An Autumn Transitional Lookbook

I am beginning to write this post on the 21st of September, the first official day of Autumn. It's crazy to think how fleeting Summer felt. Almost as if it brushed past us, and here we are again watching the leaves brown and fall, drinking pumpkin spice latte's and walking home from work at seven o'clock in the dark. As much as I love the Summer season, I'm excited for the prospect of Autumn. I enjoy the slowly cooling weather, and transitioning from the summery skirts and white blouses to the jackets and cable-knit jumpers. 

I've wanted to do a look-book on my blog for so long, and here it is - a scattering of transitional outfits I have worn recently. I hope this can help some of you who may be struggling with what to wear for the changing weather.

1. Autumnal colours and trench coats.

Trench coat - Aquascutum / Jumper - &OtherStories / Jeans - Asos / Bag - Furla / Boots - Topshop (similar here)

I was inspired by the seventies with this outfit (maybe because just prior to this outing I'd been watching That 70's Show...) and experimented with a few different textures and colours. The super shiny patent leather boots, the ribbed moss-green jumper, the beige trenchcoat, and the fun peplum jeans all play their own individual part in this outfit. I love trench coats - they're perfect to layer under and great for when the weather is transitioning to a slightly cooler temperature.

2. Gold & Stripes

Leather Jacket - All Saints (Wyatt) / Striped long sleeve shirt - Uniqlo / Jeans - Topshop / Shoes - Topshop (similar here)

Who doesn't love a good pop of metallic?! I know I do. And what better way to jazz up a relatively simple outfit than with a pair of statement shoes! I nabbed these gold, block heel glove shoes in the Topshop sale for twenty quid last week, and I am so in love. They bring something edgy and funky to any outfit, and I loved pairing them with a simple, thick breton top, a leather jacket and some straight leg jeans. Perfect for those slightly warmer transitional evenings.

3. Victoriana

Leather Jacket - All Saints (Wyatt) / Blouse - Archive by Alexa for M&S / Jeans - Topshop (discontinued Girlfriend style) / Ankle Boots - Mistress

A love a good structured blouse, especially a Victoriana style one, and I have never come across one quite so iconic as the 'Harry' blouse from the Archive by Alexa range at M&S. It's so effortlessly chic, and can be made more casual by tucking into a pair of girlfriend fit jeans. I also paired it with my All Saints leather jacket (which is the perfect thickness for the transitional weather) and a pair of two tone ankle boots that I got a few years back in Mistress. 

4. Black & White

Jumper - Topshop / Trousers - &OtherStories / Burgundy Creepers - Underground / Sunglasses - Rayban

Sometimes, all you need is a simple, monochrome outfit, with maybe just a pop of colour. I love this pairing this high neck, retro style jumper with a pair of wide flair black trousers. Comfortable, simple, and perfect for those days when you need a jumper, but not necessarily more.

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I hope you enjoy this short, but hopefully sweet, little insight into some of the things I've been styling up for the transitional weather. I'm hoping to do more of these soon, and maybe to tailor them to certain styles and/or items. Let me know what you want to see!

x

A Day in Kew: The Original Maids of Honour & The Gardens

Shirt - Novem & Knight (Indie) / Jeans - M&S Outlet / Trainers - Adidas Superstars / Hat - Urban Outfitters / Sunglasses - Rayban

As a child, my Mum regularly took me and my brother to Kew Gardens. It's so beautiful and peaceful, but after years of being dragged there against my will, I lost interest. Since turning 18, the interest has returned. I think it might be something to do with the fact that I'm a working adult and have already began planning my pension (don't ask...) and I still live with my Mum, so there's really no escaping the Gardens.

The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, is one of the most internationally acclaimed botanical research centres, and one of the largest gardens of it's kind. There are many seasonal treasures to discover, including the Kew the Music festival in the Summer, and the Christmas Light Walk. This time around, I visited the Gardens for the latest, and possibly most architectually fascinating, exhibit - The Hive. (as you can tell from above, the gardens are also a great location for shooting your outfit photo's!)

The Hive was an incredible experience. A huge, metal sculpture containing hundreds of LED lights that light up when the bees in the Kew Gardens bee centre communicate. You also have a chance to listen to the way bees communicate underneath the sculpture. It's overall a beautiful experience and a great way to learn more about our buzzing friends, the bees. Kew is renound for hosting many great, educational events throughout the year, so be sure to check out their website to learn more about what's happening.

 http://www.kew.org/

The Original Maids of Honour:

The chicken pie

Now onto another Kew delight - the Original Maids of Honour. This beautiful, old-fashioned tea house has been serving up their traditional bakes (even favoured by Henry VIII) for over 200 years - and I honestly highly recommend an afternoon spent here. With a wonderful array of cakes to choose from (their carrot cake and swiss roll is to die for), the Maids of Honour also serve up a brilliant lunch. Their pies are wonderfully nostalgic, and my favourite, the chicken pie, is probably the best traditional pie I've ever tried. I also recommend coming here for a classically British roast lunch - and if you want all the roast trimmings, but don't want to miss out on a hearty slice of pie, you can combine the two. The Original Maids of Honour is a wonderful traditional tearoom to visit, especially if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Central London.

If you're bored of the bright lights and noisy streets of Central London, then give Kew a try. It's one of the most beautiful parts of Greater London, and I adore coming here to escape the stresses of the City. 

