Let's Get Started 2015!

Style Theory: The magazines are full of ideas of what to wear for the new season, the stores are trying to shift their winter stock at discount prices so what to buy now that will last you through Winter, Spring and Summer and onto next winter? I have a few ideas of things that have caught my eye and will be on my shopping list over the next few months...

Lets begin with a cool Winter/Spring look...

A chunky sweater, distressed black jeans, and pointed black boots are a winter staple.... switch up a black or grey sweater for forest green for a 2015 look. Wear this now with black jeans, wear in the evening with black skinny leather trousers and black /leopard print heels..

Jeans: Topshop Black Ripped Jamie Jeans £42
Jumper: Topshop £36
Boots: Urban Outfitters £85
Shoes:Topshop Mules £78

RING IN THE CHANGES IN RED AND PINK

Feeling the need to brighten up your wardrobe, these photos of Leandra Medine from Man Repeller and Atlantic Pacific inspired me and Mango came up with the highstreet clothing..

This outfit from the high street can be mixed and matched and will add some much needed colour to any winter wardrobe...

Jacket: Mango £59.99
Top: Mango £29.99
Jeans: Topshop Hayden Jean £42
Trainers: £65 Adidas Stan Smith
Shoes: Office £65
Bag: KG £49

I know my wardrobe needs a little colour after months of greys and beiges. Here are a few of my outfits from over the Christmas/ New Year holidays..

MY STYLE:

Adding a splash of colour with my &Others Stories Sadie Williams skirt..

Fine Wool Top: Cos
Skirt: &Other Stories X Sadie Williams
Boots: Russell and Bromley
Leopard Clutch: &Other Stories

Very similar to the outfit I have featured above..adore this Topshop jumper (link above), in fact, I think I wore it most of Christmas!...

Coat: Zara
Jumper: Topshop
Jeans: Oasis
Boots: Russell & Bromley
Bag: H&M

For ultimate comfort, my knitted suit, comfort level 10*......

Coat(in arm): Zara
Jumper and Trousers: Zara (in the sale now)
Bag: Aurora Living
Boots: Aldo

For a walk in woods...decided to add a bow to the neck of my dress with a piece of black jersey, this season for me it is all about bows...it was muddy so wellies were essential..

Coat: Zara
Dress: Asos
Wellies: Hunters

The Spring stock coming into the stores and online is looking pretty good this year, I am looking forward to a year full of new ideas, timeless classics and lots of inspiration all from the high street. I really hope you can join me for the ride....

Thank you again for your support throughout 2014 and here's to a stylish 2015..

Until next time, Frances xxxx

All Shades of Sunshine...

Style Theory: Yellow in it's mustard hue is spreading its' sunshine rays through the High Street stores this season. From a clearer lighter yellow through to a dark mustard the colour has seeped into the Autumn Winter colour boards and is now finding a way into our wardrobes....

Yellow and mustard, sometimes thought of slightly scary colours people shy away from as they are not initially easy to style, but there is no need to be scared of them, here are a few ideas to show how these notoriously difficult colours can work beautifully:

Wear with an all navy outfit underneath.

Supersize your mustard jumper for a cool slouchy look

Add a touch of sunshine brightness to your outfit with yellow accessories

A mustard printed scarf looks fab with a camel or pale grey coat.

Go for the easy option and wear with black 

For brighter Autumn days mix with a beige jumper/dress to lighten up the look

A biker jacket always toughens up a soft colour giving your outfit an edge.

Mustard looks great as part of a print.

All images above via Pinterest

Mustard is a tricky colour to wear, especially for people with my pale colouring but there are a few little tricks around it:

The first and probably the most obvious, if you have colouring like me avoid wearing it against your face, pick up the colour in a skirt or as a detail on shoes or accessories.

Second, wear the trend in your accessories, a mustard bag, a yellow scarf or gloves - a little 'nod' to the trend will bring your outfit up to date without drowning you in it.

