Isabel and Vanessa

The two names that are disturbing my sleep are Isabel and Vanessa.  That's Isabel Marant and Vanessa Bruno to you.

 It came as a surprise to me as I've always considered my default style as clean not frothy. Think Celine before all the tribal print and pleated skirts - who am I trying to kid?  So you could have knocked me down with lace bib effect blouse when I felt drawn to this particular bohemian style. In my head I'm wearing this lacey top (let's call it a blouse as top is doing it an injustice) to a beach side restaurant. The type with scrubbed tables, totally unsophisticated but serving amazing fish from a small galley kitchen. I'm pairing this with a pair of cuffed jeans in a boyfriend style or denim shorts with my Swedish hasbeens. Very insouciant as they say in La Belle France mais bien sur ... ah em. Pulling myself together, this is all in my head, of course. 

In fact, the object of my affliction is not one by Isabel or Vanessa at all. Its this one spotted on My Wardrobe by Sea NY.   It's got that bohemian look but the price is a very sophisticated £330. Even with a handsome discount and on noticing that there was only one left in my size, I could not invest. 

So Isabel and Vanessa,  you have a lot to answer for, as now you have me on a mission to find a similar but sensibly priced version, of my literally, dreamy blouse. 

I did buy both the cream and black versions of this top from & Other Stories after I spotted it in Red magazine, and they were soft and 
gauzy and had a touch of lace and in the sale at £29. But they also have this rather annoying elastic waist thing going on that I just could not get on with. So they were both returned ...

http://www.stories.com/gb/Ready-to-wear/Blouses_Shirts/Fringe_detail_blouse

Then She Who Has The Hormones and I made our usual pilgrimage to Topshop at the weekend.  And I was once again drawn to a Vanessa style blouse.  All lace and pin tucks and gauzy. But not cotton and in my pathetic mind this became a deal breaker.

http://www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/clothing-427/tops-443/embroidered-blouse

I have been watching with increasing interest the hype around Mango right now and have hesitated as there is a Mango near me but it's a small concession. But you have to agree that I should get a good night's sleep if I just ordered this one online. But it totally "pee" d me right off when I found I had missed their flash,one day of the bloody year, discount day. So, unless they take pity on us desk jockeys, who can't check their email for sudden and unexpected discount codes every five bloomin' minutes, and run another sale day, maybe with a bit more notice this time please, I will continue to dream. 

 This one is pretty close to my ideal.

http://shop.mango.com/GB/p0/women/clothing/blouses-and-shirts/blouses/embroidered-chiffon-blouse

 This one also nails the look to a T. 

embroidered detail blouse

  

I would quote Shakespeare now if I could ... Something about sleeping and dreaming I think he said.  Now I've really gone soft. 

Today it was back to work so quickly took a selfie before heading out of the door. I promise I will do something about the quality of these photos. 

Blue chambray shirt - Theory

Nude blazer - Topshop

Navy button front trousers - Joseph

Black patent Chester Loafers - Russell and Bromley.