It's too early for that dress - Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas Part 11

This is the second part to the 7 months post pregnancy fashion dilemmas posts, I took a lot of images this month, for once! I have however failed to post short n sweet posts every/every other day, like I said I was going to do, it seems three blog posts a week is my limit at the moment.

 I am pleased to announce that Sylvie now says 'Mumma'! Yey! However, the tone of the way she says Mumma is not like the chirpy, melodic, happy way she sings 'Dada'...Oh no....Sylvie has learnt to say Mumma for one reason only, to get my attention! It's more of a demand if anything, but I shouldn't complain, at least she is saying my name now!

You can tell the weather has finally changed in the UK from the next  set of photographs, I've got sandals on and everything!!

The weather was really humid but it still rained here so at this point I was still in half summer half spring outfits -arms showing legs covered up!

I have sleeked my hair into a short side parting in this pic the wispy sides have not grown properly since I (randomly) shaved them off with my Dad's disposable razor when I was 12, I have been into undercuts for a long time it seems! To conclude, I cannot get those side bits to stay behind my ears for the life of me....it's very annoying!

Dress from Rico at Topshop

I can't actually wear this dress as a dress without wearing leggings underneath, it's so short, my body is really long and the front fastenings open up and show off your pants!! (That's your underwear in the UK for any international followers).

Let's get Physical

I have managed to adapt  the crop top look without revealing any midriff, inspired by American Apparel and the 1980s penchant for aerobic wear. I wear my crop tops over my basic bodycon dresses and layer it up, it creates a new silhouette for me which I like! It is bodycon 80s but made softer with the layering and it conceals the baby belly that secretly still blubbers a bit beneath the clothing!

I have also created crops tops from old vests and tops that I already have, by tying them in a knot at the sides and and twisting up the shoulder straps, the trick is to show off all the layers and to make each layer different on the straps etc.The pink top below was a real cheap, thread bare neon vest that has now been giving a new life!

Black bodycon dress from H&M, Blue crop top from Primark, name necklace from Tatty Devine.

The above pics were taken on my 36th Birthday just before Phil took me and the kids (no babysitters!!) out to my favourite Italian Restaurant in Bristol. I thought I'd dress up for the occasion and wore the  bodycon layering with my wedge boots, that I have only worn twice before, once on Xmas day, they nearly killed me then, I'd just had a baby and didn't have the balance for heels! I also wore them to my cousins 40th in London a few weeks ago but there is no photo evidence as I started drinking really early! Enough said!

I had a great birthday with lots of amazing food, wine and champagne! Mika declared he wanted to go to the Italian restaurant every day for breakfast and that the garlic bread was the best he's ever had! So sweet!

The boots were fine by the way, I just had to concentrate real hard when walking!

Dress as before, Neon vest (customised into a crop top) from H&M, Earrings and Necklace both from Tatty Devine, Cardigan from Primark,  Boots from Office Sale were approx £90 I got them for £20. Whoop!



New leopard mock fur sandals!!

It had taken me until June this year to find the perfect sandals, well here they are, bought them with my birthday money. Right happy!

This top was actually bought as a dress but after the first wash it shrank, even though I followed the wash instructions!! Very annoying! I have been put off buying from this label ever since, which is a shame!

I was on my way to a 5 year olds birthday party (Rock n Roll), it was a very muggy day but I didn't feel like getting the legs out, so a bright backless top, jeans and leopard print sandals seemed like the best thing to keep me cool.

Top (bought as a dress) from Motel at Topshop, Jeans and sandals from Topshop.

Crop n bodycon again! Ignore me though this is all about Sylvie's outfit, it's the white trash, hillbilly, Dexys Midnight Runners (Come on Eileen era) bare chest and dungarees look. Sylvie rocks it!

We were off to watch Sylvie's Daddy play in his band The Relay Rips as part of the annual Bristol Harbour festival, it was the hottest day of the year!!!

Sylvie wears dungarees from H&M Kids



Bright Print Clash

Another hot day and off to the park.......It's the first week of the schools summer holidays, the park was rammed like a bad day in Benidorm! I dressed brightly for the occasion so the kids couldn't lose me.

Neon green vest from and bodycon dress both H&M, Floral leggings by Versace for H&M, Leopard sandals as before.

Hot Summer, Hot Hot summer.....At last...

I finally got a bit of colour.......on my face and...er....arms....a bit patchy some might say...I have fooled you with an almost toned looking (be it very white) torso it was so hot I had to strip off the jeans I had been wearing for these baggy denim cut offs that are also great for hiding my baby podge belly. I have to admit I do look alright and I have pretty much lost all of the baby weight visually, I have not actually weighed myself though, not brave enough I guess. I'm not sure I would venture out of the house dressed like this but for lazing about in my garden it fine.

