Tag Archives: Nike

My new love

They arrived yesterday and I have not taken my eyes off them. They are the most comfortable sneakers I have ever owned – no joke. At just $95 they cannot be beaten for urban style, comfort and cool factor. My Husband even joked that I was dressed ‘Portobello circa ’91’, back when we were the cool kids on the block, living in our Ledbury Road bedsit. I love them. Meet my Nike Air Force 1s – you’ll be seeing a lot of them.

DSC_0326I bought the US 8.5 which is my normal size and they fit perfectly.

For the ultimate 90’s Notting Hill look I donned my camo trousers and Khaki jumper. I wore a very similar outfit for carnival in 1991. I can’t wait till it’s light enough to photograph outside again, my mirror is constantly under siege from my children’s handprints!

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Sneakers – Air Force 1s // Trousers – Zara (old) // Jumper – ASOS (sale – keep checking back I nabbed this when it came back in stock – it fits big this is a UK 10/US 6) // Jacket – Mango (50% off in sale)

Yesterday I took inspiration from this Pinterest photoย of Sincerely Jules.

Sincerely Jules

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Boots – Isabel Marant Dickers // Coated jeans – Zara (old) // T-shirt – J.Crewย (similar here) // Shirt – Gap (similar here on sale) // Coat – Marks and Spencer (old – love this one reduced from $200 to $80 or this one also on sale!!)

Off out tonight with a dear friend who I used to work with in my corporate days – I can’t wait for a good natter over some good food and wine. It also gives me an opportunity to change clothes again today instead of slipping into my cashmere onesieย (now reduced further in the sale) after the gym ๐Ÿ™‚ My poor daughter was mortified yesterday when I picked her up from school wearing it!

 

My sneaker obsession

Weren’t those sneakers in my last post awesome? I cannot wait for them to arrive. For some reason I seem to have developed a New Year sneaker obsession. Maybe it is my desire to simplify and opt for simple classics as opposed to wild one hit wonders?

I made lots of sartorial errors last year but one major improvement I made to my closet was to add some navy and blue pieces. I love neutrals but I was getting tired of grey and black. Some navy pieces added a little extra something to my closet, and it is another style pointer that is endorsed by my new handbook “How to be Parisian…”. So why not add another pair of sneakers that also happen to be navy…and classics…? Introducing the navy Stan Smith from Adidas.

navy and snakeOr if you prefer leopard print how about the black?

black leopardOr a spin on the classic white?

white and zebraMy Husband is a fan of classic sneakers having worn red hi-top Converse and Adidas classics all his life. He’s often encouraged me to seek out the classic Nike Air Force 1 hi-top and I have so far been reluctant as they always looked so big and awkward. That is till I saw these on NAP. A new, slimmer, more feminine version of the classic. I totally adore them.

AF1 classicIt’s always dangerous on NAP at this time of year when new season stock is arriving daily. I also fell in love with this cobalt pair. Just stunning.

Adidas cobaltThis neutral pair remind me of my Isabel Marant Bobbys, a much cheaper option and yet maybe even cooler?

AF1 NYCI can’t buy these as they are patterned. But if they adhereย to your 2015 fashion rules go for them – they are fabulous. Adidas originals by Mary Katrantzou:

MK adidasAs for my wardrobe choices over the past couple of days it has all been based on warmth. With temperatures at 10 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday it called for fur, boots and polo necks.

5050s furBoots – Stuart Weitzman 5050s // Jeans – Zara coated jeans (old) // Jumper – J.Crewย (40% off with SALENEWS) // Coat – Marks and Spencer (last year)

Yesterday I was bombing around from school run, to gym, to dentist, to shopping so comfort was the order of the day.

 

AsosSneakers – Golden Goose (similar here) // Jeans – Zara // Jumper – Boden Off Duty jumper (old but similar here) // Cardigan – ASOS (currently on sale plus an extra 10% off with GIMME10)

One last note – if you have seen Kat’s Instagram you will see she received her lovely Dorothy Perkins satin navy boots today. They look amazing. Well if you are in the US you can also get them here with free delivery and 15% off the sale price! Just use these 2 codes at check out INTDP15 and DPTREAT – they also come in black too. Just saying. Both are reduced from $69 to $27 and $35 respectively.

 

Winter is well and truly here

It’s been so mild till now that I’ve been a little frustrated that I haven’t been able to get well and truly wrapped up. Well all that has changed today as it won’t get above freezing till Friday – brrrr! Is it wrong to be already wishing for Spring Break?

