Let's go disco

It's no secret that I love a little bit of retro dressing.  So when a friend said she was inviting us over and the dress code was seventies inspired my brain has been whirring away over the " What to wear" conundrum. 

This isn't meant to be fancy dress. I'm thinking less Elton John and more Bianca Jagger circa 1972.

But what do you know it seems that I needn't have put so much thought into this because Grazia have done all the hard work for me. The looks in the seventies article in last weeks magazine was all I needed to  ahem... copy. 

The vital ingredients are flares, naturellement , a silk / cheesecloth top a pair of platforms  ( so far, so obvious) and the best bit.... a chubby faux fur jacket. I would love an excuse to wear one of these having bought two Whistles faux fur coats and returned them both on the basis that I didn't think I'd ever have the right occasion to wear such a gorgeous (but let's face it) stand out piece.

Was this also the excuse I needed to purchase a pair of flares that I've been wanting for ages. 

I love these from Frame Denim 

but I know the MIH Marrakesh seem to fit me well. 

I could pair with a silk shirt for a bit of evening glamour like this one that everyone is saying is such good quality from Uniqlo.

 Susie at Susie So So has recommended this one and I'm tempted to give it a try (sorry Susie the link would just not work) 

 or the ones on my Christmas list from Equipment.(Equipment Blaize silk shirt)   Did you notice how I just ever so casually slipped in the seasonal festival reference there? Say after me. I will not panic 

It would also give me THE best opportunity to wear a faux fur chubby jacket.  My well documented love for The Whistles One  that I was salivating over in Lilac or even better Navy, and is now sold out, would probably have been a bit too "coat" than jacket, rendering it incapable of also being a "chubby". I am sobbing inwardly as I write that. 

But this little furry number really fit the description. As seen in Grazia this week. 

I could also dig out my Topshop shaggy Mongolian faux fur that I got in the dregs of the sale two years ago. Worn once so far on account of the sounds of not so muffled laughter emitting from my children whenever I've attempted to casually throw it on in the past. 

I'm sure I've got some platforms stashed away somewhere. 

I'm off to have a dressing up session and will report back with evidence if it all looks vaguely ( by which I mean ever so slightly in the dimmed light after a couple glasses of Blue Nun)  like I could pass for an aging (or is that fading) seventies icon. 

This is me from last night before I made a dash for the door. 

I'm wearing MiH Marrakesh jeans in Midnight(new from My Wardrobe.com  and if I say so myself they do have some leg lengthening appeal) Joie cheesecloth top (bought in Nordstrom whilst on holiday) Mongolian faux fur jacket Topshop (2012) grey trilby Topshop and some high wedges bought ten (yes ten) years ago from Nine West. 

I wasn't kidding about the Blue Nun by the way.

Always thinking.....

 It's been a bit quiet chez What if I wore it .... So profuse apologies for the radio silence. I know we all have our work cut out with home, family, earning a crust and trying to excercise / have a social life but these last few weeks life has been dominated by the dreaded 11 plus tests in my house.

Of course I can still think about fashion even if I don't have a minute to do anything about it.  Most uncharacteristic of me, I know.

Maybe it's all the energy I'm putting into keeping the youngest daughter prepared but not relaxed / confident but not complacent that has made me uncharacteristically indecisive as well.

So first I thought I'd get some nice simple Chelsea boots. Can't go wrong; you know exactly where you are with these.

 Then I saw the Zara and AcneJensen pointed toe versions. Then, just to up the ante on the ankle boot front I spotted an article in last week's Saturday supplement paper about biker boots.  Never had any.  Don't want any. That's just me.  

But, but, but .....the article also featured those love em or hate em Toga Pulla ankle boots. This got my attention. But oh the dilemma. Safe (sorry classic) stylish and simple versus total dressing up box standout rock and roll. Where do I stand? Pardon the pun. Since both the Acne version and the Toga Pulla's cost the earth I'm still sitting on a very precarious fence not knowing which way to fall.

 Acne Jensen or ........

  ..... These from Toga Pulla?

Then I turn to coats. Obviously. It's Autumn. If you can't think about boots and coats in AW when can you?  I can't tell you how much I just enjoyed typing the words "boots" and "coats" just then.

I've already pointed out in an earlier post that I would like a classic camel wrap coat. 

The Jaeger one being my favourite.

