Knits

Hi all,

Hope you're all wrapped up snugly from this bitterly cold weather.   Yesterday, I felt real icy cutting wind, for the 1st time this winter.  Every day this week has been a real struggle to find ways of dressing for the extremly cold weather.  In truth I find that the style stakes tend to lessen for me in these next few months, simply because I cannot even think about wearing shoes,  heels or no tights during these months, so it does restrict what I can wear.

              
Monday;  
                                      
Animal print peplum(Tu); Black waffle tube skirt(Tu);
Black fitted quilted Jacket(Mango);
Wellies (TKMaxx);
Tan Shopper(Zara);
Jewellery (Miss Selfridge)

Tuesday;

Oxblood elephant print T shirt (Zara);
Grey wool wide legged trousers (Zara);
Grey fringed Cardigan (Asda);
Black boots(River Island);
Jewellery (Dorothy Perkins)           






Wednesday;

Black frill wool skirt(Betty Jackson);
Black long sleeved T shirt(H&M);               
Black fringed cardigan (Tu);
Wellies(TKMaxx);                 
Jewellery(Miscellaneous shop, no longer in business)

Friday;

Black frilled cardigan(Wallis);
Grey cotton top(New Look);
Black A line wool plated skirt (Zara);
Wellies (TKMaxx);
Jewellery (French Connection/Miss Selfridge)






All through the week I've worn thermal layers beneath my clothing.  It really is the best way to keep warm.  As well as tights or socks I also wore ski socks to keep my feet warm.  I never go out doors without a scarf & a hat because I loose way too much heat from my head, as we all do.  I had a young lady laugh when I mentioned I had on a thermal vest once, until I asked if if she was cold, to which  she said 'yes.'  So I said "Well, I'm not".  Wearing a thermal vest is no different from wearing a normal vest under your clothing.  They sell them everywhere now, Primark, M&S, H&M the list goes on.  They actually make sense, unless you don't feel the cold. 



KNITS

  When trying to stay warm, it does not necessarily mean we have to do it in Dark knits.  There are some great colours out there to keep us a little uplifted during these grey dreary months. This one is from H&M at £14.99


If you are small in frame, this type of cropped jumper will look great with a long vest or a simple white shirt, you can team both looks with leggings or jeans for a smart casual look.  In one of my first blogs I did the same with a longer Jumper, but pulled a belt around it;  This one is from Top Shop at £30.00


 The one below already has contrasting arms built in. It's £35 from River Island.


Jumpers can be a problem for some, I struggle sometimes with the look I wish to create, due to the size of my bust, so have to be really careful when choosing them.  Just because they look great on one does not necessarily mean it will look great on you.

Which brings me to one of my "Pet Hates" ...... Shrugs worn by the wrong shaped woman.



I believe one of the aims of the shrug when they came out, was to help cover your arms,   However, if you have a large bust or back fat, (which a majority of us do), or you have bad posture, or you are not a small to medium frame, you might want to look in the mirror (at all angles) & ask yourself, whether covering your arms with this garment, doesn't just expose other parts of your body, that you actually don't want to expose. 
  There is a common misconcepton that has been made over the years, that it does what it says on the tin.  It may well do so, but it might also do other things, if your body type is not right for it.  The one in the photo above is how is should look.  If you have an hour glass shape & a normal size bust, it works great.  I have an hour glass body type, 'but' a large bust & rather than take the focus from my arms, it just says "Hey..... look at my bust".  As that part of my anotomy doesn't need any more attention than it already gets, I avoid the cardigan shugs of this shape.

  This Jumper is from Top shop boutique & is a little pricey at £65.00 but it is Cashmere.
This one is a little bit of fun; from Mango at £45.00


Dogtooth check is a sophisticated alternative to the season's love affair at £45. with heavy embellishment. It can be worn with anything black.


If you are into seasonal wear Geometric prints seems to be all over the high street
Next's toasty oversized Aztec print cardigan at £45.00 also.



  Teamed with leggings, or skirt & flat boots this is nice & comfortable for work rest or play.  It's from Tesco's at £45 & is lightweight, so great for layering to keep warm.  If you are going to layer, the trick is to do it with light knits, as thicker knits could make you feel a little uncomfortable & resticted in your movement, once you add your outer wear.  If you are one for covering up a body part you're rather not have on show, this jumper from Tesco's also has a Scarf attached to it for a little flare;

Lastly my favourite so far, but way out of my price range,  but that doesn't mean it is out of some of yours.


