In Search of the Perfect White Shirt

Right before I begin, just a quick update on the experiment of toupee tape from the other night & hurrah I'm pleased to report that there were no Cinderella moments (sadly no Prince to whisk me away either!) & my heels stayed firmly in my shoes all night.  Plus an additional bonus as I really thought this might not be the case, not only was it easy to remove my feet from said shoes the toupee tape also didn't snag or ladder my 7 denier tights :) So a win win that now finds me stocking up on the old toupee tape by the metre - just call me 'wiggy!'.  Just the one word of warning & that is it did take both me & my hubby a considerable amount of time, which when running late wasn't idea, to peel back the second side of the toupee tape in order to be able to stick it to my shoes but other than that easy peasy :) So heels here I come - there will be no stopping me now!!

Now onto an item of clothing I believe everyone should have at least one of in their wardrobe - the white shirt.  To me it's just that classic item that can either be dressed up or down, will go with a whole heap of stuff & will never ever go out of fashion.

I simply love it's versatility - great for the office, or for an off duty classic look you can team it with a blazer, some skinny jeans, a statement necklace & some fab shoes & you're good to go.  Or if you're after a more dressed down kind of look, pumps teamed with some boyfriend jeans & blazer will look pretty fab too!

In fact the only negative of a white shirt (& this may not apply to anyone else) is the avoidance of make up on the collar so just go easy on the old bronzer on the neckline & if you're a messy eater (& like I said it could just be me but if I'm wearing a light colour you can guarantee I'm going to have an accident with something not so light in colour) the need to avoid the drips!

Now I confess I not only have one white shirt in my wardrobe but several & after looking on the web to see what's currently out there, I may have to add to my collection as there are some lovely offerings at the moment (this blogging lark is sooo not good for my bank balance!!!), I can feel another confessional blog coming up pretty soon ;S

If you haven't got a white shirt in your wardrobe then the most classic style to invest in is a simple plain long sleeved one as it will be so versatile you'll wonder how you ever lived without it.  I love this first one from Massimo Dutti, which although quite expensive you can guarantee will be a real classic.  I seriously have items in my wardrobe that are years old from Massimo Dutti that still look like new & haven't dated so provided you don't spill a curry down the front of it, it will be a real investment that you'll get a ton of wear out of. Also the looser & longer fit to this shirt is great for flexibility with styling.

Massimo Dutti Oversize Poplin Shirt £54.95

If however, you don't want to spend that much, how about this one from Zara, which I would imagine would be slightly shorter in the body & a little more fitter across the chest.

Zara Basic Cotton Shirt £19.99

Or for an in between price this one from Boden, which is sure to be another classic investment for your wardrobe.

Boden Shirt £39

Or if you fancy your shirt having just a little bit more detail what about this one from good old M&S.  The metal buttons on the cuffs & neck just make this a little different, a bit dressier & the cuff has a blue lining if you want to turn it back & add a splash of colour.

M&S Autograph Class Collar Plain Shirt £32.50

Now although I have several white shirts in my wardrobe some of them are in a different style to the ones above so if you've already got a plain white shirt how about something that little bit different?  I'm seriously lusting over this one from ASOS.  I love the winged collar which would be great for wearing over a jacket & the pintucks on the front of the shirt just add that bit of detail whilst still being a great classic staple.  I'm thinking this would look stunning worn with a few buttons undone (although not of course in an indecent kinda way - although I do now have a HUGE supply of toupee tape to use) with a tailored tuxedo & trousers & of course some serious bling in the statement necklace department.  Damn it, I think I've now talked myself into buying this little beauty!  Although of course it could be a bugger to iron with all those pintucks but hey we have to suffer for our love of fashion right?!!!

ASOS Pintuck Winged Collar Shirt £25

Turning slightly away from the style and shaped of a classic white shirt how about this top from Zara, which is in a lovely heavy weight, slightly off white fabric & has a great neckline (no need for a statement necklace here).  I absolutely love it although I would worry about the stones on the neckline when washing it (gosh I'm sounding middle aged) & may be one of those tops best hand washed (yeah I know, I avoid this as much as poss too).