Thirdly style with navy or grey. A beautiful pale mustard scarf looks amazing over a pale grey coat, or a mustard skirt with a navy blouse and brown 70s boots..A/W14 heaven..

Avoid tight yellow/mustard jeans or trousers unless you are model proportions they are not the most flattering on your legs.

Here are my favourite yellow items on the high street now:

Cos Wool Bomber Jacket £150

The bomber jacket shape is still going strong and this wool jacket in a mustard shade brings it into A/W14. Wear with navy tailored trousers, a fine navy polo neck and some elegant heeled strappy court shoes

Zara Mohair Coat with Pockets £109

A cool slouchy coat, would look great layered over a denim or biker jacket with blue skinny jeans and navy Celine-esque loafers see a gorgeous pair of Next loafers here.

Zara Jacket £69.99

This showerproof jacket in perfect for a stylish schoolrun, wear with a breton top, skinny jeans and a pair of white trainers for a cool look.

Jigsaw Cashmere Jumper £98

Asos Mustard Fine Jumper £30

Zara Jacquard Sweater £45.99

Wear this sweater now with a pair of distressed pale blue boyfriend jeans and tan heeled sandals for a cool end of summer look.

Cos A-Line Crepe Dress  £69

A classic dress in an on trend colour, wear with navy pointed flats and a navy coat for a chic look.

Cos Wool Mohair Skirt £89

I love this Cos skirt, it really looks gorgeous on, I would wear with a navy fine blouse and heeled 70s style tan knee high boots for a cool 70s vibe.

Zara Checked Shawl £19.99

Cos Double Woven Scarf £39

Add a punch of colour to a pale grey or navy jacket with this scarf.

Cos Printed Wool Scarf £45

This scarf is a beautiful way to wear mustard subtly.

H&M Bag £12.99

So will you be stepping into the Autumn/Winter in mellow yellow? I think I will, I just adore the Cos skirt, a definite addition to my A/W wardrobe.

MY STYLE:

Back to the schoolrun so all fairly casual, jeans as usual being the easiest thing to pull on in the morning...

Jeans: Topshop Baxter
Top: Jigsaw
Cardigan: Topshop
Trainers: Adidas StanSmith
Bag: Spain

Jeans: H&M
T'Shirt: Gap
Denim Shirt: Gap
Bag: TK Maxx
Sandals: H&M

How are you finding the start of the school year, are you getting into the swing of the schoolrun, back to work, back to juggling life?

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

Top 10 Spring Statement Jackets

Style Theory: A gorgeous statement jacket can turn a plain, daytime look of a t-shirt, distressed jeans and sandals into a stunning 'going out' outfit and making you look polished and chic.

As a statement jacket does all the talking, it is important to keep your outfit underneath simple. Keep colours monochrome, wear a grey marl/white or black t-shirt/top with black or blue slouchy boyfriend jeans or distressed shorts. Keep footwear neutral, tan sandals or this season's 'fugly' sandals work well. The statement jacket makes dressing up simple...

My Top 10 Statement Jackets on the High Street:

Sequin Jackets add sparkle to your outfit - 

Topshop Sequin Embellished Mesh Jacket £85
I have this jacket and love it, it looks great over a black vest top with boyfriend jeans - I have styled it in my style photos below...

Zara Sequinned Jacket £79.99

A Chanel inspired jacket always adds a touch of class...

Zara Combined Tweed Jacket

The Floral Jacket - This season's must have the floral jacket, this cape-style jacket ticks so many trends and would look great over a white top and white jeans, or pale blue skinny jeans and flat pumps.

Traffic People Cape Jacket £76

Asos Jacket with Statement Floral Embroidery £60

Mango Printed Jacket £44.99

H&M Beaded Coat £69.99

This jacket really does not look great online but I saw Kourtney Kardashian (granted I am not normally inspired by Kardashian fashion) wearing it with a pair of leather trousers and white top and I thought it looked gorgeous, a real designer look for a fraction of the price..!

