Boot lusting.. what my feet are craving this Autumn.

The weather is pretty grim out there as I sit at my desk tapping away.  The rain is coming down in sheets.  Despite that, Autumn is such a gorgeous time of year.  I love kicking through leaf piles as I stroll along.  There's something so fun and childlike about kicking crunchy leaves.  I love doing it with the boys too!

Autumn and winter is a time for boots.  OK, if I'm honest, about 10 months of the year in the UK is boot time.. but they are essential at this time of year.  For years and years I have been a calf to knee height boot devote.  However, over the last year I have definitely found love for ankle boots.  I'm not a total convert, I still love my knee highs.  I have a foot in both camps, as it were, just not at the same time, I don't think even I could get away with that as a "look".

Ankle boots are everywhere.  They vary from cheap as chips (£8 in Primarni - just how do they do that?  Not a good thought) to crazy money.  There's quite a few in the middle price range though. The "more than I'd normally pay but these will last me a few seasons and the quality is great" range.

As I'm sure you already know, I recently became a consultant with Me&i, the ethical Swedish clothing company.  When they announced a few weeks ago that they were bringing out an ankle boot, I'll admit I did a happy dance.  This isn't just any ankle boot.  It's a very on trend Chelsea wedge boot with a beautiful and Autumnal flash of cayenne elastic to make them easy to slip on and off (brilliant for the school run!).

Well, today my friends, these boots are available for sale.  All sales consultants are eagerly anticipating orders.  And most of them want them ourselves.  I know I do.  I do need (hehe) a pair of comfy and easy to slip on boots for the cold and yucky school runs so I'm going to put some money by this month and buy myself a pair as soon as I can.  If, unlike me, you aren't strapped for cash just now and you are in the market for a new pair of boots, I'd recommend these!  They are made in Portugal (known as one of the best places in the world for quality leather).  The leather is vegetable tanned which means it's as close to organic as you can get and, as with everything Me&i, they are ethically produced in a factory paying proper wages.  You can only buy the boots via a consultant, so if you are interested, let me know, I'm your gal! You can check out my facebook page for more info!

Spring in Autumn

Spring in Autumn.  What am I on about?  Well.  I got dressed this morning and the dress I put on, if I'm honest, it looked more like a dress for a Spring day than an Autumn one.  Having said that, today is particularly beautiful in this part of the country.  The exact kind of Autumn day you dream about.  Crisp air, colourful leaves in the trees, no rain and blue skies.  So I suppose, if it weren't for the leaves around my feet I could be fooled into thinking it was a little spring like out there.  If it weren't for the smell in the air as well...  Do you find the air smells different season to season?  I know I do.

I like this dress.  It hangs in my wardrobe (which is bursting at the seems..) and doesn't come out very often.  It's one of those dresses, when I put it on, I'm not sure whether I like how it looks on my or not.  Today I like it.  And it suits the bright blue sky.  So whilst it has cherry blossom splashed all over it, it feels lovely and bright, just like the weather.  I'll take that..  Stick a pair of tights under and cardi over the top, I think it still works!

Smile woman!

Dress - Who knows! Sorry...

Cardigan - Yumi

Tights - Ebay

Belt - H&M

Do you ever wear clothes that don't seem quite right for season but go with it anyway?  Oh, and before you comment. Yes, I am wearing my slippers.  I'm in my house! No shoes in the house!! Perhaps I should change the title of this blog to "Style in Slippers".  Or "Slip into Style".  Perhaps "Style V Comfort"?.  Hmmmm....

**Linking up with lovely Not Dressed As Lamb for #iwillwearwhatilike**

Seasons change; practical AW15 fashions for kids

September.  One of my favorite months.  Of course, it is the month that sees the return to school and the end of the summer but I often find that weather in September is lovely.  Days are often quite warm and sunny but there is the added benefit of slightly snugglier nights in and dewy morning mists with autumnal fragrances in the air.  Autumn, that season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.

