What I Wore On My Summer Vacation

We're just back from a week in Santorini which was glorious, but packing for a sun holiday with a 6½ month bump did present a couple of challenges to my wardrobe!

After digging through and trying on all of my usual failsafe summer bits, I had to eventually admit defeat and get some pre-holiday maternity shopping in.

As usual, I panic-bought and ended up with a few truly awful yokes that didn’t suit me and that I wouldn’t wear in a blue fit, but thankfully I did also manage to select some gems that saw me through the week in some semblance of style (and which I reckon I’ll be able to wear right through to September and post-maternity, too.)

For the benefit of any other pregnant ladies who are similarly despairing of their holiday wardrobe, here's the quartet of new bits I packed in the end:

Mamalicious Nursing Contrast Woven top, £38 // Red Herring Maternity blouse, £28

Mamalicious Lace Front Maternity shorts, £35 // Pour Moi Gypsy kaftan, £20

All were super comfortable and easy to wear, and they mixed and matched brilliantly with my Valentino-alike flip flops from Miss Selfridge, white Cons, and the basic back maternity vest and leggings that I'm pretty much living in now. 

Good work, me!

SPOTTED: Your next pair of shoes

I saw these roarsome beauties over the weekend and would have pounced there and then if the shop had had my size. They didn't, of course, but these New Look leather loafers shot to the top of my mental shoe wish list (a real thing I actually do) faster than a leopard going full tilt after its noms.

Here are five reasons they should be on yours, too.

ONE // As evidenced by the London and New York AW13 shows, animal prints are OMGSOHOTRIGHTNOW. That goes double for anything snake or leopard print.

TWO // The loafer shape means they're as comfortable and chic and go-with-everything as ballet flats, just heaps cooler.

THREE // The leopard print upper is actually hairy. Looks all expensive and that.

FOUR // Priced at just £24.99/€29.99, they won't break the bank.

FIVE // We can be shoe twins. I am totally ordering a pair!

Liar liar shoes on fire.

Remember how I said last week that I'd no black flats?

Literally the next day a shoebox at the back of the wardrobe made a liar out of me.

I was having a big clear out of stuff to donate when I came across these perfect-for-AW12 beauties:

So apologies for my inadvertent fib, but yay for a pretty great accidental find! And for anyone who doesn't speak shoe, well, it was like discovering a forgotten fifty quid note in the back pocket of an old pair of jeans :)

Something for the weekend: Fantasy new season threads

When the spending ban lifts and my credit card balance levels out, I'm planning to be very sensible indeed with this year's winter purchases. I'm really feeling the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-inspired dark/gothic/leather-or-lace trend, and there are lots of key pieces around that nail the look but could still be worn for many winters to come.

Here's a taste of what's caught my eye in the first of the new season high-street drops:

How's about that for instant AW12 chic? This is pretty much my perfect autumnal look, I think: loving the cape (£tba), faux leather trousers (£40), and front of those black ankle boots (£70, they're a bit gick from the back) all from Oasis.

See, if I worked somewhere that necessitated the wearing of LBNs (little black numbers) I'd be all over this River Island sequinned mesh top (£45) like a sparkly rash. Or, er, maybe it'd be all over me like a sparkly rash. Either way, there's no such thing as too much bling in my book, and I'm an absolute sucker for shoulder detailing.

If that's too much black 'n' bling for your palette, what about this navy Oasis blouse (£48) with lace detailing? It's sweet without being overly saccharine, and navy tends to be more flattering on paler skintones than black (cue my mother's voice in my head telling me that black makes me "look very washed out" every time I wear it next to my face.) 

This is so impractical - I can't do sleeveless for day after about mid-September - and of course it fails the Mam test but there's something about this faux leather peplum top from Oasis that really appeals to me. It's a bit tough, a bit girly, and I can see it going with tons of stuff that I already own.

Would you believe I don't possess a single pair of black flats? True story. These studded Kurt Geiger flats are amaze-o but at £95 they're also really bloody expensive, so they're unlikely to be making it into my collection anytime soon. (I'm still totally going to visit them and pet them every time I pass a KG stockist so they don't start to fret that I've forgotten about them. Poor ickle shoesies.)

Have you seen any AW12 lust-haves yet? Leave me a link to them in the comments and we can go virtual shopping together!

JUST PUT YOUR DAMN COAT ON.

