Spice up your look with accessories

If you want to update your look but can’t afford a complete wardrobe revamp, get creative with accessories. Changing your accessories can help you change your whole look. Think how different a basic jeans and T-shirt ensemble would look teamed with a pastel pashmina and heels, or with a pair of rock-chick DM boots and a checked cotton scarf. Accessories really do make an outfit, whether you want one new look or several! Get experimenting with these key accessories.

Tights
Step away from the black opaques and slip into something more interesting. Tights come in pretty much any colour or pattern you could imagine these days, and unusual hosiery can make a great focal point when you’re giving old wardrobe favourites a new lease of life. Try out bright block colours for a fun, young look; or lacy patterns for added sex appeal.

Scarves
Don’t restrict yourself to winter woollies: there are plenty of gorgeous scarves around that can be worn day or night and at any time of year. Think floaty floral chiffon for a boho look, or use a patterned scarf to add a splash of colour to a neutral outfit.

Shoes
You really can build a whole outfit around your footwear. Try on some of your favourite outfits with different pairs of shoes – you’ll be surprised by what works! A pair of chunky boots can help dress down a pretty frock, while classic stilettos will add sophistication to casual outfits.

Bags
An on-trend bag is a great way to add some style points to your outfit, as well as giving you somewhere to keep your stuff on a day or night out. Think beyond plain black leather: take a look at some of the gorgeous statement bags out there. How about an elegant patent clutch bag to glam things up, or an oversized tote for a touch of celebrity style? Bags don’t have to cost as much as you might think – Very.co.uk’s range of bags, for example, includes plenty of affordable choices.

Belts
Belts are a clever way of creating new shapes and silhouettes. Worn over floaty tops and dresses, a belt will help emphasise your waist, making for a more groomed, pulled-together look. Experiment with both subtle skinny styles and big statement belts that will grab people’s attention!

I hope this guest post inspires you to style up your own outfits with these key pieces!

WHATS ON THE HIGH STREET.....

Kimonos are a really colourful and stylish option to a summer jacket-they tend to be so light and floaty that are great for all sizes and give you that extra bit of coverage. They are also a perfect day to night piece which look great with denim and also tailored items such as a tapered cropped pair of trousers. Here is what's currently availbale on the High Street:

 Topshop dotty floral kimono, £55

   

Topshop embroidered kimono, £45



Zara Japanese kimono, £29.99

 

Zara printed kimono, £69.99 

This kimono was bought (but still not worn!) when I was on holiday last August:

I really love the vivid orange, bold pink and cobalt blue against the greys and zebra print and the orchids are so pretty too: 

What style of  summer jacket will you be opting for this coming season?



MYSTYLE FOR MOTHERS DAY

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a lovely Mothers Day, I had a great day which started with a lie in and my usual cup of tea brought up, then an early start to a couple of boot sales which unfortunately didn't yield much at all-I bought 'The Sixth Wife' book for 50p but the walk round them was bracing and built up an appetite for the brunch hubby made when we got home. I also received a new cosy red Duffer sweatshirt from my boys and a lovely card.

Then an afternoon of R&R and a family gathering to watch Manchester United v Chelsea, so nice to be at home with all my family around!!

I had to wrap warm for the boot sales and I wore a couple of new and new to me items. one of which I could wear often and would give a pop of colour-well it had to be a scarf!!

The scarf is absolutely massive-very long and wide so it double looped around my neck twice and although it is a fine material it was ideal for a cold windy day as there is so much of it!! 

I am also wearing a newly thrifted khaki coloured parka by Per Una from Marks and Spencer which I bought last week from the Salvation Army charity shop for £6.99. It is lightweight but warm, so ideal for unsettled weather and an  ideal length too:

It worked out well that the scarf and parka were a perfect match colourwise and I'm also wearing a hand knitted Aran jumper which I thrifted from my local Sue Ryder charity shop last year for £4.99:

It looks like the weather is still going to be cold for a while yet-I'm sure like a lot of you that layering up is proving to be just so boring but necessary- I really cannot wait for Spring to properly arrive!

I am linking this to the lovely Patti at NotDeadyetStyle for her Visible Monday post, wishing you a good week ahead xx

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!