Bad week, 2nd Vlog & Passion4Fashion Linkup!

Firstly I apologise for the lateness of today's link up.
Its been one of those weeks.
When things could go wrong, they have.
Ever have one of those?
I have been so stressed.
The printer broke down, my computer packed in and the only person who could fix it (hubby) was working away. Missing parcels, broken goods and generally sad times.
It rained ALL WEEK LONG, so no outfit photos were taken, much to my utter dismay.
Also as mentioned above, Salvatore's been away A LOT, so no photographer, no helping hand, no husband cuddles and words of encouragement.
Its been rough.
And on top of all that, i accidentally set some Christmas presents on fire and nearly took out the whole kitchen.
Devastated.
Disastrous week all round really.
So yes.
I am feeling a little down in the dumps.
But its Friday. I have Salvatore home for the weekend, family around me and a bottle of wine in the fridge.
I think i need to re-charge my batteries and stop putting SO much stress and pressure on myself.
Its ridiculous.

But what i have for you today is VLOG number 2!
Yes. I filmed it finally. Yes i've rambled on and on (i apologise)
The editing is non existent (hence why its 18 minutes long..Feel free to skip through)

I would love for you to have a watch and any words of encouragement would be sincerely felt today.
And if you would like to follow along and watch me, hopefully, improve my vlogging skills then i would love you to follow my channel too!

I'm also now working on the Rachel The Hat Facebook page too so would love you to come chat with me there

Vlog 2

As always guys thanks so much for you constant support, it really does mean the world to me, and becomes especially poignant when my week has been so annoyingly bad.
You guys rock!

An InLinkz Link-up

Seeing Stars

For as long as i can remember i have loved stars. 

Star prints surround me. I have them on jumpers, scarves, jewellery etc. 

On the eve of my 30th birthday i was stood in my garden (waiting for a certain puppy to go pee pee) and i saw my first shooting star.

Plus i'm a complete sci-fi geek so love the idea of space and the huge question of what's out there?

We regularly watch space programmes and it fascinates me. Its something over the next year i finally hope to study more of. 

But for now something i can study? 

The fashion.

Stars are EVERYWHERE this season, much to my delight. It seems like the 'in' print and perfect for the festive season, New year and beyond. 

Happy starry days indeed!

So what's on the market?

Lets start with star jumpers

Hush has a gorgeous selection of grey and navy combinations with just a solitary star on the from. 

Simple but oh so effective. Perfect for a casual weekend outfit.

Hush Star Jumpers

 Next up my favourite and the one i purchased a few weeks ago in the grey and gold combination, but this one with the red stars is perfect for the festive season and then some!

 Collection John Lewis Stars Sweater

Shall we move on to blouses/shirts.
The thing i love a bout a great blouse, and i've mentioned this before, but the potential is great. You can dress them up or down, out for coffee or for drinks. Love me a good blouse.
Especially this one..

Equipment Star Silk Shirt

The sublime starry beauty is divine. I bought it last month and wore it all over Halloween and bonfire night for some starry action. But have also worn it to the hairdressers and out for lunch.
Paired with some leather trousers and heels you've got a gorgeous evening look, or with some NB trainers, a parka and boyfriend jeans and its perfect weekend wear.
Now it's not the cheapest, but i assure you, its stunning and feels wonderful on, doesn't crease and is really comfy and just the nicest to wear.

More blouses
Starry action from Great Plains

I have the navy and its beautiful, it has some little cut outs to the wrist and back, really really pretty.

Marks and Spencer No Peep Star shirt

Classic black and white, excellent price point and would look gorgeous layered under a crew neck grey jumper.

And seeing as the Festive season is fast approaching with all those Christmas doo's its only fair we take a quick look at some dress potentials

French Connection Million Stars Dress

 Now French Connection has come up trumps in my books. These two beauties are starry perfection. The above dress is fun and flirty, would look gorgeous worn to parties regardless of the season, but also the perfect little number for Christmas day too (if you like to get dressed up on Christmas day that is, i know some who spend it in pj's)
And the below maxi dress is ticking all the right boxes for the winter maxi dress dress. I'd pair this with a black biker jacket and some black boots to work a black and blue contrast. Dark smoky eye and a glitter clutch. Love!
(French connection has 20% off with Grazia at the moment. Code is (very appropriately) PARTY20

French Connection Night Sky Maxi Dress

 Bit of a wild card, a little starry jumpsuit from Marks and Spencer. I didn't like this when i first picked it for the post, but actually? I think it's rather fun. In the depths of winter when the sheer thought of getting those milk bottle legs out makes me shudder to the core, then this could be a girls saviour. I like the idea of adding a faux fur coat with this for some full on fabulousness. Not so versatile a piece but great for a night out.

Matching the great plains blouse, they also have the sweet sweet Starry Tea Dress. 

 But if you're looking for causal (and you are one of those people who like to stay in pjs all christmas day) then there star treats a plenty for that too.

Hush comes up trumps again with these gorgeous pjs and gold star tshirt

 Marksy's again with some casual starry tee's, perfect for Boxing day when you're still so full you can't move further than the kitchen to get more food (just me?).

Grey Tee 

Gold Star Tee

And of course obligatory pj's. I recently picked up 2 different pairs of starry pj's from Primark and i love them, how long they'll last? Who knows, but for now they're cosy and comfy.

