Winter Woolies and Sumptuous Skirts....

Style Theory: Christmas is the time when you can get away with dressing up a bit fancier than normal, when you would normally reach a pair of jeans you can think 'sod it, I am going to dress fancy and wear a skirt' the rest of the year, I can't be bothered and opt for the jeans but December is the exception to (my) rule, is all about sequins, metallics and a hefty dose of frivolity!

So with this in mind, I was asked by Marks and Spencer to style up a partywear outfit. My favourite days out at Christmas are those that start with a mooch around the shops then meeting friends for lunch which hopefully glides into the evening, that is my idea of the perfect celebration/party day and for this I love a jumper, skirt and boots.

M&S Autograph Pure Cashmere Rollneck £89
Skirt M&S £49
Bag M&S £29.50
Leather Boots M&S £99

I have been talking quite a lot about M&S cashmere, it is good, the fit is slouchy and the sweaters feel amazing on, I do love a black rollneck, it is good to go back to basics sometimes and this roll neck is the perfect building block to a winter wardrobe. I have worn it with jeans and wellies for winter walks, with trousers and heels for going out and with this beautiful skirt for a day out in town...I am wearing a size 12 - I prefer jumpers to be roomy...

M&S Autograph Pure Cashmere Rollneck £89
Skirt M&S £49
Bag M&S £29.50
Leather Boots M&S £99

The skirt is super luxurious, a sumptuous fabric that billows as you walk (in a good way not in a ship setting sale way..) I am wearing an 8 but to be honest I could have done with a 10 (it is true to size) I love the dress that is in the same collection as this skirt below, it truly is beautiful on but size down at least one size it come up big. How cute is the bag, love the deep red velvet pouch..it would look amazing with a camel coat or navy coat.

Here are a few other gems I saw in M&S when I shopping last week..

Marks and Spencer £55

Marks and Spencer £55

I was so surprised when I tried on this dress it was gorgeous on, I had walked past it so many times but just thought it would be unflattering, it turns out it is really beautiful on. I sized down, I tried on a UK 6 (I am never a 6) so size down at least one size as it does come up big. It is like a kind of slinky ballerina dress, the ones they wear when practicing (I have always loved how they look) I would wear with red or black sock boots to give it a bit of an edge.

Marks and Spencer Velvet A line Maxi Dress £59

I also love this velvet dress, it looks far better on than on the hanger, again add a pair of red or black sock boots to toughen it up a little..

Marks and Spencer £79

Marks and Spencer £79

80s-tastic!! So Alexis/Crystal Carrington - kind of wrong but kind of right!! I did feel kind of Kylie-ish in it (thats Minogue not Jenner obvs!) just add a pair of gold strappy sandals and embrace the 80s..

Marks and Spencer £89

Another surprise dress, it looks stunning on, size down at least one size again it comes up big and it really needs to to fit perfectly. I love the cap sleeves, the heavy luxurious fabric and the 50s shape.

Marks and Spencer £39.50

This blouse looks great on, wear with pair of tailored navy trousers and gold heels...super chic and stylish..

Marks and Spencer £39.50

Love these shoes, they are complete showstoppers, wear with a black poloneck, black ankle length jeans for a cool, laid back Christmassy outfit!

I think I need to create a few more Christmas parties to wear these gorgeous things to. I am off to a party at Epsom racecourse on Friday night so I am looking forward to getting partywear-d up for that!!

What is your fave partywear to wear? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until the next time Fran xx

This blog post was written in collaboration with Marks and Spencer, all styling, edits and opinions are my own.

Get Your Party Shoes On....

Style Theory: Shoes are so important and can make or break an outfit..especially when rocking partywear. I am a big fan of a dressed down partywear look, just add a sparkly pair of shoes and a sequin top and you have a fab, easy, festive look. 

