LBD X LFW DAY FIVE

DAY FIVE: LONG SLEEVE FASCIENNE DRESS, SCARLETT BLACK

Day five has come around all too quickly and with it, my final day of the LBD challenge. For the occasion, I saved one of the best til last - the long sleeved fascienne dress from Scarlett Black. I have a small obsession with leather detailing (I own too many leather sleeved coats, tops and pairs of trousers to count), so this dress jumped straight out at me when I was browsing the site.

While it's been sunny today there's very much a February chill still in the air so I was really glad of the sleeves! I wanted to keep this outfit really simple as I love the structured panels of this dress which give it a really, solid substantial feel. While its very different in style to yesterday's Peter Pan collar and flouncy skirt number from Fount, it still definitely has a 60s vibe with the slight A-line to the skirt so I added a Jaeger silk shirt underneath that I picked up in the sales (down from £175 to £48 - bargain!) which contrasted nicely with the simpleness of the dress and replaced any need to bling necklaces today.

Now, let's talk about pockets. Pockets are definitely one of the things I have missed during this challenge - I always keep my phone, security pass, change and god knows what else about my person so all through London Fashion Week I've been rootling around in my handbags for errant items. It's lovely to be able to shove all of my bits and pieces into the substantial pockets of this dress and indeed my hands when I've been standing in the cold queues outside shows waiting to go in. 

So, has this tomboy been converted to frocks? Quite possibly. I have loved the ease of rolling out of bed each morning and throwing on a black dress and opaques and suddenly being dressed. And funnily, a lot of people who I've caught up with over the last five days have enquired as to whether I've lost weight - so there's a definite slimming effect! Who knows, I might need to pursue this for a full edition of Thirty Days!

So, over to you guys: which has been your favourite dress from my LBD x LFW challenge? Leave a comment here or tweet me @adulescent and the team from LittleBlackDress.co.uk @teamLBD and let us know!

AUTUMN CHECKLIST: PART ONE

Every autumn, I have a check list of new things that I want for the season and without doubt, a pair of boots (or maybe even two) is always on there. I have always wanted ankle boots but until recently, I was convinced that ankle boots would never be mine on account of my splendidly hideous cankles. You're probably shaking your head at this point and muttering something about me being crazy but y'know, once you get something into your head, it becomes very hard to shift hate of a body part. Even more so than the body part itself.

Anyway, my general rule with key purchases for the new season is get in there early. Like coats, the good stuff comes out while you're still thinking about what you're going to pack for your beach holiday. I bought these back in June when I was a little bit tipsy. I then, as I do every year, spent a few weeks staring at them, thinking I was mad for buying them and that I should take them back (god, was I really that drunk when I handed over my card?). I also didn't wear them for fear of having to take them back and not being able to return them. This in turn led to what-if-they're-not-comfortable anxiety and oh-god-what-have-I-done-itis. Good lord, it was like a buckled leather Catch-22. Traumatic.

I finally decided that I liked them in September (oh yeah, just ten weeks since I'd bought them) and decided that I wanted to wear them to Fashion Week. Of course, I procrastinated with breaking them in until it got to the point where it was the Thursday night before LFW kicked off, there were clothes, shoes, bags and more clothes strewn literally EVERYWHERE and I thought sod it, I'm wearing those tomorrow. I lobbed some Compeeds and a blister stick in my bag and prayed that the shoe gods and knee deities would align and allow me a peaceful fashion week without blisters or dislocations.

See, my knee was another factor. I haven't worn any kind of heel for over two years, not even a little two inch number like these for fear of another dislocation. But I am proud to say that so far, so good. I wore them three days out of five at LFW and at no point did my feet or knees start to compain. Hell, I even ran for a bus the other day while wearing them and that really doesn't happen often.

While they're cut out on the sides (Topshop's attempt at transitional boots, I believe), for winter I'm rocking them with socks that peek out. For this purpose, I have bought numerous pairs of the same Topshop lace edged socks that usually just about pop out. I even coordinated my socks to my jumper today. I'm cool like that. Or something.

Worn with: sunglasses, Valentino; scarf, All Saints; jumper, Chinti & Parker; leather shorts, H! by Henry Holland; socks, Topshop; watch, Michael Kors.

BRIGHTS: DAY FOURTEEN

DAY FOURTEEN: Studded sandals, River Island

With the brief window of a whole day of sunshine that yesterday afforded me (thank god as I was shooting outside), I took the opportunity to finally wear my mental new sandals from River Island that I bought over Jubilee weekend.

I'd been lusting after these for a while but I didn't know if they were a step too far until my lovely friend Holly convinced me that yes, we both needed them in our lives. Matchy matchy.

Anyway, I digress. I don't usually go for sandal styles with an ankle strap as God has cursed me with dreaded cankles but I think that frankly anyone looking at these is so distracted by the colourful spikes that they fail to notice my fat ankles.

Unfortunately, I was running around like a loon yesterday thanks to the weather and a brief hour of cloud-related panic that I only managed to snap this quick photo of my sandal-clad feet on the tube. Must do better next time. Apologies.

In the meantime, if you fancy your own pair of mental sandals, they're available [here] for a very reasonable £35.

Worn with: Khaki jeans, Topshop; neon varnish, American Apparel.

