Style Theory: On rainy days like today I need to be cheered up with summer clothing inspiration..step forward Pinterest.. Here are my favourite looks for summer, these  cool outfits will shape my Summer wardrobe this year..

My mind is re-focused, whites, denims, stripes and black with the summer must have strappy sandals and beachy blond waves..now all we need is for the sun to shine and stick around for a while..

Next time the best spring jackets...

Who is your favourite summer dresser, where do you get your summer inspiration from? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Frances xxx

Summer Inspiration

Costa Blanca

Style Theory: I am in need of some Summer Inspiration, I have looked at last years clothes and think they need a styling refresh so here are a selection of my favourite outfits and images from Pinterest that I will use to inspire my summer style this year..

Stripe Dress

Black Dungarees

Round Sunglasses

Levis Shorts

Stan Smiths 

W Hotel Barcelona 

Adidas Superstar trainers & baggy distressed jeans

Button through denim skirt

Denim dungarees with sandals

Light blue flared jeans 

Salt Bar Barcelona

Aigua Blava, Costa Brava

Distressed white jeans and striped shirts

Dark denim flares and heels

White boho tops and levis 501s

White boho dresses

White boho tops and short

Yellow tops, strappy sandals and hoop earrings

My summer inspiration in a nutshell, it is going to involve a lot of white boho tops, denim in it's many forms (dungarees, shorts, button through skirts and jeans) and strappy sandals with a touch of yellow thrown in to add a splash of colour and of course and big dose of Barcelona and Costa Blanca...

How is your summer wardrobe shaping up? What styles are catching your eye, who is your summer inspiration?

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time, Frances xxx

ph via Pinterest, LasCallesdeBarcelona, Sincerely Jules, Pandora Sykes, Happily Grey

Dreaming of Summer.....

ph Las Calles de Barcelona

Style Theory: The days are getting longer, the sun has shown it's face after months of hiding away behind heavy, grey clouds and now my attentions are turning towards summer and beachy holidays. I long to lay on the beach - ok in reality, chase kids/ build sandcastles/ remove unwanted sand from their feet/be made to jump (not a nice sight) over every wave that hits the beach - in order to do this with some sort of confidence I love a beautiful bikini or swimsuit. I normally start looking about now, that initial trying on session is horrendous but makes me realise that in less than 3 months I will be faced with the reality of strutting my stuff down to the sea edge in a bikini. To soften the blow of an unworked out, rather out of shape Mum of two in stepped Coco Bay Beachwear, the answer to my swimwear worries....

Coco Bay - Seafolly Miami Stripe Neon Bikini Top from £53 Bottoms from £38
Coco Bay - Seafolly Soundwave Drummer Kaftan £53
Coco Bay - Bulaggi Pineapple Beach Bag £40
Coco Bay - Hipanema Amor Bracelet £70

I have long been a fan of Seafolly swimwear it is cut beautifully and is incredibly flattering, it is also substantial enough to withstand toddlers tugging on it and stays up whilst grappling with them in the sea! Although it is slightly more expensive than some other high street own brands, they really do last, the colour does not fade and I have had mine for quite a few years. When the bikini above arrived I let out a little gasp of delight (genuinely) the colour is stunning, like a tropical sunset and the cut perfect for me.

I wanted an easy cover up to throw over me with ease so when a child declares they need the toilet I am there in a flash and thank goodness not walking up to the cafes in my bikini. I love the bright edges of the throw and the white base, it will look fab with cut off denim shorts and tan strappy sandals for long lazy lunches. I also always need a huge beach bag that can carry at least two towels and as much other stuff I can pack in it (spades, buckets, beach hats, extra kids clothes....) this Bulaggi Pineapple bag is perfect.

Coco Bay - Seafolly Miami Stripe Neon Bikini Top from £53 Bottoms from £38
Coco Bay - Seafolly Soundwave Drummer Kaftan £53
Coco Bay - Bulaggi Pineapple Beach Bag £40
Coco Bay - Hipanema Amor Bracelet £70

There were so many beautiful bikinis and swimsuits to choose from on the Coco Bay Beachwear website I was spoilt for choice. Here are a selection of my favourites and they also have D/DD/E/F Cup swimwear in beautiful styles and colours..

Seafolly Miami Neon Melon Bikini - Tops from £53 Bottoms from £38Seafolly Miami Neon Melon Swimsuit £94

These neon colours are so flattering against any colour of skin, they take the edge away from a paler skin like mine and make it look a little less bright white. The bikini tops and swimsuit come with a detachable strap so you secure when diving in the waves...

Banana Moon Victoriane Bikini (left) - Top: £38 Bottoms: £38

Banana Moon is another favourite swimwear brand, I used to buy it from a little shop on the seafront in Spain now you can buy and try before you go on holiday. The boho pattern of this bikini is perfect for this years boho trend. The swimsuit is ruched in all the right places for a flattering effect and I always find navy a softer, kinder, more flattering colour against the skin.

Here are my are selection of my favourite pieces of swimwear for D-F cup on Coco Bay..

Top Left Seafolly Soundwave Bikini top from £58 Bottoms from £39
Bottom Left Seafolly Goddess Lapis Bikini top from £21 Bottoms from £27
Swimsuit Baku St Martins £99

Beautifully flattering and gorgeous colours, with lots of options to mix and match different shaped tops with different bottoms to ensure you buy the right bikini for your shape.

Coco Bay also has a fab range of beach clothing (love the boho top) and bags and accessories, well worth a cyber visit!

Do you buy your swimwear early or do you wait until the last minute, are you like me and need a short sharp shock of seeing yourself in a bikini to get moving? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances 

Breton Brilliance...

Style Theory: The Breton Dress, a wardrobe staple, classic, simple and versatile. A new but much longed for addition to my summer wardrobe...

And with lace detail and exposed zip detail at the back to add a little twist...

Ex Crew Clothing Breton Dress c/o Highstreetoutlet.com £16.75
Denim Jacket:Warehouse similar here
Shoes: H&M £39.99
Bag: TK Maxx similar here

The dress has filled a huge gap in my Summer capsule wardrobe and only for £16.75! 

I was sent this Ex Crew Clothing Co. dress by a website called Highstreet Outlet which buys surplus clothing from labels such as Topshop, Crew Clothing Co.and Boden, snips out the labels and pops the items online for less than half price...it really makes sense...I know as an ex-byer for John Lewis, stock is frequently cancelled when buying budgets are cut so it is all out there and is perfectly good, well made stock.  Everyone likes a good, familiar brand for a bargain price, especially when buying classic pieces.

They also stock kids clothes little J was delighted with her Ex Mini Boden play suit:

Jess: Boden Playsuit c/o Highstreet outlet £8.99
Converse @John Lewis £25 

I love a bargain and will be visiting the Highstreet Outlet website regularly to see what fab stock they have hitting over the summer, autumn and winter!

Are you a fan of a bargain highstreet label , do you have any hidden gem websites you know about? I would love to hear about them x

If you do fancy ordering the Breton dress I would size down as this definitely comes up on the larger side.

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxxxx