It’s back! The Seasonal Skinny is back! Did you think it had run aground?
The past couple of months, the Trade Winds of Life have pushed me off course from my Seasonal Skinny journey. Never fear, it was never in danger of running aground but I have got seriously behind! I’ve still got one more Winter Seasonal Skinny outfit to go after this, yet we’re well underway with Spring. Ah well, no matter. The sky hasn’t fallen in and in any case, I’m doing this Seasonal Skinny Style Challenge for me and not as a competition with a deadline!
However, I thought it was about damn time I put on my captain’s hat, hauled the sails up and heaved ho me way back on track.
Enough of this sea talk, my landlubbers, we’ve the far more important task of basking in some sun, with a calorific helping of hot pink, mint and leopard print, with my Hot Pink Sundae outfit and a tale of lost shoes, refound!
The outfit is simplicity itself; just a favourite wool cardigan from yesteryear, a round neck tee and the skinny jeans. Hardly a trio that will set the fashion world alight BUT then again, I’m lounging on the patio wall in my back garden in the afternoon sun, not strutting down a Milan catwalk.
When an outfit is this simple in its basic elements, bold and striking colour combinations are the way to make an impact and we’ve certainly got that happening with the glorious Hot Pink against the wine coloured jeans. And the mint top is a quieter, but no less interesting foil, to the richness of the cardigan and jeans.
The top on its own has pretty detailing, with the embroidery and the panels of pin tucking but add a tassel necklace and bracelet, slip on some kitten heeled, leopard print booties and in a blink of an eye, the look is punching above its weight.
The eagle-eyed amongst you will notice that the jewellery doesn’t exactly match. The necklace is silver with shades of red and green and the bracelet is gold with at least 5 different coloured panels ranging from turquoise to emerald green. Growing up, I remember it just wasn’t the done thing to wear gold and silver together. Women of my Mum’s and further back, Grandma’s generation would never have mixed their metals! Sorry Grandma, times have changed.
It may not be the most fashion forward outfit ever to grace the pages of a blog, but it does have versatility stamped all over it.
Sunday Brunch? No problem, I’ll have scrambled eggs and smoked salmon please.
A quick burst of errand running? I’ll grab my purse.
An informal, freelance meeting with colleagues? Absolutely. I’m liberated from having to wear corporate suits!
Neighbours popping round for a natter and a cuppa? I’ll pop the kettle on and breathe a silent sigh of relief that I’m no longer now still in my pyjamas at 3 c’clock in the afternoon when working from home!
Part of doing this challenge is finding an everyday style that’s a step up from the all too ubiquitous jeans and stripey top combo I used to wear. No longer working in an office, means I’ve had to radically change my business attire! Dressing for days in the Pilates studio though are a walk in the park. Here’s my idiot proof guide to dressing in the morning:
Step one. Grab a stretchy top from my stretchy top pile.
Step two. Grab a pair of leggings from my leggings pile.
Pull on and go!
Could it get any simpler than that? Aren’t you jealous I can literally sleep walk my way through dressing in the morning????
It’s the ‘non-teaching but I’m still working’ hours that are the minefield, requiring a re-jig of the wardrobe. An outfit like this ticks my requirements of practical, playful, polished and poised (excuse me whilst I just pop my thesaurus back on the shelf!) Throw on either a leather jacket or a trench and I’m ready to go.
In recent weeks, there’s been an unashamed and totally indulgent love fest going on with my new snakeskin boots (worn here: Spring Pastels, Rock Chick Vibe, Playful Polkadots ). I thought it was about time we redressed the balance and had some leopard print love back on the blog.
I already have three other leopard print boots (Doc Martens, Chelsea Boots and Cuban Heels). You can never have enough leopard print footwear in your life in my humble opinion, especially if they were all bought for a song on e-bay! However, my kitten heels weren’t. I fell – excuse the upcoming pun – head over heels for them as soon as I set eyes on them 7 years ago when Mary Portas did a collection for Clarks.
Now these are boots to have fun in, don’t you think? The kitten heel, sultry, so sleek, proving heels don’t have to be ridiculously towering, to be sexy. I might as well be strutting down a Milan catwalk with these babies on.
Truth be told, I’d almost forgotten I had these!
WHAT????????????
I know, I know, criminal! How could you possibly forget a pair like these? In my defence, me lud, I knew I had them somewhere but could I find them? Could I heck! It would’ve been easier to find Yeti, the Abominable Snowman.
Last weekend it was come hell or high water in my determination to find them, ending up with me snuffling around on my hands and knees, in the depths of one of my wardrobes, like a crazed boar sniffing for truffles! And when I say depths, I mean depths! The wardrobe in the bedroom has been built into the eaves so it goes back a loooong way under the slanting roof. And of course, lo and behold, right at the back where the space narrows down to barely an inch,
T-H-E-R-E T-H-E-Y W-E-R-E!
Intact in their shoe box.
Abandonned and hidden under two squishy luggage bags.
Along with another pair of shoes I thought I’d lost!
How they ended up there I’ve no idea. I can only surmise that the shoe goblins were hiding them.
Sound the trumpets for the return of the lost shoes!
Dorothy Perkins Petite Jeans
Tu at Sainsbury’s Mint Embroidered Top S/S15. Very Mint Embroidered Vest Top
Benetton Cardigan (ancient) Hot Pink Cropped Cardigan
Dorothy Perkins Red Bead Tassel Necklace bought in the sale for £5 and still available!