Zara Combination Jacquard Top £39.99

Or this tuxedo style shirt also from Zara, which I confess I have tried on & which I am also presently trying to resist (can you ever have enough white shirts in your wardrobe?!!).  Again it's in an off white and is another one of those shirts which wouldn't date.  Slightly more dressy due to the style & fabric & would look stunning with some wax effect jeans & heels.

Zara Crossover Tuxedo Shirt £39.99

So there you have it my pick of the offerings in the white shirt department from the high street.  

Finishing with a round up of my outfits from the last few days starting with my outfit from Saturday night and the fantastic toupee tape, which was brought off eBay if you're interested.

Outfit One

Necklace - Zara

Dress - Zara

Bracelets - J Crew & Banana Republic

Shoes - Zara

Outfit Two

Jacket - Zara
Pearls - Brought in Majorca
Top - Zara
Jeans - Zara
Shoes - Brought in Majorca


Without the Jacket

Outfit Three

Necklace - Monsoon

Denim Shirt - Zara

Belt - H&M

Skirt - ASOS

Bracelets - Banana Republic & Banana Republic

Shoe Boots - M&S

Outfit Four

Necklace - Zara

Jacket - Massimo Dutti

Shirt - Zara

Leather Bracelet - Banana Republic

Belt - Zara

Jeans - Zara

Shoe Boots - M&S

So what do you think, are you a white shirt lover that like me has several offerings in your wardrobe or do you simply see them as too work attire to wear them for anything other than work?

As always I'd love to hear your thoughts x

Forgive Me Hubby For I Have Sinned.....

Today I'm going to try to unleash my guilt (I use this word very loosely of course!) on some sneaky purchases which seem to have found their way into my wardrobe.  So in the hope that by confessing, my guilt *coughs* will be released & my sins erased here's a run down of some new purchases.

Of course as far as hubby is concerned *conspiring wink* these new purchases are of course items I had in my wardrobe for AGES ;)

So starting with jewellery, which as you might have gathered I LOVE, here's the latest version of a necklace from Zara that I seem to be collecting!

Zara Chain, Cord & Stone Necklace £19.99

These necklaces are so great for transforming the simplest and plainest of tops into something that little bit more wow & the colours on this latest design are stunning for summer (if it ever appears of course, although I fear we may have already seen summer in the three days of glorious sunshine we had over bank holiday!).  It will also go with a whole heap of colours - navy, black, grey, white, red etc, that it really will be one of those go to necklaces that you can pop on & transform your outfit.

Sticking with the accessory theme, I have also brought a new gold bracelet from New Look.  Well when I say brought I mean ordered & am now keeping everything crossed that it actually makes it here as since ordering it the said bracelet has disappeared from sight off their website so I hope I've managed to bag one!  I think I may be slipping more into the 'I'm not 40 yet so am going to go with it' way of thinking as a few months ago I wouldn't have given this another look but now I am hyperventilating at the thought that it may have sold out & I've missed the boat!!!  Of course I may take this all back if said bracelet ever arrives & I decide that it's simply too 'Jenny from the block' for me but at the moment I am envisaging wearing it with a couple of other chunky gold bracelets & have visions of it looking stunning - although of course it may just be me or perhaps the tipple of toffee vodka my hubby slipped me with my lunch talking!

New Look Limited Gold Plate Chain Bracelet £6.99

I have also brought this gorgeous leather cuff from Banana Republic after hubby forwarded me a discount code (really does he not realise he's just given me the perfect excuse....do you know how much I saved?!!!) & again love wearing this with some of my gold bracelets.

Banana Republic Leather Lock Bracelet £25

Then moving away from jewellery but still sticking with accessories, obviously anyone who read my post on how I store all my accessories (Click here) there's a huge hole in my wardrobe for scarves *she say's in a heavily sarcastic tone* so when I spied this one on the H&M site whilst 'researching' kaftans I simply couldn't resist!  In fact H&M currently have 10% off until the 26th of May if you're interested - code 0527!

