Tag Archives: fashion

This Week’s Favourites

Posted in Family Life by

This week's faves 13:10

I suppose the title of this post should really be ‘last week’s favourites’…I’m a day late but with all the party preparations last week and then the clearing up yesterday I have a feeling I’ll be playing catch-up all week. Anyway here’s a quick round-up of the last seven days:

1. My thermos mug from Ikea comes in handy on busy mornings when I end up having breakfast on the run.

2. I made another batch of low carb muesli this week (find the recipe here) – my favourite breakfast.

3. Banana bread is great to put in the children’s lunch boxes and as an afternoon treat with a cup of tea. (Recipe here)

4. The week started off very warm and we made the most of the sunny weather with a trip to the playground after preschool. As the week went on it got progressively colder and I think it’s definitely time to dig out the hats and gloves (although I think the chances of finding a matching pair are very slim, given how many gloves were lost at school last winter).

5. Beautiful autumn colours on a crisp, sunny morning.

6. I had been looking for a new ‘smart’ winter coat for a while but not found anything that was quite right. I have a padded coat from Zara which is great when it gets really cold but I wanted a slightly dressier one to wear for nights out. Usually buying coats is a nightmare as I’m small and unless I find one in a petite fit (which means much less choice), the sleeves are too long and it swamps me. But I went into town mid-week to take a few things back and there it was – the perfect coat. As luck would have it there was one left in my size and, being H&M, it was a total bargain at only £39.99! I tried to find it online to link back to for a better picture but for some reason it’s not up on the H&M website, so you’ll have to make do with the picture I snapped in the changing room. The main body of the coat is a black and white tweed type of pattern, with black sleeves and a detachable fur collar which you can of course wear with other coats and jackets as well.

7. It was only a quick trip into town but I did manage to have a wander through our local department store where they were setting up the Christmas display. I know a lot of people complain that the stores bring out the Christmas decorations too early but I kind of like it. The boys’ birthdays are at the end of October and beginning of November but after that I like to start planning for the festive season – I can’t stand stressing about it in mid December when the shops are full of people and things are starting to run out, or worrying about Internet deliveries arriving in time. Only ten weeks to go until Christmas Day folks!

8. Every Friday Clemmie and I go to Gym Tots with my friend and her daughter. The girls love running around, climbing on all the gym equipment and bouncing on the trampolines.

9. As you probably know by now the week culminated with a birthday party for my husband which went on into the early hours of Sunday morning. We all had a great time and he got some fantastic presents – almost all of them golf related!

Hope you’ve all had a fantastic start to the week! X

This Week’s Favourites

Posted in Family Life by

This week's faves 6:10:13

Where has the time gone? It seems like it was only yesterday that I wrote my last ‘Favourites’ post and now it’s Sunday again. Looking back at the photos I can see that even though the week flew by, as usual we managed to squeeze quite a lot in.

1. Because of the building work going on at home, the house was covered in dust at the start of the week so Clemmie and I escaped to a nearby village for brunch. I had Eggs Benedict, one of my all-time favourites.

2. We have finally chosen the tiles to go around the sink in the new downstairs cloakroom. Fingers crossed, it should all be finished by the end of this week in time for my husband’s birthday party on Saturday. I will of course share pictures when it’s all done.

3. I also managed to plant some herbs in two of the pots I bought in Sweden this summer. They were a bargain at less than £10 for three and I love the chalkboard labels on them.

4. I went to two exercise classes this week and decided to reward myself (and my aching muscles) with some new workout clothes from Sweaty Betty.

5. I also bought an early birthday present for myself from Space NK – I just can’t go into that store without buying something!

6. The highlight of the week was without a doubt my birthday on Wednesday and a meal out at Jamie’s Italian to celebrate with my husband and kids.

7. Like mother like daughter. Clemmie seems to have inherited my love of magazines and pesters me to buy one every time we go shopping. This one certainly lives up to is name: I think it has got every shade of pink imaginable on the cover.

8. I made a very exciting discovery this week: they sell Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks in the UK! I don’t know how I could have missed it although in my defence the barista did say they’re new for this autumn. So yummy, especially with whipped cream on top!

9. My husband went away for a golf weekend on Friday so I’ve been on my own with the kids all weekend. I really take my hat off to all the single mums out there, it is bloody hard work! Saturday was spent ferrying them around to various activities (football, swimming, tutor) and then a friend whose husband was also away came over with her kids in the evening. The children had pizza and shared some of my birthday chocolates while watching a movie (although I think Clemmie managed to get more chocolate on her than in her!) and we had Thai takeaway and a glass of wine or two.

Now I’m just waiting for my other half to walk through the front door so I can take a hot bath and then curl up in front of the TV to watch the third series of Homeland. Unfortunately the week has not ended on a good note as someone close to me was admitted to hospital today. Hopefully, it won’t be for long and we’re all doing our best to stay positive.

