actually think I prefer the TopShop platform version too!

If you’re in the US use code FIRST10USA for 10% off to celebrate the opening of the new TopShop stores!

Don’t say I never do anything for you 😉 Be quick as they will sell out fast – I’ve just placed my order!

Wedge espadrilles

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Espadrilles will always signify great summers for me. I still remember the pair of red, sun washed espadrilles that I cherished and wore to death in France on one of our first European holidays. They were proper espadrilles, bought for 10 Francs or so off a market – none of these fancy $100 pairs that are on the high street these days!

With the 70s in trend wedge espadrilles are back in vogue. A slightly dressier shoe than my French market version, but still a great summer shoe, that can be worn on vacation or in the office. Today I am wearing the Sam Edelman Harmony that I bought last year in the sale – they are available this year here at Anthropologie. I particularly love the suede front on them.

J.Crew Factory have a gorgeous version, without the buckle, at a great price too with an extra 30% off with code ADDITUP. They are available in flax, red, navy and black.

The J.Crew version is currently 30% off too with TIMETOSHOP and comes in bright blue, sandstone and black.

It also comes in this gorgeous silver canvas that has to be my favorite. It’s hard to see here but there is a very subtle silver thread running through them.

I adore Mint Velvet and it’s one of the first concessions I head for when I am back in John Lewis. Their shoes are fabulous this season. Their espadrilles are gorgeous, at not too bad a price either. The awesome news for us on this side of the Atlantic is that they now ship to the US with free shipping and free returns!!! My bank balance is in trouble!

I love the rose gold Gigi – rose gold is my favorite metallic.

It is also available in black.

The Bryony is a slightly higher version.

This isn’t a wedge but I couldn’t resist including it as I just love it!! The Brooklyn espadrille in grey snake print.

Finally I just love the wrap ankle ties on these Carina wedge espadrilles on Net-a-porter.com.

Here I am in my Sam Edelmans today and it’s just dawned on me that I am wearing the same color combo as yesterday – I need to switch it up tomorrow!! This dress is on sale at just £14.90 – I just love it – this is a medium and it is super soft! I think I need the other colors. It’s the perfect spring dress for chilly mornings and warmer afternoons with it’s short sleeves.

Shoes – Sam Edelman Harmony // Dress – Uniqlo cotton cashmere // Jacket – J.Crew (old but similar here and here)

More khaki

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Khaki is having a moment this season and it wasn’t till I started looking in my closet that I realized how much khaki I actually already own. It’s a great color that suits fair and darker complexions. I particularly love a khaki trouser – like a loose cargo pant. These were an absolute bargain from J.Crew and I love the knitted cuff on them.

Boots – Rag & Bone Newbury boots // Trouser – J.Crew (on sale plus extra 30% off with TIMETOSHOP) // Tee – J.Crew (30% off with TIMETOSHOP)

There are lots of midseason sales on currently including AllSaints, Zara and Mango and my favorite spring top is included in Mango’s reductions. Enjoy!

Trusty travel attire

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Yes we’re off again – back down to the Gulf! This time just for a weekend for a cheer competition for Poppy – 6 hours there and 6 hours back on Sunday uuuurrgggh! It will be fun however, and I’ve packed my wine as the forecast is for rain all weekend!

Once again I can’t resist the comfort of my Splendid jumpsuit – this time accompanied by the amazing River Island espadrilles. I worried about the color as they are green snakeskin but they actually go with everything khaki! I can’t see them online anymore but I bet they are still in store in the UK. Sue pointed them out to me on Instagram a month or so ago so I am glad I ordered them then! I have just stood in the pouring rain for these photos – be grateful.

Espadrilles – River Island // Jumpsuit – Splendid (similar here) // Jacket – Gap (30% off online using APRIL)

Overalls and Gucci loafers

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You know me and my shoe collection…of all my purchases my shoes are my most indulgent. As I’ve said many times previously your shoes will love you regardless of those few extra vacation pounds, or that pizza and wine last night, so when I feel like a pick-me-up the best way to do it is with a pair of fabulous shoes!

