Category: fashion

We interrupt usual programming of sixties ankle boots and seventies flares to bring you tartan and stomping boots. It’s no secret that my favourite eras for fashion are the 60s and 70s but a decade that creeps into my styling every now and then is the 90s. As a child of the nineties (albeit only just – I was born on 6^th January 1990), it’s inevitable. And while platform shoes and slip dresses are some fantastic examples of 90s fashion, today I’m not talking about the Spice Girls era but rather about grunge.

Tartan checks, red and black colour palettes, leather jackets and stomping boots. It’s easy to inject the grunge movement into everyday styling but today, I’m wearing it all, absolutely loving it but not feeling too cliché.

SKIRT: VINTAGE | TOP: BODEN (old) | JACKET: THE WHITE COMPANY (old) | BOOTS: GRENSON (sold out)

I’ve had this red tartan kilt for years – it’s a vintage one from M&S (or St Michael to be correct) and I bring it out every autumn. Worn with a lace petticoat underneath, first and foremost for comfort (the wool is quite scratchy) and secondly because I love how the lace trim looks poking out of the bottom of the hem, adding a layer of grunge to the look.

I always pair the kilt with a black slim-fitting turtleneck top as it allows the tartan skirt to do the talking and I’m rarely without a trusty black polo neck throughout the colder months. I finished the look with leather, adding yet another layer – physically and figuratively – of grunge. The leather biker jacket is from The White Company and it was my mum’s. It’s the perfect fit and features that dream silver hardware and buckles at the waistline that I always wanted from my previous one.

Finally the boots…the boots that have been adorning our Instagram feed since the weather started to turn. I am rarely one to be swayed by clear influencer marketing, however on this occasion I was totally won. Having an ankle boot collection that previously consisted solely of block heels, I decided at the beginning of autumn that I needed to invest in a pair of flat, stomping boots that would be durable enough for the rainy British weather and a more comfortable option for those much-needed “non-heel days”. And these were the ones for me.

They are the Grenson Nanette boots and while they keep selling out, I managed to track down the last pair in my size on a random website. I’m absolutely delighted with them and I’m so happy that I took the plunge. They style really well in lots of different ways – with skirts, jeans and dresses – I sound like Monica justifying her expensive boots to Chandler, except these don’t kill your feet in the slightest. They have taken almost no time to break in, are super comfy and feel light as air to wear. If you can get your hands on a pair, I would highly recommend them.

So I had planned this to be a short but sweet blog post as I’ve been having a bit of writer’s block recently. But seemingly, I can’t help going off on a bit of a ramble and I’m going to roll with it. I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and I’ll see you (hopefully) next week for another one X

I thought I’d use today’s post for a little life update. I’ve been waiting for ages to share these images… I couldn’t before because this patchwork cardigan I’m wearing wasn’t available, until now. It’s a sample that I wore on a recent work trip to Cambridge with some lovely blogger ladies. It’s been six months now that I’ve been in my social media role at Jigsaw and I’ve learnt so much and met many great people in such a short space of time. This trip to Cambridge was a particular highlight – we went punting, explored the quintessential British city in the sunshine and dined like queens at the University Arms Hotel’s restaurant, Parker’s Tavern (you can read my piece on the trip over on the Jigsaw Blog).

CARDIGAN: JIGSAW | SKIRT: TOPSHOP (old) | BAG: c/o COACH | BOOTS: TOPSHOP (old)

Back to the outfit: this patchwork cardigan is one of my favourite pieces from Jigsaw’s AW18 collection. Knitted in a chunky rib and styled with a V-neckline, it is the perfect layering piece for winter, as well as looking great worn as a top as I did on this surprisingly warm autumn day.

What I love about this outfit is how all the colours work so well together. I tucked the cardi into this second hand Topshop Boutique silk skirt whose greyish blue colour goes perfectly with the blue hue in the patchwork cardigan. I accessorised with my Coach saddle bag as its burgundy colour pairs well with the cardigan’s purple tone sections. I finished off the look with my patent white ankle boots and matching white nails to add a fresh colour to this otherwise tonal look.