Shoes - Jones Bootmaker £96
Top -  &Other Stories £49
Jeans - J Brand Selena £120
Coat - Preloved Missoma Edit Secondhand
Bag - Zara £29.99

I love a pair of sparkly shoes and these Jones Bootmaker shoes are gorgeous on, they are incredibly flattering and have a slight platform at the front that makes the heel at the back not seem so high. They would look pretty amazing with an all-black outfit, sometimes it's good just to let the shoes do the talking. The perfect, elegant shoes to make you feel properly grown up!

Boots - Jones Bootmaker £77
Dress - H&M £39.99
Bag - Gucci Soho 
Blazer - Me&Em 

 This season, the perfect boot to wear with dresses is the sock boot, it did take me a little while to get on board with this trend, I bought my red sock boots in the summer and it was a a huge surprise how easy they were to wear with everything. They fit tightly around my ankles so make my legs look thinner, they are so comfortable and easy to walk in and these black boots I have been wearing with all my trousers and jeans as well as all my dresses. 

These are the kind of boots I will reach for when going out for a drink at the pub but also for dashing around town to meetings as I can walk in them easily and they look great. Just pop on a dress and add the boots, simple partywear maths!

Which partywear shoes are you reaching for this season? As always I love hearing your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxxx

This was written in collaboration with Jones Bootmaker all styling and opinions are my own.

Topshop, Boden and Missoma Black Friday Items Worth Looking at..

Style Theory: There is a slight manic-ness around black Friday which to be honest I find a little too much so I am not going crazy but.....having said that, I think as I am going to be buying Christmas presents over the next few weeks it would be crazy not to have a look to see if I can get some money off so here are a few items I have my eye on...

First up Topshop..scroll through for my edit of gifts and key pieces of your wardrobe, some really beautiful leather bags..

Next Boden - USE N6D5 at checkout....

Missoma sale starts tomorrow - without a doubt my fave jewellery, makes the most beautiful gifts..

Missoma Large Horn Necklace £139

Missoma Mini Fang Necklace £105

Also Selfridges have 20% off selected items (not all Gucci et al not included!)- use code SELFCCE at checkout

A few ideas, I guess for me, I find if I write a list of the presents I need to get everyone and if there is anything I 'need' then focus on that...homeware is always a good call, I will let you know details of John Lewis etc asap!

Happy Browsing, Fran xx

Just Add a Touch of Lace

Images via Pinterest

Style Theory: Sometimes all you have to do to 'pretty' up a day to day outfit is to add a touch of lace, it changes a plain look in to something quite interesting, delicate and beautiful. I love lace tops worn with denim jackets or jeans, mixed up with velvets or leather, it adds a feminine twist to tough pieces.

A lace top or blouse looks great worn with fine gold jewellery, this season think layered pendants and gold hoop earrings then keep everything else dressed down, so just a a pair of ankle length blue jeans, trainers and boots and a biker jacket, leopard or camel coat (I love a camel coat and lace with a leopard print bag so effortlessly classy) 

Here are my favourite lace tops on the high street now:

& Other Stories £59

The high neck, the classic lace detail makes this blouse a must have in any wardrobe. Perfect with jeans, leopard print coat and ankle boots..

&Other Stories £59

This is a full on lace number (I would wear a little black vest top underneath) but so chic with tailored tux trousers (I love these ones at Me+Em) black court heels and a velvet/tux blazer - the perfect Christmas look.

Topshop £45

A lace and embroidery top, super pretty on, would look great under a pair of black dungarees and heels for a night out.

Topshop £38

Add a pop of colour to your outfit with a beautiful red lace top, calm thing down with a pair of pale blue jeans (ankle length) and a pair of flat, sparkly pumps.

Topshop £36

The flower print looks beautiful on this lace blouse, it wold look great with black jeans and black, leather high heeled ankle boots.

Topshop £39

This is the softest most comfortable blouse on, it is cheesecloth like fabric, it does come up slightly short so best worn with high cut jeans or trousers.

Monsoon £59

Navy is incredibly flattering against the face, this would look great with pale blue jeans and gold shoes, navy and gold is a match made in heaven.

Monsoon £59

A beautiful, classic lace shirt, the most pristine bright white, dress down with jeans and velvet heels for the perfect outfit.