My outfits for the past 3 days have really been all about comfort what with sitting in a cinema then heading back to work. Nothing too challenging this week, at least till I adapt to that 6 o’clock alarm again.

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Jacket – Mango (similar here in sale) // Jumper – TopShop // Trousers – Zara (now on sale) // Sneakers – Nike from JCrew

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Cardigan – ASOS (now on sale) // Jumper – Uniqlo cashmere tunic (on sale) // Jeans – Zara // Sneakers – Nike from J.Crew (similar here)

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Boots – Isabel Marant for H&M // Trousers – J.Crew drapey wool joggers // Jumper – J.Crew (on sale plusย extra 40% off with STYLE15) // Hat – cashmere beany on sale // Scarf – Uniqlo cashmere scarf (similar here on sale)

Into week 2 with no alcohol – my body doesn’t know what is going on – but my waistline is benefitting!

 

 

The build up to the 25th

It’s been a funny old week what with feeling ill, lots of Christmas services, the end of school and my Father in law arriving. I feel like I’m spinning a bit and it’s hard to reconcile it is Christmas Day next Thursday. Fortunately I have a very organized Husband so gifts are wrapped and food lists are written. We’re having a buffet on Christmas day. After Thanksgiving I never feel like roasting a turkey again so we’ll be feasting on ham in coca cola, smoked salmon and dates stuffed with goats cheese wrapped in prosciutto – yum! Also my fabulous FIL arrived bearing gifts of pickled onion monster munch and piccalilli so I’ll be tucking into those too!

On Friday we headed out for a boozy lunch to welcome him and celebrate the start of the Holidays for us.

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Leather culottes – eBay // Sweater – J.Crew Tippi (40% off with GIFTNOW) // Boots – Zara

Last night, before cooking steaks, we went for our annual drive around Buckhead admiring the Christmas lights. There are some corkers this year and we saw the biggest inflatable Santa ever!

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Today will be a lovely lazy Sunday eating BBQ and watching football so I am dressed appropriately.

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Trousers – Gap skinny chinos (old) // Sweater – J.Crew (still available in blue with 40% off using GIFTNOW) // Sneakers – Nike from J.Crew (similar here)

One final note to end my odd week – my baby brother who is only 31 on Tuesday had an operation yesterday. They discovered testicular cancer last week so he was very fortunate to be operated on so quickly. Please get all the men in your life to check themselves regularly – I was shocked to learn it is most common between the ages of 20 and 40 and yet is one of the most treatable forms of cancer. It’s hard being here when all this is going on at home so I am sending virtual hugs to my little brother xxx

 

 

A week of Christmas concerts

Even though we have lived just up the road from the Governor’s Mansion for 15 years, we have never yet received an invite for dinner and drinks. This week we came close and we were invited for a Christmas tour accompanied by music – and bonus – Poppy’s school chorus had been selected to sing, in addition to that Poppy’s name was one of 50 drawn out of the hat to represent the chorus! Talk about another proud mom moment. I dragged myself off my sick bed and threw on my festive colors. I was even greeted by the First Lady of Georgia a the door, though I chose not to challenge her about the lack of previous invites ๐Ÿ˜‰ It was a fabulous morning and I may have shed my first tear of the season.

OH took the photo – hence the sun in the eyes, the large amount of blue sky and lack of sparkly boots, but thank you nonetheless ๐Ÿ™‚

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Trouser – J.Crew (30% off with code JINGLE) // Sweater – Everlane sleeveless polo neck // Coat – Marks and Spencer (old) // Boots not seen – Zara

Yesterday I had Hugh’s 1st Grade concert to attend. Unfortunately there are no school nativities here due to separation of Church and State etc. so we were treated to a Holiday celebration of ‘patterns’. ย Quite good fun actually – they sung about patterns in music, numbers, nature etc. There was an absence of Holiday colors on my part but the kids made up for it I assure you!

