MYSTYLE ESSENTIALS: BLACK TAILORED JACKET

Call it predictable or bordering 'boring', but for me a constant style essential is a tailored black jacket. As Michael Kors recently remarked on twitter, 'I truly believe 70% of a woman's wardrobe should be classic, basic pieces'.  I've never been a fan of capsule wardrobes but I do appreciate the significance of having certain style basics in my wardrobe and if I'm a repeat offender of any particular item then it's a tailored black jacket. 

Looking back on previous pictures over the years, this is one style essential that is still in my wardrobe, winning over items that continually get turfed out for being out of trend or favour to a new home either via the charity shop, ebay or vintage fairs.

All of my black tailored jackets have been thrifted from boot sales and charity shops and over half of them are vintage or designer too- Stella McCartney, Thierry Mugler, Valentino and Janice Wainwright. The others are either made in France or Italy from wool and crepe, ensuring quality and style. None of them cost more £12 and I wouldn't be without any of them:

Thierry Mugler early 90s black tailored jacket

Made in France black tailored dress coat

Artigiano Italian wool tailored jacket-this was only £1 from the boot sale a few years back!

So hands up- I am guilty of repeat offending on the black tailored jacket front-but quality wins over trends for me any day. What is your main style essential for the coming season?

Outfit post-Mixing browns and black, faux fur, leather and denim

Hi everyone! I thrifted this brown faux fur gilet in January, it is by Dorothy Perkins and I got it from the PDSA charity shop for £4.99. It's a perfect layering piece to wear over a top or a jacket which is how I wore it over the weekend, indoors and out. I have really liked wearing faux fur gilets over leather jackets this winter season as key layering pieces, not only does this work the leather sleeve trend but it's an ideal way to keep cosier too.

I am wearing a thrifted vintage Marks & Spencer gold chain and tassel print top, my Gap Always Skinny jeans and Marks & Spencer biker style black leather ankle boots that I also bought in January:

I am really pleased that true blue jeans are back in style, as much as I love coloured denim I do enjoy wearing different washes of blue jeans as for me they are so much more versatile and feel like I'm finally seeing the back of winter after wearing black jeans virtually most of this season!

I am also wearing my best ever Primark item which is my black leather biker jacket-I thrifted this three years ago for only £8.95 from my local Sue Ryder charity shop and for cost per wear it's been worth it's weight in gold, I enjoy wearing it every season either by itself or as I've just said, layered under a faux fur gilet.

I am linking this post to the lovely Patti at Not Dead Yet Style for Visible Monday.

Wishing you all a very good week ahead and how good it feels to know Spring is only round the corner!

The LBB- My 'Go To' Black Bag Style Essential

Hi everyone! This post is about the everyday, go to, no fuss LBB-little black bag. Like many of  you, I do have a selection of different bags ranging from shoulder bags to totes to clutches in an array of colours and from vintage to high street to designer.

Generally though when I am out and about on an everyday basis and I'm not going anywhere in particular without the need to impress or dress up then an everyday little black bag is my perfect partner.

I was fortunate to find this lovely little black bag by Kipling in the British Heart Foundation charity shop a couple of Autumns ago for only £5.99.

What drew me to it was the shiny gold hardware and detailing and the easy clean nylon material which even to now has not faded and still looks great and feels like an up to date version of the classic nylon Prada bags of the 90s. It slings easily over my shoulder and fits snugly under my arm and I can get so much into it considering it looks a small bag-no holding my umbrella! Plus it has a good variety of outer and inner compartments too:

Kipling black hobo style bag, £5.99 British Heart Foundation charity shop

No fur monkey here, his portrait is now emblazoned on the gold hardware!!

I still love the bright and shiny gold detailing on this cute bag!

Do you have a particular 'go to' bag that you just can't help using, despite the many you already own?

Here's wishing you all a really lovely weekend, lets hope now it's the start of March that Spring will now be in the air to stay!

Thrift Inspiration......Valentino snakeskin style!

One of my favourite trends over the last few years has been snakeskin and particularly coloured snakeskin. It's very much in style for this summer, featuring in blouses, sweaters, scarves, bags and shoes.

 Like leopardprint, it's really a stylish animal print of choice that is most inspiring to wear and also transcends seasons, ensuring it goes with any colour outfit too. I really love this clutch bag available at The Outnet, which has a great selection of different coloured snakeskin pieces this season:

Valentino snakeskin effect leather bag, £626.50

Out of my price range but luckily for me I will be channelling my own coloured snakeskin vintage clutch bag that I found a couple of summers ago at my local boot sale for a bargainous 50p!!

It's an ideal size for all my handbag tat and the colours mean it's an ideal day and evening clutch and goes with virtually any outfit too!

Will you be working the coloured snakeskin trend this season?

The Paisley Park Apron by Rexlondon.com

Hi everyone! For a long while now I've been meaning to get a PVC cotton apron and it's one of those items that never quite gets into the shopping basket to buy.

I was asked by rexlondon.com to review an item and on browsing their really lovely website I decided that I would pick from their fabulous range of printed aprons- from hens, apples and spots to daisies, doilies and roses, they have the ideal patterned apron to choose from:

I decided on the Paisley Park apron which is in a light blue and pink paisley floral design with a pink binding all the way round. Although it is one size the waistband can be folded up on itself for a less longer fit- as it is it comes to just over the knee on me.  Like I said before, it is made from pvc cotton so it can be easily wiped clean and another feature I liked was the patch pocket on the front-handy for the mobile phone whilst busy in the kitchen.

The apron is lightweight and has a high neckline with a thick collar which does not cut in, making it comfortable to wear. As you can see, this is my first wear of it so excuse the creases-it just goes to show I need to get cooking more often and not wait for hubby to get in from work to cook the dinner (still having second thoughts on this though!!). The apron is a great buy for only £8.95 and will make an ideal mothers day gift to yourself or to your own mum or mum in law!

If an apron is not on your agenda, then do check out their website which features gifts by occasion and  interests and also for the home and garden so it's very likely you'll find the ideal mothers day gift or treat for yourself at a very reasonable price too!

Thanks to Rexlondon.com- I am very happy with the apron and definitely feel it is good quality and value for money and so pretty too!