The Isabel Marant spring jacket

Celine suglasses, J.Crew jumper, Topshop jeans, Aurora bag, IM Etoile jacket and shoes

I bought a scarf print short Isabel Marant Etoile cotton quilted jacket when I was on my first maternity leave and wore it endlessly. It's the sort of smart casual wardrobe staple that can really make a different to your jeans and T-shirt look; so when I was in Paris at the end of January I put my head in the store in St. Germain to try on a longer style that I had seen on the Internet.

Isabel Marant Étoile  Elmer reversible quilted jacket  £220

It also comes in the short cropped style like my red one - it's perfect with jeans, cargo pants and even over little dresses. I opted for the longer version, it seemed like the perfect cover up for spring, not too heavy not too light and mainly something I don't feel precious about but instantly gives a little touch to my outfit.

Isabel Marant Étoile  Elmer reversible quilted jacket  £330

I find Isabel Marant Etoile does that for me, I have bought so many things form the diffusion line and I love that effortless Parisian style with a bohemian slant to it. From T-shirts to dresses and shoes, here are some of my favourite pieces in store now.

Isabel Marant, Étoile Starla printed reversible bandeau bikini £ 155

Heloise crochet-knit linen and cotton top £ 255

Emsley linen and cotton-blend sweater £ 190

Naoko ruffled cotton-voile mini dress £295

Tayler paisley-print playsuit  £255 

Leo lace-up ballet flats  £290

Dill embroidered cut-out cotton top  £225 

What I wore at London Fashion Week day 1

Stella McCartney cape, J.Crew T-shirt, Topshop jeans, Chanel bag and shoes, Jimmy Choo sunglasses

Day one at LFW and I decided to go a bit casual with jeans, a preppy stripe top, my trusted Stella cape and some fabulous accessories. I was lucky enough to be able to borrow the shoes and bags from Chanel and I have to say the shoes are probably the most comfortable heels I've ever walked in - and this is an almost 7 month pregnant woman talking!

They are Coco Chanel's original two-tone slingback designed to create the optical illusion of a longer and leaner silhouette. They are sold out everywhere so trying to get a pair is almost impossible, but well worth being on the waiting list for.

My bag was more or a 'Transformer' than a classic (Chanel does that brilliantly too) and a boy bag with lots of fun applique on it. If you liked my look and wanted to shop for similar items take a look at my shopping list below. 

 

Cashmere cape £625 Joseph 

Maternity jeans £40 Topshop  

Suede pumps £290 A.P.C

Scallopped leather pump £320 Chloe 

Striped boatneck T-shirt £39 J.Crew 

Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square £20 NARS

Chanel bag from a selection at Vestiaire Collective 

4 of the best black Capes

I've been wearing my Stella cape so much (literally every day) that I've sort of become obsessed with it and wondered why on earth it took me so long to finally own one. I thought I would wear it mainly in the evening, as it's such a chic and elegant cover up but I actually find myself reaching out for it for every day meetings and over jeans at the weekend. The problem of how to hold your bag is a bit annoying (it really only works with a  clutch), but I love that fact that it doesn't cling and feels like a warm hug. I know there are lots of colours and prints to choose from, but I like a simple go-with anything black.

Weather you decide to splash out or try out this trend on a budget, here are four lovely styles worth WIT's seal of approval  for most budgets. 

Joseph double-faced wool and cashmere-blend cape £945

Mango wool-blend cape £59.99

Stella McCartney wool cape £965 

REDValentino Wool-blend twill cape £595

The one in, one out rule

Stella McCartney cape, Gap jumper, Mother denim jeans, Jimmy Choo shoes and sunglasses

I've had to come to the realisation that I do not have unlimited space in my wardrobe, and to be honest, I prefer having  somewhat limited edit of clothes so on a regular basis I give to charity/sell/give away all the thing that I don't wear any longer. However, since moving back into my flat and designing my own wardrobes, it is my strict "One in, One out" rule that is keeping things in ship shape. There's not much explaining to do, it's as simple as this: when I get something new, something old has to go. So this week, as I welcomed a new pair of reasonably heeled, lace pointy pointy pumps from Jimmy Choo to my wardrobe, an old pair of Topshop sandals are making their way back to Italy to my cousin. I find that this rule not only keeps my wardrobe nicely edited and fresh, but also allows me keep the fashion circle going!

