Tag Archives: J.Crew

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.

khaki trousers and newbury bootsBoots – 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!

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.

overalls and gucci loaferI 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.

overalls and Gucci loafers v1Shoes – 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:

Marant

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

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

jumpsuit 1 Jumpsuit 2 jumpsuit 3 jumpsuit 4 jumpsuit 5 jumpsuit 6

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!

IMG_0916Sneakers – 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.

IMG_0904Shoes – 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!

boyfriend jeansJeans – 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!

white jeansJeans – 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.

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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!

IMG_2155So 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!

IMG_2171I’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!

IMG_2283Bikini – Target (old)

IMG_2333Bikini – J.Crew (last year -similar here)

IMG_2336Jumpsuit – ASOS (similar here – I love these for throwing on over a bikini!)

IMG_2323T-shirt – J.Crew (25% off with SHOPNOW) // Shorts – J.Crew (25% off with SHOPNOW)

IMG_2164Shoes – 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!

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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

 

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…

Paris-Fashion-Week-Fall-2014-Stella-McCartney SM Sm1 Star-shoes-Stella-McCartney-autumn-2014 Stella 1 Stella McCartney Stella

Pretty cool huh? Alternatively there is the Prada flatform brogue to lust over, cheaper at $950 😉

The Blonde Salad TBS 2 pradas Prada Prada (1) MG_7863-copia-606x1024

Or you can head to Zara.com and have them both for less than $250!

Prada splurge vs save

SM collage

And here I am in my silver brogues today – I am totally smitten with them!

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Silver brogues

Shoes – Zara // Jeans – J.Crew (Up to 30% off with SpringStyle) // Top – J.Crew (on sale plus up to 30% off with SpringStyle)

 

 

 

What to wear with the denim shorts

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Okay so my summer bottom half is sorted – denim shorts in an array of washes and distressing – mostly from J.Crew with a pair from Madewell thrown in. So what to wear on top? I have some great t-shirts that I have collected over the years, some well loved and in their natural state of distressing, others newer and more basic like these tanks from J.Crew (25% off with HappySpring). However, I want to wear my shorts in the evening too on vacation, especially as on our flight from Istanbul to N. Cyprus we have the lowest weight allowance ever, so my summer wardrobe has to be capsule by necessity. That means I need some ‘dressier’ tops to wear in the evening – as light as possible too 😉

For me Mango have come up trumps again. I find their tops fit my top half far better than Zara, maybe as they are slightly more generous in my opinion. Here are my top picks – some of which I’ve just ordered so fingers crossed they’ll be here in time for the beach next week!

First this tie dye top is a fabulous basic and a great price too!

tie dye topThis t-shirt also comes in coral and I love the fringing – very similar to this IRO tee I keep seeing.

fringed teeThis is new on the Mango site this weekend – a lighter blue shade of the shirt I have ordered – but again a beautiful soft, boxy, short sleeved shirt that can be worn with harems or a skirt too.

soft pocket shirtMango always do great peasant/embroidered tops and this year they have some beautiful short sleeved ones. I have ordered this blue one just because the color is so striking and different.

blue embroidered topBoth of these are on my list for summer – I can’t choose between them so might need both 🙂

short sleeved top navy short sleevedOr alternatively there is a camisole version which I think is gorgeous for evenings by Kyrenia harbor with a sunless tan and a bottle of ice cold Efes! Mango have even styled them as I would wear them – simplicity at its best.

embroidered cami blue camiContinuing with camis I love this chambray/denim top to wear with white denim shorts.

denim camiFor a couple of dressier tops I have ordered the following black and cream tops – loose and airy for steamy nights in Istanbul.

crochet top fluted hem topFinishing with a couple of peasant tops – another stunning short sleeved one with beaded detail.

beaded topThis is a beautiful simple version that will be easy to pack and wash, long sleeves this time so I can wear it in Bury too before we leave for Istanbul! Always thinking!

embroidery topSo is anyone else balancing variety with luggage allowances!? It’s a challenge but I have to say one I am happy to deal with as previously I have ALWAYS over packed and only worn 25% of what I take – this time will be different! The consolation of course is that I am heading to a country famous for it’s clothing manufacturing – there will be some shopping even if I and the children have to wear it all home 😉

This weekend has been pretty lazy so far. My Husband and I went out for dinner last night to our favorite restaurant which is unfortunately changing hands and will become a steak house – we’ve had some amazing nights there in the years it has been opened and celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and our great friends even got engaged there. It’s been fun Abattoir.

