Tag Archives: H&M

Save vs. Splurge Bomber Jacket

You had better be quick with this one – many sizes are sold out here but I expect they will return. Knowing H&M sizing to be so erratic I feel comfortable ordering a US 12, which their size guide suggests is a Medium. Or you could of course order the Gucci jacket of which, even at $3,990, many sizes are sold out!

Bomber jacket Collage

I may also have dropped these two dresses in my basket – the first here, I fell in love with after seeing it on A Mother’s Edit.

H&M knit dress

This one is beautiful – really hope it works out size wise. I have ordered a US 10 and it will work great with the bomber jacket or a leather jacket with sneakers.

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Both will hopefully allow me to appreciate my tan for a few weeks on return, and yes Dr. Dermatologist it was all done using SPF 60! I am so careful these days but still love frolicking on a beach!

Last night we went out for dinner with our friends from Sweden. I love these Old Navy tops that I bought in the clearance – perfect holiday attire when you’re in dusty climes and aren’t sure about the washing machine performance! I would hate to ruin some more delicate tops I have!

Screen Shot 2016-07-15 at 11.15.18 AM Screen Shot 2016-07-15 at 11.15.38 AMTop – Old Navy // Shorts – Madewell (similar here)// Shoes – Castañer (extra 20% off sale prices with code xJuly16)

 

I do love a good dress

A dress can be the easiest thing to throw on – and when you get it right it can be a killer outfit! I love a dress and my closet is now diversifying from the AllSaints drapes that I adore. Of course heading to Turkey next week gives me the excuse to buy dresses – they feel more conservative and appropriate in Istanbul – even a strappy sundress can be adapted for a mosque with a scarf over the shoulders.

I have this Gap dress in pink and adore it – I’ve just ordered the blue with code TGIF in the US – I have a large – it’s cut quite narrow around the bust so be careful if you are well endowed. Oh and I can’t stand the belt so have immediately discarded it!

Gap

& Other Stories are fabulous for unusual prints and they have their sale running right now. There are some dresses from a couple of seasons ago that I have ordered.

Many of my friends have the porcelain midi dress – I’ve ordered this style – I’m really starting to embrace blue. It’s reduced from $115 to $58.

porcelain

The Mountain print dress is pretty polarizing but I think it will look amazing with a tan and black espadrilles. This is reduced from $90 to $45.

moutain print

Finally in the sale – a dress I see wearing a lot in the Fall with ankle boots – I’ve been desperate for another plaid dress and love the length of this one. Reduced from $115 to $58.

check

There is 25% off certain footwear and dresses at Madewell this weekend with code UNIFORM. I’ve ordered these for my vacation closet. Size down in the dress.

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Some food for thought – and yes my packing pile is growing aaaargh!

Ending with outfits from the past couple of days…

flaresJeans  – Zara // Shoes – Castaner // Top – Mango (in sale) // Bag – Mansur Gavriel

H&M dressSneaker – New Balance // Dress – H&M (in sale) // Bag – Hill & Friends

Outfit update!

I hope all you US based mamas had a fabulous Mother’s Day yesterday! I was greeted with lots of beautiful homemade banners and cards, a lot of thought had gone into them…well they both certainly know how to get on my good side!

mothers day Collage

It was a beautiful weekend here and we spent it 50:50 chores:fun! My Mum and Dad are visiting for a couple of weeks and arrive next Tuesday so I’m trying to get the house ship shape – which is challenging with 2 dogs and 2 kids…though Hugh has now realized that chores may be rewarded with dollars, so he is volunteering to do everything until he has enough money for a hover board! Later yesterday, once we had thoroughly exhausted all our desire to clean, I was treated to a lovely lunch at my favorite Mexican, with of course the obligatory margarita to wash it down with.

The summer clothes are now pretty much here to stay, and here are the outfits I wore over the weekend.

dungareesDungarees – H&M // Espadrilles – & Other Stories (love these – they are leather too) // T-shirt – Mango (old) // Leather jacket – AllSaints // Bag – Proenza Schouler

mangoShoes – Mango (on sale 44% off – I have the black too!) // Jeans – MiH Phoebe // Top – Mango // Bag – Hill & Friends

mango dressDress – Mango (sale last year – similar here) // Boots – Rag & Bone Newbury (similar here) // Bag – Mansur Gavriel tote

 

25 years!

If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed that my Husband and I celebrated a significant milestone on Monday – it was 25 years since we first hooked up, or started dating, however you want to call it! We were students in St. Andrews at the time and a few years ago I documented the evening here. Normally we celebrate this anniversary in a very low key fashion, leaving the extravagance to our wedding anniversary in September. Well my incredibly romantic husband ignored those rules this year and went above and beyond what was required or expected! We had a fabulous evening eating tacos and drinking margaritas – one I’ll remember for some time. Here’s to another 25 years and more!

