Knitwear obsession (no, literally)

Ribbed skirt £95

Side split top £110 both at Whistles

I have to admit that last season I bought quite a few new jumpers, from Acne to J.Crew I went on a little crazy shopping spree but it has to be said, in the winter it's all I wear. This season my obsession for knitwear has extended past the jumper and I'm now on a  shopping frenzy for everything from skirts, to dresses and "coatigans". I was lucky enough to be able to choose an outfit from  (1 and 2) Whistles prior to LFW and have been hoping for a cold enough day to wear this ensamble of tubular skirt and open sided sweater. But also, I was on a shoot on Monday and fell in love with this (4) By Malene Birger jacket that is actually a knitted cardigan, and then of course is the (5) Eileen Fischer black wool skirt I wore to our Wardrobe ICONS event in September.  Thought I would flag the lot and here's what I'm wearing today for a day in the office! Oh - and I've just added this (3) Isabel Marant scarf to my Christmas wish list...

The all white look

Topshop shoe and culottes, J.Crew shoes, Chloe bag

I wore all white to London Fashion week last season and have been hooked ever since. I don't know why white and cream are mainly regarded as summer colours, I think they look amazing in the winter too, it's like getting an instant face glow! However, I think it's important to wear winter whites the winter way, so cosy knits and lots of layers. So today I'm wearing my new Topshop culottes (that are of a great, heavy fabric with a gorgeous pleat on the side that makes them look like a billowy midi skirt) and super chunky cable knit that everyone thinks it's Stella McCartney!

Chunky Polo Knit Jumper by Unique £175 and Heavyweight Crepe Culottes by Boutique £95 Topshop

New season, new coat: the cape

In my mind a coat cupboard should contain one of each of the great classics: the tailored grey coat, the forever camel wrap coat, the weekend jacket, the prefect parka and so the list goes. I've spent the past years slowly and gradually building this capsule wardrobe and ticking off my list of essentials, and this year I decided I was going to invest on a cape. A cape was high on my list of priorities because I don't really own a smart coat - also, I don't really ever know what to wear as a cover up over an evening dress and despite loving a bit of high/low mix, sometimes you just need a smart coat. 

After much research I fell in love with this Stella McCartney number from Luisa Via Roma. It's an investment, but I decided a few years ago I wasn't going to buy any more cheap coats - would rather buy one every two years!

Stella McCartney number from Luisa Via Roma

I think it makes the perfect evening coat for three reasons: it's doesn't interfere with your clothes (or at least not this style), you can graciously hold a clutch, and it's a real coat (75% wool) so it keeps you warm, not like using a shawl as a cover up! So there it goes, my new addition to the perfectly functioning coat closet worn today over jeans and heels. Turns out work for the day too! 

Stella McCartney wool cape £965

Day 1 at London Fashion Week

Day one at London Fashion Week is always a more casual affair, so I was thrilled to partner up with  casual wear brand GANT on an initiative to dress up one of their classic white shirts to make it front row worthy during the shows. 

The challenge was right up my street - a white shirt is exactly the kind of wardrobe icon that I like to reinvent on a regular basis. I was fascinated to learn that GANT has been making shirts since 1949, the Diamond G collection is a testament to the company’s origins as shirtmakers and my Pinpoint Oxford Fitted Shirts is one of the best fitting, slim shirts I have ever worn. 

For my London Fashion week look I styled it with my Marrakesh flared jeans and a statement bag to keep the look modern. I left left it a little bit undone with sleeves rolled up for a casual feel and topped it all up with a red lip.

Perfect Oxford £80
To learn more about GANT and their Diamond G collection click here

WIT mama Friday: the SIX items every stylish mama needs in her wardrobe

Greta started full time nursery recently and I've been spending quite some time watching other mums on the so called "school run". I love looking at other mum's uniforms and seeing what they regard as essentails - this has given me the opportunity to think about my own uniform and what I think every stylish mother needs. When I first became a mum I remember thinking long and hard at how I was going to tweak my everyday wardrobe for it to be practical, comfort but also stylish - these are my ultimate, must-own 6 top buys.

