Styling Flared Jeans (& #Passion4Fashion Linkup!)

After last week, i think you can all appreciate my love for skinny jeans, ripped ones in particular. 

But i had an urge to try Flared jeans again. An itch that just had to be scratched. I had dabbled with a pair earlier in the year and just didn't get on with them: too low cut, not flared enough and too short. 

I put it down to a style fail rather than a whole complete fat fail. It was just finding the perfect fit that was proving as epic as the search for the holy -flippin'-grail. 

Rewind about 7 years and i had the most perfect flared jeans. Great length for wear with heels, nice cut and fit and generally a great jean. I wore them all the time, and i'm talking before flares were cool again here. I'm way ahead of the trend (which incidentally makes me completely off trend at the same time. Bother!) So these perfect flares were River Island and only to be ditched when i gained all the weight and i couldn't prise myself in to the poor things a moment longer.

So with hope i turned back to River Island. And man did they deliver!

I picked these Mid Wash slightly distressed(i love me some rippage.. even a word!?) flared jeans and bought without trying on, thinking i could always return them if it turned in to another flared fail. 

But i tried them on, styled them up, and freakin' loved them. Flares Forever i say!! Except on days when its raining cos soggy flares are just no fun.

I paired my new fancy flares with this new season Warehouse Summer Floral Blouse which is the same floral print as my favourite midi dress from earlier this year (they do the blouse in blue, like the dress too, which obvs, i now totally want too!) And i felt all warm and autumnally (seriously, what is up with my vocabulary today) 'cos quite frankly i've bored myself to tears with moaning about our crappy Biritsh Summer.. i mean being British you'd think i'd be used to perpetual rain and wind, even in the height of summer. But no, each year i act like i've never seen rain in summer and offended at how hard done by i am. Well not any more.

I'm just going to full on embrace the new Autumn/ Winter collections to make my ordeal a lot easier!

Shopping anyone? ;)

Warehouse Shirt

River Island Flares

Wedges: Next (last year)

Bag: Fossil c/o McArthur Glen

Tassel Belt

Earrings: Yosa

Have you bought any new Autumn pieces yet?

Shop the Look:

An InLinkz Link-up

Great Plains A/W Drop (Spoiler.. I LOVE IT!)

I just want to throw this out there right at the beginning and say this is in no way shape or form sponsored.
Sometimes it just feels like a brand gets you and your dressing needs and just nails it.
That's how i feel about Great Plains. Each season they drop a collection bomb on me that literally blows me away. If i still worked in a smart office type environment then there would be even more on my wish list. But their day dresses, pretty tops and printed bottoms are also pretty darn amazing for day to day wear to.
I have a few pieces from Great plains (which is French Connections sister company) and the quality never fails me.
And when the weather is as sucky as it has been these past few weeks, i can't help but look longingly at the new A/W pieces.

Here's what i'm loving
The 'Wear Me Everywhere' Trouser
Comfy and stylish equals my favourite type of clothing.
The 7/8 lentgh is my favourote cut of trouser, showing off that little bit of ankle can be so chic.Plus amazing for showcasing an amazing pair of shoes.
Another plus point, can be worn with flats or heels, dressed up or down.
Win.Win.

The Interesting Sweater
This graphic quilted geometric sweater is just beyond mu jumper dreams. Intersting cut, textured and in my favourite seasonal colours: grey and fig..
I need both!
With the trousers above, skinny jeans or a black faux leather skirt, these are so versatile i wonder how i've lived my life without them so far ;)

 The Pretty Front and Back Top
Business at the front and a little bit party at the back, with the sassy transparent pleated backing, this would look so good with some black coated skinny jeans for a mock gothic meets Victorian look that is very much a key element for this a/w. Not one for the Victorian frills and lace usually, this is just the right amount of faff for me. Kudos for being totally on point for the season without looking like its just walked off set of a Victorian period drama.