The perfect dress-up your jeans shoe.. I'm in LOVE!

Hello new shoes!

Making space for a new shoe box in my heeled shoe cupboard

The 'coatigan'

Topshop coat, Joseph leggings, J.Crew shoes and bag

I've been coveting an Isabel Marant lightweight coat (or coatigan as it seems to be called) for a while, but I often find the arm too skinny and I can't then wear if underneath big jumpers in the winter. I want something that can take me from the car to the office or in and out of meetings that keeps me warm but is not overly heavy and I found this Isabel Marant style coat in Topshop that does the trick. Today I am wearing it with leather leggings and a grey jumper and it instantly lifts my look.To be honest, had I not seen it in real life first I wouldn't have been tempted (the pic on the net doesn't do it justice), but the fabric is really expensive looking and I absolutely love the frayed edge and monochrome palette.

Topshop Premium textured coatigan £150

my Coat guest edit for IRIS Fashion

One of the fun things I get to do in my job is try on lots of fabulous clothes, just for the fun of it. I've been working in the fashion industry for almost 15 years so hopefully I've learnt a thing or two about great clothes and sometimes brands call me to cast an eye over their collection and suggest which pieces me and my readers would like. So that's exactly what I did one day in September at a fabulous independent shop in London called IRIS. This is part 2 of my guest edit (a couple for weeks it was all about my current obsession with dressing all-white), and I'm focusing on great outerwear. I chose a little bit if everything, from  really useful navy pea coat to this seasons must have cape. Have a look for yourself and see what you think - a head's up, look at IRIS's own brand for great, quality staples at really affordable prices (I'm obsessed with my cashmere grey roll neck). Anyway, have a look at this piece on their blog and hope you like it. x

http://blog.irisfashion.co.uk/

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

Camel and denim

It's winter again today - go figure. Having said that, I'm quite chuffed I get to wear my Max Mara camel coat which has been locked up in storage all winter. I'm rushing around today, so just a bite size of outfit inspiration for tomorrow's outfit for you to try. I sometimes find it hard to wear beige and camel, it's a bit of a granny colour unless it's a super expensive tan. To make it easier for myself, I like to pair it with denim, it's a smart equation that gives less of a "granny" touch to beige.

Styling tips on how to wear the trench coat

Topshop denim culottes, J.Crew shirt, Chloe bag, Banana Republic trench, Aquazurra shoes

 I'm so thrilled to have my wardrobe back and getting dressed in the morning is finally once again the best time of the day. Spring has definitely arrived in London but, especially in the morning, it's still quite chilly so I've taken out my trench coat for the occasion. A trench coat is a wardrobe staple every woman should own, Burberry Kensington would be the obvious choice, but if like me you are still saving for it, there are some great alternatives on the High Street. Mine today is from Banana Republic, it's few years old so I'm not sure they have the exact one in store but worth having a look. I know for sure J.Crew does a great quality one called Icon, and I've also tried on the Joseph one which is very chic. A few styling tips for trench coats:

• Tighten the sleeves straps and push up your sleeves for a more relaxed wear
• If you leave opened, tighten the belt in a  knot at the back to avoid the "sac" look
• Think about your height when buying your perfect style: to-the-knee lengths are better for petites, whilst midi lengths look great on tall
• The colour is really important, especially if buying on the high street. Avoid yellow tones, and opt for a grey shades that look more expensive
• Always buy a lined one - the beauty of a trench is the structured fit. Flimsy styles look cheap.
• Slip it over your shoulders for a very "fashion editor" look ;-)

Tailored boho

I have a cold, a cough and a sore throat so for today only I will be dressing weather appropriately with flat ankle boots and socks ;-) I have a busy day of shooting today (come and see what I'm to on Insatagram) and I've started the day in a super good mood because we've had a terrific mention in Stylist magazine this morning... Check it out! 

