Tag Archives: A/W fashion

New Season Trends – The Midi Length at Dorothy Perkins

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It was the length that everyone said was unwearable unless you were as tall and willowy as Elle MacPherson. It makes you look frumpy and mumsy the magazines screamed. But the midi has proven everyone wrong, proving to be versatile, flattering and most definitely the chosen length for Autumn/Winter 2013/4.

Midi skirts look fabulous with knee high boots for a look that evokes all the images of the fabulous and stylish 70s movie, The Eyes of Laura Mars. The Midi is a grown up look, looking great with silk blouses or worn boho style in fabrics like cord and denim. It is also brilliant, if, like me, you like your legs, but only from the knees down. You are not encased in swathes of fabric like in a maxi skirt, but also not showing off acres of flesh a la mini skirts.

Dorothy Perkins is totally embracing 70s chic midi skirts in its new season styles and I am totally smitten with the look.

Midi skirt coming soon click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Midi skirt £30, coming soon. Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

midi skirt, coming soon, Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

midi skirt, coming soon. Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Midi skirt, coming soon. Click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Blue damask midi skirt Price: £22.00 click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Wear With

Floral ruffle neck blouse Price: £22.00 click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Navy lace collared shell top Price: £24.00 click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Animal roll sleeve shirt Price: £28.00 click to visit Dorothy Perkins

White gem embellished jumper Price: £25.00 click to visit Dorothy Perkins

Mint pointelle cotton cardigan Price: £16.00 click to visit Dorothy Perkins

 

 

 

How to be a Mom and wear Leather

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This season hails a healthy amount of leather, moody colours, gothic and romantic vibes as well as floral and geometric patterns, sci-fi fantasy prints, oriental motifs and Chinese style embroidery amongst other strokes of genius thanks to the designers.  Many moms may be inclined to think ‘that’s nice’ and carry on in their comfy daily clothes not paying so much attention to fashion. That’s fine.

However, as a mom it IS possible to keep up with fashion whilst simultaneously being comfy and carrying out all the daily chores donning practical attire. The is no need to spend lots of time on elaborate detail, a good part of looking good is owning some fundamental pieces and know what looks good with what. This article focuses on tips of how to wear a few ‘fashionable’ pieces this season including leather jackets and leather boots.

Change is always good. Tweak your usual mommy style with a few simple yet effective alterations. No doubt you’ve had the same dependable jacket now for a few winters that weathers all storms and has served you well.  Forget the practical, (sometimes ugly) jackets this season and layer up underneath a fabulous leather jacket which will make you feel gorgeous. There’s no reason why a mom can’t wear leather and have an edge. It’s as easy as making that decision! What is more, leather jackets are a global classic, they are very durable and comfortable, they come in all shapes, colours and sizes and they are a real investment, a timeless piece if you like.

If you don’t want to don the jacket then the obvious alternative is a good, sexy pair of leather boots.  A gorgeous pair of leather boots will radically change your outfit and make you feel great. Knee-high or ankle boots, black, brown or earthy terracotta, as long as you feel good there is no set look. Boots are the perfect accessory to any autumn/winter outfit and incredibly versatile. They can be worn with jeans, skirts of all lengths, dresses or even shorts and tights!

In the cold boots are perfect as you can wear them over numerous layers of socks and they are part of your outfit that are seen (as well as the potentially gorgeous leather jacket)and add a stylish touch to the autumn/winter look.

 

 

If you are really brave then leather skirts, dresses, tops and trousers are available in a range of colours, especially the sultry shades of the season. Again, they are comfortable, versatile garments which you can bring out year upon year reinforcing the stylish mom that you are.

To accessorise the leather look or sultry blocks of tone that you choose to wear this season, dark or strongly coloured lipstick is an effortless touch.  Simple yet striking earrings or a necklace which take no longer than a second to put on also easily complement an outfit. For a real edge you could go for a leather from head to toe look but equally staying feminine and just bringing in one piece to your outfit, perhaps a jacket over a nice dress or a stunning pair of boots with good jeans is your choice. Feeling comfortable in what you wear you’ll ooze confidence and style.

Adding leather to your wardrobe is something you won’t regret.  Leather attire is sexy, comfortable, classic, chic and durable. Not only is it all these things, it also gives you a fashionable yet elegant edge which you’ll grow to love.

Lands’ End Mommy Bloggers Challenge – Style on the School Run

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I’ve become a huge fan of Lands’ End since I attended their A/W 2012 press day and fell in love with their English Heritage based range. So when I was asked if I wanted to take part in Style on the School Run project I was very excited. The brief of the project was simple, to chose a dress from the current Lands’ End Collection that could be worn on the school run allowing you to strike the correct balance between style and comfort. As I have a three -year old and have just started doing the school run this month, I was really intrigued with this project, and namely the question of whether a mom can look fabulous on the school run without resorting to full-on glamour.

The whole dress collection is just gorgeous, but I had fallen in love with a particular dress at the press day, so knew immediately which one I would chose.  The floral Georgette ruffle dress was a gorgeous mixture of berry and mustard shades in a vintage style floral print. Although semi sheer, a coordinating under slip means that your modesty is all preserved, leaving you with a 1940s chic dress that is wearable in so many occasions – including the school run.

The dress on display at the Lands' End press day

Women's Regular Floral Georgette Ruffle Dress £75 click to visit Lands' End

I think this dress strikes the perfect balance between style and comfort on the school run/working weekday morning. The dress is super elegant, without showing acres of flesh – cap sleeves, great knee length, and that underlayer to save your blushes. It is also a fabulous colour which can be matched to so many other shades, and is also great camouflage when your three-year old brushes a rather dirty hand across the skirt (yes, it happened!) But although this dress looks very pretty, it is far from impractical. It can literally be pulled over the head in the morning, no fiddly zips to be dealing with, whilst it has slight waist elastication at the sides which gives you a wonderfully cinched in look, and is also great for those slightly bloated mornings. It has a great tie waist belt, but this is removable so you could create a very different look by adding a thicker leather belt. And I love that this dress is smart enough to take you to the office or an important appointment just by the addtional of heels and a black or plum blazer.

So, how did I style the dress? The fabulous aubergine shades means that plums and purples just look fabulous with this. I wore this dress on a rather gorgeous autumn day, so I left the tights off, but will be adding some cute burgundy knit tights come the cooler days. For shoes I wanted to tie into the 1940s feel by adding a plum leather t-bar shoe from Office. A Cynthia Rowley knit I picked up in a charity shop provided the perfect cover-up. I also added a cute Downton Abbey style hat in a nod to all the fabulous head-wear that has emerged this season thanks to Marc Jacobs.

I truly love this dress, and can’t wait to wear it again. I’m thinking of adding a chunky knit jumper over the top to give it a Land Girl style finish. or adding a neat blazer to wear this for Fashion Days out.  Versatile, pretty and totally wearable, this dress will certainly earn its keep in my wardrobe – top marks.

Visit Lands’ End to view the full range of fabulous dresses.