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. 

When in Rome....

Although not in Italy, just thought I had better point that out. I am on my annual (sometimes biannual if I can scrounge enough annual leave together) pilgrimage to the States. That means I'm checking out American fashion. Over the years I had written off shopping here because the word I would use to describe it is SAFE. Even Him Indoors would agree.  Unless that is you were thinking of jeans or a t shirt with a moose logo or a really,  really upmarket purchase, I hasten to add.  But shopping for mere mortals who didn't need another pair of skinnies to add to their collection  (or said logo'd attire) then there wasn't much to hang your credit card on.  But all that's changed. With J CRew and Madewell  thank you for telling me Susie SoSo) and Anthropologie and at the higher end of the spending spectrum but not completely out of the question Rag and Bone and T by Alexander Wang. I could go on....

I should share with you my first outing of my sale purchase Michael Michael Kors shirtdress.  Michael Kors seems to having a moment in the UK. Those chunky gold watches that my daughter and her friends all love and if you stand still at any station or Starbucks and look around for a nano second I bet you'll see an MK tote. So I dipped my toe into the MK pond with this silk shirtdress   The gold buttons were nearly a deal breaker.... Erring towards bling territory. But as you can see I got over that pretty darn quickly.  The redeeming factor was that I knew it would go with heels, wedges and flats that I already owned.  I think it won't date too quickly. Those famous last words that make any purchase justifiable in my book. 

Shirt dress - MIchael Michael Kors still available at House of Fraser here

Orange wedges - Russell and Bromley

 Mulberry bag (old) 

Oh and by the way the bargain of the year award goes to my eldest who managed to snaffle a pair of black skinny JBrands for $55 down from $180. And they were just sitting there on a sale rail at Saks 5th Avenue. No bargain basement rummaging required. Perfect fit and a cropped length so a little autumn ankle flashing will be in order.

 Tomorrow I'm off to look at J Crew and I'll report back.