Sunday Grungy Sunday

Sundays often start like that. A long, long lie-in after a longish night with guests, then a hearty breakfast, a bit of housework such as hanging the washing to dry, making lunch, and lying back on the couch reading ELLE. A perfect afternoon in old jeans, a 1980s style jumper from New Look, and a scarf.

All that equals no dressing up, and no room for any home glam (negligees, dressing gowns, silk PJs, turbans, scarlet lips, you get the idea), but no tracksuits either, mind you. That is the grunge of things chez moi, over a typical week-end.

Snuggling up with the glossy well before it gets dark takes your mind off having to go to work only too soon. But what do you do when the realisation hits - you're out of bread, and there is no choice but to get out into the cold?

Jumper: New Look, mustard wash green jeans: Mango, scarf: charity shop, suede wedge trainers: Topshop

Throw on a puffa and head straight out? Or start the usual routine of finding something to wear from scratch? Today, neither seemed appropriate. I wanted to keep the grungy feel and the jumper, but making sure the outfit is somewhere in the realm of citywear. Here's the result...

On the way back, I'll reward myself with box of blueberries, a bar of chocolate and a well-earned coffee.

Jumper: New Look, wool pencil skirt: no idea (Mum's maybe?), spot print silk shell blouse: Zara, emerald patent bag: Mango, patent leather embossed boots: Darcy, Dr. Martens Diva collection

A Bold Safari

I need a safari skirt, safari shorts, a safari dress, a safari playsuit, safari everything. They are just some of the things you need, whether you wear them or not. And then, some of the things you want but don't have. This week, I hit the Mango sales with the single aim of finding a couple of pairs of shoes I knew I wanted even while full-priced  but never got round to go shopping for them. And what did I get? A plain safari skirt and errm, a few extra bits and bobs.

The basic look is pretty easy to work: take something simple in a shade anywhere between stone and dark khaki (mine is dark beige or light camel), and add rich leather  accessories. The thing about safari is, well, while timeless and sort of chic, it easily washes you out. This season's boldness comes in handy to spice things up. You can go for a flash of royal blue, red, coral, even yellow, or do as I do and pick emerald green. You'll find this medium dark hue really flattering, whatever your true colours are.

I could not resist adding the green patent shoulder bag... matchy-matchy as it seems, what dominates is the eye-popping factor so why not load up? And, if you're short of bag space -I know you are- grab another beauty of an arm candy. I think the 1970s style platform wedges I've had for a few years will do nicely for the city safari. 

P.S. On the second evening of being abducted by UFOs (dearest's term for me getting sucked in by the shops and losing track of time), I did manage to pick up the last pairs of the shoes I had been after in my size - I'm sure they will crop up in one post or another soon enough.

shirt, skirt and bags: Mango, belt: C&A, sandals: River Island, sunglasses: Zara