John Lewis has a few lovely luxe pj's, especially with #manonthemon Christmas advert (have you seen it??? Oh they've done it again, its a cracker, 'scuse the pun. Tears rolled down my face.. i swear they get me every year!!!)

 To the moon and back pj set

Shooting star pj bottoms

And this isn't even scratching the surface. We also have accessories to play with too, which is hall be covering off soon as the're the fun bit!

So do you love a starry motif? Do you like scattering of stars or just one solitary star on your clothing?
Let me know if you've seen anything star like too so i can have a gander!

A Break from Jeans with some Great Trousers (& #Passion4fashion Linkup!)

Last week i had a craving for trousers. Sometimes i find myself living in jeans all week that i suddenly get the urge to break out of the usual leg attire and wear some trousers.
Its just nice for a change.
I have a couple of stipulations for trousers. One is comfy (no crotch riders thank you) and second they have to be a nice fabric that's not clingy. These are the softest fabric, they move freely with you (no wedgies in sight you'd be pleased to know, or slightly disgusted at the thought of me mentioning wedgies.. sorry, i have a mind like a child) and sit perfectly on the waist.
Quite simply, they are divine.

A little bit of check in a monochrome colour scheme is a perfect addition to my wardrobe. I knew i wanted to pair them with my plum merino sweater from Gap, but i love the styling of them on the website too (here). I'm now on the look out for a grey turtle neck slouchy jumper (This Boden one is gorgeous) to copy the look completely. Then when it gets colder, i can swap my loafers for some black ankle boots (and sockies) and a thick coat and there we have an instant outfit update.
Not even mentioning the other possibilities of black and white, red for Christmas and a chambray shirt.

You get the point..
These trousers are a wonderful alternative to jeans.

Do you like to wear trousers or are you a jeans girl through and through?

Quick mention to my new lovely Rebecca Minkoff bag that i had been dreaming of..
Divine isn't it? And the perfect shade for the season too!

Shop the Look
Trousers
jumper
Shoes
Bag
Necklace

FACEBOOK UPDATE:

Just wanted to mention that i have re started my RTH Facebook page. I'm really enjoying it as a social platform for Yosa so have re visited it for the blog too.
I would love to chat with you over there too, so come like the page here and we can have a natter!

An InLinkz Link-up

Looks I Love this Winter

Do you ever have a mental image of an outfit that you would love to wear?
I do.
In fact i do it a lot. My mental images could be pintrest actually, but the image is stored in my mind, so we'll go with that.
Sometimes things just really stick. It could be a particular style, outfit or colour.
This winter i have a few items in mind that i just have to get my clothes loving paws on.
Now, the things in mine are quite specific.
The hunt has been long and arduous and pretty much to no avail. Seriously, anyone would think i was searching for the actual Holy Grail.
Until...
I looked at Esprit this week and hit the jackpot.

Its fair to say they are well and truly ticking all the right boxes with the collection they have this season.

On to more specifics.
Here's what i've been looking for in particular:

• A camel fine knit sweater
• A berry coat with but with a masculine cut rather than a fitted feminine style
• A drapey Black cardigan- the type that goes with everything

Here are the looks i'd mentally stored in my head for this season:

Esprit by rachel-the-hat featuring a bucket bag

It's a lot of monochromatic looks, ie, the same colour but in different shades.

Camel on camel, berry on berry and a bit of grey and black for good measure.

I love these looks, they are all buzzing around in my head, and what's even better, now i've seen them laid out on paper (uh.. computer screen), they would all intermingle and remix so well with each other.

Inadvertently i've just made a pretty nice winter capsule.

Lets look closer at the key pieces

Firstly a Camel fine knit roll neck sweater. On my shopping travels i had found multiple v-necks, a couple of thick knits but none of the aforementioned. It was like the holy grail of knitwear. I just could not track one down for love nor money.
Yet here it is, the perfect thickness, high neck and shade.
This works perfectly for the camel on camel look i was after.
I added in some indigo flares and a little leopard print too.
But this would also work well with the faux leather trousers, the boyfriend jeans and also under the berry coat (berry and camel is just the most delectable colour combo.)

Knitwear

The Boyfriend fit Berry coat was next on my hit list.
The large lapel, the heavy hang of the fabric, this is just a beautiful cut. Bordeaux is the colour (berry, bordeaux, wine.. all the same thing relatively speaking). I've added in some  boyfriend jeans and a crew neck sweater in berry for a lovely rich tonal outfit.
Again, this coat will work with the above jumper, the faux leather trousers and would also look great with a breton top. Love.

Coats

The Black cardigan.. Something every woman should own. Come winter i always have a cardigan hanging on the back of my chair (like a little old lady, i do hate getting a chill). I wanted something that could go over a dress, skirt and jeans. This drapey option is gorgeous, I just love the leather toggle to the side of this one to fasten it, so can be worn open and flowing or done up.. i like that a lot.

This is perfect with a stripe breton top, or the pretty star top above. Add in some faux leather trousers and some grey boots and this may be the cardigan for the winter. 

Again though, this is a piece that will work hard for you all season. A simple winter essential i'd say.

Knitwear

Well done Esprit you really have done well this season.. of to go spend my hard earned £££ 

Do you have any winter essentials for the coming season?