Showing posts with label #mumfashionblog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #mumfashionblog. Show all posts

5 Key Items to 'Lift' Your Spring Wardrobe



Style Theory: A few key items in your wardrobe will update your look, refreshing your outfits and giving your Spring style a 'lift'. Here are my five key items for this Spring...

THE CAMO/KHAKI JACKET

One of the most useful pieces of clothing you will buy all Spring, this jacket covers all outfit eventualities from laid back weekend dressing to throwing over your going out outfit. It gives all outfits that cool edge, slightly nonchalant, a little rebelious and so very 2016. It works as th eperfect layering piece, wear under your bomber jacket or winter coat now and in the summer wear over your tee and denim shorts or boho white dress, buy one and I promise you will not regret it..
From Left to Right 

The Chic Blouse

The blouse can dress up any look in a flash, wear with jeans, fitted trousers, shorts, the blouse will see you through seamlessly from day to night. It looks chic and elegant and can be worn through every season. Definitely an item to invest it, it will work hard for you throughout the year..

From left to right

The Ankle Length Jeans

Such a good Spring jean, the cropped kick flare looks great with trainers, boots, ballet pumps or heels. The flared bottom really flatters your ankle making it look thinner and also balances out thighs and hips. I invested in the JBrand Selena jeans and have worn them non-stop. 

From left to right

The Ballet Pump

The ballet pump is having a resurgence, it is such an easy little shoe to slip on, looks ladylike and delicate, flatters ankles and looks amazing with skinny or crop kick flares. If you are like me and have a habit of hoarding you will probably have quite a few pairs of ballet pumps stored in your wardrobe, if not here are a selection of my favourites..
From left to right

The Comfortable White Trainer

The best trainer to wear with every outfit from boyfriend jeans to a denim dress to shorts. Stan Smith trainers are incredibly comfortable, they flatter sunkissed ankles and now there are so many versions on the high street. without a doubt my 'got to' trainer. I pop sheepskin insoles in mine for added comfort and warmth on the colder days..

From left to right

There are my 5 keys items for this Spring, you probably have quite a few of these, if not all already in your wardrobe, pair them together for a fabulous SS16 look, all are so versatile and can be mixed and matched with last year's trends along with wardrobe basics.

Do you have these items already, is there any of these your have not yet bought but have your eye on? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Fran xxxx

The hoody is back...


Hoody - Topshop £35
Coat - Maje £239.50
Jeans - J Brand Selena @Shopbop £155.41
Shoes - Gucci Marmont £495

Style Theory: The hoody is back..again. With sports luxe remaining a trend leader, hoodys are making their way to the forefront of fashion. With streetsylers at the fashion weeks pairing down their looks, juxtaposing feminine floaty skirts with hoodys or dressing down statement coats with a hoody underneath. It is being propelled from gym gear back to streetwear...

Images via Pineterst
It is the perfect item to dress down a dressed up look, so versatile wear under your smart coats with ankle length trousers or jeans and a pair of statement shoes, anything goes..be brave and have fun with it and most of all it is one of the most comfiest items of clothing..
If you do have not have one lurking with your gym gear or at the back of the wardrobe, here are the best on the high street starting with the one I have just bought..
Topshop NYPD Hoody £35

I bought the medium as I like my sweaters to be oversized, this is the perfect snuggly hoody for daytime or evenings out.

Topshop Cheer Squad Hoodie £35

The perfect layering hoody, perfect for under a tighter jacket, a biker or blazer.

Topshop Supersoft Hoody £26

For a softer, prettier take on the hoody, pair this sweater with dark reds for an edgy look.

H&M Marled Hoody £14.99

A good basic, inexpensive hoody.

Nike @NetaPorter £50
I love the collar of this hoody at the front it is a little different, a little more interesting than the basic hoody and the colour is fab. wear with a floral maxi skirt and trainers.
Asos Story of Lola Sequin Hoody £75

I do love a sequin and think they can be worn at any time of the year not just at Christmas, this is the perfect 'sports luxe' piece. Wear with a breton, jeans and trainers for a cool look.

Asos Hoody £18

A perfect basic hoody, looks fab with shorts or wear under your statement fur coat.


Are you a hoody fan, do you still have a few stowed away at the back of the wardrobe or are you like me and wear them in the evening with your PJ bottoms? Time to dust them off and wear them with your smart looks..fashion could not get any comfier!!

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

Instagram me...

Jacket - Zara Old Season (similar here)
Jumper - Zara old season
Jeans - Gap (similar here)
Shoes - Mango
Bag - See by Chloe at Very Exclusive


Necklace - Cabbage White England
Top - H&M
Jeans- H&M (old season)
Bag - Gucci
Bracelets - Black and Sigi
Style Theory: Join me over on Instagram @the_fashionlift for daily outfits, update of what I have bought and sneaky shopping trip posts and outfit inspiration..I would love to see you there xx
Bomber Jacket - Topshop
Camo Jacket - similar here
Shirt - Baukjen
Dungarees - H&M
Trainers - Golden Goose
Bag - Gucci
Necklace - Cabbage White England 
Blouse - La Redoute
Dungarees - La Redoute
Bag - Gucci
Shoes - Gucci
Necklace - Cabbage White England
Shoes - Zara
Bag - Zara
Dress - See by Chloe @Very Exclusive UK
Shoes - Gucci
Bag - Zara
Coat - Topshop (old season)
Jumper - Primark (old season)
Sequin Jacket - Kate Moss for Topshop
Jeans - J Brand 
Boots - Hunter
Bag - Gucci 
Coat - Topshop (old season)
Jumper - Boden (old season)
Jeans - J Brand
Shoes - Isabel Marant
Bag - Aurora London Style
Jacket - Asos (similar here)
Top - Zara (old season)
Necktie - Topshop
Camo Jacket - Primark (similar here)
Trainers - Nike
Bag - Gucci
Necklace - Chambers and Beau
Cardigan - American Vintage @QuattroRish
T-Shirt - WeArKindred
Bag - Zara
Trainers - Golden Goose
Jeans - Mother denim @EditsecondHand
I would love you to join me on Instagram, it is quick and easy and the one place I update daily, all you have to do is tap the Instagram icon button on the right hand side of this screen (if on mobile at the top) and it will lead you to my Instagram.

Next time on the blog my 'Pay Day must haves for Spring', would love to hear your thoughts about Instagram, are you fan who do you love to follow? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Fran xxxx

Come rain or shine...

Style Theory: What to wear when it is rainy, windy, sometimes warm and technically summer? The answer: layer it up..a raincoat, a fine top, denim and a pair of shoeboots...



I have been looking for a pair of shoeboots for a while, actually a few years,  so when Cloggs asked me to select a pair of shoes from their range these Gabor shoe boots called to me. They are butter soft, tan leather, slightly wider at the top of the boot meaning they are flattering on the leg, especially when worn with dresses and being tan they go with everything. I styled them with my Levis, a boho top and (my sister's) Burberry trench (I lurve that trench) and her new Radley bag (she is over from Spain and I am taking advantage of her wardrobe!). They are super comfortable, the perfect heel height to walk in and so soft, I cannot wait to wear them with my denim dress when this heatwave that we have been promised turns up ...
Top: Zara similar here
Trench: Burberry Trench £1195 similar here
Jeans: Levis 501ct £95
Bag: Radley £104 (in sale)
Shoeboots: Cloggs £89.99

So today, it is blowing a gale, I hoping tomorrow brings the possibility of sun and a chance to wear some summer clothes, fingers crossed!


Next time the Essential Black Dress..chic, sophisticated, flattering and oh so useful. 

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, how are you dressing for this crazy weather, or are you basking in the heat somewhere gorgeously tropical? Are you fan a shoeboots, how do you style yours??

Frances xxx

The Long and Short of it...

Style Theory: Shorts..incredibly practical, a key item in any Summer wardrobe and when styled right they can look pretty cool....


ph via Pinterest
Here are a selection of the best shorts from the high street that will be endlessly useful throughout the summer..

The Khaki Short
Hush Marseille Shorts £40
H&M £14.99
Khaki is a neutral that you can throw on with any colour top. I particularly like khaki with bright oranges and denim. These shorts would look stunning with a lightweight denim shirt and a pair of tan strappy sandals.

The Denim Short
Levis 501 Cut Off Shorts £45
Fat Face Short £38
Denim shorts, year after year these are the perfect item to wear on hot sunny days, perfect for walking down to the beach with a boho top and a pair of black sliders. I have the Fat Face shorts, they are a supersoft denim and actually slightly longer on than in the image (see photo in My Style below) so they are perfect for wearing day to day in the UK, I tend to feel more comfortable in the shorter shorts on holiday!

The Patterned Short
Zara High Waisted Print Shorts £29.99
H&M £14.99
A dressed up version of the short, taking you seamlessly through from day to night. During the day pair them with a neutral grey t-shirt, in the evening wear with a loose, soft cream blouse tucked in and again I would pair with flat tan strappy sandals.

The Skort
Topshop Textured Wrap Skort £36
Topshop PU Asymmetric Wrap Skorts £36
These are really flattering as the front section hits further down the leg and the points elongate the legs. These are great when chasing after the kids in the evening on holiday, they create the effect of a skirt without the exposure when bending down to pick up a child!

The Longer City/Boyfriend Short
Asos Linen City Shorts £18
Gap Boyfriend Short £24.99
I have long been a fan of the long short (see streetstyle Pinterest photo above top middle of Pandora Sykes) the styling is perfect. I love these with an oversize striped shirt and flat black pointed shoes. I wore these when I was in my 20s constantly and I really feel the need to bring back this styling as it is super flattering and such a cool look.

Shorts are definitely worth their weight in gold for me in the summer, so easy to throw on, so comfortable and look good. My advice, as usual, is to try, try lots of different styles on, length is really important so they hit your leg at the correct, most flattering point. To flatten a tummy avoid pleated fronts and go for a flat fronted short. 

MY STYLE 
Coat: H&M similar here
Top: Zara similar here
Shorts: c/o Fat Face £38
Bag: Spain Boutique
Sandals: Mango £19.95
Are you a fan of shorts, do you wear them constantly in the summer, or am I just getting older and loving the idea of them?! 

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