It's a Dirty Job, But Somebody's Got To Do It

Why oh why do you have to see beautiful things at the wrong time? I have an interview tomorrow and had planned to wear something (gasp!) that I already own. Of course I had a panic about it and a furious urge to buy something new, so I had a quick shifty around the shops this evening. I didn't find anything I liked more for the interview than what I already have, but I did spy this.

Toast is an interesting shop, some of their cuts and patterns are just not me at all but there are a couple of pieces in every collection that I would sell my first born for.

I rather suspect I have found said item for this season. This skirt is so incredibly beautiful there are no words. They had styled in with the cashmere top above, which is a bold move. And a bold move I rather like. Logic and common sense would dictate playing things down by pairing such a statement skirt with something less showy, like black. But not Toast, love 'em, they've gone all the way with plum? magenta? What would you call it? Other than heaven, that is. Let's not muck about. The combination was enough to stop me in my tracks and I fear that I will have to own both pieces come what may.

Just as I was starting to think that my patterned days were behind me in deference to a more muted, minimal wardrobe POW! this happened. I have to say, I don't mind a bit.

(Images via Toast)

Back to Black

All I want to do at the moment is find the perfect pair of black jeans/trousers as the basis of my autumn winter wardrobe. I have very much fallen in love with my James Jeans Hunter so I might get those in black and wear them every day.

And for the days where I will have to be freed of them for the laundry I also like these NYJD jeggings and Toast's black cords.

(Images via Mimi Noor, Toast)

The Toast of the Town

I am not a girl who loves summer. I am definitely cold blooded. Perhaps I hail from the frozen north.

I don't day dream of white sandy beaches. I dream of snow strewn mountains and sleeping under nylon in less than comfortable temperatures.

 When I dress I prefer to wrap up too. I love to layer, which lends itself to a cooler time of year.

So when it comes to summer and shedding those layers I struggle. For one I am not overly keen on showing too much.

I also often feel silly in summer clothes. As though I am one of those optimists walking through town in a maxi dress on a slightly parky, overcast day, pretending that all is fine and you are really quite comfortable, thank you very much.

Don't you agree that summer clothes can seem incredibly frivolous? Great to be 17 and running around in shorts or flimsy dresses, slightly tragic to be doing the same at 34. Or maybe I am just old and grumpy before my time. Don't answer that...

So I think the only solution is to go classic. Not boring, but good fabrics, a bit of tailoring and slightly more substantial than that little scrap of something that they are hawking to the bright young things.

 And for this elegant clothes summer mission?

My go to is definitely going to be Toast. They have some truly lovely pieces. Full of personality and fun but a bit more grown up too.

I dream of being that woman in summer who looks effortless and cool as a cucumber. And I think with this clobber I might just be able to do that. Now we just need the sun to buy into the whole summer thing and we'll be set.

(Images via Toast)

By a Long Chalk

(Image via Toast 15)

I love the dimensions of this look. I am searching for a long skirt now.

Dyed in the Wool

It is Campaign for Wool's Wool Week. Harvey Nichols, Knitsbridge have decorated themselves with a huge ball of wool and knitting needles. Which is awesome. As a new knitting obsessive this excites me a lot.

 

 

And also, I think it is a really great excuse to buy this cardigan and pair of woolen leggings from Toast which I have been lusting after for some time.

 

I would be super cosy and supporting a cause. Works for me!

 

(Images via Harvey Nichols, Toast)

Lace-Up in Arms

So what do you say to a pastel shade brogue for summer? I think they would look awful cute with trousers and skirts/dresses. So I say yes please.

 (Images via Kurt Geiger, Topshop, Hobbs)

Totes!

I am currently swooning over extremely plain tote bags. I just love the idea of something so unassuming and elegant in the face of all the bells and whistles and hardware evident on so many  bags.

These are bags that are just too assured in their own good looks that they don't have to yell it from the rooftops. Well, ok, maybe this red one is getting a little raucus but the others are awfully reserved and refined.

A pair of peg trousers, a plimsoll, a blazer and a slouchy t... with one of these slung over my shoulder.... Ahhh! Perfection.

(Images via Hobbs, River Island, Toast, Whistles)

It's not Easy Being Green

(Image via Toast)

I am becoming borderline obsessed with owning something green. It is just a colour that is immediately going to breath summer into my wardrobe. And right now I really need that. A boost of colour that these trousers from Toast would deliver. The shape looks a bit tricky though. Fingers crossed that they will work for me and that all my dreams will come true. Well, at least the ones about, um, green stuff.

Dressing Down

I'm still craving a dressing gown.

And these lovely ones are all on sale.

But do I want toweling, flannel or silk?

The silk is probably the prettiest, the toweling, is, well, toweling which doesn't always float my boat.

And the flannel looks good and is warm. So I think that's the one for me. But I'm still not convinced it is worth £71, what do you think?

(Images via Toast)

As Snug as a Bug in a Rug

The clocks going back make me think of nothing more than wanting to cosy up in my bed. And for the first time ever I am thinking about how nice a warm dressing gown would be. My current dressing gown is a very light silk kimono. Which I love. But it does nothing to keep me warm.

But the thought of getting up and wrapping myself in a cosy dressing gown just seems super appealing. Not a white towling one. They just remind me of spas or hotels. They aren't very homey.

But any one of these would fit the bill. Hmmm! It makes me want to get into my pjs just looking at them. And if I was feeling particularly silly, I might pair one with these delightful slippers. This is my strategy for surviving the winter.

(Images via Toast)

Barmy Army

I like Toast. (The shop, not the scorched bready snack, although that obviously has its place too.) I really like their marketing and their image. I like their reindeer fur rugs and hurricane lamps.

But I can't excuse these:


(Via Handbag.com)

They are arm warmers. Surely what they are endeavouring to perform a sweater is already successfully carrying out. And with considerably more style. Wouldn't you agree?