Top (rolled up into a crop top) from Vivien of Holloway and customised denim cut offs.

I still have a back log of images????? What the?? I think I shall be posting about something different next time, a bit of A/W 2012 fashion perhaps or maybe a style icon? ND XX

I want..... House of Holland at Asos

Before I even start on all the Autumn Winter 2012 shows that I have been hoarding images for over the past few months, I thought I would continue with more of the Spring Summer 2012 looks that I still haven't given a mention. The next on my list is the House of Holland Spring Summer range that is currently available at Asos. Although I will only be able to afford the tights and socks from the range, I still like to dream and swoon over some of the items! These images have all come from my Pinterest Fashion board via Asos.com.

I love this Tribal style oversized jumpsuit with it's extreme hareem pant cut. It looks so comfortable, I only wish I could afford it, it's currently available in the Asos sale at £300, it was £600! I guess I should stop wishing that all designer stuff at Asos is gonna be loads cheaper than the original designer label price. I have been spoilt by my £25 Versace leggings from H&M, haven't I?

I love this super sized leopard print over water colour greens and purples. It almost looks like a cow hide print on the jumpsuit, it's £550 ( maybe not for me then!) The drop waist maxi dresss is updated for this summer, it's out of stock and was £440 (get over it Emma, it's Henry Holland!) and I do love an oversized T-shirt style dress! £75 and currently out of stock too. (I'm not surprised, I'd love to be wearing it this summer).

I'm not sure the models are is the right choice for these garments, but I guess Asos need to have more commercial models who appeal to a mass market. I'd like to see ID style models wearing these outfits, oh, and me, of course, on the school run!

Now for something I can afford! Check out these lovely hosiery pieces, House of Holland stripey long socks in blue, they are also available in orange, green and pale pink. I love socks and tights, I do like to buy and hoard and sometimes wear them! They're now only £3.50 in the sale. I'm getting them, of course. These Union Jack (flag) tights are cool, worn here with a bit of double denim, they are a bit patriotic though........I'll be more punk inspired when I wear them....I think I could stretch to paying £15 for these beauties!

Hopefully you will see some blog pics of me over the next month with my latest Henry Holland items! ND xx

                                    

It's too early for that dress -Post Pregnancy Fashion Dilemmas - Part 4

I am a little delicate today as I was out Djing last night and may have indulged in one or two drinks....Here's the next installment from my post pregnancy posts.

Sportswear? What's that all about? Well, I had become inspired by a photoshoot fashion story from Pigeons and Peacocks magazine named Ganguro Girl, I have talked about it before on my Pigeons and Peacocks post from last year. (Find it here http://no-debutante.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/my-latest-magazine-obsession-pigeons.html ) The styling is a mix of Japanese street style and British chav style, which sounds bizarre but looks cool.

I decided to try and wear a bit of sportswear each day, to see how many looks I could come up with, using the clothes I already own. I needed to incorporate sports styling with bright colours and prints, the same way as the P&P fashion story. Sportswear inspired fashion is also massive this Spring/ Summer including high tec anoraks, cycle shorts (yes, cycle shorts), glossy bright colours, jog pant cut trousers and racer back vests. I will deffo do a post about what's on the high street and how to wear sportswear very soon.

Outfit 1  -Khaki anorak from Primark, purple sweatshirt, leggings & sunglasses from H&M, Socks from American Apparel, red Converse low tops. from Office.

Wear an oversized anorak with everything this Spring Summer!

Outfit 2 - Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and bodycon dress from H&M, Floral leggings from Versace for H&M, red Converse low tops.

Outfit 3 - Purple sweatshirt (as before) digital floral print trousers and red socks from Topshop, Leopard print Converse low tops from Office.

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Outfit 4 - Sonic Youth t-shirt from Urban Outfitters, low front bodycon dress from American Apparel, floral leggings and red Converse (as before) yellow cardigan from H&M.

Outfit 5 - Black vest and leopard print trousers from Topshop, yellow sunglasses and cardigan from H&M, red Converse (as before).

I am classing these trousers as sportswear as they are cut the same as jogging bottoms with the baggy leg and gathered hem, so it's sportswear inspired clothing for the Sportswear trend as well as traditional sportswear.

 Outfit 6 - Bloomers from American Apparel, name necklace from Tatty Devine, Mickey Mouse sweatshirt and Converse (as before).

I love my American Apparel bloomers! I went shopping to Primark on this day and a mother said to her daughter 'what on earth is she wearing?' which made me smile....

