It's another late what I've been wearing update. Life has been busier than normal, hence the delay but it's been busy in a good way. I've had another trip to London (more on that soon), a weekend retreat with some inspiring women (blog post to follow) and a business idea in the formulation stage (watch this space). All told, it's kept me out of mischief.
All of this activity has been because of a slow down in the 'day job' (communications project work) that I usually do a few days a week. One job has finished and another has gone to one day a week so I'm on the freelance market again. But instead of panicking about this as I usually do, it's actually been nice to accept a bit of a slow-down and enjoy the time it's giving me to reset and plan ahead. I've had space to really think about what I want to do next and it's helped me get the business plans out of my head and onto paper.
Additionally, being free from the 'day job' means I've been able to get involved in some really fun blog projects. I prefer to keep the paid stuff to a minimum on here as I know it's not popular with everyone but it's good to have this work as a fall back financially when work outside of the blog slows down. So this week's task (as well as getting some more freelance work sorted) is to clear the backlog of blog posts, starting with this outfit round-up.
The first picture is of the dress that I reluctantly bought in Primark in Derry during the summer. I say reluctantly because I don't like to shop there anymore. Penneys/Primark is one of those places that you end up picking up things mainly because they're cheap and not because you actually need them/will wear them loads. In fairness though, I have worn this loads and plan to extend its wear into winter with boots and a chunky knit.
Dress - Primark (current)
Trainers - Geox kids (SS19)
Bag - Dunnes ( SS19 sale)
I can't believe how blonde my hair looks in this next picture - it was taken just a few days before the one above but the sunshine is making it look much lighter than it is. I'm in front of Seven Boutique in Limavady, where I did a try on a few weeks ago. It's a gorgeous shop in with some stunning brands like Closet London, Lilly, Guess and Ted Baker.
I'm wearing a pleather blazer that I got in a boutique sale recently. It's from Guess and I spotted it last year and stalked it until it went to 50% off. I love that it's got all the Balmain vibes and that it's an edgier take on a black blazer. I dressed it down with these old H&M jeans that I got on the sale rail a few years ago. They're quite 'scruffy' (and my mother in law hates them!) but you can get away with a good fitting distressed jean if you keep the rest of your outfit quite classic - hence the breton top and pumps...
Pleather Blazer - Guess (AW18) - some on eBay if you search for Guess Kumi
Bag - Zohara (AW18 - purchased myself but I have worked with them in the past)
Jeans - old H&M
Next up, I've been introducing a bit of soft warm pink into my AW wardrobe this month and this loose and light trench coat is one of the pieces. It's from Stradivarius, another shop I'm not that keen on shopping in but I know it's going to be a hard-working piece and the oversized fit means I can wear it with knitwear and hoodies when the weather gets cooler.
Top - old boutique purchase
Bag - Edina Ronay (old - obtained at a handbag swap party!)
Another softer colour I've been adding to the AW wardrobe is fudge/caramel, in the form of this satin blouse from M&S. It's got slightly wide sleeves so I turn it up instead of leaving them down. They are beautiful down but not at all practical. Looking back at this picture, I wish I'd worn a softer coloured jacket...it led me to searching for a charcoal biker on eBay and I found a fantastic one from Topshop for £40 - real suede too. I haven't worn yet but one of the posts I've got up my sleeve is about softening the look from black biker to grey. Much more flattering if you're going grey or blonde (or both in my case!)..
Jacket - Reiss via eBay
Jeans - Rant & Rave (SS19)
Another trench shot - they are such a great option for transitional dressing. This particular one is from the Hobbs outlet at Kildare Village and I got it Christmas past. It's a standard piece from Hobbs every season and you can see this season's one on the link (with 20% off) but if you have an outlet near you, watch out for the less classic colours going in there at bigger discount. My trainers deserve a mention as I'm always asked about where to get some comfortable and stylish white trainers. These are from Skechers and they're like walking on air with a slight gucci-esque look going on. Not leather but really well made for £60.
Next up, I was gifted a gorgeous forest green suit from Closet London and a couple of weeks ago, I styled it up a couple of different ways - here's the trousers worn with a biker and trainers. The best bit is that this UK brand (where every item is designed and made in London) has given me a discount available for a limited time on all full price items....not just this suit. Use AVRIL30OFF at the till!
Trainers - GEOX as before
Bag - preloved a few years ago
White T-Shirt - M&S
A simple monochrome outfit next featuring the bag that local company Zohara gifted me as part of their AW19 launch. They also have given me a discount code for you all, available until 5th October. Use PORTAK15 to get 15% off the entire Port range of beautiful leather bags. I'm using the Runkerry which is one of those bags that will never go out of fashion - it can be worn on a night out, doing the supermarket shop, going to work...with all the Celine vibes too!!
Jumper - old River Island
White Shirt - old H&M (mens!)
Leggings - Spanx from Orchid (old but still available)
What I love about summer holidays is that you can still get a few days out of the summer dresses too. This is a past season dress I got in Moi Bangor, a gorgeous local boutique that has a fab website too. Zara has such gorgeous style - I always say her boutique is closest to the one I'd have if I opened on (not my business idea btw!)
Dress - Moi Boutique (past season)
Bag - Tom Tailor (preloved from a handbag swap party)
Trainers - GEOX as before
Denim Jacket - old H&M
This next jacket is one I got in M&S right at the beginning of the summer but I've never worn. Isn't that awful? I thought the shorter fit would work well with dresses etc but I never reached for it. I think it's because the fit is a bit generous? Anyway, I forced myself to wear it last week but I think I might have to admit defeat on it and add it to the preloved sale rail.
Jacket - M&S (SS19)
Jeans - old H&M
Polka dots next for a podcast recording in the University of Ulster. I'll fill you in when I can but it's all about the menopause and I hope you'll find it useful. It was an education for me as I'll admit I've had my head in the sand about the menopause, thinking it's years and years away. The dress is an old one but a great wardrobe staple...it works in so many situations. I've worn this to work, dressed up with red boots, dressed down with trainers, open over jeans and a vest etc etc. A classic!
Dress - Mango (AW17)
Bag - Zohara (sale purchase as before)
Meanwhile, here's the other picture from my Closet London project, this time with the green jacket from the suit, worn with jeans and a breton top.
Finishing with a more summery outfit in muted shades...I can really see how they work better on me now my hair is lighter.
Jeans - Rant & Rave (SS19)
Long line shirt - Zara (SS19)
Mules - Monsoon (SS18)
And that's us up to date....or in NI speak 'At's us Nai' (you need to be local to get that one)...I'll be back soon with another of the blog posts buzzing around my head. Hope you have a wonderful week in the meantime.
Ax
Disclaimer - some affiliate links used. Gifted items as marked.
Closet London project was unpaid and I was not asked to blog about it
