Wish List Item and Baukjen's New Collection

I have reluctantly started packing away some of my summer clothes now and while I'm still enjoying the lovely sunshine, it definitely feels like autumn is round the corner. My wish list for the season is now a work in progress (see post here) and one of the items on it is this modern classic - the animal print shirt from Baukjen:

Felsted Print Shirt £109

If I could have one shirt to update my wardrobe it would be this one. The pattern is perfect to add interest under a sweater for a casual look with boyfriend jeans and sneakers, but it could just as easily be tucked into tailored trousers or a pencil skirt for a smarter look.

I think this season's collection from Baukjen is my favourite so far. It's very wearable, with so many items that can be mixed and matched for work or for the weekend. Here are some of my favourites:

Rye Textured Top £85

This would be as high on my wish list as the shirt - a textured knit in black and grey, it would go with so many things in my wardrobe and would be so easy to dress up or down.

Rye Car Coat £179

The same textured knit in a coat - the perfect layer for autumn and another item that would work off duty with sneakers or pumps, but would look smart over tailored trousers and heels for the office.

Cambourne Wrap Coat £299

I featured a classic camel coat on my wish list for this season. I am not buying a new winter coat this year, but this would be the shape and style I would want.

Atlow Jumper £145

Knitwear is my biggest weakness, I don't need any more jumpers, but this classic grey knit is the perfect shape for layering over shirts and tees with jeans or leather leggings.

Atlow Cardigan £175

This long cardi is my favourite of all the knitwear. I love long cardigans, so cosy and easy to throw on, but this one stands out because of the vibrant colour - a fabulous wardobe update.

Liv Leather Leggings £339

A huge investment, but I would love to update my faux leather trousers with these!

Nateby Clutch £149

I love this sleek envelope clutch in ponyskin dalmation spot - so sleek and  a timeless classic.

Elia B Ponyskin Ballet Pump £99

I would also love a pair of leopard print ballet pumps to wear with skinny jeans - they look so chic with a classic outfit.

Finishing as always with what I've been wearing! This jumpsuit was first worn for a hen night five years ago, it was the first night I'd been away from my little boy, who was six months old at the time! Anyway, it was from Topshop, and I'm wearing it with Dune sandals from last year and a leopard print clutch from Boden this season.

What is your favourite piece from Baukjen's autumn/winter collection?

Abbi x

School Run Autumn Essential: Oversized Scarf

A scarf is an inexpensive way to update your autumn wardrobe and is the key to lifting a simple every day look by adding colour, interest or texture. A practical option for the school run - you can throw a scarf over pretty much any outfit for a more pulled together look.

If I bought one scarf this year it would have to be an oversized check/tartan one - they are everywhere and will keep you warm and cosy while giving a splash of colour to your outfit. I particularly like this one that I spotted in the window of New Look, and it's such a great price:

Bright Pink Tartan Check Oversized Scarf £7.99

I also love the more muted colours of this one from ASOS:

ASOS Camel Check scarf £16

And a gorgeous combo of pale pink, navy and black in this blanket scarf from River Island:

Pink Tartan Blanket Scarf £15

Lovely Autumnal colours in this one from Topshop:

Rust Check Scarf £16

This is my favourite colour combo from Zara, it would go with everything:

Checked Shawl £19.99

And it comes in orangey tones:

Checked Shawl £19.99

A smarter scarf that would be great for work:

ASOS Scarf With Grid Check £10

Another oversized check scarf that would look stylish with a monochrome look:

New Look Dogtooth Check Scarf £12.99

And weirdly I love this check wrap scarf, which looks like a picnic rug but is so cosy:

New Look Check Wrap Scarf £15.99

And another blanket version in houndstooth:

New Look Monochrome Houndstooth Blanket Wrap Cape £19.99

Topshop also has this camel checked cape:

Checked Cape £32

I will stop now as this was supposed to be about scarves, not capes, but both are equally practical/stylish for the school run, work, weekend etc. I will definitely be looking at the New Look ones. Will you be updating your scarf collection this year?

