One Dress, Two Ways: A Slip of a Thing

I am awful at packing for summer holidays. I am terribly indecisive, and therefore always end up with about ten dresses too many. This year, for example, my Amalfi coast kit consists of fifteen dresses, even after two meticulous edits. 

That being said, I am learning to be a smart summertime shopper, buying pieces that will work both home and away. Sure, I love a sweeping grecian gown as much as the next girl, but try wearing said maxi in Victoria station during rush hour. You may fall down the stairs, lose a stud on your sandals and split your toenail. Not speaking from experience or anything...

A smarter option this summer is the slip dress; a foolproof summer staple. Classic, elegant and comfortable, my pick is this Whistles Nell style in silky french navy. Falling just on the knee ('cause I'm classy like that), the spaghetti strap dress skims the hips with a slightly dipped hem, making it particularly flattering for boyish frames. The colour is a welcome change from black, and the simplicity of the dress makes it perfect for work or play. 

Schoolgirl Chic

Back to school, boys and girls! Uni kicks off again next week, so I thought I'd post a little student-y style post (featured on The Guardian Students here)

Dressing for your university debut is no mean feat. For the first time in your educational journey you do not have the ease or reassurance of a uniform. No gingham dresses or boxy blazers to soften the blow: this time, the ball is in your court. 

My first day of university came during an Indian Summer in London. The temperatures were soaring and there was no place at London College of Fashion for my winter woollies. I decided to keep it simple in pairing my favourite cream silk shirt with black leather shorts, practical patent ballet flats and a big tan handbag with my MacBook Pro crammed in. The outfit was smart but classic, a tried-and-tested look that I felt I could truly be myself in. 

This season my back-to-uni look also features the ubiquitous cream blouse, this time paired with a dark checked mini skirt and lashings of metallics. The finishing touch is my expandable handbag, the perfect size for all my study essentials. 

The way we dress plays an intrinsic role in making those all-important first impressions, so bear this in mind when putting together your first-day ensemble. There is a lot to consider, but ultimately you should aim for an outfit that stays true to your own personal style. 

My blouse is Urban Outfitters (similar style here), my mini is by Zara (sold out but check similar styles below), my bag is a medium black Pashli (try here), my necklace is by J Crew (love this one but this J Crew style is slightly more affordable) and my shoes are also Zara (here)

SIMILAR STYLES

Holiday Wardrobe: Get Shirty

Step away from your LBD, ladies, for an ivory dress will go with just as much as black and it is every bit as timeless.

For my time in New York I put aside a couple of my favoured pale silken dresses, including this & Other Stories shirt dress in crepe. The dress is simple but a little bit directional, as is typical of & Other Stories (my new favourite high street store). 

A slick button up style, gathered slightly at the waist, the dress is cool and comfortable but still versatile. There are a number of killer shirt dresses out there at the moment, so there really is no time like the present to invest. This one works for the office, but looks just as cool with modern metallic brogues and a statement handbag for a day of tres chic shopping. 

I wore this style for dinner at Maialino in our hotel. Maialino is an Italian trattoria with a twist. It is classic and authentic Italian cuisine with decadent pasta dishes. As Maialino is Italian for pig, the menu is rather pork-centric (get that in the dictionary, folks) with the centrepiece being the roast suckling pig with rosemary scented potatoes. Though I was tempted by pasta, I played it safe with pan-seared hake, beautifully cooked and fragrant with black pepper, served with a selection of steamed seasonal vegetables.

WHAT I WORE:

For an elegant and simple look, I wore my & Other Stories shirt dress with my black Pashli, Zara sandals and my new J Crew statement necklace. 

SIMILAR STYLES: 

Holiday Wardrobe: Yosemite Evenings

There are a few sights in the world that are enchanting beyond description. While words are my one true love (after Gosling, obviously), even they cannot do the beauty of this world justice.

One such example is Yosemite National Park in California. It is all too easy to mistake Yosemite for a stuffy hikers haunt, but there is something utterly captivating about the area.

Almost wholly unspoilt, the scenery is dramatically sculpted by glacial erosion, with rolling plains and ragged cliffs meeting seamlessly at rows of giant redwoods.

If ever we are lucky enough to return to Yosemite, we hope to stay in the park itself, as this year we opted for a chateau outside the town of Oakhurst. Oakhurst is, comparatively, rather mundane.

Our chateau, however, was glorious. Chateau du Sureau proposes a totally different experience to Solage, but is almost as enjoyable. With acres of forestry and secluded gardens, including a fairytale trail complete with antique swings and a lakeside gazebo, Chateau du Sureau is inspired by traditional traits of romantic resorts in Europe.

