Do you let your daughter judge your clothes?

We all remember being firmly told that we wouldn't be 'going out dressed like that!' in our teens, but in more recent years the tables seem to have turned with modern mums seeking the approval of their daughters when it comes to fashion.

 A recent Telegraph article claims that almost half of British mothers look to their daughters for clothing advice, particularly when it comes to how age-appropriate the item in question may or may not be.The painful but practical truth of the matter is that the apple of your eye is far more likely to be honest with you than your friends when it comes to your appearance. Nobody would be so cruel as to bluntly tell you that your new skirt is too short or your freshly dyed hairdo is a trashy colour - nobody apart from your children, that is. Feelings may get hurt in the process, but heeding this sort of honest opinion might save you from committing an embarrassing fashion faux pas.On the other hand, there is the argument that while your teenage daughter might think she knows everything, she's probably not the authority on how women over 30 like to dress.

If you're hunting for stylish women's jackets, for example, you'll find that designs aimed at your age group are unlikely to be sold alongside those intended for teenagers or young adults. Fashion for these age groups is notoriously changeable, with very few 'quirky' trends lasting longer than a season before being relegated either to the back of a wardrobe, the charity shop or the bin.  Your daughter's tastes and personal style are also likely to change and develop drastically during her teenage years, sometimes going from one extreme trend to the opposite! If you consider the fashion crimes that you committed throughout your younger years, you may think twice about leaving your adult wardrobe in the hands of your temperamental teenager. Follow your own fashion instincts or those of a loyal and frank friend your age. Not only will you walk away with a wardrobe befitting a woman rather than a girl, but you may also avoid a few family arguments at the same time!

Downtime Casual in Gant, Zara & Primark- 3 Shades of Claret

Hi everyone! I hope you are all having a great week so far. With half term finished, my household routine can get back to normal and my days are now consumed with general housework, working at the library and if there is time spare, then of course blogging and some thrift shopping thrown in for good measure!

Yesterday saw a day where I was in more than I was out so a casual approach was called for. I am not really a jogger or trackie bottom wearer so on days which feature housework and lounging duties, I'm generally in jeggings or jeans. A couple of weeks ago whilst in Primark window shopping for scarves as I do, they had a basket of dark claret jeggings for just a fiver. I'm not normally a fan of Primark jeans but as I always try things on before I buy I thought I'd give it a shot, being that I have no jeans in this colour and the price was right! I also got a great pair of black leather gloves for under ten pounds so that shopping trip was quite successful. I'm wearing the jeggings with a thrifted Gant mens merino wool oversized sweater and my Zara chelsea boots:

This is a really relaxed and comfortable outfit and is ideal for when there is nothing much in particular happening- I really love mens knits as they tend to be really good quality and if you pick right can be worn for years to come. My Gant sweater was bought last winter and was just £3.99. It washes and wears really well and is just the ticket when you just want to chuck on something for those 'in between' weather days:

My Zara boots are being worn constantly lately- they were a boot sale find last year for only £2 and I'm letting them get a little scuffed for that 'lived in and distressed' look, so my outfit doesn't look too 'prim'. 

I don't generally dress head to toe in one colour pallette but I thought 'why not?' It makes a change to colour co-ordinating an outfit and gives a nod to the on trend colour of the season too.

Do you or plan to dress in one colour pallette? If you haven't tried it, give it a go!! Wishing you all a good week whatever you are up to!!

My Weekend & Some Thrift Inspiration...It's a Man's World with Pointed Wedges

Hi everyone!! I hope you've had a great weekend, it feels like it's gone too quickly! Yesterday I managed to fit in some volunteering at my local library at a book sale and received a great stack of books to keep me going for Autumn and Winter and this was followed by a nice fish and chip supper. Today we visited a young relative in hospital who thankfully seems to be getting better after a major operation and this was followed by a spot of retail therapy before coming home for a lovely roast dinner.

My 'new to me' stack!

Sunday's outfit was a new chunky knit that my son kindly gave me (I nicked it!) this Summer that he was gifted. It is amazingly similar to the Acne Clissold sweater but my one is by Danish brand Le Fix, who produced this in their Spring/Summer 2012 collection:

I paired it with my men's boyfriend PRPS jeans and to add some femininity, I wore my black Jasper Conran court wedges- I don't wear these often enough as they are fairly high, but I love the toe cleavage on them and they are nice and pointy!

The knit has a 'bobbly' leopard style design and I love the additional features on the shoulder and the elbow pads. It's really cosy and a perfect addition for my winter wardrobe:

All I needed was my grey faux fur Maine (Debenhams) thrifted gilet over the top and I was set for the day without having to wear a jacket. 

I'll be sharing my weekend goodies in a future post- they are both leopardprint but I do need to get moving on listing my pile of 'to sell' things on ebay to compensate for my new buys!

Wishing you all a great week ahead and I'll be linking this post to the lovely Claire Justine for Creative Monday and to fabulous Patti at NotDeadyetStyle for Visible Mondays-I hope you get a chance to check out these wonderful blogs!!

Regent Street Lights Switch On Saturday 9 November!!

Regent Street, London, W1 is thrilled to announce that Leona Lewis, Passenger and Eliza Doolittle will perform at the Regent Street Christmas Lights switch on celebrations on Saturday 9 November. Also Melanie C will be re-united live on stage with Emma Bunton at the switch on event when they perform ‘2 Become 1’ – the Girls’ first ever Christmas number one hit. Breakfast presenters Jamie Theakston with Emma Bunton from London's Heart 106.2 will head a star-studded line up leading into the big switch on moment where Regent Street will be lit up by the amazing Christmas lights and a spectacular pyrotechnic display to launch Christmas in London’s West End.

