Jewel Tones

I bought this Whistles blouse a month or so ago when there was an offer in place of some description, and then like some items do, it just hung there waiting to be worn. Then one sweet day i just decided today was the day, annnnd now i can't stop wearing it. Its so so comfy and because its navy it goes with black, berry, like above, and normal jeans.

It's blouse love.

As i've mentioned a few dozen times, i'm edging more and more towards plain clothes, by plain i mean less prints, not plain boring of course. But with my wardrobe fast becoming a mass affair of black, white and then breton tops i decided an injection of pattern was needed.

This loop detail blouse was just the ticket for me. Kind of animal print-esque but different in the fact that it is infact a loop print. The colouring, as i've already mentioned is just spot on for me.
On the day i donned it for its maiden voyage (out for lunch that is, not a cruise around the world) i paired it with some gorgeous jewel deep tones, which i was really really pleased with the outcome. Rich shades can look so luxe, the forest green, the berry coated skinny jeans and the navy deep blouse all worked very happily together I'm pleased to report.

And as for the blouse, well I've already worn it 3 more times since, each time in a slightly different combination.

That is shirt love ladies and gents. Shirt love indeed.

And now i have a thing for shirts and blouses and the need for more. I may have just placed an ever so sneaky order for a gorgeous Star Print Equipment Shirt (scroll to the bottom of the Shopbop page and you'll see the black with white star beauty.... what d'you think? Lovely??)

Plus Shopbop has 25% off everything right now* TWNETYFIVE PERCENT OFF!! Yep you read that correctly.
I have a wish list as long as my leg...Shall share tomorrow and see if anyone wants to buy me an early Birthday present( my birthday is December.. never to early to start requesting early birthday presents right?)
But if you fancy anything the code is INTHEFAM25 or click the image to take ya through.
I may have also made a sneaky handbag purchase that i've been longing for (can you guess which one??)

Are you a blouse/shirt lover?

Wearing:

Whistles Mini Loop Shirt

Berry Coated Jeans: F&F last year. Similar

Clarks Heels

Radley Navy Bag

F&F Forest Green Trench (now available online 

and looks so much more expensive than its small price tag!!)

Necklace

A Shirt Dress with Mules and a Blazer (& #Passion4Fashion linkup!)

Being late May i have been craving some nice warm weather. We haven't really had it yet, but i live in hope. So i've just decided to go with it and the legs have had a bit of fresh air. I've been wearing jeans constantly lately so it was refreshing to wear a dress for a much needed change. 

And what's better than in a nice new dress and heels that didn't (technically) cost me a penny.

I was so pleased as it was that time where my Tesco Clubcard vouchers popped up into my inbox (for my foreign friends, these are a clubcard scheme where you build up points with every pound you spend and in this case points most definitely make prizes!! Or shoes and a dress in this case), plus they are doubling up all vouchers for clothes .... Aannnd voila! 

New shirt dress and mules that i have had my eye for weeks. They're bloody gorgeous and i love them. I've been trying them on every-time i'm shopping and have kept on an eye on the sizes, making sure to move the size 6 to the back of the rack whilst i decided whether to buy them or not , so when the vouchers landed i decided now was as good a time as any! 

These mules are gorgeously soft and the heel is a great sturdy block, making them surprisingly more comfy than i expected, i couldn't decide if i wanted them in the tan or the black, but ended up going for the black knowing a lot would go with them this summer. 

Two things i can see me living in this summer, shirt dresses and mules..Happy Days (as long as it warms up a bit that is)

So yes; Free shoes and a free dress equals getting the legs out and for a very happy Friday... Plus after today i am off for 12 days from the ol' day job and we are off on holibobs next week to Cornwall! 

I'm sooo excited!

Mules & Shirt Dress

Bag: Michael Kors Via Jon Ian of Cowbridge

Blazer: New Look

Jewellery: Yosa

What are you loving for summer? Have you invested yet?

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.lenabactually.com/" title="Lena B, Actually"><img src="http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p226/bairdlaroche/Passion4FashionLogo1.jpg" alt="Lena B, Actually" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Monochromatic in Palazzo Trousers and a crop top

A few things i have been loving of late:

• Monochrome: gimme black and white any day
• Wide leg trousers.... this is my first dabble with palazzo style, wide leg trousers and i like them! I love the silhouette they create, soft and girly yet can be made edgy and very up to date at the same time.
• wavy hair.. i just can't get enough of soft waves lately.. the messier the better infact. low maintenance hair is the best.  

Have you tried wide leg trousers? Are you a fan? I had been wanting to find a pair that weren't patterned and could be easily dressed up or down. These are from F&F and they are exactly what i wanted. Soft fabric, long length, stretchy and can be dressed up or down. I went for a smarter look with a crop top (!) and some great  Naturalizer heels from Lotus Shoes.

I think they would also look great with some trainers (stan smiths possibly for those who do?) and a simple white tee and a denim jacket. Perfect weekend wear or for packing light if you're off somewhere for the weekend, these trousers will work well from day to night! And we all know i love me some multi-outfit items. Light packing is not something i am good at, but with the assistance of trousers like these i think i could be better!

And yes, i am wearing a crop top. As someone who carries a multitude of stretch marks after having a rather large baby (all 8lb 8oz of him!!)  my tummy area is best left hidden under multiple, multiple layers. BUT, this crop top works with the high waist trousers! Stretch marks tucked away, the crop top trend becomes do-able.If you had told me that 3 years ago i would never have believed you. But sometimes its good to try something new, its just finding a way to make it work for you!