Mango £9.99

A t-shirt style top, I obviously wouldn't get away with a bralet but would wear with a black vest top underneath. Wear with all black to make it look expensive and classic.

Mango £39.99

This is so up my street, lace on a boxy sweater, perfect with jeans and trainers..

Asos £35

Love the vintage look of this top, I bought similar from Topshop 10 years ago and still love it so much.

All Saints at Asos £128

Again I love the antique look of this lace, it is super pricey but looks stunning.

I am a huge fan of lace and am looking to add a few more pieces to my wardrobe as much as I love sparkles, lace has it's place at Christmas!

Thanks for reading, Fran x

Partywear!!!!

Style Theory: Partywear for me falls into two categories, 'Out, out partywear' - super dressed up, sparkles, bare shoulders and heels or the other category - 'out to the pub/ lunch with the girls' partywear which involves a 'fancy top', a great jacket and some sparkly heels, all brought down to earth with a great pair of jeans..

Hush Jumpsuit £75
Hush Zadie Blazer £95
Hush Star Scarf £45
Hush Glitter Bag £40

Hush has these two types of partywear covered, the go-to online store for all your winter comfies also does an amazing job at nailing the partywear looks without too much pomp and ceremony. Their sparkliest, coolest 'out, out partywear' is possibly one of the most comfiest jumpsuits I have ever worn and their 'drinks at the pub' partywear look is a top that I not only felt great in, it was completely at home paired with my oldest, most battered but definitely my favourite pair of jeans... 

So lets start with the sparkly jumpsuit of dreams...this is Studio 54-tastic, so cool, so flattering, incredibly comfortable and super easy to wear. It comes up big so size down, I am wearing a small but to be honest I should have really ordered an XS as it is slightly big (I am normally a size 10) It has gorgeous spaghetti straps at the back and can easily be worn with a strapless bra..I adore this, partywear in the best possible form.

I teamed it with the star skinny scarf, which I love, it looks just as good with a white tee and a blazer as it does with a jumpsuit..

This Hush Zadie Blazer looks great on, the streamline look works so well with the voluminous jumpsuit, I sized down to a size 8 so it is a very neat fit but I think it should worn on the neater side. It is one of those super useful items that you can pull out of your wardrobe and wear time and time again, perfect with a tee, jeans and trainers, add a cool oversized scarf for the perfect all year around look.

Then onto the 'laid back partywear' look..

Hush Devore Greta Top £85
Hush Zadie Blazer £95
Jeans - old
Shoes - Gucci 

The Devore Greta Top is pure laid back elegance, really easy to wear with a big bow that can either be tied at the front or the back of the neck. The cut in shoulders are incredibly flattering on arms and it can be tucked in a bloused over (concealing any lumps and bumps!) The devore adds a luxurious touch and a black top is the perfect style solution to any outfit. I would say it is pretty true to size, I am wearing a size 8 in these photos but would possibly prefer my normal size 10. 

Photos by Victoria Metaxas

 Again I paired this with the Hush Zadie Blazer which just goes perfectly with everything and my ancient Gap jeans and gold shoes...

Here are a few other Hush pieces that are catching my eye....perfect for the party season...

Hush Lurex Star Jumper £79

Love this sparkly jumper, the perfect top to wear with jeans and trainers, or dress up with tuxedo style trousers and silver heels.

Hush Manhattan Top £89

I love the lurex running through this top, another super flattering top on, just tuck in at the side with jeans and pop on a pair of heels and you will be party ready!

Hush Devore Greta Dress £110

This is a super simple party style solution, just adda pair of opaque tights and heels and you have the most stunning look.

Hush Metallic Pleat Skirt £89

A beautiful skirt that dips down slightly at the back for a super flattering silhouette, pair with a black cashmere jumper and black heels.

So maybe I have peaked quite early with the partywear but Hush sells out so quickly so you really have to get in quick.... What are your 'go-to' pieces for partywear, are you a dress, jumpsuit or separates fan? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Until next time Fran xx

This blog post was written in collaboration with Hush, all styling and opinions are my own.