Wardrobe Update: Workwear Staples

This is a long one, I'm afraid, but I've been inundated with requests for a 'working wardrobe' blog for a while now so I figured that, as I'm currently working on mine, I'd share a few tips for yours!

For me, the most important thing about your W.W is that you should look like what you are, and I don't know many graduates who can afford to rock up every day in Louboutins and Prada.  That said, it's important to mix and match expensive pieces with good quality basics that allow you enough choice to dress your outfits up or down when necessary (and ensuring that, with a quick change of jacket or blouse, you can wear your favourite skirt twice without anybody noticing).  

To start, you'll need a working week's worth of trousers, skirts and dresses.  It might seem like a lot, but if you mix and match enough then it's pretty easy to stretch these staples out across a two-week period.  These are the things I would recommend investing in: think reputable brands such as Reiss, Paul Smith, T.M. Lewin etc. or M&S for cheap, simple pieces.

All Saints (£98), Reiss (£110), Paul Smith (£189 - reduced to £94)

You can afford to experiment a little with separates by choosing a printed skirt (or dress) and cigarette trousers, for example, but I'd avoid printed trousers or too-bright colours unless you're working in an environment that allows for a lot of personal expression.  I've chosen the 'Wither' skirt by All Saints, a pair of simple tailored trousers by Reiss and a Paul Smith pique skirt (currently in the sale ladies - snap it up while you can) that I ended up leaving with yesterday because I absolutely love the navy side panels.  I'm also a fan of M&S' fishtail skirt and, at £19.50, can you really afford to say no?

If you've got a 'signature' colour or style (lace overlay, peplum detail etc.) then a dress is the ideal way to show it off, but  when it comes to skirts and dresses I'd advise you to: stick to two inches above knee level and avoid things that come with a belt (as it's usually cheap and tacky), and avoid cleavage like the devil (unless you're pairing it with a modest jacket/knit).

Theory (£125), Stella McCartney (£590), Moschino (£430), FCUK (£110)

If you favour a classic look then this Theory LBD is ideal - not to mention the fact it's almost half price in the sale.  A two-tone dress like the Moschino Cheap & Chic number I've picked is a good way to pull off the 'contrast' trend; alternatively go all the way and pair a fitted, jewel coloured number like the Stella McCartney or French Connection dresses with a black jacket and shoes.  If you're more about the accessories then try a simple, good quality jersey dress with a smart jacket (like these: 1, 2, 3) and a few well-chosen accessories.  My go-to jersey dress ('Mila' by Whistles) is sold out, but you can find similar versions across the high street (Dorothy Perkins, Reiss, ASOS) for as little as £16.

Unfortunately I couldn't find one of my most-wanted separates - if anyone has spotted a particularly gorgeous lace-overlay skirt in block colour, navy or black then please let me know!

  The main workwear trends set to continue into AW13 are colour contrast and statement detail/print separates.  Jackets are a great way to pull off the print, as you can strut into the office looking fantastic whilst retaining the freedom to quickly remove your bold piece if needed.  Blouses and shirts are the best options for monochrome and colour contrasting;  blouses in jewel shades can be found across both designer and high street boutiques, and a crisp white shirt can be super-useful in balancing out a more exciting skirt or trouser choice.  If you're not that daring then choose pieces with quirky details such as a patterned cuff or collar, or pop a printed shirt under a plain jumper.

Zara (£39.99), Whistles (£95), Theory (£300)

I've chosen a cute transitional Zara number (currently £39 from £79), the classic Sylvia Blouse by Whistles, and this gorgeous cropped peplum detail tweed jacket by Theory at My Wardrobe.  Smart 60's jackets are a super-easy way to add feminine elegance to a simple work outfit.  If you've got a fair amount of budget to play with then hit By Malene Birger (I love the anchor-print suit), Equipment or My Wardrobe, but reasonable good-quality pieces can be found in the likes of Whistles and Zara.  This season my favourite shirts come from Zara's smarter, older sister Massimo Dutti - unfortunately there aren't many of these outside London, but you can buy online and visit stores across Europe. 

MD: Tie Print (£54), Oxford (£44) and Denim & Silk (£54) shirts.

I hope I've been helpful and just not talked (or typed) your ears off!   If you've found a workwear piece you love, why not share it below on the comments section?