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Sneakers – J.Crew // Jeans – Zara // T-Shirt – ASOS // Scarf – Boden (old) // Cardigan – ASOS

Just this morning I was back at the school watching the chorus and orchestra perform. Such good fun – they really love it too and they were so animated. I can now say that Christmas has arrived. I was there early as you can see it was still pitch black when I took my photo! This is the closestย you will get me to wearingย a Christmas sweater ๐Ÿ™‚

IMG_0289Sneakers – Golden Goose (similar here on sale) // Trousers – Zara // Sweater – J.Crew (30% off with code Jingle) // Jacket – Mango (similar here on sale) // Bag – Zara

ย Just as I am wiping my brow with relief that all the Christmas shopping is done, I am beginning to receive sale emails! The Mango sale started today so I’ll be enjoying a glass of white and perusing that later ๐Ÿ™‚ย Now I need to reapply my lipstick as my lovely Husband is taking me out for lunch before the kids break up for the Holidays tomorrow. My Father in Law arrives from the UK today too so the festivities are certainly underway here.

I’ll keep you posted with sale news so keep checking my Facebook page too!

 

 

Thanksgiving

I had a lovely week with family and friends and I have overindulged. Our friends joined us for dinner on Thursday and I have to say I was pretty chuffed with how the turkey came out after brining overnight. Needless to say on Friday morning I felt like I had been soaked in a bath of salt and wine too, hence I didn’t get too involved or carried away with Black Friday ๐Ÿ™‚ In fact I had several items in and out of my Zara cart all day and didn’t buy any of them. I did succumb and buyย the Off Duty jumper in charcoal and navy from Boden. I have a couple from previous years and love them so with 30% off I bit the bullet. I can never have too many jumpers!

Some of my favorite stores do still have great discounts this weekend carrying into Cyber Monday:

J.Crew – use HOLIDAY for 30% off and 40% off sale items till 11/30

Mango – use 5BLACK2 in the US and 5BLACK4 in the UK till 11/30

GAP are still offering 40% off everything in the US using code GIFT

Boden have 30% off using code 3K3G at checkout in the US and N9H6 in the UK

AllSaints – 20% off till Monday with promo code CYBER

ASOS have 30% off everything using TGIBF

Back on Tuesday we went to the movies to watch Hero 6 which was really good fun – popcorn and an empty theater – fabulous. I wore my fur as it was pretty chilly here in Atlanta.

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Sneakers – Golden Goose (on sale here) // Trousers – J.Crew slouchy wool jogger // Sweatshirt – Target (old) // Fur – Zara (currently in the Cyber discounted section!) // Bag – H&M (old)

Poppy and Hugh were very excited to get out of the house! Poppy is all in H&M except her fabulous red boots which are Boden – she hasn’t taken them off since they arrived!

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On Wednesday, once we had bought the 15lb turkey, we headed out for Mexican so we could prepare stuffing and cranberry sauce without feeling hungry!

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ย Sneakers – Nike from J.Crew // Jeans – H&M (some washes just $14.95) // Jumper – J.Crew colorblock tunic // Coat – Mango

Today was spent walking and running with the dogs – time to detox before Christmas so hopefully I can still fit in some of my party wear! I am insisting however that we don’t even discuss Christmas in our house till next week when we get the tree. I need a week between celebrations to reset!

Pink and gray/grey!

Grey is a word I have terrible trouble with these days – American spelling or British spelling? It seems everyone in my family struggles with American English at times. My son demonstrated his Southern accent yesterday. He is pupil of the week in class and had to write a sentence beginning with “I feel…” to articulate his emotions on being selected. I checked his work afterwards and he had written “I feel people’s buckets with water”. Yes that’s right – he read it as ‘fill’ because as a true Southerner he ‘fee-yils’ things up. Just like Poppy brushes her ‘hay-yer’.

It’s election day here in the US today and I’m ready to vote. It’s also bloody freezing so I have the big guns out for the first time this year – my new Mango coat. I took inspiration from Pinterest for my outfit. Nothing more relaxing on a Monday evening than surfing Pinterest and catching up on Homeland while the Husband watches Monday Night Football!

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Here’s my winter version of how to wear pink trousers. These are the J.Crew wool joggers and they are fabulous – I can’t wait to wear them with my Vince Claires in the evening. They fit big and these are a US 6.

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Trousers – J.Crew // T-shirt – J.Crew // Sweatshirt – Everlane // Sneakers – Nike from J.Crew // Coat – Mango

The t-shirt can’t be seen but it’s so fun with Ostriches from a new selection at J.Crew:

ostrich tee

 

Yesterday I was in culottes – I just flipping love these from Marks and Spencers! Less than ยฃ30 too! I am in a UK 12 medium length and they fit beautifully.