At my graduation ball in 1992 in St.Andrews:

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At my PhD graduation in 1996 at Royal Holloway College:

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He made me a card with all the places where we have lived in our 25 years, with a tribute to Bowie too as he knew how much I loved him!

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For our night out I wanted to stay pretty casual and comfortable. I adore my Isabel Marant Otway boots that I found on eBay!

Allsaints topBoots – Isabel Marant (more on eBay here) // Jeans – Zara (old) // Top – AllSaints (old)

It’s that time of year in Atlanta where you have to dress to be prepared for all types of weather. On Saturday we had what appears to be a small tornado rip through the neighborhood – trees and telegraph poles down, with loss of power for many. Today it’s getting hot again with horrid humidity from all the rain. Thank goodness for AC!

mango 3Jeans – Zara (old) // Top – Mango (similar here) // Boots – Rag & Bone (similar here) // Bag – Proenza Schouler

H&M jacket 2Jacket – H&M // Jumpsuit – Gap (30% off with code SHINE) // Espadrilles – Soludos // Bag – Proenza Schouler

I’m having some technical difficulties this week – my phone died after getting soaked in the rain and now my laptop is on the blink – you realize how much we rely on these gadgets when they don’t work! So hopefully I’ll be back up and running soon but in the meantime check out Shopbop’s surprise sale – up to 40% off!

 

My current favorite store

I haven’t shopped at Zara for months, I dip in and out of Mango, and I’ve been cruising H&M more and more. That’s when I remembered that H&M also has sister brands – & Other Stories and COS. I’m thrilled that we now have a COS in Buckhead here in Atlanta – I’ve yet to visit but will report back soon. On their ‘About’ page this is how COS describe themselves:

COS is a fashion brand for women and men who want modern, functional, considered design.

Offering reinvented classics and wardrobe essentials, we create pieces that are made to last beyond the season. Traditional methods and new techniques merge to form timeless, understated collections.

Since launching in 2007, we have opened stores worldwide in carefully considered locations, applying an architectural design concept that preserves buildings’ original features whilst creating a modern, welcoming space.

For now let’s focus on my new favorite online store – & Other Stories. Online as it currently only has two NYC stores in the US. Please come to Atlanta soon! Here is how they describe themselves:

& Other Stories is a fashion brand offering women a wide range of shoes, bags, accessories, beauty and ready-to-wear to create their personal style, or story. Our creative ateliers in Paris and Stockholm design diversified fashion collections with great attention to detail and quality at an affordable price.

Today, a woman with a love for fashion creates her own style.

She wears things that feel right to her and reflect her personality. & Other Stories is about bringing everything she can wear into one place, focusing on the whole look. We believe shoes, bags, jewellery, lingerie and beauty are key for styling and just as important as clothing.

Our collections are built around inspiring fashion stories. All our lines are diverse, ranging from masculine tailoring to feminine chic and designed to provide endless styling choices.

Their collection really is diverse. I also love how their site is designed with a ‘Ready-to-wear’ section – it really elevates the brand.

I’ve just made an order and I’ll let you know what’s on it’s way shortly. First I want to share some of my favorite items and help some of you who are new to & Other Stories get familiar with it. I am still navigating my way through it. The price points are great for the style and aesthetic of the clothes, more than H&M, but you’re getting better quality and a more classic piece for your closet. If you are in the US be warned – stock sells out FAST! New stock also shows up slower than in the UK. Looking between the US and the UK sites there are far more sizes still available in the UK.

This dress is beautiful – very D&G – and it also comes in white. So feminine and pretty but could easily be toughened up with a denim or leather jacket.

black lace dresslace midi dress

I’m in love with the shape of this shirt dress. It’s so flattering, wonderfully cool for summer and really easy to wear dressed up or down. I particularly love the herbarium print in white. It’s just $55 too! If you sign up as a new site user you will receive a FRIENDS code for 10% off your first order.

cotton shirt dressScreen Shot 2016-04-24 at 8.03.29 AM

This dress is the herbarium print too – so fun and funky. Beautifully abstract. The asymmetrical hem here is perfect. I love this for a spring or summer wedding then it can easily be worn as a day dress.

herbarium dress

I’m in love with the styling here. I’d like to look like this every day please. This layering shirt dress is such a basic but looks so cool over leather pants or jeans.

shirt dress

Here’s the dress I’ve ordered – I’m afraid it’s sold out on the US site but there may be returns. It’s the print I love and the shape is perfect for my shape – I get to show my legs and hide my tummy! It’s just £45 in the UK, and $65 in the US – I LOVE the fact they don’t just double the numbers for the US as many European stores do.

herbarium dress 1

Now to my other & Other Stories obsession – their shoes. SO cool, great unique designs and great prices.