AT THE RACES

I'm interrupting this usually scheduled Brights blog with a bit of an off-piste post. What with the outdoor events calendar firmly under way and several of my friends asking what I'd recommend for a day at the races or the polo, I thought I'd do a little post about what I wore to the Investec Epsom Derby Ladies Day last week.

I was there helping to pick stylish race-goers for WhatBestToWear.com's competition and of course, we had to adhere as much as possible to the dress code - smart dresses and hats, etc.

Now, I love a good hat but I've never really worn a formal one as up until last week, I was a race day novice if I'm perfectly honest - luckily, I picked up my hat the other week in preparation for Ascot later this month but still had no appropriate dress! Cue a good level of panic, including the standard race around Topshop the night before to see if I could find anything to wear as most of my dresses are either black or casual.

Having panic bought a structured black dress, on the tube home I had a sudden fashion epiphany (fash-iany?) - the perfect dress was hanging in my wardrobe.

This navy structured skater dress with lace overlay and little grosgrain cap sleeves from Warehouse fitted the bill perfectly, matched my navy and black hat and was comfortable to boot. It had been languishing in my wardrobe since Christmas and I figured it that if ever there was an occasion for it to make its debut, Ladies Day was the one.

Unfortunately, the navy version is long gone but a very summery cream version is still available [here]. The best part? It's now on sale, from £80 to £60. I may very well need to get it to wear to Ascot.

Worn with: Cream and navy stripe jacket, Primark; cream and gold pumps, Office; hat, Marks & Spencer; bag, Marni; Wayfarers, Ray-Ban.

TRANSITION: DAY EIGHT

DAY EIGHT: Trench coat, The Kooples


I have been itching to wear this coat since I bought it just before christmas when I was out during my annual shopping trip with my favourite credit-card-basher Katrina, who was over from Canada. We were about to leave Westfield when I suddenly noticed The Kooples store had opened and went for a quick nosy. Twenty minutes later and serious credit card bashing later (even with 50% off in the sale), I walked about with this beauty, as did Katrina. I'd been looking for a good trench for a while and I wanted something that was a little bit quirkier than your average beige cotton number so this fitted the bill perfectly with the leather, quilting details and the removable sheepskin collar.


It's quite thin and as I bought it in a size 8, it doesn't really accommodate anything chunkier than a fine knit, as I found out during fashion week when I tried to wear my waffle jumper underneath it - I looked like a rather uncomfortable version of the Michelin man for the day.


But spring looks like it is on the verge of, well, springing so I eagerly threw it on this morning. Might have been a bit premature as there's still definitely a bite in the air so the collar will be staying on for a while.


Here's a better shot of the details:

Worn with: grey cashmere sweater, Gap; Spotted trousers, Topshop; Black quilted pumps, Office; Necklace, Nocturne; Folding Wayfarers, Ray-Ban.

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY EIGHT

DAY TWENTY EIGHT: Leather and faux-pony skin satchel, Marks & Spencer


Those who follow me on twitter (@adulescent) will know that recently I've been tweeting up a storm about the spring/summer press days that are happening at the moment. Well, sometimes, filling up peoples' feeds pays off - at the Marks & Spencer press day, they ran a little twitter competition inviting visitors to tweet their thoughts on the collection and the best tweeter would win a satchel. I love a good twitter challenge and jumped on the bandwagon. As you've probably guessed by now, I won!


And I've been wearing my winnings ever since - its a great day bag as its got two large compartments, plus a zipper section in the middle and lots of little pockets that I've been filling with all of my usual handbag detritus. I've been getting lots of people stroking it lovingly and their surprise when I tell them it is in fact M&S has been great - it has a flavour of the Proenza Schueler PS11 which I have been eyeing on net-a-porter for quite some time but at a fraction of the price. Win.


The plain black version has already sold out online but you can get the equally lovely leopard print version [here].


Worn with: leather sleeve coat, Topshop

AUTUMN: DAY TWENTY THREE

DAY TWENTY THREE: Wool and leather sle­eve poncho, H&M

I don’t know what I was thinking putting on a wool poncho the day that our department had to move our fashion cupboard, I really don’t. However, I was so excited to have finally got my hands on it that I think I would’ve worn it even if it was 30˚C. I’ve been after it ever since Jackie Dixon of Show Me Your Wardrobe appeared in The Daily during LFW wearing it. I have stalked various branches until the other day, early for an appointment, I ducked into the giant Regent Street flagship – lo and behold, there it was, just one size small left. Hurrah!

So, while it was a sad day saying goodbye to our cupboard, at least I got a little joy from my purchase.

Worn with: denim shorts, Zara; Studded toe boots, Stuart Weitzman; Breton tee, Day Birger et Mikkelson

AUTUMN: DAY FIVE

DAY FIVE: Leather fronted trousers, Oasis

By the time you read this, I will have been awake since 6am and knee deep in London Fashion Week. I had to find a replacement for my beloved Topshop leather skinnies that famously split on the bum during last season’s Menswear day and I found these on a lunchtime breeze through my local branch of Oasis. They’re a bit high-waisted for my liking but when worn with a tee, they’re fine. I will no doubt also be wearing these at some point during LFW so keep an eye out for their reappearance.

Worn with: slogan tee, Wrangler; Black plimsolls, Converse; Gold chain, Vintage.