IMG_9782 IMG_9798Boots – Zara // Culottes – Marks and Spencer // Sweatshirt – Mango // Jacket – Mango (similar here)

Remember to get and vote if you are in the US!

 

What I’ve been wearing.

Summer is in full swing here now. ย The kids are out of school, Memorial Day has passed and the pool is open daily. ย I’m still working half days while the kids are at camp – they are so American it makes me giggle. ย I would have done anythingย for a gymnastics camp when I was 8! ย I meet them after lunch each day, loaded up with pool toys and towels, and we then head to the pool. ย Pure bliss.

So here’s a quick catch up of what I have been wearing 9-12 over the past few days!

Let’s start with a low point – bad outfit and bad photo. ย I actually love this top but it is super unflattering on me – having seen the photo it makes my top half look enormous. ย Hey-ho – it is also extremely comfortable so it might still get worn around the yard!

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Shoes – Avarcas Pons // Shorts – Gap (last year but a great selection here) // Top – ASOS peplum tank (now on sale)

I was inspired by FashionPearlsofWisdom.co.uk to get my Nike hi-tops out after seeing her post here. ย I love them but they are prettyย warm so not ideal for warm weather!

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Sneakers – Nike hi-tops (last seen here in one of my first ever posts) // Jeans – Zara (old) // Tank – Target (old) // Jacket – Next (old)

I really enjoyed wearing this next outfit – lovely and bright and summery. ย No hiding in this!

Neon.jpgSneakers – New Balance from J.Crew (old – similar here) // Jeans – Gap (old) // T-shirt – J.Crew (on sale here) // Jacket – J.Crew

I had to check with my Husband that these shorts weren’t too short – they are pretty short – but I love them! ย Just $25 from H&M and they also come in black too. ย I think they look great dressed down with a t-shirt and they have a jersey lining so they are really comfortable. ย I wear them low on the hips to give my cheeks a bit more coverage:)
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Flip flops – Havaianas // Shorts – H&M // T-shirt – French Connection

My Pia dress is perfect for the summer. ย Really easy to wear – in fact I love summer dresses – I can just throw them on and off ready for the pool.

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Shoes – Marks and Spencer (old – similar here) // Dress – AllSaints Pia (old – similar here) // Necklace – Macy’s I think!

As for today it’s all about the shoes. ย These have to be my most favorite sandals ever!

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Ancient Greek.jpgSandals – Ancient Greek // Jeans – Zara // Top – Zara (old) // Bag – Alexander Wang (old – similar here with 50% off!!)

You’ll hopefully have noticed that the Net-a-porter sale has started – when I browsed just nowย there were some Alexander Wang Roccos on the US site still available and some Rag & Bone Harlow boots in the sale. ย Oh and the grey J.Brand leather trousers were also tempting at 30% off but I haven’t committed yet! ย In fact I am trying to save my pennies for this week when I will be in NYC!! I’m off to meet Avril while she is there with her choir – I promise lots of photos on Instagram so keep following us there!

 

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Yes…a sneaker post…

Sneakers, trainers, tennis shoes – whatever you call them they are everywhere right now, and nothing could make me happier. ย In my closet I have Adidas gazelles, Converse sneakers and classic Chuck Taylors, Nike hi-tops (worn way back here) and of course my ridiculous Golden Goose.

Many recent sneaker posts have focused on the classic New Balance sneaker. ย They’ve had somewhat of a renaissance recently. ย I remember blogging about my New Balance running shoes back here and thinking what a ‘nerdy’ brand they were. ย But now that nerdiness seems to be cool. ย I love the fact that they have become so mainstream – I still have a lot of love for the brand andย J.Crew have some amazing colors available for the Spring.

Jcrew yellow JCrew peach

Back in 1995 I dragged my family around the streets of London looking for Adidas Gazelles in green. ย You couldn’t get them for love or money after Ms. Moss made them such a style statement. ย I eventually tracked a pair down in Harrods of all places!

Kate Moss

(Image:ย http://deadhypepropaganda.tumblr.com/)

Since that first purchase I have always been an Adidas girl. ย The fact that Run DMC made the brand so freakin’ cool did not escape me either.

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I now have a pair of men’s navy Gazelles. ย Buyer beware – buying men’s sneakers presents all sorts of sizing issues. ย Not only is UK sizing different from US sizing but the men’s and women’s sizing is different too! ย Please can someone standardize shoe sizes globally – thanks. ย I am a US women’s 8.5 and I buy US men’s 7.5 in Adidas.

