3 day WardrobeChallenge number TWO: Jumpsuit

I've seen my two fabulous work colleagues wear them and never dared to follow, but in my 3 day wardrobe challenge all is allowed, so here I am in a jumpsuit-  this one is from Zara and it's in store now. I paired it with my "grown up" blazer and dressed down flats for an understated look. My verdict is that they are so comfy it matters so little if they look good..

Balenciaga navy blazer, Zara olive green jumpsuit £35 (in store now), Primark ballerinas, Chanel bag

3 day WardrobeChallenge number ONE: Colour

I'm going on a three day wardrobe challenge, I want to step out of my comfort zone and give a go at 3 trends that I would like to embrace but somehow never do. It helps if you feel stuck in a rut (slightly overdoing the stripey t-shirts I've been told) and to gain a fresh take on your shopping method. I'm not going to try hot pants for the sakes of it- just 3 trends that I love, but somehow never come around to embracing.

My first choice is wearing colour during the day and I am working it by toning it down with neutral tan accessories.

Top Shop dress, Marni wedges and belt

The day oversize clutch

I'm so sad that Luella is not selling their beautiful collection next season- however, I managed to get my hands on this fabulous metallic clutch on Brook street before the shop closes down (they still have a few great bits for London based fans). There is something fabulously decadent about an oversize clutch during the day, very early SATC too..

Zara sequin jacket and trousers, Joseph t-shirt, Luella clutch, R&B flats

Sailor trousers

I have a few important meetings today and must look the part. Sailor pants are ideal for a smart, polished look- I always prefer navy to black and I love the exposed brass buttons. I bought this Jigsaw pair for £30 in Bicester Village, a highly recommended designer discount mecca (Anya, Marni, Jimmy Choo, Joseph, Gucci, Luella and many more..)

Bicester Village

These ones are from Top Shop and are similar to mine £35

Hoodie & trench

Today I have a busy day of appointments, so I'm in my comfy flats and suede trench, worn over black skirt and sporty hoodie. The ballerinas are in store now and super cute. Overall, classic with and edge.

Wallis suede trench, Gap jersey hoodie, Top Shop ballerinas

My week in Wallis day SEVEN

Is it Pucci? Is it vintage Leonard? Nope- it's Wallis at £45 and i love, love, loove it!

Wallis stone feather fern tunic dress £45

Wallis dress, Gerard Darel elastic belt, Top Shop ballerinas

My week in Wallis day SIX

A maxi dress is a holiday packing must have and this billowing ditsy print frock is perfect for my week end in the country. I'm wearing it belted over a cardi for a sleek effect and to avoid the not-so-me "hippy look", but will wear it bare foot with a trillby on the beach. Can't wait!

 

Wallis maxi dress £50

Wallis maxi dress, Gap cardigan, Gerard Darel elastic belt, Top Shop ballerinas

My week in WALLIS day FIVE

I love a bit of animal print and this graphic giraffe print top is no exception. It's got a nice loose fit, perfect to be belted on the waist or worn with leggings as more of a tunic top.  I paired it up with this fab  Wallis statement necklace, black skirt and ballerinas for a smart, work-friendly day look. 

Wallis Limited Edition giraffe square print top £33 and necklace with gold discs £28

Wallis top and necklace, Miu Miu black skirt, Marni belt, Top Shop ballerinas

My week in WALLIS day FOUR

Tonight I am going to a new designer launch party and felt like dressing up a little! I don't often wear colour during the day, but I love jewel tones at night and this vibrant orange, silk top is a fantastic summer buy. There  are splashes of orange next season too, so I'm seeing it as an investment buy. I'm pairing it up with my Prada purple skirt, Mango gold heels and throwing a denim jacket over it all to keep it on the casual side. 

Wallis orange silk zip back top £30

Wallis orange top, Prada purple skirt, Mango gold strappy heels

My week in WALLIS day THREE

I love this blooming floral print dress whichI toughened up by adding some of my favorite all-black accessories. I'll also layer it with a stripy t-shirt underneath, flat sandals for summer picnics in the park, even my biker jacket and black tights should we have a short summer... 

Wallis navy floral ditsy tea dress £45 

Wallis dress, vintage belt, YSL bag, Zara shoes

My week in WALLIS day TWO

As some of you may know by now by now, stripy t-shirts are one of my absolute wardrobe must-haves. A stripy t-shirt evokes Chanel, it can be chic, preppy and cool all at the same time. You just can't go wrong with one, that is why I wear them with absolutely everything: underneath a blazer at work, layered underneath florals at the week-end, with denim, chino's and even clashing with leopard print accessories. I particularly love to dress it up with statement jewellery, so this  £28 necklace and £15 scoop neck top, are both cheap thrills that create a stunning overall effect.

Wallis stripey t-shirt £15 and gold disc necklace £28

Wallis t-shirt and necklace, Zara trousers, Chanel bag, Primark leopard print ballerinas 

My week in Wallis day ONE

This week, WIT sees it's very first project by collaborating with British high street store Wallis. Back in October last year, during their press day,  I had a sneak preview at the spring/summer collection and absolutely loved it. So, for the next seven days, I'll be incorporating hand picked, must-have favorites from their online collection into my existing wardrobe. Each day I'll share styling tips for each outfit, in the style of WIT's motto of simple, timeless and wearable style. 