These are in my order –

I just love the color of the beige mule and the shape of the toe. At $135 they are even cheaper than the Everlane version. They are also available in black in the UK.

biege mule black mule

I’ve had the ATP Atelier version of these sandals in and out of my basket on NAP forever! Now I have these on their way for half the price!

black sandal snakeprint sandal

These espadrilles haven’t arrived online in the US yet – watch out for them – they will fly out of stock. I am particularly enamored by the blush pair available here in the UK. The black and white are a great Chanel tribute.

blush espadrille espadrille

Finally these are so cool – a mule skate shoe or a skate shoe mule? Perfect for slipping on for vacation travel.

slip on sneaker

Do let me know if you have shopped with & Other Stories for a while – I’d love to know your thoughts, equally if you are new to the brand – what do you think?!

 

The maxi dress

I admit I have struggled with the maxi dress. I have a couple of lovely jersey Splendid dresses that I wear on vacation, but I tend to feel too ‘dressed up’ in them for everyday wear. That is until I tried this H&M dress. I was actually really surprised how much I like it. Maybe it’s the sheer lower half that helps – I don’t feel too covered up if that makes sense!? I also love the colors and the pattern. It’s got a little stretch in it so it is really comfortable to wear. Dressed down with sneakers it is a great day dress. It’s now on sale at $29.99, reduced from $59.99.

maxi dressDress – H&M // Sneakers – Golden Goose // Bag – Mansur Gavriel

Here are some other maxi dresses I am now tempted to try! I may be hooked!

This dress is also H&M and beautiful – very Grecian!

chiffon maxi dress

This Mango dress is stunning – I love the colors and it’s sheerness.

Mango printed dress

This is also Mango and stunning – I love the back detail. As a side note – I have the sandals in this image and they are gorgeous, I love the thong toe.

Mango off white dress

Mango again – the embroidery on this is lovely. I also really like the length. I love how they have styled it with the black sandals – perfect.

mango embroidered

Back to H&M – unfortunately this is sold out online here in the US but I will be trying to track it down in store and checking for returns online – it is so elegant and just $24.99.

jersey dress

This dress is so Marrakech – I think I can also convince myself it’s perfect for Istanbul this year with the covered arms.

embroidered dress

So do you do maxis or not? I’d love to hear where you them down!

Overalls or dungarees?

Festival time is here – whether it’s a music festival or a fun neighborhood festival (we have many here in Atlanta), it’s time to dig out the festival clothes. Dungarees are a perennial favorite. Comfort, style and versatility make them my choice. Admittedly for the larger chested of us, they can be problematic, but I have discovered a great pair from H&M with thinner straps and a looser fit that seem to work well. I like to wear dungarees as simply as possible with a plain t-shirt and sneakers or espadrilles. I’m definitely a proponent of the dressed down dungaree look as opposed to the dressed up look – though I did try them with heels back here and here – I was a very early adopter of dungarees!

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(Images via Pinterest)

H&M are a great source of overalls – though be warned the sizing varies drastically! Some are teeny tiny and others need a size down. I think the pair I am wearing today are true to size – with a looser fit.

button overalls

I also have this pair in a medium – they are sold out here online but check out stores – they are gorgeous and a great boyfriend fit.

loose fit overalls

I tried this cropped pair on in London and they are small fitting – I probably sized up 2 sizes! Having said that ignore the size on the label – they are gorgeous.

cropped overalls

Again a pair that are unfortunately oos online – but I love the fit and flare cut of these.

flared overalls

Gap have a very similar style here. They are now on sale with an extra 35% off here in the US using code STYLE – certainly worth a punt!

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I’m also smitten with this style – I love Gap’s denim. These are an online exclusive – with 35% off using STYLE.

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Finally another of my favorite stores for denim – Madewell. I just love this skinny cut and they get rave reviews.

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Here I am today in dress down comfort. My new Primark jacket also gets it’s first outing – thank you so much for sending Sue!! I’ve cut the label off the sleeve now after leaving it on all morning much to the amusement of my Husband!

dungarees CollageDungarees – H&M // Top – H&M (old) // Sneakers – Nike // Jacket – Primark (thanks to Sue!) //Bag – Mulberry Bayswater

 

 

Belted jackets

Belted jackets have become a new staple in my closet. They cinch my waist to give me shape where I need it and they look great with jeans. It’s a signature look of my style heroine, Emmanuelle Alt. She belts all her coats – even puffa jackets in the winter.

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There are many choices on the high street starting with H&M who are on fire at the moment.

This grey jacket is so versatile and I love the bracelet length sleeves.

H&M jacket

This is one of my favorites – great colors – especially love the cream in it to wear with off white jeans.

