MSH Backup

Although I’m writing this post sitting outside in the glorious sunshine (without even wearing a coat!), I’m still quite cautiously optimistic about the arrival of spring- particularly as I remember it snowing in March last year! Having said that, I’m so happy to see the sun and to feel properly warm after far too many months of gloominess, and I’m really excited to switch things up in the wardrobe stakes over the coming weeks and months too- fingers crossed it won’t be too long before I can pack away my winter wardrobe in favour of some spring staples. Until then, however, I’m bridging the gap with some transitional essentials, which are proving perfect for the current climate:  Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- lululemon  Coat- c/o Very  Bag- & Other Stories  Shoes- Adidas  This knit from Marks and Spencer was a purchase which I made at the same time as buying their leopard print skirt of dreams which I featured a few weeks ago, and, for £20 it’s a...

Now that the weather seems to (at long last!) be co-operating, I’m really enjoying mixing up my day to day selection of wardrobe staples with some new favourites. Whilst it’s not quite warm enough to be leaving the house without a coat just yet, the fact that the days are getting lighter little by little each day is really encouraging, and has definitely given me a push in the right direction in the motivation stakes too. Over the last few weeks I’ve been adding some new printed pieces into my regular stash of essentials, and one in particular is proving to be a real winner: Coat- c/o Very  Jumper- H&M  Skirt- Marks and Spencer  Bag- & Other Stories  Shoes- Vans  This skirt from Marks & Spencer was a post-payday purchase which I made when I spotted it online at the end of last month, and so far it’s definitely proving to have been well worth the investment. I love the leopard print as it’s not too in your face, and ruffled detail adds the perfect fi...

Since the start of the year, and especially now that this cold snap has really taken hold, I’ve given my daily skincare routine a little bit of an overhaul. At this stage of the game, I’m only making minor changes, just to add a bit of a boost as and when I need it, and also allowing myself the option to test a few new products here and there. As such, my current combination of favourites is definitely helping with the battle against winter skin: I’ve been after roller for my face for a little while now and was lucky enough to receive one for Christmas. It’s Rose Quartz and so far I’m getting on really well with it, and am finding that using it as recommended in the evenings pays real dividends in terms of reducing redness and calming my skin down after a long day- it also came in extremely handy when I had the worst flu-induced headache at the start of the year! I’ve recently switched my cleansers around a little bit too, and am having a break from Oskia’s Renaissance Cleansing Gel in...

Now that December is just peeking over the horizon, I’m sure that I’m not alone in wanting to power through my Christmas shopping so that I can coast towards the holidays with my feet up! I’m almost there, and with just a handful of extra bits to pick up, I’m hopeful that I won’t be such a last-minute Linda this year! With that in mind, I’ve rounded up a selection of heavenly homeware to get inspired by- whether it’s for gifting or to treat your own winter den to a bit of a facelift: Pom Pom Knitted Blanket, £35, Laura Ashley/Round Marble Dressing Table Mirror, £125, Oliver Bonas/Overrose Scented Candle in Ultraflora, £45, Workshop Living/Allium in Vase, £9.50, Marks and Spencer/Ceramic Tiger, £18, Oliver Bonas/Scalloped Pink Glass Bowl, £16, Oliver Bonas/Mini Eco Tote, £21, Tidy Street Store/Follow Your Heart Wall Art, £69, Oliver Bonas/Set of two Stoneware vases, £12, Att Pynta/Polka Dot Cat Spoon Rest, £12, Anthropologie/Rifle Paper Company Appointment Notebook, £14, Anthropologie/M...

It feels like years ago now that these pictures were taken, but it was only a few weeks back! I can’t quite believe that the temperatures have plummeted so quickly, and, as I touched on at the end of last week, gone are the days of being able to leave the house without a coat- for now at least. Anyway, back to this outfit from sunnier days, which gave me the chance to give a new colourful staple purchase a whirl:    Shirt- Kitri  Trousers- c/o Boden  Shoes- Marks and Spencer  Bag- Zara  Regular readers will know that I love navy to the moon and back, and I’d even go so far as to say that it’s a shade which takes up the most space in my wardrobe. As well as being a great alternative to black, I find that it works really well with lots of other bright hues, and, at this time, of the year it’s always a good plan to inject as much colour into each day as possible. Here I paired a style staple in the shape of these Boden trousers with a fresh favourite from Kit...

