MSH Backup

As we ease into autumn and the seasons start to slowly shift, I'm sure that I'm not the only one thinking about the practicalities of some new wardrobe additions. As I've touched on in a few posts before now, at this time of the year, I always tend to get rather swept up in a back to school sensibility, and in the past I've found myself going slightly shopping happy without really considering the practicalities of what I'm purchasing. Perhaps it's a sign of my getting older, but this year I've got a mental list of all of the essentials to make room for in my wardrobe, and, if I'm being completely honest, am largely prioritising comfort above and beyond anything else! Luckily enough, my recent trip away to Ireland gave me the perfect opportunity to road-test some new season staples before deploying them properly on home turf: Raincoat- c/o Cath Kidston  Trousers- lululemon  Shoes- New Balance (via ASOS) How fantastic is this raincoat? I've been in the...

Whilst the heatwave of last month feels like ages ago now, I'm really pleased that autumn so far is shaping up to be a fairly sunny one too- especially with temperatures which are much more bearable this time around! Seeing in the new season with a spell of sunshine also makes waving farewell to the summer for another year a little bit more bearable, and there's something really special about the combination of slightly chillier temperatures and brilliant weather which I love- especially as it affords the perfect opportunity to get some more mileage out of some summer style essentials: Top- Monsoon  Jeans- ASOS  Bag- Cath Kidston  Shoes- Gap  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) I picked up this top from Monsoon back in July, and it's become one of those pieces which I've been more or less living in, particularly as the temperatures rocketed during August. It'll come as no surprise that the blue and white striped design has cemented it as one of my favourite pieces,...

This post feels a little bit out of date given that as I type this it's absolutely tipping it down outside and the heatwave feels like an entirely distant memory! It's also totally typical that the moment I snap up some warm weather style heroes, the skies darken and the temperatures take a ten degree dip, but I'm still holding out a glimmer of hope that I'll be able to share them with you before the summer is out completely. If I'm honest, dressing for the warm weather is always something which tends to nudge me out of my comfort zone, especially as I get quite irritable when I can't cool down! Planning what to wear from one day to the next was pretty tricky when it was warm, but there was one hero piece which I dug out of my wardrobe which well and truly came to the rescue before I melted into a puddle: Dress- Whistles  Bag- Cath Kidston  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis)  Shoes- Gap Necklace- Olivia Burton This dress from Whistles has been sitting in my wa...

As it looks like temperatures are set to soar again this weekend and into the next week, once again I’m gearing up for battling the heat and readying an arsenal of easy-to-wear wardrobe heroes which are warm weather ready but which are also comfortable enough to style for work. I feel like if I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, but given that we’re not really used to such prolonged summers, I’m close to exhausting my go-to heatwave options. Having said that, having hit a bit of a wardrobe wall, I’ve had the perfect opportunity to have a rummage through some older pieces which have been languishing on their hangers for far too long, remixing them with some new favourites for fuss-free summer style solutions:     Tee- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- Warehouse  Shoes- Zara  Bag- Cath Kidston  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban c/o John Lewis    I picked up these Warehouse trousers a fair few years ago, and if I’m honest I’m surprised that they still fit!...

As I touched on in my last post, navigating what to wear in this prolonged heatwave can be something of a minefield, particularly if you’re trying to balance keeping cool with work appropriate attire. As well as rummaging through my wardrobe (and in the process finding things I’ve not worn in five years or so!), I’ve made some strategic investments over the last month or so- snapping up pieces which are ideal for this weather whilst still leaning towards the smarter side of the style spectrum: Dress- Arket  Sunglasses- Ray Ban (c/o John Lewis)  Bag- Cath Kidston  Shoes- Zara  I spied this dress in Arket way back at the start of the summer and it’s one of those pieces which I’ve been contemplating picking up ever since. I had a feeling that I might have missed the boat completely after it sold out online, but luckily it was still in stock in the Covent Garden branch, so last payday I took the plunge and snapped it up. It’s already well and truly proving to be a real i...

With this heatwave seeming to be here for the foreseeable future, I’m sure that I’m not the only one who has been rummaging around in my wardrobe for a selection of weather-appropriate things to wear. It’s one thing to be at home during a heatwave, where various combinations of shorts, smocks and, in my case, pyjamas, are the perfect options for keeping cool, but mastering warm weather officewear is another matter entirely. Needless to say, whilst I’ve been avoiding lingering in direct sunlight for too long, I’ve also been puzzling out a series of outfits for current temperatures: Kimono- Oasis Top- ASOS Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS)  Shoes- Gap  Bag- Cath Kidston  Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) I’ll always be eternally indebted to whichever deity of sale shopping was smiling on me the day that I came across this kimono from Oasis- the only one left in the entire store, and for under £10 too! It’s one of those perennial pieces of perfection which I find myself reachi...

Phew! What a warm couple of weeks we've had! Don't get me wrong, it's lovely to see the sunshine after such a long winter, but any hot spell which lasts longer than a week invariably means that this country grinds to a more or less total standstill- especially as far as public transport is concerned!  As well as that, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has found myself panic purchasing some high summer wardrobe additions- I've even been rummaging around in  my long neglected summer holiday drawer for some weather friendly pieces! Before the heatwave took hold, however, I found myself living in a combination of style staples which are fairly recent additions to my wardrobe, but which are already well on their way to becoming real classics: Top- Comme des Garçons (via Dover Street Market)  Jeans- Whistles Shoes- Gap Bag- Cath Kidston Sunglasses- Ray Ban (via John Lewis) It really doesn't get much better than a classic breton top as far as style essentials go, a...