H&M jacquard

This one is described as a cardigan – great for spring and cooler summer evenings – I love the rope belt and it has cashmere in it. The more I look at it the more I want it in my closet.

H&M cardigan

This pile coat is fabulous and now on sale at $24.99. Buy it and keep it for Fall!

pile jacket

This is the grey that I am wearing in the image below. It also comes in a black and grey pattern – both bargains at $39.99.

patterned coat

Finally a coat in the sale – just lovely – again a great color too. Reduced from $69.99 to just $19.99 with most sizes available.

boucle coat

Now another of my favorite stores, Mango. I have these first two coats as I thought they were so ‘Emmanuelle’ as soon as I saw them. The first colorway is currently reduced.

mango 2 mango 1

This coat is very reminiscent of ‘safari jackets’ – it’s beautiful for the summer. It’s lyocell so will be soft to wear.

mango 5

I’m head over heels with this cotton wool mix coat – just beautiful colors and currently reduced by 30%.

mango 3

This navy blue jacket from River Island will look brilliant with white jeans and tan sandals. It also comes in pink, black and a black and white pattern.

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Dressier now – this TopShop Unique jacket is a beauty. It’s a longer, smoking jacket style and would look incredible with black wide leg trousers.

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Last but not least – this is fabulous, quirky and fun from & Other Stories – the tigress quilted jacket.

& other stories

Now while we’re talking about belted jackets, when I was back in the UK I wanted a belt that I could wear over any coat. This is perfect – mainly because it has elastic at the back of the belt so it gives to fit around any coat, even with a sweater underneath.

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So what are your thoughts on the belted jacket? I do think they give a fabulous shape. I’ve worn one on each of the previous two days.

Topshop shoes 1Jacket – H&M (on sale) // Jeans – Zara (old) // Shoes – TopShop // Shirt – oversized cuff shirt H&M // bag – Stella McCartney Falabella

H&M jacket and gucci shoesJacket – H&M (sold out online) // Jeans – H&M // Shoes – Gucci (old) // Bag – Stella McCartney Falabella

Harem pants

I’ve never made a secret of my love for harem pants. They are so comfortable, and these days there are so many options available that if a full on drop crotch isn’t for you then you can opt for a smarter jogging pant. I’m wearing mine today as it is going to be in the 80’s and their fluidity keeps me cool all day. In fact they are the first thing I pack for vacations as they are perfect for traveling in too. You can then dress them up for evening wear with a lovely top and even a light jacket. The footwear options are endless – sneakers, sandals and even heels all look great with them.

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(Images via Pinterest)

The pair I am wearing today is from ASOS – just $28! They have an elastic waist that can be folded over to be worn lower on the hips if needed.

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I am waiting to take receipt of these tomorrow – a little lower crotch which I love..

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Etsy is a fabulous source for harem pants. I’ve had some great purchases in the past and these caught my eye.

Etsy 1

Along with this pair which is less tailored. Bulgaria appears to be the home of most harem tailors!

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H&M offer some wonderful choices as well. These are similar to the ASOS pair I’m wearing – less drop crotch, more smart jogger.

H&M1

I have this pair of joggers – and they are definitely joggers so better worn with sneakers but I adore the drop crotch and the fabric is great! Perfect paired with a simple white tee and leather jacket.

H&M 2

Finally if you are in the UK I hear great things about the Hush harems. These have a fold over waistband and they look so comfortable. They are available in black. olive, navy, charcoal and blue. They will deliver to the US for £12 but it is not DPD, so make sure you know what customs will charge you for your order.

Hush harem

Here I am today – the weather is so great the toes are out!

harem 1Shoes – Birkenstocks // Trousers – ASOS // Top – J.Crew (old) // Bag – Mansur Gavriel // Scarf – H&M (old)

Yesterday the legs were out too – as well as plenty of sunless tan cream!

IMG_2953Dress – ASOS (old) // Shoes – Zara (this season but sold out online) // Bag – Mansur Gavriel

 

 

 

New in from H&M

I’ve seen two beautiful ladies wear this top in blue this week – Frances and Dresslikeamum. It’s still not hit the US website BUT the yellow and white have. If you’re darker like me I think both colors will look great! Personally I think the cobalt is beautiful but best left to the blondes!

dresslikeamum Frances The Fashionlift

H&M lace off the shoulder top H&M lace off the shoulder top

I also LOVE these dungarees. I’ve been searching for a more boyfriend/slouchy fit pair for some time and these look perfect. I also like the thinner straps – more flattering on a larger bust.

H&M overalls dungarees

Finally these are sitting in my basket. I love white jeans all year round – especially distressed ones for wearing with a pretty top. These look lovely and high waisted too.

H&M white jeans

What’s caught your eye at H&M recently? With their new free in-store returns their worth a punt! Plus get free shipping right now over $50 with code 3354.