With the almost instant arrival of winter last weekend (hello ten degree overnight temperature drop!), I’m sure that I’m not the only one now eagerly diving into my stash of winter essentials in an attempt to stave off the chill! It’s with a heavy heart that I’ve finally acknowledged that I can’t quite get away with leaving the house without a coat in the mornings now, so as well as having a good old sift through my wardrobe (and a few trips to the dry cleaners to boot!), I’ve also been keeping an eye on which pieces have been hitting the shops recently: Highlands 3 in 1 Jacket, £295, Sweaty Betty/Belted Wool Coat, £169, & Other Stories/Jersey Wool Coat, £175, Arket/Belted Wool Blend Coat, £169, & Other Stories/Single Breasted Coat, £89, Marks and Spencer  If you’re after something wonderfully warm and practical, then you’d be hard pushed to go wrong with this 3 in 1 jacket from Sweaty Betty. Complete with a fleece lining, it’s one of those sensible spends which I think wou...

As I mentioned in my last style shaped post, my current default setting is to reach for all of the knitwear- partly in an attempt to avoid hauling out my winter coat for as long as it humanly possible! Whilst I know that I’ll have to cave in sooner rather than later, for now I’m quite content to live in a succession of one knit after the other, and, as someone who spent most of their formative years living in cardigans, I couldn’t be happier that they’re having something of a renaissance at the moment:  Cardigan- Marks and Spencer  Tee- Kitri  Jeans- Whistles   Trainers- New Balance (via ASOS)  This outfit was one which I rolled out on our final day in Ireland, as we visited Carrickfergus Castle before driving towards Belfast for a whistlestop tour before heading to the airport. With comfort (and warmth!) at the forefront of my mind, I reached again for this Marks and Spencer cardigan- a real new season hero piece if ever there was one. Here I wore it over ...

Now that there’s a definite nip in the air, I’m sure that I’m not the only one with knitwear on the brain. Whilst I’m yet to reach for my coat, I’ve been layering up in a selection of woolen wonders, and rummaging through my wardrobe to dig out some perennial favourites too. Of course, it’s always lovely to treat yourself to some new additions at this time of the year as well, and one of my most recent purchases has been earning some serious cost-per-wear points recently: Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- lululemon  Shoes- New Balance (via ASOS)  This picturesque backdrop comes once again from the glorious Antrim Glens, and more specifically once we’d conquered the Glenariff Waterfall Walk- hence my elated expression! I’d snapped up this knit from Marks and Spencer in advance of our trip, and it proved the perfect item for stashing in my suitcase. As well as being wonderfully practical (and perhaps one of the most comfortable items in my wardrobe!), the vivid, contrast...

Whilst I’ve never really been convinced that the holiday wardrobe is a thing, heading off on a trip always affords a nice opportunity to treat yourself to some new style staples- especially if you’re in the market for some new additions to your wardrobe. I know that beach breaks are a slightly different kettle of fish altogether, but city trips and active holidays always present the ideal chance to bridge any gaps in any wardrobe, especially at the outset of a new season. So, for my trip to Ireland at the end of the last month, I snapped up some real hero pieces which will carry me through the next few months and beyond:  Cardigan- Marks and Spencer  Top- Dorothy Perkins  Jeans- & Other Stories  Trainers- New Balance (via ASOS)  Sunglasses- Accessorize  Picking up something in green for my visit to Ireland seemed almost ubiquitous, and this top from Dorothy Perkins was the perfect purchase, especially as it ticked all of the right comfort boxes too. Wit...

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!...