Hope you’ve all had a great weekend. X

Weekend Photo Challenge: OOTD for Mummy and Child

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The boys were not keen to participate in today’s challenge so here’s another picture of Clemmie (in Zara waistcoat, H&M skirt and shoes which my friend bought for her in New York). I will get them next week when the theme is sleeping, no escaping then!

And because she asked so nicely, here is a picture of me in my new Yoga tops especially for Eszer. My eldest son asked me to also mention that he took the picture 🙂

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday. X

PS. I think the challenge is really meant to be for the Saturday but it’s such a busy day for us that I usually struggle to post anything, let alone take any photos. So I’m always a day late!

Yoga 1

Currently Coveting #10: Isabel Marant for H&M

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I realise that this is my second Currently Coveting post in as many days (how will my bank balance keep up?) but, with the excitement building over the forthcoming H&M and Isabel Marant collaboration, I just had to put the spotlight on my favourite pieces. Photos from the lookbook – with its impressive cast of models, including Lou Doillon, Alek Wek and Milla Jovovich – leaked online yesterday, plunging most of the fashion world into yet another frenzy over this hotly anticipated collection.

Those who, like me, lust after the inimitable Mme Marant’s ready-to-wear collection but whose budgets don’t quite stretch that far, will not be disappointed. The French designer’s bohemian aesthetic runs through the entire range, which encompasses not only womenswear but also menswear and accessories.

Some fashion commentators have criticized H&M for putting the price points too high (the most expensive piece is a jacket for £199.99) but, while the collection is dearer than the high street chain’s own brand, in my view the prices are justified as it is a collaboration with a designer whose brand of effortless chic is practically a uniform for off-duty models and movie stars in the know. In any case, the prices are still only a fraction of Marant’s mainline collection (and lower than her diffusion line Etoile Isabel Marant).

The collaboration will hit stores (and online) on November 14 so start drawing up your wishlist now as it’s bound to be a sell-out. If I can’t get my hands on the H&M version of last year’s embellished tie-dye jacket (in the main picture) I would happily settle for any of these pieces:

Marant Collage

Pinterest Puts the Spotlight on Fashion Week

Posted in Fashion by

London Final

London Fashion Week may be officially over for another season but those who have not had their appetite for catwalk creations sated can still log onto Pinterest to get their LFW fix.

Pinterest has created a specific url for all things fashion week related where boards are divided into sections including London, Paris, Milan and New York as well as up and coming designers. As always with Pinterest, there is virtually limitless inspiration to soak in, from catwalk trends and street style to backstage beauty and front row outfits to name but a few.

Among my favourite fashion week boards are those created by Sasha Wilkins of LibertyLondonGirl.com (link), Navaz Batliwalla, who’s behind the super successful blog Disneyrollergirl (link) and also Free People’s Street Style Captured board (link) which appeals to the voyeur in me.

Pintrest LFW

Oxford Street Brings LFW to the Masses

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Oxford Street has never been my favourite shopping destination – too noisy, too crowded and too touristy. Its only saving grace is Selfridges but it’s been years since I ventured further east than the iconic yellow signs of the largest department store on the 1.5 mile long shopping street.

But this month Oxford Street is hosting the most influential fashion campaign of its 150 year history and it may be just the thing to tempt me back. In celebration of London Fashion Week, Oxford Street has teamed up with the British Fashion Council to give shoppers an insider glimpse into the fashion industry. Over 15 of the street’s most internationally recognizable fashion emporiums, from Selfridges, Topshop and River Island to John Lewis, House of Fraser, H&M and Gap have provided a range of exclusive experiences such as fashion forums, guest star interviews, makeovers, blogging workshops, celebrity pop-up DJs, in-store styling sessions and fashion career mentoring.

Even if you can’t get there in person you can still be part of the experience, as shoppers from across the globe will be able to get their fashion fix 24/7 with the launch of Oxford Street TV and real time store updates via social media. In addition, Oxford Street has collaborated with London Fashion Week designers, including House of Holland and Alice Temperley, to dress the street with 75 fashion flags, each illustrating the very best of the British fashion industry.

“This season we have taken fashion week to the streets of London and rallied support from the whole capital by making London Fashion Week much more inclusive,” British Fashion Council Chairman Natalie Massenet said in an opening speech on Friday. “Anyone, all of us are free to come down and join.”

Personally, I think that anything which gets people interested in fashion and supporting the industry, including events such as LFW,  is a good thing. What do you think? Do you welcome the democratization of designer fashion or do you think it’s wrong that the high street is ‘cashing in’ on London Fashion Week?