 The OTK Boot Of The Season
Oh yes this winter i will be conquering the over the knee boot. Tried it last year but couldn't find  the pair.I just kept looking like a Pirates of the Caribbean extra. Swashbuckling is just not my style.
 But i think i may just found the ones in these.
Plus they will be so versatile. Pair with jeans, tights and a dress or tights and skirts. Yes ,yes and yes!
I hazard a guess that OTK boots will be everywhere this a/w.
I'm in, you in?

 The Perfect Autumn Dress
This is what pulled me in. I saw it, and i fell hard and fast.
The sleeves, the sash tie all make for a pretty wonderful dress.
I would live in this!

So what do you think?
Is there anything you've seen for Autumn/Winter (or fall for my transatlantic friends) that you've fallen head over heels for?
Do share! I'd love to have some more pieces to ponder over!

Super Ripped Jeans (& #Passion4Fashion linkup!)

 I've had these Topshop ripped jeans since Christmas. Each wear they just get a little more ripped, which i kinda love. But they are totally bordering on scruffy now, which i also kinda love. Scruffy is ok in my books. My sons always ask why i have holes in my jeans and do i need a new pair (uh yes, always ;) But when an innocent mind asks such a question what do you reply with? 'Its fashion dhhharling?' To which i would probably receive some very confused looks. Funny how things that are totally illogical (ripped jeans in this case) can be so good! I can't get enough of ripped jeans!

I've just bought a gorgeous pair of Flared Jeans which i'm hoping i will end up loving as much as i do these, in order to give them a rest at least, 'cos honestly, i wear them A LOT. Like 'do you actually own any other jeans??' lot. I wore this to a play gym/5yo bday party a couple of weeks ago. I paired my trusty jeans with an old little white jacket and an old red top. Funny, i've had both pieces for years but never worn them together. A little happy hunting in my wardrobe can make beautiful things happen. I should go hunting more and shop less i tell ya (is that another #100daynospend i hear in the deepest darkest part of my mind?... No. Actually. Just no. ;)

Turquoise necklace ( Current fave! so so pretty!!)
Mules: F&F (love these!)
The most perfect ripped Jeans
White jacket: Peacocks (try this Gorgeous one )
Red Top: Matalan (so similar)
Simple Anklet (only £6!)

Michael Kors 'Radley'


Are you a ripped jeans fan? 
Do you have a favourite pair of jeans?


Shop the look!

An InLinkz Link-up

Making the most out of your Beachwear...

 Images via pintrest here

...Especially when the weather does not co operate.
We've all done it. Bought some beautiful beach wear to throw on for a day in the sun. Then proceeded to wear them just the once, or if at all, and then resign them to the back of the wardrobe for another year.
Yep so sad. Especially when beach wear can be just so so pretty!
So i got to thinking. Why not add in some pieces that can be worn with actual day to day clothes, maximising the potential of actually being able to wear the item.

Take these for example:

Beautiful white dresses. Great beach cover ups. But without the sun or a beach in sight what to do? 

Well, I'm thinking these layered over a white vest and some skinny blue jeans, sandals or tan ankle boots, and a fedora style hat will mean you can work both these dresses for more than just a  day at the beach. 

Perfect for running errands and utilising a pretty garment for more than is suggested.

Next up: Both of these are far far to good for just a cover-up. I mean look at that maxi dress!! Stunning right?

Each of these again prove that there is more to beach wear than my first thoughts.

Pair the funky summery print trousers with a white vest top and a black jacket. Add in some black block heels and a statement necklace and you've got yourself a nice evening look made out of what was primarily just some throw on trousers.

The maxi dress needs no imagination to see that it just works. A denim jacket and some sandals are this dresses best friend. Need that in my life!

 All beach cover-ups available here

Lastly beach sarongs and scarves. I mean look at them. So so pretty.
The wrap scarf doesn't have to be just tied around your waist in a tropical style, no no Scarves have been big in the fashion community for seasons. Wear them draped around your shoulders and rock that drapey scarf look. I am besotted with the poppy print sarong. Add in some white jeans, a navy vest top and some tan heels and this draped around your shoulders and now the sarong now has a whole new lease of life.


Do you have any beachwear items that you could give a new lease of life to?