Style Theory: Dungarees....denim, tailored or shorts have been back 'in' for a few years now,  a marmite item of clothing you either love or hate them.  I am in the 'love them' camp and have been further convinced of their coolness by bloggers such as Atlantic Pacific, The Frugality and Musings of London Mum who all style them beautifully. I tentatively dipped my toe in the dungaree water a couple of years ago (a bit wary as I am a bit in the old side for them!) with a grey, summer pair but got such stick from the husband I retired them to the back of the wardrobe never to be worn again. Well, I am trying again, completely inspired by Alex from The Frugality who was wearing these dungarees on Instagram. They looked fab and when I walked past them in my local H&M I couldn't resist...

Dungarees: H&M £29.99
Leather Biker Jacket: Asos similar here
Blouse: Zara £29.99
Clutch: &Other Stories
Trainers: Stan Smith Adidas £67

I can report back these dungarees are incredibly comfortable made with a soft, elastane denim. They are stretchy but keep their shape and as Alex rightly said they are a 'grown up' dungaree. I really think I may be pushing it age wise with these but I just thought I would go for it anyway as they are such a good fit and will look fab with heels.

I also bought this top from Zara, this is the perfect blouse to add a little 'fashion edge' to your wardrobe.

Top: Zara £29.99

It was pretty reasonable and will look fab with kick flares and skinny jeans in the Spring. It comes in a few different fabrics I tried on them all apart from the gingham..

Top: Zara £29.99

Top: Zara £29.99

Top: Zara £29.99 (as above)

A useful little top, a word of warning, it is quite short, ok for us vertically challenged but not so good for you supermodels out there! 

So there is a round up of my little birthday money spending spree, along with my Zara yellow coat which I have a feeling I will be wearing a lot. I am a huge fan of buying a couple of items at the beginning of the season which give my current wardrobe staples a little fashion lift and I think the dungarees, blouse and yellow coat with refresh a few looks.

Where do you stand with dungarees..for toddlers only? What are your fashion lift pieces this season? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time, Frances xxxx

Colour Burst in Winter

Style Theory: To brighten up long winter days add a pop of colour to your outfits with a bright jacket or coat. Wear now with all black and in the summer throw over white jeans and T Shirts for cool look on long summer evenings.

Sweater: Cos similar here
Jeans: Oasis similar here
Coat: M&S similar here
Trainers: Adidas Superstar
Bag: Aurora Living

My pink coat is my 'go to' for a dash of colour, it adds a splash of much needed brightness to all my outfits and can be worn with a huge array of colours, in the winter with black, navy and berry, in the Summer I wear it with denim/chambray shirts and pale denim jeans...For extra warmth in the colder months wear with a biker jacket underneath and an oversize scarf...Asos have a fab range of oversize scarves you can wear with now with block bright coats..

Here are a few of the best colour pop jackets and lightweight coats on the high street now..

Zara Wrap Oversize Coat £69.99

Adore this coat, would look fab with berry colours, navy and black..can be styled like this..

 Or perhaps red is your colour..

Zara Round Neck Handmade Coat £109

Mix up your red colour this Spring a berry coloured sweater for a stunning and unexpected colour clash

Or add a colour pop to an everyday outfit...

So if green is your colour this one is a gorgeous choice...

Marks and Spencer Nehru Collar Textured Car Coat with Wool £99

This coat looks much better on, wear with a navy sweater, jeans and white trainers, add a orange cross body bag for an extra winter pop of colour. In the summer, wear with a cream, fine sweater, skinny light blue jeans and white trainers or tan sandals.

Or style like this...swap the white courts for tan strappy sandals for a comfortable option..

Finally you could try a pink coat, a great colour to mix and match with so many outfits and colours...reds, camel, navy, berry, black..the list is endless..

Asos Oversized Pea Coat £90

Here are a few ideas of how to style your pink coat, love it with the grey marl t-shirt and the distressed jeans..

