Spring/Summer

Transeasonal outerwear: Oversized Utility Jacket

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I love Spring. But choosing the right outerwear during this awkward season can be tricky. In London, the weather can vary so widely – sometimes in the same day – it’s easy to get it wrong. Which means you are either under-dressed and freezing or having to cart around an unnecessary jacket or coat. Layering is a great way of tackling this transeasonal dilemma but sometimes you simply want to throw something on and go.* Trench coats, macs, blazers, leather and denim jackets are obvious mainstays of a transeasonal wardrobe. My addition to this list? A carefully chosen utility jacket.

*Besides, there’s more to layering than simply throwing clothes upon clothes. Look out for my tips on “how to layer like a pro” coming soon.

Personally, I’ll wear a parka over anything. It not only adds a cool and casual edge to any outfit, it’s also practical. For the transeason look we are going for here, the style of utility jacket  – parka, boxy or safari – doesn’t really matter. Proportion is key. It’s got to be oversized (otherwise just go up a couple of sizes from your usual size) but lightweight. My beloved battered old US army surplus parka – in warm weather mode – gets a lot of wear this time of year. But, I’ve also fallen in love with this canvas safari jacket by MM6 which I recently thrifted from TK Maxx.  Just like my parka, it’s oversized with pockets deep enough to fit a brolly, hat and other awkward weather essentials. You don’t strictly  need a bag to be honest.  

Styling wise, the best thing about this look is that literally anything goes. A decent oversized utility jacket will go with just about any outfit and with any body shape and height.  I’m blogging my jacket here over skinny cut-off jeans but any style of jeans will work just as well. And, it’s equally as fabulous over a dress or tailored trousers. I’ll try and blog the different looks as I wear them! Colour wise I’d stick to the typical utility and workwear palettes of khaki, green and tan.  Hold out until you find something good and even be prepared to invest a little, it’s worth it.  (Tip: If you don’t come across any oversized versions simply go up a couple of sizes up from your usual dress size!)

Addie xx

I am wearing:

Oversized Safari Jacket (MM6)| Jeans (COS)| Boots (Pied A Terre) | Bag (Sandro)

Photos: UW Ugbenne

A foxy little black dress is not just for the night.

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A little black dress is not just for night time adventures and frolics.  This All Saints dress has seen many nights out paired with heels or foxy boots but it only needed these studded flats to transition into an outfit suitable for running errands around town on a sunny Saturday afternoon. So girls get the most out of your cocktail LBDs by showing them some daylight! Just add glam comfy sandals (black or metallic – avoid browns) or any style of trainers……..

Short and sweet this time! Thanks for reading.

Addie x

I am wearing:

Dress (All Saints)| Sandals (McQ)| Bag (Givenchy)

 

WARDROBE TREASURES: Slash your hems and breathe new life into your old jeans

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Teaching old jeans new tricks. I’ve had these 18th Amendment jeans since 2008 (BC: before children!) when it was still possible to mooch around town in floor-length flares and stacked shoes. Obviously not so practical nowadays which is why I hadn’t worn them for years…….until I gave them the chop.

From floor-length to chic (and way more practical) ankle-grazers

Playing around with hemlines is a quick way of reviving (and personalising!) any old pair of jeans. So don’t be daunted, get acquainted with a decent pair of scissors and go for it:
#1.  Put on your chosen jeans and decide where you want the new hemline to be. Mark the spot (with a marker/highlighter) or tack with pins.
#2. Lay the jeans flat and make sure you’ve marked the same length on both legs. If in doubt, use a ruler.
#3.  Cut both legs at the same time. I usually do this with the jeans folded lengthwise. Make sure you smooth out any creases especially around the seat of the jeans. If you are new to this, I’ll suggest cutting them a little longer than you think you need at first, then carefully cutting back higher to the desired length (always cutting both legs at the same time).
#4. Fray by teasing out loose fibres with your fingers.  I usually don’t bother as this will naturally occur after the first wash.
#5.  Enjoy your “new” pair of jeans!
Thanks for reading. Any thoughts? Let me know!
Love
Addie xx

Wrap Dresses. Straight up-and-down girls can wear them too.

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As I have neither the hips nor bosom to do them justice, I have always avoided wrap dresses. So, when Studio by Preen’s capsule dress collection for Debenhams launched in the Spring, naturally I paid little attention to the wrap styles. I prefer shopping a collaboration in person (to check the quality of materials) but by the time I made it in store for this one the styles I liked had either sold out or didn’t look quite so good on. So, I wasn’t expecting much at all from this wrap dress which I’d only tried on because I liked the print. What a fab surprise! Not only did it fit well but it helped me realise that by sticking to a few basic rules (see below) us boyish girls can carry off wrap dresses too.?

My tips for making a wrap dress work for a boyish frame:

#1. A bold print. This gives the optical illusion of a less narrow frame. #2. Nothing too clingy. Actually I went up two dress sizes for this one. Going too clingy or bang on your size can emphasise our narrowness and general lack of hips which we want to avoid. #3. Busy hemline! A-line or slightly asymmetrical – the more it kicks out the better. This has the important job of showing off a narrow waist but without focussing on the hips. #4. Length. It’s got to be at least knee length, ideally just below. Not too long though or you’ll lose the proportions balancing effect we are looking to achieve.

I am wearing:

Dress (Studio By Preen for Debenhams)| Bag (Givenchy)| Shoes (H&M)| Sunglasses (Celine)

Thanks so much for dropping by. Do you have any comments? Let me know!

Addie xx