4 Print Dresses

As I've been relying so heavily on the 'printed skirt and a top combo', I decided to set a few challenges and theme my weeks. 

Last week was 'printed dress week'. 

The first two I reached for are firm favourites but I hadn't worn dress number one for quite a while.

Dress number three has never been worn, though I've had it in my wardrobe for a couple of months.

And dress four was *that* close to being chucked/donated but has now clawed its way back into my list of go-tos!

Oh, and I just noticed: all items from Boden, Zara and Topshop. Time to branch out?

Not worn this dress in aaages! Alas, I had forgotten it was the "team away day", which included bowling. Thanks to its stretchiness the dress played ball - though I was utterly useless. I might have even ended up with the lowest score in the team. Will be tallying up later! 

Dress: Boden 

Boots: Zara

PS: I had the second lowest score. Saved by somebody with a distinctly Disney-themed name.

Old dress, new boots! 

Dress: Boden 

Boots: Zara

New pinstripes! This dress has some seriously flattering rouching going on that magically gives me the hint of a waist! 

Dress & boots: Zara

Last of my week of printed dresses - this was actually intentionally to get me think about what I have in my wardrobe! I was almost going to chuck this one, as it's a bit snuck and wrinkles easily but had 4 people compliment on it. Can't be that bad. :) 

Dress: Topshop 

Necklace & boots:Zara

Next week's post: No prints - at all! Eeek!

Old Skirt, New Outfit

Part 2 of my catchup. And another item that has been hanging in my wardrobe, pretty much unloved and close to being popped into the charity bag: this black pleather skirt has received a new lease of life by being teamed with this monochrome top and (another 'old' find) necklace duo.

Old stuff - new combo. I almost got rid of the skirt and the necklaces must be about 18 years old! Just goes to show that I shouldn't get rid of anything. Maybe I'll KonMari in my next life. *sigh* 

Top & skirt: Zara 

Necklaces: (I think) Accessorize

Boots: Office

Beetlejuice pants! I think so far I had only worn them with sweatshirts, so this feels reasonably 'dressed up'.

Shirt: La Redoute

Jeans & necklace: Zara

Jacket: Warehouse

Trainers: Converse

Bit of a leftover from a few days ago but I didn't feel very well the last couple of days and pretty much just hid under my duvet...

Dress: Boden

Cardigan: H&M

Boots: Hallhuber

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Still felt under the weather yesterday - can you tell? I felt like a right numpty with my jeans that are a tad too short. At least you can't see my pink socks in the pic. Just to show that I have off days too!

Jumper: Topshop

Jeans: Next

Trainers: Boden

Old Jacket, New Favourite

Outfit roundup a on Tuesday?! Due to a couple of busy weeks and then having been on holiday, I'm totally behind. My week in Germany involved a lot of lounging around and little sartorial action, so below the outfits from a couple of weeks ago. If I can find the time tomorrow, I'll get us up to date.

A couple of future faves: My old, yet newly discovered tweed jacket is finally being worn - and I really love it. (Do you do that? Discover items in your wardrobe that you almost discarded and fall in love with them?) Oh, and something actually new: that cosy Tesco jumper is going to get some repeat wears this winter!

I thought this outfit might be a pattern too far but I think it actually worked - and I really enjoyed wearing it! The jacket must be about 15 years old and almost every year I've held it up and thought "need to get rid of this, I never wear it" - and then hung it straight back into my wardrobe. It's a tricky one, as it's quite warm but not warm enough for proper outer wear (plus, it has elbow length sleeves and is cropped). But I thought I'd start wearing it kind of like a cardigan or blazer and voilà, it's now officially a keeper! 
Blouse & boots: Zara 
Skirt: Boden 
Jacket: River Island

I normally don't do outerwear shots. 
1. I do my ootd pic when I get home in the evening, after I dropped bag and coat downstairs and before I get changed into something that doesn't mind if I crawl around the floor building lego. 
2. I usually wear the same coat all season: a warm one in winter, a thinner one when it's warmer. Both hooded and waterproof, as I commute by train and walk bits in between. I also can't be bothered carrying an umbrella. (God knows why I have a wardrobe full of coats...) This was a day though when it was cold with no chance of rain so I dug out my classic grey coat - and I thought I'd share this. :) 
Jumper: Tesco 
Jeans: Next 
Trainers & coat: Zara 
Scarf: C&A

This is what happens when I take my 'outfit of the day' photo after coming home (no way would I have time to do this in the morning!). Little M will insist in being in a couple of pics and then we have to pose so that he "wears" my clothes. I have reams of those pics. 
Rubbish quality - but I can't quite get myself to delete them. 
Jumper: Zara 
Skirt: Mango 
Trainers: Kurt Geiger

At the weekend you'll usually find me in jeans, mainly because I will either be cleaning/tidying/pottering or climbing around hills/playgrounds/rocks. On Saturday I dragged Mr G and little M to Cheshire Oaks and (also due to the wet weather: nothing worse than jeans soaking up rain water) ended up in a dress. :) 

By the way: check out here what Mulberry had in stock! 

