So as I mentioned yesterday Net-A-Porter sent me some pieces and I had a major pinch me moment and then died and went to heaven all at once. I spent so long picking out my choices, deciding on items I know I could wear lots and lots and hopefully elevate my wardrobe a little bit too. It's not the norm for me to have so much new luxury in my wardrobe at once, so I really want to put everything through it's paces and review each piece for you just as I would want to had I bought this much myself. All the items have already been worn more than once, and I have been getting lots of questions on Instagram about this blazer and bag in particular, so let's start there.
The blazer is my dream come true. I am already so obsessed I would 100% buy another one myself in a different colour. The hefty price tag on it is completely justified by the quality, the cut, the weight of it (it's very thick), and of course by how much this is going to be a key player in my wardrobe. It's a piece to buy now and wear throughout winter with knits underneath (I sized up so I can do just that), and I think in the photos where I have my hand in my pocket you can really get a sense of the thickness of the fabric with how it is creasing. I have been so into this blazer I am having to make a conscious effort to not wear it every single day and bore you all, but I think we can all agree that this is a very 'me' piece indeed. It's also put Stella McCartney on my radar for outerwear generally and it's now a brand I am desperate to feature in Testing Basics for winter coats in particular, so watch this space for that.
The bag has also been on heavy rotation. I picked out this one and the Saint Laurent Bellachasse out of the hugeee bag selection online, and despite the latter looking a lot bigger, they fit a similar amount in them. In this little one I can't take my big wallet, but I have been carrying around my phone, film camera, keys, lipsticks and phone charger with no problem at all. The leather is super soft so the bag gives so much as you fill it, and then bounces back to it's usual shape once it's been emptied. I love the chain on it more than anything, it's so chunky and I love how it looks cross body. The small leather panel at the top stops it from nipping you or being uncomfortable, even when worn on a bare shoulder. So far it's bag I very much recommend, I wore it so much in Copenhagen for day time looks and evening ones, and it really spices up just jeans and a t-shirt, which is always important to me!
The trousers... which I needed to iron. You can see in yesterday's post how they look once they've have a good iron. Honestly I was too excited to wear them, but the crease in the hem has inspired me to style them with a big turn up at some point as I think it looks really cool! They're Gucci, and are amazing. I have had so so many compliments on these. The colour is just insane, the brightest pink (you can see a little better in this photo here, which isn't filtered) and they have an amazing cut to them. I think they'll look super cool with a belt with them too, and a black turtleneck in Winter. I am determined to really look after these and make them last forever, so they are already at the dry cleaners for some TLC. And I plan to wear them again as soon as I get them back.
The shoes have also been getting a lot of compliments. The first time I wore them I did a lot of walking and they really rubbed my little toe, but after a second wear I have broken them in! I wore them in Copenhagen when we walked for miles, and while I was glad to take them off by the end of the day, there aren't many heels I can walk 10,000+ steps in a day with little complaint. I have been wearing them a lot with big Levi's as I love the girlyness of the shoe against a manly fitting jean, that's already featured on my Instagram and I have a whole blog post with that look coming soon too.
All in all I feel I made some good decisions with my choices, I have no doubt that the bag and blazer are going to feature heavily in my outfits over the coming months so you can be prepared to see lots of different outfits featuring them both!
TROUSERS: GUCCI c/o NET-A-PORTER | SHOES: MIU MIU c/o NET-A-PORTER | TOP: HELMUT LANG c/o NET-A-PORTER | JACKET: STELLA MCCARTNEY c/o NET-A-PORTER | BAG: FENDI c/o NET-A-PORTER
Photos by Ollie Ali.
Starting off the week with a hefty post from Copenhagen. Lindsey and I headed there last week for Fashion Week, and had the best time. It's a lovely city and one I recommend to anyone who hasn't been before, but it's bloody expensive. They don't have Uber there anymore either, and the city is super spread out, so getting around alone costs a small fortune. Just something to bear in mind if you thinking of visiting.
The evening before we flew out Lindsey and Katherine came over for a floor picnic (I still don't have a table and chairs, so it's always a floor picnic) and I was yet to do any packing. I was having a moment of I don't care what I wear I just want to be comfy so I am going to take jeans and t-shirts, and thankfully Katherine talked me out of it reminding me I wear that almost daily and it's bloody fashion week so make an effort. So I did, and I loved my looks a lot in the end. Thank you for that advice Katherine!
There are also quite a few new high end pieces I have here because Net-A-Porter sent me some new things (I died and went to heaven), so be prepared to see these items lots over the coming weeks. Two of them are handbags which I am going to talk about in more detail later on once I have worn them a little more and can properly review them for you guys. First is this Saint Laurent one which I think is going to be an amazing bag for Winter especially, I can already picture it worn cross body over a long black wool coat. I sort of went for a Summer version of that look for now with this insane Topshop coat which I got so many compliments on. Perfect transitional piece for the slightly cooler days coming our way soon.
