Category Archives: Style

A compelling read.

I love it when I pick up a new read and can’t tear myself away from it. There is no better way to spend some down time than with a fabulous book. American Psycho is just that – I truly can’t put it down. Yes it is a controversial book, containing scenes of graphic violence and sex, but the narrative is breathtaking. It was published in 1991 and is set in a narcissistic, greedy world of New York investment bankers (think Wall Street) and their ‘hardbody’ girlfriends. Brett Easton Ellis’ talent lies in his ability to set the scene and and make it tangible through paragraphs filled with adjectives and detailed descriptions. For a brand lover like myself it is heaven to be able to visualize every item a character is wearing, down to their Oliver Peoples. It’s a book I’ll be sad to finish and I highly recommend it if you can stomach a few grisly scenes!

The Arctic blast has reached us here in Atlanta so time for some cashmere and fur (though fake!). I was hoping to change it up a bit and take the tripod outside this morning, but bbrrrrrr you’ll have to wait for that! The jeans are my old faithful Gap black Always Skinny jeans – unfortunately my ability to describe the comfort of these jeans is not on par with the descriptive talents of Ellis – but believe me they are probably the most comfortable fitting jeans I own. The jumper is a Boden cashmere roll neck from a couple of years ago but they still have plenty of options in their current clearance section. The Dickers are out again and Net-a-porter.com has just received all their new stock so be quick!! The belt is Gucci, which now fits perfectly hooray!

Before heading out I threw on the relatively new Forever21 jacket – I think these fit to size and this is a Medium. It’s really pretty good quality for Forever21 and even has a suede trim with pink lining – very cute. Unfortunately I can no longer see it online to link to.

And here’s the inspiration for the outfit, the splendid Ms. Moss:

Let me know if you pick up American Psycho and tell me the best books you have read recently – I have a couple of transatlantic flights approaching soon!

MLK weekend.

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Just 2 weeks have passed since we all went back to school and work and now we have a long weekend. I respect everything Martin Luther King Jr. accomplished, but I wish he had been born later in the year. Fortunately we have had a weekend full of activities ranging from haircuts to birthday parties to NFL games to walking up mountains.

Friday was very indulgent and 3 hours of it was spent sitting in the hair salon. You wouldn’t believe how much hair came off – when you have short hair it’s still amazing how much shorter it can go!

Saturday started with my ‘free weights’ orientation at the gym. My very buff instructor obviously knew what he was doing. The way he threw the weights around looked easy. I’m glad he is a gentle giant – he genuinely suppressed his amusement when I tried to emulate his moves, and even when I struggled just to change the weights on the bars. Everyone has to start somewhere I guess! He did offer to ‘spot’ for me as it can be ‘dangerous if you get stuck under the weights’ – heaven forbid that level of embarassment ever occurs!

Later that afternoon, with arms still feeling like jelly, we went off to a party for the children. Now earlier in the day I swear I had ballet flats on, but once the sun started to lose its heat my feet were so cold I committed the fashion sin of wearing ankle boots and socks with cropped trousers. Forgive me – I was past caring at this point. So here I am wearing my J.Crew sale bargains that I got in NYC – the herringbone café capris (currently there is 40% off final sale prices using the code Get40). I wore them with lots of Boden including the Must have jumper, the chic leather jacket and the Lightweight scarf in Multi Meadow is from the Spring collection. I love the combination of bright and nude pinks. The boots are the Guess Cardio – currently in the sale on Zappos.com! (Remember to check out the Boden site again this week as there are new items with 20% off from the Spring collection that will stack with the 15% off with my banner ads).

Yesterday the Atlanta Falcons had a major game to play – victory would result in a trip to the Superbowl for the first time in years. Of course we didn’t win – but for a while it was fun believing we might. I enjoyed a couple of beers watching the big screen and holding the sofa down – the game was closer than we thought it would be, which made it harder to lose:(

There’s been a lot of discussion on my friends’ blogs regarding boyfriend jeans recently and the quest for the perfect pair. Kat at Doesmybumlook40 has written a couple of great posts with some good reviews, and Sue at SusieSoSo has also just posted on them – we’ve all added our 2 cents worth in comments. I have 2 pairs of boyfriend jeans, both bought from Gap, bought in the sale about 3 years ago. They still have the ‘sexy’ boyfriend jean – but I haven’t tried them on so can’t compare the cut to the ones I own. I sized down in mine – a US 2 – there is no way in hell I am a US 2 – but it still makes me smile when I put these on:) I just noticed too that Gap here in the US have a 30% off online code that ends today – GAPDEAL is the code. I love my jeans – I roll them a couple of times at the ankle, and they are slouchy enough around the waist and butt without being, in my eyes, unflattering. The Heartbreaker jumper is another J.Crew sale bargain, worn over a Boden Hampton t-shirt. The ballet flats are the fabulous VInce Camuto fawna flats – again a sales bargain from over the Holiday period. The croissant/pink color is still available in the sale in some sizes here at Nordstrom.

