To counterbalance the sparkle from last week and the frenzy of Black Friday sales this week, today I bring you six simple, everyday outfit ideas. I do wonder how everyone feels about Black Friday. I only had two things on my wish list, one of which was a very expensive jumper that I managed to get in my size at 40% off. (Did I need it? No. Did I want it? Well, yes.) The other was a pre-lit Christmas tree I’ve had in my Amazon basket for weeks that, typically, hasn’t gone on sale. Do I bite the bullet and just buy it? Are pre-lit trees the way forward? Our tired, old fake tree is on its last legs. I bought it 12 years ago in the big Tesco in the January sales, and it spends 90% of its life in a mouldy bike box in the side passage. Half its branches are bent out of shape and it just looks sad and ancient (like me most mornings), so I think it may well be time to retire it.
But I digress, so let’s get back on the fashion track. This post is based on items I have been enjoying wearing recently. Party outfits are all well and good but, as I’ve always said, I much prefer things you can wear all day, every day. Also, I imagine you probably have a lot of items similar to these in your wardrobe already, so let’s get right into it.
GREY AND NAVY
I know it potentially shouts ‘school uniform’, but we are WAY beyond school age now so we should have got over that. I bought these COS trousers last year but quite late on in the winter, so I didn’t get to wear them as often as I would have liked. This week I wore them with a pale blue shirt, a navy cashmere jumper and a green quilted jacket. I felt a little bit smart, but also comfortably casual. Perfect.
- Ganni wool cable knit scarf
- River Island faux fur collar quilted jacket
- John Lewis blue stripe cotton shirt
- Hush navy cashmere crew jumper
- COS barrel leg wool trousers
- Air & Grace Camino navy leather shearling lined boots
BROWN CORDS
I didn’t think I was a ‘brown’ person at all, but I have been living in my brown cord trousers recently. I have the Essential Antwerp version, but these from Hush and these from H&M look similar at a lower price. I’m officially a convert, and it turns out that brown actually goes with so many other colours but it’s also great with more muted tones like the creams and greys in this look.
- & Other Stories ruffled mulberry silk blouse
- Stradivarius short herringbone wool blend jacket
- Boden snaffle trim leather belt
- Hush Amy cord relaxed fit trousers
- Abercrombie wedge crew knit jumper
- Adidas brown suede Gazelle trainers
MINI SKIRT AND BLAZER
I don’t need to keep telling you to wear the mini skirt as you know by now that it’s OK. I’m loving wearing mine with loafers and a blazer at the moment. Take those St. Trinian’s references out of your head, as this is an acceptably smart/casual look for a lady of a certain age. Just add your 80 deniers.
- Joules Fair Isle crew neck jumper
- Massimo Dutti short sleeve contrast t shirt
- Massimo Dutti navy wrap mini skirt
- La Redoute suede handbag
- & Other Stories oversized wool blazer
- Grenson Epsom brown leather loafers
JUMPSUIT & OVERCOAT
OK, I admit it, I haven’t worn this look recently, but I did spy a very stylish lady when I was driving through Barnes earlier this week in this (almost) exact outfit. She also had a tiny whippet wearing a jazzy jacket. Top marks to Barnes lady. She wasn’t wearing the Anya Hindmarch x Uniqlo hat as they sold out in seconds on Thursday. I’ve only added it to annoy those of you who didn’t manage to bag anything (she says smugly as she was up and online by 6.30am to secure the goods).
- Oliver Bonas olive green corduroy jumpsuit
- Cheerings golden star huggie earrings
- Uniqlo X Anya Hindmarch eyes beanie hat
- Albaray double breasted long coat
- Scott-Samuel orange leather bumbag
- Dr Martens Adrian leather tassel loafers
MY FAVOURITE HUSH JEANS
I just had to add these as they’re now 20% off. I’ve had a lot of wear out of them already, they’re super soft and I like the front pleats. They actually feel more like trousers than jeans. Maybe try your jeans with a waistcoat, as they’re definitely still having a moment and it would add a bit more interest to an otherwise fairly ordinary outfit.
- Albaray jumbo cord wasitcoat
- Kirstie Le Marque diamond and enamel mini lock necklace
- Arket long sleeve merino wool top
- Hush Lya pleated wide leg jeans
- Sezane glossy burgundy eather Claude bag
- Etoile Isabel Marant blazer (use code KATE32 for 32% off)
- Converse burgundy high top trainers
TRYING DIFFERENT COLOUR COMBINATIONS
I wanted to wear my pale blue Adidas trainers as I felt they weren’t getting out of their box enough. And yes, I keep all my shoes in their original boxes. It’s like a cross between a game of Tetris and Jenga in my tiny dressing room, what with trying to fit them all in and then having to VERY slowly slide one box out without the whole lot falling over. I wore them with my brown cords and also with jeans and a green jumper. These are colour combinations I wouldn’t ordinarily have thought of but, like brown, it turns out that pale blue also goes with many other colours.
- YMC stripe wool jumper
- Amy Mead twisted hoops gold vermeil hoop earrings
- ME + EM crease front wide leg cuffed jeans
- ALS London Jamie curved leather shoulder bag
- Abercrombie wool blend Dad coat
- Adidas Handball Spezial suede trainers
I hope this has given you some weekly fashion inspiration.
K x