Stylist Shops Zara

Stylist Shops is back in the changing rooms bringing you the best - and potentially worst - of the current in-store haul. Let me take the hassle out of shopping by trying everything on for you so you can decide what you want from my awkward mirror selfies and simply buy it online.

Now first of let me warn you, it ain't pretty out there this close to christmas. Not only did I have to fight an aggressive Spaniard for the last pair of knitted culottes, I also had to sell my soul for an 8 item allowance in the Zara changing rooms, but it was worth it good people to help you find your perfect winter wardrobe. 

And so, to Zara...

So first up, here it is, the love-of-my-life knit. 

The soulmate I've been searching for all these years, the yin to my yang. 

What in the world could be better than a grey, oversized, super chunky knitted roll neck with voluminous sleeves (£45.99, Small)? What I ask you? 

NOTHING. 

And by jove it was in my wardrobe before you could say 'why bother trying on those boring grey trousers (£25.99, Small), couldn't you find anything more interesting to try on in the whole of Zara?'.

Next in line is the long-top-and-culotte-tonal-combo. Now I'm not gonna lie to you, I never do, this looked way more promising on the hanger.  The top (£59.99, Small) was great. A heavy duty wool mix tunic with a great slit at the side and the back - and how promising, I thought, with those mustard culottes (£39.99, Small) worn tonally underneath. But how wrong I was. They were slightly too long and slightly too cheapy-looking, creasing in places you really didn't want them to crease. 

This top would be a total winner instead paired back with cigarette pants or straight leg jeans and a nude strappy heel.

Next we have the little black dress, with a lacey overlay and a layer of guipure lace around the sleeves and hem (£39.99, Small). The dress fit perfectly but was super short so I would perhaps suggest sizing up for length and decorum. Not a particularly wintery item but one of those dresses that feels like it would become a year round staple and an especially great addition to any holiday wardrobe.

Nothing says A/W14 like a rollneck jumper, and this deliciously warm short sleeved knit (£45.99, Small) was overpriced yes, but it's one of those you won't want to take if off all winter long. Paired with this geometric print midi skirt (£59.99, Small) this is an outfit that would look totally professional for a day in the office with heels, and totally fun worn on the weekend with a pair of Stan Smiths. 

If November weather means all you want to wear is chunky knitwear, why stop at your top half? These knitted wide leg cropped trousers (£35.99, Small)  are the ultimate winter-warmers (aside from the whole cold ankle thing) and make a cool alternative to a pair of jeans. They fit slightly large, I rolled them up once at the waist to make them fit properly so you may want to size down. 

After falling for the jumper in the previous outfit I had to try it on in black too (£45.99, Small) and unsurprisingly it fit exactly the same but it was blacker, and maybe even more perfectly essential to my wardrobe. 

You can wear this outfit with heels as in the pictures below, but we all know that it's going to be worn with my Adidas Gazelles as soon as I get these items home. 

I'm not one for formal dressing so I always find it hard to find outfits to wear when I go out at night. This black, embroidered, fringed camisole (£29.99, Small) is the perfect solution for me. It still has a bohemian edge but it's sexy enough for a night out especially when paired with these faux leather trousers (£35.99, Small). The trousers are a real staple and will go with everything in your wardrobe, for both day (knitwear / denim shirts / roll necks) and night (silk shirts / camisoles / tunics). 

So, there we have it, a shop at Zara in 15 minutes without leaving your desk.

What did you like? What did you hate? Is there a shop you'd love me to tackle? A trend you want road tested? Let me know in the comments below.

Now go shop!

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. 

Goodbye Neon Sandals - Holiday Style

Final days of holiday mean the last chance to wear sandals until spring so I've thrown on my favourite Jimmy Choo neon ones with a pair of Paige boyfriend jeans and ASOS off the shoulder blouse for a causal dinner with friends in Tel Aviv. These jeans have been such a staple to me since the totally beautiful, larger than life Paige herself gave them to me earlier this summer. Named after her best friend Jimmy they are a slimmer boyfriend fit so they still look flattering, and the rips are the kind you always think you can make yourself with a pair of kitchen scissors only to find out you most definitely can't. 