Top & Wide leg trousers: c/o F&F 

Shoes: c/o Lotus Shoes

Maxi Cardigan: Very (about 7 years ago)

Mint Drops necklace: Yosa

So are you a fan of the wide leg or the crop top? I'm looking forward to trying both in different ways, the crop top with some high waisted jeans and the wide leg trousers with a tighter top possibly!

Welcome to SHOETOBER (shoe #giveaway)

Welcome to SHOETOBER people, the month that i am officially making all about shoes!

As you all already know i love shoes of all shapes and styles, from flats to sky scrapper heels. Gimme a pretty shoe and i will be your BFF forever.

So this month I have joined up with 4 fantastic Shoe specialists to bring you an amazing shoe giveaway for each week of October  Shoetober.

Are you ready fellow shoe lovers?

 So before i go on to today's Shoe Love, i just wanted to talk briefly about this coat.
After asking the question of pretty peachy pink or camel on Instagram (here) & on twitter here, the lovely social people answered. Lots of people said go for the pink, some said the camel. My heart said pink and fluffy, my sensible head said sensible camel.
Completely confused I turned to my dear hubby and with very good rationale we came to the conclusion that camel colour would be more practical for me and my wardrobe (i wear a lot of reds! which just wouldn't go with the peach)
I'm still totally longing for the coral peachy pink fluffy coat (it was SO pretty!!) but i am super pleased with my new camel coat also. The quality is fantastic and the fit is lovely. I can see me and this coat having a winter long love affair.... (unless i convince my hubby to buy me the pink peachy one too, then i may have to have the occasional fling with it ;)

Today i opted for a little Parisan- esque chic. Breton top, simple black skirt and some tan accessories in the shape of a great (rather large) bag and what shall be known from now on as the most-comfy-loafers-ever-ever (also known as The Neo Tan Leather Loafer from the lovely people at  Lotus Shoes , i just can't resist any shoe with my son's name in it!! can you blame me?)
before i move on to the shoe thing, 'cos it is Shoetober, I have to mention my problem with skater skirts. Does anyone else like the style of them, but dislike wearing them?  I don't know, i just feel like i could potentially expose myself at any point in it, bend over, gust of wind and Bam! Some innocent passer by gets an eye full.. I feel a little bit of a liability in a skater style skirt.. Anyone else? Just me maybe?

 Oh these shoes... they are exactly what i wanted from a tan loafer. I've worn them so much already and i am looking forward to wearing them with tights and dresses through the winter also. They are just great for throwing on for the school run,/shopping/lunch out or anything else where you just want a smart comfy shoe. Do you remember in the summer where i got a nasty infection from wearing in some new shoes? Since then my poor tootsies have been rather delicate when it comes to wearing in shoes and i have to wear new shoes in for short periods at a time, well prepared with plasters and spare shoes at all times.
Well Not with these loafers! uh -uh!! Lotus Shoes have made such a soft comfy shoe that even my delicate feet can wear them all day without hurting. And let me tell you, my tootsies are pleased as punch with this!
Want to win a pair of Lotus shoes like these or even a pair of your choice? Well my friends, you are in luck!

 Top & Camel boyfriend coat: Tesco (breton top from the girls section!)

Skirt: New Look

Golden Bib Necklace: Yosa

Neo Tan Loafer: c/o Lotus Shoes 

Bag: New Look via Asos

So with these lovely loafers in mind i now present the first giveaway of Shoetober to you!
The lovely people at Lotus Shoes (they really are lovely, i have been working with them for over a year now and they are the nicest people!) are offering 1 lucky winner a gift card to the value of £100!!!
Yep, you can grab yourself a pair like these, or maybe something like these totally awesome blue suede shoes (my new personal fave! aren't they gorgeous?!)
The choice is yours!
I'll be showing all my favourites in tomorrows post, but you can get entering right away!
Good Luck

a Rafflecopter giveaway

T's&C's
Please play nicely, this prize is very kindly donated by the lovely people at Lotus in co operation with RTH :)
Open Internationally
Will run for 7 days.
Winners will be emailed once drawn
No cash alternative prize.



Linking with
The pleated poppy
because shanna said so
Transatlantic blonde.

Yellow and Turquoise Outfit

Yellow and turquoise (or aquamarine) are such a pretty summer colour combination don't you think? I think i recently saw these colours together on Pintrest and thought they worked tremendously well together. They feel summery like the beach and the sea, they are two colours that were made for each other. The black added in wasn't what i was originally going to go with, i was thinking more white or cream vest top and nude shoes, but after the blazer arrived and had black feature zips i thought i would bring it in with the vest top and down to the shoes.

Isn't the skirt a beauty? This was Donna's choice from F&F for #frockswapuk. When i first saw it doing its rounds with the girls i thought it was pretty but not something i would choose. Skirts and me are sometimes not friends. They can sit funny across my waist and add bulk where i do not need any (more) adding. 

But...

The skirt is lovely, a great length and the waistline is simple (adding no bulk), it ran a little big on me so i may buy it (its on sale for £10!!) a size down and treasure it. 

What do you think, does it have remix potential ladies, should i add it to my rotation?

Blazer: Sheinside

Necklace:Yosa

Skirt: c/o F&F

Shoes & Vest: New Look

And here's how the beautiful frockswapping ladies styled it...
Donna

Debbie

Erica

Linking:

Transatlantic Blonde

The Pleated Poppy

Because Shanna Said So