TRANSITION: DAY TWENTY THREE

DAY TWENTY THREE: Black studded collar top, Zara


There are some days when a regular t-shirt won't cut it. Today I have precisely one of those busy days - appointments in town, then back to the office before heading out to dinner with one of my favourite PRs so I needed something that would work for all three.


I have become obsessed with Zara. Ob-sessed. Whereas once my heart (and wallet) lay with Topshop, my allegiance has shifted in the last year or so. With prices creeping up in Topshop and the average age of shoppers in there making me feel a bit mutton-dressed-as-lamb (I'm only 28) plus the alarming love for bum cutting hot pants, I suddenly found myself stroking things in Zara where the prices seem to have come down and the quality has gone up.


I bought this top a few weeks ago and I love it because while it has a tee feel, it's definitely smarter. Plus, who doesn't love a stud detail?

Oh and also, check out the back, love this pleating detail:

I would however suggest going up a size in this style - I usually wear a small but something told me to buy it in a medium when I didn't have time to try it on. Whatever this something was, it was pretty smart as even a medium is snug on my chest. Like it? Run on over and buy it [here] before it disappears into the Zara ether.

Worn with: Grey skinnies, Topshop; Tortoiseshell Wayfarers, Ray-Ban

TRANSITION: DAY TWELVE

DAY TWELVE: Floral top, New Look


Two days on the trot of sunshine so I figured it was time to celebrate with a somewhat more blinding outfit. I bought this Mary Katrantzou-inspired tee from New Look back in February with the ambition of wearing it to LFW but of course with the weather being as it was, it stayed buried under various layers throughout. I never thought I would wear as loud a pattern at this but the geometric style makes it less fussy floral and more fashion forward, especially when you throw a bit of neon into the mix. 


Yes, the neon obsession continues - I dug this skirt from last spring/summer's Boutique by Jaeger out of the back of my wardrobe for the express purpose of wearing it with this top and burning the retinas of my fellow commuters. Fun, sunny times.


Worn with: neon scalloped skirt, Boutique by Jaeger; black opaques, Wolford; Creepers, Underground.

TRANSITION: DAY ELEVEN

DAY ELEVEN: Silk pajama style top, Marni at H&M


Sorry for the absence, I had some very sad news on Friday and didn't really feel like blogging, plus what I was wearing was heavily wintery, somewhat matching my mood to the grey skies.


Come Saturday, I was feeling a bit chipper, what with the little bit of sunshine before the pissing rain took hold I decided it was time to try out another piece from my Marni at H&M haul. On a side note, after several fittings of the lilac and gold brocade trousers, I made my peace with them and decided that unless I was willing to drop the money (that I don't have) to get them altered, they would end up consigned to the back of the wardrobe and thus it was time for them to go back to the store, which they duly did.


So instead, I figured it was time to wear my silk patterned pajama top. I was a bit apprehensive as I thought it might look like I'd literally rolled out of bed but I threw caution to the wind and I have to say, this is officially now one of my comfiest pieces and as soon as the weather improves, it'll be coming out to play again.


Worn with: denim shorts, Zara; Black opaques, Wolford; Biker boots, New Look.

TRANSITION: DAYS FIVE & SIX

I'm sorry to harp on about the beauty that is the Marni at H&M collection but I am really quite besotted so I thought I should dedicate another two days worth, maybe more, to the collection. I found myself staring at the ceiling this morning mixing the pieces, particularly the PJ style top and shorts, imagining what I can style them with. I'm planning on wearing the shorts today so I'll post a photo later of how they're blending into my wardrobe. In the meantime, here's a few photos of some of the pieces I bought. I'm still waiting to draw a conclusion on the brocade trousers, so there's a high chance that there will be a post about these later in the week. ANYWAY.

Hat, £9.99 and spotty dress, £59.99

shorts, £34.99 and top, £69.99 Photos by the lovely Caroline Leeming