Tag Archives: Shopping

Save or Splurge?

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Those of you who follow me on Instagram have already seen my latest style crush – a pair of canary yellow stilettos from Whistles. The only reason they’re not mine yet is that I hesitate to spend £125 on a pair of shoes in a colour that is such a departure from my normal choice of palette. It took a lot of willpower to walk away when I spotted them in a store earlier this week though!

Then I came across this pair from Topshop (on the left in the picture above) for a more purse friendly £58. The colour is slightly darker and quality wise I would hazard a guess that the Whistles pair would come out on top. But I also have a feeling that these shoes are more of a one-season wonder than a future wardrobe staple so going for the budget alternative is probably the sensible option.

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The Fashion Clinic #2: Festival Style

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Festival season is upon us again and these days there is a festival to suit every taste, whether you’re a music lover, foodie, book buff, or budding thespian. Choosing what to wear to a festival can be tricky , especially if you’re camping for a night or two and need outfits that will see you through from day to night. It might be a bit of a cliche but personally I don’t think you can go wrong with a touch of boho. A pristine white shirt, high heeled shoes or anything skin tight will not only look wrong but is also not practical for a weekend of outdoor living. Here is my low-down on the essential festival pieces this season:

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1.Hopefully the sun will be out but even if it’s not you’ll more than likely need a pair of shades to hide the dark circles under your eyes – festivals are not a time to catch up on the beauty sleep. Sunglasses from Stella McCartney at Shopbop.

2. Ditto a hat will not only protect against the rays but also save you from a bad hair day. Hat from Nelly

3 and 6 – Pretty patterned dresses add a hippie chick vibe and can be layered over leggings and a long-sleeved T-shirt when the temperature drops. Both of these dresses are from Asos – find them here and here.

4. This pretty top from Anthropologie is perfect teamed with a pair of boyfriend jeans or

5. these lace trimmed shorts from New Look.

7.Even if the weather is on your side, stilettos are not ideal for negotiating acres of fields or indeed making your way back to the tent after dark. These flat sandals from KG by Kurt Geiger, available from Asos, are a much better bet.

8. Keep the chill and rain out with this dip hem parka from Oasis.

9. Accessorise with a pretty friendship bracelet from Links of London.

10. Whether it’s raining or not, Hunter wellies are a festival classic. There is a huge selection of colours but this pair in Graphite will go with everything.

The perfect summer dress – only £7 from H&M

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Being Swedish I have always had a soft spot for H&M – after all, along with ABBA and Ikea, it is arguably the country’s most famous export. While I do shop there in the colder months, it is in the summer that the store really comes into its own for me. When the sun is out I want clothes that are comfortable to wear and can be thrown into the washing machine on a 40 degree wash after a trip to the beach or picnic in the park. I don’t want to spend a fortune on pieces that will only be worn for three months of the year (if that, given the last couple of dismal summers we’ve had!).

It’s in the autumn/winter that I tend to buy my investment or ‘forever’ pieces – the perfect jumper in the softest cashmere or the pure wool coat that nips in at the waist just so – that come with a ‘daren’t quite look’ price tag and a dry clean only label. That’s not to say that I throw my H&M or other budget finds into the charity bag at the end of each season. Many of them become firm favourites which are brought out from the under the bed storage box where I keep all my summer clothes every year when the temperature soars. I have one white H&M skirt, bought in the summer of 2005 when Sienna Miller’s boho look was all the rage, that is still one of my favourite summer pieces.

This morning I visited my local branch and exited with four pretty and flattering dresses, with change left over from £30. The dress with crochet detailing was  on special offer (£7, down from £12.99 which is not exactly expensive either) so I bought it in three colour ways as well as a grey T-shirt dress for £7.99. If that’s not good value I don’t know what is!

Liberty ♥ Marc by Marc Jacobs

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It’s a match made in style heaven: Marc by Marc Jacobs and luxury department store Liberty have teamed up to create an exclusive collection of accessories in the iconic Liberty print. As you would expect from such a partnership, the result is nothing short of stunning.

