Pyjama Day

It's been a while but I miss doing this and I've got a bit of time on my hands this week so bear with...

Christmas has come and gone but one thing endures and gets worn on repeat. I absolutely love my pyjamas. Not any old pyjamas mind. I like proper ones with a shirt style top and wide leg drawstring bottoms and if they are cotton and have a bit of a piped edging then I'm all over them. 

I may have self gifted. Look at these beauties from Bodas (Net a Porter) and 50% off right now. Admire the burgundy piping. Thrill at the soft white cotton.  

But Him Indoors did not disappoint. He knows about my PJ habit and came up trumps with only the most covetable set of sleepwear on the planet. 

These Desmond and Dempsey beauties were under my tree wrapped up in a specially designed pillowcase. They seem to be sold out. Mine were on back order apparently. And I knew I was in good company when Alex from The Frugality popped up wearing hers on Instagram. 

I already have the pineapple version. They are so lovely I regret not wearing them out of the house. Mine are the white and green but they seem to be sold out as well.  Here's the navy which I think are also pretty cool. 

All this enables me to side step the other nightwear look which involves frothiness and lace and which just makes me guffaw at the very thought of seeing myself swanning around in a silk confection. Maybe I'm missing the point. I guess you aren't supposed to "swan" around in stuff like that but lounge in a seductive fashion. See what a mean. Very funny. 

I did once try the cashmere onesie. But it had a hood. Pet hate (except on a parka). And I tried to overlook this by its very softness. But it had to go because of its heat generating efficiency. If you are prone to feeling cold. You can't go wrong. If you are hitting your fifties in a centrally heated house and want to give out more heat than a striking coal miner's brazier. Bad choice. 

I'm so in love with the pj look that I am determined that I'm going to wear them out. With a break from tradition I'm going out in this on NYE.  Cue slightly bemused but resigned look from Him Indoors. 

Milan (darling)

Because you can't say Milan without adding " darling "

I'm in the middle of packing for a long weekend away with my daughter. It was her idea. Seriously. She's just finished GCSE 's and rather than let her loose on the festival circuit ( plenty of time ) we planned a trip to Milan (darling). 

I'm planning to wear all the summer stuff  I've had in my wardrobe that haven't had a proper look in with the crummie weather in the uk. Starting with these beauties from DODO BAROR.

And did you notice that I'm also going to break out my new Desmond and Dempsey jammies. 

Also. Perfect timing - new edition of Vogue landed today. 

Watch it all unfold on insta. As they say. 

Ciao Bella ( they also say that, apparently) 

Time to fess up

Not going to go through the myriad of excuses for not producing blog copy for ages. Things like "not got the time " , " I work in local government - for heavens sake!" or "I'm sending the wrong messages to my girls about social media" are all statements I've uttered but I might as well have said "the dog ate my homework" as reason enough because these are pathetic excuses, aren't they?

 I've just decided I'm going to blog about stuff I like and is on my mind and if you read and like it, then great and if not, well I enjoyed writing it - and that's that. 

Today's obsession in point is a graphic tee but not just any old graphic tee shirt. I can't get this ultra cool "GIVE A DAMN" tee as sported by Alex Turner of Artic Monkeys fame and now The Last Shadow  Puppets in their Glastonbury set this weekend out of my little head. 

Now, Alex doesn't know it but we grew up in the same north Sheffield stomping ground (different decades obvs)  I spot his subtle South Yorkshire influenced lyrics and grow nostalgic. Sad case that I am, in my own head this qualifies me to wear the same t shirt. Also, major confessional, I probably wouldn't have cared about the tee shirt that much until I saw it at Glasto. It's a bit like I wouldn't normally wear a jumper with "Ginsberg is God " emblazoned across the chest but the whole wanting to buy into the Bella Freud / band tee shirt thing is, well - becoming a bit of thing. Cue Olympic standard eye rolling by my family.

So here it is in action  

 Can we also just take a  mo to talk about his flared sailor style trews. Obviously, I quite like these too. 

It's from the Deep End Club based in New York and it appears to have some serious ethical credentials but if I'm honest that's all lovely but being entirely shallow, I'm really keen to acquire this garment because of Alex and Alexa ( yes - the ex). 

This jumper is also on my list which is from another new lust label called Hades. Scottish based so a little more accessible. 

I'm off to the States in August and so the Give A Damn t shirt is going to be mine. You can buy it online - luckily as if I were to walk into the shop I think they refuse to sell to me for fear of damage to their brand. The price at $45 is within reach even if the location isn't. 

Oh, and can't wait to see the bloke in the flesh, so to speak, when he plays my adoptive home town on the South Coast- touring with the LSP's. 

In the meantime,  here I am in my fave Bella Freud which to prove the point has been joined by two more.

  

The rest of the outfit, in case your wondering.  

Frame le skinny jeans and Frame belt with boots - I kid you not (not seen) 

Which shoes do you wear with flares?

I've been on a flares post watch from all my favourite bloggers and it seems we are all about to launch ourselves into wearing flares. 

This is coming from one who has three pairs of denim and a pair of cord flares but when push comes to the very shove still wears a pair of skinnies. This weekend was a case in point. I woke up full of determination. Today was the day I was going wear the flares. All day. At the weekend. Then I put on my leather leggings, slouchy jumper and flats uniform. The thought of trying to supervise my daughter's party in heels was a faff too far. 