I also have a pair of Adidas Samoas – I love how ‘neat’ this shoe is and the leather is beautiful.

Samoa

These silver women’s Gazelles are amazing and on sale. ย Just imagine them with tanned ankles and boyfriend jeans – lush!

Gazelles

The Samoas are also available in silver – I love the metallics – a far cheaper option than the metallic/sparkly Golden Goose.

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For something a little more neutral I adore the grey men’s Samoas.

samoa grey

Yesterday I just had to get out of the house. ย With the crazy weather here in Altanta (we spent Tuesday night pushing cars along our road) we’ve all been housebound. ย This has now resulted in us all getting sick, irritable and tired. ย Great. ย So yesterday I bundled up and headed to the mall for 30 minutes to a) try and remember what day it was and b) blow some germs away. ย I ended up popping into the Adidas store and look what I ‘treated’ myself to.

These Stan Smiths can’t be found anywhere online – at least where I have looked – they do have some of the red trim available on the Adidas site. ย I really didn’t think they would be me – but when I tried them on I was smitten. ย Super comfy and I love the simplicity of them.

Stan Smiths

Of course everyone else in the store was buying them so they will be on all the cool kids this Spring – me, Phoebe and Marc included of course:)

Phoebe Philo stan smiths Fashion Icons with FERN MALLIS: MARC JACOBS sponsored by MARTINI

These Samoas were a complete curve ball. ย I immediately cringed when I saw them – flowers on sneakers – totally wrong. ย But again I tried them on and wow – I love them! ย So different, and yes girly, and they will look great with denim shorts or my ASOS t-shirt dresses. ย Again I’m sorry I can’t find them online but here they are in the flesh

Floral Samoa

As a complete aside from ‘proper’ sneakers, while I was re-ordering my Limited Edition shoes (flowers again – what is happening to me?!) I spotted these fabulous ‘slip on sneakers’ – similar to the Next versions that were available last summer. ย These Marks & Spencer versions are a great price too. ย I can vouch for them as they happened to fall in my cart – no idea how that happens – very strange – must be a bug on the M&S site.

Black M&S leopard M&S

I’m afraid I don’t have much to report on the outfits of recent days – it really has been crap stuck at home, but not nearly as crap as it was for those stuck on the Interstates for 24 hours. ย I’m sure we’ll continue to hear more about the good Samaritans who have helped those in need over the past few days. ย The thaw is here and hopefully we can get back to normal again – though our politicians will feel a little beaten up for a few weeks to come no doubt…

 

 

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Back on track with the running.

I’ve taken some time off running but now I have the itch again. ย My lack of interest in running was due to a combination of injury, dark mornings and a new found love for spin classes. ย Now, as much as the spin keeps me moving, I still don’t believe anything is as effective for maintaining tone, cardio strength and stamina, and eliciting the post work out euphoria, as a great run.

I was nervous to get going again, but I had a relatively fun run on Sunday morning and ended feeling pretty good – not too much running stamina lost then? ย Maybe. ย Today however I went out on the same route and nearly died. ย The 75 degree heat at 8am didn’t help – not that you’ll ever hear a Kenyan complain about the heat as they finish a marathon in 2 hrs.

I even had new running shoes, new running shorts and a new sports bra. ย Still they didn’t do what they said on the box. ย I didn’t run faster and I didn’t keep cooler. ย No one was going to miss me though in my neon yellow that’s for sure!

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I’ve been a loyal New Balance wearer for some time now and I have loved every pair of W890s that I have owned. ย This time, however, something made me head back to Nike. ย Maybe I fell for the hype around the new Nike Flyknit? ย Well hype or not – the rave reviews all ring true so far. ย It is a magnificent shoe – light, cushiony and supportive, without any rigidity or stiffness. ย It is simply like putting on a supportive sock with a cushioned sole. ย So even though I didn’t run faster today – I’m pretty sure I will be running faster in these soon. ย My only critique of the shoe is that the heel comes up a little high on my achilles. ย I noticed my New Balance are cut out at the heel like an ‘M’ shape – whereas the Nike is an inverted ‘V’. ย Not sure if this is intended to support the achilles – but my fear was that it would rub. ย With my Balega socks though, there was no rubbing, and the Flyknit provided the perfect comfortable ride. ย Now if Atlanta could just adjust the morning temperature for me I’ll be on my way.

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