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

Stuff I Get Away With: Denim Shorts

I've had these black metallic weave denim shorts by Zara for quite a while, but I can't remember being out and about in them at all. So, one of the still half-chilly mornings I thought, what better way to wake that rebel spirit than a bit of smartness injected right into its opposite, as usual.

This season, jumpers are key, whether smart like this fine-knit thing by H&M, or the kind of sweat top with some huge cartoon character or animal motif, try and work them - or, as in my case, re-work them - into your wardrobe.

This shorts-and-jumper combo looks its best with a printed shirt and tights. For some reason, plain pieces just don't seem to mould into the right outfit these days...

Finally, the more legs you show, the more self-conscious you tend to be wearing heels, so I suggest flats or your lowest block heels for an easy, natural look. Here I'm wearing velvet Anglomania-style flat ankle boots to increase the fun factor, but simple knee-high pull-ons, lace-ups, calf-length boots or something very plain combined with knee (or over-the-knee) socks should work just as well with shorts.

p.s. I got away fine with this outfit but won't be pushing my luck...

Jumper and shirt: H&M, shorts: Zara (TRF), tights: New Look, boots: Shellys

Little Red Dress

I've been wanting to get an LRD for some time now, but I couldn't quite decide between the smarter, tailored ones (you know, clean vertical seams, little buttons or bows, tulip shape, straight line, no stretch), or the more relaxed types like skater, or the not-too-smart A-line, sleeveless, short or three quarter sleeved - and who knows what else. I only knew it should not have any contrast details.

Finally it came to me that I very rarely wear red because it's so in-your-face, a constant reminder that you're walking the very wildest of the wild side (at least, that's what it feels like). Now, if you choose a really smart dress, you will want to wear it for smart occasions, but the colour will stop you in the last minute of every attempt. So, you will end up not wearing it at all. If you're like me, make sure you pick a strictly neutral or somewhat relaxed piece that you can just pop on and go, and have fun with dressing it up or down. That way, the dress will sooner or later find a way to take you for a walk.

This shift dress by Asos is in ponte, which is a lot more easier to wear than plain or even textured cotton, which tends to crinkle somewhat while hanging in the wardrobe, very badly when on, and worse during washing. Ponte is not smart, and not considered a quality fabric, but boy, it's made for wearing - and that's just what it'll do.

How to wear your block colour dress

In four ways, basically. Classic Contrast: pick one colour to complement red in a classic way, say, cream, biscuit, white, camel, or black. Wear opaque tights and a top or blouse in that colour. Then, you can choose to match your shoes to your opaques for a leg-lengthening, paired-back effect, or create a contrast  by wearing red shoes (loafers or Mary Janes) and turn into Little Red Riding Hood.

Next, you can go for Bold Colour Blocking, and mix & match primary or jewel colours... red with electric blue, emerald green with yellow, orange with teal. If you want to tread cautiously at first, accessorise with a flash of colour, a scarf, a bag, or a belt. If, like me, you are drawn to trying the Total Blocking, combine pieces in similar colours in a single outfit and go all red, blue, mustard or green. To finish the look, I chose a navy and blue coat when I could have gone with berry, which reminds me: do draw the line somewhere.

Dress: Asos, long sleeved top, heeled loafers and coat: New Look, tights: Calzedonia

And four is Minimal, for when you prefer the little red dress to do all the talking: bare legs or sheer tights, ankle boots and socks. As zips are big for both autumn/winter and spring/summer, and apparently, this dress doesn't have any, choose a minimal cover-up with some prominent zips. Mine is a loose, ribbed fine-knit cropped cardi with collars, but a boxy cropped blazer with extra large buttons should make the look even more office-friendly if that's what you're after.

Dress: Asos, zip cardi: S. Oliver, 60s ankle boots: Asos, socks: Falke

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

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