Take one Special Top...

Now I don't know about you but there is nothing I hate more than a beautiful piece of clothing just hanging, longing in my wardrobe long after the event it was bought for has taken place. And with wedding season upon is it means fancy finery galore.
The one thing I decided to do last year regarding wedding attire, was to buy something that i actually could wear again and again. It was a beautiful teal dress that dressed with the right silver and sequinned accessories and a little fascinator it was church wedding perfection. But come summer i plan on donning it with some black lace-up sandals, a denim jacket and some big black framed sunglasses.
I no longer felt bad investing in the piece as I knew i would happily wear it again, and not just to weddings.
So i started looking for a piece for this year that could work in multiple ways.
I started perusing Coast as it's always my go-to for occasion wear (btw, check this beauty out.. Oh hello monochromatic perfection)
And after spending waaay too much time browsing the pretty dresses (they suck me in every time!), I found the most amazing little sequinned top.
It got the creative juices flowing as I sat there staring at it in all its beauty.
You know me by now, I am all about the remixing, and this pretty baby has potential.

Above are the 3 ways i came up with immediately.

Firstly for the occasion itself, I love the idea of it with a high waisted black skirt (which is also Coast) for full on glamour. A sweep of red lipstick a perfect little clutch and killer heels. I love this outfit for making a chic statement.

Then casually styled with some boyfriend jeans, with a  white vest underneath it and flat studded shoes.. Hello fun, fabulous and comfy. Perfect for lunch with the ladies.

Finally another smart occasion, but this could work with both smart shoes like the Clarks simple elegant nude pumps above, or with a pair of nude wedges. The cream wide leg trousers would work beautifully with the cropped boxy fit of the top.

I don;t know about you but I am totally sold and apparently have a gaping big sequin top hole in my wardrobe ;)

When you shop for fancy finery, do you buy with the mindset of a one off wear or to remix it again and again?

And what do you think of the sparkly top, how would you wear it?

My Apologies (& #PassionFashion Linkup!)

This week has kicked me well and truly in the arse.
Easter half term means kids and also the husband has had a week off.
It has been a week of running around like a mad woman and decorating. So for most of the week i have looked like this:
(warning.. be prepared to be truly horrified)

Yup I am well and truly bringing sexy back.
Move over jumpsuit I am totally making the all in one condom look the next fashion statement. We will all be wearing them by next summer, mark my words ;)
So please feel free to save this image for comedy value, and use when you are having one of those truly terrible days. You can then look at this photo, laugh and be grateful that this isn't your life.
You are welcome.

Now come link up and show me some pretties, I am in desperate need of prettiness and not paint.. please no more paint!
Speaking of pretties, take a look at my last post of prettiness here

An InLinkz Link-up

Spring-Summer Bag Edit

With the  Spring season literally upon us, I know, I know it doesn't quite feel like it is upon us what with this delightful weather gracing us, but my mind is for all intensive purposes in the floral's and pretties zone. I'm done with dark and dank and layer upon layer of fabric. I'm craving splashes of bright colour and pretty prints and a touch of fun that only comes with sunshine (winter = no fun).

I find with simplifying my wardrobe the best way to inject some oomph is via the accessories. Fun, easy and can be as cheap or expensive as you can afford.

It's a lovely easy way to update any outfit and bring it up to date. Plus accessories shopping is the best.

Bags don't judge if you've gained a few pounds and they fit regardless.. thank god for lovely bags I say, as this body is faaarr from bikini ready. And when I say far I `actually mean never. Never ever ready.

With an update in mind (that's especially not bikini shaped, no surey bob) I got to thinking and a looking as to what kind of bags I would like in my life this spring and summer, the practical, the fun and everything in-between. I set off to my usual stamping ground of Lyst for some inspo and ideas. Great place to read up the bag edits and to see what's 'in' for the season.

So after much (way too much) research, here we have my Spring Summer Bag Edit.

Starting with the crossbody

My favourite type of bag, as it enables the all important hands free when out and about. 

Crossbody bags are vast and varied. you can have slouchy or structured, neutral or pop of colour.

For me this season is all about the pop of colour with my crossbody.

I absolutely love with all my bag loving hear this Rebecca Minkoff Mini Sofia tassel bag. 

