School Run Style: #oasis

Showing posts with label #oasis. Show all posts

Saturday, 29 November 2014

Perfect Partywear..The Jumpsuit..10 of the Best

Style Theory: Jumpsuits, now re-established a chic partywear choice. Cool, comfortable and effortlessly stylish jumpsuits are a ready made, all in one outfit. Plain, lace, sparkly or patterned anything goes...

First some style inspiration..

All images above via Pinterest

The key is to let your jumpsuit do the work, keep jewellery simple, fine gold layered necklaces (see Z for Accessorize or HM for a wide variety of gorgeous, affordable fine jewellery) If wearing all black add a little sparkle with a clutch or statement heels. I love clashing printed or coloured jumpsuits with leopard print heels, or brightly coloured shoes, laid back but with a style twist.

Here are the best jumpsuits to wear to your Christmas drinks or on Christmas day available on the High Street now..

Whistles Lola Jumpsuit £206 (this weekend)

I am a big fan of the culotte jumpsuit, I would pair this with high black court shoes (no straps to ensure your legs are elongated) Go as high as you can bare with heels on this one, the higher the more flattering! Add a dark red bag for a punch of colour (see Sienna Millers shoes in the Pinterest photo above for the colour match)

Whistles Wrapover Lace Jumpsuit £187 (this weekend)

This is a beautiful jumpsuit, the trouser part is slightly harem-ish and ankle length, so again I would wear high black, nude or dark red pointed court shoes and add a leopard print clutch to mix up textures (see &Other Stories for a fab leopard clutch)

Anthropologie £128 (take 20% off until Monday)

This pyjama style jumpsuit has been styled perfectly by Anthropologie, I love the belt and the shoes.... This is such a versatile jumpsuit, pair with white trainers at the weekend for a cool look.

Debenhams Ossie Clarke £149

This jumpsuit has beautifully flattering sleeves and I love the wide leg. Add a pair of pointy courts and a sparkly or animal print clutch for a chic and sophisticated Christmas party look.

Warehouse £68 (this weekend 25%)

An alternative to black, this beautiful blue jumpsuit would look great with piles of gold bangles and a pair of gold courts to add some shine.

Warehouse £70 (25% off this weekend)

Red looks great with animal print, mix it up with leopard print courts and a gold bag.

Zara Low Cut Jumpsuit £69.99

Very AW14 with the cape detail, keep everything else simple, gold bangles and a high fine gold necklace.

Asos Jumpsuit £75 (20% off this weekend)

Next Aubergine Jumpsuit £55

A beautiful colour, would look great with a long camel coat over it for a Christmas night out..

Zara Fitted Jumpsuit £79.99

Basic and practical, I love Zara jumpsuits they are normally simple but flattering. I really like this with the white pointed shoes. I would throw a sequin jacket over the top and add a pair of leopard pumps and you are good to go!

My Style:

My new faux fur jacket from Topshop, (an early Christmas present from Mum and Dad thank you!xxx) After months of searching I think I have finally found one I feel comfortable in, it is faux fox fur and a little 'Dynasty' but is so warm, a good length and a beautiful soft colour.

Coat: Topshop
Top: Johnnie B at Boden
Jeans: Oasis
Bag: H&M
Trainers: Adidias Stan Smith

So are you a jumpsuit girl, what will you be wearing to your Christmas Party or on Christmas Day? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxx

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Top 10 Christmas Dresses

Style Theory: A dress, your partywear in one garment. Add a pair of animal print heels and a faux fur and you are ready to party..simple and effective!

Here are my top 10 Party dresses available on the high street now. I have chosen ones that are not too sparkly, I like to wear sequin embellishment on casual clothes (sweaters, shirts etc) and like to use accessories to add sparkle to a Christmas dress....however, no doubt as it gets nearer and nearer to Christmas my need for over the top sparkly dresses will grow and more will be featured....here are my favourite dresses so far....

Oasis Leila Lace Dress £85

I would pair this dress with some leopard print heels and a sparkly or black Chanel-esque quilted clutch. A black drapey, long trench would look spectacular over this dress.

Asos Black Scuba Dress £95

Scuba fabric is all forgiving, the peplum hem will be really flattering on your legs. I love the deep plum colour, I would pair with black opaques and black heeled courts for an extra leg-lengthening look.

Me & Em Pleat Front Swing Dress in Deep Peacock £148 (fur snood separate)

A heavy fabric that hangs beautifully. This dress can be easily worn casually or dressed up with a sparkly, statement necklace and heels.

Whistles In Smoke Dress £195

A beautiful, floaty midi dress, this again I would wear in the winter with opaques and black heels and in the summer with bare legs and strappy gold sandals, beautiful for year round wear.

Topshop Brocade Paisley Shift Dress £65

Not everyone's cup of tea but I really like the 60s vibe going on with this dress, it is a great layering piece and would look cool for a Christmas lunch with a fine black polo neck underneath, black opaque tight and some flat, black, pointed shoes. Or add grey ribbed tights and silver shoes for a cool, quirky look.

