Wardrobe Treasures (Buying Well)

Cosy (and very smug) in my H&M Oversized Puffer Jacket

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Introducing my best buy of the season! With its oversized proportions and architectural silhouette you might think this stylish puffer jacket is Comme des Garcons? Martin Margiela? ACNE Studios? Well, you’d be wrong. It’s H&M and the best part? It costs less than £40. It’s THIS season (so I’m not just blogging it to be smug?) and also comes in red and khaki. It’s out of stock online unfortunately but still available in many stores (on sale for £31.99 reduced from £39.99) so it’s not too late to bag one for yourself. I would suggest doing this if you can, even if you already have a puffer coat. The proportions and minimalist finish make this jacket a bit special* – a chic and more polished alternative to your every day puffer – and a definite forever buy.

Here I’ve styled it with an oversized sweatshirt and boots but you can also go super casual with a jumper and trainers. Here are other fun facts about this fab jacket:

#1. The hood can be flattened and turned into a wide collar for a different look.
#2. You can have fun with the silhouette thanks to the proportions which you can exaggerate by leaving the bottom half press studs undone.
#3. It’s light, super warm and water proof.
#4. It’s £31.99!

Convinced yet? Thanks so much for reading!

Addie x

*There’s also a coat version but it just doesn’t pack the same punch as the jacket.

I am wearing:

Coat (H&M)|

Photos: U.W. Ugbenne

Shorts in Autumn? With a bit of sun and a chunky knit, why not.

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I can’t remember the last time Autumn started out this warm. My coats are all still packed away* and I’ve not once thought about tights (hurrah). I’ve not even used a proper jacket yet, just throwing a jumper, cardigan or knit blazer over dresses, skirts and all the Summer stuff that would normally have been packed away by now. This post carries on with the theme of the last one – soft tailoring and rediscovering old pieces. The tailored shorts are 80s vintage that I thrifted for less than a fiver a couple of years ago and the cardigan is a fairly knackered one that I’ve had for yonks. It’s buttonless so I was initially going to wear it open and slouchy but in the end I decided to add the belt for a more pulled together look. I think it worked quite well, don’t you?

Personally, I don’t see the need to go out buying anything for Autumn right now. Get more wear out of those Summer favourites while the weather lasts: throw an over-sized jumper over that dress or floaty skirt, add ankle boots, grab a brolly and your sunnies and make the most of it! And the best bit? This hot weather/cold weather clothes mash-up works even as it starts to get colder – just add tights and a chunky scarf. 

Thanks for reading. Always great to hear from you so feel free to leave comments!

Addie x

I am wearing:

Cardigan (Matalan)|Shorts (Vintage)| Belt (Primark)| Boots (Maison Margiela) |Bag (Jean Paul Gaultier)

 

*Packed away at the dry cleaners!  I hand in the coats at the beginning of Summer and don’t see them again until I pick them up in Winter.  It’s a sweet system if you struggle for space like me but be warned that using your dry cleaners as an extension of your wardrobe can be risky: don’t lose your ticket and make sure you check to see if they have a dumping policy!

 

WARDROBE TREASURES: Transitioning into Autumn with soft tailoring (and an old vest!)

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It’s no secret that I love a good rummage in my wardrobe every once in a while. Usually on a space- saving clear-out mission but sometimes just for the fun of rediscovering something that I haven’t worn for a while. The last time I wore this Hysteric Glamour vest, it was with baggy jeans, a baseball cap and Converse hi-tops.  Thankfully, the baggy jeans and baseball cap – along with my days of dressing like a teenage boy – are long gone but I’ve hung on to this foxy wee vest.  The Gomme blazer is an old piece too and I still do wear it from time to time. Thanks to its cut and fabric (a patchwork of boucle, silk and wool) it’s not at all bulky and is a fab alternative to a cardigan and perfect for transitioning into Autumn.

It was a gorgeous sunny but cool day and I was going for a soft-tailored casual look which the graphic vest and trainers completed nicely. The high-waisted slouchy trousers are from H&M’s premium label and the trainers are Isabel Marant (although my Stan Smiths would have been just as fab).

Most of us probably think of tailoring as reserved for work/business meetings/job interviews. In my opinion it needn’t be! Soft tailored pieces might lend themselves more easily to off-duty wear, but it’s fairly easy to soften-up sharp tailored stuff. Just throw an over-sized fluffy jumper over those “work” trousers or pair your “work” blazer with some sports-luxe bottoms, add a box fresh pair of trainers and voila!

How divine are these H&M trousers?

So are you game? Let me know how you get on!

Thanks for reading,

Addie xx

I am wearing:

Vest (Hysteric Glamour)| Blazer (Gomme)| Trousers (H&M)| Trainers (Isabel Marant)| Bag (Victoria Beckham)| Sunglasses (Celine)

 

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