Now off to enjoy this extra day at home we have…I’m going to start it with a run then who knows what fun will ensue!

14 years!

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Another from the archives.

First published September 19th 2012:

MM and I have been married 14 years today! I remember it all vividly. The location was The Devonshire Arms, Bolton Abbey, West Yorkshire. Neither of us are from anywhere near there – we just wanted a beautiful location and I was obsessed about having a venue that didn’t look like a conference room – I didn’t want “any metal legged chairs”! We were living in London at the time and we had our hen and stag nights the week of the wedding. Madness in hindsight.

My hen night was at Kensington Place – a great restaurant in Notting Hill – on the Wednesday night. I then traveled North back home with my Mum and sister on the Thursday, whilst the boys congregated in London for the stag night. They traveled up to Skipton on the Friday morning – with Martin, one of the best men, having to side step out of the ticket line to throw up, before getting on the train. I still feel awful for anyone who was in that line that day!

Friday night was spent at the Devonshire Arms. I promised myself not to drink – that promise lasted 2 minutes – and a party ensued as all our guests arrived – some we hadn’t seen for a while. Not a good idea to get carried away on excited energy the night before you get married! I didn’t sleep a wink that night and I remember sharing a room with Jo, one of my bridesmaids. In the corridors I could hear MM and his brother howling and giggling – I knew it was going to be a tough morning!

I headed off at the crack of dawn with my Mum and sis to get our hair done. I felt rough as a badger’s arse but ridiculously excited! The champers at the salon soon had me buzzing again and it was off back to the hotel to get dressed. Now remember this is the 19th September in West Yorkshire – all bets would be on rain and clouds but the weather was stunning! Blue skies and sunshine – in fact a little too warm for some dehydrated folks:) Later I heard it was quite a miracle that MM made it to the ceremony at all. He had gone to work off some of the previous night’s excesses in the gym, having forgotten his sneakers he ran barefoot on the treadmill and went flying off the back of it, then he tried to walk downstairs in his flip flops, spilled his cup of water and went flying again! I’m giggling as I write this – talk about the excesses of youth!

I walked in with my Dad to Pachelbel’s Canon and Simon read The Owl and the Pussycat and we were done! Mr and Mrs – as easy as that. The great thing about our venue was that no one had to go anywhere as we used the same room for the ceremony, the reception and the disco. Our first dance was to ‘Love me Tender’ but I remember the dance floor clearing later too as we whirled each other around to ‘Satisfaction’ by the Stones. There are some amazing photos of MM and his mate dancing and stripping – yes stripping though not naked thankfully – to ‘Bad to the Bone‘ – many chins were on the floor at this remarkable scene – my Dad’s for one.

The following day we made our way back to London elated, and then on the Monday we jetted off to Northern Cyprus where we traveled with back packs and a jeep for 2 weeks – bliss.

After 14 years and 2 kids not a day goes by when he doesn’t make me laugh – at him or with him:) Happy Anniversary my lovely.

The photo on my desk!:

Now off to Bacchanalia tonight for a tamer celebration than 14 years ago!

Today’s outfit is all Zara! TRF blue pants, t-shirt and jersey blazer worn with my Tory Burch Eddies.

Please don’t stop the music…

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A year of blogging! Who’d have thought it? So there to everyone who thought it was just another of my fads:)

While taking the photos this morning I had the iPod on and it suddenly dawned on me that it was a year since my first post. I couldn’t stop smiling, and then I couldn’t stop dancing…

The skirt is J.Crew, tights are Marks and Spencer, jumper is the Off Duty jumper from Boden and the boots are the fabulous Newburys.

Thanks to all of you for your support, and for embracing my weaknesses, challenging my opinions and reading my waffle – love you all xx

Hmmm, shouldn’t have worn ballet flats.

