Bombshell

 Anna Sui

I never thought I was a bomber jacket kind of girl. When I was at school an achingly cool friend used to have one emblazoned with the logo of a pirate radio station. I was in awe but I knew that I was never that cool.

 DKNY

But mostly the problem was that my style is quite femme and I felt that the bomber was not for me. I need my clothes to go in and out to prove that I too go in and out, although slightly less in and slightly more out these days.

 IRO

With Isabel Marant championing the look over the past few years I have decided to revisit. And this season seems to be the right time to do it. Unlikely style icon Mary Berry and her floral bombers seem to have encouraged a more feminine take on the look.

 J Crew

Admittedly some of the jackets might come under the label of baseball or varsity rather than bomber, but I'm not to be exclusive, as you can see above you can definitely glam the look up.

 Maison Martin Margiela

I would probably chose to wear it with a flippy little skirt, grey sweatshirt and trainers, but it looks pretty bitching with jeans and heels too for a sports luxe take.

 T by Alexander Wang

Plus, I think the added bonus is that they can be worked right now by adding a layer under your regular coat. Warm, stylish and up to the minute? Whodathunkit?!

T by Alexander Wang

(Images via Net a Porter)

I See Paris, I see Francis

I love a sportswear trend, but have more or less given up on it because I just don't think I can pull it off. But I am inspired once again by Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge who is wearing the hell out of it. I'm sure having that body and particularly those leggggggsss doesn't hurt. Swoon!

Sonny Gym

Since my break up and subsequent move away from London I have been generous with the comfort kindly offered by food. I have surrendered myself to its fattening embrace.

But I have decided enough's enough and have started hitting up the gym pretty hard in order to feel better about myself in my beloved clothes.

And you know what? I have been loving it. I feel so good about myself after a good session and while I haven't yet noticed a visible improvement I feel much better in myself and will no doubt start seeing the fruit of my rather sweaty labours.

But one slight drawback is that I might be becoming a bit of a gym obsessed weirdo. Because on perusing Net a Porter's New In section the things I was most drawn to were these lovely purple and turquoise sports bras.

Lordy, I need to get out a bit more, don't I?

Don't answer that...

(Images via Net a Porter)

One Track Mind

(Images via Whistles)

Can someone explain to me why I find these "lounge pants" so appealing? Is it because they are in disguise? Trying to pretend that they aren't really grey tracky bums because they have hitched a ride with a nice pair of heels? Or is it because there is no fooling me? I know how comfortable they would be and that is luring me in, with the mere facade of style acceptability disguising their true nature?

Hood Rat

I don't see why you have to look crap when you do sports. I am generally bright red in the face, so in some ways I do anyway, but if so I want to be wearing something cute as a distraction mechanism. I am always on the look out for nice clothes to go to the gym in (not there has been too much of that happening recently).

(Image via Sweaty Betty, GAP)

So imagine my delight on seeing these. Aren't they adorable? I know it is kind of a cliche. Pink sportswear for girls. But I think they are lovely. I just have to work out which is cuter.

And whether I deserve one since I chucked out the last hoodie that I owned because I decided I wasn't really a hoodie kind of a girl.

To the Victor(ia) the Spoils

I have been loving Victoria Beckham's structured dresses for some time, but these softer dresses, particularly the long one, tickle my fancy too.

And if anyone were likely to get me into sportswear for anything other than sport then it might well be her. I like.

(Images via Style.com)

Run Amok

(Via Net a Porter)

OK, so you are thinking about doing some running, it's summer, the beach season is drawing near. What would be the ideal thing to wear?

Wet look leather tracky bums?

Hmm, no, I didn't think so. Ick!

Starter for Ten(nis)

Is it wrong that on thinking of taking tennis lessons the first thing that pops into my head is...



Ooooh! What am I going to wear?



A girl's gotta look cute while racing around after a ball, no?


