Winter Berries

Style Theory: Berry, Wine, Burgundy, the beautiful rich, deep, red colour is AW14 must have. Whether worn as a coat, cosy jumper or shoes, this warm hue will add a touch of winter decadence to any outfit.

Berry trainers look fab with a camel coat

Clash berry with pink for a cool look.

Toughen up your berry coloured coat by layering up over a biker jacket

Just adore everything about this outfit

Berry is a truly versatile colour, it looks fabulous with camel, navy, khaki and of course black. However, if you are feeling a little bolder wear with pink (my favourite combination) or orange for a statement look.

Here are a selection of some stunning Berry items available on the high street now:

Warehouse Winter Coat £95

This is a beautiful coat on, looks great without the (detachable) fur collar also. I tried this on yesterday, not a great photo but this may give you an idea of how it looks.

It is a lovely shape and looks cute on. I would take off the fur and wear with a huge navy tartan scarf as in the Pinterest photo above..this one from Ebay is perfect..

Ebay £18.20

I have never bought from this seller on Ebay so just double check feedback before buying!

A sweater is a great way to add a contemporary colour to an outfit. These sweaters are cosy and would look fab with skinny jeans (love this colour with khaki jeans)

Baukjen Roll Neck Jumper £129

Gap Merino Sweater £39.95

Most people have a pair of jeans at home in this berry colour from a few years ago. Why not pull them out and update your look by wearing them with a pink jumper, a khaki parka and a pair of Stan Smith trainers, these colours look great mixed up and make a cool style statement. If you do not have them already try these from Topshop..

Topshop Leigh Jeans £38

Here is what I teamed my jeans with last week..

Sweater: River Island
Jeans: Topshop
Trainers: Stan Smith

Or wear with a berry T-shirt for a coordinated look..

Topshop Zip Back Tee £18

Zara Faux Leather Pleated Skirt £39.99

Pair this skirt with the Gap merino sweater above and a pair of pointed snakeskin flat pumps.

Next Strap Detail Point Heels £35

Super elegant shoes, would add a beautiful touch of colour to a black jumpsuit or dress.

I have featured this bag before and I do love it, it ticks the trend perfectly. I would team with a camel coat.

Aldo Bag £50

This is such a warm, comforting colour and definitely will be featured again and again in my A/W14 wardrobe.

My Style 

This was an outfit from from last year but the colours still work this year.. 

Coat: M&S
Gilet: Primark
Sweater: zara
Jeans: 7ForAll Mankind
Trainers: Adidas Superstars

For a night out with my fab university friends. The first outing for my black M&S culottes, they are so amazingly comfortable and easy to wear, I am a huge culotte convert! We realised it was 20 years since we started university together (argghhhh!!) 

Sweater: Cos
Culottes: M&S
Jacket: Asos
Bag: Topshop
Scarf: Becksondergaard
Trainers: Adidas StanSmith

 For a day out and about shopping..

Sweater: Whistles
Jeans: Topshop
Shoes: Russell and Bromley
Bag: M&S
Coat: M&S

There concludes my round out of my fave berry items and a few of my outfits from the last week! Will you be indulging in the Berry trend, do you have lots of items accumulated from the last couple of years that you can wear this year?

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time, Frances xxx

Workwear and tailoring perfection..

Style Theory: It is not often I am taken by an entire collection but after scrolling through Topshop's new Boutique Collection I think I have fallen for almost all of it.

For me it encapsulates this Autumn/Winter, the laid back, tailored look complete with a quirky twist. It has the most fabulous mix of stand out one off items and casual pieces that can be mixed and matched together. The skirts can be worn with grey marl t-shirts and trainers for a dress down look, or smartened up with a blouse and heels for work..

Here is my rundown of my favourite pieces and how I would style them:

Topshop Neat Leather Jacket £320

The soft green colour is so unusual, it would work so well with denim, black, blues, wines, think of it as a neutral colour that will pretty much go with anything, this season you can really mix colours up.

Silk Off the Shoulder Dress £75

A beautiful muted colour, this is the shape of the season, the off the shoulder looks delicate along with the fine silk material A difficult dress to wear, but it is stunning. I would team in the winter with opaque tights and black shoe boots, or animal print heels. 

Slouchy Jumper £60

The perfect slouchy jumper,  basic but a fabulous shape, wear with the skirt below and white trainers, pair with skinny jeans or leather leggings. Add a shot of colour with a pale blue scarf or wine coloured bag. 