Leaving June and July far behind, it's the time of year where layers are extremely useful.  It's not quite time to bring out the winter coat, it's not cold enough.  But the winds can bite and the rains come down all year round!!  I find with my boys it works well if they wear a fleece and then we carry a fold up mac or thin raincoat which can be used on top.

A brand I think do this very well are Joules.  Their fleeces are warm and very soft.  Soft being key with my boys and many children I think!  No one likes scratchy clothing!  The Joules clothing range includes a variety of coats and jackets ranging from thinner fold up rain macs.  These are great for popping over thick jumpers or fleeces but also easy to carry around.  I like to keep pack up macs in our car for emergencies!  I also keep one for myself in our buggy shopping bag.  You never know!  It's true that you can pick up cheaper rain macs but I can vouch for the quality in these, something you appreciate when the rains start to fall and the wind blows.  The elastic is tight enough and the zips are tough.  I've been caught out before in cheap macs and ended up wet and freezing!

I don't just think about coats in Autumn,  I take a good look our wellies, check they still fit and, most importantly, check they are watertight!  Another thing I've learnt to check from experience.  Puddles aren't quite so much fun when you can actually feel them!  Over the years we've had various brands of wellies but my favorites have to be Hunter and Joules (again!).  We all currently have Hunter but Ethan just grew out of his Joules mustache print wellies (can't wait for Felix to fit them!) and I just had to replace my pheasant print ones are a few years hard use!  I rate both brands for wellies, they are hard wearing, warm and have chunky soles with good grip.  Very useful when chasing a two year old around a muddy wood!

What are your essentials for Autumn?  Anything you can't do without?  I'd love to know!

Orla-bout Autumn

I don't know about you, but I think that many of Orla Kiely's patterns are Autumnal, both in colour and pattern.  I suppose it could be because she takes her inspiration from nature, and we all know what beautiful colours Autumn offers us!

When I discovered Uniqlo were doing a collaboration with Orla Kiely, I was super excited . I was also too late to the party and everything was sold out.  Thank goodness for eBay in these situations.  I'm not usually able to afford Orla unless I find bargains or items on sale, but the Uniqlo pieces were being sold at very affordable prices.  Of course, on eBay they'd been hiked up a bit, but for some Orla, in my opinion, still worth it!

I managed to bag myself a scarf/stole for £15 and a dress for £40.  They are both in the same pattern (my favourite I think!) and I'm extremely pleased with both.  Well worth the money I think.  The scarf/stole is excellent quality, nice thick material so it was definitely worth what I paid!  As soon as I opened the package containing my scarf, I put it on and it's remained round my neck most days since!

What do you think?

I think it makes any outfit!!  The above is from a few weeks back when I held a Stella & Dot event at my husband's workplace.  I wanted to look smart.  This dress was a total bargain, £15 from Tesco.  I think it looks far more expensive than that and the fit is fantastic.  This was a very cheap outfit all in all.. but it doesn't look it (well... I think! You tell me!).

Dress - Tesco £15

Cardigan - Room31 £3

Tights - Primark £1

Shoes - Matalan £12

Scarf - eBay £15

Are you lucky enough to own any Orla? Or did you get some from Uniqlo?

Linking up today with Sunday Style, Watch What I'm Wearing and Visible Monday.

xx

Complimentary Autumn Shades

The reason for today's blog post title is twofold.  First of all, the colours in this outfit are very Autumnal and compliment each other well.  The second is that when in this outfit I received a compliment from a complete stranger which was lovely and unexpected!  So.. Let me introduce you to my "Complimentary Autumn Shades"!

Vest - H&M (last year)

Cardigan - George @ Asda - current season

Jeans - F&F @ Tesco - current season

Socks - H&M (old)

Uggs - 2009 old school classics!

