To Bardot or not to Bardot.. That is the question

Last week i was talking about Embroidered peasant style boho blouses; a spring essential.
This week I'm turning to the other style that is in abundance this time of year:
The Bardot Top.
That off the shoulder trend is still present after making a come back last year.
Now this is a style i struggle with slightly, not because it isn't pretty, because ladies let me tell you, this style can be very, very flattering, showing off a little of the collar bone can be tres demure, but for me its the practical factor. As in practical, they are not.
For me these tops just scream 'Annoying & Uncomfortable', like you're going to spend the majority of the day adjusting yourself, which is just soooo not how i like to dress.
When i put a top on i don't want the sleeves to be ping up around my shoulders so i have to keep yanking it down, or feel like i cant reach up because, yet again my silly sleeves will ping up.
And yet there is a Bardot scratch that needs itching.

So today my lovelies, i went hunting for some Bardot tops, pretty but wearable ones, I have done the shoulder test to see if they are irritating and ping out of place in hope that this may help or assist if you too are looking to trial the trend.

Gingham Goodness

{ Gingham Bardot}

The first two are actually from F&F and i will say i  was really surprised with the quality, the on trend designs and the small price tag. There were quite a few things that would not have looked out of place in Zara or Mango.

These two above and below were examples of exactly that. 

Firstly, bang on trend with the bold gingham, bardot style and fluted sleeve, this little number is a pure delight. The shoulders/sleeves once arranged seemed pretty secure, i picked this up in the 8 and it was a good fit everywhere. 

This is a definite favourite and could be remixed through spring summer with culottes, white jeans and even some cute denim shorts.

Verdict: Love!

 Untucked and tucked it worked tremendously well

Embroidered and Frilled 

Next up i was astounded by this beautiful little top; bardot, embroidered and pom poms.. a complete delight. 

The elasticated shoulder was tight and made me feel secure, when i did the arm rise test it didn't ping off which made me love it all the more. The cheesecloth-esque fabric made this top perfect for summer. Sadly i can't find it online at all, but the next time you're passing Tesco be sure to pop in and try it on (and most likely buy;) I think it was a mere £16.00 too so won't break the bank.

Verdict: Love!

Nautical Stripes

{Stripe Deep Bardot}

Next up we have a t-shirt material, stretchy number. from Warehouse. The navy and white nautical style is, of course, spring perfection and i have to say this was very, very comfy. Again this would work well with culottes, skinny jeans, white jeans, shorts or a denim skirt. Versatile and comfy, this one definitely gets a thumbs up. Only downside, i took ages arranging the fold down bardot part, my ocd and getting the stripes just right was annoying the heck out of me, but once done it stayed put and looked great. Lovely little top.

Vedict: Like

Shirty in Pink

{ Pink Bardot}

Another from Warehouse now and a big fat fail. This was a size 10 and was bloomin' huge! the shoulders were actually saggy and was like there was no elastic in them to hold it up. The fabric is very starched crisp shirt style, but also creased really easily and showed too. There are bows on the sleeves and because of the crisp fabric they just didn't fall right.

All in all it was a really bad fit and style. Lovely colour, but one i definitely wouldn't buy.

Verdit: DISLIKE

Emerald and frilled

{Green Ruffle Bardot}

This was unexpectedly pretty on. I love bright green and in real life the green is actually quite vivid, it does look more green than teal in person.

This is the a size 8 from Dorothy Perkins and I really like the fit of this one too, the perfect amount of elastic made this comfy on the shoulders, it didn't dig in, but it didn't ping off easily either.

I can imagine this at garden parties throughout the summer. 

Paired with black  cropped trousers for a retro feel this could look very smart. Equally this works casual with jeans too.

Another great little bardot number.

Verdit: LIKE

The tucked and untucked trial, which is all important in my books.

Broderie Anglaise

{ Broderie Bardot Blouse}

Lastly, some classic Spring Fabric, Broderie Anglaise; so so pretty. Sadly the top did not do much for me at all. There was a lot of extra fabric around the middle adding a lot of unnecessary bulk. The fabric was lovely, but the little tie to the front looked scraggly and a bit pathetic and impossible to get a half decent bow. This one also felt like it wanted to travel up my shoulder and ping off, but i would say this could be worn nicely pulled down or just on the cusp of the shoulder, so it could work. The sleeves are full length and actually are lovely in size (not too big), but sadly the extra billowy middle put me off.

Verdict: DISLIKE

So there we have it, Bardot top shopping has proven interesting as i honestly thought i didn't really like them prior to this try on session. I think the key is to try on a few different types of off-the-shoulder styles to see what feels right and sits nicely on you. 

Now the question is, which one should i go for?

Which is your favourite? And have you invested in a Bardot style yet yourself?

Floral Wrap Top (& # Passion4Fashion Linkup)

Oh the wrap top or indeed a wrap dress is one of those universally fabulous pieces that just suits all shapes and sizes. I tried this on a few weeks ago and fell in love with the cut and the beautiful bold print. It also works for day time or evening attire. I wore it for a meal out in Cardiff with some of my oldest friends last Saturday night and it hid my food baby beautifully ;)
Being not well endowed (hello fried eggs!) i put a little cami vest top underneath to keep things neat and tidy. But really this style works so tremendously well on all shapes and sizes, creating a feminine silhouette and masking a tummy area, bingo wings and showing of the decolletage in a flattering way.
Whats not to love, right?
As it was a night out i donned some heels and black skinnies, but this with faux leather or coated jeans would look sexy, and blue jeans for day would look chilled but fab.


I'm super pleased with this new addition. Even though its a dark floral print i hope to wear it throughout spring too.

