Day 5 Capsule Wardrobe

Well today is the last day of the capsule wardrobe challenge and I'm showing you what I will be wearing tonight to the Vauxhall Scout Fashion party. In fact I realised that unbeknownst to Mr Marc Jacobs I'm his secret muse. I've been wearing his A/W11 collection before he's even shown at NYFW. Of course Mr Jacobs and I have been lovers of polka dots for years so perhaps it is no wonder we collided.

Isabella Oliver pencil skirt worn with Zara polka dot top, Untold polka dot tights and the Zara sale shoes.

Here are the tights in better details, it is as if I'm almost straight of the Marc Jacobs catwalk (not!)

I realised my capsule wardrobe this time was really versatile so I quickly did some other combinations of polka dot top and jeans with shoes. The dress with cardigan and the belt. Then the H&M blouse with pencil skirt et al.




It goes to show what is important in your wardrobe is a few key pieces that can be mixed and match as fall back when you utter or even think those immortal words 'I've got nothing to wear!'

What has been your favourite capsule wardrobe combination?

Day 4 Capsule Wardrobe

I'm getting used to this posing in front of the mirror thing taking a snap with the iphone, although my first attempt were a bit wonky today. I'm mainly looking down in a snooty manner but I cheer up when I put my coat on!



H&M blouse, French Connection jeans, See by Chloe jacket, M&S boots

Day 3 Capsule Wardrobe

Isabella Oliver grey dress, Topshop necklace, Zara shoes & John Lewis bright blue tights

I never tire of looking down at shoes

The necklace close up, a mix of orange beading & faux gold chain

So day three is under way and I have a little business launch at home tonight of my Arbonne anti ageing products. I will be clicking about in my heels but I did change in to my boots for the school run.

Last night & Day 2 Capsule Wardrobe

Ah Mr MDS and I had such fun last night, so much so petit garcon had to don his Buzz Lightyear dressing gown and join in with 'your valentine meal'. I forgot to take a photo of the wonderful heart shaped environmentally friendly Chinese lantern we let off in to the night.

I know many have concerns about the commercially contrived nature of such a festive occasion but I love any excuse to have a party in the house even if only for two. And in reality as long as you stay at home then the money spent creates a pleasurable experience. I've never forgotten the time Mr MDS and I had been skiing and went out for a Valentine's meal as he'd thoughtfully booked it before we went away. It involved seeing people you'd rather not, many looking quite miserable and whilst you didn't have to do the washing up, it did mean you got subjected to an accordion player, Mr MDS's face was a picture.

Last night I caved in to the usual, a steak. I did lay the table which is my favourite bit.

the arrival of the steak, I made the broccoli and red onion salad

the arrival of the peppercorn sauce (au poivre) for the steak

Loved the Lanson on a school night I was so squiffy

the little plate for the petit garcon who polished off his small portions at the other end of the table whilst chatting away

dessert was homemade almond & orange muffin

I was a softie & bought Mr MDS a cashmere West Ham scarf whilst I'm still earning money

The Tiffany candlestick that were a wedding present

I was rather sluggish this morning after drinking the night before but onwards and upwards with the capsule wardrobe challenge. So today I channelled Bridget Wintour (Anna's naughty hopeless younger sister, of course she doesn't exist anywhere but in my head!). Bridget takes the primness of the dress formula so beloved by La Wintour and makes it more as if Patricia Field had got hold of her.

Bridget felt she really needed braces but made do with the belt. The light grey between boot and skirt is thigh high socks.

The belt is navy and I like how this camera angle makes my waist and hips look smaller, I'm thinking this is the new all out action pose!

Today's Look from Capsule Wardrobe Challenge

This is today's look from my selection of clothes for the 4th Annual Capsule Wardrobe Challenge.
My selected items are in the proceeding post.

I had a meeting in Wimbledon Village this morning so selected to wear jeans, t-shirt and cardigan. It is still pretty cold out even with the sun shining, brrr, wish this long winter would end. I did spy some catkins today so spring can't be far away!!




I back combed a section of my hair to create an 'up do' bit and what you cannot see is that there is a ponytail at the back. I did try to capture this on camera but it was nigh on impossible.

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge

The fourth annual capsule wardrobe challenge is under way today! The challenge and rules are set by Jane of The Small Fabric of My Life

The rules are simple.
Choose ten items of clothing from your wardrobe and mix and match them for five days between Monday February 14th and Friday February 18th.
You can have any combination of shoes, dresses, skirts, tops and jackets as long as it adds up to ten individual items.
You are also allowed five accessories which include jewellery, scarves, bag, belts etc.
Underwear and hosiery do not come under the ten items and five accessories!
If you are joining the challenge please blog about it and if you want to appear in Jane's Capsule Wardrobe Challenge round-up the following week then please email your pics to workthatwardrobe@googlemail.com

Here are my 10 pieces and 5 accessories.

