A Walk in the Woods

Along the lines of Andy's Paris trip in Devil Wears Prada, I needed a little sketchbook of  occasion appropriate outfits for this weekend. One such quandary was around what to wear for a morning with friends in nearby Fineshade Woods. The weather was cool and autumnal yet the sun kept teasing us the entire time. It wasn't cool enough for a warm jacket but not hot enough for anything too summery. We were to go for a walk in the woods but then have a social meal at friend's house. Most of all, I needed to feel cheerful so frumpy dressing just wouldn't do it.

To my rescue came a combination of thrifted cashmere and denim with a dose of silk. I even managed to channel a bit of the S/S14 sentiment from London Fashion Week via a healthy dose of pink. I've been slowly but surely building a few pieces of pure cashmere into my wardrobe and one of my recent finds was an M&S jumper via eBay. I paired that with a luxe silk scarf and dressed it down with an old denim skirt.

We had a lovely time at Fineshade Woods, catching up with friends, going for walks and watching our friend's kids play. The walks were picturesque and the kids had a great time building dens and pretending to wage battles with makeshift stick-guns. It is amazing that despite being avid travellers, there is so much more nearby that we are yet to explore. The We reckon we will be back with bikes soon.

I'd love to hear about your weekend explorations too! Ann x

Wearing M&S Cashmere Jumper-thrifted, H&M skirt-thrifted, Pretty Stern Silk Scarf, Michael Kors Fulton Bag, Barrats Brown Ankle Boots, Givenchy Sunglasses and Michelle Lowe-Holder Cuff

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Hay Bales and Breton Stripes

Recent travels up and down the east coast, passing through beautiful countryside, have been rather inspiring. I've always loved the sight of wheat fields; the vast golden stretches of aesthetically pleasing harvest-ready crops fill me with warm happy feeling. End of season hay bales, beautifully dotted across the fields with geometric precision, are one my favourite sights. You probably think I'm barking mad but I do find great beauty in these seemingly mundane arrangements. So much so, I even drew fashion inspiration out of them.

My Cos Breton stop, a summer sale acquisition from one my favorite brands, exemplified French (and English) country style with its comfy fit and brown sleeves. I teamed with my hay coloured corduroy skirt to further develop the theme. The Cos top seem rather generously sized ( I wore a small and it was a very loose fit) and so I sought inspiration from Japanese fashion via an Obi belt that complemented this inspired theme in both style and composition. A Lonchamp tote ( an absolute savior for carrying life around in English weather) and some funky brogues were all I need to complete the look.

 

Ed and I were going about our usual ( and often well planned) weekend routines when we passed by these beautiful wheat fields just outside Peterborough. I was terribly excited at the prospect of an outfit with these beautiful countryside blobs that have so strangely inspired me of late. Thankfully, we didn't have any farmers objecting to a bit of traipsing around their end of season fields!

Have you been similarly inspired of late? Or am I the only strange one that seems to be excited about silly little things? Do let me know ;) Ann x

Wearing Cos knit top, Joules skirt, Asos Obi belt, Chocolat D'or shoes via Yoox.com, Longchamp Le Pliage Aquamarine tote bag and Givenchy sunglasses

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Unsung Towns: Cleethorpes

There is a stoic melancholy about Cleethorpes; as if it were making the most of the 'now' whilst reminiscing of past glory. Back in the Victorian days, Cleethorpes was marketed as a popular seaside town, especially for those in nearby Yorkshire. Whilst tourists continue the come across the Humber even today, it hasn't quite made it to the popularity levels of some the more southern seaside resorts. However, there is an certain authenticity about Cleethorpes that is strangely captivating.

We are up north every so often to see family and a walk down the Cleethorpes promenade is a popular routine. I love the Sunday market near the pier has some great bargain 'seconds' from the likes of Karen Millen, Minuet Petit etc . The views of the tide coming in and out, the picnic parties braving the chill winds for some fresh seaside air, children on crabbing expeditions, horseback rides along the beach, Cleethorpes seafront life is the epitome of making the most of whatever is on offer.