H&M Shawl £7.99

Finishing with a couple of tops from Zara, well I don't want to start suffering from the shakes if I withdraw too much from purchasing from there do I?!!!!

Zara Jacquard Pattern Blouse £39.99

As I've said before I absolutely love this shade of green & the top is in a really nice heavy fabric so looks lovely on.

Now I have tried to resist this next vest top for a while but kept eyeing it up so decided to pop it into my virtual shopping basket just to help boast the total to get free delivery & also to give it a try.  Hubby had said he didn't like it from the picture online but once he'd seen it in the flesh & on he loved it.  I have to admit I always thought I'd love it as it's just that little bit different to a normal vest top, I love the colours & the fact that the back is plain grey so perfect for brightening up my grey skinny jeans.  Now all I need is some warm weather to wear it in - otherwise I will be changing my outfit by the hour when we go on holiday just to wear my new clothes!!

Zara Floral Patchwork Top £22.99

Finishing with what I've been wearing since my last blog & starting with another double denim outfit.

Outfit One

Necklace - New Look (similar here)

Shirt - Zara

Bracelets - Lily Belle & Handmade

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Zara

Outfit Two

Jacket - Zara

Top - Zara

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Brought in Majorca

Outfit Three

Quilted Jacket - Zara
Scarf - Zara
Sweatshirt - Zara
Jeans - Zara
Pumps - Boden

So what have you been buying lately?  I'd love to hear.  Off out to a big 60th birthday bash tonight so will post a picture of my outfit on my next blog, I'm also going to be seriously testing the toupee tape so will report back!

Have a great weekend x

Stealing Elle's Style!

One of the things I love most about fashion is it's a bit like people watching.  I don't know about you but I could gladly waste a day flicking through a load of magazines (provided I'd got nothing else on my never ending 'to do list') or even sit watching people go by just looking at their outfits & taking inspiration.   I've got the sort of mind that is constantly whirling (only about all the important stuff of course....clothes, jewellery, shoes, accessories, make up etc!) that even when watching TV I'm constantly seeing what I like on people & then making mental notes on how to work it into my wardrobe.

Of course there are always times when you hear about a trend, in this example double denim & you think yup - no way in hell.  I mean really you won't get me trying that look but over recent weeks I have worn double denim to a degree (different coloured jeans to denim shirts) but I haven't felt the need to jump right in & go for same colour double denim.  That is until now when I saw this stunning picture of Elle Macpherson.

I mean how gorgeous does she look?!!  I've made no secret in the past that I LOVE Elle, for me not only does she have an incredible body, skin, hair.......but also I just love her sense of style.  So much so that after seeing this outfit she's really made me want to give the whole double denim a proper go.  I mean what isn't there to love about this outfit?!!  Classic blazer (yes please!), denim shirt (yup!), slightly looser frayed jeans in a gorgeous shade of denim (if only, have you ever tried finding the perfect pair?!!) & leopard print shoes baby (which for me is probably the piece de resistance  - oh yeah!).

So in an attempt to be Elle for a day, here's my choice from the pieces on the high street that could just maybe make us feel as if we'd be Elle'd!

Starting with the denim shirt, I absolutely love this one from ASOS.  I think it's an absolutely gorgeous shade of denim & love how it's slightly more faded towards the top so it isn't just a solid block of colour in the one shade.

ASOS Denim Shirt Dark Vintage Wash £28

Then  moving onto the jeans, as you will see from outfit one, I do own the one pair of looser/boyfriend style jeans which I have to admit I'm loving wearing as they're not too loose on the legs and bum & make a nice change from my skinny jeans.  So whilst looking for denim shirts on the ASOS website I also found this great pair, which I love the look of but aren't quite true to the style worn by Elle as there's no distressing, which of course some of you may prefer.