IMG_0791 IMG_0788 IMG_0786Boots – AllSaints // Leather trousers – J.Brand // Shirt – Mango // Jacket – J.Crew // Clutch – YSL

I had lots of lovely comments about my outfit – specifically the lovely long, drapey shirt I’m wearing – again this is Mango and it is currently on sale and also available in a great blue and this beautiful coffee color.

flowy long shirt

On Friday I lived in my workout gear and I am still struggling to move my arms after lots of upper body work! Back on Thursday it was a day for ecru and off white.

IMG_0782 IMG_0777Boots – Rag & Bone Newbury boots // Jeans – TopShop Hayden // T-shirt – J.Crew (on sale plus an extra 30% off with HappySpring)

I’m off to soak up last nights wine with a massive curry – yup I better hit that gym again tomorrow!

 

 

Can’t get it out of my head

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Sometimes, in fact mostly, Pinterest can be deadly. As I was watching Mad Men last night I was surfing Pinterest looking for some denim inspiration – i.e. images to help me style pieces that I ALREADY have. Damn Pinterest, I fell in love with this image.

style inspiration J.Crew

It’s an image from J.Crew – and I already have the trousers – but I LOVE the shirt. Light denim, boxy and short sleeves. Can I find it anywhere? – No of course not – and I now NEED it.

Thanks to a call I put out on Twitter and Instagram I have found two that are very similar and may meet my ‘needs’. I’ve ordered both to compare and contrast…you know how dangerous that is…

The first is from Everlane. Super simple, gorgeous shape, great price and guaranteed great quality. I love this as it doesn’t have pockets on it. Thanks to Rebecca for helping me find it!

EverlaneIt also comes in a light denim.

everalne light denimThe second is from Mango – the soft pocket shirt. I love this one because of the pockets and I love the collar, or lack of collar. Thanks to Eve for helping me find this one!

MangoSo both are on their way – which one do you prefer? I’ll show and tell as soon as they arrive, and please do let me know if you see anything else similar! I have a bee in my bonnet now!

Today it’s a day for comfy dungarees! The sun is shining and I’m about to get changed for a run!

dungarees

Dungarees – H&M // Shoes – Dolce Vita // Shirt – J.Crew (similar here)

 

 

My summer uniform

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Looking back, I feel like every summer I have miss calculated my summer closet. It gets hot here. Really hot. I forget how hot, so every spring I design my closet around 70 degree temperatures, not 90 degree temperatures. Plus, when planning my vacations I imagine beach clubs, reclining on yachts and sitting under fans on patios drinking cocktails. Foolish – this never transpires. We have 2 small children so I end up covered in sand, ice cream and spf, and again it is always too hot to care about ‘dressing up’. Last year I took ‘going out’ clothes to Spain and ended up living in denim shorts and tees, or a t-shirt dress. This year I am aiming to be more practical from the start. My closet will consist of shorts and tees – no more scuba dresses – which look great on but are ridiculous in the heat.

Thankfully J.Crew have 30% off using SPRINGSTYLE today and here are some of the items I have in my virtual cart!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE J.Crew’s denim. It is fabulous quality and for some reason their cut fits me really well. I take a 29 in most styles – be warned J.Crew embrace vanity sizing plus their denim does give – not too much – but I always wear their jeans 3-4 times before washing as they soften up beautifully. I have their denim shorts from previous years and here are my picks from this season – all with 30% off too!

White denim shorts are a must as an alternative to blue denim. Just fabulous with tanned legs and tan or silver sandals.

white shortsThese distressed boy shorts have a higher rise than others I have tried and come in the perfect summer wash.

high riseThis is probably my favorite pair. Again the perfect amount of distressing and you can wear them turned up or with the raw edge. They a lovely and stretchy too so you may want to try a size down for a snugger fit.

crowley washI have this pair from last year and they again relax beautifully with wear. They are a really lightweight denim and the perfect pair of beach shorts.

dark von washFinally this denim pair is a lighter wash for those of you that prefer a lighter denim for the summer.

bradbury washWhile we’re at J.Crew you should definitely take advantage of the 30% off – here’s what’s on my list today.