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My feet are FREEZING. After 74 degrees temps last weekend we now have the threat of snow on the way tonight. Not quite as much as you are all experiencing on the other side of the Atlantic (my friend in St. Tropez even shared snaps of snow on palm trees) – but enough to send Atlanta into a frenzy of panic buying bread and milk, and rushing to get home before the roads get bad. We are absolutely unprepared for snow and ice here. Two years ago, at this time of year, we were housebound for a week due to an ice storm. There were no gritters (not sure they’re called that here – but trucks that spread salt) available to salt any of the minor roads, plus the power kept going out due to branches falling from the weight of the ice. Nightmare. Fingers crossed it won’t be anywhere near that bad tonight. Anyway I have panic bought wine and have enough to last at least a couple of days if needed. Sorted.

Tired of jeans this week I chose my harem trousers from Zara (similar here). I’m wearing them with a Zara animal print t-shirt and the lovely Boden Must have jumper – of which there are still several in the clearance section. I love the simple silhouette of this jumper and the button detail on the shoulders is really cute. Unsurprisingly this isn’t the only one I own. The shoes are Tory Burch Revas in mouse (old) – whatever possessed me not to wear socks and boots!?

Oh I am in desperate need of a haircut too, not to mention the state of my brows, so I better had be able to get to my appointment in the morning! Keep warm and dry where ever you are!

A new bag.

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So yes I have the new Boden leather clutch in sunset…and now I have it in driftwood. My logic/justification was that these bags are so beautiful they will sell like hotcakes. I’ve already put in a request for them to make a larger tote version with handles, and a long strap too for next year – how perfect would that be! Something along the lines of these Foley & Corinna Mid City totes that I am currently lusting after.

No more bags for me though till I have saved for my bag of the year – the Alexander Wang Rocco. There are two on the Net-a-porter wish list I just emailed to MM:)

Today I opted for some color – the Zara knitted jacket from last year’s sale. It’s a fun color with a great Zebra print lining. To balance out the vibrancy of the jacket I opted for a simple square cut black H&M jumper, black Gap jeans and my mocha Pistols which coordinate fabulously well with the bag! The scarf is Boden from AW 2011.

What bag is top of your wish list for 2013?

These boots were made for walking…

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What a treat in store for me this week! After watching the Golden Globes live on Sunday it means I have Girls, Downton Abbey and some Real Housewives recorded for my viewing pleasure! In addition I’ve also picked up a new book at last – American Psycho. MM has been encouraging me to read it for some time now…I hope it’s as good as he says it is – we rarely enjoy the same books! It’s the perfect weather for staying in and curling up on the sofa with a good book – it’s wet, wet, wet here.

Braving the rain today I opted for a pair of my Frye’s. Don’t panic there are no leather soles here and all I’m doing is walking from the car to the office – not enough exposure to warrant the Hunters. These are the Veronica Slouch and they are a gorgeous dark, nutty brown – is that a good description? Maybe not. The jumper is one of my favorites from AllSaints – the Ellil in smoke. I love this jumper so much – the cut and drape are perfect and the buckle detail on the neck gives this knit a bit of edginess. I’m wearing it over an H&M vest dress for warmth – plus I find they keep some of the lumps and bumps at bay, working as a smoother or a shaper. The jeans are Hudson Collins. It’s five weeks since my last haircut and I’m desperate for one again – thank goodness I have an appointment on Friday – it’s feeling rather bouffant in this weather.

I found a photo of an outfit I wore last week that I forgot to post. I’m doing it now as it’s a rare photo of me in a skirt – the H&M Grey Concept skirt, worn with a Target belt and a Zara top. The fabulous Boden military jacket is from AW 2011. If you ever see one on eBay don’t miss out – it has the most beautiful fit and is lined with purple velvet. The boots are REALLY old Loft suede booties that I haven’t worn for years. It’s great to rediscovering items and now having easy access to them in my new closet!

Remember to check out the Boden site again this week as there is a new selection of items reduced by 20% which you can stack with my 15% discount when you click on the banner here:

Local weather report.

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I hate to sound like an amateur meteorologist, but the weather is throwing a spanner in the works. Remembering it is still early January – this weekend it was 76 degrees Fahrenheit here! Unseasonable to say the least. Today it’s in the high 50s and chucking it down. A flexible approach to wardrobe planning is required!