This year’s Christmas lights will be switched on by Emmy Award® Winning actor Ty Burrell and Hollywood film director Rob Minkoff. The lights depict the forthcoming DreamWorks Animation film Mr. Peabody and Sherman, an all-new comedy adventure for the whole family directed by The Lion King’s Rob Minkoff, which will be released by Twentieth Century Fox in the UK and Ireland on 7 February 2014.

Mr Peabody, voiced by Ty Burrell (Modern Family), is a business titan, inventor, scientist, Nobel Laureate, gourmand, two-time Olympic medallist, and genius…who also happens to be a dog.  Using his most ingenious invention, the WABAC machine, Mr. Peabody and his adopted boy Sherman, voiced by Max Charles (The Amazing Spider-Man), hurtle back in time to experience world-changing events first-hand and interact with some of the greatest characters of all time.  But when Sherman breaks the rules of time travel, our two heroes find themselves in a race to repair history and save the future, while Mr. Peabody may face his biggest challenge yet – being a parent.

On Saturday 9 November, Regent Street will be traffic-free all day. There will be catwalk shows to get the party started, featuring many of the famous Regent Street fashion brands, including Jaeger, Austin Reed, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Juicy Couture, Hawes & Curtis, Brooks Brothers, Sebago and Camper. Starting at 3pm, there are several opportunities throughout the afternoon to enjoy the fashion shows, leading up to the stage entertainment and switch on moment.

Plan your visit to Regent Street by visiting RegentStreetOnline.com to check out the schedule for the exciting day’s activities on Saturday 9 November for Christmas on Regent Street.

As one of the world’s premier retail destinations, Regent Street provides the ultimate Christmas shopping experience, with the largest Burberry in the world and other international flagship stores such as Coach, Apple, Jaeger, Armani Exchange and Liberty, along with newly opened Longchamp, uber cool shoe brand United Nude and soon-to-open J.Crew from the US, as well as KIKO MAKE UP MILANO from Italy. This year Glasshouse Street, the pedestrianised area in the recently developed Regent Street Quadrant, will also have Christmas decorations. 

The Regent Street Gift Card offers an easy solution for Christmas gift dilemmas. The first of its kind to be offered in a UK high street rather than a shopping mall, it is currently accepted in over 130 stores, hotels and restaurants in and around Regent Street.  It can be purchased 24 hours a day from RegentStreetOnline.com and up until 3pm on Christmas Eve by visiting the Regent Street Association, Linen Hall, 162-168 Regent Street.

Regent Street, known as the ‘Mile of Style’, has an eclectic mix of shops for finding the perfect gift.  The Regent Street Quadrant offers a male focused shopping experience which is extended by the new shops in Brewer and Glasshouse Streets, including Rapha, Jack Spade, Woolrich, Wolsey, Stone Island. The Quadrant is also home to two exquisitely restored Art Deco restaurants, MASH and Brasserie Zédel.

Here's to a great weekend and if you do get a chance to see the lights next week, have a wonderful time!

Thrift Inspiration......New Look Knit, Isabel Marant Style!

Hi everyone! I hope your week is going well, it's a half term week in our household and it's great not to have any early morning starts for my youngest, who relishes his late nights and late lie ins- having got his interim report just before he broke up and achieving a B grade in every subject- he has his GCSE's in eighteen months time, I'm really pleased with his progress to date and at how he is just enjoying relaxing and recharging his batteries from all the sports and academic stuff that has been on his timetable lately!  Anyhow, I am being kept busy with general household duties, my volunteering work, blogging and of course little thrift trips here and there and this suits me just fine!

Since the impending Isabel Marant/H&M collaboration was announced, I must admit to have been quite impressed with how her pieces work so effortlessly well with each other-to me, this is casual chic dressing most stylish and I really love the red/black/white pieces that add texture and a lovely pop of colour to different outfits. My favourite items from the collection are below, the longline cardi jacket, the tasseled scarf and the multi colour sweatshirt:

 I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to get an item from the collection, the scarf would be number one on my list as I'm sure it would be an excellent layering piece with all the winter coats and jackets I have, but I would like to see what the quality is like before I made it an addition to my wardrobe.

Last weeks thrifting trip was to two towns on the bus- I found nothing at all in the first town's five shops that I visited so was hoping I would do better at the next town's six shops. Well at the eleventh and last shop was where I did find a couple of items and thankfully they weren't impulse buys from frustration!!

I first found a pair of boyfriend style straight leg light wash Levi's jeans which were just the colour I've been after for a while. Just as I was approaching the till to pay I saw this New Look knit which I had to wait to try on-I nearly didn't bother as I really had enough and just wanted to get the bus home. I was pleased I waited though as it fitted perfectly and once the items were paid for I was straight on the bus homeward bound.

As you can see it's a tweed style open knit in a red/black/white colourway (sorry for the photo quality which makes the top look purply-which it isn't!) and has a scallop front:

I was drawn to the colour and it's an 'inbetween' weight-not thick and not thin, so ideal for those days where I don't need to layer up. 

Have you been inspired by the Isabel Marant/H&M collaboration and if so, what pieces are taking your interest? Will you be buying a piece or looking to adopt a similar style to what they have on offer?

Wishing you all a good week ahead-the sun is shining today and it's not too windy either- a perfect Autumnal day to enjoy-hope you do too!!