Saturday 2 November 2013

My Top 6 Must Haves This Season


Ladies Brown Leather Buckle Hem
Biker Jacket £69.99, Newlook.
OK so we are in full swing of autumn and much to my horror Christmas is only just around the metaphorical corner. My shorts and flip flops are back in the draw and my jeans and boots are out and about. But to be honest my wardrobe is looking a bit 'tired'. Also, if you are anything like me you cant be bothered to shop around in the rain to find that perfect piece to set you a cut above the rest. So i have done the leg work for you. Here are a few of my autumn/winter must haves...

1. A Jacket

Now this is a bit of a difficult category to advise on. Jackets, coats, and blazers are all such huge umbrella terms that cover such a wide range of products. All of which suit different styles, sizes and body shapes. So its very difficult to generalise for the sake of a blog post. But I am going to do my best to help by keeping it very short...

I am personally in love with leather jackets! A decent leather jacket can add a biker/punk twist to any outfit. They are also surprisingly warm. However they don't exactly bode well in wet weather. But it is well worth getting one to spruce up that casual outfit in seconds for those impulsive outings.

If Leather is not your thing, maybe consider a stylised wax jacket. They are just as versatile, and slightly more practical in wetter weather!

Check out Newlooks' massive range of different jackets/Coats if you can'f find one you like in all this lot i will be surprised!...

Ladies: http://www.newlook.com/shop/womens/jackets-and-coats_20021
Gents: http://www.newlook.com/shop/mens/jackets-and-coats_30149


And if your budget is a little higher I will always swear by Barbour! I know they are expensive but they are so beautiful, and the quality is second to none! 

http://www.barbour.com/uk



Quicksilver Matt Ador Mediu M PT MSD jeans

2. A (decent) pair of Jeans 

Now when i say decent... I mean decent. If you are anything like me i buy a cheap pair of skinny jeans, wear them once, then end up looking like a saggy kneed old woman! This goes for you gents as well and you ladies. I know it may be painful at first but i promise you it will be worth it. Invest in a good pair of jeans and you will never look back.

As for the style, I am still enjoying the skinny jean (especially tucked into a nice pair of army style boots!) Be careful with skinny jeans though. Just because it zips doesn't mean it fits. No one looks good with a muffin top!
Ladies, If you are wanting something a little different to the standard skinny jean, maybe try a boyfriend fit jean. These look awesome with a Brogue shoe (of which i will be talking about next). Gentlemen, if you are not fancying the skinny jeans maybe try a more baggy slouch jean. They work well with a standard tee and a dressy jacket. But please, please, please, do not wear them around your knees! I am sure your pants are lovely but i do not particularly want to see them. The trend of seeing your pants over the top of your jeans originated in America, and is meant to indicate that you have spent time in
Roxy Kassia Dark Dee W Pt Jeans


prison, where they have confiscated your belt on arrival. So unless you have actually spent time in an American prison... Pull your trousers up!

My favorite pair of skinny jean i have ever owned were Roxy. they were so stretchy, and never went baggy! you can buy Roxy jeans from lots of different places, but they will set you back about £60! But i will say, they were worth every penny!

For a full range of Ladies jeans: http://www.roxy-uk.co.uk/en/womens-clothing/womens-jeans/clothing_jeansdenim,en_GB,sc.html

And the Gents: http://www.quiksilver.co.uk/en/men/clothing/jeans-denim/men_clothing_jeans,en_GB,sc.html

3. Brogue/Oxford shoes

On to the shoes... As long as it not completely soggy under foot, a brogue or Oxford shoe is a lovely way to style an outfit. I personally find them very vintage and stylish. 
It works well for both guys
ASOS Brogue Shoe in Leather
and gals too! 
And they don't have to be top of the range ones either! If you know where to look a good charity shop can hide some of the most beautiful gems, but have to be willing to dig for them! On the other hand if it is a bit rainy, maybe opt for the more sturdy option of an army boot for the guys and a cowboy style ankle boot for the Girls. In major monsoon "batten down the hatches" type weather... I would instantly go for willies! I know it sounds silly, but you can now get some awesome ones! Top them off with a nice patterned pair of wellie socks. Beautiful yet practical.

Ladies Brogues: http://www.newlook.com/shop/view-all/brogues_30012
Gents Brogues: http://www.asos.com/Men/Shoes-Boots-Trainers/Brogues-Derbies/Cat/pgecategory.aspx?cid=11941

And the Wellies!: http://www.wellywarehouse.co.uk/






4. Silk blouse (for the ladies) / Shaped shirt (for the gents)

Silk is a stunning way to feminise a winter layered look. If you are anything like me, you see the slightest bit of winter
Celia Bertwell Silk Blouse
weather and pile on all the layers, and end up looking yeti. A silk blouse can add a delicate intermission into your winter wardrobe.

Now guys... You can as well join in with the silk shirt situation but i will warn you now, it takes a certain kind of man to pull it off! If you are not feeling that confident i suggest a well fitting shaped shirt. The difference between a normal shirt and a shaped shirt?... The bottom. If you hold up the shirt and its cut straight across at the bottom, its just a shirt. If you hold it up and the bottom curves, its a shaped shirt. Shaped shirts you are not meant to tuck it in! They are comfy, practical and add a nice casual feel to an outfit. Give it a go!... 


Ladies: http://www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/clothing/uq/silk/women/
Gents: http://www.topman.com/en/tmuk/category/clothing-140502/mens-shirts-140515?geoip=noredirect

5. A slouch jumper

This kind of goes back to a previous post I have written so I will keep it short. A good piece of knitwear is a nice alternative to boring tees and tops. Its also rather warm in this kind of weather. A slouch jumper twinned with the previously discussed jeans is a lovely way to meet this winter with style. For more detail please read my previous post...http://jessicamorrisphotography.blogspot.co.uk/2013/09/the-changing-season-does-your-style-hit.html


6. A hat
And last but not least... A hat. OK so hear me out... I know a few people who say they look awful in hats, but i honestly believe its because they have never found the right hat! There are billions of different styles out there, you just have to be
Simple Bowler Hat,
Urban Outfitters.
patient and search for the perfect one! I personally suit beanies, because i have long blonde hair. But my sister on the other hand, who is sporting a styled pixie cut, look flippin' awesome in a Bowler/trilby
! So it all depends on your own style and preferences. Either way hats are defiant ways to top off an outfit.

Ladies: http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/accessories/hats-gloves+amp-scarves/icat/glovesscarves
Gents: http://www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk/hats/icat/mensscarves#esp_hitsperpage=120

I am sure there are so many more must haves out there that are yet to make themselves known to me, but for now i think this is enough to be getting on with. I would also like to point out, the links i have given are only quick examples of what i am twittering on about! There are sooo many other places and brand of which to choose from. It all boils down to your individual style and budget. Please shop around! Local independent shops will appreciated your custom!

If you have any other suggestions please feel free to drop me a message. I would love to hear about your fashion tips.

JM

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ALL IMAGES USED IN THIS POST ARE TAKEN FROM THE OFFICIAL WEBSITES. I CLAIM NO COPY WRITE.