Happy Monday!

Reiss coat, Coast culottes, J.Crew shoes, Chanel bag

I have a super busy day today at the office whilst we put the finishing touches to the new ICONS Update live tomorrow (sorry for the disruption we are working as quick as we can!).  You will be able to click to buy directly from the page, have a smoother mobile experience and find out about our new shopping service... all revealed tomorrow! I am all wrapped up ready for a day of appointments and then an afternoon at my desk.

What lies beneath (the coat) ...

I just want to reassure those of you who think I step out coat-less in a 4 degrees London that I do wear my coat, gloves, sometimes two scarves and plenty of very unsexy Uniqlo HEATTECH under my daily outfits (that include long sleeved skin tight T-shirts and legging), I just choose to take my photo without so you get to see a little more than my coat wardrobe for six months per year.

My secret from the cold: Uniqlo HEATTECH

The one thing I am prepared to endure is freezing ankles (and at times feet) for the time it takes for me to commute, but most days I drive so I'm practically cheating. The thing is I just can't do tights (read last year's post where I share "How I face the cold"), and this hate has come to a point that I don't wear skirts in the winter anymore; I'll just have to save them for the summer. Something else to look forward to besides my summer box.... ;-)

PS. I had a Christmas voucher to spend in Harvey Nichols yesterday and I asked you which one I should go bewteen the two... Isabel Marant Etoile voile dress £340 versus Isabel Marant Etoile crochet dress £370  -as promised here are the links.

The navy blazer

Off to Harvey Nichols for a Wardrobe ICONS shoot this morning and lots of important meetings after that. Last night as I was rooting in my wardrobe for something to wear I found my super old yet always modern Balenciaga navy blazer (take a look at the ones Petro and I tried on and added to out Icons here). 

 I'm wearing a big coat over the whole thing, but once the coat is off I still look a little bit on the smart side. Also don't forget it's Tuesday today and The ICONS Update is out with a new issue featuring my top ten favourite peasant tops, inside the wardrobe of stylist Vanessa Gillingham and my WIT inspired page with all the things I've been buying this month. Enjoy! x www.wardrobeicons.com

Fabulous buy alert: THAT ASOS coat now on sale!

I clocked this coat back in June at the ASOS press day and it made my Smythson diary back end list of "things to look out for it in the fall". Often enough I see things I love but then forget about them (there's a few that are already on my "things to look out for in the summer"...).
 

I kept on checking ASOS and just before Christmas I managed to buy one of the last small sizes there were of this forest green coat with huge black crystal embellishment (very Marni). Well, it is now on sale down to £75 from £150... it's so fabulous and feels so expensive. Today I'm wearing it with boyfriend jeans and an Equipment shirt for a day at the office.

ASOS BLACK Embellished Coat With Stone Detail £150.00 NOW £75.00

What do you wear in the cold??

I don't know about you but winter really doesn't suit me. I hate not being able to wear bare legs and having to pile on layers after layers of clothing to keep warm, how's one supposed to look pretty? I have days (like today) where I'm out and about all day, I can't be cold as I walk around town between one press day and another, so all I can do is jumper/hat/coat combo.. when I look at my wardrobe the night before I want to cry! Last night I decided that I need more colorful jumpers to pair with my jeans and leather leggings, this Maje red one I bought last year has been such a great buy.  So today I might step into a few shops to see what's out there. Come on Instagram to see if I've been successful..

Fur-ed up

I really do practice what I preach and this week I've dug deep into my wardrobe to take out all my favourite winter coats. I bought this faux fur number last year and still love it today - as soon as I put it on it completely transforms my outfit with a little bit of "coolness" to it. I have a busy day of press days so will be out and about all day, I might not even take my coat off so it's great that it really makes my outfit! This week's Star Buys are all about faux fur numbers as is my Winter Edit on Wardrobe ICONS so take your pick because faux fun fur is huge this season but I reckon it's one of those trends that will come back again and again...