Two classic ditsy floral prints, Emma & Georgina and Wiltshire, have been selected from the Liberty archive of over 40,000 prints to adorn five of the designer’s Pretty Nylon styles: a tote bag, tablet case, mini make-up bag, cosmetics case and backpack. I love both the prints but if pushed I would probably choose Emma & Georgina, which is a mix of two tiny dense floral designs inspired by Liberty’s large collection of Victorian pattern books. I’ve got my eye on the tablet case and the smaller make-up bag – both would be perfect to bring on holidays and weekends away.

The Marc by Marc Jacobs x Liberty collection is now available to buy in store and online exclusively at Liberty.

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Beauty line-up

Posted in Beauty, Products I love by

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Why, oh why, do all beauty products run out at the same time and with a week to go until payday? Luckily I had some points saved up on my Boots advantage card so I was able to stock up and replenish my bathroom cabinet shelves without too much damage to the bank balance. There is always the temptation to buy cheaper substitutes to see you through until the end of the month but, while there are some great budget beauty buys out there, I’ve learned the hard way that it doesn’t pay to scrimp on the products you really love.

While my favourite hair and skin essentials do chop and change over time, these are some of my current go-to products that make me feel (and hopefully look) fabulous:

1.Kérastase Resistance Ciment Anti-usure conditioner. A nourishing treatment conditioner that’s perfect for dry, highlighted hair like mine.

2. Kérastase Specifique Bain Exfoliant Hydratant shampoo. I have a very dry scalp and my hairdresser recommended this shampoo which has really helped.

3. Super Facialist Neroli Firming Daily Brightening Cleanser by Una Brennan . This cleanser is great value and lives up to its name, making skin look brighter and refreshes.

4. Dr Jart+ Platinum BB Beauty Balm. I was very late to jump on the BB bandwagon but after trying this cream I am definitely a convert. With great coverage and texture, it is easy to apply, lasts all day and has a 30 SPF.

5. Paul Mitchell Forever Blonde Dramatic Repair. Again, this leave-in spray was recommended by my hairdresser and has quickly become a regular fixture in my haircare line-up.

6, 7 and 9. I swear by the day and night Hyaluron Filler creams by Eucerin, the products make a real difference to my skin and don’t break the bank. As an extra bonus, this time a small bottle of serum was included with the night cream.

8. No 7 Lift & Luminate Eye Cream. I only recently started using an eye cream so I can’t say that this one is a firm favourite yet but my initial impression is good. It has a light texture and sinks into the skin quickly.

Currently Coveting # 2

Posted in Currently Coveting, Fashion by

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Hmm, I really thought that by now my wish list would have moved on to summer dresses and sandals but unfortunately the weather here in England is still more akin to October than May. And late May at that – in just over a week it will officially be summer! Anyway, enough about the depressing weather and onto the pieces that have caught my eye this week.

First up is a gorgeous blazer from Whistles which, because it’s made from a heavy jersey fabric, manages to straddle that tricky divide between smart and casual. The Jimmy Jimmy boyfriend skinny jeans by my fave denim brand Paige (available from Shopbop) are a must-have this season and can be teamed with the Breton striped T-shirt by Saint James for J. Crew for a crisp summer look with a touch of French chic. I am slightly obsessed with brightly coloured shoes at the moment and while yellow is a colour I would never wear near my face (unless it is in the palest lemon shade), on a pair of shoes it is perfect. This pair are from Whistles, which also has the same style in a more demure salmon pink or beige. Rose gold makes a change from my usual silver jewellery and the friendship bracelets from Monica Vinader are among the cutest accessories I’ve seen this season.

American Vintage + Becksondergaard = My daily uniform

Posted in Daily Musings, Family Life, Fashion by

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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!

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Currently Coveting: Let there be Light

Posted in Currently Coveting, Interior, Products I love by

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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.

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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.

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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.

Party time for young and old(er)!

Posted in Family Life, Fashion, Products I love by

Party Collage

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.