ASOS Brady Boyfriend Jeans in Dark Vintage Wash £38

If however, you want to go for the whole Elle look what about these from Warehouse?  They don't seem too loose on the leg and bum so still quite flattering & they have just that little bit of distressing that Elle's rocking in the above picture.

Warehouse Distressed Boyfriend Skinny Jeans £42

Then moving onto the blazer, in my opinion Zara do some fantastic & stylish jackets (which won't come as a huge shock to you considering the amount in my wardrobe!)  I love the detailing on the shoulder in this first jacket as it would just add that little something to the outfit & of course a black blazer is a great addition to have in your wardrobe.  Totally versatile & can be dressed up or down with jeans, trousers, skirts & dresses.

Zara Blazer With Shoulder Detailing £69.99

The second jacket is more of a classic design so may be something you would be happier investing in, in the knowledge that it shouldn't really date.

Zara Blazer With Seam on Shoulder £49.99

Then moving onto the shoes, I love these ones from ASOS & of course they satisfy my inner Bet a treat!  Of course you could always wear leopard print ballet shoes or boots to get the same look but I have to admit I really like the loafer on Elle worn with rolled up jeans.

ASOS Leopard Print Loafers £60

Now from the picture I can't really see what sort of bag Elle has worn with the outfit but I love this one from Cos.  It has a great casual look which is perfect for slinging across the body & I love the light shade of tan which would really lift the darkness of the denim & blazer worn together.

Cos Wide Leather Shopper £135

Elle seems to be wearing a simple gold necklace & bracelet with the outfit & whilst I know this cuff is a lot thicker than the one worn by her, I thought it was so stylish & a steal for the price that I simply had to feature it.

New Look Gold Sleek Metal Cuff £5.99

I really love this personalised necklace from Not On The High Street too, I think it would look super stylish & love the fact that you can have up to six initials engraved in the centre (perhaps to represent your family) & then a personalised message around the outside too.  Jewellery like this will last a lifetime & is so special to wear.

Not On The High Street Personalised 18ct Gold Vermeil Pendant £103

Then for those of us who are brave enough how about these blue Ray-Ban Wayfarer's to finish the look off?

Ray-Ban Wayfarer RB2140 £112.05 

And finally here's a picture of me trying to rock the look with pieces that were already in my wardrobe. What do you think?

Necklace - Massimo Dutti

Blazer - Zara

Bracelets - Banana Republic & J Crew

Denim Shirt - Zara

Bag - Zara

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Dune

So that's my take on the gorgeous Elle's double denim look, what do you think?  Have you dipped your toe in the revival of double denim or like me have you steered well clear of the look when worn in the same shade?  If so has Elle managed to persuade you to give it a go?

Finishing with my outfits from the last couple of days, which have required layers due to the lack of heat & sun that seem to have deserted us after the glorious few days last week.

Outfit One

Necklace - Wallis

Shirt - Zara

Jumper - GAP

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Brought in Majorca

Outfit Two

Scarf - Zara

Jacket - Zara

Bracelets - Massimo Dutti & Banana Republic

Top- Zara

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Brought in Majorca

Outfit Three

Scarf - Zara

Cuff - Banana Republic

Blouse - M&S

Jeans - Massimo Dutti

Shoes - Massimo Dutti

So what do you think have I convinced you to give the double denim look a try?  Or is there another fashion trend that you've vowed to stay well clear off & then found yourself giving a go & loving it?  As always I'd love to hear your thoughts x

Holiday Cover Ups

Well we are heading to that time of year when most of us start paying our bodies a little bit more attention.  Especially if you're anything like me where the thought of wearing a bikini/swimsuit anywhere other than my garden makes me feel more than a little anxious.

So whilst the summer months mean a lot of us will be slapping a bit more of the old fake tan on, shaving and moisturising more, I sadly think most of us ladies will also be giving ourselves a hard time on how we perceive our bodies especially with the thought of exposing it to all & sundry whilst on holiday & will kick start the diet/excercise plan in a desperate attempt to resemble 'The Body' herself Elle Macpherson.