Bag Accessorize, Sunglasses RayBan, Jewellery Dana Levy

Midi Skirts - Holiday Style

My new found love for midi skirts has extended to my holiday wardrobe and the fact that this ASOS one I bought just before I left doubles up as a sort of accordion when you walk, well that just makes me love it all the more. The boy thinks I look like a mormon but I think I look like an incredibly cool grandma. Which is what we all want to look like on holiday right?

Top old Zara, Skirt ASOS, Shoes Marni, Ear Cuff and Rings from a boutique in Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv, Sunglasses Chanel.  

What you should be buying NOW...

...Like right now, go on, go get your credit card and I'm gonna sort you out before it's too late.

You see it's suddenly winter and although we may not want to admit it, those Asos duster kimono coats just ain't going to cut it against the November chill. We need layers and we need them pronto. So lemme break it down for you, here are the 5 key pieces you need in your wardrobe today...

1. The Coat

The catwalks were littered with calf length coats this winter and the high street has followed suit accordingly. For the taller amongst us I'd suggest something oversized and flowing - pure drama, and for those with a smaller frame go belted for definition, shape and less swampy-ness.

From Left: Brown River Island, Grey John Lewis, Grey Asos, Tan Asos, Blue Zara, Grey Asos, Tan Mango.

2. The Knit

Quite frankly it's gonna have to have a rollneck if you want to be taken seriously this season. Personally I'd invest in a couple of more luxy knits if budget allows because I find the high street ones tend to bobble and lose their shape so quickly and you're going to want to wear this over and again all winter long. TheOutnet is an amazing haven for luxurious staples without the depressing price tags. Having said all of that, the below one from Asos is also fantastic quality and you can't go wrong with some Uniqlo cashmere...

From the top: Stripe Marni, Blue River Island, Camel H&M, Navy Velvet by Graham&Spencer, Light Blue Stella McCartney at TheOutnet,  White and Black Toga Pulla, Grey Uniqlo, Blue Vanessa Bruno Athe, White Acne, Model shot ASOS.

3. The Shirt

Yeah I know, it ain't rocket science, the shirt has been a seasonal staple since the cavemen were getting theirs tailored at Thomas Pink, but for some reason this season the shirt feels cooler than ever. Wear yours open with sleeves rolled up, wear it as a dress, get one that crosses over at the front or ties round the waist or leave it untucked and wear it with culottes or tailored trousers. The DKNY blue shirt dress is my personal favourite - I've been wearing mine with Adidas Superstars all summer long.

From top left: Blue Dress DKNY, Black Denim Mango, Blue Mango, White Leather Marques Almeida at Topshop, Stripe Elizabeth and James, Embellished Check By Malene Birger, Black and White Check H&M, Blue Dress Atterley Road, Blue Iris and Ink TheOutnet, White Atlantique Ascoli.

4. The Skirt

If you hadn't guessed by now, Summer's midi length skirts are here to stay for winter. Picture those floaty calf grazers in heavier fabrics and bulkier shapes, paired with a chunky knit (as above) and a knee high boot (as below). This may seem like a tricky trend but as someone who has loved a shorter hemline for far too long to be deemed respectable, I recently tried the midi trend and now anything above the knee just doesn't feel quite as current.

From Left: Fringed H&M, White Mango, Nude Topshop, Black H&M, Yellow Topshop Unique, Burgundy Warehouse, Silver ASOS, Stripe Joseph.

5. The Shoe 

Or boot to be precise. Now don't worry, the ankle boot isn't going anywhere, you can still wear your bikers and western boots with much pride this winter. However, if there's one shoe you should be investing in, it has got to be the KHB (knee high boot). Think 70s, chunky heel, in tan, brown or black suede or leather, worn under your midi length dresses and skirts. The KHB's big brother, the OTKB (over-the-knee boot) serves a similar purpose and can look just as fabulous, perhaps more of an evening alternative to the KHB. Just tread carefully with hemlines when working this trend or you risk looking like a BOAS (bit of a slut).

From Left: Black Mango, Brown Croc H&M, Black Suede Office, Brown H&M, Dark Brown Aldo, Navy Leather Gianvito Rossi, Brown Suede Topshop, Black Suede Zara.

Additional images: lacooletchic

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.