 But then Whistles go and bring out their faux fur Kumiko coat in a textured grey.

There are other colours as well, namely lilac, which I would say is a pale grey and pink ( err really not sure ) also navy which I've not seen in the flesh but I think it's going to be a classic with a twist kind of colour way. 

The "lilac" one. 

And my favourite grey textured one.  

What is more Whistles produce this amazing stock drop in time for their Grazia offer with 25% off. John Lewis back it up with a price match. And my thoughts of an understated classic camel coat go straight out of the window marked fashion victim in favour of a fabulous but utterly indulgent faux fur coat.

I now have both of these coats sitting in my wardrobe. I can't really justify one of these beauties never mind both.  I desperately need a fashion jury to tell me to either not be so boring or not to be so silly. 

Or to just give up and concentrate on the verbal reasoning.

What If I kept it simple...

I have become increasingly aware that my fashion choices are not husband friendly. They aren't the sort of thing that men in general like because either they are so good because they are so ugly.  Arizona birkies anyone? Or because I've decided to buy into a new trend but the rest of the sleepy town I live in, including my own family needs a season or two to catch up with me. Leather leggings approx 6 years ago is a case in point.

I like an open toe Velcro backed boot, a MIH jeans boiler suit. A midi leather skirt and I've been wearing the said leather leggings since my mid forties. But in my heart of hearts I know that although I get approving glances from women, Him Indoors is secretly hoping that I'll go home and change into something less avant garde. 

So this season I'm going to be sensible and classic in my choices. 

I'm going to have the plainest cashmere jumpers

Loving this one from Zara

   

This one
Uniqlo grey cashmere

 

This one in good old M & S

M and S black cashmere crew neck

And my favourite Equipment Asher
Equipment Asher in Grey cashmere

The classic boots 

Can't go wrong with a Chelsea boot can you?

Well you can if you are me. Because despite my best intentions I am tempted to by pass this lovely pair in Clarks

Clarks classic Chelsea boots

and this gorgeous pair in Russell and Bromley.
Russell and Bromley Chelsea boot 

 And go straight to the pointy toe version from Acne Studios

Acne studios Jensen boots    Thanks to Sue of Best Friend Style. Tried to give you a link but it won't work for some unfathomable reason. 

or if funds don't permit this pair from Zara. Which I did try on this week in the shop and can't believe they are under £50.
Zara ankle booties

And the simplest of coats.

 No question. hands down its the camel wrap coat. For simple and understated restraint. And they seem to be knocking fifty quid off significant purchases right now. 

Jaeger wrap coat in camel

It's all a cunning plan though as it's just a foil for .... Let me see how did my very good friend put it the other day. ....my "quirky" style. 

Errr non taken. 

Should I or shouldn't I ?

I'm thinking about gilets. Not the ones with a certain pink duck on the front and a tartan lining.  No, no and thrice no. That would be far too sensible not to mention totally warm and practical. The sort of gilet that takes up my thinking time (even when I supposed to be thinking about something completely different) are those sheepskin or faux fur examples. These seem to be in every shop I've been in recently or maybe it's just me actively searching them out with my beadiest fashion-dar eye on high alert. 

 I've done quite a bit of research. I hate it when you come to the conclusion that the one you really like is silly money and then you spend ages trying to find another, similar item for less. I'll come back to the "one" later. 

Starting with the one that set me off down this road which is not just silly money but ridiculously, silly money. 

The Lucy gilet by Joseph. Here

The thing is though I like the fur on the outside. Why? Because in the late nineties everyone wore sheepskin gilets. Mine was from Monsoon. The fur was on the inside the skin was on the outside. But as time wore on the gilet became synonymous with middle aged ladies and even though I am middle aged this type of association with an item of clothing will induce me to drop it into a charity shop bin faster than you can say hot potato. 

Then I saw this gorgeous luxe version on a shopping trip with two very good friends. I couldn't help but notice that this one is also featured in this month's issue of Vogue. 

LK Bennett version. Don't look at the price. It's eye watering. Here and also comes in black

But the one that I find rather fabulous is from Whistles. 

This is the one   

I like this because it's got the fur on the outside which makes it more rock chick than rocking chair. It's longer and it covers your behind which gives it a nice silhouette if you are planning on teaming it with skinny jeans and boots or even leather leggings. 

