See The Sun Or Be The Sun

Spring can be cool in more than one way. When it gets unpredictable, uncomfortable, even gloomy, many of us try and lose the blues by stubbornly sticking to weather-inappropriate clothing.

Some will even take that to the next level, pretending it's high summer.

However, there are those who cannot stand the discomfort of bare skin anywhere south of 27 degrees - must they risk dressing like it's winter all over again?

Here's my compromise: cover up good, and trust your mood to colour. Even those around you may thank you for it.

OK, fine, the neoprene parka is optional, reserved for the very worst of what spring has to offer.

Leather trim dress, premium parka and platform heels: Asos

A bit of fun comes in all shapes and sizes. Cameo brooch: a gift

In The Navy

In love with navy dresses, much? Definitely. Navy blue is supposed to suit blondes, and it's also the (not so) new black. Sure enough, every colour of the moment is labelled as the new black, but navy is more than just that. Maybe I should have said 'the other black' - a permanent, richer, deeper, more radiant alternative.

I got so hooked this last season that I filled my wardrobe with these dresses - the little lace number in the last post, then these three, plus a couple more.

The three I'm showing you today, to share the love, are perfect for transitional daywear.

Neat and easy, all that needs to go on top is your favourite peacoat, trench style coat, suede or leather biker or bomber. And simple black leather footwear.

First up is Miss Selfridge's petite military shirt dress, then an Alexa-style bodycon dress by River Island with lace collar and cuffs, and last, but not least, the uber-sleek and structured 1960s one with leather pockets from Asos.

Dress: Miss Selfridge, boots: Mango, belt: from a Dorothy Perkins summer dress,
shearling biker: Topshop 

Dress: River Island, shoes: Topshop, leather bomber: Mango
faux shearling collar: Asos 

Dress and platforms: Asos 

Give Lace A Chance

I never thought  I would ever wear anything you could remotely classify as a bodycon dress, let alone a lace bodycon dress. I looked on all-over lace dresses as in-your-face and try-hard, for girls who want to be ladylike and sexy, thinking they are being subtle about it.

Still, a certain Erdem dress in navy lace with a nude underlay caught my eye sometime in the last warm season. Somehow, it seemed simpler and just a bit edgier than any other lace dress, almost a natural choice, to wear instead of a shift dress or a LBD. It got me wondering... So, when I saw this petite exclusive dress on asos.com, I thought it was time to give lace a chance and see what happens.

I kept it simple, as usual. First, to enhance the spring/summer feel of freshness, I chose chunky-heeled but still delicate nude leather platforms - they don't distract from the general colourway, and do a bit of leg-lengthening as a plus. To accessorise, a suede clutch bag seemed just appropriate (instead of black, you could go for nude or pearl grey or some other colour, as long as it's a classic style and about this size). The only piece of jewellery I'm wearing is a fine gold bracelet, but a really delicate gold necklace with a tiny locket or  something along that line should look right too.

Next, since I really liked the dress on (it's not too tight or clingy as I thought it might be), I knew I wanted to give it a go at work, hence the second outfit. Here, I added black opaque tights to avoid having to explain I'm in fact not naked underneath the dress; a pair of this winter's staple ankle boots, and a navy velvet blazer for a boxier look and the extra warmth.

Dress: ASOS, nude platforms: Mango, boots: ASOS, suede clutch: Mum's stuff
from the early 1980s, velvet blazer: Zara

Happy Anniversary

They won't stop me. Neither the long day at work, nor the long evening with family and friends. Or sleep deprivation. Or a sore throat. I want to celebrate the second anniversary of GreyCatte's Book Of Style, and the second birthday of GreyCatte as a blogger.

The start of the second year was perfect - I had all the time in the world for about two months - from late winter well into spring - to dedicate to this brainchild. Now, as another year ends, I have all but missed London Fashion Week. This must change. And so it will.

The last outfit I wore and took a few snaps of too was this one, a cute and comfy dress in navy and toffee by Miss Selfridge. It's very 1970s, but in a simple and clean way, giving me the chance to subtly complement it with some winter platforms, then go a bit overboard with a floppy hat.

I have the same boots, the Dr. Martens Darcie, in tan as well, but the black embossed ones, with black tights, were the ones that felt right. But that's OK - the mock croc rich brown classic shoulder bag manages to push it back a bit towards paired-back OTT.

Dress: Miss Selfridge, boots: Dr. Martens, hat: New Look,
bag: TK Maxx

Dark Jewel In The Works

Things are getting a bit matchy-matchy in GreyCatte's Lair. That trend is about to resurface in the outside world after years of deliberate non-matching, but for now, I admit, it feels a bit forced.

Still, when you come across a lovely, dark jewel colour that you have just, almost accidentally, stocked up on, you've got to have the nerve and risk going over the top. And where better to apply it than to workwear?

Together, the tux-style blazer and the platform loafers look awfully polished for my taste, so instead of smart trousers, I opted for casual, artfully crinkled (never-ironed) jodhpurs.

And the quirky detail? The belt overload. I love a double belt so I threw two on - and one had to be dark green so the matchiness remains even if I remove the jacket. That part is nothing quirky if you ask me, just one of the nuances average people can't seem to get their heads around. All you creative style-conscious lot, never stop educating them, at least one small step at a time.

Blazer: New Look, heels: Miss Selfridge, jodhpurs: Topshop, shirt: no idea (a wardrobe staple nevertheless), brown belt: C&A, green belt: charity shop

And Accessorise With A Pig

No matter where I have worked so far, explicitly declared dress-down Fridays have always eluded me. Still, I can't help noticing how everyone breaks out the jeans to mark the beginning of the week-end, permitted or not by the dress code.

I am no exception - however, I don't worship the trinity of the Jean, the Tee and the Holy Sneaker, nor do I consider it as a classic dress-down option. Instead, I'll pick a pair of jeans - of the several dozens I appear to own - and dress it up. Heels, brogues, blouses, blazers, shirts and waistcoats, bows, ties, granny's brooches, anything that's smart, vintage or fun goes.

So this is the Friday outfit. The 1970s blouse is a vintage store find from only a few months back - a shame that the fully pleated front and back, the waist and neck ties, the frill, or the print, for that matter, don't come across in the pictures. I included a couple of snaps so you can get a closer look.

The skinny flare jeans are by River Island - snug enough to make you look slightly (or more than slightly) phhat for a UK size 6, but I love the beautiful retro 'Swedish blue' colour and the size + cut of the back pockets too much to care.

Looking at the mock 1970s style, I admit the outfit could do with a chunky gold necklace or a gold chain belt a la Issa a/w 2011, however, in real life, I felt there was already too much going on at the front of the blouse (for details, refer to my list of the things that don't come across). 

Oh, you might want to swap the oinker for a clutch bag, but that's you I'm afraid.

See you really soon.



1970s blouse: vintage store, skinny flares: River Island, shoes: Asos, trilby: H & M, pig: a gift

Sweet Surrender

As mentioned in this catwalk report, I was inspired to switch back to blogging mode by a single still image from the Philosophy di Alberta Ferretti show packed with pastel candy colours (click here for flash report and pics) to throw on a few pieces shiny and new, trashy and plain, retro and vintage - you will easily tell which is which.



One thing is for certain,  I dare not call this experiment a re-creation of looks from Alberta's collection. This is merely an homage to all things 1960s sweet and cute, lying untouched for years and years in our wardrobes, still impossible to part with. At first, I was only going to show you the blue dress for fun, but ended up snapping a few more to home test the basic Philosophy concept for autumn/winter and style a couple of outfits in pastels. Very nearly all a big no-no in real life for this tomboy.

The verdict: the simplest things with a great cut and a near-perfect fit just work, no matter what. The rest - too big, too creased, too forced, wrong length, will not. A no-brainer, then, for today. OK, here's one: don't fear sweetness. The devil is not in pastels and too-cute cuts, but in ill-fitting pieces, and in your head.

P.S. I do appear to like sporting two bags at a time.

dress and tie/belt, worn as headband: vintage, top: Promod, mocha tights: Dorothy Perkins,
shoes: New Look, sunglasses: C&A, lady bags: vintage

textured fabric, 1960s

structured dress: River Island, shoes: Mango, coat: C&A

skirt: Terranova, lemon knitted top: 1970s, knitted dress: charity shop, nude platforms: Mango,
gold jive t-bars: Topshop, stone tights: Dorothy Perkins

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

Make Like A Tourist At Home

I think we can agree that Monday bank holidays are heaven sent, but they seem even more so when on a Sunday night, you realise you've been too tired all week-end to step out.

And so, warm and sunny summer Monday in the city, here I come!

Today, we took a nice walk in a recently rehabilitated central area, enjoyed the newly installed green patches and fountains, joined a festival that showcased famous Czech beers, and grabbed a bite before heading for the nearest lounge bar to chill out over a macchiato.

Quite determined to sport the colour of the season (coral), I picked a top with a bow and stripes, added a neutral suede dress (worn as a skirt) and completed the look with some white.

Which reminds me - even recently, you may have come across very specific style advice, warning you against wearing white shoes unless it's your wedding. Now, that's just another fashion rule down the loo. With stores teaming with white footwear, it's any self-confessed style  guru's duty to find a way around such old restrictions, and work her craft 'til something clicks.

The best thing about my wedges are the stacked heels, adding the colour and feel of wood to the white uppers. Still, I wouldn't shy away from wearing pearly white ballet pumps with the same outfit. Today's advice: leave the rules behind, and make like a tourist at home. You'll be surprised how much it's going to feel like a proper holiday.

coral knitted top: New Look, suede dress: vintage, shoes: Asos, bag: New Look,
pink sunglasses and floral holder: Dorothy Perkins

Eighties Jeans, Seventies Style

I have had these straight leg jeans by Gap for a while. They are well cut, at least for a pair probably made in the 1980s, with the right sized back pockets placed at the right height.

What has so far stopped me from wearing them - besides the fact that they make me feel chunky from the waist down, which I'm not - are the high waist, the retro light mid-blue colour ('potty blue' as I call it), and the overly clean finish - just the reasons why I had to give them a go yesterday.

I still get a rash from the thought of wearing jeans the 1980s way, so I just gave the outfits a clean 1970s base style, and let the colour(s) do the job of making them look fresh enough for this season.

A safer choice would be a pair of flared jeans, whether bright or greyish blue retro hued mid-wash or indigo, it's up to you. The greater the flare, the stronger the 1970s theme. I decided it would be unfair not to stick with this pair as I didn't want to play it safe or to aim for a total 1970s look, not to mention the fact that these very jeans inspired the outfits.


LOOK ONE

jeans: Gap, shirt: Pacific Girl, belt: charity shop, wooden bracelet, bead and bone bracelet:
Mum's old stuff and a gift, fine velvet tie: found around the house, sunglasses: no idea, bag:
old family throwaway from the 1970s, leather and suede sandals: Zara

When searching for the right shoes, I suggest you choose heels, not wedges - again, the wider the flare, the chunkier the heels should be to get the balance right. Platforms are ideal for sandals, heeled loafers or boots, whichever you prefer. Here, you can be as seventies as you dare to be.

All items as before, velvet blazer: Gimbels

LOOK TWO

Wooden necklaces and bracelets were once big, so the hoarder in the family might have some of those hidden in a drawer. The same is the case of small 'disco bags', thrift shops and vintage style sections of stores are still teaming with those. Oversized clutches and similar style shoulder bags have already been back en vogue since last season.

Jeans, shirt, sunglasses and wooden bracelet as before. Wooden necklace: Mum's old stuff,
leather punchout belt: charity shop, oversized vintage clutch: Pelleterie Bucci,
jacket: Primark, heeled loafers: Zara (TRF)

The daywear jacket is a plain and timeless one, while the deep purple velvet piece is old kidswear I guess, in and out of style for the past century. If you happen to own one of those, remember Tom Ford's velvet suits and tuxes designed for Gucci around 1996 (pictured below), and hold on to yours.

Oooh, I love mirror dirrrt!