Finishing with what I was wearing yesterday:

Jacket - Zara sale last Christmas

Sripe tee - Whistles - very old

Boyfriend Jeans - True Religion (SS14)

Sandals - H&M (SS14)

Have a great weekend!
Abbi x

Style Trend: Patchwork Jeans

A surprise hit this year has been my skinny patchwork jeans that I bought in February from Karen Millen. They weren't a planned purchase but I have worn them so much - usually with a plain white tee and skate shoes or with a chambray shirt for the double denim look. They have had a bit of a rest over the summer months, but now that it's jeans weather again, I couldn't wait to dig them out, especially as they are still a big trend this autumn.

I suggest styling them with white sneakers and a structured blazer and t-shirt to give the look a more polished edge. A pair of brogues or heels will also work for a smarter look. Here are some of my favourites from the high street:

First up, the ones I bought from Karen Millen are still in stock:

Patchwork Skinny Jean £99

Karen Millen also has a boyfriend version:

Patchwork Boyfriend Jean £99

The ultimate skinny pair if I could afford them:

MiH Skinny Jeans With Patch Detail £205

 I love the worn look of this pair from Morgan:

Morgan Patched and Worn Skinny Jeans £59

Skinny patchwork jeans at GAP:

1969 patchwork always skinny jeans £49.95

And my favourite pair - classic skinnies from Marks & Spencer:

Chevron Knee Patch Denim Skinny Jean £35

And this was me in my patchwork skinnies earlier this week, I wouldn't normally wear flip flops with them, but had just painted my toenails blue:

Patchwork Jeans - Karen Millen (SS14)

Grey Tee - Topshop (SS11)

Jersey Blazer - Boden (SS11)

What do you think of patchwork jeans? Let me know in the comments!

Abbi x

M&S Leather Skirt and My Autumn/Winter Wish List

I'm not very organised with what I want/need for this season, but I think I have the beginnings of a wish list. I won't actually be buying many of these items, it's more a list of things I like and wish I could buy. I like making hypothetical lists!

1. A black leather skirt.
I thought I wanted a black leather midi skirt, but then I saw this leather quilted mini skirt from Marks & Spencer and I have literally become obsessed by it:

Leather Quilted Mini Skirt £129

If I get anything from the list, it will probably be this skirt, which I would wear with Chelsea boots (which I don't have), thick tights and chunky jumpers/sweaters. There's 20% off online until midnight tonight, which makes it even more tempting.

2. Chelsea Boots.

Access Chelsea Boots £72

I LOVE the shape of these low heeled boots from Topshop, and keep going back to have a look at them - they would go perfectly with the quilted leather skirt, as well as with jeans. They are also a far more sensible price compared with others I've looked at.

3. Biker Boots.

If I could have two pairs of boots, I would also like some black biker boots this winter to wear with sweater dresses. I have loads of jumper dresses, so I know I'd get so much wear out of them. I would also wear biker boots with leggings and jeans. I've got my eye on two pairs - this one from Hush:

Woven Biker Boot £225

And this pair from Zara:

Quilted Leather Low Biker boot £89.99

3. A grey cashmere V-neck jumper

A classic investment piece for autumn/winter, I would like one to wear with faux leather trousers, skinny jeans etc and this one from Zara is a lovely slouchy fit and is super soft:

Zara Cashmere Sweater £89.99

4. I really don't need any knitwear at all, but I love the colour of this jumper from Whistles:

Textured Marl Boxy £95

And this one from Great Plains is very cute:

Razzle Dazzle Star Jumper £55

5. Camel Coat

I don't need a new winter coat, but if I was buying one I would choose a classic camel one - this one from Marks & Spencer is my favourite:

Wool Blend Flap Pockets Coat with Buttonsafe £120

6. Fur Coat

I adore all the fur coats around at the moment, I would love a grey/silvery one - this one from ASOS would be perfect:

ASOS Vintage Faux Fur Coat £65

7. Fur Gilet

However, I think I would get more wear out of this fur gilet from Zara, I have tried it on and it's perfect, I love the longer length:

