That skirt

J.Crew sweater and skirt, Miu Miu necklace, Whistles jacket, Kurt Geiger pumps

Yesterday I wore a pink and navy striped J.Crew skirt which received lots of compliments. It was a recent gift but from a few seasons ago so I haven't been able to find it anywhere to buy (aside from a few on Ebay). However I found these two similar styles from Mother of Pearl ans Whistles available to buy now.

Mother of Pearl Bella striped silk-satin skirt £495

Whistles Stina Stripe Skirt  £110

Psss. Since the Whistles broderie anglais top we loved has already sold out I tried to find a similar style under £50 that would do the trick and I think this Monsoon number is not far off! Wear it with cool leather and denim to avoid the grown-up hippy look.

Monday morning pick me up: Great buys UNDER £50

This post is dedicated to my little sis Vittoria, she loves WIT but often tells me off because things I feature are too expensive. Despite the fact that she's a student, in her early twenties and prefers "quantity to quality" (not a WIT trait), I accepted her challenge and found seven really desirable items and their under £50 equivalent. I love these items so much that two of them even made it in this week's "Star buys" section. I've also had a little fun of my own adding up the two potential wardrobes: the "Cheap Thrill" adding up to £212.99 and the "££" adding up to a whopping £5,563! I'm sold on the cheapies I'm afraid..

1) Dorothy Perkins Black gem cable jumper £35 or J.Crew Jeweled chandelier sweatshirt £168

2) New Look Black Leather Cross Strap Cut Out Ankle Boots £44.99 or Tabitha Simmons Early leather ankle boots £770  

3) Top Shop Relaxed Pencil Skirt £40 or Lanvin Leather pencil skirt £1,390

4) Accessorize Aristotle Statement Alice Band £17 or Dolce & Gabbana Embellished velvet headband £910

5) Accessorize Leopard Print Studded Oversize Clutch £22 or Lanvin Leopard-print calf hair and textured-leather clutch £805

6) Whistles Petal BroderieTop  £40  or Chloé Crochet-wool and crepe top £1,440

7) Top Shop Spike Drop Earrings £14  or  J.Crew Collage crystal drop earrings £80

WIT mama Friday: Style dilemma, new mum on-duty uniform

Pre-baby I remember getting asked what’s the perfect stylish/practical on-duty mummy uniform and thinking: ‘What’s the fuss, just wear your usual clothes, with flats’. Well, one year and one baby later I can safely say it’s not that straight forward.

About this time a year ago I remember venturing out of my flat for the first time in 10 days with my newborn baby to go on our first walk in the park. I even dressed up for the occasion hoping to befriend another sleep-deprived mum (one year into this mum business I now know I needn’t bother clothes are only secondary, pram style and nappy bag being far more important - mine was the Anya Hindmarch Oakley nappy bag £495.00).

I was wearing my grey soft wool Joseph belted coat, a Chinti and Parker cashmere jumper and Russell and Bromley brogues. Yes my lace up brogues took a while to tie and perhaps I had one layer too many for the 3pm feeding session, but surely I would be fine.

Well I wasn’t. I came back from that disastrous walk soaked wet being caught in the rain, holding baby/pram and bag with one hand and feeling mortified at having had to get practically naked on a bench to feed my daughter. Wardrobe re-addressing was needed, urgently.

Since then I’ve learnt a few things about stylish/practical mum uniform...

Bags

Nothing I repeat nothing that is to be hand held. Opt for something tini tiny that can be wear across the body (I loved my Coach mini  cross body bag in a flash of red) or even better a style with an adjustable strap that you can sling over your pram handle. Treat yourself to something you will love, your bag won’t get as trashed as you think.

Shoes

Contrary to popular belief flat doesn’t necessarily equal practical. Opt for a closed shoe, with no laces or ties and a rubber sole. I never thought I would care about any of those things in my life, but my indestructible Zara rubber soled biker boots, worn over leggings and jeans were virtually all I wore for ten months.

Coats

You must be able to throw it one and look fabulous no matter what you are wearing underneath. I opted for a waterproof Zara parka with a detachable fur gilet inside for extra warmth. Pockets are your best friends too, so choose a coat that has plenty, I counted 10 in mine.

Jumpers

If you are breast-feeding, your round neck shrunken sweater is not going to cut it. Opt for cardigans and remember that hormones make you feel hot all the time so keep it light.

Tops

I wore slightly loose fitting T-shirts. Opt for good quality ones that will stand the test time of relentless washing. I love J.Crew Vintage Cotton styles.

Bottoms

Leggings and jeans are really practical and with the huge choice of colour/print/washes it needn’t be boring either. I lived in my black J.Brand skinny jeans and Boden leggings.

Dresses

Until you are breast-feeding, forget them. Afterwards, think about how much chasing and kneeling you’ll be doing on that day… then wear trousers.

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MY UNIFORM

1) J.Crew Vintage cotton tee £29.50
2) J Brand Maria Power Stretch high-rise skinny jeans £200
3) Woolrich John Rich & Bros. Literary fur-lined Eskimo parka (171332) £555
4) Marc by Marc Jacobs Blizznezz small leather shoulder bag £175
5) Fiorentini and Baker Eli Eternity rabbit-lined leather biker boots £380
6) Zara grey wool cardigan £35

The lace skirt

I love this acid green lace skirt so much, it's been a really good buy. I remember being heavily pregnant when I bought in Top Shop last year so I couldn't wear it for ages.  Today I'm wearing it with my grey J.Crew tippi sweater and French Connection masculine coat. I think lace can look very girlie so I prefer to wear it with paired down knits and a touch of tailoring.  I won't be wearing tights with this type of skirt, so this is probably the last I will see if it until next season (but navy you can wear with tights so a few suggestions bow). 

Jonathan Saunders Clarissa lace-print satin skirt £460

Dolce & Gabbana Lace pencil skirt £390

  

J.Crew  Collection pencil skirt in scalloped lace item £325.00

Kitten heels

Isabel Marant Etoile jacket, Jigsaw top, HM jeans, LK bennett shoes, Zara bag

Do you own a pair of kitten heels? If so, you will know that they are the most comfortable heel there is! Today it's a grey and rainy day in London so I'm covering up with my Isabel Marant Etoile jacket mixed in with a Jigsaw cashmere knit and my HM patchwork denim.  Off to a work breakfast now!