Tan neutrality which is perfect for summer, but with the added magic of the tassels for that little fiesta of colour... Isn't it divine?

 I will also be constantly using my Red DKNY mini bag which I love for adding a pop of my favourite colour. People will often think that red is a winter colour (or save it for festivities such as Christmas or valentines) but it's such a great trans-seasonal colour, it works well all year round. 

If you don't fancy red, orange is a great alternative, I have a beautiful bright orange Fossil bag I pull out each Spring and love, pair it with khaki, denim, all the neutrals, and pretty much anything. It just works.

And finally the trusty black crossbody. When all else fails you, a classy chic little black number will never fail you and of course you'll get years of wear with it. My absolute favourites are by Marc Jacobs  and Kate Spade, soft leather, unstructured and a little slouchy.. Lovely!

Next up we have the Large Bag

Here we're talking holdall's for weekends, tote bags, backpacks and shoppers, general carry everything bar the kitchen sink around with you, type bags.

I've said it before and I still am yet to invest, but this year I will be sporting the backpack. Yes I am returning to my youth with sneakers and now the backpack. Full on Dora the explorer style (to the point where all I can hear in my head is that irritating song "Backpack Backpack" a la Dora) But yes for practical reasons, summer holidays etc, I am investing in the backpack. Wet wipes, snacks, random lego can all be chucked in and my hands can still be free to grab small children and assist where needed. Why have I not thought of this sooner (and previously rammed way too much stuff in to an inappropriate cross-body bag)? 

Again my preference is the Rebecca Minkoff Black Julian (Rebecca Minkoff is KILLING it on the bag front!) which is the beauty above. Julian, you shall be mine!!

Other bags for the season include a pretty blush tote that would be a lovely addition, the idea of blush as a summer neutral is such a great update, Kurt Geiger has some pastel pretties that really just scream Summer at the top of their pretty little voices.

Lastly the all important 

Clutch Bag

Now, if I were to live off beans for the foreseeable and I possibly wanted my husband to get really really mad at me, I would go for the beautiful Floral Alexander McQueen De Manta clutch, slightly pricey for a clutch that you may drag out a couple of times a month, but wow... What a piece right?

Its like a piece of art.

On the more purse (or clutch ..snort..) friendly price range, a little jute number is summer personified, add some embroidery and a tassel and you have beach to bar perfection. Mango Clutches are wonderful for this and they have a vast array or colours ans styles that I hope to bag (ha, I just can't help it) for myself this summer.

House Of Fraser also have an array of lovely clutches too.

So there we have my weapons of choice for the summer.

I shall be investing over the next few weeks!

What bags will you be buying this summer?

Lace-Up Tops ( And #Passion4Fashion Linkup)

 The lace-up top.
Not something that I overly liked when they first came (back) around through winter. But then social media convinced me otherwise, I would see them cropping up in magazines, on blogs and Instagram and I started thinking that it was quite a nice style, how's that for social media conditioning.. I have to admit I am occasionally prone to falling prey to a new must-have style; marketing at its best and I guess that makes me an advertisers dream, but hey, fashion is my vice and i only *occasionally* fall prey to passing trends.
With the lace-up tops I liked the idea that they add a little interest to the plain black top, which is something i am gravitating towards more and more of late.
Plus its perfect for spring as in chillier weather my chest would get cold (ha, old lady alert).
I picked this one up in Primark for a mere £8.00. I've gone from investment pieces to flyby fashion pieces all in a week. Sometimes you've just got to throw £8.00 to the wind and see how it falls. Thankfully with it being so super cheap i was happy to give it a go. And actually i really like the style. It was super easy and comfy to wear (accept the dangly bits of the ties kept getting in the way when i bent down) and a nice addition to my basics collection which I'm always happy to add to.
 My wardrobe is now mostly lots of basics with some key colours thrown in.
Speaking of key colours, I've established i am pretty much addicted to Khaki and Red as a couple; They just marry so nicely together i can't keep the two apart.

Have you tried the Lace- Up Top?

Wearing:
Lace up top: Primark (try this one or this one or a designer option)
Red Heels: New Look
Khaki Sleeveless Jacket: Boohoo (super similar)
The Jane Clutch bag
Obelisk Earring 

An InLinkz Link-up