Just a short one from me today. I’m feeling a little uninspired with writing at the moment but I am loving autumnal styling so the outfit posts will keep coming! See you next week X

Photography by Claire Menary

It’s no secret – or surprise – that check is once again a massive trend for AW18 and I am – as always – on board. While my style is predominantly inspired by the sixties and seventies, I have a soft spot for nineties grunge, punk checks and tartan so this outfit brings together many sartorial elements that I love. While a matching check suit is a powerful look, this trend inevitably encourages me to experiment and mix different checks together. I call this double check - you can have double denim so why not double check?

BLAZER: VINTAGE VIA BEYOND RETRO | SKORT: VINTAGE | TURTLENECK: BODEN (OLD) | BOOTS: BY FAR VIA NET-A-PORTER

Let’s start with the blazer. It’s vintage, adorned in a gorgeous red tartan check and I bought it about five years ago from Beyond Retro. I didn’t wear it much at the time because I was conscious of the shoulders being too big. Fast forward five years and big shoulders is everything I could want from a statement blazer. The way our perceptions change of what looks good always fascinates me and that’s why I’m always so reluctant to give away (to charity) my hard-earned and sort-after vintage pieces. ‘One day, I will like that again,’ I tell myself, and usually I’m right. How glad I am that I did not give up on this blazer.

This skort, on the other hand, will be a forever favourite. Countless times and in countless ways you’ve seen it styled up on this blog and I’m not about to stop anytime soon. What can I say? It’s the skort that keeps on giving. Another vintage piece, it is patchwork suede mixed with subtle tartan check panels, which add some extra interest to this already statement piece. Paired with a black turtleneck jumper, you’ve got a classic sixties look (which I love, of course) but throw on this red tartan blazer on top and it’s the perfect kind of juxtaposition.

The secret to clashing different checks – and why these two pieces work so well together – is a common colour within the two prints. Ivy green is the colour in this look. Running subtly through the tartan of the blazer and being more stand out in both the patchwork and check elements of the skort means these two pieces work effortlessly together.

I finished the look with my new By Far boots. They are the Becca boots in black suede and I have, no joke, been lusting after these for over a year. But that purchase deserves an entire blog post to itself.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post after styling double check. Of course, the weather has become much chillier since these photos were taken but I think this outfit will look just as great with some wool tights and chunky biker boots once winter truly sets in. Have a great week and I’ll be back soon with another post! X

Hello and happy Thursday! I’m glad we’re meeting so regularly at the moment – I’m finding I have time to focus on my content much more than before so let’s hope that continues!

I’m sorry I’m back with another outfit featuring these yellow jeans so soon. I had planned to shoot another outfit at the weekend but Saturday was a total wash out and then Sunday was taken up by trying (and failing, wah) to get Glastonbury tickets and then eating a big Sunday roast at my grandma’s. At least this shows how much I love these yellow jeans, how differently they can be styled and that they were worth breaking my ‘only second hand denim ban’ for.

SHIRT: SISTER JANE (old) | JEANS: & OTHER STORIES | BAG: c/o COACH | BOOTS: TOPSHOP (old)

Today I’ve dressed them up a bit, in comparison to last week’s post. I paired the jeans with this incredible blouse from Sister Jane that I bought at their sample sale a few months ago (where I also bought that pink gingham mini dress). It is covered with a fun telephone graphic print, in playful a red and blue colour palette, which is one of my favourite colour combinations. The telephones are engraved with s.j., which, although isn’t Sister Jane’s official logo, is a fun way of incorporating the current “logomania” trend into my wardrobe.

I finished the look with these white patent boots from Topshop. I bought them last season however, I didn’t get my wear out of them thanks to the Beast from the East followed by a hot summer so now I’m reaching for them as much as possible. They tie in nicely with the white of the telephone, meaning they work much better with this outfit than a black pair would.

I absolutely love this outfit and cannot wait to wear it again. It’s great for work or evening dinner plans and the colours just work so perfectly together, which always makes me very, very happy. The hint of yellow in the print is picked up by the jeans and the burgundy Coach saddle bag matches the deep red telephone handles. I even made sure my nails were painted white (who remembers painting their nails like this but with Tipp-Ex in school?!) to tie together the boots and the telephones.

That’s it from me today! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my general musings about how I styled this colourful outfit – how cool is this telephone graphic print? I’m obsessed. Have a great weekend and I’ll be back next week with another post. X