Phew! What a warm long weekend we're having! Having good weather over the course of a Bank Holiday is usually so rare that I feel dreadful about complaining about it, but as I type this I'm frantically checking the weather forecast to see how soon this clammy spell will conclude- even if it's just for the sake of some fresh air! Muggy weather aside, and with the end of the month in sight, I think it's safe to say that we're now well and truly on the home straight towards summer. And, if you're looking for a seasonal style spruce up, or are shopping around for a special occasion, you'd be hard pushed to go wrong with that most faithful of high summer heroes- the midi dress: Colour Block Floral Wrap Print Midi Dress, £45, Marks and Spencer/Climbing Bamboo Midi Dress, £46, Warehouse/Vichy Check Dress, £49.99, Mango/Studio by Preen Bright Blue Silk Shirt Dress, £200, Debenhams/Tropical Print Dress, £29.99, Mango What a crop of beauties! This little selection is ...

Now that the clocks have sprung forward, I think it’s ok to say that spring is finally here- and not before time! However, having glanced at the weather forecast for next weekend, I’m not getting my hopes up for a particularly mild Easter, and am instead injecting touches of spring into my everyday style choices whilst keeping as wrapped up as the unpredictable weather demands. Recently I feel like I’ve been living in more or less the same succession of outfits, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as they say:  Coat- Whistles  Top- H&M  Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS)  Shoes- Marks and Spencer  Bag- & Other Stories  This Whistles coat which I picked up just before the end of last year is an investment which has well and truly earned its keep and become a real staple buy. It’s been essential during the last couple of chilly spells which we’ve had, and is wonderfully cosy to wrap up in on a frosty morning. Another recent favourite comes in the shape of ...

With the chilly weather showing no signs of abating just yet, I'm sure I'm not the only one living on a more or less constant rotation of knitwear, speeding from washing machine to wardrobe and back again. Although I hope I'll only have need of them for a little while longer, there's something very comforting about reaching for a really snuggly woolly- especially if you, like me, are always in something of a rush first thing in the morning and find yourself more often than not grabbing the first thing to hand. With my lack of preparation in mind, I've been very pleased with a number of knitwear purchases which I've made recently- chief among them is this statement style from Marks and Spencer:  Coat- & Other Stories  Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- Espirit (via ASOS)  Bag- & Other Stories  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo) Comfort is the order of the day for me at the moment, and this statement block colour knit which I picked up back in October is a real w...

Whilst I've never really bought into all of the 'New Year, New You' hype which accompanies the start of the year (seriously, it's January, you'll be lucky if you can extricate me from underneath the duvet), the promise of a fresh twelve months in prospect does bring with it a certain sense of optimism, which I suppose is best capitalised on early doors. With that in mind, over the last couple of weeks I've tackled a batch of tidying up in an attempt to be a little bit more organised during the year to come, and have also been on the lookout for some fresh style staples to bridge the gap between winter and spring in my wardrobe- and have been bowled over by what Marks and Spencer have on offer at the moment:  Striped Round Neck Jumper, £35/Floral Print Long Sleeve Shirt, £35/Striped Trousers, £27.50/Wool Rich Peacoat, £159/Leather Block Heel Brogues, £49.50/Round Sunglasses, £15/Printed Cross Body Bag, £27.50, all Marks and Spencer.  This round neck knit offers t...

In terms of weekend wear, at this time of the year it's rare that you'll find me in anything other than pyjamas! Stepping out of the house to go back to work at the start of last week felt very strange, not least in terms of trying to decide what to wear after more or less a solid week of living in my cosy clobber, and over the weekend I found myself once again seriously contemplating whether I could get away with sneaking out in some cleverly disguised pyjamas! No such luck, unfortunately, but in lieu of anything fleecy, I opted for some casual staples which are the next best option for staying comfortable:  Coat- & Other Stories  Top- & Other Stories  Jeans- & Other Stories  Shoes- Marks and Spencer  Hat- Oliver Bonas  Bag- & Other Stories  I honestly didn't realise until penning this post that it's more or less a top to toe combination of favourites from & Other Stories, but I suppose it's proof positive that their clothes are ju...