Summer Thai Chicken

I don't really have a proper name for this recipe, but it's one of my favourites to whip up in summer because it's quick, easy and super-healthy - at less than 300kcal per serving this baby is high in protein and low in fat, carbs and anything else you don't want inside your summer body.  

For four people you'll need: 

• four chicken breasts (maybe more if someone's greedy!)
• 3tbsp thai red curry paste; again, mine's from Waitrose but if you have a world-food shop near you it's worth a visit!
• 3tbsp chopped coriander (fresh is best, but store-cupboard coriander will do!) 
• 12oz/350g natural low fat yoghurt (you'll only need a third of this for the chicken)
• a pinch (or two) of salt to taste

for the 'dip': 

• a cucumber - you'll need around half for your 'dip' but I like a little extra on the side.
• 8oz/185g/two thirds of your remaining natural low fat yoghurt
• 1tbsp coriander

and to serve:

• salad leaves (I picked these up in a packet from Waitrose straight out of my garden, naturally) 
• lime wedges.

 A little trick I use here to avoid throwing lemons & limes away/going 'out of stock', so to speak, is freezing them.  You can always get them out at a later date (just make sure you remember a few hours before you start preparing your meal, or pour boiling water on them if you just need the juice), you can pop them in your green tea to cool it down, and they make great alternatives to ice cubes in your cocktail/Pimms jug.



To make your marinade mix a third of your yoghurt with the curry paste and coriander, season with salt, and coat your chicken well.  Pop it into a shallow oven dish, with any extra marinade, cover and leave for a while (half an hour is good, but you can leave it all day if you want). 

When the time comes, preheat your oven to 180-200C (dependent on the aggressive heating power of your kitchen appliances) and while you're waiting for that prepare your dip:  chop your cucumber (chunks are fine) and add to the remaining yoghurt, add 1tbsp of coriander and a little salt/pepper if you fancy it, and leave it in the fridge.  Retrieve your chicken and cook for 30-40 minutes, or until golden brown.

While all that's going on in the kitchen, open your bags of salad skip to your vegetable garden and carefully pick some beautiful leaves to serve on the side.  Chop your cucumber into sticks, if you're that way inclined, and lay your salad on plates if you're eating casually - if you're cooking for guests find a nice patterned serving bowl for DIY salad distribution, find a plate for the limes and cucumber sticks, and individual dipping bowls (read: empty GU pots) add a little elegance to the yoghurt dressing.

You've got some time left here to pour yourself a large glass of white wine in celebration of the fact you haven't started a fire, burned yourself or offended any of your guests yet; alternatively setting the table and indulging in small talk are equally valid options.

When your chicken is nice and golden-y fish it out of the oven (Careful! You've come so far..) and serve on plates either with your dressing, salad and limes, or on it's own.  Wait for everyone to congratulate you, pour yourself another celebratory glass of wine, and dig in.

One of my favourite things about this meal is that the ingredients are easily doubled, making it perfect for sharing;  swap the grill for a barbeque (reduce the cooking time to 20-30 minutes) and invite your best friends around for an evening on the patio, just make sure somebody else brings dessert!

If your dietary requirements mean you cannot enjoy this fantastic recipe then enjoy this vegetarian and vegan friendly party joke instead.

The Graduate

It's a good job I graduated in English, not catching.  Amelia (right) did a much better job.

Weekend in London: Day #2

One small detail I left out about my date on Friday night was that, quite inconveniently, my pump fell to pieces outside the restaurant and I was left hobbling about all evening (super attractive, I know).  With that in mind, the first thing on my agenda for Saturday morning was to acquire a pair of new shoes without encountering large groups of tourists, over-spending, lugging my bags across London, missing check-out or being late to meet Laura for lunch.. so, after meeting D for a quick breakfast before his train home, I left my bags with concierge at the hotel and made my way to Bond Street.

Shameless selfie-ing in the hotel lifts..
(top: A&F, shorts: Jack Wills, bag: Whistles)

I've long been a fan of Dune for their simple styles, long-lifetimes and reasonable prices, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed at my previous pair - which lasted six months before breaking - so I ventured over to ALDO to check out a potential new shoe-haven.  Fortunately my hunt was successful; I fell in love at first sight with their 'Fawnia' platform sandals and, given I already had several bags to cart across London, my common sense kicked in and prevented me from going mad.

My new babies! & Mummy Jennings' new patio furniture..