The Pink Jacket -  still loving this look, would look great with a grey marl tee, jeans and silver pointed flat shoes. This jacket would also worked layered under a trench.

Topshop Crepe Notch Front Jacket £55

The Sports Luxe Bomber - the sheer sleeve add a touch of sophistication to this sporty shaped jacket.

Next Black Bomber Jacket £55

The Fringed Jacket - a 'marmite' jacket, but I do like this one, I think it would look fab worn with a white boho top and denim shorts.

Zara Fringed Leather Jacket £129

My Style:

Wearing my Kate Moss for Topshop statement, sparkly jacket for a date night to celebrate our 10th Anniversary.

Jacket: Topshop
Black Crop Tee: Topshop
Jeans: Gap
Shoes: Zara
Bag: H&M

Are you a fan of the statement jacket, are you like me and love some sparkle? 

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

Simple Summer Inspiration

Style Theory: Sometimes you just need to keep the formula for summer dressing simple, unfussy and cool. Here are a few ideas for some easy and stylish summer outfits and the inspiration behind them.

Streetstyle images from Pinterest

THE SIMPLE BOHO DRESS

Throw over a bikini, wear over short denim shorts or by itself

Mango Beaded Embroidered Dress £49.99

Or:

Mango Embroidered Dress £34.99

Wear with:

Steve Madden @Dune Sandals £65

THE SIMPLE STRIPE DRESS & LIGHTWEIGHT PARKA

Year after year a classic, can be dressed up to look Riveria chic, or dressed down for beachwear, looks fab with a lightweight parka thrown over the top..

Great Plains Pocket Breton (also available in a white background) £50

Dorothy Perkins Hooded lightweight parka £45

Dune Lutney Slip ons £75

A SIMPLE CHAMBRAY SHIRT AND DISTRESSED JEANS

Another casual, easy to wear outfit, looks great with flat gold sandals during the day then put on some stappy heels and a few fine gold necklaces and you are ready for a night out.

Gap Fitted Boyfriend Oxford Shirt £29.95

Zara Ripped Boyfriend Jeans £39.99

Next Ankle Strap Sandal £28

DKNY at John Lewis £158
Love this little handbag, it had a little loop to put your hand through at the front to carry like a clutch.

SIMPLE WHITE BOHO TOP AND DENIM SHORTS 

Another summer classic look, I love a sleeve as I am now at that age when I am not too keen on showing the rather large tops of my arms, add a little embroidered bag for a pop of colour.

H&M Embroidered Tunic £29.99

Gap Boyfriend Shorts £29.95

Dune Jolene Black Sliders £49

Accessorize Portobello Slouch Bag £45

THE PERFECT WHITE SHIRT

I love the look of distressed jeans with a crisp white shirt and blazer and some animal print courts, simple but effective!

Zara Soft Blazer with Zips £69.99

Next White Shirt £22

Zara jeans as above

Aldo Sunglasses £10

Dune Alfa Court Shoes £69

My Style: Easing myself into my summer wardrobe slowly, I always find the summer transition the most difficult!

Top: H&M Exclusive Conscious Collection
Cardigan: Gant
Jeans; MiH
Slip ons: H&M

 For a weekend break by the seaside with the family, it was just amazing weather and a beautiful beach, we were walking along the beach to a seafront restaurant, heaven!

Jumper: Cos
Jeans: Oasis
Shoes: Russell and Bromley
Necklace: J Crew

How I started in the morning before changing into denim shorts and my Mango frilled sleeve top,

Breton: Petit Bateau
Jeans: Gap
Knitted Jacket Henri Lloyd
Sliders: Dune
Bag: H&M

So there is my first real dip into summer outfits, there are lots more to come... How is your transition to your summer wardrobe going are you well and truly immersed or like me wondering what you wore all last summer and where has it all been put?!

Until next time, Frances xxx