3 Ways to Wear Summer's Florals In Autumn

Helloo my lovelies. 

OMG! The last day of October - how did that happen?!

Autumn is well and truly here and most days on the island are chilly and crisp, and the number of dank and cold days are increasing at a ferocious pace.

It's the time of the season when the weather is scratching around for its rightful place.  I find myself wanting a touch of lightness in my dress yet with the security of layering up whilst the weather struggles to find its season.

So a light fabric base of a dress or skirt with warmer additions is ideal for an out-out right now.  And here are three of the umpteen warmer additions.

1.  With a Biker (Moto) Jacket

Here's what I wore recently for a dinner out with friends on a night when the weather had most definitely found its autumn - cold, rainy and very blustery.  Brrr.  So that took me to a tried and tested go-to of pretty skirt, woolly jumper, boots and a biker.

I call this combo my edgy granny look.

Easy silk skirt, ca. 2002

I did debate on whether to to a French tuck of my jumper.

But nah, who wants to see my granny's tum protrusion at dinner eh?!

And to prove the "tried and tested" point, I was wearing something very similar in 2016 in a-spring-in-my-step. HERE

The tried and tested look is seen here, back in February 2016.

More Inspo

Worn with a flowery dress (Pinterest)

2.  With a Blazer

(Pinterest)

3.  With a Cardi

(Pinterest)

It's surprising what can be added to a thin dress or skirt to make it wearable in the chillier months, yet keeping the look stylish rather than bundled up.   Just adding a woolly or jacket, a belt, some warm boots can instantly make light florals wearable right now, whilst still keeping some sense of stylishness.

Is this the sort of transitional  look you wear for a date night or dinner with friends in Autumn?

A la perchoine,

Mary x.

The Perfect Spring Jacket - The Hunt Is On!

Yes, indeedy, the hunt is on for The Perfect Spring Jacket. 

But I don't know if it exists.

Actually, I don't believe my needs can be fulfilled in one jacket alone.  I need a casual utility style with lots of pockets and a smarter jacket that looks equally good with jeans and summer dresses.  Also useful would be a patterned, lighter drapey sort of wrap-ey thing that can be rolled up and shoved in a bag.

So, it seems like I've identified my needs.

But being a buxom lass I have to be careful with jackets to avoid that dreaded sergeant major look.  That means steering clear of masculine-style jackets.  And boxy jackets aren't good for my body shape either, in them I look ... errr, a box-like!

Softer, drapey jackets hang better on a larger lady but are limiting.

This is what I've tracked down so far.

At the smarter end ...

I love this M&S jacket but its sold out so I need to source something similar.

An HM pink jacket might work well, but I have something similar from River Island so that's on back burner.

Straddling smart and casual ...

This  H&M jacket straddles, so is the sensible option if I'm going for just the one jacket.

More casual ...

These from H&M look like they'd work well with jeans and chinos.

And casual ...

Now, a practical Next utility jacket is probably what I would wear most, through summer and the shoulder months. 



And as my Sleeper has had so much use, maybe this Next shirt-style utility jacket would work for the life I lead.

I love the look with that skirt, but oh! - my knees would look awful in this length :-(.

More from Next.  Shorts? You did see what a panic I just got in above at just the thought of exposing my knees!!!  My legs were last paired with denim shorts in Greece, 1971 ...

The warmer jacket is just what I needed these past few cold Spring days!

I have something similar to this, from Cotton Traders.  It's on the masculine side of jackets so doesn't quite work for my body shape.

So, let's recap, what have I achieved so far?

Needs assessment. Done.

Research. Done.

Analysis.  Done.
Puchases.  TBD.

TBD.  Hmmmm.  Decision time.  But, I am a procrastinator and during my hunt I have noted that things are selling out.  Fast.
I need to move, con prisa!
So if you can help me make some quick decisions, I'll be a happy bunny.

A la perchoine. 



My High Street Haul

I managed to find a few hours to have a look around the local shops, so I joined up with a cousin to share a girlie morning out.

Between-season shopping is always a challenge and I don't particularly enjoying the shopping process anyway, so that just adds another challenge to the mix.

'Aver, I went with some specific needs - a second pair of shoes I could wear during this holiday and a pair of jeans, as I discovered on arrival that the ones I have here have a tear in ripening fabric, so repairing isn't an option.  And I don't do grunge so these, and all the jeans with rips and worn-out bits on sale all over the place, just aren't for me.  That reduces my choice considerably!

Hey, why don't I share my girlie day with you too, virtually ...

I was looking for some pretty basic items - shoes, jeans. I started off well with the shoes.

At M&S I found some dressy black suede ankle bootees with a dinky heel, just £11 in their sale and so off-radar that they've disappeared off the website.  I'll photograph them soon.

And I found these.

M&S Chelsea Boots.

Now. these little babies are going to be good for clomping around the touristy places!

And then these

Nude wedge-sandals

Not in the sale as they are this season.  A nice nudey colour.

I know I'll wear these a lot.  But when it's warmer.

(Sorry about the small photo, they come off the website that way - the links give a bigger shot)

Jeans were also On-List.

I found some in Next. 

Slim leg jeans

And the must-have M&S black jeggings. 

M&S 5-pocket-denim-jeggings

These can be worn with just about everything on my Richter scale !

I was definitely keeping On-List, so far.

Then I went a bit Off-List.

Next black frill front top

 A nice dressy top that can also look good with black jeggings, or 7/8 white or chino jeans. 

But with a cardi, of course - you don't want to see my arms, do you?!

 

M&S 7/8 trousers

I love 7/8 chinos from M&S.  I bought some a couple of years ago, they are so versatile and thus have had so much summer-time use that they are looking a little weary (read tatty!).  I am so pleased they are still in their range this year.  Thank you, M&S.

Here's a shot of how they looked in better times.

Nicely casual with a Next modal top and Ecco sandals.  And short hair!

 It's a bit too cold to think of wearing these trousers yet - they need bare feet! Brrrr.

 Oh then it just got messy!  Into the bag went M&S bubble button cardis (love 'em) and a black/white cardi-jacket thing from Next - a Good Transitional Piece, as those stylish people say.

So what does every girl need after a morning like that?  A cappuccino.  But sorry, I can't share that with you, virtually.

Or, maybe I can ...

OK, it's an old photo, but the please enter into the spirit of this virtual coffee-drinking malarkey!

On reflection, I went so Off-List, but I did find the core items I shopped for too - so, all good!

I have to dash now, I'm off for a massive trying-on session.  Maybe some items will be returned, and maybe, just maybe, some will be appearing on a blog near you very soon :-).

A la perchoine.