The start of a new season for me tends to mean the start of a new love affair. This year, it’s Farhi’s early pieces that have my heart pounding, butterflies fluttering and credit card straining at it’s straps, desperate to get out and flex its little plastic credentials.

Farhi’s pieces thus far embody the everywoman’s dream of a new season starter wardrobe. To start you off, a sexily cut pair of jeans, £100, to make you fall in love with your derrière. Then there are two perfect tees, one long-sleeved, narrow striped affair, £45, and one fresh white and ¾ sleeved, £40.

Her early coat is bang-on for this transitional time. Pure, charcoal-grey wool, ¾ sleeved and light weight. A stunning statement over the jeans, but boy, you should see it over the dresses – uh oh, don’t get me started on the dresses! Both silk, both divine. One is a demure spotty number that brings you as near as you’ll ever get to the embodiment of Parisian-chic. The other is all muted greys and whites with bold swipes of purple and inky blue. Its drop waist and easy cut makes it the autumn’s most comfortable way to look beautiful…

If you want to tread the fine line between casual and glam, the Fil a Fil tunic with its slouchy pockets and beaded button over the jeans is spot on. As the evenings get colder, shrug on the snuggly charcoal woolen knit, £170, and bury your hands in the pockets.

Finally, to accessorize? Her brown leather oversized bag, £235, covers weekday, wedding and everything in between.

See what I mean? Just about perfect.
See you soon,
Laura x

Set to be a huge trend this winter, the skirt suit is making its presence known. To kick off this trend in the new season, we have a beautiful skirt-suit new in from Great Plains. The black jersey pencil skirt is just £35, finishes just below the knee and has that demure-but-sexy thing down to a tee. The accompanying jacket is the black jersey swing jacket, £45, with a high collar and three large covered buttons on the front. One bang on trend bargain!

If you fancy taking your skirt suit down a slightly quirkier avenue, why not try pairing the French Connection boyfriend blazer, £110, with their black stretch body-con skirt, £60. Just add the EEK! red and white stripe t-shirt to finish off the look.

And if you’re wondering who to copy – four Divas who can really rock this trend are Jennifer Anniston, Kate Moss, and of course the two first ladies – Carla Bruni-Sarkozy and Michelle Obama.

See you soon
Laura x
 

French Connection is really doing it for me this season. Angela Hosie, co-owner & buyer, has managed to pick some real gem pieces for this autumn. All of which I love and want! Last week saw the entrance of the oversized boyfriend blazer and a short stretch body con skirt which I totally got my eyes on. This week sees the arrival of more goodies from French Connection, but in particular a gorgeous dress which I fell in love with at first sight. I am referring to the black & grey ribbon body-con dress, £90. It slipped on like a second skin and I simply didn’t want to take it off! At first, I thought I was too old to wear this dress at my age but it really made me feel a million dollars so I will definitely give it a go.

Angela always says that most garments are ageless. The trick is to find a way to wear them to suit your body and your age. I believe she’s right. Love the way she styled this gooorgeous French Connection dress with the boyfriend blazer, a clutch bag and high heels. A fabulous look for a grown-up girl like me.

Must find occasion to wear it to justify this little treat! Husband…hint, hint… take me out!
Malin

This weekend has been a real treat! I escaped my wifely and motherly duties on Friday afternoon and boarded the train up to London. No, I was not running away but simply decided that it was time for some retail-therapy, peaceful cafe-visits without children, a few girlie glasses of wine and a bit of longlost but not forgotten London-life.

I packed an overnight bag with my high heels, St. Tropez wetlook leggings, Vivienne Westwood dress and all the other little things which I don’t tend to put on for a day out in the West-country. I arrived full of anticipation. After strolling down Marelybone High street and a raid at Selfridges, I cabbed it to Charlotte street hotel where I was meeting a friend for a cocktail. Love the buzz, love the people-watching and love the speedy lifestyle and all dressed up men and women.

Saturday was spent in town. I started with the fabric-shops in Soho which were very disappointing. Then I scanned all the boutiques on Carnaby street, coffee at Starbucks (quite a few), made a purchase at Camper on Regent street and slowly progressed to a quick look in to Topshop where all I came away from was a pair of leggings. Is this a sign that I have reached 40? It was more that I couldn’t be bothered with the crowds than not being able to find anything in there.

I enjoyed being a tourist but also loved the feeling of being totally at home in this big fashion-capital of the world. I ended the day with a coffee at St Christopher’s Place near Selfridges, several bags heavier and several pounds poorer but very happy and satisfied. I longed to go home and was missing my girls.

It was a great trip and I will make sure that I do it again. I came back home with bags of (apart from shopping) inspiration and anticipation for the new season and can’t wait to put away those summer-dresses in replacement for some lovely new items to embrace autumn and the colder and darker season which is upon us.

Malin x

A quick sell-out alert for you on the gorgeous charcoal chunky knit woolen cardigan, £170 by Farhi. It’s disappearing before my very eyes this morning – we only have two left in stock, a medium and a large. If you’re a smaller size and want one – I’d still opt for the medium – this style can take being worn a bit slouchy, helped by having raglan shoulder seams and bat-wing sleeves.

Grab yourself one of these beauties a.s.a.p! They are perfect right now as a wooly jacket in this gorgeous summer weather we are getting, and they’ll see you all the way through the winter too. Cosy, versatile, stylish and Farhi – no wonder they’re going so quickly!

See you soon
Laura x