Thank you!

This is it - the finale for 2013 and I am so busy I can't even do a proper post!

Thank you to everyone who has read/browsed/commented in 2013 - I look forward to 2104

Happy Christmas and a very MERRY New year!

Fiona
xoxo

Burgundy and Grey

I woke this morning not knowing what to wear. It was dark outside when I had to make my decision and it's the last day of work for me for 2 weeks. My boys also break up from school so it's jeans and boots all the way forward until January.

I knew I wanted to wear a dress but I was also freezing cold so I am pleased I found this DKNY dress lurking in the wardrobe. I love the distressed hem/seams, I love the fact it's DKNY (yet cost me £40) and I love it for the fact it hides EVERYTHING!

I normally wear with black tights/black boots but I felt it needed something more today so I grabbed some burgundy tights/boots/scarf and off I go.

Hope everyone has a good day, blogging may increase or decrease pending pre-Christmas rush. In THEORY I should have more time because the day job isn't dragging me to work for 3 days a week but then I have two boys here that may need some attention (who am I kidding, their babysitter is the TV, the wii, the X box and the DS)!

LOVE the biker jacket with the fake fur gilet over the top. This is THE BEST thing I've ever done and have Avenue 57 ladies to thank for the idea!

If you didn't know already, I have my pop up shop on Facebook now - hop on over to like the page and keep up to date with new stock and special offers. I have a MASSIVE sale happening very soon - ALL current stock MUST GO!

Work - here I come! Have a great day!

Fiona

xoxo

White jeans in winter

I love white jeans - I love them  more in the winter than in the summer. There is just 'something' about white jeans that I LOVE LOVE LOVE.

We've had such good weather lately that I've worn mine a few times since it turned colder.

Recently I wore them with an all cream look - I wasn't sure but the lovely ladies on Avenue 57 told me I looked ok, so I believed them and I shall wear this again.

I went into H&M on Saturday - our local store is no bigger than a postage stamp and I literally had 5 minutes. But I still managed to find 3 pairs of coloured jeans for £17 in total - BARGAIN!!

My final love of the day is my new scarf from School Gate Style. I need a new scarf like a whole in the head, I sell them for Pete's sake and I have whisked so many out of the shop into my wardrobe it's embarrassing but even still, I could not pass this one by - it's amazing. Currently sold out but contact Avril, she'll be getting more in I'm sure.

So, do you embrace white jeans in the winter or does the idea fill you with dread?

Fiona
xoxo

Wallis - LBD

Last week I received an email from Wallis to say they had some Christmas party dresses in the sale. I'm a sucker for an online order that includes:
Money Off
Free Deliver
Free Returns

So off I went and spent £380 on dresses and shoes. I have a New Year's Eve party to go to and whilst it's only at a friends house (with 5 other couples). we've decided to 'dress up' this year.

I do have one old faithful dress from Zara that I have worn on nights out and to a Winter Wedding but I think I want something new ... the Zara one has been in my wardrobe for 9 years.

Khaki Green Side Zip Dress - £15
I loved this dress - it had a gold side zip detail which my 9 yr old photographer did not capture (bless him he lost the will to live by the end!). I found it was a bit static with my tights on and I would need 'a slip' but as I am only just 40 I'm wondering if I am too young for said 'slip'?

Black Lace Midi Dress - £55
STEP AWAY FROM THE MIDI .. blimey, this did NOTHING for me - move on.

Black Zip Waist Dress - £28
I fell in love with this and I wanted to keep it so badly but I just KNOW it's similar to other black dresses I own and rarely wear. It skimmed beautifully and the zip detail on either side was to die for.

Black Stud Shoulder Dress - £35
I am kicking myself again having seen this on and it's now in the sale - I might re-order it - it's ONLY £35 (I bought it last week when it was £60)

 

Enough .. the midi is not me and so I'm just moving on to the next

Pretty shoulder detail though! (Dress is £50)

Black Long Sleeve Maxi Dress - £40
This promised to be so much but trust me, it was 10 x worse in real life! I wanted it to be the cheaper alternative the ME+EM dress I have but it's not, not at all. I'm 5 ft 9 and I had heels on too - check out the length!

