Tag Archives: blazer

Inspiration from an icon.

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?

Sale purchases before 2013 starts!

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Yes my New Year’s resolution is to stop buying clothes – but fortunately New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken – no? Before my shopping ban begins (please don’t re-read the blog to count how many times I said this in 2012…) I thought I’d share with you a few of the sale purchases and non-sale purchases that I’ve made over the Holiday.

Amazingly I spent all of $50 in NYC – I really tried to spend more but just wasn’t in ‘shopping mood’ – the irony hey – 3 days in shopping heaven and not in the mood! On Friday, before heading to the airport, I did manage to buy a couple of hats (of the woolly variety) and these herringbone trousers from J.Crew that were marked down in store to $20!

Before the Holidays I’d bought another couple of pairs of their cafe capris for Spring. I must be pining for some bright colors as I bought the green and guava – they’ll look great with ballet flats. They’re a great price right now, starting at $35, with free shipping using FREESHIP code.

Also remember a while ago when I blogged about J.Crew – I was lusting after these velvet pants? I was hoping they would be reduced further but this pink color has proven popular so I snapped them up at $80 reduced from $110 – not a huge saving admittedly – but while they had my size in I quickly swooped.

This heartbreaker sweater is super cute too and will go with the pink trousers perfectly!

My last couple of purchases are from Zara’s current collection. Regarding their sale – I either have everything that I wanted or the mark downs were not significant enough to tempt me. I love these two jackets though, and was happy to pay full price instead of wait 6 months for the next sale. The sizing is random as I had to return the black and white striped one for a smaller size.

I can’t wait to wear this with my leather trousers or with simple white capris in the spring. It’s linen mix and unlined so will work in warmer weather too.

Then this tartan blazer is fun and will look great with just blue jeans and a white t-shirt.

Now one final fun purchase for the Bet Lynch in me. I love this leopard print jacket from Forever 21 – I know some will despise it – but indulge me – I promise it will be great with all black. I doubt I’ll be wearing it as modeled here, as reluctantly I have come to terms with the fact that I am not forever 21.

What are your favorite Holiday/sale purchases?

Lunch date.

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This week has dragged! The cold probably hasn’t helped but I sure am happy to get to Friday. The added bonus today is that MM got to take some time off too. Of course his idea of a fun morning is shopping – NOT – but I persuaded him to nip down to Atlantic Station with me to the local West Elm to look at vanities/dressing tables.

For nearly 20 years I have been in search of the most perfect dressing table. I see it in my head but cannot find it anywhere. I want a modern design, clean lines, drawers for storage – but it must also allow for a chair to be pulled up like a desk. Now all the vanities I can find here are very traditional and ornate, with large overwhelming fixed mirrors. Surely us contemporary girls need somewhere to apply our make-up too? I thought, online, I had found the perfect answer – the mirrored Parsons desk from West Elm. Unfortunately, having seen it in real life, $599 is ridiculously expensive for this piece. I don’t mind paying $600 for the right dresser but not for something that looks and feels cheap:( So on we go, hunting for my perfect dresser. Maybe I need to just get a carpenter out to create my vision?

The Parsons desk, West Elm:

We have just got back from lunch at Houston’s – my new favorite lunch spot. It’s lovely and cosy and dark…perfect for a Fall lunch. Two crab cakes and a glass of suavignon blanc later I am feeling remarkably chipper. As I was having ‘a day out’ I decided to make a bit of an effort clothes wise. I chose the Zara grey harem pants, Zara animal print t-shirt (no longer online), Sam Edelman Louie boots in rose taupe and finally the Boden blossom tipped blazer (some sizes left in clearance) from SS 2012. My favorite combination of colors – grey and pink – and yes I LOVE harem trousers right now – so comfy:)