I hope this blog post added a little colour to your grey winter day. Have you got a bright coat, do you find it cheers you up in the winter, how do you style it?

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

Time for Khaki..

Style Theory: Khaki in spring summer 2015 is definitely one for the girls, no longer a military look this season it comes in elegant, fluid forms, think flowy dresses, slouchy shirts and tailored trousers. The colour is considered a neutral and can be combined with almost any colour in the rainbow, but this season keep it chic and simple layer up different shades of green from dark forest to pale khaki, or wear all one colour with black accessories, clean and straightforward..

From left: Marc Jacobs SS15 (photos 1 & 2) Chanel Spring 15 Ready to Wear

From left: Sacai SS15 Sonia Rykiel SS15 Ralph Lauren SS15

Here is streetstyle inspiration on how to style the khaki trend..

A really grown up way to wear khaki, chic and stylish.

Smarten up a khaki coat with a skirt and heels

Boilersuits and jumpsuits continue going strong through 2015

Wrap a belt around your trench so a chic look.

ALL IMAGES ABOVE VIA PINTEREST

Khaki is an easy trend to wear, it is a soft flattering colour, looks great with olive skin or try a splash of fake tan to enhance the colour on paler skin tones..here are the best khaki clothing on the high street now..

Topshop have this look pretty much covered, pair your khaki items with black skinny jeans and black accessories for the winter, as the Spring approaches add some pale pinks and reds in for a fresh look.

Topshop Grungy Lofty Ribbed Sweater £36

I have this sweater and have worn it non-stop. It is so soft and comfortable, looks great with faux leather leggings and a fur coat for a statement look. Or pair it with a black leather pencil skirt and heels for a chic outfit.

Topshop Drape Front Blouse £36

A sophisticated take on the khaki trend, toughen this blouse up with distressed skinny light blue jeans, a biker jacket and pointed snakeskin heels.

Topshop Hybrid Jersey Shirt Dress £40

An easy to wear dress, wear now with tan knee high 70s style boots and a camel or navy coat. Wear in the summer with tan sandals.

Topshop Moto Khaki Ripped Jamie Jeans £42

A fabulous pair of basic jeans, they look great with pink sweaters and stan smith trainers. In the summer pair with delicate white 70s tops and tan, flat sandals.

Relaxed Utility Trousers £36

I have these trousers and they are unbelievably comfortable, however as they are not denim the rips do get bigger and bigger so wear with caution, not the best for scrabbling around on your knees with the kids. They look fab with leopard print heels and an oversize sweater or navy blouse.

Topshop Borg Lined Short Padded Jacket £78

This is a great transitional jacket, the black faux fur adds a touch of luxury. 

Miss Selfridge Khaki Utility Playsuit £45

Chic, sophisticated and so easy to wear. This playsuit would make a fab summer holiday buy, I would wear with tan , flat strappy sandals and fine gold jewellery.

H&M Quilted Bomber £29.99

Kate Moss has been wearing her Louis Vuitton bomber jacket in a true 90s way this season (see image below) I really like this one, would look fab layered with a black skinny roll neck and denim jacket, add black skinny jeans, pointed boots and a pair of cat eye black sunglasses (see Mango for some fab reasonable ones) and you will look like one stylish Mama

New Look Long Sleeve Military Shirt £22.99

This is much softer and more slouchy looking in real life, would look great tucked into a black leather midi skirt and delicate high black heels.

Miss Selfridges PU Midi Skirt £31.50

Adore the colour of this reduced skirt from Miss Selfridges, wear with a fine denim/chambray shirt and high tan boots now.

My Style:

Here are a few of my outfits with a nod to the khaki trend....

For an easy day around the house..