Firstly I'd like to say that I wish when I was younger I appreciated my body more because after you reach a certain age (30 in my case) I've really had to work hard & on top of that of course our bodies really do change after children (unless of course you're a celebrity in which case you'll just ping back to your pre-baby figure the instant you give birth!).  I really think that most women have some form of body dysmorphic disorder, especially after having children & we REALLY shouldn't be as hard on ourselves as we are.  

So each year whilst on holiday people watching & seeing other women seemingly comfortable in their own skin I vow that next year I will be like them & stand up tall & not scurry from the pool to the comfort of my sun lounger before anyone has had chance to catch the hideous stretch marks or my 'mummy tummy', which as a proud mum I know I should feel proud to bare!

However, it's safe to say that I haven't mastered this inner confidence of being comfortable in my bikini & whilst I know I should probably ditch the bikinis for the safety of a swimsuit because if would hide the stretch marks & hold in the saggy skin which I seems to have a life of it's own especially when I go & bend to pick something up, I just don't want to have a white tummy & back!

So that leads me to the wonders of a holiday cover up.  I used to love sarongs, & whilst I still love them sadly after giving birth to our wonderful son they don't cover me as much as I like to be covered.  I'd love to be one of the women who saunters up to the poolside bar in just their bikinis but really would that be fair on the other holidaymakers?  I think not.

So whilst I master my inner body confidence (perhaps this year will be the year - after all there really are far more important things to worry about & life really is too short) I'll turn to the good old faithful of the kaftan.

Now the first problem I have with finding the right kind of cover up is I would LOVE to look as stylish as our fellow Europeans do.  They seem to ooze this inner sophistication & glamour that I simply fail to achieve when slapped in suncream & coping with the glorious hot temperature you can bask in abroad. In fact I seem to wilt faster than a piece of lettuce left out in the sun!  Of course it could be that I seem to take the view that any old summer dress/tunic that I've decided to get rid of can be used as said cover up because who'd buy something new to then get covered in suncream, sea salt & sweat?!!!  Of course I feel this is my big mistake, so this year I have decided to embrace the cover up head on & invest in some new ones brought solely for the correct purpose & promise not to not wear them on holiday for fear of ruining them!  

So the first cover up I have found is this stunning embroidered one from Next.  I love the colours & it really is a classic that you could bring out each year but my only problem is that when I've worn similar old tops before I get myself in a real state.  Firstly as I've mentioned before I am highly (& when I say highly I really mean it) claustrophobic.  I mean I have to hold my breath when putting or taking off a jumper & don't get me started on how I used to feel when having to dress our son & pulling things over his head!  So whilst I can just about cope with putting this type of kaftan on, factor in the blistering heat & the fact that when pulling it on or taking it off in said heat it is likely (no matter how big it is) to have started to stick to the suncream & sticky skin then you can probably imagine that I am starting a full scale panic & flip out that I am in effect 'stuck' in my kaftan, so all hope of elegantly pulling the same on & off have TOTALLY gone out the window!!!  I've even tried the sort of cover up that has sleeves with buttons all the way down so no over the head stress but I still seem to stick to the said cover up in a not very sexy or elegant way!!! However, if you're not like me (& goodness knows I hope not, I'm sure I'm just a freak of nature) then you will be wondering what all the fuss is about & will simply love this gorgeous cover up which sadly for me I will have to drool over because if I purchase it, it will not be pretty & will definitely end in disaster!

Next Embroidered Woven Cover Up £30

However, if there are any other nutters like myself that seem to have these problems (& boy would I love to hear if you are) then unfortunately it has to be either a short sleeved version or sleeveless kaftan/cover up to avoid any weird behaviour whilst by the pool!  Of course there are also the strapless variety but unless I can match my bikini straps to said dress (which can be a little restrictive unless I take several) or wear a strapless bikini top then the following styles are going to be where I'm heading.  I've also discounted long maxi dresses because in the past this has resulted in me fighting with the fabric to try & find where my head goes - again not a good look!