And so the search goes on!

Here's me on one of my better dressed days this week - shocking quality photo but that's because I was up and out the house for 8am and the light is so bad

Dazzle me with your plans for NYE and what you're planning on  wearing.

Fiona

xoxo

Dirty Rotten Mongrel

Let me explain the title! Firstly, I have had a shower. Secondly I am learning that I don't need to wash and dry my hair every day. In fact, the more I leave it the better (thicker) it becomes. Thirdly, I am so mixed up in styles today I can't decide if I look like a bag lady or it works totally? What do you think?

Shirt - TK Maxx
Studded Belt - Barcelona
Pleather Jacket - Tesco
Faux Fir Gilet - Next (current but not online)
Necklace - Next (ancient)
Boots - Marshalls (USA)

So is this heaven or hell in terms of an oufit?

Fiona
xoxo

Outfit Inspiration

Yesterday on Avenue 57, Jane from My Midlife Fashion posted an outfit with the title "50 Shades of Grey". The title alone will always make me sit up and listen because I LOVED the trilogy. Well ok, book 3 was boring but 1 and 2 were steamy hot and I thoroughly enjoyed them!

Here's Jane from yesterday - doesn't she look amazing?

And here I am stealing her look. I am looking for inspiration for tomorrow because getting ready this morning was SO easy!

Shirt - Zara
Jeans - Gap
Boots - Deichmann
Jacket - Matalan
Scarf - Avenue 57

Have you mixed up patterns before? I do like a good mash up!

Fiona
xoxo

Inspired by Jenna Coleman (Dr Who)

Living in a house with 3 males there was no question what we were going to watch on Saturday night - Dr Who! The boys (big and small) were very excited. I, in the meantime, was engrossed on my phone checking Facebook. I think I am the only person in the world that has never watched Dr Who!

I did glance up once to see the effortlessly stunning Jenna Coleman in a red dress, leather jacket and booties and I thought 'I have all of those items'.

So today I bring you my version of what she wore here

I absolutely LOVE the new idea (for me) of layering a gilet over another jacket and my Mum kindly bought me this black one from Next yesterday.

What do you think?

Fiona

xoxo

Shop the look

Fairisle Jumper

Last year I wanted to totally embrace the novelty jumper - you know the kind that once graced the screens via Bridget Jones years ago. I also thought that this year I would take on the novelty jumper market and buy for the whole family for Christmas Day but ..... every man and his dog seem to be on this theme this year and so I'm bowing out!

Instead, I'm thinking of getting me a little fairisle jumper - I have always loved them and it's a more subtle twist on a Christmas theme don't you think?

Here are my top picks for subtle fairisle items available to buy today

I thought I sneak a quick novelty jumper pic of me in a foxy foxy jumper - what do you think?

Fiona
xoxo

A Winter Cape

Ever since I saw Avril in her cape last week I have been wanting one, needing one, lusting after one.

I have just done a quick search on capes (not ponchos) and they all seem to be navy - why is that?

Here is my round up of capes that I found (in no particular order).

I appreciate the brown one from Gap is  not actually a cape but it's lovely don't you think?

Here's a round of my outfits over the past couple of days. My sister flew in with her friend from LA and we have been/done:
Friday
Stonehenge
Salisbury
The Pig (stopped for a cup of tea but somehow managed to sink a bottle of delicious red!)
Dinner out (not even going to talk about how crap it was)

Saturday
Lunch at The Boathouse in Christchurch

Sunday
Coffee at Cafe Shore in Sandbanks
Lunch at The Cliff in Sandbanks for my father's 70th birthday
Check out my funky mum with her gilet over her leather jacket, skinny jeans and knee high boots!