The Austrian founder Erna has an enthusiasm and warmth that enhances the elegance of the welcoming resort. Each lodge is stocked with treats including fresh lemonade and cookies studded with golden raisins, and every morning guests are offered freshly baked croissants and brioche with homemade jams.

The true gem of the hotel is Erna’s Elderberry House, a dining establishment with an inspiring five-course menu, which changes daily. The restaurant is suitably refined, with a smart dress code and exceptional service to match the carefully considered cuisine.

Our meal began with tender sea bass, followed by a sweet plum gazpacho, a rich beef dish, a palette cleansing strawberry salad and a duo of desserts. Decadent, yes, but delicious nonetheless.

WHAT I WORE

It’s been a good while since I’ve dined at a restaurant with a dress-code, so I thought I may as well make an effort. No H&M menswear hoody here, folks.

Somewhat predictably, I opted for a tan-enhancing strapless dress in finely pleated ivory silk. This prom style is from H&M a couple of years ago, but I still love its elegant look. Try this cute style or this delight in Champagne.

To inject a little colour, I added a Zara statement necklace in jade and aqua and complimentary hoop earrings with turquoise drops. I loosely parted my hair off-centre and tied it in a low-slung ponytail before teasing out strands for a messy look.

Last but not least, I popped on my beloved Zara sandals and set off for Erna’s Elderberry House. 

SIMILAR STYLES

Holiday Wardrobe: Sonoma Shopping

Because my blogging has been so appallingly lazy of late, I can't actually remember what I did the day I wore this outfit. I'm getting old, folks, almost old enough to legally drink in the states...

Nevertheless, I shall try and recall. I think this is the day that my family and I upped sticks and headed from Sonoma to Napa, yet another stunning wine region with even more glorious weather.

We were staying in the slick Solage resort just a few minutes from Calistoga. Solage really was my dream resort- particularly for poolside posing. The pool is Olympic sized, great for early morning lengths, while the sun loungers and poolside bar offer the perfect place to soak up some sun in a floppy hat and itsy bitsy white bikini (mine is a cheap as chips ASOS number available here and here).

The resort has a Michelin-star restaurant, SolBar (more on this later) and incredible fitness and spa resources. 

I have to say that Solage was my favourite resort of the entire holiday perhaps, even, ever. With the possible exception of Tuscany's romantic Artimino castle/hotel.

For the trip to Solage, I wore my new H&M distressed denim shorts, my Urban Outfitters cream blouse, my Dune sandals (now on sale here, also in white) and my beloved Accessorize floppy hat. 

Holiday Wardrobe: San Francisco Shoppin'

Our second day in San Francisco was my kinda day- shopping! 

Usually, sad though this is, I spend time researching the best local boutiques before visiting a new city. However, this year all my research has focussed on our upcoming NYC jaunt (just FYI, best books for top New York tips are The Fashion Insider's Guide to New York and The Stylists Guide to New York- both are fabulous).

Sadly, San Francisco shopping was pushed to one side and we ended up spending our day milling around generic designer shops, with obligatory detours to Zara and H&M. I worry that we did miss a trick in San Fran shopping, but there were still a few gems in and around Union Square.

We began our day with a lovely breakfast at the Grand Café. I had creamy porridge topped off with sweet strawberries and a wonderfully strong skinny capp. We then began our shopping trip, despite the chilling breeze and grey skies.

The first SF gem we found was the charming San Francisco T-We Tea shop. I am a bit of a tea enthusiast and this colourful, uplifting store was a must visit for me. I hope to do a bigger post on this store in the coming weeks, but it really is quite a treat and a great stop for gifts. The T-We Tea store is in Crocker Galleria, 50 Post Street. 

My mother and I absolutely adored Neiman Marcus, which feels just like Harvey Nichols, and spent a good few hours perusing the beauty and homeware departments. I also found myself stroking Balenciaga leather bikers and Saint Laurent claret shifts… One day, my pretties, one day.

We stopped for a lunch in Neiman Marcus' restaurant, The Rotunda, which was divine.  I opted for a light salad and mocktail, my virtuous choices immediately spoilt by a scrumptious creamy coffee and massive complimentary brioche roll with strawberry infused butter. Oh well, as my father says, you’re a long time dead.

For this trip I wore a demure pleated midi-dress from Topshop, paired with bejewelled ballet flats from Zara. In an attempt to beat off the chill, I slung on my lightweight Zara khaki jacket (online they only appear to have a stone version left), but ended up having to buy a decidedly inelegant H&M hoodie, just as the colour started to drain from my extremities. I finished off the look with my new Zara tote and a bohemian ring from H&M (like this but in cream).

Note to self: Raynauds Phenomenon is not so chic. Bring gloves.