American Vintage + Becksondergaard = My daily uniform

Posted in Daily Musings, Family Life, Fashion by A Spoonful of Style

I once read an interview with Vivienne Westwood where she said that she likes to wear the same outfit two days in a row so that every other day she doesn’t have to think about what to wear. It sounds like a great strategy but with three children, the youngest of whom is only two, my outfits rarely remain presentable for more than one day (if that!). I love fashion, but when the alarm goes off at 6.45am and I’m racing against the clock to get the kids off to school and nursery I don’t have the time or head space to think about experimenting with new looks.

So just like my boys have their school uniform I have selected some pieces that form the basis of my ‘mummy uniform’. It won’t set any catwalk alight but it’s comfortable to wear, looks good and can easily take me from the school run to a lunch date or shopping trip. Good basics are the backbone of any functional wardrobe and you can’t beat French label American Vintage with its flattering T-shirts made from the softest Supima cotton in a vast array of colours from neutrals to mouthwatering sorbet shades. I admit that I’m somewhat addicted to scarves and probably buy far too many, but they’re such an easy way to add a bit of colour or change the look of an outfit. My go-to scarf label is Danish brand Becksondergaard which has a huge selection of scarves adorned with stars, stripes, hearts or skulls.

Add a pair of Paige Denim Skyline jeans (their 29″ ankle peg cut is perfect for shorties like me as there is no need to take up the hem) and, depending on the season and weather, some biker boots or ballerinas and I’m good to go!

16May2013

I’m all a buzz about Marc Jacobs upcoming perfume launch

Posted in Beauty, Products I love by A Spoonful of Style

In an industry like fashion – which could be deemed by some to be rather, ahem, superficial – it”s important to keep a sense of humour to prevent your head from disappearing up the proverbial. One designer who manages this better than most in my opinion is Marc Jacobs. Everything he touches is fashion nirvana while still retaining a sense of fun and the unexpected, from the graffiti bags he designed for Louis Vuitton to the adverts for his eponymous collection starring the one and only Victoria Beckham.

When I was working full time I would splash out on a piece of MJ every now then, although to be truthful most of my purchases were from his slightly less expensive diffusion line Marc by Marc Jacobs. My most recent buy was a Classic Q Baby Groovee bag in black – a great bag which is big enough to hold all your essentials without feeling like you’re lugging everything but the kitchen sink on your shoulder.

I’m really excited about the launch this summer of the designer’s fourth perfume. Called Honey, it will be in store in July and seriously is worth buying for the bottle alone, which has to be the cutest design ever. Marc Jacob’s Daisy fragrance is my fool proof daytime perfume while Lola, with its slightly heavier scent, is perfect for nights out. For some reason I haven’t tried Dot, which was the most recent launch and has the most similar bottle design to the forthcoming Honey.

Also on my radar is the news that Marc Jacob’s make up line, created together with cosmetics retailer Sephora, will hit the shelves this autumn. Watch this space…

15May2013

Currently Coveting: Let there be Light

Posted in Currently Coveting, Interior, Products I love by A Spoonful of Style

A light bulb might seem like a strange thing to lust after but Diamond Lights is no ordinary halogen bulb. Scandinavian product designer Eric Therner wanted to create a light bulb that was both functional and looked like a beautiful sculpture. When Diamond Lights is combined with the textile cord by Frama (with a choice of four different sockets) the result is a stylish lamp with an industrial feel that looks good both on its own or in a cluster of several bulbs.

I would love to have this light bulb hanging above one of our living room sofas to create a cosy reading corner but was struggling to think of a way to attach it to the wall until I came across this picture of a similar lamp draped around a simple shelf bracket.

The Diamond Lights is available from Rocket St George.

I can’t seem to find the Frama cord anywhere in the UK but it is available from Swedish website Lanna Mobler which ships internationally.

14May2013

Party time for young and old(er)!

Posted in Family Life, Fashion, Products I love by A Spoonful of Style

Much like the run-up to Christmas, the months of June and July are prime time for social gatherings and the calendar is already filling up with summer parties and birthday celebrations. There is not much that beats a glass of Pimm’s or two in the company of good friends on a balmy summer’s evening (hopefully a few warm days will be coming our way again!)

We have three parties lined up in the next few weeks and, having booked the babysitters, I can now concentrate on the more fun dilemma of deciding what to wear. As all three events will be attended by the same crowd of friends I want to vary my outfits without spending a fortune on new things. You can’t go wrong with an LBD and my go-to party outfits for this time of year are a short-sleeved knee-length black dress and a strapless maxi dress, both from Asos. Neither of them cost much but they are wonderfully versatile and work for both day and night.

I couldn’t quite stop myself from splashing out on a couple of new things though…As one of the parties is in a local riverside pub I thought this white sleeveless blouse from H&M would look good teamed with a pair of jeans and these neon heels and gold clutch from New Look. The bracelet is also from H&M and a steal for only £2.99, proving that you can easily update your party look without busting the budget.

We also have our own reason to celebrate in a few weeks’ time when Clemmie turns three. As she’s not at pre-school yet, I think I can get away with a smaller party at home with close friends and family. She’s the only family member with a summer birthday so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we can make use of the garden. I have found loads of cute party invitations, decorations and going-home bags online, but I think I will show those in a separate post when I have more time.

13May2013

The Fashion Clinic #1: In Between Days

Posted in Fashion, The Fashion Clinic by A Spoonful of Style

“Mummy, the weather was really funny today. It was sunny then cloudy, rainy then windy, and I think I even saw a little bit of snow! It’s like all four seasons in one day,” my youngest son said to me the other day. Well, I think the bit about the snow might be a fib but otherwise he is spot-on in describing the inclement weather that seems to typify the British spring, autumn and even summer (let’s face it, I can probably count on one hand the number of scorching hot days we had last year)

It does make it rather difficult to get dressed in the morning as the temperature can drop or rise by several degrees depending on whether or not the sun decides to grace us with its presence. For me, layering is the name of the game as well as carrying a bag big enough to hold both sunglasses and an umbrella!

On my list of essentials are a well-cut jacket, a pair of flats (ballerinas or Converse), some slouchy jeans that can be rolled up or down, as well as lots of jersey pieces and lightweight knits. Luckily there are some great transitional pieces around at the moment including those in the picture above:

1. Heart Elbow Patch Jumper, £22 from Asos

2. French Sole Classic Black Ballet Flats, £65, also from Asos

3. Suede Jacket with Frills, £119 from Zara

4. Speckle Roll Sleeve Mini Dress, £26 from Topshop

5. Dip Dye T-shirt, £35 from Oasis

6. 1969 Real Straight Skimmer Jeans, £44.95 from Gap

12May2013

New Nails!

Posted in Beauty by A Spoonful of Style

Few things make me feel as ‘put together’ as a set of freshly manicured nails. I always think that someone could be wearing the most glamorous outfit ever but if their talons are looking tatty it kind of ruins the overall effect. Unfortunately I’m rubbish at doing my own nails so I have to turn to the professionals to give me a decent paint job. Regular manicures only last a few days on me (especially as I always forget to wear gloves when doing the washing up!) and while I’ve tried gel manicures, they feel too thick and a bit like I’m wearing a set of false nails.

A few weeks ago I went for a Shellac manicure and for me this is definitely the way to go. It feels like a normal manicure once it’s on but lasts at least two weeks (probably longer if your nails are in better condition than mine and you remember to wear those rubber gloves!) I had my second Shellac manicure today and chose a dark blue colour with a little bit of sparkle in it. So now, even if I’m on the school run wearing an old tracksuit and with my hair in a messy bun I know that at least my nails are looking glamorous!