Every so often a trend comes along that makes me wonder what the actual eff, and this business of fashion editors and journos and bloggers and stylists and fash types generally wearing their blazers, cardigans, coats, or jackets draped over their shoulders is one of them.

I mean, I kind of get it: it ensures that you give everyone a good eyeful of what you're wearing underneath that outermost layer so they can be suitably wowed by your ensemble. And probably gives you the edge if you get dressed every morning thinking "Would the Sartorialist photograph me in this?" since street style hunters seem to go nuts for the affect effect.

I'm sure shrugging on a coat like it's a cape is supposed to look cool and effortlessly chic - because putting your arms through sleeves is like, so much extra work, you guys - but actually I think it makes these fashionistas look like try hard extras in a modern reworking of Grease who never needs to use their arms. (Side note: I do actually like it on someone who looks like they cold have been an extra in Grease the first time around. And on Dita Von Teese. Retro good; hipster bad.)

Supposedly it's a street style phenomenon, but I have yet to see anyone In Real Life in what is one of the most fashionable cities on earth rocking this stupid looking look.

Just as well, really, because I'm not sure I could resist gently tugging the offending coat off their shoulders in a walk-by disrobing...

{image credits: 1. Street Peeper; all others Tommy Ton}

What I Wore: Jubilee Weekend edition

When I find an item of clothing that I really, really like, I will wear it to death. Case in point: pretty much everything that I've got on above. You'll no doubt recognise the sequin skirt from last weekend, when I was able to wear it with sheer tops and bare legs.

A daytime temperature drop of 10°C combined with plenty of wind and rain meant that the bank holiday weekend called for rather more substantial pairings.

The grey jumper is from Topshop and it's the perfect slouchy, not sloppy, fine knit with a slight mullet hem and batwing underarms. I've been wearing this non-stop since I got it, too; it's bizarrely flattering AND supremely comfortable. Win win! The grey ribbed tights are from Oasis, bought two years ago, and the chestnut Uggs were an amazing birthday present that I didn't expect to have to pull out in June (!) but they kept my feet toasty and dry.

Would you Tie The Knot in Topshop?

Today, there is just one question that I want to ask you.

Would you get married in one of these dresses?

Topshop are hoping the answer is a resounding "YES!" - these frocks are part of the brand's collaboration with British designer Richard Nicoll to create an affordable, fashion-forward capsule bridal collection called Tie The Knot! for budget-conscious modern brides.

The long apron-alike number on the left is the collection's most expensive at £350, while the lacy short dress on the right clocks in at £170. Prices actually start at just £75 and the colour palette includes blush pinks in addition to the more traditional white.

I love Topshop and I'm definitely a fan of the idea of a cool high-street dress for your wedding day, be it specifically bridal or not, but these... Let's just say that the £75 short white dress looks like the most expensive rag of a slip I've ever seen.

What say you? Are any of these dresses calling your name?

Trend spot: Studded flip flops

My stud obsession is going nowhere, it seems, and now I've found a summer-appropriate way to incorporate them into your warm weather wardrobe.

How amazing are these fancy-yet-fierce flip flops from Valentino? Sadly, even though they're effectively just jelly sandals, these beauties also have an amazing price tag.

Not to worry: I've put in the legwork (ho ho) and found a couple of high street lookey likeys so you can toughen up your sunshine look on the (relative) cheap!

Of course, an even more purse-friendly alternative is to grab an old pair of sandals, some glue, and a load of studs and get busy.

Would you wear studded flip flops, or maybe make your own?

{image sources: 1. The Blonde Salad; 2. Little Bird Tell}

What I Wore: Weekend Edition

After months of humming and hawwing and adding loads of photos of similar garments to my Pinterest boards, I finally treated myself to Zara's gold sequin skirt on Friday and then proceeded to wear it all weekend.

We spent Saturday afternoon hanging out in the park with Boris. In retribution for the zillion photos I took of him enjoying himself and looking cute, he decided to get his photobomb on.

 

Yesterday we visited the temporary Queen Elizabeth Roof Garden on the top of the Southbank Centre for a late lunch and some Pimm's...

... and a few awkward photos on that unsung catwalk of the underground, the travelator.

I hope you'd a lovely weekend and that your week has gotten off to a good start x

{Skirt: Zara / polka dot top: Glamorous / zebra belt: River Island / gold flip flops: Office / Scottie dog print top: River Island / butterfly belt: Topshop}

Lacy lady.