It was a lovely day and (unless you're counting Selfridges, which I avoided like the devil) I was pretty far from the tourist buzz part of Oxford Street so I opted for a little window-shopping in Mayfair on the lazy walk back to my hotel.

The things I would do for one of those bags!

In the afternoon Laura and I went to see the Bling Ring with her housemates (and I absolutely loved it!) before heading back to hers for a few bottles of fizz and some pizza (turns out 'student staples' and 'graduate staples' aren't too different..) before festivities were set to begin.  We had invites for the Buttoned Down Disco at KOKO in Camden, a night apparently famous for oversized balloons and facepainting - sounds like the dream, right?!

Birthday Girls do not need glasses!

Buttoned Down Disco @ KOKO, Camden

In the morning Laura was feeling pretty sorry for herself (as you should, the morning after your birthday) so we decided to run down to Angel to The Breakfast Club for a bit of lazy, indulgent Sunday brunch.  There's usually a queue here so be prepared to wait around twenty minutes to be seated, but once you get inside you'll see why:

The cafe has a real cool, hip atmosphere about it - the walls are covered in photographs and there's always infectiously-cheery music playing which, when paired with the really great (and really naughty) food, forms the ultimate hangover cure.  I opted for American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup and Laura went for a 'Huevos Rancheros', which looked like any Mexican food-lover's dream.  We washed our drinks down with a couple of fresh juices and iced coffees before I made my way home.

All in all, I love London and I can't wait to move down for good! 

Weekend in London: Day #1

It was a friend from university's birthday this weekend, her 23rd (don't tell - she's still 21 as far as you're concerned), and she was having a bit of a party so I thought I'd escape to London for a weekend.  I love the countryside, make no mistake, but it gets a little boring when your closest friends live almost an hour away, and I was starting to miss the city (and the shopping) so I booked a hotel and hopped on a train down to King's Cross. 

I had just enough time to check into my room before running to Waterloo to meet another friend, who  had travelled up from "the country" (Devon, for those of you who don't speak Deep South) and was my date for the afternoon. There'll be more on him later, but I'd like to show you around one of my favourite London hotels first - St James Court.

photo: London St James

The hotel is situated on Buckingham Gate, a stone's throw from the palace, and has this lovely courtyard (on the right) with beautiful blue tiled walls, a fountain, and outside dining - making it wonderful for summer visits.  IHG are our go-to hotel company of choice (they run Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza among others) and this is my favourite hotel in London by far.  I love the traditional decor and the narrow Victorian hallways, and there are several fantastic restaurants and cocktail bars all within the hotel and it's residences.  I'm never usually there long enough to check out the Spa at 51, but I'm determined to make time for an Anne Sémonin facial and massage during my next stay.

I ran off to meet my friend - we're going to call him D - to find he'd had a nightmare on the train.  It was far too hot for a theraputic lunch, so we settled for champagne instead.  D claimed the bottle was a gift from his friend Mary, but unfortunately I don't watch the Great British Bake Off (check me out, name dropping television shows) so I'm ashamed to admit I had no idea who he was talking about.. 

We were sent flutes and an ice bucket, which was kind of the hotel as we hadn't purchased the bottle from them, and caught up (and compared transport woes) while deciding what to do with the rest of our day.  D wanted to pop to Regent Street to check out the Gatsby Collection by Brooks Brothers so we rang them up, asked if they could squeeze him in for a fitting, and headed for the Tube.  D prefers taxis, but I'm a Londoner now (or at least I will be soon) so the Underground is my new best friend. 

Brooks Brothers did all the men's clothing for Gatsby, so you can buy almost every single item seen/worn in the film in from their collection: unfortunately it's almost all sold out, and can only be purchased from their Regent St. store or on the American website.  It wasn't all bad news - they had a sale on, and Amer (D's fitting man) was a fantastic laugh.

I couldn't get enough of these hats..

It was only after buying his prohibition stash that D realised he didn't actually know how to fix the bow-tie I'd convinced him to purchase, so Amer sat down and gave us a final lesson on his knee.. 

Among the purchases were a new pair of Church's loafers which, irresponsibly, someone had opted to wear without socks.. which worked for me because it prevented any further Bond Street shopping at all (although, retrospectively, I should have nipped into a shoe shop - I'll catch you up tomorrow) and I skipped back to my hotel in the sunshine to get ready for dinner. 