Jewellery - all Stella & Dot

I loved this outfit.  Ohhhh... it was so happy making!  Some of my favourite colours (I know, all us style bloggers seem to go crazy over mustard, but how can you not?!).  Mustard jeans teamed with a rust coloured baggy cardi.  Mmmmmm!  It was slouchy in the right places, comfy, especially worn with Uggs, and warm to keep out the Autumnal chill that's now in the air.  My Stella & Dot jewels look fantastic with this look I think, they glam it up a bit.  I was stood in Superdrug moaning about the fact that the toothpaste we buy is never on offer when this lady stopped next to me, touched my arm and said "those colours you are wearing are absolutely beautiful".  Well, I was grinning from ear to ear.  It's so lovely to get a compliment, especially from a stranger.  Really made my day.

Have you ever got a compliment from a stranger?

I'm linking up today with Visible Monday, #Yolo Mondays, Sunday Style & Watch What I'm Wearing.

Styling the School Run with Lands' End

The fabulous people at Lands' End contacted me recently and asked if I would like to take part in their Bloggers Style Project.  Of course I said yes!  I couldn't type out my reply quick enough!

Lands' End asked me to choose a dress from their Autumn dress range to showcase on my blog.  I have to admit it was difficult to choose.  I could have gone for any of the gorgeous dresses on there.  In the end, I decided to go for something with a bold pattern.  I love bold patterns, I'm pretty much "known" for them.  Can you guess what I chose?  I went for the floral print jersey wrap dress.

Image source: Lands' End website

The customer service was excellent and my dress arrived quickly.  I was chomping at the bit to get to it, so it's just as well the dress arrived quickly!  Once my package arrived and I opened up, I wasn't disappointed.  At first look, the pattern just jumps out of you.  On first touch, I fell in love.  This dress is so soft and comfortable!  I couldn't have been happier.  The idea of this challenge was to choose a dress suitable and versatile enough to become the linchpin of a "school run" outfit.  Something you would be comfortable and happy in, something you could style in different ways but a dress in which you would still be stylish.  For me, this dress has all boxes ticked!

It has to be said that perhaps it isn't as versatile as some of the other dresses Lands' End stock, due to it's length, shape and pattern, but I still feel you can change your look.  Different shoes/boots, different jewellery, a jacket, a cardigan, a bright pair of tights for a flash of colour.  I feel this dress could easily become evening wear as well.  Something stylish yet comfy to wear to a dinner party in I feel!

I have worn this dress several times now.  I mostly team it with a pair of boots, I think that's how it looks best, though I have worn low heeled pumps and flats as well.  I feel this dress really needs a belt and preferably a big one.  It helps to emphasise your figure!  Important when there's a whole lot of pattern going on. Talking of pattern,  I love the way it contrasts with my autumn jacket and my statement jewellery works brilliantly with it.  Time and time again though, I'm just bowelled over by how soft and comfy it is to wear!  I've washed this dress a couple of times now.  It washes well, retains it's shape, dries quickly and looks just as good as before.

Couldn't get Alfie to stay out of shot...

When wearing this dress, I have received compliments, particularly about the pattern!  My Mum mentioned that I "looked lovely" in it.  I'm very very happy with this dress - I bet that's clear now!

Thank you so much, Lands' End, for involving me in this project, I've enjoyed it and can say, hand on heart, that this is a new favourite dress of mine that has already made it to the school dates twice since the start of term!

If you want to see some other Lands' End dresses "in action" then check out these other bloggers!

The Online Stylist
ClaireJustine
The Life & Times of a Working Mum
School Gate Style

Other outfit details:  

Necklace - Stella & Dot

Bracelets - Stella & Dot

Ring - H&M

Belt - New Look

Earrings - eBay

Pumps - Matalan

Boots - Art

Jacket - Jasper Conran

Bag - Marc Jacobs
Umbrella - Love Umbrellas

**I was sent this dress by Lands' End for review purposes and have also been compensated for this post, but all views expressed are honest and genuine**