I’ve been hovering over this shirt for a while as I love the fact it is classic yet doesn’t have buttons all the way down it. It will look amazing over leather pants, skinny jeans or dressed down with a pair of denim shorts. I may well pull the trigger after seeing how amazing Laura looks in hers today.

bib shirt

These jeans are the perfect amount of distressing and the denim is lovely and stretchy. The reviewers love them too! They are already reduced and then there is the extra 30% off on top!

corbin washI adore this boyfriend shirt. I think I am starting to follow a more classic look with my clothes!

polka dotFor me it is the color of this popover which really appeals – the lavender will be stunning over sun kissed skin.

popoverNow these jackets are not on offer – but I am wearing my navy one again today – it really has become a staple in my closet. I adore the popped collar on it. I’m waiting for the kiwi to come into stock but I’ve also fallen for the metallic version – I love how it is styled with all white.

kiwi metallic regentMy obsession with J.Crew has led me to investigate Madewell – their more grown up, less preppy sibling. After seeing Sincerely Jules in her shorts this weekend I felt obliged to order them and try. Nordstrom have also started stocking Madewell which is great news as they ship internationally and their customer service and returns policy is fantastic.

madewell.jpg_effected

fatigue shortsI’m also obsessing over this peasant top which is currently on sale.

peasant topI just love the grey wash on these denim shorts too!

greystone wash

 

So there’s a lot to choose from but at least I feel I can still have some variety with my shorts and t-shirt combinations!

On Friday I was willing the sun to shine – it worked for one day and then rain, rain, rain all day yesterday 😦

GuccisShoes – Gucci // Jeans – MiH (just $88 here reduced from $250) // Top – Mango

Today, as I mentioned, I’m back in my Regent blazer. How did I cope without it?!

Regent blazerBlazer – J.Crew // Sneakers – Nike from J.Crew (similar here) // Jeans – J.Crew (currently on sale) // Top – AllSaints

Experimenting with denim

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A few weeks ago everyone was talking about these H&M wide leg jeans.

H&M

 

They are a cheaper version, or tribute to the Rachel Comey jeans worn brilliantly by Leandra here.

Rachel-Comey-Jeans-Denim-3 images

They were unavailable online in the US and I managed to try a pair on in Manchester when I was home. I’d heard they came up tiny so tried a UK 14 but couldn’t even pull them over my butt! Hoping that they were miss labelled (glass half full and all that) I ordered a pair online too. Well what do you know they fit! Certainly still snug but I was quite relieved that I hadn’t piled on as many pounds as I was being led to believe – though I could have believed it with all the Monster Munch I consumed while back in Bury 🙂

Having got them back to Atlanta I decided I was very unsure about them – lets say they are not exactly leg lengthening – but the rebel in me still loves how different and wacky they are. I trawled through images looking for inspiration on how to wear them.

 

rachel-comey-2015-resort-cruise-pre-spring-womens-fashion-looks-denim-jeans-jogging-sweatpants-flowers-knit-culottes-jumpsuit-shirtdress-pleats-swim-02x

H&M wide leg jeans inspo 1H&M wide leg jeans inspo 2H&M wide leg jeans inspo 3 H&M wide leg jeans inspo 4 H&M wide leg jeans inspo 5 H&M wide leg jeans inspo 6 H&M wide leg jeans inspo 7I’ve played it pretty safe with how I have styled them today – toning it down with ballet flats and a blazer. I am feeling quite courageous though and have some more radical ideas for future outings – be warned!

IMG_0711 IMG_0705 IMG_0694Jeans – H&M // Flats – Tory Burch Eddie (no longer available – similar here) // Top – Mango // Jacket – J.Crew

While many of you will think they are hideous, I thought this was the perfect time to share some very wise words from The Man Repeller:

           “I like — nay, love — these pants. They’re me. I know they don’t look good but I think they’re cool. They make me feel like a more interesting version of myself and that, to me, is what style is about: presenting a difficulty and attempting to unpack it or make sense of it. I can’t tell you exactly why I like them but I can sharply recall having never really cared for pants that do the things we’re supposed to expect of them: flatten our stomachs, tighten our asses, makes our legs look longer and leaner, yadi ya. Maybe that’s a function of my believing that fashion is not about what’s flattering and vice versa or maybe this is simply a matter of style. And the thing about style, like with everything else, is that if you believe in it, you have to be willing to fight for it.”