So its friday.. Woohooo! Are we all happy to see the weekend rolling in? I now i am, and for us it's the beginning of half term, so its a whole 2 weeks off from early morning nagging, school runs and making pack lunches...Yesss!!! Don't know who's more happy, the kids or me!

What are your thoughts on the wrap style tops and dresses? Are you a fan?

Topshop Leigh Jeans
Peep Toe Heels
Statement earrings
Floral Wrap top Options below

An InLinkz Link-up

Embroidered Tops For Spring

I feel like i've got my bottom half covered (ahem thankfully) for Spring, with a few favourite pairs of jeans (my Next ones are on constant repeat recently), some fun cropped wide legs, a skirt and i have some white jeans lingering in the back somewhere. But tops... tops i'm struggling with. I think it's because this time of year is still knitwear worthy most of the time, and yet i also want to shed the heavy fabrics in favour of the floaty fabulous pieces (and probably suffer from hypothermia.. all in the name of fassshun. Actually who am i kidding, I could never be that fashion, i'm a grumpy cow when i'm cold)

So i'm browsing and a browsing.
Firstly the two types of tops that are everywhere right now are the Bardot style off the shoulder malarkey(more on that next week) and then there is the ever present, every spring summer like clockwork, boho embroidered, peasant style tops.
Embroidery in every shape and form is out there on the High street at the moment, but one thing is for sure, these boho peasant tops come back around every.single.year.

Now i have a couple of these in my Summer storage,but they are looking a little bit worse for wear having seen more than a few summers.
I have to admit they can be worth their weight in gold come Spring as there are lots of options with sleeves, meaning still full coverage (and if you're a granny like me, you can put your vest underneath it to) but less weighty of that of the knitwear we've all been donning for the past 6 months but feels like an age.
All the choices below are pieces i think could work well now, which when i shop is what i like.
I'm impatient like that, i shop therefore i wear(now).

So Embroidered tops I am coming for you.
Lets see what we have shall we?


First up are these two absolute beauties from Next. These are cleverly situated right at the front of the store right now, so whenever i go in the first thing that hits me is these, and each time i think 'Oh em gee I must have both.. but particularly that red tho!'
These aren't the cheapest, but the colours are super vibrant, the quality looks and feels nice too, plus i think theres a big chance that these will go with lots of outfits seeing you all the way to autumn.

Embroidered Tops

Next

Next up, French brand La Redoute has this gorgeous number.
The bib front detail is traditional yet pleasingly modern with its vibrant colours. I love the idea of this tucked in to high waisted dark indigo jeans, or flares, or shorts come warmer weather or even a dark denim skirt... hmmm i may have to have this..

Embroidered Folk Top

La Redoute

Marks and Spencers have some great options next and have offerings for both light and dark tops. Both of these are from their 'Indigo'  range, which is always a little more boho (sometimes.. sometimes its just not great), I have to say they've knocked it out of the park (really Rachel, sports analogies..? I dont even follow any sports, Wtf?!) with these two, i have seen them both in store and the detail is gorgeous. The cream in particular has a wonderful frayed edge that  makes it look much more expensive and detailed than you would think for an M&S top.

Cream Indigio Collection

Navy Indigo Collection 

River Island up next, and what i liked about this one is the different length and the slightly elasticated middle to assume a belted position. Great if you want more definition with your figure as this will skim out well and create a waist where many of these are much more flowy and loose. If you prefer something that doesn't have a sack like shape, this could be perfect for you. The detailing, again is divine too.

River Island Embroidered Long line top 

Finishing with a company that, I feel, does boho super well this time of year: Monsoon.
They have gorgeous quilted/aztec jackets, embroidered dress and this pretty top that really caught my eye.
Classic boho.

Aphrodite Blouse

So these are my favourite picks for now, and i would really like to add one in to my Spring wardrobe. I really think it could get a lot of wear. 

What are your thoughts on the ever present Spring wear that is Embroidered tops?

Do You Love or Loathe?

Which would you buy if you were to make an embroidered top purchase?

The Best Sunday Dress (& #Passion4Fashion Linkup)

When i was a child we had Sunday best clothes. Today, for me, Sunday best should be a gorgeously pretty dress but one that isn't constrictive and is completely comfortable. I don't want o have to suck in the mum tum or feel all my lumps and bumps are showing. Sunday is for little effort, but on the occasion when i need to shift my ass out of my cosy pj's and joggers, then this pretty dress seems to be spot on.

I wore this M&S Embroidered Dress last Sunday for Mothers Day and it was sublimely comfy and made me feel super girly all day. The exquisite embroidery is perfect for the ever present trend for Spring/Summer, and even though its a 'smock' style dress, i.e no shape, it hangs extremely well by not adding pounds by fluting outwards (i find it happens a lot with these style dress, which in turn makes me look like i'm wearing a tent).

I really love that its navy too, by adding the black tights and black biker it hopefully keeps it from being too twee and girly.

I think i'll be wearing this dress a lot, and not just on Sundays, I can imagine it with bare legs, white sneakers and a denim jacket once the darn weather warms up (I'm sat here typing in 3 layers and a blanket over me).

As a side note, i do have other shoes i promise, I just absolutely love these red boots and i cant stop wearing the, I actually can't  get over how much i've worn them. They're in every other Instagram post lately and i'm totally ok with it. They're just so flippin' comfy, and the pop of red makes every outfit instantly more fun, and that is a-ok in my books.

Do you have an sublimely comfy dresses that still make you feel pretty?

Just after we got back from this, his super wobbly front tooth (you can probably see its literally dangling here,lol!)fell out and we have ourselves a cute little gummy boy

Outfit Details:
Dress
Boots
Bag

An InLinkz Link-up