 Like most English seaside towns, Cleethorpes has its share of attractions. The light coast railway and the Lollipop road train rides, slot machines, fish & chips and ice cream vendors, giant snakes & ladders and hopscotch, and the usual load of fun 'tat'. I'd also recommend checking out the Captain's Table restaurant for some really good quality seafood. If you are a geek like me, you can even browse through 'technical' details of the fish species on offer before you make your choice.

Cool late summer walks by the seaside call for weather-appropriate fashion. I'm wearing a favourite sequined t-shirt (borrowed many years ago from my little cousin and surprisingly still fits), along with a pair of black jeans and my go-to blazer from H&M to keep off the chill. I believe that not-so-sunny days require a strong dose of happy-colour to make them better.

I'd love to hear about other unsung towns that you frequent and your happy outfits too! Ann x

Wearing boutique SRC t-shirt ( Made in India), Zara jeans, H&M tailored blazer, ASOS leopard flats and Marc Jacobs crossbody bag.

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Photography by Edward Chandler

Autumn Fashion Rebellion

I think we are in for a long winter :( It is only October and there is snow up north and getting noticeably chilly near us. I refused to succumb to the dark autumn  trends of oxblood and brown and chose to fight autumn blues with lots of bright colour. Here are some of my favourite finds in recent weeks. See below for full details and where to shop.

1. Black Cashmere Jumper: This is a fabulous Lands End find. I never shopped at Land's End as I assumed it catered to an older generation. However, I found some great buys whilst on a trip with the MIL to their outlet in Oakham. This jumper is 100% cashmere and was down from £85 to £19!!

2. Bunny Flats: Alexa and other celebrities have made the Charlotte Olympia Kitty Flats very popular. I love them but could not imagine spending over £400 on a cat-faced shoe. I squealed with delight when ASOS launched their Little Miss Ballet Flats for a tiny fraction of that price. Use the discount code MEGA10 or HELP10 and get an additional 10% off all items at ASOS.

3. Yellow Leggings: I love Uniqlo for their comfortable and quality clothing and also for their great designer collaborations. I could live in these happy coloured leggings which were a steal at £14. Sign up and you will get a £5 off voucher.

4. Joules Moredale Jacket: I've been eyeing these Joules beauties for a while and finally succumbed. I justified it as a long term investment. Use voucher code GHK15PP to get 15% off plus free delivery.

5. Orla Kiely Bag: This lovely printed bag was one of many many charity shop treasures. It cost about £7 and is from the Orla Kiely for Autograph collection. I've seen similar ones on eBay for a bit more.

6. Jazzy Iphone cover: This was a great find from the brand Les Tai Tai. It cost me less than £20 with vouchers and looks good even after a whole year.

If you need pointers on where to shop for Autumn gear or if you would like me to find you a discount code, please shout. Keep warm. Ann x

Car Boot Fashion Bravery

De-cluttering always makes me feel virtuous. The best type of de-cluttering is one that generates a bit of cash and helps me justify those impulse fashion splurges. So the husband and I had yet another 5 AM Sunday morning start to get to a local cat boot. It was freezing cold and windy which meant it wasn't as busy as we would have liked it and gave me some posing time. Car boots are not glamorous events but I think a bit of fashion and colour never hurt. So here are a couple of 'poser' photos and another opportunity to show-off my favourite new Uniqlo Cloche Hat! At a very reasonable £14.90, this classic  hat will see a lot of wear from Autumn through to Spring for a few seasons to come.

Hope you are having a warm and lovely Sunday! Ann x


P.S.: If you are on the look out for vintage clothes or jewellery, car boots are well worth braving. I saw a few fabulous brooches which took a lot of will power to resist!

Hat: Uniqlo, Trench: Zara, Scarf: Thrift store, Boots: Next