Outfit: Leather trousers, green jumper
Leather jacket: Topshop (similar)
Jumper: Mango
Watch: Uniform Wares (similar)
Faux leather trousers: ASOS (similar)
Flats: Topshop (in silver)
I think green is my favourite colour at the moment; it's not one that you see that often in clothing and a dark green is a great alternative to my usual black. I pinched my man's watch for this outfit - I love men's watches because they're big, minimalist and completely free of diamante - try this one, this one or this one for similar.
Christmas gift guide for her: fashion
From top left: Topshop bra, Whistles dress, Whistles bag, Mango jumper, ASOS trousers, Mango coat, Esprit leather trousers, Carvela boots, Helmut Lang skirt
We're getting scarily close to Christmas and I'm currently trying to find gifts for my nearest and dearest...but every time I sit down to look at what our wonderful high street has to offer, I'm immediately drawn to all the things I want and find my wishlist growing and growing, while I still haven't actually bought anything for anyone else. Oops. So I thought I'd put this together just in case there's anyone out there who's struggling to buy for me as much as I'm struggling for them (hint, hint), or you're lacking gift inspiration for the women in your life.
Outfit: Khaki coat and chunky knit
Coat: ASOS
Jumper: Selected (similar)
Jeans: Topshop
Shoes: Senso (similar)
A pretty simple look that I wore last Sunday - when it comes to the end of the week all I want is comfort and warmth so a big thick jumper and duster coat I can wrap around myself is perfect.
I did my first batch of Christmas shopping yesterday; I can't believe how quick it's coming around! I took the day off work and it was so worth it - there is nothing worse than central London on a weekend at this time of year (well, Oxford Street is a bit of a nightmare pretty much any time of year) and it meant I could actually enjoy the experience. There are so many incredible things on the high street at the moment - I had to do some real restraining - but it's given me all sorts of inspiration so I've got a little gift guide coming up at the end of the week.
Lust of the week: Esprit military jumpsuit
Party season is quickly encroaching on us and the shops are
filling up on all things sequin and sparkle. I love an excuse to dress up (I’m
from Merseyside after all, where most women put their heels and glad rags on just
to go shopping), but there comes a point over the Christmas and New Year period
when I start to get a bit sick of the gold and the glitz, and I want something
relatively simple to wear that doesn’t require too much effort.
That’s why I always get a back up for when I don’t feel like
getting totally dolled up, or if I’m off to a casual event or party that calls
for more than my usual shirt and leather trousers. A jumpsuit is great for this
kind of occasion; it’s a full outfit in one so doesn’t take much thought ,and
can make a real statement without being flashy.
I love this one from Esprit – it hits the military trend (seen
at the likes of Balmain and Alexander Wang this season) on the head and would
look great with a pair of killer heels. I’d pair it with a chunky masculine
watch (like this one) and a vampy lipstick to make it party-appropriate, but
otherwise keep accessories and makeup to a minimum to let the jumpsuit do all
the talking.
This jumpsuit could work for day time too, dressed down with
a leather jacket, chunky scarf and a pair of Nikes. Not bad for £59, eh?
Outfit: Grey and black layers
Coat: Zara (similar)
Shirt: H&M (similar)
Jumper: Uniqlo (similar)
Jeans: Topshop
Boots: c/o Missguided
I've eventually reached that point where my skin becomes paler and my hair darker on a daily basis...ahh, winter. I seem to always be going on about layering at the moment (apologies for sounding like a broken record!) but it really is the best way to dress at this time of year, especially when you're going from the freezing outdoors to hot stuffy public transport, then out again to the cold and straight back into central heating.
I'm loving these boots at the moment (they're sold out, but try Topshop for similar); I've been wearing them over jeans and with tights and dresses - perfect for rainy days! Wearing a shirt under a jumper is a great way of layering without heating up too much, and it adds a nice bit of extra detail to an outfit.
Outfit: Faux fur jacket and wide leg trousers
Faux fur jacket: Vintage (similar)
Jumper: ASOS
Trousers: ASOS
Flats: Zara (similar)
I'm really loving the 70s trend this season, and what better way to rock it then with wide leg trousers, a roll neck jumper and a big chunk of faux fur? I bought this jacket back when I was a student in Newcastle for a mere £10 and it's one of the best purchases I've ever made - I get it out every winter; it's so warm and cosy and is a real stand-out piece. There are loads of similar jackets on the high street - try Missguided or Topshop.
Outfit: Printed kimono
Kimono: Boohoo (similar)
Top: Oasis (similar)
Faux leather pants: Topshop (similar)
Boots: Public Desire (similar)
I'm loving all things with a longer length at the moment, especially long-ass coats, which is why I thought I'd bring my kimono out of my summer wardrobe and start wearing it as a jacket this autumn. It's quite a full-on print so for this look I've teamed it with all-black - this makes it more season-appropriate too.
Lust of the week: ASOS Pensive heels
Party season is fast approaching and this year I'm going to try and steer away from my usual Christmas black and gold combo. I spotted these ASOS heels in the new-in section this week and fell in love with the colour straight away. I think they'd look great paired with winter whites and would be a great alternative to the usual festive colours.
Outfit: Camel coat and black knitwear
Jumper: ASOS
Skirt: c/o Missguided
Flats: Zara (similar)
Coat: Zara (similar)
A good camel coat never goes out of style; it's a real classic and looks great with black in winter. This coat is from a few years ago but I'm seeing similar ones all over the high street - try River Island, Mango or Missguided.
Outfit: Layered knitwear
Jumper dress: Linea Weekend c/o House of Fraser
Leather jacket: Topshop (similar)
Jumper: Selected
Jeans: Topshop
Boots: Public Desire (similar)
One of the biggest trends this season is knitwear. No, not exactly groundbreaking for this time of year, but this A/W it's all about knitwear with a twist - whether it's worn head-to-toe with ribbed trousers and matching tunic as seen at Celine and Marc Jacobs, or wearing a jumper as a scarf a la Christophe Lemaire.
One of the easiest ways of doing double knitwear is by tying a jumper around a jumper dress like I've done here - perfect if you're not quite ready for the full-on knitted look, and it adds an extra bit of summin' summin' to your outfit.
Outfit: Shearling jacket and jeans
Shearling jacket: c/o Missguided
Jeans: Topshop
Trainers: Adidas
Sundays for me are all about comfort, especially when the weather's a bit grim (I stepped out to quickly get this outfit snapped and it immediately started chucking down...typical) and you want to spend all day having an elongated brunch. This Missguided jacket is so soft and warm - I'm glad it's finally cold enough to wear it - and paired with my new trainers, it provides the ultimate in comfort.
Lust of the week: Mango palazzo trousers
I'm a sucker for a wide-legged trouser; they're chic, easy to wear and provide a great alternative to to your skinny jeans and leather pants. This navy pair from Mango are smart enough for the office and can be dressed up for the evening.
Outfit: Green jumper, white culottes
Jumper: Mango
Culottes: Warehouse (similar)
Boots: Public Desire
Watch: Casio
My culotte love is still going strong so I took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather we had in London last week and got my white pair out from Warehouse. Also loving the bottle green colour of this jumper I bought from Mango - a colour that does not get enough air time!
Outfit: Monochrome layers
Shirt: Uniqlo (men's)
Waterfall jacket: Boohoo (similar)
Leather jacket: Topshop (similar)
Jeans: Topshop
Flats: Zara (similar)
Can you believe it's November already? I swear the years go quicker with each one that goes by (or maybe it's just a sign that I'm getting old...) Today I'm nursing a hangover after a Halloween party last night - check out my Instagram to see my costume.
When I'm not in fancy dress, I'm all about layering at this time of year. It's the perfect way to dress with the UK's ever-changing weather and spending a good portion of your day on London's hot tubes. Layering is also a great way to experiment with different proportions - here with an oversized shirt vs skinny jeans, and longline blazer vs cropped leather biker.