I guess, on this occassion, I didn't really have any post pregnancy fashion dilemmas as sportswear is comfy and fits you even if you go up a couple of sizes, it's a dangerous thing to wear as you may not realise you are putting on the pounds! Sportswear - wear with caution! ND xx

And she'll have fun, fun, fun til her daddy takes the T-bird away

Vintage Americana is the next look from the S/S 2012 shows that I am going to delve into. As much as I am, at heart, a very British girl,  I do love a bit of 1950s Americana, the big shiny cars, Hot Rods, rockabilly, diners, preppy high school look, rock'n' roll and the good old 1950s housewife, glamourously running the home and not a hair out of place - a look I could never keep up, I'm not dedicated enough and when would I fit social networking in?

The Vintage Americana trend focuses on the 1950s boom, with it's Cadillac rockabilly style car prints, glossy coloured leather skirts (inspired by the big shiny cars and Hot Rods), cute ginghams, preppy plaids, cats eye sunglasses and not forgetting the new exposed midriff - think more 1950s hourglass figure than cheerleader. It's much more subtle than the 1990s midriff show off, as I have said before, it's all about a sneak peek of the torso and not a belly button in sight.

Here are my favourite looks from the High Street.

I have struggled to find a midi skirt that actually suits my style let alone  a bright coloured, leather one. I found this one on Asos.com, it's a bit expensive for me at £90 but I like the styling of the outfit and inspires me to wear the A-line midi's I already own, just need to lose that last bit of baby podge from my tummy!

 I do love a pair of cats eye sunglasses, these are from asos.com, I've ordered the tortoise shell one's above and some plain black ones. I'm very excited about this!

Here's a cute preppy look from asos.com (yeah the Americana look is all about Asos!) The diner style shirt, gingham skirt and I love the peep-toe heels with white ankle socks.

This cute gingham bowling shirt is from the Fred Perry By Amy Winehouse S/S 2012 collection. As we all know Amy herself loved a bit of 1950s Americana styling, so get this shirt and the gingham pumps below (also Fred Perry By Amy Winehouse) in memory of the fabulous Miss Winehouse.

 

I liked this image from Topshop.com from their Twice As Nice promo for Short Suits. This one fits the Americana trend with it's pastel shades and bra top ensemble, I think I was drawn to the image by her hair, love it!

I thought these pep hole white brogues from Topshop.com would look real preppy with a pair of ankle socks and a gingham or pastel shade midi full skirt.

Of course I couldn't do 1950s Americana without a few Vivien of Holloway lovelies. The gingham Bustier halter top above is fantastic and a great alternative to the crop bra tops. I have this one on order along with the new 1950s jeans and a gypsy top. I shall blog about these asap as I wait for my parcel to arrive....very impatiently!!

I was very excited to find this image on vivienofholloway.com I, of course, love the pink halter circle dress, but check out the car and the male model, he's just stepped out of the diner to go pick up his sweetheart in his chevy! Haha! I have no idea what the car is, even my car enthusiast husband Phil didn't know. I thought i'd just blag it.

Black sateen halter pencil dress (above) and black and white large gingham check halter circle dress (below) both from Vivien Of Holloway

 This car print top (above) is from Primark, it is amazing, I bought it yesterday for £8!!!! It wins the prize for the best catwalk copy this season, the original version from Prada is seen below on the Elle UK February cover girl Dakota Fanning. I tried on the matching Primark pleat midi skirt too but laughed myself out of the changing rooms, it was hideous on me! ND xx

Peplums - Work That Skirt!

Peplums.... Worn the wrong way can borderline middle aged mother of the bride Circa 1984 but get it right and you shall achieve retro cool. Getting it right? That's the problem.

Peplums were originally pretty big in the demure 1940s and then had a bad taste polyester suit return during the 1980s. Despite the amount of fashion crimes involving Peplums that I witnessed as a child during the 1980s there are some styles that are super cool.

Oh God, I'm having more Peplum flashbacks, I'm also visualising them on the older female characters on The Cosby Show and early Fresh Prince of Bel air...or were they old? Hilary Banks for example....now she worked her Peplum but still, for me, managed to look at least 10 years older than she was.....wanting to look more grown-up, power suits and that, can age a person......you get the idea.

So whether you are going for the 1940s style Peplum or revisiting the 1980s the idea is to let the Peplum flatter your shape - giving the illusion of a smaller waist or making boy hips (hello Me) look more curvy, the hourglass figure is what we are trying to achieve here, all nipped in and pushed out in the right places. You don't want to highlight areas on your body that you are not happy with, get it right and there is a peplum for everyone....probably....I'm not gonna take my research any further than this...What I am trying to say is don't age yourself by making the wrong peplum choice and end up mother of the bride rather than retro cool.