London Fashion Week – From a Distance

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Britain London Fashion Week S/S 2014 - House of Holland

(House of Holland SS14)

It may not be as sleek as its New York, Milan and Paris counterparts (according to the media anyway) but I love the edginess of London Fashion Week and the sense that anything (on or off the catwalk) could happen. With established fashion houses such as Burberry and Paul Smith rubbing shoulders with lesser known up-and-coming designers, London is arguably the most creative and innovative of the fashion capitals.

It is with a slight sense of nostalgia that I’ve been following this season’s proceedings. A few years ago I would have been there in person – not exactly in the front row, but near enough to soak up the atmosphere and see all the action up close. While the live streaming is pretty amazing, the most fun part of fashion week for me was always watching the people in and around the venues. I think you can get as much, if not more, style inspiration from the audience sitting (or standing) around the catwalk as you can from the models walking down it.

One thing I don’t miss, however, is waking up at 6am and agonizing over what to wear to the shows. Especially on a day like today when I’m sitting here wrapped up in a blanket and nursing a cup of hot water with honey and lemon to soothe my sore throat. The definite downside to autumn is the cold and flu viruses that start doing the rounds as soon as the leaves turn yellow.

But enough about my runny nose and on to some of my favourite runway looks from LFW so far:

House of Holland

House of Holland

Christopher Kane

Christopher Kane

Zoe Jordan

Zoe Jordan

Sister by Sibling

Sister by Sibling

Holly Fulton1

Holly Fulton

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Markus Lupfer

Mulberry

Mulberry

Jonathan Saunders

Jonathan Saunders

Topshop Unique

Topshop Unique

Picture source: Vogue.com

This Week’s Favourites

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This weeks Collage

This week has whizzed by as I knew it would. It’s funny how in the summer holidays time seems to slow down but as soon as school starts – and with it the relentless routine of school run, homework, after school clubs and weekend activities – I hardly have time to blink and it’s Sunday night yet again. Despite the rain (yes I know, I will stop going on about the weather soon!) it has been a good week, catching up with friends I haven’t seen for six weeks and watching the boys settle happily into their new classes.

Now all the kids are in bed and we’re just about to watch a movie – probably The Oranges with Leighton Meester who played Blair in one of my favourite TV series, Gossip Girl. But first, here is a quick round-up of the last few days: Clemmie started ballet class this week and amazingly didn’t cry when I left her there (it probably helped that she was with her best friend); The Chanel nail polish in Particuliere is one of my favourite autumn hues; I finally got to wear some of my Fall purchases such as this knitted jacket from River Island and tiered sweater from Anthropologie; My bargain of the week was this floral tube scarf from H&M for £6.99; I’ve also been digging deep into my wardrobe and uncovered some old favourites like these Miu Miu heels that I bought for my hen night 12 years ago. I wore them with the Anthropologie sweater and skinny jeans for a night out with friends; A morning latte to brighten up a drizzly morning; In our house weekends mean pancakes for breakfast; One of the best things about Autumn is snuggling up on the sofa to watch a film with candles lit on the mantlepiece.

And that my friends is exactly what I’m going to do now. Hope you’ve had a lovely weekend. X

OOTD – All Plaid Out

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I love the plaid trend for Fall and one of my best purchases so far this season is a grey check roll-sleeve shirt from Topshop.

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The shirt looks like it could do with a good ironing session in this photo but I had just got back from a friend’s birthday party where I spent most of my time trying to stop three-year-old Clemmie from being jumped on by the bigger children on the bouncy castle (in the pouring rain, hence the frizzy hair!).

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Here it is accessorized with the aforementioned three-year-old. I love the muted colours and the crochet detailing on the shoulders.

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Let it Rain!

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Hunter

If this last week is anything to go by, we’re in for a rainy autumn here in England (yet again). About the only thing to lift my spirits on a dull day when it’s pouring outside is putting on my shiny black Hunter wellies. Style and comfort is an unbeatable combination and if you add a pair of welly socks your feet will stay toasty no matter how hard it rains.

Now the iconic British brand has teamed up with New York based cool-kid-on-the-block Rag & Bone in a collaboration that has set the fashion world’s pulses racing. The collection, which hits stores this week, includes two different styles of classic military inspired rain-boots – a tall equestrian fit and a short motorcycle boot. Both styles come in Fall colours such as burgundy, navy, black and army green and the design details are unmistakenly Rag & Bone with gunmetal rivet hardware and zips lending a tough edge to the classic welly.

Commenting on the thinking behind the collaboration, David Neville, the co-managing partner of Rag & Bone, said: “Hunter may be a quintessential British brand but we also always see so many women on the streets of Manhattan wearing their boots. Not only is this testament to the brand’s global appeal, it resonated with us as we are British guys living in New York. We are really excited about this collaboration.”

I never thought I’d say it, but bring on the rain!

Shop the collection here