Cashmere Sweater: Whistles
Breton Top: Petite Bateau
Cashmere scarf: Uniqlo
Trousers: Topshop (link above)
Trainers: Stan Smith Adidas
Watch: Storm
Lipstick: Mac Lady Danger
Perfume: Chanel no.5

Shirt: New Look
Sweater: Topshop (link above)
Leggings: Zara
Shoes: M&S
Bag: TK Maxx

Sweater: Cos
Scarf: Burberry
Pink Coat: M&S
Trousers: Topshop (link above)
Shoes: Uterque

I do love a spot of khaki and have amassed quite a few items over the last few years. Are you a fan, is it a colour you like wearing, do you consider it to be a neutral?

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

2015 Spring Summer Stripes

Style Theory: The classic stripe once again dominated the catwalks for spring summer 2015, from deckchair style stripes on tailored suits, to appliqué ribbons, through to bold red and black looks, stripes are officially the way forward...any which way...

From top left: Victoria Beckham, Christian Dior, Altuzarra, Tibi.

Image via Pinterest

This season wear matching stripes or play with variations, mix fine stripes with wider stripes or try mixing stripes with florals and patterned tops..anything goes...

Here are the best striped items on the high street to add your capsule wardrobe now and wear all year..

Zara Stripe Textured Blazer £79.99

Wear now with all black or greys, add a yellow or orange soft, oversize scarf for a pop of colour, in the summer mix with coloured stripe tops and pale blue skinny jeans and brightly coloured Tods style driving shoes for an on trend, preppy look.

River Island Cropped Draped Jacket £60

A statement jacket, very cute will work throughout the year, layer under a fur coat now with a fine knit poloneck.

Mango Fine Knit Sweater £34.99

Love the colour combination of pink and red, really striking and the perfect look to brighten these dark winter days..

Topshop Striped Draped Blouse £38

Wear now with distressed black jeans and pointed ankle boots, in the summer wear with a button through a line denim skirt/ denim shorts and tan, strappy, flat sandals.

Topshop Pleated Bardot Top £25

Maybe one to squirrel away until summer, so cute would look fab with a pair of high waisted black, wide leg trousers and flats.. Wear now with blue high waisted skinny jeans, pointed courts and a longline black blazer, tie a patterned silk scarf on your neck for a bardot-esque, chic look.

Zara Striped Shirt £25.99

This is one of those blouses that hangs beautifully, it sits perfectly on the neck, wear with layered fine gold necklaces and skinny jeans for a feminine look. If you get a chance try on a few of the same size, I always tend to do this in Zara as the cut is always slightly different and you will find the most flattering one on your body shape.

Zara T_shirt with Shoulder Detail £19.99

A breton style t-shirt with a twist.

Zara Striped Crop Top £29.99
Zara Striped Skirt £39.99

Stripe this one out, these two pieces look striking together, or wear as separates, the options are endless.

Topshop Stripe Print Bootcut £42

Really 70s, I must admit I haven't had a chance to try these on but will let you know what they are like. I love the colours and would wear with them with a skinny poloneck and heeled pointed ankle or boots or mix it up with these gorgeous snakeskin boots..

Asos Oversize Stripe Scarf £20

Wear this as a scarf over a black long coat for a chic, french look. Wear with a chambray shirt, white jeans and trainers on cooler summer days.

MiH @ Asos Breton Dress was £185 now £80

A classic dress reduced to a decent price, this is a classic that you can wear year after year. Pair with white superga's for a chic, preppy look.

My Style:

Wearing my Zara blouse (link above) for a few meetings last week..

Blouse: Zara
Jacket: Asos
Bag: H&M
Faux Fur Coat: Topshop
Trainers: Stan Smith Adidas

 For lunch with the family before my birthday party..

Jumper: Topshop
Jeans: H&M
Shoes: Nine West
Bag: H&M
Coat: Topshop

Finally for my 40th Birthday party last Saturday, it turned out to be the most fantastic night with lots of family and friends, it turns out turning 40 is actually really good!

Jumpsuit: Whistles
Shoes: Dune
Necklace: H&M

So are you a stripey girl? Will you be sporting stripes this winter? I am really looking forward to wearing slouchy, stripey jersey dresses in the summer..more details to come.

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