This year it's in two colour ways, a beige melange and black. Black is my personal favourite but I could see possibilities for both.  The beige would work so well now with white denim. 

This is sheepskin. Ergo it's expensive. I do think I would wear this a lot so it's that old pence per wear justification creeping into my head.  Also, I like the fact that you can keep it on when you are out for the evening. When you've invested in something like this why would you want to take it off as soon as you get to the restaurant?

Then again I'm thinking is this a trend to invest in. I've spied other versions that look just as current and cosy. 

This one in Topshop Here has a great boxy shape and I've spied it on a couple of ladies recently. Admittedly, these ladies were twenty somethings so you can draw your own conclusion. I think this khaki green is the best colour way for me and the pinky beige is very wearable as well. 

Then I saw one in River Island this week and I have to say from a distance, if it was side by side in a  "spot the difference" puzzle with the Whistles one, you would struggle. Close up. The fur is tell tale shiny. Does that matter?  Probably not. Can I find a picture on line. No way Jose    

I did find this one though. Here and it also is in grey 

Not quite what I had in mind but the oversize collar gives it 2014 update. 

This one from Biba in House of Fraser is midnight blue faux fur.  The colour is brilliant for styling with jeans and not as harsh as plain black 

Here

So why would you splurge on such an impractical item of clothing?  The clincher for me is that the little bit of bulk that the gilet adds to your body doesn't half make your legs and arms in particular look much, much thinner. All you need is a long sleeved tee underneath to achieve the illusion of having the leanest limbs in Christendom. And that, lovely readers, in a nutshell is your justification, if it were ever needed. 

Wot no OOTD?

Let me explain. 

My outfits this week have either been full on work attire or something I wouldn't be seen dead in for doing chores in the house and neither location lends itself to inspirational outfits and accessories posts but you will be impressed to know that I have decluttered the room still called the "playroom" in our house. I have shifted a shed load of princess barbies and pink playmobil. To say I'm pleased with myself is the understatement. 

Need v Want

 I haven't written a new blog for a while. Frustrated by my lack of technical know how and a desire to make my blog pages look more interesting, I promised myself I'd wait until I could make the blog look more appealing before writing anymore. 

The truth is I'm learning but, holy cow, it's a a long-winded process. Hats off to all you bloggers who make it all look so effortless.

As usual I can't keep my mouth shut or my thoughts to myself. 

Today I'm struggling with what to wear to a beach in Devon where I'll be all day watching the Surf LIfesaving competition. Baywatch it ain't. Keeping warm and being prepared for whatever the weather throws at you is the order of the day. So it would make sense to don a fleece, or a gilet or even a pair of chinos. Except as you might imagine, I'm staring at a huge wardrobe gap where these "pratical"or "need" items might reside. I am going to look a total tool. Like turning up in heels for a walk in the countryside. 

To avoid said embarrassment, I've come up with this ensemble.

Jeans 

Don't think that the remnants of hurricane Bertha will mean it's going to be a getting legs out sort of day so I'm going with a pair of boyfriends. Anyway my daughter has borrowed my cut offs. 

My favourite are the MIH Phoebes.

MiH Phoebe. Currently out of stick £220

Closely followed by the J brand Aiden (with rips)

JBrand Aiden £81

These from Next look like they could fit the bill too.

White distressed relaxed skinny £26

I'm very fond of the MiH Paris variety in white.  

MiH white Paris jeans £160

I have put these on the blog before. But man the styling here does them no favours 

Shoes

I'll be in my Supergas - I nabbed a new navy pair just before the code from Style Sunday Times mag for My Wardrobe ran out and got mine for £20. 

Superga classic 2750 navy £45

Top

Shirt and logo sweat combo. 

A white or chambray. 

1969 western shirt

J Crew endless shirt £88

Logo sweats are everywhere this year and don't look like they're going away 

These are my current favourites but I think I'll be in my Whistles Comme Ci Comme Ca version. 

Whistles striped logo sweat

I think I'm becoming more than fond of this Zoe Karrsen one even though the last thing I need is another logo sweat.

 
Zoe Karrsen rap sweatshirt

Finally a coat. 

If the weather doesn't improve it'll be a parka but I'm praying it won't rain in which case a utility jacket would be ideal. If only I had one. Like this. 

Rag and Bone Chamberlain jacket £181

Is this the time to invest in the new season trend of a blanket coat?  A new trend, yes....but if you think about it, it's just a winter kimono isn't it?  Inspired by the Burberry version but lusting over this MiH offering in a more of a poncho style to be fair. Last time I wore a poncho I was seven, I'm sure. I'm a sucker for nostalgia. I've also noticed a complete love in with MiH in this post. I love everything in their range. Seriously "want" it all. That crept up on me too. 

MiH jeans poncho £325

Thank The very Lord it's not yet available or it would be hard work for me to resist. 

This is the epitome of "want" rather than a "need" item. And I'm supposed to be concentrating on need items on this post, but you know me I can weave in a justifiable reason for an expensive want item at the drop of a hat if I put my mind to it. Do I admit at this point that I sent in my email for an alert when it is available? 

Fate will dictate. I'll hang fire for the sale on the basis that I'm one of a handful that really like it.  It'll sell out and I'll kick myself.

This is what I finished up throwing on. 

Jeans - MiH Paris

Denim Shirt - Theory from last year 

Sweat - Whistles

Superga trainers in navy 

  

And instead of clothes, these were my SSOTD (style statement of the day)  They take me back; like being seven again - same as the poncho. That's nostalgia for you. In spades. 

It's 35 degrees but I'm thinking AW14

So I had a little sneak peek in  J Crew yesterday.

I know that Ms Lyons has quite a following and she doesn't need my comments thanks very much but I  have never been convinced. When I've visited the store before I came away thinking that everything looks preppy or dated and so I wasn't expecting to be bowled over with so many items I spotted there.

I also picked up a style magazine and it looks like if you haven't got your Adidas slides ( n.b. Not sliders) yet you must get some immediately.   Everything in the magazine is styled with them.  Slight over exaggeration but close. The magazine says you can ...get this... Wear with or without socks. Whom, you might ask is wearing their slides with socks? In this neighbourhood, there are numerous teenage boys who wear slides and tennis socks and the tennis socks are pulled up the shin and they wear them on the beach. I don't know if it's local schoolboy fashion or just the done thing but it's not something I've seen before.


Adidas Adilette slides

Of course the style guide makes the slides look way more aspirational and at around £20 you can't afford not to give them a try if they are capable of injecting so much instant cool into your wardrobe. Even if they have been around since the early 80's.

Talking of instant cool. The question has to be asked (even though my family are sick of me starting sentences with the phrase)

 "Am I too old for ...."

Ray ban aviators with blue lens

..... a pair of blue mirrored Ray Ban aviators. They look amazing on everyone but probably would scream "Middle aged woman trying too hard"  on me.  Sadly, as I love them. The green gold version feature in the J Crew Guide a lot, so be warned these will become the most coveted ray ban style ever in the next few weeks. You should get yours now 

Ray ban retro in green and gold. Now sold out

Moving on.

These items were my favourites all of the new stock I spied.

Merino Assymettrical sweater

I tried on the navy. It's a boxy shape and soft wool.I think I might need to revisit this particular item.

Endless shirt in white 

 A bit like the MIH oversized shirt that I've been wanting for ages but didn't think I could justify at £140. This one is about £65.

Normally for the marketIng shot they use the best colour so can't explain this one but the blue is sold out so as they say go figure 

These (apologies for appalling quality photo they are way better in the flesh I promise) were so so soft and drapey looking. They look the perfect dress up dress down variety and I think best if you leave them casual with your new slides. They don't have the saggy bum look either which is a big plus when you actually possess one. Add a pair of heels, I'm thinking those lovely M and S cage sandals that everyone bought except me even when I had a pair in my mitt, in my size and in the sale. One word. Muppet.


Definitely some thinking time required now as there was also a cropped cashmere cardigan in a multitude of colours which was special but I couldn't get a decent photo to show you....and "maybe" another visit to make a purchase or two as all this will be perfection with a pair of dark skinnies. 

This is what I actually bought. A five, yes, five dollar striped vest which was tried out today for a trip to a swamp sanctuary. No kidding.  Bit disappointing that we didn't see a single alligator.

J Crew striped vest - new

White shorts - Hoss intropia 

Pendant -Lalique

Panama - old from Nordstrom and nearly got destroyed in the rain today  

I wore this with my birkies which I shared with you on my Instagram today. 

 But I do want one of these rocking chairs. I know, a bit random but couldn't resist having a little sit down at the end of the trail.