Winter Break Wishlist

Get me out of the cold and into the southern hemisphere. 

And pack me these things for the journey while you're at it...

Bag Gucci, Sneakers Isabel Marant, Top Etoile Isabel Marant, Books Assouline, Shorts Rokit Vintage.

Winter Greys

I'm a summer girl by nature and only a month or so into winter I'm already starting to loath the monotony of cold weather dressing. The dull pallet of greys and blacks littering my wardrobe makes for a series of outfits that resembles a nun in a smog storm, as shown in a series of bathroom-mirror-selfies entitled ‘BLAH’.

So I’ve spent hours scouring the internet for inspiration on how to do winter in high definition colour, in the hope that it may transform my consistently gloomy outfit posts into captivatingly colourful combinations.

I understand that blues, burgundies and camels may feel like only a small step into colour for some of you, but trust me, this is a giant leap for bland-kind.

Midi Style

These last days of sunshine on holiday meant a final foray into bare legs and Birkenstocks until next spring. What better to pair with these famously ugly sandals than the prettiest of skirts I've found on the high street - this guipure lace skirt from River Island. 

Top H&M, Skirt River Island, Shoes Senso, Bracelets Dana Levy, Sunglasses Bottega Veneta. 

StylistShops x Clarks

When Clarks approached me this summer and asked me to road test a pair of their AW14 collection I was happy to oblige. Years of working at magazines had exposed me to lots of viewings of Clarks' seasonal collections and I was always suitable impressed. Once you bypass the shoes that my Grandma Margaret loves so dear, theres a trove of total gems which would fit perfectly into any of our wardrobes.

I chose the Busby Jazz monk shoes for a day goofing about at my parents house in the countryside. As you've probably noticed by now I'm all about the flat shoe and these were the perfect alternative to the sneakers I tend to live in. Plus, they were probably the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn, other brands take note - Clarks have some sort of layer of heaven under your foot which softens every step, I could have run a marathon in these. If I ever took up running. Which I doubt I will any time soon. But I COULD have, and that's what counts.

Read the full story and watch the video below or on Clarks website here - it's pretty much worth it just to check out Clive, the-best-dog-in-the-history-of-dogs, making his screen debut. 

Shop the Busby Jazz here and check out my other key picks from Clarks AW14 collection below.

From Top: Triple Buckle Biker Boot, Slip On Trainer, Leopard Kitten Heel, Green Suede Fringed Brogue, Double Strap Monk Shoe, Quilted Biker Boot. All from Clarks. 

Sale Shopping

Dear readers, I must apologise for my disappearance of late. I've been spending every spare minute working on my house renovation which is requiring decisions to be made on an hourly basis - which is pretty traumatic for someone who can't make decisions! 

Once things start to get finished I will post some pictures on here as everyone loves a 'changing rooms' style before and after - and you can check out a couple of pictures of the kitchen which went in this week over on my instagram (@rachelingram14).

Now, sick of spending all my hard earned money on grouting and floorboards, I've been trawling the internet for some sale purchases to cheer me up as I remain homeless! If you have to live out of a suitcase at least make it a suitcase full of wonderful things....

First on the wish list are a pair of pointy flats that will carry me through to winter:

From the top: Philip Lim, Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem, Valentino, Paul Andrew, Mother of Pearl, Rochas, Stella McCartney, Nicholas Kirkwood

A statement sweatshirt is still on my 'to buy' list to throw on with denim shorts on cooler summer evenings....

From the top: Carven, Au Jour Le Jour, Stella McCartney and J.W.Anderson

And a few summer wardrobe updaters:

From left to right: Bag Jerome Dreyfuss, Top J.W.Anderson, Shoes Aquazzura, Sunglasses Illesteva, Shorts Genetic Denim, Sandals Ancient Greek Sandals, Trousers Isabel Marant.

From left to right: Shoes Gianvito Rossi, Bag Whistles, Top Chloe, Shoes &OtherStories, Top Suno.

My final and ultimate sale finds come from the mecca that is &OtherStories on Regent Street. I could literally buy the whole store - but I've left some for you too. Check out the sunglasses - they're a fashion insider's high street trump card (as well as H&M and ASOS sunnies).