Wrap up warm on off-duty days with this Milary drape cardigan at £119.00.  It it is perfect for throwing over jeans & a long sleeved top or thin jumper. 

Well that is all for this week, but please be safe out there & do watch out for black ice whether you are walking or driving.  Off to make some healthy soup.

See you next week. 

Stylish AT50

Email;  Stylishat50@gmail.com

Facebook;  Stylish AT50 

Happy New year

Hi readers,

Happy New year to you all.   Hope you all had a fabulous break, although it probably feels like it was a lifetime away by now right?

Well it's 2013, and who's to know what this year will bring.  I'm not a new years resolution person, but i do promise myself one thing every year, and that it to live as positive as possible.   Spending time in the negative, takes way too much of my energy so it's just easier for me to stay positive, and fashion is one of the many ways I do that.

I met a few readers of varying ages over the past few weeks, who have told me that this blog makes you think a little differently about clothes & the way you dress.  If that is the case, it is doing its job.
  
When I'm not at work & just at home, I tend to spend a lot of my time dressed really casually.  Returning to work is always a challenge after 2 weeks off, especially during the Christmas period, because I always managed to indulged way more than I should have, so dressing for work is always a challenge.  

I'm one of those females who fluctuate constantly, so I tend to have clothes in different sizes,& the larger ones tend to come in handy at this time of year.  As I managed to put on a full 1/2 stone, which I lost again this week by returning to healthy eating, I had to find some comfortable, appropriate clothing that was fit for purpose. 

So..........Monday;

Black frill wool Dress(Great Plains); Black Blazer(Dorothy Perkins)
Black studded Slippers(New Look); Necklace (Dorothy Perkins); Earrings(Miss Selfridge)

                                 

                                


 Tuesday;

 Orange Dress(Tu); Shoes(Faith); Tan Shopper(Zara)
 Scarf(H&M); Belt(Tu);  Bracelets(Primark)    

 

Wednesday;

Black 3/4 trousers(New Look);  Tie sleeve top(River Island)

Waterfall Cardigan (TKMaxx);  Skinny Belt (Primark); Necklace (Miscellaneous shop that no longer exist)  

Feathered Earrings (Superdrug); Red platform courts(Top shop)

 Friday;

Black Jeweled Waistband Leggings(Portugal); Posh Wellies(TKMaxx)
Black Polo neck (Mango); Tan Shopper(Zara); Check Jacket(Tu); Necklace(Miss Selfridge) Earrings(Matalan)


All of my Choices this week were based around my expanded waistline,  The dresses were loose enough to still wear, even taking that into consideration;  The 3/4 trousers are usually way to big for me anyway, but I hang onto them & the leggings are full of Lycra, so they are both idea for days like this. 




I am guessing that I was not the only one who attended way to many Xmas dinners pre Christmas, then spent the entire time I was off indulging on food & drinks, which I never really eat in excess during the rest of the year.  How did you manage to get away with your first week back at work?   If you are still carrying that little extra weigh around, do you have items in your wardrobe, that can still manage to make you feel good when you put them on, despite the Christmas expansion.

Well....... wrap tops and Peplums are great for disguising that waistline.

Here are two examples;  Matched with trousers with a slightly larger waistband or tubular skirts, the likes of the ones that go for approximately £18 in Sainsbury's, are great as they do not have a waistband, so are really comfy.






This tee shirt under a blazer is also a good look;    
The Boucle Shift Dress here has no waistband, so works great at skimming your body;  matched with Opaque tights (coloured if you are brave enough) & boots its great for work;
As does this Shift dress which does the exact same thing;  

The 3 dresses above all come from Tesco's so are very reasonably priced & affordable. 

You may not need to go out and buy any of these items as you may well already have them in your wardrobe, but never thought of them in terms of camouflage for occasions such as this.  Take a look in your wardrobe, and see what you find that may be appropriate for disgusing your extremes, until your body returns to normal.

Good luck, I hope the next few weeks go quickly so we don't have the added worry of waistbands to contend with, in our Look good, Feel good quest.


Have a lovely week all. Wrap up well.


Kind regards





Stylish AT50






Email; Stylishat50@gmail.com
Facebook;  Stylish AT50