CONSCIOUS CLOTH

I'm back. Already. Has too much time passed to carry on with Brights? I don't know, you tell me in the comments box. Should I carry on? In all honesty, with the wash out summer that we've had in London, it's got me firmly wired into thinking about my Autumn/Winter wardrobe.

As part of my job, I'm always doing the rounds at press days, seeing what each brand will be producing for the following seasons. It can mess with your head a little bit, especially Christmas press days in July - there is something intrinsically wrong about eating mince pies in the sun.

Anyway, sometimes a brand does personal orders - where you can order pieces at the press day and then receive them at the beginning of the season. This is dangerous for several reasons:

1. Lost on a giddy cloud of stroking next season's finest, you can't possibly live without that coat/skirt/pair of shoes. YOU MUST ORDER THEM NOW.

2. Said giddy cloud means that you end up ordering everything when really you should be ordering one or two pieces. Max.

3. Not having to pay when you place the order means that you feel like you're not really shopping. The bill that comes later seems like a distant spike in your giddy cloud of happiness. But trust me, when it hits you in the face (and the pocket), it hurts.

Having learnt my lesson and despite being surrounded by the most gorgeous cashmeres and cottons at the Chinti & Parker AW12 press day a few months ago, I had to reign it in. Part of my New Year's Resolution package was to buy less but buy better so I would rather spend more money on one item that's well made and will stand the test of time than three cheap versions that fall apart after one wash. And Chinti & Parker certainly fit this bill, with each of the garments that they produce they aspire to fulfill three of the following criteria:

* Organic Fabric
* Carbon Neutral Company
* Made in the EU
* Handfinished
* Natural Trims

Anyway, back to what I bought. As sucked in as I was by virtually EVERYTHING, I decided that I would only choose one piece, so drumroll please...

I went for the boatneck striped sweater in Italian cashmere [here]. I mean, come on, it has three things I love: stripes, elbow patches and GREY. There was no way I could resist the soft, cashmere-y goodness of this sweater. 

And when my boyfriend asks, I'll tell him it's an investment piece. Right?

Worn with: floral dress, Reformed at Urban Outfitters; watch, Michael Kors; aviators, Ray-Ban; plimsolls, Converse.

Photos: Caroline Leeming

TRANSITION: DAY TWENTY

DAY TWENTY: Smile sequin sweatshirt, Love Label at Very

Apologies for the lack of posts this week, it has been one of those weeks. Apart from the awful weather, I spent most of the week knee deep in press days, shoot prep, shooting and then shooting some more, all the while doing my juice diet. More about the latter in a separate post, needless to say even though it was only a four day working week I felt like I'd done way more than that.

But anyway, it's a four day weekend! (Well, not for me - I'm in on Monday, BOO) So in honour of today and the sunshine, I thought it was appropriate to wear this very cheery sweatshirt from Love Label. Grey marl plus neon plus sequins meant that I couldn't resist it. Isn't it just super happy?

So, this weekend make like my top and SMILE!

Available at very.co.uk [here] for only £20. Might need to get the gold version too. Hmm.

Worn with: Tortoiseshell wayfarers, Ray-Ban; lots of bracelets; big grin.

TRANSITION: DAY EIGHTEEN

DAY EIGHTEEN: Grey chinos, Banana Republic

Just when I was getting into the swing of spring things, y'know, breaking down my preconceptions of pastels, florals and the such, nature has a way of throwing you a curve ball. It's like someone somewhere decided that you can have too much of a good thing and it was time to reign in the sunshine. Whoever that person was, I'd like to take a moment to say YOU BASTARD.

When I woke up this morning to grey skies, an icy wind whipping through the open windows and an insanely sore throat building, it was like the light had just gone out of everything - even my previously jolly neon orange toenails looked a little sad in the lacklustre light. However, I'm a firm believer in silver linings - finally a chance to wear my favourite black waffle jumper again without looking like a tool and the opportunity to wear my new grey chinos from Banana Republic which arrived at the office yesterday.

When we were offered the choice of either pink or grey at the press day, I went for grey simply because I already owned a pink pair - my bright pink pair of chinos from Zara that I bought last summer. I then spent the next few weeks regretting my choice, thinking that actually the dusky deep raspberry would've been great but when they arrived, I knew I'd made the right decision - I need some smarter, preppier trousers in my wardrobe for when jeans, pajama pants or bright colours aren't appropriate. I get the feeling that I'll get a lot of wear out of these.