It turned out to be quite a sporting weekend in our household. After my great night out on Friday, Saturday was spent sitting in a warm, steamy swimming pool watching my daughter compete – I was a tad dehydrated it has to be said. Sunday was then spent cheering on the Atlanta Falcons as they won their play-off game – it was a nail biter and now we just have to face the 49ers to make it to the Superbowl! So it was a weekend that required little thought regarding attire and I will admit I spent it in slouchy sweatpants – lovely.

Today I’ve gone for the jacket and t-shirt again. The blazer is the fabulous Zara tartan jacket – I love this and it fits perfectly. I feel really sharp in it. The t-shirt is a $14 Forever 21 bargain. Yes their tees are all synthetic but they are actually really soft and drapey – perfect under a blazer. Jeans are the Hudson Collin skinnies, belt is Gucci and the sneakers are the Ash Gwen – perfect for a rainy day.

How was your weekend?

Girls only.

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One of my New Year’s resolutions is to go out with the girls more often. Sometimes life can get in the way of spending time with friends, and prioritizing time gets tricky. But life also raises issues that are best shared with girlfriends over a glass of wine and a good laugh, hence my resolution. I put it into practice last night and headed out with Cristin. We had a fabulous night catching up over a couple of bottles of unnecessarily expensive wine:)

I wore my black jacket again from Zara over the Dita t-shirt dress (yeah right – dress that barely covers your butt!) from AllSaints. The trousers are the coated jeggings from Dorothy Perkins (currently on sale) which have turned into my favorite ‘going out’ pants – they fit amazing and feel sexy! I busted out the Buster boots from Nine West. They’ve been sitting in my closet for a while now after I bought them at a bargain price before Thanksgiving. Not sure why I haven’t worn them till now – I think I was concerned about tottering around in really high heels – but they turned out to be the most comfortable ‘going out’ boot.

So after putting a New Year’s resolution into practice I also broke one. My new Boden folded leather clutch arrived. I just couldn’t resist it and I’m glad I didn’t now – it is just beautiful. The leather is buttery soft and it is incredibly roomy without any bulk. The color could be pink, orange or red depending on what you wear it with, and the detachable strap is genius.

Make me feel better and tell me you have broken a resolution too by day 12!

Oh and talking about Girls – don’t forget if you are in the US the new season starts tomorrow 9pm on HBO.

Inspiration from an icon.

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There are several style icons around the globe who inspire me, but the woman who makes me weak at the knees with her effortless chic and je ne sais quoi is Emmanuelle Alt. Wikipedia says she was born May 18th 1967 which is interesting not only because my daughter’s birthday is May 18th but also because she’s heading for her 46th birthday this year! She looks phenomenal at 46!

Her uniform is pretty standard fare – if you ignore the fact that it is compiled of designer pieces – you’ll recognize plenty of Isabel Marant when you look at photos. You’ll often see her in a blazer, t-shirt, skinnies or harem trousers with pointy pumps or ankle boots. Regardless of what she wears – it somehow always looks amazing and also looks like she hasn’t given her wardrobe that day a second thought. She has a formula and she sticks by it. If you saw a headless shot of her you’d be able to tell who it is instantly.

I think blogging is starting to make me over think what I wear, leading to some dubious decisions and combinations. It’s time to pare back and simplify. So here is my attempt at jeans, t-shirt and a blazer. I actually feel really comfortable like this and it’s one of MM’s favorite looks on me. InStyle magazine also dedicate a page this month to the blazer and jeans look – so I must be on to something.

The blazer is Zara from last summer – it’s hard to see the detail but it doesn’t have lapels – I love it – it has great strong shoulders! The t-shirt was a tenner from Target and is probably suitable for Valentine’s Day and the earrings were cheap as chips from Forever 21🙂 The jeans are Gap grey jeggings and the Carlsen boots were $40 from Steve Madden about three years ago, and I think look very Marant. Oh the irony, given I didn’t choose the only Isabel Marant I own – my Dicker boots.

On my wrist I decided to add a bit of embellishment to my standard Elsa Peretti open heart bracelet.

So go on then – who is your style icon?

Poppy's Style

My blog about fashion, family, friends and fun.

Category Archives: Style

A compelling read.

MLK weekend.

14 years!

Please don’t stop the music…

Hmmm, shouldn’t have worn ballet flats.

A new bag.

These boots were made for walking…

Local weather report.

Girls only.

Inspiration from an icon.

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