Problems with Plaid

Plaid/Checked/flannel/tartan call it what you like, i have a problem with it.
I don't know why but it just doesnt suit me. i look like a lumberjack in it. (and then i sing this in my head all day... ahh classic Monty Python.. I'm crying watching that again)
So last year i actually dabbled with some checked button downs and each time they epicly failed, or rather i epicly failed and they ended up being returned. This happened no less than 3 times last winter, each time i would pick one up in the store, have an image in my head, get home and it would look nothing like said image and the lumberjack references would just come rolling back.
But yet i think there must be a way to wear them. I see them looking so good on others and there are a lot of options to choose from, maybe i just to need to explore matters a little further.
And by explore i mean Pintrest. God bless Pintrest.

Images via

I actually love all these looks. The contrast between the checked shirts and leather especially appeals to me.
I'm liking the idea of a checked shirt a chunky cardigan, coated skinny jeans and biker boots. You can also layer a tee underneath of a big chunky jumper over the top.. Options are a plenty.


Now I'm all fired up for some shirt action lets see what may work..

Madewell plaid shirts are possibly my odds on favourite. I love each of these below, particularly the middle one. The colour way could possibly make for some nice remixing with navy, black and even red.

Next up i had a gander at asos

I think i love the idea of the one on the left with the burgundy, navy and black, a great colour combo and all colours i'm comfy in. Could look potentially great with a biker jacket and black ripped jeans and my Berry Rebecca Minkoff bag to finish off.. What d'you think?

The right is intriguing to me, a current favourite tan and black colour scheme and an interesting check... definitely one to ponder on.

Left,Right

Rails seem to specialize in the check shirt... a great selection of plaid and checks to choose from. I love the blue here against the black. Really striking in a mass of tartan colourings this is nice that its slightly different and in my colour comfort zone.  And then traditional to the left, which looks like a lovely fit.

 Slightly more grid like rather than plaid, but maybe if i ease myself in to the whole plaid-tastic shirt thing i may be able to get on board with it.
I adore this shirt, the dark red lines perfect. It looks crisp yet casual at the same time. Very nice.

Sticking down the grid print route Maison Scotch have some chequered goodies.
Seeing as i'm just blatantly cheating now, with the whole grid print thing, i've thrown in a coat for good measure too. Bizarrely i feel like i could wear a checked coat much easier than a checked shirt.. Why? Why?!
The coat is gorgeous though isn't it.  Shopbop's styling here is on point too. Leather trousers and a denim shirt sounds like weekends perfection to me.

And seeing as i've just touched on coats (slightly off piste i know but its checkered at least)
This coat is still in the forefront of my mind just begging to be bought..

Checked coat

 I want to cry i love it so. See this kind of chequered makes me weak at the knees.. 

How have i managed to still swerve the actual reason i wrote this post and end up wanting another coat?! Darn my predictable coat loving heart.

What are your thoughts on Plaid/Checked shirts? 

Do you own any? how do you style it?

The Gilet

I was having a discussion with my friend last week about gilets. Now before i get started on it, what do you call them (the furry thing i'm wearing here)?

I think to my american friends it's know as a Faux Fur Vest (is that right my transatlantic friends?)  

But even here in the UK when i call it a Gilet (pronounced Jee-lay) i get some funny looks. Is it a waistcoat or a body-warmer or what? 

To me its a gilet and i have to say, names aside i love mine.

Back to the conversation i was having last week, which may seem like a strange conversation, but as someone who enjoys talking about inanimate objects on a regular basis its actually quite the norm for me. 

So she was wondering if they were worth the investment, after all its not like a coat, it has no sleeves and when really would you wear it.

My answer to that was: All the time.

You see i love my gilet and i did last winter too. I actually wear mine A LOT. Its just a super easy item to throw on over a sweater and rather than covering up the outfit, like a coat does, this just adds to it. 

The texture, the layer and the added body warmth all make this one of my winter essentials.

I throw mine on if i'm just going from car to shops and home again, or the school run in the car, or out for lunch.

So a lot as you can see.

Its been particularity mild here so far this winter, but when you enter the shops its like you've inadvertently walked in to a sauna dressed in a snowsuit. 

Last week I had a coat on and i literally thought i was going to pass out in New Look. My makeup was sliding off my face by the time i left the store and i realised then that the gilet is the perfect shopping companion. Your arms aren't inhibited leaving you to shop freely and you also don't feel like you could quite possibly sweat to death.