Topshop Hybrid Pencil Skirt £90

This skirt looks so designer, I love the quirky pleats. wear with a chambray shirt and trainers for a street style look or with T-Bar courts and a slouchy blouse for a fabulous work-wear outfit. 

Topshop Hybrid Pleated £110

A perfect work dress with a twist, classic and so on trend. Wear with a camel coat thrown over the top and a pair of leopard print kitten heels.

Topshop Print Weave Top £65

This is a cute top and would look fab with a pair of black skinny jeans and trainers or heels depending if you want to dress down or up.

Artichoke Floral Print Dress Topshop Unique £195

Going off a bit of a tangent but how fabulous is this Topshop dress available to buy from the runway. I love the pattern, blue and wine colour thrown together, it works and packs a punch. It is a great styling tip to wear a fine poloneck of a contrasing colour under your floaty dressed to ensure you get wear out of them throughout the year.

Topshop Bloomsbury Dress £68

I saw this dress today in-store and it is gorgeously floaty on, would capture the AW14 70s vibe perfectly with tan knee high boots and a long camel or red coat.

Topshop Fliss Flatform Shoes £35

These are slightly leftfield, they are fabulous tributes to Stella McCartney's AW14 flatforms. I have ordered them, I will let you know what they are like. I intend to pair them with my denim dresses and skirts and sweaters. 

Aldo Bruscello Bag £50

This is not Topshop, I spotted it yesterday in Aldo and it is fab for this season, the colour is rich, it has a shoulder strap and I love the pom pom keyring. Although not leather it looks expensive and the purse in the front is an added bonus.

That completes my quick round up of my fave pieces in Topshop's boutique collection and a couple of other items that caught my eye in stores yesterday. I  love the muted palette mixed with accents of bold electric colours, there is a stunning bright blue fur coat in the Topshop collection that I was unable to find an image of, it is amazing but only for the brave..!

My Style

For an evening out in town for supper and drinks with friends I wore my &Other Stories off the shoulder dress and leather jacket. 

Dress: &Other Stories
Leather Jacket: Asos
Shoes: Nine West

And a very casual look, dropping the kids to school and then for a swim (hence very make-up-less!)..

Jacket: Zara
Dress: Asos
Trainers; Stan smith

What do you think of the Topshop collection, are muted colours going to be your go to this Autumn?

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances x

A Cinderella Moment....

Style Theory: Every girl likes a little bit of sparkle and what is better than a pair of beautiful, sparkly shoes. These shoes can dress up a casual outfit or make a dressed up style look that bit extra special..

Since the moment when SJP wore those iconic Manolo Blahniks in Sex in the City for her wedding, I have been dreaming of owning a pair. They are, however, out of my price range but luckily Dune have come up with some stunning heeled courts with a sparkly brooch and I can honestly say they are beautiful and flattering on...

Dune Breanna Shoes £89

Dune Breanna Shoes - Pink £89

Here are some more sparkly options for those that prefer the practicality of flats..

Russell & Bromley Jewelled Pointed Flat £225

Style these leopards like you would black or beige shoes, think of them as neutral shoes that you can wear with all colours, patterns (spots and stripes) they will work as well with black opaques and a dress shoes as they will with a stripe shirt and leather leggings/jeans. Mix up patterns and texture for a fresh AW14 look. 

Russell and Bromley Tiara Pointy Flat £195

Metallics are key this season and add an extra sparkle to an outfit.

Boden Jewelled Pumps £129

Wear these dressed down with distressed boyfriend or skinny jeans, a soft white shirt and an oversized beige wool cardigan.

Topshop Moon Slippers £32

Next Jewelled Bow Shoes (Navy or Beige) £30

A purse-friendly option, these look fabulous and expensive in the navy colourway.

New Look £19.99

We all like a little luxury in our life and jewelled pumps or heels give your outfit that expensive, sparkly look..

And for your little girl I adore these...

Zara Jewel Detail Pumps £29.99

Marks and Spencer Leather Lace up Glittery Shoes £14-£16

Too cute and leather..perfect girls party shoes!

My Style:

Over the last few days..quite unsparkly! I did indulge in the yellow wool skirt from Cos, it is cut well, really comfortable and has pockets..a detail I love...

Shirt: H&M
Skirt: Cos
Sandals: H&M
Coat: M&S

Mixing up my lace skirt with a jumper and trainers for a dressed down look:

Sweater: Zara
Skirt: H&M
Trainers: Adidas Stan Smith

Are you tempted by jewelled shoes, are you in the mood for adding a little bit of sparkle to your wardrobe?

I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time, Frances xxx