Zara Studio Dress £69.99

A beautiful, whimsical dress, perfect sheer coverage on the arms, I haven't seen it in store so not sure of the length and whether it would be a little too short, but with opaques you can definitely get away with taking hemlines up a little.

Zara Cape Sleeve Dress £45.99

I was looking for a cape dress everywhere last year and here we have one at a reasonable price. Simple and chic, just add extra sparkly shoes and clutch.

Comptoir des Cotonniers £170

A sweater and sparkly skirt combination in a dress..perfect!

& Other Stories £79

These structured dresses are always flattering, pick one of the colours in the print to match to an oversize slouchy, suede/leather clutch to (bright pink or electric blue would look striking)

Miss Selfridges Black and Lace £55

Very elegant, lace and a hint of sparkle and shine...no accessories necessary for this dress...

MY STYLE:

Over the last few days, a trip down to Winchester with my very best friends for champagne, mulled wine and Christmas Markets...

Coat: M&S
Gilet: Primark
Scarf: Becksondergaard
Jeans: Topshop
Trainers: Adidas Stan Smith

For a dinner out with friends..my summer maxi dress layered with a jumper over the top and worn with my knee high tan boots

Dress: Topshop
Jumper: Topshop
Bag: H&M
Boots: Russell and Bromley

This week so far has not been a roaring success I am currently in with the little one on the third day of two ear infections and super high temperature...still the good news is he still wants to play every minute of the day (arghhhh)..so far this morning we have completed a 150 pce puzzle, built 20 different combinations of a marble run, built three lego sets, plus a train track whilst watching Planes...ahh the joys! Starting to panic about the very smart Christmas do I have next week, three days in eating mini mince pies and a family selection of Waitrose Christmas biscuits is not helping my ever-expanding waistline..still there is always spanx!

I would to hear your thoughts on your perfect Christmas dress, are you a low key or spangly kind of girl?

Next time perfect Christmas jumpsuits and separates..

Frances x

Wednesday, 10 September 2014

What I wore....

Style Theory: After years and years of skinny jeans I feel it is time to shake things up a little and bring back a flared shape. It is amazingly flattering for legs making them look longer and slimmer especially when worn with heels..so back to the 70s I go....

Last autumn/winter it was all about pink, this year I am loving all tones of blue. Navy being my 'safe' colour, I always feel comfortable in an all navy outfit, with the addition of some fine gold jewellery to add a little bit of shine and a pale blue or camel coat.

Blue Coat: Marks and Spencer £110
Shirt: H&M similar here
Jeans; J Brand Lovestory £160
Bag: TK Maxxsimilar here
Sandals: H&M

I wore this outfit to the opening of the new J Crew store hosted by the stunning Laura Fantacci WIT blog. It was a lovely evening full of cava, shopping, meeting lots of lovely bloggers, readers and of course lots of shopping....

If you fancy taking a plunge with the 70s flared look and are willing to by-pass the skinny jeans for an evening or two here are the best on the high street.
I do think these jeans look better and are more flattering in a darker wash, so I have selected all in indigo wash:

J Brand - Love Story Jeans £161

Mih The Marrakesh Jean £185

MiH Bodycon Jeans £215

These MiH jeans are expensive jeans but I have been told by my local boutique these are the most flattering jeans and will pull you in in all the right places without looking like a sausage in sausage skin! I will try on when they get them in and let you know if they do!

Zara Skinny Mermaid Jeans £39.99

A subtle take on the bell bottom look from Zara.

Topshop Clean Cut Flared Jeans £40

Oasis Emily Flared Jeans £45

So there are few options if you fancy dabbling in the flare jean look..I know it is not everyones cup of tea and those skinny jean devotees may take some major persuasion!!

Next Time my Schoolrun essentials...

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

Tuesday, 27 May 2014

A Touch of Daytime Lace

Style Theory: Lace is now a fashion staple and can look just as fabulous dressed down in the daytime as it does dressed up in the evening. A lace skirt can be easily inserted into your capsule wardrobe and worn with casual tops and flat sandals. Here's how:

This is my favourite lace skirt from H&M, I love wearing it with a breton, denim shirt or grey sweater as I think it looks better dressed down, somehow it makes it look more expensive.

Here is some more inspiration from Pinterest:

Wear your lace skirt with a grey jumper

Lace looks great with a chunky jumper

Such a luxurious look with muted khaki silk blouse and tan clutch.

Laura Fantacci of WIT blog wears hers with a J Crew grey sweater.

Add a grey tee for an easy and classic look

Love the structured crop top with the lace skirt.

White tee, denim shirt and a lace skirt an easy and stunning combination.

Images above from Pinterest
The key is to dress down your top half to balance out the intricate detail of the skirt. If possible wear with a small heel as this is always more flattering on your legs, but if it is hot then I think a gold pair of strappy flat sandals would look just as good. Add some fine gold jewellery and keep accessories simple, a pop of colour looks great, you can add a block colour handbag/clutch in orange or red.

The best lace skirts on the high street: