Outfit: Kimono Jacket Over Culottes
Jacket: River Island
Sunglasses: ASOS
Culottes: Monki (similar)
Flats: ASOS (similar)
No I haven't taken up karate or become a Samurai warrior as my brother kindly commented when I wore this the other day. Instead, this is just an outfit that I have been loving recently and actually wore to London Fashion Week on the rainiest day ever so it wasn't possible to take any pictures. Ridiculously comfortable while still looking smart, I love the oversized silhouette it creates and hey, you can never go wrong with an all-black ensemble.
Lust of the Week: Snakeskin Carvela Heels
One of the best things about autumn arriving is the boot offering trickling into stores. After last year's over-the-knee phenomenon, the ankle boot seems to be back in a big way, and this time they're skin tight and brightly coloured or come in a variety of textures. Snakeskin ankle boots are calling out to me at the moment, mainly because they can be worn with pretty much anything while still being a statement shoe, and won't really date. I'm loving these ones from Carvela for their print, solid chunky heel and skinny fitted shape that I'm seeing everywhere at the moment.
Outfit: Burgundy Tunic Over Cropped Jeans
Sunglasses: ASOS
Tunic: c/o Miss Selfridge via Fashionchick
Jeans: Weekday
Clutch: Aspinal of London at MyBag
Shoes: Clarks c/o Spartoo
The sun came out for the third day of London Fashion Week, so I was able to pop this sleeveless tunic from Miss Selfridge on. I kept things quite simple, mainly because I was starting to get fashion fatigue, so paired it with cropped boyfriend jeans and simple sandals - adding a bit of colour and texture with the silver Aspinal of London Essential Pouch.
I only had the Vivienne Westwood show that day (protests and clashing prints - classic Viv) so eased myself in to the day with brunch at the Charlotte Street Hotel and catching up on a bit of work before heading to the show. Unfortunately the rain was horrendous for the other two days of LFW (you win some, you lose some) so this is my last outfit from my time there. Until next time, London.
Outfit: Loose Layers at LFW
Jacket: Mango
Top: Front Row Shop
Culottes: Front Row Shop
Clutch: Etsy
Flats: Topshop
After wearing heels all day on the first day of London Fashion Week, day two was all about the comfort: enter flats and a floaty ensemble that was basically glorified pyjamas. The sun was out and it was gorgeously warm so this proved to be the perfect outfit for the day - what's great about these culottes is that they're layered, with button detail down the front to turn it into a skirt should you wish to change it up.
Saturday was a lot more relaxed, starting off with the Orla Kiely presentation (think 1970s Stepford Wives playing mini golf) and then Markus Lupfer (dark floral prints, embellishments and - amazingly - luchador printed tees and trousers) - head over to Coggles to read my full show reports from LFW. After that, we headed for a spot of lunch and a look at the designer showrooms, before heading back to our apartment to catch up on work and get ready for the Versus Versace after party (so much fashion).
Lust of the Week: River Island Tailored Coat
Now that autumn is slowly creeping in, my hunt for the perfect winter coat is well and truly on. Tailored coats with a hint of masculinity are quite possibly my favourite style; I love the smart look that they have, as well as the fact that it can basically just become your outfit and still look really good.
A camel coat is always a good one to invest in - I've had one from Zara for quite a few years but now it's totally knackered so I'm looking for a suitable replacement. This one from River Island is a strong contender - I love the shape and the cut, plus the addition of block colours and zip detail just makes it that little bit more special.
Outfit: Shirt and Cropped Trousers at LFW
Shirt: Zara (similar)
Trousers: Zara (similar)
Shoes: & Other Stories
My first day at London Fashion Week was a hectic one; the new space in Brewer Street was manic to say the least (someone is definitely going to get run over...) and we spent the day running from show to show, writing up show reports in between and trying to dodge the dowpour. J. JS Lee, Eudon Choi and John Smedley were standout shows for me - gorgeous minimalist pieces that were given life with incredible attention to details. Head over to Coggles to see my full write ups from all of the shows.
This was my chosen look for the day - dark rust, loose-fit cropped trousers and a pale blue long length shirt over the top (how amazing is the side detail?) both from good old Zara. The colour combination is slightly school uniformy, but I think it works. To finish, I wore my heels from & Other Stories - I love the construction of them and the platform makes them comfortable enough to walk around London in.