Today I have taken inspiration from this image, that I first saw in Grazia, of Mytheresa.com Senior Fashion Editor Veronika Heilbrunner.

I love the simplicity of the outfit which means my eyes are immediately drawn to her shoes! So here is my interpretation today, with the same black Gucci loafers, only with black dungarees and the addition of a jacket – spring seems to have done a runner here this week.

Shoes – Gucci fringe loafers // Overalls – H&M // Tank – J.Crew (25% off with THEBEST) // Jacket – Mango (similar here) // Bag – H&M

p.s. I just received notification that the ASOS sale has started with up to 70% off enjoy!!

The simple jumpsuit

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I have always loved jumpsuits. This time of year is when I most appreciate them. A great jumpsuit can take you from day to night with a simple change of shoes or jacket. I particularly love a great jersey jumpsuit that offers supreme comfort and looks fabulous with sneakers or heels. My favorites are from Splendid and though they are expensive at full price I have been really lucky in the sales on Net-a-Porter.com or on TheOutnet.com. ASOS also offer a reliable, diverse choice of other brands of jumpsuit.

As always browsing on Pinterest has led to trouble. I’ve been lusting after this jumpsuit forever since I saw this image:

And look what I found on TheOutnet.com just now while writing this post…

Other Pinterest images that have given me inspiration include the following, demonstrating the humble jumpsuit’s versatility.

Today I’m wearing my Splendid grey jumpsuit that I got in the sale on NAP over Christmas – it’s the same as the khaki I wore here. I’m afraid my kids have been playing with the camera so all photos are super bright today – sorry – it’s fixed now!

Sneakers – Stan Smiths // Jumpsuit – Splendid // Jacket – Gap (40% off everything with code TREAT) // Bag – H&M

I could easily switch the sneakers for a pair of heels and head out for the evening feeling fabulous.

Just to prove I haven’t given up on the jeans here is my outfit from yesterday.

Shoes – Zara // Jeans – MiH (TheOutnet.com reduced by 65%) // Shirt – J.Crew (it’s lavender and gorgeous – even more so that it’s in the sale at $39.99 with an extra 30% off too using THEBEST)

Jumpsuits to try:

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Jeans and t-shirts

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Always a reliable combination at this time of year when it can go from the 80s to low 60s and back, even within a day here! I’m not sure how many pairs of jeans I own these days but I have definitely put my skinnies aside in favor of boyfriend jeans and ankle length crops. Skinnies are much easier to wear with ankle boots in the winter, but now spring is here I love showing a bit of ankle!

Today I am wearing J.Crew boyfriend jeans – they are super soft and comfortable for re-entry after spring break!

Jeans – J.Crew (extra 25% off with SHOPNOW) // Top – J.Crew (on sale plus an extra 30% off with SHOPNOW) // Shoes – Nine West (old)

I have a love for white jeans all year round – no waiting till Memorial weekend for me!

Jeans – J.Crew (25% off with SHOPNOW) // Shoes – Dolce Vita // Top – Zara

The 2015 Swimsuit Issue

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Yes it’s that time of year again! While I sit and watch the final round at Augusta and wait for Hillary to make her big announcement I thought I would catch you up with my week in Fort Morgan. It was perfect. The weather was the best we’ve ever had at this time of year, the house was perfect, and everybody managed to relax. The kids surfed while my Husband and I indulged in some great holiday reading.

If you’re looking for a couple of book recommendations here are mine! I actually let my Husband choose for me from his previous reads – dangerous given the number of historical, academic books he reads but he chose well – ‘Lionel Asbo’ by Martin Amis and ‘The Dinner’ By Herman Koch.

Both are equally dark in their own way, but gripping, page turners too! ‘Lionel Asbo’ actually had me sniggering out loud at times with it’s insightful cultural references, and at other times the hairs on my neck stood on end, terrified about what might happen on the next page. ‘The Dinner’ left me with more unanswered questions than answered questions, and for me the ending was unsatisfying, but the journey there was intriguing! I’d love to hear your recommendations for my summer reads this year!