The shoes are also new and have been super popular over on Instagram. I have been wearing them lots and walking in them lots and can confirm they need some breaking in. The strap accross the toe does pinch your little toe a little bit, but I have worked past that stage and can easily walk in them all day long now. They look incredible, perfect with really simple outfits, for an evening look, for whatever you fancy really. I am determined to wear them as much as possible before the end of Summer to really make the most of them, honestly I am obsessed!
COAT: c/o TOPSHOP | SHOES: MIU MIU c/o NET-A-PORTER | TOP: HELMUT LANG c/o NET-A-PORTER | JEANS: VINTAGE LEVI'S | BELT: & OTHER STORIES (old, but I love this one here) | BAG: SAINT LAURENT c/o NET-A-PORTER
This outfit includes another obsession of mine at the moment, these Vans. I love them so much and feel very strongly that everyone should own a pair and I don't know why I didn't buy some sooner. I wore them with these amazing Gucci trousers that were another piece I chose from Net-A-Porter. I love them so much, you guys have seen how pink has featured more and more in my wardrobe over the past few months, and these are now of course the mother of all pink items I own. The fit of them is amazing, and they are so light weight and comfortable. I can't wait to wear them with a white t-shirt and leather biker jacket in Autumn (I also have a dressed up outfit featuring them coming your way this week).
The other new bag I have is this little Fendi, which I am really loving so far. I don't really own any bags with a chain strap, which is what really drew me to this one. That along with the colour which will be amazing for Autumn/Winter too. As I said I will share a proper review soon once I have worn it a little more, but for now I only have good things to say about this little bag.
TROUSERS: GUCCI c/o NET-A-PORTER | SHOES: VANS | SHIRT: REFORMATION | BAG: FENDI c/o NET-A-PORTER | EARRINGS: c/o ALL BLUES
And the final outfit is just quick one from our first afternoon in Copenhagen where we did a little bit of exploring. My Chinti & Parker cherry blouse came back out, again tucked into my beloved high waisted & Other Stories jeans, The little Fendi bag made another appearance (the colour is proving more versatile than I expected), and my Charlotte Olmypia slides which after destroying my feet initially are actually super comfortable now. Although I literally have a scar on my foot from the first few wears of these, so they will literally be with me forever!
Hope you enjoyed this hefty post guys. As I said I have a lot of new high end pieces at the moment which I am desperate to share as much as possible to let you guys know how they're fitting into my wardrobe etc etc. So some of the items you have seen here will probably feature lots for the next few months! I am feeling hugely inspired at the moment so I have loads of posts I love coming your way which is always such an exciting feeling.
SHIRT: c/o CHINTI & PARKER | JEANS: & OTHER STORIES | SHOES: CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA | BAG: FENDI c/o NET-A-PORTER
Hate to be the one to do this again, but is anyone else finding it hard to believe we are almost at the end of Summer?! I can feel myself gearing up for Autumn now, thinking about knitwear and candles and all the other stereotypical Autumn things that make me love it so much. It seems to have come around so fast, while simultaneously feeling like a lifetime ago since last Winter. I am so pleased I get to spend the last month of Summer in London, where at least it is a little warmer and I can still go bare legged for the odd day here and there. This Summer has been such a crazy one, and one I will reflect back on properly at some point, but I can honestly say it's been the biggest rollercoaster ever. When I was shooting these photos in Notting Hill, not too far from where I was living, I had a moment of thinking "oh my god, if you had asked me in April if I thought this would be where my Summer ended, I would never have believed it." And it's true, because the biggest changes are the ones you can never really plan for too far in advance!
Spending the last few weeks of Summer in London is proving to be a lot of fun. Endlessly social, and the perfect weather to walk everywhere and really explore the area. God knows how many miles I have walked over the past week or so (I am also writing this from Copenhagen, which has involved a lot of walking too). And doing it under the sunshine is far more enjoyable than the rain. It was on one of these walks that I impulse bought my latest obsession; these Vans trainers. I saw a girl who looked amazing walking down Portobello in a pair, and literally darted into the nearest Office to pick some up for myself. I don't know why I haven't done it sooner as I have already been wearing them relentlessly with everything. As someone who was already obsessed with Vans Old Skool, these feel like a natural progression and something I need in a few different colours too (red, in particular).
I have been wearing them endlessly with jeans, which you will see soon, but for now I wanted to share something a little more Summery. This dress from Topshop is gorgeous, and really looks amazing in it's own too. It's got double cuffed sleeves which are the kind of details I am always a real sucker for. I would deffo wear this on an evening out without a jacket, but it does come up really short on the sides, hence me opting for a jacket over it for day to day wear. And that jacket had to be my trusty Toteme one, that I always want to make the most of at this time of year as it's a piece I miss wearing so much throughout Winter.