And that my friends is how I rolled this weekend - was amazing. If you are ever in The New Forest, you HAVE TO go to The Pig - it's amazing

Fiona
xoxo

Where to buy a faux fur gilet?

EDITED: I started this blog post on 14th October and then left it in draft form. I've been SO inspired by ladies on Avenue 57 this week so I'm getting it out of the drafts bin and carrying on from where I was before!

Here are the pics that have me lusting after one with an unhealthy desire.

Joanna from Poppy's Style is wearing the JonnieB Faux Fur Gilet which comes in at just £35.10 (they have 22% off until Thursday so hurry!). It's from their teenage range but I reckon it's good to go for us grown ups too!

This is look is just gorgeous - a gilet over a denim jacket - INSPIRING!

All started because this amazing lady posted this look the other day!

Diving right into what is available online today

White Stuff - £75
I have seen this one on real life - it's STUNNING.

JonnieB - £35.10 (this is with the 22% off already)

Boohoo - £30

Matalan - £30

Next Children's Section - £32 (if JonnieB fits a grown up then I don't see why this won't!)

Next - £55 (this is navy, I LOVE IT)

Tesco - £30

M&S - £65

ASOS - £60

And to end with the mother of all gilet's - I LOVE THIS!

River Island - £150

Suffice to say, the faux fur gilet is 'in' this season! I cannot wait to get mine and wear over my denim jacket ... baa baa baa

Fiona

xoxo

What to wear in your 30s/40s

If I told you that 3 years ago I was wearing big baggy bootcut jeans, flat ankle boots (comfy ones from Clarks) and a polo neck jumper as my standard Mum outfit would you believe me? Well it's true!

This is why I LOVE Avenue 57.  We are a collection of women who are are of a 'certain age'. We get together online to share what we're wearing every day and hopefully inspire others who may be stuck in a style rut, have lost their way as they come out the other side of babysville and/or both of these reasons.
 
I have to say that I love looking at what other women wear and seeing if I have those items in my wardrobe. It's because I'm ultimately lazy you see, I don't have any style flair of my own so the best way is to copy!
 
Here are some of my favourite looks over the past month.

 

Fashion40ish (click here to see all her looks). I am so in love with this lady I can't tell you in words how much! She has EFFORTLESS style and I am inspired always with whatever she wears.

 

Fashion Lover (click here to see all her looks). If anyone knows how to accessorise with a scarf it's this mighty fine lady. She also wears great colours and I am inspired every time by the denim/khaki combo.

 

 

Fashion Passion (click here to see all her looks). Best hallway on A57 firstly and her style is amazing. This gorgeous lady owns a hair salon and I dream every day of hair like hers (plus her wardrobe!).

 

 

I Heart Fashion (click here to see all her looks). I love the shirt/jumper combo and it's a great look with the lighter shirt and cream jumper. I Heart Fashion has the most versatile hair EVER!

 

 

Is that Really From There? (click here to see all her looks). If there is one lady that stands out for me it's this gorgeous lady. I have been inspired on so many levels with the outfits she posts. She is the QUEEN of pencil skirts! 

 

Mrs W (click here to see all her looks). I am so in love with this coat. I was sold on this look from the very first time I saw it. Mrs W has style!

 

 

My Fashionable 40s (click here to see all her looks). I love the mash up of patterns (leopard print and stripes) and I also love the colour pallet here - as always, a super gorgeous relaxed stylish look.

 

Nicki B (click here to see all her looks) - I love the way Nicki dresses - she works in a bridal shop so glam is the name of the game and she pulls it off for work (and pleasure every time she posts)

 

Suzie 3 Cat (click here to see all her looks). I love how a simple casual outfit (jumper and jeans) as been added to with a fab necklace and amazing boots.

 

 
Do you naturally have a style flair or do you, like me, look at everyone around you and copy them? I'd love to see your latest look on Avenue 57 - click here to upload your photo now.
 
Fiona
xoxo