Fur Vest with Knit Lining £59.99

8. Animal Print Shirt.

I keep opening the Baukjen catalogue to have another look at this shirt which I would love to layer under sweaters, paired with jeans or leather trousers. It's such a statement shirt but a classic at the
same time:

Felsted print Shirt £109

9. American Vintage Clover Dole Sweater - Petal

This sweater came into Yard in July and sold out immediately. There are more coming and apparently there is one with my name on it! I did try it on and it's loose fitting but feminine and would look fantastic with harems/joggers for a casual look. I also saw someone wearing it when I went up the Eiffel Tower in August - this is the kind of thing I notice! It looked amazing on her and made me
want it even more!

So, there we have it, the beginnings of a wish list. What is at the top of your list for autumn/winter? Let me know in the comments!

Finishing as always with what I've been wearing - this was to go out for dinner over the weekend:

Jacket - Zara (old)

Lace Top - Anthropologie (SS14)

Boyfriend Jeans - True Religion (SS14)

Shoe Boots - Mint Velvet (SS14)

Abbi x

The Bridport Hat Festival

The streets of my home town in West Dorset were packed yesterday for the fifth annual Bridport Hat festival. Once again there was a wonderful atmosphere as thousands of mad hatters donned an array of caps, bowlers, trilbies and crazy home made creations to take part is this fabulously original family charity event.

I couldn't wait to wear my classic fedora hat from Hush, which I'm planning to wear a lot this autumn/winter:

Fedora - Hush (available here)

Cardigan - Part Two (SS13)

T-Shirt - Great Plains at Yard (AW14)

Black Jeans - Mint Velvet (AW13)

Flats - New Look (AW14 - Sold Out)

And I made the boys wear their skull printed trilbies from Fat Face (available here):

And here is the traditional mass hat-wearing photo call in Bucky Doo Square:

Do you love wearing hats? What is your favourite? Let me know in the comments!

Abbi x

Boden Voucher and Discount Code

I do love the warm, fuzzy feeling you get from having a £15 Boden voucher in the post, which you can use on top of your 15% promotion code and with free delivery and returns (on orders over £75). It just so happens that I have had an online basket for the last three weeks or so with a couple of things languishing in it, so now seems as good a time as any to check them out! There were previously about ten items in the basket but I have talked myself out of most of them, but these are the two stubborn ones that remain:

Sparkle Collar Breton £35.10 from £39

Anything sequinned/sparkly mixed with something classic really appeals to me, so I am hoping this will be a good fit, we will see.

The other item I keep coming back too is this blouse:

Paris Blouse £62.10 from £69

I don't own many blouses and I just love the print on this one - I know I would get lots of wear out of it with skinny jeans, ankle boots and a little black boucle jacket.

I will do a show and tell when the items arrive! Have you used your Boden discount to buy anything? As always, I'd love to hear what you have chosen!

And here is what I was wore yesterday on the school run:

White Henley Top - Ltb at Yard (SS13)

Scarf - Hush (SS13)

Black Jeans - Mint Velvet (AW13)

Birkenstocks via Amazon 

Backpack - Mint Velvet (AW14)

Abbi x

Outfit Post: Boden Leopard Print Clutch

I have a leopard print handbag that I love, but it's too big to carry around in the evening, and for a while I've been thinking about a timeless leopard print clutch. I know I will get so much use out of it, from livening up a black or monochrome outfit, to adding a hint of glamour to dresses or mixing it up with floral prints, stripes, spots - the list is endless.

So, number one on my Boden wish list this season was the zip top clutch in tan leopard:

Zip Top Clutch £79

It's the perfect size, just big enough to carry the essentials and I love the flash of blue on the zip that makes it slightly different. It's such a statement bag, and has already had its first outing last weekend to a 50th birthday lunch:

Black Top - Whistles (AW13)

Necklace - Zara, borrowed from my Mum (AW13)

Skirt - ASOS (SS14 - in the sale here)

Sandals - Dune (old)

Will you be getting your leopard print fix this season? As always, I love to hear from you!

Abbi x