Bag, Clutch, Loafers - all &OtherStories.

New Season Shopping : Dana Levy

Many years ago I worked at Red Magazine assisting their Fashion Editor on fashion pages and photoshoots. My job was to source all the clothes for the shoots she would style, and we would then fill suitcases and jet off round the globe shooting them on models, making beautiful pictures. 

One time this editor asked me to get some colourful, beaded bracelets in for a summer florals story and I contacted a jewellery designer I had seen stocked in Liberty - Dana Levy. Dana's jewellery was a resounding hit on the shoot, such a hit in fact that not only did we shoot it in pretty much every issue of Red for the next few years, I have since shot it for every magazine I have ever worked for after that! Dana's jewellery is not only in the pages of Glamour Magazine monthly, but adorns every fashion and beauty editor at the magazine too - she really is an insider's secret weapon.

So, the dilemma was, to share or not to share?! Part of me wants everyone to know about her cool, fashiony-without-trying styles and wear-all-summer-long pieces, but part of me wants to keep her to myself!

Ultimately though her jewellery is too good not to rave about, so here is a little look at some of the current summer collection, all available at www.danalevy.co.uk.

Click the images to shop the pieces or visit www.DanaLevy.co.uk for more styles.

Prada Kisses

I took my trusty old Prada lip print dress out for a whirl this week. It's such a girly dress and so not 'me' that I tried to casual it up with a pair of New Balance trainers, See by Chloe leather jacket and a Uniqlo check shirt tied around the waist. Worn with my trusty Lulu Guinness stripe bag that seems to go with everything I wear at the moment. Im so enjoying using a pouch instead of a huge tote, everything is so easy to locate, although I do need to trawl a canvas bag full of essentials around with me at the same time!

Stylist Shops : &OtherStories

While you were sitting in the park eating your Twisters this weekend, some of us were hard at work shopping the sweaty high street so you didn't have to get off your deck chair. 

That's right, this weekend I threw on my Supergas and hit up a relatively new high street store that is causing a buzz in the fashion industry right now, the questionably named '&OtherStories', sister to  Scandi brands H&M and COS. 

With a store on Regent Street and a simple-to-navigate online shop too, this is the ultimate go to for cool clothes, amazing shoes and leather accessories that look 50 times more expensive than they actually are. The jewellery and beauty selection isn't bad either. 

So lets see how I got on...

First up, the awkward-length-stripe-dress (£39, size 36). There is something really great about the skirt lengths in &OtherStories, they're often cut at an incredibly unsexy ankle height, yet they feel fresh and modern in spite, or possibly because of it. 

This dress would be just as good with leather sandals on holiday on a Greek island, as it would be for a day in the office in London. 

Next up this Lanvin-esq metallic pleated skirt (£65, size 36) which I had a blast trying on with its matching metallic top, energetically performing 'the robot', and then swiftly replacing it with this classic white tee (£12, size 36) before anyone saw me. 

The skirt would be perfect for a summer wedding if paired with a short and structured black top.

This next look, I call my Amish-Aesthetic. I'm having a love affair with off-the-shoulder this season, but not with sickly-salmon-pink and so I feel it my duty to tell you right here right now that this dress  (£55, size 36) does come in black. It was, however, too dark to photograph - so for you dear reader I have braved the piscatorial pink. 

I've never had to wear a suit to work, but I imagine if I did, this would be the type of thing I'd rock up in, Supergas and all. 

Then I'd probably be sent home to change into something more appropriate.

I love this stripey summer combo, perfect length shorts (£29, size 36)  - short but not slutty - and the cute boxy jacket (£79, size 36) which would probably go with everything in your wardrobe.

 

My final, angelic look, is this perfectly-puritan-peasant dress (£45, size 36).

This soft brushed cotton dress is crying out for a clunky tan leather sandal and a trip home into my wardrobe. 

In other news, &OtherStories have currently released a collaboration with celebrated Russian fashion designer and beloved of Miroslava Duma et al - Vika Gazinskaya. Her designs which sell for unpronounceable sums of money have been streamlined for &OtherStories and are dynamic, interesting and unique. 

Happy Shopping....