Nearest transport links:
Kew Gardens Underground & Overground station (District & Overground lines)
Bus Services: 391 & 65 are the nearest links.

Maids of Honour address: 288 Kew Road, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DU

Stars and Stripes

Vest Top - Stradivarius (Similar Here) / Trousers - Borrowed / Leather Jacket - All Saints (Wyatt) / Trainers - Adidas Superstars (I bought these in the junior section in store for £49.99) / Sunglasses - Rayban / Bag - Furla / Lipstick - ByTerry (Rouge Terrybly in Bare Instinct)

La Petite Bretagne Creperie, Hammersmith

Okay, I did it. I caved. I went back in time, and became fifteen again. After months of deliberation, I decided to purchase a pair of Adidas Superstars. I needed a pair of trainers (as I currently only own gym ones) to wear to work, and I felt these bridged the gap perfectly between comfortable and stylish. I went for the 'royal blue' stripe as I felt the colour would match better with existing pieces in my wardrobe. In conclusion, they are not only super comfortable and practical, but I think they look brilliant with almost anything - they give a sports-luxe vibe to any outfit, in particular creating a cool contrast when paired with a grungy leather jacket.

On this particularly cloudy day in London, I headed over to my favourite crepe spot - La Petite Bretagne in Hammersmith. They do the best pick-me-up sweet crepes (seriously, there's something seriously soothing and addictive in their crepe batter...) and brilliant buckwheat savoury lunch crepes. On this occasion, I went for an old classic: nutella, and my friend Sophie (check her out here) went for a nutella and banana combination. Very reasonably priced joint, and who can resist the beautiful, classically french decor? I know I can't. 

Nearest tube stations:
Hammersmith (Hammersmith&City/Circle lines, District and Piccadilly lines)

Nearest Bus Routes:
27, 391, 190, H91, 267, plus all other routes that stop inside Hammersmith Broadway (e.g. 9, 10, 266)

Denim Du Jour

Leather Jacket - All Saints (Wyatt) / Top - Glamorous / Skirt - Stradivarius / Sandals - Vagabond / Bag - Furla / Sunglasses - Rayban (Round)

I've never been much of a skirt lover - I've always felt relatively uncomfortable in them, or found that they don't particularly suit me. Having said that, I've always been a fan of the button-down skirt. They remind me of the seventies trends I adored when I was younger, and bring back a sense of nostalgia from my childhood. They give such an effortlessly retro vibe to any outfit, and this gorgeous dark denim skirt that I bought in Stradivarius in Bordeaux has been one of my new obsessed over pieces.

I added this simple, detailed shirt from Glamorous that I bought in the Topshop sale a few months ago, a pair of chunky sandals from Vagabond and my All Saints leather jacket. A simple and comfortable outfit for a warm sunny day in the suburbs of London.

Review: 'How the other half loves' at the Duke of York's Theatre

Production: 'How the other half loves' by Alan Ayckbourn
Date: 18th August 2016

Genre: Comedy Play

Venue: Duke of York's Theatre

Verdict: *****

Oh look, another theatre review! And this time for a classic comedy that successfully brought itself back into the West End (and was extended, for that matter, so I knew I had to book tickets) - 'How the other half loves', by Alan Ayckbourn.

I've been itching to see this for months now, and on the 18th of August, I finally managed to, and the production did not disappoint. I ended up sitting in the front row of the stalls, giving me a brilliant angle for catching every detail of the performance (which is always useful if you're wanting to review a show).

Alan Ayckbourn is a master for comedic writing and for creating comedies with a twist. 'How the other half loves' is one of his best works. The intricately split set, the back and forth on timing, and the laugh-out-loud script was all detailed brilliantly in this production, directed by Alan Strachan. 

The story follows three different couples, and the misunderstood mess that they all end up in due to an affair. The actors all had great comic timing, and this was reflected excellently throughout the performance. It is a comedy you cannot get bored in. A special mention goes to Nicholas Le Prevost who played the ever confused Frank Foster - he was the glue that held the show's story together, and created endless laughs with his naively real interpretation of the bumbling Frank. 

Overall, this was a really well curated production. Intricately and cleverly designed to represent the two different flats in which the story takes place by Julie Godfrey, wittily and classically directed by Alan Strachan and filled with humorous and over-the-top performances from the well put-together cast. A superb night out - I strongly recommend seeing this production before it flies out of the West End on the 1st of October.

Book tickets with great deals at:
LoveTheatre.com

Baby Blue

Blouse - M&S (sale) / Jeans - Topshop / Ankle Boots - Russell & Bromley / Leather Jacket - All Saints / Sunglasses - Rayban Round

Neal's Yard looking beautiful, as always.

M&S have pleasantly surprised me recently with their latest fashion drop, and I couldn't be parted with this shirt after I found it in the sale. It's two/three sizes bigger than I would usually go for, but I actually preferred that - the looseness of the shirt makes it more ethereal and relaxed, and coupled with the floaty frills and shoulder cut-outs, this is the perfect Summer city shirt. 

I spent the day in Covent Garden, so I wanted an outfit that would be comfortable but also make me feel chic. I paired the shirt with these ankle grazer white skinny jeans (which I cut to size myself), some black ankle boots (London currently isn't the warmest) and my prized possession: my All Saints leather jacket. 

It was the perfect outfit for a day out shopping with my ladies.

*Photo's taken on Neal Street, Covent Garden.