Accessorize Bracelet (old)
Mary Portas at Clarks La Antoinette, Leopard Print Ankle Boots (old) Not a boot but a Kitten Heel Court
Hot Pink Sundae Footnote
Kitten heels immediately add a touch of glamour to your block colour outfit, especially if in leopard print. Purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
And if you do have favourite leopard print footwear, make sure you keep on speaking terms with the shoe goblins, so they don’t spirit away your killer kitten heels!
Have you ever hunted high and low for a favourite item and not found it but know, just know, it’s so close you can almost smell it?
Linking with PowersTheFlower / ThrowbackThursday / High Latitude Style / Thursday Moda /FashionShouldBeFun / Fabulous Friday / Flashback Fashion Friday /
It's a wonderful casual outfit, very playful and fresh. I love the sweet details of your top, and the necklace is just a perfect accessory. The shoes give your outfit a glamorous feminine touch. I totally understand about those lost shoes… where are my pair of embroidered Pikolinos moccasins? 🙂 You're really good at creating such fun casual ensembles. I don't bother most of the time and stay in my PJs. Though it does make a difference in the way I feel, an I would like to unlearn my habit and start dressing up (casually) even when I stay at home. You give me ideas!
If I can find my boots, I'm sure, Natalia that you can find your Pikolinos moccasins!
Thank you<, I'm touched you think I'm good at creating fun casual ensembles that are more than just a t-shirt and jeans. I could very easily stay in PJs all day too! And sometimes that's fun, isn't it but not very productive I find on the work front! If I can unlearn the habit, then I'm sure you'll ace it.
Love those jeans with your leopard boots and similarly colored cardigan.
Amy Ann
Straight A Style
Thank you Amy, the boots just are the finishing touch!
You look entirely realistic in that getup!! You do have quite a love of animal booties, eh? Not that there's anything wrong with it—trust me!!
And you may think that this outfit is simple, but really the color combination is quite interesting and I bet many women would never think to put it together—-but it works marvelously!!
Glad you found those boots—it's an awful feeling not knowing where something is! jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Hello, Jodie, I'm Petite Vix and I'm an animal booties addict! Ha, ha.
I've never thought of it like that, that people wouldn't put these colours together as I'm such a colour lover but sometimes, the unusual and striking colours are all that you need and it's that that makes it interesting. Thank you for giving me that boost.
The bold color choices really pop! And those booties are amazing!
The booties are the right sparring partner for the colours I think. Thanks for hosting Laura.
Well no surprise here that I adore the booties. In fact I have some that are very similar that I purchased thrifting. My feet prefer kitten heels.
Love the colour mix and the deep wine shade of the pants.
bisous
Suzanne
We are definitely lovers of booties, you and I, Suzanne! And yes, kitten heels are fab.
Hooray! I'm so glad you found the booties, even if it was a quest similar to Ponce de Leon's search for the Fountain of Youth. Heck — you found it in those booties and quite possibly that adorable mint-colored top! This outfit is absolutely perfect for all the scenarios you mentioned and I can relate to needing something just like this to transition from one thing to the next, all while we're transitioning from one season to the next. Love it!!
http://www.petiteover40.com
It was Sherry; I nearly wept with joy when I found them! Yes, I'm all about finding easy pieces that can take us from one place to another with minimum effort! Thank you as always for your encouraging words.
Love how you blended all the colors together! Have a lovely day xx
Blessings,
Edye // Gracefulcoffee.wordpress.com
Thank you Edye. I'm always trying to put different colours together.
Wow, this look has so many fantastic little details! I am swooning over that gorgeous shirt and this color combination is so perfect for spring.
I tell you Jennie, the colours really lifted my mood that day!
Damn shoe goblins! Of all the shoes to hide they chose these?! Devil beasts. This is one striking and fabulous color combo…I love it. And isn't it nice to be able to relax in your backyard without fear of freezing?
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
They are little devils aren't they? I gave them a right telling off.
Bring on the sun, I say. So good to be able to chill out in some sunshine!
As always, great colour combination and it does make this simple casual look stand out. Sometimes I too mix silver and gold jewelry nowadays, actually it is more fun to mix those two together.
Absolutely Olga, it is more fun and gives more options too!
Love the pink with the burgundy! Thanks so much for being a part of Fun Fashion Friday!
OXOX
DAWN LUCY
http://FASHIONSHOULDBEFUN.BLOGSPOT.COM
Thanks Dawn, and for hosting.
There are MANY items I can't find anywhere!!! Like a darling Sirius Black brooch I bought last year and a daisy necklace that CBC bought me and a chopping board for my mother-in-law. Tis a big mystery!!! This is such a jolly colour combination and I really live the effect of the necklace!
I hope that brooch turns up, Kezzie along with those other items! So annoying when you can't find things but you just know they are somewhere!
I'm really pleased so many of you all love the colour combination!
I must to confess that my wardrobe is quite neat (and not huge enough!), but I still surprise myself when I find some pieces that I forgot (it's better than going shopping, and cheaper!)
You look absolutely comfy&cool with an elegant sassy touch, those boots are fab!!
besos
I'm getting much better at digging deeper into my wardrobe and putting things together sometimes by chance and sometimes by design!
Thanks for your lovely words.
I love the use of colors of this outfit and I do love those booties!! I want a pair like yours but they scare me so much even though I love leopard and several pairs of leopard shoes.
Thank you for being a part of TBT Fashion link up and hope to see you soon!
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
The booties do make the outfit! Why do they scare you Alice? They won't bite you. You'd look fab in a pair like these.
fabulous look. this silhouette is a favorite of mine and one i wear often. i'd wondered what had happened to this series … i'm glad to see another installment. thanks for adding your post to my Powers the Flower link-up. i hope you'll join up again this week.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
Thanks Rena. More instalments on their way! And yes, I've linked this week.