I often wear - read at least once a week - usually Friday when I have fewer meetings - my dark wash MiH Marrakesh to work with a shirt and blazer. I can't really wear jeans to work so being a big fat cheater I wear jeans that look like trews. I've had them shortened to wear with my comfy stacked heel boots. I can hack this look all day long. No problem. But that's because it's work and I'm used to wearing heels all day. Come the weekend it's a very different story. I'm straight into my flats. So what do you do with all the extra length of the flared denim swishing about your ankles?  For me it's fast becoming an issue so I spent a bit of time trying on various shoes with my flares so I need never fear wearing flares and reach for them ahead of the skinnies. I started off thinking that the toe needed to be pointy to avoid looking like a 70's time warp. 

I tried my very comfy M and S stilettos 

Verdict. Too dressy 

Pointy front = good

 Spiky heel = bad 

Then I moved onto my work boots. 

These boots are the most comfortable footwear I own and they have a heel.

Verdict. I'll continue to wear these boots with my flares but they are too boring for weekends 

I moved onto to thinking about the summer.

First, in my See by Chloe sandals that have had at least three years now. They definitely have that seventies vibe going on; all thick tan leather and chunky heels.

Verdict. When the weather warms up I'll be wearing these with my flares. No doubt. The photos paired with the flares just hid them under the hem. Also I may have been trying to hide my feet that haven't seen the light of day for a few months. 

Secondly I turned to my orange peep toe sling backs that I bought last year. Also very comfortable and with a wedge they keep the seventies feeling mighty real. 

Verdict. On a sunny day I'll be reaching for these. Perhaps I'll also reach for my paler wash MiH Marrakesh as well. 

Finally, if you really want to be thrown right back into the seventies then what about these clogs. Mine are so old I can't remember when I got them. 

Yes, I am laughing out loud. 

Verdict. No thanks. Verging on fancy dress.  I need one of those floppy wide brimmed hats and I'll think I'm Carly Simon. Which incidentally is a bit of a worry since I can't sing for toffee. 

Overall

1. Stick to a chunky heel. Failing that wear wedges

2. Almond toe shoes (like my comfy work boots) don't do the look any favours. But I'll still be wearing mine 9 to 5. 

Pointy is better but not with a stiletto heel. 

3. Sandals just look better than boots - there is a reason why these jeans are tipped for SS15 not AW14.

4. Definitely leave the clogs to those younger individuals who would not have worn them in circa 1973 on account of their not being alive.  

  

Or I could just invest in these chunky heeled sandals which will nail the look effortlessly.


Russell and Bromley Cindy platform £125 

New Pencils

I love writing a blog. 

 But I wanted the presentation to look better, on the other hand, let's face it with all the other stuff I have to get done,my time is not my own so improvements,well, that's just never going to happen. I'm sticking with my very bog standard format. I'm going to stop going on about it now. If you have missed me or even if you hadn't noticed I'd taken a break, as my youngest would say - "soz"

Onto more interesting things like what I've been up to on the fashion front. I've been using the January sales to pick up those items I've had on my Wishlist for ages. Such as the Jaeger wrap drop shoulder coat that I featured here and I finally purchased at a whacking 75% off thanks to my constant stalking. Whilst I'm on the subject I did have to buy a Large. I'm an 8/10 but my local tailor looks like he can sort out the sizing for £20 - he is good, I trust him not to make a bugger of it and even with the extra cost of a size adjustment the coat was still a steal. Do I need another coat. Do I heck as like. Can I see infinitesimal occasions when I'd where this coat. I certainly can. 

Then there are the Frame Le High flares (thanks to Mrs What If Snr) and a lovely print Equipment silk shirt. I think I'm ready for the seventies SS15 trend.

Both featured my blogs in AW 14 , both now sitting in my wardrobe. 

Both sale purchases. Both too pricey for my budget.

But as a sale purchase I don't mind if I do. I'm planning outfits around flares, silk shirt, navy blazer and I think pointy toe shoes to stop the whole outfit looking like I've literally just dropped out of 1977. I will share my attempts to style this in real life. Not just in my head. 

In January  (I know it's February now but I started putting pen to iPad on this blog in January ) you are supposed to cut back on the booze and food, join a gym and hit the boot camp sessions aren't you? The shop windows of M and S have been full of sports bras in my neck of the woods. I wonder who is the marketing is aimed at. Presumably we are all supposed to think, I tell you what would lift my mood, give me that feel good factor, a new sports bra. Must purchase that item right now!

Not M and S but I have been drawn to Sweaty Betty both in store (Soho branch) and on line. Bloody love Sweaty Betty.

I got this cossie and an SB hat for Christmas. 

 I was ridiculously pleased with my new dolphin back suit. I bet my fellow swimmers are quite pleased to see me at 6 am (yes, I'm just as impressed with myself) in the morning wearing something that is not borrowed from my daughter. Being unsure of whether I'd stick to regular swimming I wasn't prepared to shell out for new gear and carried on borrowing my daughter's inappropriately cut suit. 

Sweaty Betty Hypo Glisten top

Sweaty Betty Athlete vest 

Sweaty Betty fleece headband

I am such a pathetic individual because when I get new fitness stuff I can't wait for the next run or swim to try it out. I just wish that "starting the new term with new pencils " feeling would last. 

In the meantime here are a couple of my weekend outfits. Sticking to my plan to wear what I've already got in my wardrobe - I'm saving my flares and shirt for the spring and of course my new coat is being altered 

The first one is just before a lovely lunch out with the family

Black leather private leggings - Sandro 2013

Grey pinstripe jumper - Stella McCartney sale purchase

5050 OTK boots - R and B 

And this is just before I headed out to meet up with friends for dinner 

Black leather pencil skirt - Joseph 2013

Grey fitted jumper - Carven 2013

Black ankle boots - Reiss very old

Faux fur - Whistles 

(ok this might have been a more recent acquisition. Not purchase. It was an exchange for one of their "sold out" Kumiko jackets that was returned)   

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.