Garments
1. FC wide leg jeans (2009)
2. Isabella Oliver essential black pencil skirt 365 (2011 - sale but still available out of sale now)
3. See by Chloe jacket (2010)
4. H&M blouse (2011 but first drop so all gone now)
5. Zara polka dot top (2011 current drop this season)
6. Zara cardigan (2008)
7. Isabella Oliver 365 grey dress (2010 and still available )
8. Elizabeth Emanual fashion show tee (free)
9. Zara shoes (2011 - sale)
10. M&S boots (2003)

Accessories
11. Bag Mulberry Beatrice (2008)
12. Belt LK Bennett (2009)
13. Pashmina (2000)
14. Necklace Tophsop (2011)
15. Cocktail ring Topshop (2010)

Items: 6, 1, 14, 7, 2, 4 & 5

Items: 8, 13 & 3

Items: 11,12, 10, 15 & 9

Buy designer direct from blog!

My last ebay stint reminded my why I dislike ebay so much. The process and then the sale fees.

Before I go down the route of ebay with two designer items, I though I would offer here first. The beauty of this is I will post for free because I will be so grateful not to have to list the items.

The first item is a dress from Red Valentino it has only been worn once. It was used for a shoot and worn for all of 20 minutes as I made the model wear a dressing gown until right before the action moment. I'm an old fashioned stylist like that as I love to keep clothes pristine. For some reason I was given the dress and as I love Valentino I said yes knowing my fat hips wouldn't pass muster with the dress. I have admired it in my wardrobe for over 6 months and now need to move on!!

Red Valentino cocktail dress £105
Italian size 40, UK 8, US 4
Viscose, dry clean only

(price at new £480)

The next item is a pair of beautiful Tods shoes. Left behind after a shoot they have only been worn in doors although the leather sole is marked because the tape wasn't properly applied by an assistant. They are size 38.5 which is a size 5 or 5.5. I don't like to be imprecise but one persons 5 is another 5.5. I tried them on with very thick socks in the hope I could wear them as they as so classy but it didn't work!

to show heel not worn down

Tods patent leather courts/heeled pumps £85
size 38.5, US 8
(price at new £390)

If you are interested in buying at the stated prices then please email me (as per details on blog).

High Street Pick of the Week - The 2011 Style File

To belt or not to belt that is the question. Actually the feminine belt became a substitute for the corset. The corset created the shape of an outfit before the belt. Of course we all know Gok needs to lay off belting but it is a key style piece when it comes to dressing up an outfit. In short a belt or a ribbon or a scarf added to an outfit is aiming to create a focal point on the body.

Where to place a belt? The 3 points on the body are the empire line, the waist and the hips. In days of yore or costume drama terms the empire line is below the bust, top of ribs, think Jane Austen. Then the waist is the idealistic hour glass figure think Marilyn Monroe, or 50s pin up. Then the dropped waist or hips is the low slung belt option so beloved of the boho look that dominated in the early noughties but more importantly in current fashion terms the dropped waist look of the 1920s.

When it comes to recreating a 1930s or 1970s vibe then you have to think the chain belt. And you can wear it high, middle or low.

I've found this number at Reiss which ticks a lot of boxes in terms of creative and sumptuous detail for wide let trousers, a maxi skirt or jumpsuit. Part Ali, part Wallis it will be a wardrobe wonder!

Reiss 1971 Ellison chain detail belt £59

In the yellow

Sometimes you never know when a look is going to bite you on the backside and take you with it. The fashion look I have loved the most is the MaxMara all over yellow. In fact I have been overly impressed with the MaxMara collection, it seems to strike the right balance of drawing on the old, 1930s sportswear and injecting the new, this new fangled colour blocking.

If I had the figure for it I would wear these looks without a thought..oh yes and the bank balance might come in handy too, forgot that minor detail.

images: Style.com

Which colour are you going to major on for Spring Summer 2011?

And I would really want to wear yellow with dusky pink or pale pink shoes. My new obsession is pale pink shoes!

Top 50 Fashion Tweeters

It was a big surprised, I'm always surprised by any accolade, to find out I was in the Top 50 Fashion Tweeters as compiled by Peer Index for The Daily Telegraph.

image: The Daily Telegraph

I'm actually in at number 16 (the number of the day I was born on) and quite frankly I am amazed, I have had no publicity and have no publicist!! In fact when it comes to technology I'm pretty ham fisted, you only have to see and read this blog to know my grasp is limited but I do love technology and the ability if affords for writing even in 140 characters.

It is very pleasing Hilary Alexander is number one because her tweets are hilarious when it comes to Saturday night tv season and of course wonderfully informative when it comes to fashion.

Now I wonder where my LFW invites are ...hey (Tom)!