Starting with a classic: the trench. Perfect for in-between seasons, this affordable spring cover-up has a great fit and  comes in a leg flattering mid-thigh length, ideal to be worn with flats and high heels. I like to be creative and chinch the waist up with one of my own belts, this way it's slightly different each time. My necklace is also from Wallis and a little bit of Marni on the High Street .

Wallis stone double breasted trench £70 

Yellow shell necklace on ribbon £15

Say it with a t-shirt!

Sometimes it's the simplest gestures that can express the strongest feelings. For those who know, this is my little celebration. For those who don't.. think of sending a love message with a t-shirt!

 My TEO t-shirt and a sunny, happy day!

Saturday cool

Hands-free bag? Check. Comfy leggings and flat shoes? Check and check. Slouchy T-shirt? Check. Cool-touch vest and layered jewellery? Check. Now I'm  ready for shopping and brunch at Broadway Market, and an afternoon in the park.

Cos black t-shirt and vest, Top Shop leggings, Zara perforated ballerinas, Anya Hindmarch bag, and fabulous chain necklace that my friends gave me for my birthday (Pomegranate Kensigton Square)

Designer t-shirts. Money well spent?

I say yes, (within reason). Ok they are pricey, but gosh does that little "YSL", "Miu Miu" or "Lanvin" logo make all the difference.  Even if it's just inside the label, I know it's there and I love it. A few season back, as a Christmas present, Chanel gave celebrities and magazine fashion directors  a stripy t-shirt, complete with paint brush effect CC logo. To this day whenever I see it,  I want it so badly I could rip it off them. Fashion victim? me?! naaaaa!

YSL Tshirt, Mango jenas, Chanel bag, Zara ballerinas 

 

Above, Chloe and Lanvin T-shirts. Below, the object of my T-shirt envy...

Nip and tuck

I've had this fabulous, Burberry golden mac hanging in my wardrobe for  three years, before I understood the reason why it never once saw the light of day. And then realised that it was simple: it was too long- it made me look short and frumpy,  nothing looked good with it. So I took it to my trusted tailor (I wouldn't let anyone else near my Burberry), and had it shortened to my FH-spot* (flats and heels length), that perfect length of something to suit both flats and high heeled shoes. This has tought me a lesson: no matter how amazing something is, if the fit is not right, it's going for a nip and tuck. 

Burberry golden mac, Benetton stripy top, Mango jeans, Zara sandals


*P.S I've been asked where's the FH-spot, and it depends on leg proportions- so everyone has their own. Mine is just above the knee bone.

Fashion Confidential

Today I'll let newly launched  fashionconfidential.co.uk do the talking with some of my favorite spring buys, alongside the outfit I wore for my picture on one chilly, February afternoon...

Theory blazer, Joseph sequin tank, my old jeans, Zara shoes, Luella cuff, Anya Hindmarch satchell

The dress-up jacket

There is such thing as a statement jacket- that one piece that jazzes up an outfit and is a real head turner. I believe that this is an item to invest on and I've found my perfect spring cover up in this Chloe, bejeweled cropped jacket. It's smart and chic, perfect for work when T-shirt and trousers need a bit of a "lift". I think of it as a blazer with a twist and wear it to dress up, rather than dress down. Be it sequins, lace or tweed, the statement jacket is wardrobe essential and a great item to look out for  during sales,  it can be pricey but so worth the money.

Chloe cropped jacket with crystal embroidery, Benetton stripy T-shirt, Joseph trousers, R&B ballerinas, YSL bag

From Picnic to Pizza

Today I needed an outfit that would take me from picnic lunch, to an evening pizza with friends. Wide leg linen trousers are perfect for sit-down grazing in the park, but just as stylish with a navy belt and an added denim blazer for the evening. My picnic hamper becomes a Chanel 2.5s and the transformation is done.

Gap stripy Tshirt, Liberty belt, French Connection wide leg trousers, R&B ballerinas, Chanel bag.

I looove my new picnic basket,  £26.00 from Cargo - Denim Blazer similar to mine from Notify

 

Tangerine nails

This morning I woke up and the sun was shining- it made me think that I can't wait to ditch tights, go bared legged and slip on all my beloved open-toed shoes. So I gave myself a manicure and pedicure, using Illamasqua's tangerine Whack nail varnish. It's one of my favorite shades from my extensive collection of corals. It's a fabulous and vibrant shade of orange, it looks great with beige and navy, chino's and denim and  it's an absolutely perfect hue to step-into spring. I will regularly freshen it up with a coat of Seche Vite (only the best top coat in the world), so it will stay glossy all week.

Illamasqua nail varnish in Whack £13.00 

Seche Vite Top Coat £8.95

The CC factor

Hall of fame alert! Up to now,  these are the items that make up my wardrobe essentials, the ones I cannot live without and that I would truly suggest all my friends invest on: the trench, the stripy t-shirt, the cardigan, the navy skirt and ballerinas. There are obviously many more to come, but at this time I would like to introduce another one of my all time favorites: the Chanel 2.55. If I could choose one bag for the rest of my life, it would be it. Perfection to me comes in the navy leather, double flap 2.55, but I wouldn't mind a metallic one and a jersey one too. The CC factor,  as I like to call it, is the power of a 2.55 to transform virtually any outfit into a chic ensemble. As Carry would say: "It's not logic,  it's love"

Balenciaga navy blazer, Cos T-shirt, Zara leggings, Pretty Ballerinas navy flats, Chanel patent 2.55