There's no escaping the fact that things tend to turn a little bit starry at this time of the year, whether it's across your Christmas decorations, on cards and across all of your other festive favourites. Needless to say, I'm steadily counting down the minutes until I can pop my out of office on (so, so close!), and over the next week or so I'm really looking forward to what I hope will be some much needed rest and relaxation time after a completely topsy-turvy year. At the top of my Christmas holiday to-do list is tomorrow's trip to the cinema to catch The Last Jedi - the source of yet more suitably starry sartorial inspiration: Constellation Sweatshirt, £75, Whistles/Origami Star Tuck Neck Blouse, £18, Topshop/Blossom Scatter Dress, £75, Hush (via John Lewis)/Star Constellation Trousers, £75, Whistles (via John Lewis)/Crescent Moon Necklace, £17, & Other Stories/Lace Up Star Trainers, £29.50, Marks and Spencer/Missoma Cocktail Ring, £55, John Lewis/Star Ankle...

Regular perusers of these pages will be well aware of the fact that, on the whole, my day to day wardrobe is more functional than anything else. In short, give me a comfortable pair of jeans and the chances are that I'll find myself living in them. Having said that, it's always lovely to have an excuse to break away from the norm a little bit and opt for something snazzy for special occasions. In celebration of my birthday last weekend, I snapped up something new which seemed perfect to celebrate in: Dress- Monki (via ASOS)  Coat- c/o Very  Bag- & Other Stories  Shoes- Marks and Spencer  How great is this dress? A new Monki design, it's perfect for this time of the year without being too over the top, and it's ultra-comfortable too, with the loose fit keeping things fabulously fuss-free. Keeping cosy, here I layered it under my staple Very coat, which I think is probably the most worn item of clothing I own, and a piece which I can't ever see myself getting tire...

At this time of the year I usually tend to find myself more or less living in a steady rotation of knits (as well as fleecy pyjamas!), which, whilst being hugely practical, doesn't really lend itself to much in the way of wardrobe creativity. In an attempt to switch things up just a little bit, I've been keeping the cold at bay by layering some of my favourite fair-weather tops and blouses over thermals, and so far it's proving to be just the antidote to a woolly washout: Coat- Marks and Spencer Blouse- & Other Stories Trousers- ASOS Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo) Bag- Oliver Bonas This blouse from & Other Stories is a recent find, and is proving to be something of a staple at the moment, especially as it's such a versatile, easy to wear piece. I love the statement sleeves too, and I'm sure this will be an investment piece which carries me right through to next season. Here I teamed it with a staple pair of trousers from ASOS and another old classic in the shape ...

Brrr! Now that it's November, I'm sure that I'm not the only one feeling a distinct chill in the air. Try as I might to ignore it, it seems that winter is well and truly upon us for another year, and this current cold snap has had me rummaging around in my wardrobe for some cosy favourites, as well as browsing in the shops for some new essentials too: Coat- c/o Very  Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Trousers- ASOS  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo) Regular readers will remember this coat from many a previous outfit post, but year after year it's one of those perennial pieces which I never get tired of reaching for- I wonder if it can be called a classic now?! Anyway, I think that the reason I love it so much is because it's essentially a cosy blanket with sleeves- in other words a dream item! Here I layered it over a new purchase from Marks and Spencer, borne out of necessity more than anything else when I found myself taken by surprise when the cold weather descended. Proving th...

Now that autumn has arrived in earnest, I've had a long overdue rummage through my colder weather clothing collection, digging out some old favourites in preparation for the arrival of the chillier temperatures. Whilst I love the transitional aspect of autumn, as a rule I much prefer dressing for spring and summer- there's something about living in the same rotation of knits week after week which gets a little bit tedious after a while, don't you think? With that in mind, and in an attempt to avoid arriving at a style stalemate too soon, I've been experimenting with switching up some of my seasonal staples:   Jumper- Marks and Spencer  Skirt- Oliver Bonas  Shoes- Vans (c/o Spartoo) Bag- Oliver Bonas Sunglasses- Ray-Ban (via John Lewis)  Eagle eyed readers will remember this knit from last winter, and it's one of those failsafe pieces which is really easy to reach for first thing on a chilly morning. In an attempt to embrace the final days of late summer sunshine, he...