It's Tuesday... New Issue of The ICONS Update is live!

Let's face it, we’ve had a pretty good run so far, yet winter has arrived and with it the necessity to take out your "serious" outerwear - but which are the coats worth investing in? And which ones will you buy now and wear forever? I walk into stores and feel sorry for women who have to take that decision because there is SO much out there... I am confused and I work in fashion!? Well, we have the answer. 

And if you are not in the market for a new coat, we found lots of fun accessories to update your existing one with (beanies, hats, gloves and scarves you will love).  Also read our new page called "Every ... (dot dot dot) woman should own" (this week it's all about the pregnant lady) and finally see which eyeliners (tried and tested by Petro and I)  have made our cut in our Beauty Focus page. Enjoy!

Read issue SIX of The ICONS Update now!

Jeans + Blazer

Back to a little bit of outfit inspiration today with a simple style equation: jeans + blazer. My work attire can be as causal as I like, but for those of you who can't wear boyfriend and distressed denim to work I would suggest something like the super dark wash of a MiH JeansMarrakesh which almost looks like a pair of dark navy tailored trousers. There are plenty of options out there, just throw over it a stylish blouse, a sharp blazer (I love mixing navy and black), your accessories if choice and you have a fool proof, chic outfit any time of the day.

P.S Just noticed that Topshop did a whole feature about Jeans and Blazer today!

Things I want from my RED pages

Coast leopard print block heel shoes £55.00

When I work on my Red pages it is really hard to contain myself as I get to see so many lovely things. The good news is that this has trained me to be really (no really) picky about what I like and the result of this is that what you see in Red (and WIT) is always, always the stuff that I would recommend to a friend or would buy myself (with the exception of high street bags.. I would always rather do designer). This April issue of Red was a particularly juicy one that I will (or have already - see the House of Holland skirt) be shopping from. Here's the lowdown..

My Week Day (or Week End) style pages always feature an inspirational woman from a past Red fashion shoot. I imagine what she's up to and give her a little wardrobe of great buys complete with life style touches such as beauty and home products too. This month it is all about your 9-5 working wardrobe and this woman is busy on appointment so chic, pointy flat shoes are essential..

I love these stripy canvas flats, I have them in rose gold and wore them all summer. This year they expanded the range and there are lots of colours to choose from. I'm tempted by the mirrored silver finish.

Boden pointed slingbacks £55.20

My next busy lady is an off duty mum running errands in town. She's busy organising her child's birthday party so I have featured party supplies from the same company I used for Greta's birthday called www.peachblossom.co.uk. She's in her stylish patchwork denim, classic breton and cross body bag (do you recognise my Jaeger hot pink bag too?)

 

I love a reworked pair of jeans, these Karen Millen pair similar to my HeM ones that so many of you liked.

Karen Millen patchwork skinny jeans £99.00

Pointy flats are the new ballerina so for the April issue I dedicated an entire page to this flattering, leg lengthening style. Here's an edit of the best ones from metallic to print and snakeskin, but my favourite one has to be the classic leopard print.

Love the sexy cut out detail on this pair.

Kurt Geiger  PRIMROSE leopard print flat £195.00 

I then also often compile a five page trend report with all the things that are in fashion that season, but more specifically to buy that month (so you're not buying summer whites in January). April was a huge report with everything from bomber jackets, backpacks, how to do boho the grown up way and perspex details amongst much much more.

This Mango bomber jacket was of really good quality and perfect for anyone that was starting up n this trend (the other ones I featured where a but more crazy). I always try and think of every woman when I'm doing my pages, from different budgets to different body shapes so hopefully nobody feels left out.

Mango Quilted bomber jacket £44.99

It's a myth that ankle straps cuts off your leg - just fasten the strap loosely below your ankle bone. 

 

I have had a total crush on these shoes for a while now.. they are so expensive I might have to wait for the sale... but they have to be mine.  

Tabitha Simmons Lou silk-jacquard pumps £545  

So here is a little lowdown on what's on my shopping list for April. For more of my pages see the April issue of Red on the news stands now!

x