So that concludes my Gilet argument.

What are your thoughts? 

Are you a fan of the Gilet/waistcoat/Vest?

Shop the Look

Black Gilet

Faux leather skirt New look (love this one more!)

Camel & Black stripe top

Michael Kors Bag

Similar boots

Necklace

Seven On Sunday 0.11

Ohh what a whirlwind of a week. Had a delightful birthday on Thursday, with continued celebrations on Friday and Saturday. I've eaten so much good food i feel like a heffalump.
This week is DEFINITELY a week of healthy eating and exercise. May even crack open the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred DVD to try and bust the gut, just to enable a more guilt free gorge over christmas. I find healthy eating at this time of year so hard. There's chocolates everywhere i turn, cheese and biscuits readily available and wine that i never seem to refuse. Anyone else like this?

Anywayyy enough about food, here's what i've been lusting after this week around the world wide web.

0.1 Gingerbread man christmas onesie. Standard christmas post-feast attire. This is bound to sell out so i am gunna go bag mine.

0.2 Frowny Face sweater for those days when i'm in a bad mood and i can just point to the cute little badge

0.3 My coat obsession grows stronger. I need some shearling in my life.. desperately.

0.4 I've been cyber stalking this dress for weeks.. i just don't if it's very me? What do you think?

0.5 In the aim of eating healthy, i have planned a week of sumptuous healthy dinners for the family. Tonight is this which I've made before and it is proper comfort food. Perfect for a rainy sunday evening.

0.6 I've been loving skirts this winter, which is bizarre as i usually avoid them like the plague. But i guess that's changed and i'll just have to embrace my skirt appreciation. Was just doing some online browsing and hubby looked over my shoulder and said he loved this minkpink patchwork skirt, what do you think?

0.7 Bought this top for practically pennies this week. Its super flattering on and i went back to get the grey but it had sold out in store. I would say they are a little see through, so am now on the hunt for a pretty cami with maybe a lace detail (just found this one and love it)

What have you been loving this week? Do share in the comments. I'd love to have a natter!

Instaoutfits 03 and #Passion4Fashion Linkup

Sorry for the delay in today's #Passion4Fashion folks, it was my Birthday yesterday (Hello 31!) and i normally prepare my post the day before but alas, that didn't happen. I was busy celebrating and having a truly lovely day. Celebrations continuing today with lunch and then a date night this evening with Salvatore which i'm really excited for.

So today i thought i'd bring you all my daily outfits from Instagram. I've done this twice before now (see 1 and 2) and as i say each time, i love instagram for keeping me accountable, otherwise i could quite easily slink in to the depths of joggers and a hoody territory (she says, blatantly dressed in exactly that.. i shall be changing shortly though.. pinky promise)

So these are just some quick snaps from day to day life, where i either pester my kids to take a snap for me or whoever else is with me :)

Looking through the photos there are a couple of items that have been on constant rotation this season, which have been great investment pieces that i'm glad i bought.

This Hush Nessa cardigan gets worn on average once a week. Its snuggly and lovely and my favourite colours. Cheap it was not, but cost per wear has made it worth every penny as i most certainly grab this over any of my other cardi's.

A Black Biker Jacket has been an essential. It just seems to complete any outfit. Especially love it with dresses.

Knitted dresses. I'm obsessed with knitted dresses this season. Its just like wearing a snuggly blanket all day long and calling it an outfit... What's not to love!  I've been loving this Navy one and this Grey one, which i wear more often than i care to admit.

An awesome Parka Coat is vital to my existence. With SO MUCH RAIN and a dog to walk and school runs to do, hibernating for the winter is apparently not an option. My Parka is the only thing that makes going out in the abysmal weather we've been having, bearable.

Biker boots have been my usual boot of choice but there's been lots of other boots too ( i'm just not a one shoe kind of girl.. shoe monogamy is not my strong point) The Steve Madden Dennmarks have been amazing for going with everything from dresses, skirts to jeans. (they currently have 25% off at the moment too.. which is bloody brilliant!)

Day Dresses. I love a good  day comfy dress. My two favourites at the moment are this Cream One which i had my eye on for ages.. i bought it as my birthday present from me to me ;)

The other is my trusty Great Plains dress that even though has only cropped up once in these photos, i actually wear it all the time. Like embarrassingly a lot. Its just so darn comfy and worth every penny.

What have you been loving and wearing this season?

An InLinkz Link-up