With a warm couple of weeks in prospect from today onwards, I've had a pre-emptive rummage through my wardrobe in an attempt to keep as cool as possible- here's hoping for success! It goes without saying that this time of the year offers the perfect excuse to embrace colour like no other season, and recently I've really enjoyed styling some of my more vibrant pieces and incorporating them into my everyday wardrobe: Top- & Other Stories Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS) Bag- Cath Kidston Shoes- Gap First and foremost, how pretty is this backdrop? Tucked just around the corner from Waterloo Station, it's one of those rare corners of London which hasn't changed all that much since it was first built- and it's even more special at this time of the year when its series of brightly coloured doors is punctuated by beautiful blooms at every turn. With a vibrant flavour in mind, this top from & Other Stories which I picked up way back at the start of the spring, but w...

Whilst the weather is still a little bit hit and miss (and I'm contending with the most annoying hayfever I think I've ever had!), over recent weeks I've really been enjoying digging out some seasonal favourites and pairing them with some new purchases. Summer, perhaps more than any other season, lends itself perfectly to a slightly more relaxed, casual approach, which is perfect if you're prioritsing comfort and practicality. Recently, I've been keeping my daily combinations pretty simple: Jacket- Zara Tee- Bella Freud for War Child Jeans- Whistles Shoes- Gap Bag- Cath Kidston This jacket from Zara is a piece which I picked up about two years ago now, and it's a real summer favourite- especially as it's so light and easy to wear- perfect for those mornings and evening when there's a bit of a chill in the air. This tee is recent buy, and comes from War Child's latest series of designer collaborations- I love the colourful message in Bella Freud's...

It might seem strange to the be looking ahead to autumn and winter when it feels like summer has only really kicked into gear, but last week I was lucky enough to be invited along to the Cath Kidston AW18 press day to preview the collections which will be hitting the shops over the next couple of months. It's always lovely to have a sneak peek of what's in store for the new season, and it was lovely to see a fantastic array of floral infused favourites carrying through to autumn: With a new selection of signature designs on offer, next season is shaping up to be a beautiful one at Cath Kidston. From equestrian inspired accessories to painterly prints, the fashion offering marries wonderfully practical purchases (such as cross-body bags and chunky knits) with an elegant aesthetic- I particularly loved the tailored dresses and pastel palette. With keeping cosy in mind, there's plenty of printed pyjamas in prospect- perfect for reigniting those Hygge vibes when (whisper it!) t...

Day to day (and especially if I'm in a rush first thing in the morning!), I tend to find myself rotating a selection of style staples- a sort of essential everyday uniform if you like. Whilst I'd love to be one of those people who plans what they're going to wear for the week on a Sunday night, I don't think I'll ever be organised enough to find the time- and, with the weather being a movable feast at the best of times, it's always something which feels a bit futile anyway! With that in mind, it's always a nice change to have a bit more time to think about what to put on for the day, especially if I'm not racing against the clock and want to give something new a whirl, as was the case recently: Dress- c/o Boden Bag- Cath Kidston Shoes- Adidas (c/o Spartoo) Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (c/o John Lewis) How beautiful is this Boden dress?! I've had it stashed away in my wardrobe for a good few months now, waiting for the perfect opportunity to give it an airing,...

And just like that, we're back to truly unpredictable weather! Summer was nice whilst it lasted, wasn't it?! Jokes aside, this sudden change in temperature has caught me in something of a spin- no sooner was I sure that I wouldn't need my knits again until the autumn, than I find myself fishing them out of the wardrobe again. With skies flitting between grey and gloomy and blue and bright, I'm utilising lots of spring staples, and layering them up for maximum efficiency:  Coat- Whistles Top- Comme des Garçons (via Dover Street Market) Jeans- & Other Stories Bag- Cath Kidston Shoes- Gap Eagle-eyed readers will recognise this Whistles trench as a real perennial favourite which I reach for every spring- since snapping it up over five or so years ago I think it's probably become one of my most worn items- and certainly testament to a long-term investment paying off. This top from  Comme des Garçons is a purchase which I hope will attain a similar status in my wardro...

In the ever topsy-turvy world of forward planning and shifting seasons, a couple of weeks ago I found myself meandering my way along to the Cath Kidston AW17 Press Day. As is always the way with these sorts of things, I stepped from a sunny street into an autumn and winter ready wonderland- fully equipped with all of the fashions, homeware and (whisper it!) festive favourites for the coming months: As well as lots of lovely new florals carrying across the fashion offering (perfect for any winter wardrobe!), it was great to see so many eye-catching accessories on display too- from practical cross-body bags, to flower festooned trainers- which I know I'll be snapping up as soon as they arrive in store! Hero home pieces for next season are decidedly feline in theme, with a moggy motif taking pride of place across crockery collections- worth investing in purely for decorative value, don't you think? The Christmas collection is also, as ever, choc-a-bloc with treasures which are per...