Here's a very quick instagram of my outfit: the Nadine Dress from Malene Birger's 2ND DAY collection.  It's from SS12, so you can't buy it in the shop now, however you can find it online in quite a few places.  I don't have a photograph of D, but he wore his Church's loafers with Levi's, a Jack Wills shirt and Hermès belt.

I shan't go into details regarding evening activities (and I didn't want to be rude taking photos all evening!) but we opted for dinner at the Bank restaurant within my hotel as we'd forgotten to make reservations elsewhere. I ordered a martini and the staff were kind enough to make D his favourite off-the-menu cocktail; an Old Fashioned, since you're asking. Prices were reasonable - it was fairly easy to stay under £100 - and both food and cocktails were excellent. 

Reservations here, or contact Bank Westminster directly by phone on 0207 630 6644, but if you're staying at the hotel it's relatively easy to walk straight in.  There's another restaurant in Birmingham if that's a little closer to you.

photo: Individual Restaurants, Bank Westminster

As for D, I don't know if I'll be seeing him again, but I did have a lovely evening. In the morning I headed over to Laura's flat in Islington (after a short detour via Mayfair & Hyde Park), and I'll be blogging the rest of my weekend on Thursday.

I'm going to have to apologise again about the photo quality, I'm far too forgetful when it comes to putting my camera in my handbag.

Vintage to Versace

So, as most of you may know, I spent most of my holiday-time working with the Art Deco photographer John Knight boutique on the top floor of a local Antiques centre. I've never really written about this place before, because it's my own secret Aladdin's cave of gowns, Dior and Chanel, but I've decided to stop being selfish and share a little with my readers.. 

John has photographed all over the world and is famous for his recreations of famous Pre-Raphaelite paintings but, to quote Bratz dolls, he has a real passion for fashion and so he opened Vintage to Versace in 2011 to get rid of some of his crazy collection! To give you an idea of what I mean by "crazy", here's a picture of the shop floor on arrivals day.. I'm going to apologise now for the quality of the pictures as I had to iPhone it!

See why I call it the cave?

 The reason I love this shop so much is that there's such a huge range of beautiful things - he's got pieces from 1960's RSC productions, Edwardian wedding dresses, 1950's Dior and original Louis Vuitton luggage right through to this year's Vivienne Westwood plastic cupcake-scented pumps.  I'll walk you through a few of my favourites from this week's arrivals..

See the blue coat? That's super special as it's from Christian Dior's original 'Miss Dior' collection. Usually it sits in it's own bag away from our other items, as it's so rare, but I asked very nicely and John said I could show you all.  The rest is Jimmy Choo, Moschino and Yves Saint Laurent's famous 'Tribtoo' pumps (unfortunately BOTH pars of shoes are a size 8 and I can't get them to stay on!), and there's always PLENTY of Chanel to keep me occupied:

Some of the stuff is downright weird designed for real collectors, however, like this collaboration between Jimmy Choo and Anya Hindmarch.

Who loves chewing gum?Anya Hindmarch and Tamara Mellon, apparently..

Of course my very favourite thing about helping out at Vintage to Versace happens when all the customers leave for the day.. if I've been very, very good I get to do this! 

Vintage to Versace has a Facebook page and a Twitter account where promotions, offers and fan discounts are announced.  If you can't make it into the shop and you've seen something on the page that you like, just leave a message and we'll get our best owls on the job immediately. 

The Summer of Love

As you'll remember I gave up blogging in March to concentrate on the final term of my degree.  It's all over now (I passed, don't worry - I know you were concerned), I've stopped partying and returned home to Nottinghamshire for a final stint in the countryside before moving to London in September. 

If you haven't been stalking my social media channels, let me update you on what's been going on since I handed everything in...:

There was a lot of this...

Fueled by a fair amount of this!

One of my best friends came to visit

I may have treated myself..

...more than once!

and finally, to top it all off, the girls of 42 Siward Street went to the ball!

Now I've got Instagram I'm totally addicted (and a total pain to all of my friends)

I'll be spending a few weeks in London, Paris, Milan (the last two are, unfortunately, wishful thinking) across the two months I have off before I start my new job - and I intend to keep you updated on every minute of my down-time travels (and my exciting new life).  Until Friday, however, I'll be drinking Pimms and playing ball:

Toodle pip! xo