Quick trip to Whistles – my oh my

Whistles is one of those brands that, alongside with Reiss, L.K Bennett and Jigsaw, I had consigned to the ‘Never Going to Wear anything That Smart Again’ bin of motherhood (along with ‘Blow-Dried Hair, High Heels, and Small, Impractical Handbags.)

But after a meeting earlier this week I decided to check it out as it was nearby and I fancied – let’s face it – trying on some new clothes.

I had the entire – admittedly small – Park Street store to myself and I was incredibly impressed.

The thing about Whistles clothes is, they may be expensive, but they’re beautifully made. Although the price tag is a bit steep, you can actually see where the money goes – into creating wonderfully tailored and thought-out lines. This is investment clothing at its finest.

Here’s my pick of what’s in store:

Their beautiful white 100% silk ‘Sylvia’ shirt, £95. I know –  totally impractical for motherhood, but it really was a thing of joy. The cut, especially around the shoulders, was perfect, and the cuffs had buttons – a small, quaint touch that made me feel like a 1950s movie star. It felt fantastic on my skin and I just LONGED to be transported to the Riviera, Hollywood, or Paris, even for a few hours, to wear this, drink a gimlet, and think deep thoughts. Yes, it really is that lovely.

Here it is online:

Here it is on me:

 

 Sigh.

I also loved this very soft cashmere feel slub top which had sparkly studs on it. It felt so soft and flattering I tried to convince myself I needed it. This sort of jumper could actually work in motherhood as long as you went nowhere near your child. You just wouldn’t want snot, crayon, or food anywhere near it.

Now although this was on the sale rail in store, I can’t for the life of me find it online. I still think it’s worth posting because it’s so beautiful. If you live in Bristol, I recommend you nab it.

Now this dress is online. It’s the  Gloria Lace Dress and it comes in a beautiful deep blue. Here it is online:

And here it is on me:

Here it is in pink:

And here it is in grey (sob)

It felt, as I’d come to expect, absolutely wonderful, really comfortable, well-cut, and well-made. At £175 a pop, the Gloria dress don’t come cheap, but it was one of the loveliest things I have tried on this year and made me feel –  well – like a woman. A woman who doesn’t do any housework. Worth trying on if you have ‘an occasion’ this year.

My glorious half-hour in Whistles made me do a total u-turn on the brand. The clothes are so exquisite and comfortable that I will definitely be returning as soon as I gain disposable income. The styles are timeless and beautifully flattering. So jolly well done.

You can visit their stores online or buy some of their lines from House of Fraser, John Lewis, and Asos (and probably more I don’t know about.) But, as with most things, nothing beats going to the store itself and trying loads on.

In other news – I am going to Bristol’s Cabot Circus 48 Hour Fashion Fix this weekend!

 

I’ll be able to feast my eye on some up and coming S/S lines, meet some other South West fashion bloggers, and let you have the low-down on Monday. Am very excited!

Have a lush weekend.

 

An ideal winter coat…

You can’t choose your spiritual high-street homes. They choose you.

Marks & Spencer’s chose me a long time ago, and I’m powerless to resist its comfy charms. You may have heard me mention this once or twice.

Occasionally I wonder if my high street haven should be more cutting edge,  more – Zara.

But then M&S will pull it out of the bag. Every time. Like today, when it delivered to me, quietly and without any fuss, the coat of my dreams. 

Now – at first glance, this might look a bit – blah. “It’s just another parka,” you could be thinking. “I can get that down my local market for a tenner.”

You might.

But would it be showerproof? As in, will it stay dry when it rains? And rain it will, my friend.

Would it be the warmest thing you have ever worn, aside from your duvet?

And will it – a real deal-breaker this one – be warm, shower-proof, yet be as LIGHT AS A FEATHER?

Because this coat does all three things.

Ever since P. was born, the right winter coat has become a Holy Grail. I spend so much time outdoors, pushing prams through wintry cemeteries, frosted parks, and muddy playgrounds, in drizzle, rain, sleet and fog. Yet I almost always get it wrong when it comes to judging what sort of coat to wear.

Most days I either shiver because I’ve gone for my trendy but thin jacket, or get hot and flustered because I’ve gone for my warm but heavy coat which makes me feel like I’m running uphill with bricks on my shoulders.

Luckily, this coat/parka solves all my dilemmas.  I really can’t describe how fabulous it is. It’s one of those items of clothing that looks and feels much better in the flesh, so to speak, than online. It’s thick and well-made and light.

I took it out for a walk with Ben and P. this afternoon. We went up and down hills and through muddy bogs, but I didn’t even break a sweat. I felt so warm but at times I forgot I was wearing it.

(I’m sorry about the royal wave. I was waving at P. who seemed delighted I was posing.)

The only bad thing about this coat is the way M&S is selling it online. I found it a bit confusing to find the right link for anyone interested in buying it.

I think this is the right link but the online description doesn’t say it’s shower-resistant, while the label on my coat says it is. But the link does correlate with the style number on the tag on my jacket, so it must be the same one.

In the store, the coat is available in purple, black, green, and blue, but online it’s only available in green.

Also, if I’d bought this online, I would have paid £60 for it, rather than the £75 I paid in the store, as Per Una are having a 20% discount on any online purchases. But I would never have bought it online as it’s the type of coat that needs to be tried on.

I have just rung M&S and they have promised to credit my account with £15; I have gone for that option rather than schlepping  back into town, getting a full refund on the coat I bought, then buying it again online for £60.

Luckily, because I have this weird emotional connection with M&S and because the coat is so worth it, I’m going to take it on the chin.

All that aside, I do strongly recommend this coat to all mums who find themselves alternatively shivering or sweating when they go out.

But try it on in store before buying it online – and hurry, because apparently the discount is for a limited time only.

And for those who remain unconvinced by my love of M&S –  when I was queuing up to buy the coat, a member of staff was handing out M&S biscuits to everyone in the queue, apologising that the queue was so long. You wouldn’t get that in Zara….

Pugs, cats, and a fine selection of puns. Visit this shop now.

It’s amazing where aimless internet browsing can take me. One minute I’m falling asleep while reading about email marketing, the next I’m sitting upright in my chair and shouting: GADZOOKS.

For I have stumbled upon a GLORIOUS WEBSITE selling wonderful clothes. Allow me to introduce ModCloth.

ModCloth was set up by a US couple with a love of vintage clothes. You can read more about the founders here or just look at this cute picture of them with a pug.

Right, that’s the science part over. Let’s get down to business. Please note all prices are in US dollars…

I love this Dance Floor Date Dress, $57.99.

as well as the Jenna Field Good Dress, $155.99:

They have a gorgeous selection of vintage-looking one piece swimsuits, of which this little Emerald beauty ($89.99) stood out for me:

If I ever buy a playsuit, it will be The Dusk to Awning Romper for $79.99.   

What else? Well it was hard to pick a favourite from this selection of necklaces but this Luxe-y to be your Friend chain necklace for $33.99 is pretty cool.

as is this Spiky Blue necklace for $24.99 – will look great with a tee.

Top punning marks as well for the I Will Walrus Love You necklace.

You can also buy cool things for your home, handbags, shoes – look at this little pair of beauties: Clouds in My Latte bootie, $42.99

The list is endless. Luckily because the website is so beautifully designed and such a joy to navigate you won’t even notice the hours flying by as you browse. Fortunately for us, ModCloth ship to the UK (allow 10 days for delivery) and they even sell iphone cases with cats on them.

I literally couldn’t ask for anything more. God bless America.

Beautiful shoes on a budget

When it comes to shoes, there are three little words I love hearing. “Are those Zara?” Especially when the shoes in question were £10, from Barratts.

These were the ones that prompted the question from my friend Tamsin. I spotted them on my way to buy a friend’s birthday present.

I don’t think they look very good on the website, so I took my own photo.

These shoes are perfect. I’ve worn them all day and not had one blister. In fact, I’m reluctant to take them off. So lovely are they, I went on the Barratts website to look at some more and I’ve passed a very pleasant hour.  Here is my pick of the best.

Barratts are on sale so take advantage now. (They aren’t paying me to say that. They don’t even know I exist.)

I like these Marc Jacobs-esque stripy sandals reduced from £28 to £15. Team them with neutral colours on your top and bottom half for a modern look.

These glittery t-bar shoes (again reduced from £28 to £15) are gorgeous. Again, I’d wear them with a neutral colour palette – jeans, simple t – and a poppy nail colour.

I might have a thing for animal print, but even the most hardened opponent might be swayed by this gorgeous pair of sandals, reduced from £28 to £15:

Now heels. Again, the colours for this are spot on. I would wear these with tailored blue jeans and a simple blue v-neck. These shoes aren’t garish, but wonderful. Tri-tone pointed court shoes, reduced from £32 to £10:

And finally I like these grey biker boots, reduced from £20 to £12 – I’d wear with grey skinnies or simple grey leggings and an oversized jumper.

There must be dozens more gems on the website but these were the ones that most struck a chord with me. If you do end up buying any of them, drop me a line! I’d love to know.

Finally, this is how I wore my new sandals today; simple. You can tell how much I like them as I couldn’t stop looking at them.

Sandals: Barratts, Jeans: Mango, Jumper: M&S

Spotlight on: Forever 21

I’ve been hearing about the American shop Forever 21 for a while now, but only just got round to checking out their website. Once I’d scraped my jaw off the floor at the incredible prices, I thought I’d spread the word. There are stores in Dublin, Birmingham and London and more are set to open in the UK over the next two years, but they also have a fab online store which quite frankly is what we mothers need. Here is just a glimpse of what’s online:

Houndstooth check trousers – I love the 1950s feel of these: £18.75

Olive green shirtdress – I’d wear these over tights – £14.75:

Mint green crochet top, £12.75 – gorgeous, simple yet eye-catching. Perfect with jeans.

Beaded necklace: perfect for day with a simple grey t-shirt, or night with something more dressy. £7.40

I’d wear these at a coffee date, or at the weekend over a lazy brunch with friends. Would look great with a tan and a simple pair of jeans and t-shirt. Knotted platform sandals, £19.75

Do you shop at Forever 21? Have any tips? Let us know!

BHS – a revelation.

We spent the weekend at my marvellous in-laws, who kindly offered to have P. for a few hours on Sunday morning. My other half (let’s call him B.) and I went out for coffee in the town centre. Then, because B wanted to return a jumper which had gone bobbly, I kindly offered to accompany him to the shops. I know – selfless.

In the vast shopping centre I spotted BHS, and found myself being inexplicably drawn in. B. saw the far-away dreamy look in my eyes and wisely decided to give me an hour to myself to browse. Full of joy at being footloose and pram and toddler free, I went off to look around the store. Ladies, I can’t even begin to tell you what a revelation it was.

I’m going to start with some of the clothes I road-tested. Hold on to your hats.

These coral wedges (£20)made me look a few kilos skinnier and had the uncanny effect of making every outfit I tried on in the store look amazing. The photo makes them look quite cheap; they look better in real life. They were also comfortable and not too high.

They looked fab with these Aztec Print Shorts (£20) which made my short legs looks a bit longer.

They also looked amazing with this ridiculously comfortable Brown Leopard Print Dress Wallis dress (some BHS stores stock Wallis) £40. Again, the picture doesn’t do this dress justice; it’s very flattering for all sorts of wobbly areas and I realised that leopard print dresses are just so wonderfully vampy.

I loved the cheeky little nod to Chanel on this Peter Pan collar top (£12).

And this Belted Denim Dress (£32) was stylish, comfortable, and would work anywhere; a must for mums at all stages of motherhood.

I also tried on loads more shoes which were gorgeous and ridiculously cheap, a pair of printed trousers which I can’t find on the website but were the best printed palazzo trousers I have ever worn and were super flattering on the bum. I loved the broderie anglaise effect pyjamas I found under their Sleep Lounge label (again, not very well represented on their website.)

As if that wasn’t enough to tempt you in, may I remind you that most BHS stores are vast; there is lots of space for prams. Because BHS is not at the cutting edge of fashion, you don’t have lots of teenagers jostling for space in the changing rooms, so if you pick your time wisely you can have the store more or less to yourself.

The changing rooms are normally big enough to accommodate a large pram and yourself; perfect for mums with youngish babies. The one I had today was massive. There were no queues for the changing rooms (again, BHS’s relative untrendiness will work in your favour here.)

And finally, the cafe was another revelation. It was spacious with lots of retro white Eames style chairs, dozens of high-chairs, and lots of smiling staff. There were changing facilities and a great menu and it was all just one elevator ride away. You wouldn’t get that in the Gap!

I walked out of BHS an inspired woman. This is one British store supplying decent, wearable, fashionable clothes for women which are easy – dare I say pleasurable? – to try on and buy. Yes, there are some boring clothes in there which don’t do anyone any favours, and you do need to be willing to look a bit carefully to find the gems, but you will find them. Do not be put off by the difficult-to-negotiate website which does not do justice to the clothes themselves; this is one store you should definitely visit. I’d love to hear your feedback once you have….

PS Doesn’t Roger Federer look lovely in a suit? Another revelation.

(image taken from http://www.stylebistro.com)

A stylish raincoat.

It’s raining again. (sigh)

Rain is a pain in the bum for mums. 

I’ve tried to take P. out twice today, and each time we’ve been rained on. She’s been nice and dry in her pram and waterproof cover, me not so much. The only thing that is going to keep me cheerful (apart from the bucket sized glass of Prosecco that my darling mother-in-law is about to give me) is a spot of online browsing.

The Cambridge Raincoat Company was set up two years ago by a mum called Sally who wanted a stylish waterproof jacket but couldn’t find any. So she designed one herself. They are pricey, but they look fabulous, if it’s going to keep raining the way it has spending a bit of money on a raincoat might be the kindest thing you can do for yourself this season. They are water-resistant, windproof, washable, and light-weight and come in lots of cheerful colours.

 Here is a zingy yellow one:

But I also like this navy one:

You may already have a waterproof jacket, but chances are it makes you look like you’re walking around the Lake District. While there’s nothing wrong with that at all, a jacket like this is sooo much prettier, which we deserve when we’re taking our little darlings to the park instead of slumping in front of the telly painting our nails.

It will take you from sodden walk to coffee morning to meeting easily. I’ve just had a little look online for other waterproof trenchcoats and struggled to find anything cheaper that wasn’t sportswear – let me know if you find anything.

It’s going to rain again tomorrow by the way, in case you needed any more persuading.

Spotlight on People Tree.

What do you mean you haven’t heard of People Tree? Their dresses are stunning and so easy to wear. Additionally they are an ethical company that actually makes clothes you want to wear; a rarity. The women that make the clothes you wear are paid fairly for their trouble; more than you can say for Primark or H&M.

Anyway, that’s beside the point right now. What is important is they are on sale. I’ve just had a little look and my favourites are this Lora Dot Dress, reduced to £45:

And this stunning Coral Gingham Dress, also £45.

These dresses are flawless. They look vintage, their gentle tailoring is super flattering for mums, and they would work at a meeting, out for coffee, or on a rare night out. Just looking at them has made my day a bit brighter. If you bought all your clothes for your baby second-hand, as they grow out of them so fast, you could afford this. Just saying.