So while I read and relaxed my Husband was on boogie board duty. I say ‘duty’ – he actually loves it and there was really no hardship wandering down the steps to the ocean shore. All three of them here are in their Patagonia board shorts!

I’m afraid I have few outfit photos from the week – I took 3 pairs of denim shorts and wore one pair all week – the weather was so amazing I went from pjs to running gear to bikini back to pjs!

Bikini – Target (old)

Bikini – J.Crew (last year -similar here)

Jumpsuit – ASOS (similar here – I love these for throwing on over a bikini!)

T-shirt – J.Crew (25% off with SHOPNOW) // Shorts – J.Crew (25% off with SHOPNOW)

Shoes – Adidas Adilettes (utterly in love with these!)

I did however manage to get Poppy to take this as we jumped in the car to head down to the Gulf. This jumpsuit is the ideal travel attire!

Jumpsuit – Splendid (old – similar here) // Sandals – Zara (old) // Bag – H&M

I will say that though I battle with my expanding waistline and I adapt to new bumps and scars, as I approach my 44th birthday this summer, I have never been happier or more content with my body in a bikini. Embrace it girls – if you do everyone else will! xx

A spray tan and new Ancient Greeks

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So we’re off on Spring Break hooray!!! We’re all ready for our annual pilgrimage to the Alabama coast – the wine is bought, the grill is packed and the bikinis are out. I’ve even had a spray tan today as after my melanoma scare I refuse to sit and sizzle in the sun like usual – only I do love being brown!

Hence my makeup free appearance here this morning – but I wanted to share my new Ancient Greeks with you! You’ll remember I was originally lusting after the Stuart Weitzman Backview. I tried them on a couple of weeks ago and I was SO disappointed. For a $500 shoe the elastic straps along the back felt cheap – especially as they fastened with velcro – which I envisioned would become nasty very quickly picking up hair and fluff. The elastic fibres also risks puckering and breaking if they are pulled too tight across the calf.

It’s a shame as Giselle looks amazing in them:

Anyway I got them out of my system, and I was pretty sure I needed to move on from gladiator sandals – certainly a risky choice for an almost 44 year old, with moderately okay legs – still they are very much a love ’em or loathe ’em type sandal. That was until I saw the Kori Ancient Greek arrive exclusively on Net-a-porter.com. I have a couple of Ancient Greek sandals from last year and I love them – they are handmade in Greece so I claim it’s my attempt to alleviate their debt.

The Kori comes in nude or black and is a lace up sandal with thong – it’s the thong that most appeals to me as cheaper versions with a strap across from Mango and Zara just don’t work for my wide feet and sticky out toes.

I had to get them on quickly today – and that is no mean feat. Make sure you have time to spare to lace and adjust the height! I wore mine quite low for the photo here – but they do extend all the way up to below my knee too which I think looks more flattering. I’m wearing my darkest, loosest dress ready to throw on after my spray tan! Thankfully I am not orange, nor am I milky white as here anymore – just a lovely glowy tan color – thanks True Glow!

Sandals – Ancient Greek Kori // Dress – ASOS t-shirt dress

I guarantee these sandals will sell out fast as they are only available on NAP and one of the few options this year with a thong – so if you are tempted my advice is don’t delay!

See you from the beach and Happy Easter all!

Silver brogues

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I love shoes. Shoes will love you unconditionally. Fat or thin, your shoes will always fit (EXCEPT, if like me, for when more than 6mths pregnant your feet will only fit in flip flops).

My new shoe obsession has been acquired over recent months – I rejected them at first but have found myself coming back to them time and again. I’ve always had a bit of rockabilly in me, so it makes sense that I have worn beetle creepers on and off all my shoe buying life. These new obsessions are a slightly more refined flatform.

First up let’s take a look at the Stella McCartney wooden flatforms – just the $995…