So first up is this gorgeous one from Accessorize.  I really love the embroidery & colours and think this could look absolutely stunning & with a big neck & short sleeves even I should manage to take this on & off without getting into too much of a flap!

Accessorize Heritage Embroidered Kaftan £37

I also love this gorgeous one from H&M, which is in one of my favourite shades of blue.

H&M Dress £29.99

However, if you fancy something with a little bit of bling then what about this gorgeous one from Next?  Of course it's semi-transparent (sounds less frightening than saying see-through!) but would still give me more confidence that just walking around in my bikini.

Next Mink Sequin Cover Up

Taking the bling & the price up a serious notch is this stunning kaftan which is available from John Lewis.  This is simply stunning & would definitely give the European ladies a run for their money poolside & it's also available in turquoise.

Blue Mojito Beaded Kaftan £115

Back to the slightly more reasonable prices of Accessorize, I absolutely love this cream embroidered kaftan.  I think this could look so stunning worn with some gold sandals (ooh check - I've got those!) & a classic straw panama (again check), gosh I can feel myself falling for this even more as I type!

Accessorize Antique Embroidered Kaftan £39

Or if you fancy less of a sleeve this is another gorgeous one again from Accessorize.

Accessorize Katy Crochet Tabard £32

I also love this navy one again from Accessorize (they have some amazing stock in at the moment).  I'm not a fan of the tie at the back so that would be snipped off straight away so would need to check it still stays on the shoulders without it but as long as I'd got my bikini top on underneath then a little shoulder slippage would be fine.

Accessorize Catherine Crochet Tabard £25

Or perhaps even this blue one from Next which is also available in white and lime green.

Next Knitted Kaftan £22

Or maybe this navy one from John Lewis which is great price and would look gorgeous with some gold or silver accessories & maybe even a belt worn under the cross over.  Again the ties wouldn't survive but other than that I think this could look stunning accessorised correctly & is also available in white.

John Lewis Navy Kaftan £25

Or how about this gorgeous coloured one from Next, which is also available in black or black with large cream dots.

Next Kaftan £30

Finally what about something more patterned such as this great animal print tunic from Wallis which could not only be worn as a cover up but also as a dress or over some skinny jeans/leggings.

Wallis Black Animal Print Tunic £33

And of course you can't go wrong with stripes so what about this one from Next?  It's also available in white, which would look stunning with a tan or in a parrot print if you want something more colourful.

Next Essential Dress £26

Or how about this zebra print kaftan from H&M, which at £7.99 is an absolute steal & is also available in black, white, turquoise & multi-patterened.

H&M Butterfly Sleeve Beach Tunic £7.99

Of course there are always shorts, linen trousers or jumpsuits that you can wear but I find I have the same problem with them sticking to my legs & that I can't simply swipe them on as quickly as you can a kaftan & for me the quicker I can get it on the better!

Finishing with a round up of what I've been wearing the last few days which as the temperature has dropped has resulted in going back to my jeans!

Outfit One

Scarf - Massimo Dutti

Bracelets - Massimo Dutti & Banana Republic

Jacket - Zara

Jumper - GAP

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - brought in Majorca

Outfit Two

Necklace - Zara

Jumper - Massimo Dutti

Bracelets - Massimo Dutti & Banana Republic

T-Shirt - Zara

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Next

Outfit Three

Necklace - Wallis

Top - Zara

Jacket - Massimo Dutti

Bracelets - Massimo Dutti & Banana Republic & Banana Republic

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Next

Outfit Four

Necklace - Banana Republic

Top - Zara

T-Shirt - Zara

Bracelets - Banana Republic & Massimo Dutti

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Next

So what do you think & more importantly what do you wear as a cover up when on your hols?  Is it just me or do you have the same problem with long sleeved kaftans or do you know of a trick to avoid the whole 'head stuck in a kaftan but unable to move' look I seem to have problems with?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend x