Don't You Step On My Purple Suede, Err, Stuff

For part 2 of the purple-bordeaux-burgundy-oxblood-whatever series, I definitely wanted to give my suede shorts a little style-up - I bought them in the sales sometime early this year and, even though I love them, the poor babies have not made it outside the house yet.

The shorts would lend themselves well to 1970s styling, hence the hat and the big scarf. But the point was to pull together a current outfit featuring these Miss Selfridge shorts and make myself comfortable in it, to the point where I could imagine it as office-wear. 

Not sure if I succeeded but I'll give it that much, the shorts and the  tights would be great together as part of any total purple look.

Now, I realise the knitted halterneck top, with its two pinky lilac hues, seems a little too sweet or the wrong kind of matchy-matchy. Believe me, I did my wardrobe research, and found that none of the more now pieces clicked the way this top did. Empirical evidence over fashion fascism.

To make the shorts work in winter weather, all you need is a full length coat (worn open, and preferably with heaps of fur trims) and knee-high leather or suede platform boots, chunky and slightly worn in. The verdict: stripped of the fancy dress factor, the look might just cut it in an office somewhere - I'm just yet to find that office.

suede shorts and contrast lapel blazer: Miss Selfridge, knitted top: Mango,
suede wedges and wool hat: New Look, scarf: vintage

Colour Up: In Vino Veritas, Part One

Wine, purple, oxblood, bordeaux, the colour of the season. The key is to wear it as a total look, or with similar shades, or with a few select non-intrusive complementary colours. Which, essentially, sounds like you should be short on styling choices, but frankly, that could not be farther from the truth.

I had a few old and not-so-old-but-not-so-new pieces in these dark, warm winter brights, plus my eyes on a couple of current season numbers I want badly. Even so, it was almost shocking how many ways you could wear them.

This is the first look - slightly evening-style, office-appropriate, and very simple with a tiny twist. Note how the comfy, half-elastic belt makes the outfit chic, and how much better it looks with purple tights, proving the single-colour approach right.

Below is how the simple dress is dressed up and up until you get a final result you're sort of happy with. I suggest you start having fun with the wine-coloured things in your wardrobe. I will be back with more - in vino veritas.

pinny dress and suede wedges: New Look, 

contrast lapel blazer: Miss Selfridge

dress, wedges and double hinge belt: New Look,
tweed cape: Mango, tights: Calzedonia, velvet jacket: vintage (Gimbels)

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 

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

Fifties Biker Chic

Not long ago, I fell in love with this sheer colour block shirt, so much that I had to have it right away, along with a couple of things I thought would do it justice, namely the skinny wetlook biker jeans and the simplest kitten heel courts to create my (totally false) 50s biker chick look with a slight twist.

While I am fully aware that this will not add an inch to my styling creds, I feel so easy and chic'd out wearing this sleeveless beauty and the zipped little monsters  - both by Miss Selfridge - that I could not resist sharing this outfit with you.

The only thing I added was a fine sleeveless black top underneath to avoid feeling naked, but I admit I love the extra colour block detail as it peeps out along the shoulders.

To finish off the look, all you need is a classic fitted leather biker jacket and a Chloé Paddington style toughie of an arm candy. 

A classic helmet and a biker boyfriend with an extra special quiff would make perfect props, too.

colour block shirt and skinny zip biker jeans: Miss Selfridge,
low courts: Dorothy Perkins, leather biker jacket: Topshop 

Thou shalt clash your prints

Possibilities are endless when it comes to one of this season's key commandments, so you will surely see me working on that. 

Now, never underestimate the power of a floral bodycon dress from the early 1990s... come on, you've got that sort of stuff lying in the back of your wardrobe.

Mine is khaki, with tiny vintage rose print all over, and even though the fabric has some mohair in it, it's not too warm or anything - perfect for...

1. WORK: LADYLIKE MODERN

I found this python print khaki shirt/jacket in one of the deepest pits and thought it would be great to throw together a spring/summer Burberry sort of modern ladylike look with double belt and peeptoe wedges.

Floral dress and python print shirt, Terranova - the Italian high street brand had a moment in the 1990s, and was a great place to find great jeans and leather jackets back in the day. Belts and shoes, Dorothy Perkins.

2. STEPPING OUT: VINTAGE FEEL

Add a few bold colours, stripes, a small boxy bag, and shoes - this time I chose almost-flat leather loafers of the most traditional kind, but chunky heeled ones would work just as fine, not to mention the extra height.

Floral dress, as before. Jacket: Topshop, scarf: a gift, bag: Mango, shoes: Luisa Via.

3. LOUNGING AROUND

Relax, no one is watching. Should you need to pop down for some last-minute essentials before the week-end, you might want to avoid suspicious looks in your local shop. Just throw on a nude coloured biker, jump into minimalist brogues and don't bother to sacrifice the comfort of socks.

Floral dress, as before. Jacket: Miss Selfridge, shoes: New Look, socks: H&M, bag: New Look.