1. J.Crew Parker crossbody bag £98
2. Acne Studios  New Powder hooded down parka  £750
3. Boden relaxed fit cashmere jumper £139
4. Isabel Marant Etoile boots £284
5. Topshop boyfriend jeans £42
6. Ray-Ban The Wayfarer acetate sunglasses £125 

1) A cross body bag

Hands free is the way forward and small enough to carry your essentials only. If you have a small child you will have a nappy bag anyway whereas if your are running after  a toddler you don;t want anything weighing you down. I love this J.Crew little bag and it comes in lots of wearable or more fun colours. Great quality for price too and love that it has no logos.

J.Crew Parker crossbody bag £98

2) A "Marant" ankle boot

Just because it's unequivocally cool, and even on the worse days when you've slept 2 hours the whole week they will instantly give you back a little bit of fashion dignity. Choose a walkable heel, black over tan just because they will stain less easily but believe me a stylish shoe can transform not only your outfit, but the way you feel about yourself!

Isabel Marant Etoile boots £284

3) A good quality waterproof parka

When it comes to outwear to me quality is essential. I remember realising that my wool coats weren't going to cut it on my first outing with a baby Greta and madly researching for a waterproof, pocketed, warm parka and having a nightmare trying to find something on a budget. Truth is, in winter you will wear this every day, so you really must think cost per wear. Plus, this is something you want to buy once in your life, so get a good one.

Acne Studios  New Powder hooded down parka  £750

4) Boyfriend jeans

No need to spend lots of money here, but I remember favouring boyfriend shapes over skinny styles when I was on maternity leave. Topshop has a great selection of inexpensive, quality jeans, and ultimately despite not being overly original, this is what you will live in.

Topshop boyfriend jeans £42

5) Chic easy knitwear

Cashmere makes me happy inside so I never, for a second, thought I would swap my soft knitwear with something more practical or that washes better. My efforts went into teaching Greta not to rub her hands on me ;-)

Boden relaxed fit cashmere jumper £139

6) Designer sunglasses

Just because they add the final cool touch to any outfit! 

Ray-Ban The Wayfarer acetate sunglasses £125  

Scrapbook from my J.Crew event

Last Wednesday, and exactly one year after the opening of the same Sloane Square store, I hosted an evening of champagne and shopping at J.Crew in London. It was a fun night where readers could take advantage of 20% off and shop for a special stripey T-shirt that you could monogram on the night. I wore a sparkle lurex pencil skirt, powdery pink velvet sandals and a St. James T-shirt with navy LF on it.

These events are the highlight of my year - I absolutely love meeting WIT readers, catching up with the ones I've met before and seeing so many beautiful, smart, intelligent women all in one room. Thank you for taking the time to attend, for being such loyal and avid Wearing It Today (and Wardrobe ICONS) readers and for coming up to me with so many kind words and also great, constructive criticism!

This post is dedicated to all of the readers that couldn't make it to the event, I know there are many of you that don't live in London,  and I promise that next time I will think of a way to make an event more accessible worldwide. Somehow!

Love 

Laura x

Photos by Eva K. Salvi

High street alternatives: Valentino VS Topshop

J.Crew shirt, Current Elliott jeans, Bally bag and Topshop shoes

Okay I realise they are don't quite do Valentino competition but, I tried on the Valentino's in Harvey Nichols last seasons and despite L O V I N G them I really couldn't bring myself to spend almost 1K for a pair of shoes! Still, I have been thinking about that cool, all black fringed pair since last winter and when I saw this similarish style from Topshop I had to get them straight away! I got them in blue first, then changed my mind and sent them back from a pair of black ones (still on their way to me). They are quite the statement shoes so mu suggestion is to keep the rest of your outfit uber simple with denim, a white shirt or a little black dress.

 

Topshop fringed court £52