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Shirt weather! I have lots of shirts. I’ve always loved them. They sit alongside tailored pieces just as happily as they do with a pair of knackered jeans. I wore this for a day of mapping and colour last week. I’d had a particularly bad nights sleep ( a common occurrence -thanks peri menopause) so I reached for one of my best colours, fuchsia pink. Your most flattering colours will help lift your complexion when you’re feeling tired. Shirts should be easy - keep to structured cottons, taffetas, denims if you’re a straighter figure and select silks, viscose and drapey fabrics if you’re curvier. The half tuck gives some semblance of a waist. Get a shirt on today and tell me how you wear it! x
I still look like this when I wake up. It’s my birthday today! The last year of my forties…I’ve taken the day off and gorged on 🎂 for breakfast. Going for a long walk via @petershamnurseries (possibly my favourite spot in the whole world) and then lunch out. Hope the sun appears at some point! X
Weekend garb. Marni ( well, most of her) and I off for a stroll. I reach for this @margarethowellltd knitted tee a lot in the summer. More interesting than a bog standard jersey and just as cool. I added an old vintage silk bomber and some khakis. Relaxed and comfy. Happy Sunday! X
I thought twice about posting this. I would have liked it all to look neat and tidy. There’s a mess in the background, a rail of clothes to the side, my glasses are sitting a little too high, my hair is more Hermione Granger than I’d like and it appears that I have a hairy chest… Then I thought, but life is chaos, it’s messy, it’s busy and it’s never, ever perfect! So here I am. This dark brown suit is being worn a lot. I’m head to toe in high street here. The suit is @arketofficial - I really rate their tailoring and the hopsack is great for travelling to clients’ homes as it doesn’t crease. The taffeta shirt is candy pink and makes me feel happier. Silver shoes from @insidejigsaw optional but it’s usually a trainer for tearing around London. I wore this yesterday for a client wardrobe session. You really can’t go wrong with a suit x
Some shots of my gorgeous client, Sarah, from her recent shopping session. Sarah wanted dresses and suits for work and upcoming summer weddings ( lucky her, I’ve only got one wedding this year - I’m hoping more of my young cousins start tying the knot!) We had so much fun with colour and texture. Some of the pieces we had tweaked - taking up the length on the cobalt blue @maxmara dress to make it sit at the right point and shortening some of the sleeves. Those little changes make a huge difference. It’s always worth considering how tailoring a piece can transform it. Which is your favourite look?
Yesterday’s look. I had a personal shop and a special business dinner so I wanted a killer outfit. This obi belt was my investment buy from @loewe @bicestervillage Oh, how I LOVE it! It gives me a waist, ( not seen since 1998) hips and some serious attitude. I did bang into a few doors and doorframes but I can always go in sideways. What do you think? X
I met up with the lovely Frankie, designer of @charlknits, when I was back in Leamington a couple of weeks ago. Frankie designs and runs her knitwear business from her home. I mentioned the Craske ( seen here) in my @financialtimesfashion column this month because it is an absolute gem. Inspired by Norfolk fisherman’s jumpers each are named after a local fisherman. The quality is exquisite, the unusual stitches expertly crafted and they are super cosy. Made in Italy using British wool with a variety of weights to choose from. I always keep a few knits back over summer for those chilly evenings. Sling one around the shoulder or waist for that sudden shift in temperature. Let me know what you think! A x
Happy belated Easter! Hope everyone is good? Had the best day on Saturday ( see reel) with a dear friend. We hit Covent Garden. Had a slap up lunch at the Ivy Grill, meandered through the shops (Caroline tried some bits on and ended up with a pretty, pastel top from Rails and some trousers from Arket) The Ganni store looks especially fine btw. We finished at Somerset House soaking up the sun with cake and a G&t. A truly restorative day x