Even when the temperature's pushing 30°C in London, plenty of girls still manage to look super cool and Fierce With A Capital F in their skinny jeans (or black opaque tights - seriously.)

Sadly, I am not one of them; my (admittedly meagre) attempts at Styling Myself or Putting Together A Look go completely out the window in the heat.

Instead, I've developed a formula which I stick to fairly religiously in very warm weather, as you can see. Dress (Penneys/Primark again) + sandals (eBay, originally from Office) + sunglasses + earrings (because it's too hot for other jewellery) = done!

Today, I mostly wore...

... an aquarium.

I guess Himself's new hobby (which he's blogging about here, fish fans) is having a bigger influence on me than I realised.

The dress is from Penneys/Primark*, it's this season, it's £17 so probably €21 Eurobux, and mine was a present from Mam. (Thanks Mam x) The skirt of it is lined and it fits true to size.

The bronze flip flops are from New Look from a couple of years ago, and while I know you can't see my toenails I feel obliged to tell you that they're black with gold studs and look totally kickass.

* I know, I know. Blogger in wearing Primark shocker, eh?

Shoe Love: Wedge sandals

There are only two types of shoes that I can actually walk in, and by "walk" I really mean run for the bus or flee from the undead in the event of a zombie apocalypse rather than get from car door to bar stool.

These two types of shoes are flats and platform wedges. It's all or nothing with me where footwear is concerned because I just can't safely negotiate the world, even if it is (currently) zombie-free, wearing anything between the extremes.

Fabulous flats are pretty easy to find, but fabulous platforms wedges are a different beast altogether. Even this spring/summer when the shops are positively heaving with them, it's hard to find a pair of platform wedge sandals that straddle the fine line between chunky and dressy without looking too '70s. To make matters more complicated, I like my wedges with a t-bar (I think it helps compensate for the leg-shortening effect of an ankle strap) and a peep-toe or similarly tiny front opening (I like to see as little of my big toe as possible.)

These £45 gladiators from Next, which are a more tan, less shite colour In Real Life, would be perfect if my size wasn't sold out. Sadface.

Here are some of my other, mostly far-too-expensive favourites.

Any fellow wedges fans out there? Have you spotted any nice ones this season?

Hot & in stock: This Next dress is fit for a Duchess

You may or may not share her fondness for American tan tights but if you're a fan of TAFKAKM's* style generally then listen up. I spotted this dress in Next yesterday and had to do a double-take because it's very, very similar to the navy lace Erdem number that Kate wore in Canada last summer (and pulled out again for a friend's wedding a couple of weeks ago.)

Priced at £65/€87, at the time of posting the Next version was available online in all sizes from 06-22.

We all know by now what happens when something is identified as being Kate-stylee - and since this dress has been styled with nude pumps and a matchy matchy clutch bag, it's clear that's what Next are going for here - so if you're thinking about making a purchase, I'd say do. With the quickness.

Just don't come crying to me when they're all sold out...

* The Artist Formerly Known As Kate Middleton, of course

Back in stock: Olivia Palermo's Topshop trousers!

As seen on Olivia Palermo during London Fashion Week, Topshop's tropical print cropped trousers complete with birdies (£45) are now back in stock. La Palermo styled hers with a bright yellow cropped jumper, also from Topshop, Mulberry leopard-print calf hair heels, and an Emporio Armani black blazer apparently trimmed with dyed Big Bird moultings.

At the time of posting the trousers were still available in sizes 6, 8, 10, and 14 but I can't imagine they'll hang around too long; Olivia Palermo is second only to Kate Middleton in the "causes items of clothing to sell out entirely as soon as she wears them" stakes. 

What I want to know is (a) would you wear them? and (b) if yes, will you get me a pair too?

{image sources: 1. Topshop; 2 & 3. Fashion Fame}

H&M jewellery love

On a bring-back jaunt to H&M recently, I got completely distracted by the jewellery section on my way out of the shop. Including my engagement ring I'd say that I own three or four pieces of "real" jewellery - I have a real weakness for costume, statement, and kitschy bling - so this fantastically fakey necklace had my name written all over it.

Orange isn't a colour I usually gravitate towards but I really like this combination of sunny orange rhinestones and rainbow-reflective teardrops, and I've been getting tons of wear out of it.

Not bad for £5.99!