Outfit: Sleeveless Jacket Over Culottes
Sleeveless Jacket: c/o New Look via Fashionchick
Culottes: Warehouse (similar)
Flats: ASOS (similar)
With the last days of summer upon us, I've been taking advantage of the (kind of) warm weather we've been having recently by creating some transitional looks. Anyone who follows this blog regularly will know I'm a massive fan of culottes and any kind of layering, so this outfit was a bit of a no brainer for me. I love the contrast of khaki and white, plus I think there's something really nice about having a flash of culotte between the split of the jacket. Add a pair of slip-on mules and you've got yourself an easy outfit.
P.S I'm heading to London Fashion Week tomorrow! Make sure you follow me on Instagram and Twitter for daily outfits and the latest from the shows.
Lazy Sunday Mornings with Figleaves
Pjyamas: c/o Figleaves
With a hectic work schedule, a blog to run and some semblance of a life, my day-to-day is pretty full on. That's why I secretly love those weekends when I have absolutely no plans and my biggest activities involve what film to curl up and watch or what takeaway to order on Saturday night. Sunday mornings, though, are what I most look forward to. That lazy start to the day when I spend hours devouring the Sunday papers, eating warm croissants or pancakes for breakfast and drinking endless amounts of tea.
The bonus too, is not having to get dressed until at least 12, and being in a great pair of pyjamas that add a little bit of luxury to your morning. This pair from Figleaves is quite possibly the most stylish nightwear I own, especially compared to the old t-shirts and shorts that I normally throw on. There's something about the classic, old-school style that I love, plus the print is absolutely gorgeous. In fact, I kind of want to wear these as an outfit...
What to Wear to London Fashion Week
Topshop Kimono Jacket, River Island Faux Leather Culottes, ASOS White Roll Neck Jumper, Mango Bucket Bag, ASOS Hush Heels
London Fashion Week is just over a week away (I know, I can't believe it either), so I'm currently in the process of outfit planning. Cobbling together four different outfits is no mean feat, especially with the British weather being as unpredictable as ever.
With this in mind, layers that can be worked for the warm and the cold are my go-to this season - these faux leather culottes can be worn with a cashmere roll neck and kimono jacket if London turns wintry, or the jacket can be worn as a top if we get a freak warm spell. The bucket bag and heeled sandals, meanwhile, will look good with both options and keep the outfit nice and polished.
Lust of the Week: Topshop Boutique Wrap Coat
One of my favourite things about the weather getting colder and the days getting darker is the endless coat-wearing opportunities. I think long coats are my favourite, mainly because they look clean and sleek, have that slight masculine vibe, and can become an outfit in itself. Case in point: this navy wrap coat by Topshop Boutique. I love navy as a chic alternative to black, plus it has that real premium look about it. Its classic style and heavy wool construction makes it an investment piece that will last for years - well worth the price tag.
Outfit: Cropped Jeans and Wrap Shirt
I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with jeans. First of all, it's near impossible to find a pair that fit and are flattering; they're either too long, too tight on the bum, or too loose around the waist. Then there are the styles - having pretty much lived in skinny jeans for the past eight or nine years, I've found that I've really gone off that kind of fit - but nothing else has truly filled that void.
But then these cropped Weekday jeans came into my life, and I seem to have moved on to the 'love' end of the spectrum. With a boyfriend fit, they create that looser silhouette that I like while still being tailored enough that they aren't baggy. For me, a good pair of jeans always looks best with a crisp white shirt, so I paired these with my new wrap shirt from Finery for a fresh, easy look.
Outfit: Acne Maxi Dress
Sunglasses: ASOS
Cross Body: Zara (similar)
Sandals: Topshop (similar)
During my trip to Copenhagen a few weeks ago we popped into the Acne Archive (that's outlet to you and me) - a small store of beautiful Acne pieces at a fraction of the price. To say I was in heaven and that I had to control myself was an understatement, but I did manage to just come away with this simple maxi dress (I have booked a trip back to the Danish capital at the end of September though, so this will probably change!)
This is the kind of piece that needs no embellishment, looking better when it's kept minimalist and the form of the dress can fully be shown. That's why a pair of sliders and a simple cross body are my go-to accessories to wear this dress, making it one of my favourite casual looks this summer.