Worn with: black waffle jumper, Topshop; Black high tops, Converse.

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY

DAY TWENTY: Prince of Wales check jacket, River Island


I tend to do all of my winter jacket and coat shopping in August and I bought this jacket during one of those mini-heatwaves in the summer. Of course, trying on wool jackets in 30C heat during the Friday afternoon madness that is Oxford Street seemed like a totally sane thing to do at the time. God only knows why. I wish I could say I'd been high because that would be a slightly more believable excuse rather than the reality of the sudden desire to buy my winter wardrobe as I systematically sweated through my summer wardrobe as I tried to navigate the gormless tourists.


I don't know quite what drew me to this jacket, maybe I'd been listening to my 80s playlist too much that week but there was something about this really rather retro style that sucked me in and made me think of Princess Diana. Whether it's the double breasted style, the slightly padded shoulders or the PoW check, I'll never know but now whenever I look at it or wear it, I'm reminded of her. I'm not sure if that's a good reason to buy a jacket or not but it worked for me.


Plus, it's a great jacket for now as it's thick enough to keep me warm on the grey drizzly days that seem all too frequent right now but doesn't make me overheat on my daily commute from hell on the packed tubes.


Worn with: neckline detail jumper, New Look; Grey denim shorts, Zara.

AUTUMN: DAY THIRTEEN

DAY THIRTEEN: Grey melange tee, French Connection


I am a sucker for a grey top. I own more grey tees and jumpers than anyone else I know and it has become somewhat of a running joke that wherever I go, chances are I will be wearing something from my extensive grey top collection. 


So when this tee arrived on the Friday before the X-Factor started (complete with a bag of popcorn) to celebrate French Connection's new advertising campaign that was to air the next night during the first episode, I thought all of my christmases had come at once - favourite snack and favourite style top in one package? Woohoo!


You can get your own grey melange tee [here]


Worn with: leather fronted trousers, Oasis

AUTUMN: DAY THREE

DAY THREE: Grey skinny jeans, Miss Selfridge

A very grey look, I know but let me explain - it feels like I have been on a perennial hunt for a new pair of grey jeans for the past two years, since my favourite pair of Topshop Baxters finally gave up the ghost and split horrendously. Since then, I have tried on and bought endless pairs but nothing has quite matched my strict criteria in the grey jeans category. Then, last week during Fashion’s Night Out I stumbled into Miss Selfridge to investigate a jacket that I’d seen earlier in the day and happened across this pair. 

And oh, it’s a match made in heaven - they have the slightly stretchy fit that old Baxters used to have (before someone in their design team decided to screw me) and they just fit perfectly. I can forgive the pre-distressed scratches as they have an awesome colour and cut. I’m tempted to buy a second pair off the bat in case Miss S decides to get rid of their stretch too. Perish the thought.

If you want to experience the wonder of Miss Selfridge’s jeans, click [here] for this pair.

Worn with: leopard coat, Reiss; Sunglasses brooch, Vintage; Horse tee, Topshop; Black plimsolls, Converse; Wayfarers, Ray-Ban.

SUNGLASSES: DAY FIFTEEN

DAY FIFTEEN: Grey clear aviators, Calvin Klein

Okay, this experiment is proving one thing to me - I own a LOT of pairs of aviators. These are pretty new to the collection, I got them a few weeks ago and I’ve become quite fond of them very quickly. I was a bit skeptical when I was picking them out but I figured rather than going for fail-safe black, I would branch out into clear grey. Living wild, that’s me.

Worn with: Denim shirt dress, Primark; Black leggings, Topshop; Nude pumps, Topshop; Green military jacket, Da Nang; Yellow satchel, Asos.

SUNGLASSES: DAY TWO

DAY TWO: Grey and pink retro sunglasses, Marks & Spencer

The sunny weather’s holding out a little longer so today’s snap comes from the little patch of grass by my office. Everyone always jokes that my sunglasses are permanently attached to my head when they’re not on my face so I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to let you see them in their natural habitat.

Worn with: Denim jacket, Abercrombie & Fitch; White tee, Topshop; Spotty culottes, Miss Selfridge; Yellow satchel, Asos; Nude pumps, Topshop.

Special thanks goes to Simona from The Assistants Wear Primark for taking today and yesterday’s photos.