Spring must-buy: the denim dress

The things I can still fit into to my surprise! I would have never thought I could squeeze myself (literally, my boobs are almost about to pop out of the fabric!) into this dress that I bought last year and have worn so much throughout last spring and summer. With the weather getting a bit warmer, I couldn't wait to slip into something other than my pregnancy jean and oversize jumpers, so I actually wore this ensemble at the weekend.

Unfortunately it is an old season dress from S Max Mara (a slightly cheaper diffusion line they do) so you can't get the same one, but it's given us an idea to try and find similar ones in next week's issue of The ICONS Update. So I'm working on it today -  stay tuned and check out Wardrobe ICONS next Tuesday so our edit of the best ones available now.

That summer dress we all want, for less. Found it!

Asos dress, Celine sunglasses, Isabel Marant shoes

I've (almost) fully recovered for yet another round of flu and the result of one too many days in bed has been a lot of on line shopping... but I guess it's all justifiable when you are buying things that come from your own recommendations - right1!? So in the spirit of Wardrobe ICONS (we practice what we preach) I've been buying a number of things from my Top 50 High Street edit in this week's issue of The ICONS Update (if you haven't had a chance to see our bumper issue yet, take a look at it here as tomorrow we are moving on with the next issue).

One of the things I have been so excited tor receive was this ASOS Premium dress - thing is, with high-street, you never know what you are going to get. Some things look really nice in photos and models, but then when you receive them at home the quality really lets you down, but this dress I'm so impressed with. 

I've wanted a Vita Kin dress forever, but it's just too expensive, then there's March11 (sooo gorgeous - Petro bought one I'm so jealous) but also super expensive... so when I clocked this black and red number from their Premium range at £70 I was so excited, and so pleased to see upon receiving it that cut, fabric and embroidery quality are up there with my super anal standards. Okay, they will never be like the real thing, but close enough! So if it helps make a decision, it has my total seal of approval.

 

LEFT

Vita Kin  Marigold-embroidered long dress  £1,305
RIGHT
MARCH11 Kilim embroidered linen maxi dress £1,045 

WIT mama Friday: How I'm (not) preparing for baby number two and my intreview with NINE IN THE MIRROR

A few weeks ago the lovely team from Nine in the Mirror and I spent a day at home playing dressing up and talking about all things motherhood. I got to wear one of the most dreamy Valentino gowns and the turnout was a sweet shoot in Greta's bedroom with pictures of me and my 7 months bumps that I will treasure forever, and a little account of how I am (not) preparing for baby number two. Here's a little extract from my intreview on the website, but head here for the whole feature.

"Motherhood inevitably changes you, yet sometimes this shift occurs so imperceptibly that you don’t realise your perspective has shifted until you look back. For Laura Fantacci, stylist and co-founder of online shopping platform Wardrobe ICONS, it was embracing change itself. “I used to be, or still am, a very controlling and organised person. Having a plan and sticking to it, having a to do list. Becoming a mother has taught me to let go and understand that its ok not to finish the to-do list” 

Mother to a three-year-old daughter Greta Zita, Laura is currently pregnant with her second child. “This time hopefully it’ll be easier as I’ve already loosened up,” she says with a laugh. “I remember saying to my friends [about having Greta] ‘Oh it’ll be fine, I’ve got a file on how I’m going to do this.’ No, it really doesn’t work that way. It has taught me to embrace changes and things you haven’t planned. It’s something so new and inexperienced, the whole job comes with lots of changes within yourself, which can be difficult. But I’ve learnt just to go with it.”

http://www.nineinthemirror.com/interviews/laura-fantacci/ 

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 

WIT mama Friday: scrapoook from my WITxBonpoint event

On Sunday the 13th of March WIT and Bonpoint celebrated all things mother and child with a gorgeous in store tea party at their beautiful  Marylebone High Street store to mark my last event before heading on maternity leave. It was such a special event because the first one dedicated to mums and their children and it couldn't have been celebrated at a better time. The store was decked out with the most gorgeous selection of Bonpoint clothing, a few days earlier I had been through the collection and marked my favourite buys with little gold tags that said 'Laura and Greta's picks". I also dressed up a table with my favourite buys, including those things that I love to gift my friends when they are having babies and those that I invest for my own daughter. The Bonpoint team and I organised for a sensational face painter for the day (the kids loved it!), as well as a super fun entertainer. Mummies could shop the collection (with a gift on purchase in a fab Liberty print pouch + beauty samples and a hand cream!), feast on the yummy selection of food; get a hand massage with Bonpoint range of beauty products whilst little girls could get their hair braided with Liberty print ribbon. We even had a tombola where one lucky reader got to win the entire beauty range! It was the most fabulous afternoon and one that is much better illustrated through the photos that I posted on my Pinterest mood board for you to get some outfits and party inspiration! Thank you to all of you that attended and made my last event before doing the mummy thing full time for a little while.

LOVE

Laura x

 

 

See more photos from the day in my Pinterest moodboard