Dress & cardigan: Boden 

Boots: Hallhuber 

Necklace: Topshop

Confidence Booster Outfit

Do you have any go-to outfits for when you need to feel confident? My favourite outfit last the week was definitely my black stripy dress with that Zara jacket. The whole combo felt so easy to wear, fuss free and cool and looks like I hadn't tried to hard. Perfect for when you have to present!

In other news: It was only a matter of time until I would wear the same print twice in a week. I hadn't even realised until I posted my second pic on Instagram! Sigh.

"Mama, stand in a silly way!" Ok... I know I wore this recently but I had to speak in front of about 100 people yesterday and even though it was just for about 5 minutes, I was pretty nervous about it. I'm neither a practiced nor confident speaker, so my outfit had to be comfy, look cool but not like I tried too hard and have nothing too silly on it that could be remembered for the wrong reasons... 

Dress: Next 

Jacket: Zara 

Boots: Office

Necklace: Accessorize

"Mama, I want to be in the picture!" (Can I just say: this is is his "I just get in my sweats after taking off my school uniform" outfit. He doesn't dress like that for the whole day!) 

Mama's Shirt: Laredoute

Skirt: Boden 

Trainers: Converse 

Little M's outfit: Mango, Next, Matalan 

How to achieve such a spectacularly underwhelming picture: 

1. Drop food at taste session on floor in the massive atrium in front of EVERYONE in the building. 

2. Realise 2 hours later that half of the tomato sauce ended up on your dress and now doesn't budge. 

3. Think that for your ootd pic you can disguise the stain by showing off the bag you just switched into. 

4. Be ridiculously ungraceful posing with said bag and make dress appear to be only half of an outfit. (I can hear Julie say: "did you forget your pants?") 

5. Think "it's either that or nothing because I really can't be arsed trying for half an hour until I get a decent shot. 

 That (amongst other reasons) is why I'm not a professional blogger. 

Dress: Boden 

Trainers: Converse 

Bag: Mulberry

Do you have any items in your wardrobe that have the same print as others?

New Zara Favourites

I currently keep finding new Zara stuff I love (so I am also trying not too keep browsing them too often!) but I did take the plunge on the three below:

* an oversized shirt (dress?!)

* a pair of feathered trainers (!)   and

* an embellished sweatshirt with bishop sleeves.

Two of them definitely out of my comfort zone, and you know what? I loved wearing them!

Not something I've worn before, that shirt (dress?!) is huge on me, but I totally fell in love with it! (Mr G actually joked whether I was off painting - and I don't think he's far off.) This kind of blush pink is turning into my favourite hue this season. 

Shirt, shoes & necklace: Zara 

Jeans: Next

I was wondering whether the stripes AND the pattern AND the multi coloured jacket AND the necklace were a bit much but I do like it. :) 

Top & skirt: Boden 

Jacket: Zara 

Trainers: Converse 

Necklace: Aarikka

  I absolutely love my new (and current) Zara jumper! It's comfy and cosy, which is perfect for the colder months to come, 

but has enough detail to make my outfit. :) 

Jumper: Zara 

Skirt: BCBG MAXAZRIA 

Trainers: Kurt Geiger 

Fluffy jumper and summer skirt. And that necklace. I love the mix of zesty and pastel colours. 

Jumper: Primark 

Skirt: Miss Selfridge 

Trainers: Converse 

Necklace: Oliver Bonas

Dressing with Opposites

It feels like the last days of a summer that has barely been. With the sky grey and drizzly at times, I am sticking to boots or Converse. Incidentally: I think they work rather well with pencil skirts that would otherwise sometimes look a bit twee and plain. What do you think?

Back to outfits after the long weekend... did you have a good one? I think I've worn this skirt through all seasons now and it remains a firm favourite. Are you sick of seeing it yet? 

T-shirt: Warehouse 

Skirt & cardigan: Boden 

Trainers: Converse

Channeling something akin to Maid Marian: green, floaty... buckles...?

Dress: Mango

Boots: Marks and Spencer

Necklace: Accessorize

For some reason I completely forgot what I usually wear with this skirt right after I put it on. Usually I check back at my instagram but I don't have time so I spotted something grey and something pink for the top an threw it on...

Top: Topshop

Cardigan: Mango

Skirt: Boden

Trainers: Converse

A bit too casual for a non-Friday but I sprained my ankle and needed something to hide the bandage. These jeans were a steal at the Harvey Nicks sale - though I'm not sure if ever pay the RRP for them...

Top: Boden

Jacket: Zara

Jeans: Paige

Trainers: Converse

Something Old and Something Blue

Pathetically this is a couple of week's worth as I am behind. Pretty much as summery as we got in the past few months. I expect it's downhill from here - at least temperature wise...

Continuing the blue outfit theme. Looking at the calendar we ought to get ready to say goodbye to summer but I feel like it's not even been here. Let's make the most of it! 

Top: From an independent store (label says Golden Linen)

Skirt & cardigan: Boden 

Trainers: Converse

I was only off for one week and yet on Monday I stood in front of my wardrobe having no clue what to wear... 

T-shirt: Warehouse 

Cardigan: Boden 

Skirt: Miss Selfridge 

Trainers: Converse

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Natural tones on a warm-ish day...

Top: Zara 

Skirt: Boden 

Trainers: Converse

One to catch up on from my holiday week, hence the lack of decent mirror. It was my goddaughter's first day at school and in Germany that means church, then presentation at the school and then a family lunch. A warm and sunny day - with a heavy thunderstorm after lunch. 

Top: Golden Linen

Skirt and shoes: Boden

Another one from my holiday. Catching up with a casual outfit... these Converse "Chucks" are probably about 26 years old. They've been worn to death but I love them! I think the quality was way better back then, new ones seem to fall apart much quicker... 

Top: Topshop 

Jeans: Next 

Trainers: Converse

Boden Wins Again

Honestly two of my favourite outfits; both with the same Boden skirt - but in different prints. The animal print skirt paired with the knotty hem top does that 'fitted waist + wide top = magic a waist' thing so well. The navy & white print skirt just goes so nicely with the navy & white Breton top. And I'm lucky enough to have some necklaces in my wardrobe that just work.

Feels like... autumn?! Dark tights and long sleeves. Sigh. Well, we had a maximum of 16 degrees C yesterday. 

I do love this to though, with its knotty hem...

Top: Mango

Skirt: Boden

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Warehouse

I love my new top from Boden: the navy perfectly matches the hue in this skirt (also Boden) and the sleeves add a bit of pizzazz. 

Top & skirt: Boden 

Trainers: Converse 

Necklace: Zara

You know that I kinda like hydrangeas, right? ;) Still in love with this print, which is why I have it twice. Struggling to put a necklace with it. I don't do bracelets (annoy me when typing) and usually forget about earrings but maybe I should try harder when wearing this dress? What would you add? 

Dress: Boden

Boots: Zara

You know what I'm like with statement necklaces, right? Well, I'm talking to a colleague about an incident management exercise (admittedly, not one of the most exciting subjects) and she suddenly blurts out "does this necklace not get in the way?" I guess it kind of does. Especially when you're wearing a fitted coat. But obviously very handy as a distractor. Note to self: wear when having to present something I have no clue about!

Dress & top worn underneath: H&M

Necklace: Marni for H&M

Shoes: Zara

August Favourites

Ok, so you're only getting a couple of outfits in this week's roundup - but it's quality over quantity this time! (Not saying that I am usually showing you the dreggs... I'm digging myself a hole, here right?!)

Anyway... One of them is one of my current favourites: that green midi skirt is still a tricky length (of course it is, not like I've grown...) but the colour will forever cheer me up and matched with this embroidered top I am feeling distinctly spring-summer-ish and bouncy!

The other one seems plain but I am showing off a new Boden top - that's current enough for me to provide a link below!

A repeat outfit - but with different shoes! 

I'm laughing because little M is propping up (=wobbling) the mirror and singing "Mama, look: my finger is a wiggly worm!" 

Top: Zara 

Top worn underneath: H and M 

Skirt: Warehouse 

Trainers: Converse

New stripy top with ruffles from Boden. A bit casual for a Tuesday but I got bitten to bits by something during the night and didn't want to have my legs out. I actually wore a blazer over this at work. 

Top: Boden 

Jeans: Next 

Boots: Marks and Spencer

Clash or Match?

Print, print and more print this week: two outfits of uni-coloured tops with print skirts and two where I'm matching different prints on top and bottom. I always think the uni t-shirt is a bit of a cop out and love it when clashing prints works - but it doesn't always...