My favourite earrings also hail from H&M and were part of a multipack of metallic animal-shaped ear adornments that cost something like £3.99 last summer. They're tiny gold bunny studs and they are beyond adorable, but unfortunately I've lost one of them.

I'm not looking forward to cracking open the hoover this weekend to look for the missing earring, but this little guy looks so sad without his pal that I'll just have to do it.

Awww.

Heat-retaining underwear: Olivia Palermo's ultimate style secret*

I've managed to get exactly three wears out of these trousers since I bought them, which is a pretty poor cost-per-wear return, but sure maybe it'll be warm enough in May to break them out again.

(I'm weather obsessed. You may have noticed.)

It seems like I'm the only one who feels the cold in my patterned ankle-grazers.

Are they all wearing thermal knickers or what?


{Image sources: 1. Addicted To All; 2. StyleFrost; 3. Glamour; 4. What Olivia Did; 5. Hot New Fashion Trends; 6. What Olivia Did}
* possibly

Skirtgate: A cry for help

A couple of weeks ago I bought this skirt in Oasis and I love it - pleated! Pastel! SO pretty! - but I suspect that I'm not really doing it justice when I wear it. Observe...

Yeah, I don't think Olivia Palermo is quaking in her Manolos with fear that I'm about to overtake her in the style stakes either. The worst thing is that I only really started to feel that this ensemble didn't hang well together when I went out.

That's right: I left the house and went out among other people looking like this today.

Donning my navy winter coat - beneath which a good 3" of skirt could be seen - surprisingly didn't improve things.

The skirt needs to be taken up so that it's not hitting me bang on the knee, where it makes me look (a) very strangely proportioned and (b) like my old Speech & Drama teacher. Other than that, I'm not sure what to wear with it. I thought the black tights and the trainers would be a bit cooler than ballet/dolly flats and keep it from looking too prissy, but actually they just made me look slightly bonkers - and not in a good way - or like I'd gotten lost on my way to work in an office where I keep a stash of proper shoes under my desk. And while I like the colour of the lemon top with the skirt, I feel that there's something a bit too cotton-y and basic about it.

I'm way out of my jeans-loving depth on this one. Even Polyvore-ing my little heart out and creating virtual styleboards to try and see what I might put with it's not really helping. 

This is as far as I've gotten, which is not very far at all since I dress from the feet up but you can sort of see the directions I'm thinking of taking. I'm not sure whether to toughen it up with black and studs and chunkiness or play up its girliness and team it with silver (or, er, use it as an excuse to get shoes with skulls on them.)

I'd love to hear any suggestions you might have to help me style my skirt!

Trend spot: Fitted floral skirts

Your woman above looks like she's in need of a trip to the loo or some ladypain killers STAT, but since the point of this post is actually her skirt rather than her debilitating cramps I'll get back on topic by telling you that it's from Penneys (Primark for UK readers) and costs €11.

Yes. ELEVEN QUID.

Bold and tropical floral prints are all over the shop at the moment but as it's unlikely they'll be around for more than a season, it makes sense to save rather than splurge on this particular trend. I've seen very similar pencil skirts in Zara for around the £30 mark and the example sported by the ever-stylish Emily below is a $325 Elizabeth & James number, so the Penneys/Primark option is definitely a good 'un if price is your primary consideration.

{image credit & source: Cupcakes & Cashmere}

I'm very tempted.

Shameless plug: Closet clearout.

I'm on a one-woman decluttering mission at the moment, and my wardrobe hasn't escaped the spring cleaning tide. Since I'm feeling a bit stoney and have always quite liked the idea of having a shop, I've decided to put some of my stuff on fleaBay.

All garments are sizes 6-8 and I'll be combining postage for multiple purchases.

Oh, and most of the listings are ending today so best get your skates on if you fancy a virtual nose through my clothes!

OMG AMAZE: Mary Katrantzou for Topshop SS12

Their last collaboration failed to set my world alight, but it was lust at first sight when I spotted the images for Mary Katrantzou's upcoming capsule collection for Topshop.

Swoon!

Nine pieces featuring the designer's signature bold and beautiful prints will go on sale from selected Topshop stores and the website on February 17th. The floral trousers and tees in the line are a bit pedestrian, IMHO, but if I somehow manage to win the Euromillions without playing between now and next Friday, I'd quite like to get myself this bubble skirt dress (£350), silk tunic dress (£150), and long-sleeved jersey dress (£180.)


{Image sources: 1. Vogue; 2. Topshop; 3. Topshop}