(Via Sweaty Betty)

Talk the Hind Legs Off a Donkey

That Zara jacket is awfully boxy, isn't it? It reminds me of a donkey jacket's proportions. Which do absolutely nothing for me. And the colour seems a little bleurgh. But for holing up in a remote cottage and going for winter walks it looks super toasty. So not for me but I wouldn't hate you if you bought it.

The skirt, however, I love. I saw an Oasis dress with feathers at the bottom in Vogue which I might have fallen for. It isn't on the website yet, so no pic. But I am all for a bit of flightiness.

(Image via Sweaty Betty)

And I don't know where the 80s sportswear thing has come from, and what has changed about it, but my previous hate has developed into a love thing. I am desperately trying to find an excuse to buy this little treat from Sweaty Betty. It has a hood and a really slouchy neckline so you can wear it off one shoulder. Swoon! It's probably not terribly practical but what the hey!

As to SJP and SITC I am soooo over it already. Bo-ored.

What's Not to Lycra?

I have to confess that since my little tantrum I have developed a bit of an issue with sportswear myself. Obviously I am not the type to wear it for non sporting occasions, but seeing as I want to be in a suitable physical state to climb mountains I need to start frequenting the gym significantly more frequently.

And of course a girl has to be dressed right for breaking into a sweat. I have been into Sweaty Betty more often in the last couple of weeks than any other shop. I even have a loyalty card for goodness sake.

So I take back anything mean I might have said about sportswear (except I stand by anything derogatory that passed by lips about JB Sports or JJB Sports, clearly) and I have to say YOWZA! That Addidas stuff is super sexy and appealing. Well done you for finding it. You must have it. (Once that banjo is in the Head's sweaty little mitts, of course. When will he be performing to the great unwashed...?!)

Dumb Belle?

I know my posting is thin on the ground right now. I know I know I know. The reasons for this are twofold.

a) It is The Head's birthday in a week and a bit. And what does he want? A banjo. I KNOW! ME NEITHER, but if that's what my beloved wants that's what he shall have. But they are pricey so I don't have any spare money to spend on sequined animal print minis so I daren't even LOOK at any website that will encourage me to shop. Damn it.

b) I am obsessed with gym clothes and as soon as I have some spare money that's they way it'll be going. I am bored of washing and washing and tumblying my gym things. I want lycra, that dries fast and doesn't need ironing. (The Head doesn't see the point in this but I think going to the gym in a t shirt that isn't crisply ironed is just setting oneself up to be DESTROYED by those cross trainers.) And I want to Jamie Lee it up. I wish I could get away with wearing a leotard with a belt, but I think I might raise a few eyebrows down Surbiton Racquet and Fitness.

I like these things from Addidas. Predominately because they have shiny wet look bits. Do they bridge the gap between Jamie and Suburbiton nicely?

To Chav and To Hold

Sweetness. Dear heart. You know I love you. And I do. Really. But must you make it so difficult for me?

Anything from JD Sports is anathema to me. And seriously, a Head bag?? While I appreciate it in theory, a Head bag for The Head (chortle, guffaw, etc.) the reality of it is so heinous that I can barely even speak of it.

Can I just try to ignore that you ever brought this up?

Sporting Chance

Yeah Kristin McNemany was name checked in the article! I liked her too. I also like saying her name, McNemany, McNenamy. Yeah!

Anyway, there's only so much I can talk about bleached brows. Let's talk abouuuuut SPORTSWEAR!

No seriously, let's!

The Head and I celebrate four years of marriage next week. Tonight we will be playing squash together for the first time EVER. You know I have a slight competitive streak. I am already sending him abusive emails to try and break his spirit. Ha! But let's hope this doesn't cast a dark shadow over the celebrations to come. I want us to be a half Scotch, glossier, non tennis playing version of Graf and Agassi man! That's my vision.

Whist we're there we're going to take a look at the gym. We think we need to change our lifestyles a little and get fitter. Well, The Head thinks that. I just think joining gym = opportunity to buy new outfits and indulge my inner chav.

I badly want these things. I really feel that I need a 3/4 length harem jogger. And a super trashy hoody. And The Head sports bag is just a given isn't it? Too perfect!

(Images via JD Sports)