Looking at the weather today, yesterday may well have been the last day of summer... I'm glad I wore something light and bright! 

T-shirt: H & M 

Skirt and cardigan: Boden 

Shoes: Zara

  Give me summer... on a skirt! You can't gimmick better than hydrangeas - I just love them! T-shirt: Warehouse 

Cardigan and skirt: Boden 

Trainers: Converse 

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Yep, I still post outfits every now and then... (You're forgiven if you thought I'd moved onto flowers.) one of my favourite Boden prints! 

T-shirt: Warehouse 

Skirt and cardigan: Boden 

Necklace: Topshop 

Shoes: Dune Shoes 

Not sure about this one - maybe I just crave pretty colour too much at the moment to compensate for the lack of summer... The short must have been in my wardrobe for at least a decade, probably more like 15 years - and I've never worn it. I decided it now either works or has to go. It's still not off the hook - either way. Lol. 

Shirt: Miss Sixty 

Skirt: Rumour London at Wolf & Badger 

Trainers: Converse

Summer Sale Bargain

We definitely had some proper summer days last week, which meant, I could even ditch the sheer tights. The Herve Leger style bandage skirt was a complete bargain that I snapped up at the Harvey Nick's summer sale. It really is amazing how it pulls you in in all the right places!

1. It's been a while since I tied a knot in my top! Brings back memories of the 80s. Ok, 90s in Germany... 

2. Mermaid shoes. 

3. The skirt is a Harvey Nick's sale bargain. 

4. New Stella & Dot necklace! 

T-shirt: & Other Stories 

Skirt: Bcgb Max Azria 

Shoes: Kurt Geiger 

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Nothing quite like a new pair of Converse "Chucks" - let's see how long they'll stay this clean. Also: What's with the pointy bum though?! Looks like a shaved a bit off my side - but I don't do anything with my pictures. Must have a pointy bum then... 

Top: Boden 

Jeans: Next 

Trainers: Converse

Another warm day (was that out summer?), another t-shirt/skirt combo. And that new necklace again. :) 

Think the skirt will have to go though, it just doesn't look right anymore... T-shirt: Topshop 

Skirt: Miss Selfridge 

Trainers: Converse 

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Slipping in and out of Summer

Summer doesn't quite seem to know whether it's here or not, so I feel like I'm still in transitional outfits...

Retro print and golden flecks. And a smile?! That's me laughing because I heard little M shout at Siri downstairs: "Habbikids tibi" = hobbykids tv. Took him a few attempts but it did work in the end!

Jumper: Topshop

Skirt: Boden

Trainers: Converse

love that pattern but I think it's definitely one to go with black and uni items only. Can't see it working with stripes or florals... Can you think of anything else? Top & skirt: Warehouse Trainers: Kurt Geiger

Casual with stripes... 

Jumper: Zara 

Top worn underneath: Topshop 

Jeans: Next 

Trainers: Converse

Is that an Autumn Outfit?!

Looking back at last week, you could be forgiven for thinking one of those outfits slipped in there by accident: that Zara chequered skirt with black tights looks like something I'd be wearing in October, whilst the other three outfit can pass for summer. Nope. It really was cold enough for opaques. Well, at least for this continental softie...

  It was so warm yesterday - well, outside the office, at least! They predicted rain ☔️ though, so I didn't go full on summer footwear. In the end it stayed dry after all... This skirt always reminds me of Maria Katrantzou designs (am pretty sure that's intentional) and it always cheers me up! 

T-shirt & necklace: Warehouse 

Skirt: Miss Selfridge 

Trainers: Converse

What's with the grumpy face?! Seriously: this one was the best out of a very grumpy bunch! I like mixing patterns but don't have a pairing for each printed item I own. Usually end up just picking out a colour in the pattern and adding a top/bottom of that colour. Or I just clash it all and pretend I don't care. ;) 

T-shirt: & Other Stories 

Skirt: Boden 

Trainers: Converse 

Necklace: Topshop I think...

Right, so it's warm(ish) when I have to run for the train in the evening, hence t-shirt. But it isn't in the morning. And the office air on is blowing. And it's raining (on and off) - hence the boots. *sigh* Well, at least it's a new outfit combo! 

T-shirt: Warehouse 

Cardigan: Boden 

Skirt, boots & necklace: ZARA 

Tights: should be packed away in a drawer somewhere in JULY!

Yes, you might have seen this one before. But I've thrown in a bonus bag this time! ;) Sweatshirt & skirt: ZARA 

Trainers: Converse 

Bag: Mulberry