Here's some Peplums that I quite like, believe me this was hard, I didn't realise there were any peplums that I quite liked!

These Peplums above are two contrasting versions from the A/W 2011 shows, the (top) bright and exaggerated version from Giambattista Valli, I'm loving the colours on this one and the sheer size of the peplum! Above the skinny black and sheer polka dot style from Stella McCartney would definitely be more flattering in black but I think I'll go for the colour option, despite Stella's polka-dots beckoning me in. 

                  

 

Now I am not inlove with all of these versions but I thought I'd put them all up to explain why.....I am loving the first black peplum in silk worn with the stripey top, it looks very chic and cool. The second is quite cute in pink, the third in blue, I am not really feeling the feathers - is that what they are? -  although I like the idea of using other materials for peplums or just wearing them in a different way. The Forth white dress is killing me...Hello Krystle Carrington, it couldn't be anymore Dynasty could it? I am usually a lover of 80s fashion but I don't want to look like a Middle-aged woman from the 1980s, I don't care how fabulous Alexis was!!

Above are two demure 1940s inspired versions from my fave Vivien of Holloway, they have more of a peplum detail rather than an actual peplum but it shows you other options if you're not going for the full on peplum.

This skirt ( I originally thought it was a dress) has been inspired by the 1980s with its bodycon mini style and satin look peplum, it's from Quontum at Asos and there are various versions including dresses available and currently all in the sale, which is a bonus. I have a bodycon dress from Quontum they use great quality fabrics for bodycon! I might have to buy myself this, it's growing on me and lycra is still my friend until my normal waist comes back.

How about this for a modern take on the peplum dress? It's a Louise Amstrup Printed Dress available at Asos, it isn't cheap but it's cool. It incorporates a peplum with digital prints, that's two trends in one. Yey! It also inspires me to perhaps try out a bit of layering with oversized t-shirts and floaty mini skirts currently in my wardrobe to create this silhouette for myself. You try it too! I'm full of confidence about this aren't I? If I don't ever blog an image of  my home styled peplum, you know it went wrong!

Here's another idea to create your own peplum, I have chosen this cute gypsy top from Vivien of Holloway but I reckon any top or t-shirt will do as long as it is long enough. Just whack a belt around your waist and ta-da! Instant Peplum!

All images are sourced from Vivienofholloway.com, Victoriawolf.com, thefashionspot.com, asos.com and are available with links on my Pinterest Boards http://pinterest.com/nodebutante/ 

Happy Peplums!

Fade to Gray

I have started collecting together images from the A/W 2012 collections but still have so much to say about the collections for this S/S, after all this is the season we are approaching. To be honest most of the collections that I have gone for from the A/W collections could all be worn in the Summer too (especially in the cold depths of the UK!) I am loving Jeremy Scott's A/W collection and shall be blogging about him in due course but I really think I have found 'My New Favourite Designer' in Louise Gray. Bright colours, clashing prints, crazy styling and great accessories and  hairstyles every time! So before I show you my favourites from her A/W 2012 collection, I would like to share my favourites from Louise Gray's S/S 2012 Collection..........whilst the baby is sleeping.

Let's start with the hair, pink, curled, braids, Love it! This outfit does have the naive look of a fashion student creation, with it's crazy embellishment on sheer fabrics but that's what gives this piece it's charm. It's playful and a bit punk and reminds me of the garments I used to make for my fashion label Phlem back in the day BC (before children) I will deffo get these early 2000's creations up here soon.!!

The hair is verging on platinum dreads here an area I could get dangerously close to without looking like a white rasta. Loving the bright colours and batik-like clashing prints. The construction of these pieces kind of take a back step with this Louise Gray collection, it's more about the styling and how you wear it. You could get this look by mixing prints on t-shirts and skirts and accessorising with more clashing scarves, well that's what I'll probably do anyway. 

I am really into wearing t-shirts under dresses at the moment. you can do it with any sleeveless dress pretty much, it's very 1990s which is what we're aiming for here. Well for me it's an 80s / 90s mash-up. This mix print dress looks really cute with the little white top underneath and finished off with cute frilly ankle socks and wedge sandels. Love it!

I was going to choose one or two of these images but loved them all so here they are! Lots of mix prints and layering here with tassles, scarves and net fascinators. I am loving the way the hair has been made to look more textured and bigger using bits of ribbon and fabric. I could make my short hair look longer doing this....Well in my head I can, I shall blog it if this plan ever works out!

Here are more versions of the fabric hair extensions, I just love it! It's a little bit grunge (stay away from the 90s Crusty look please - I have been saying this to most Bristol bohemians for the past 10 years, but they ain't listening!...uh-oh maybe they are turning ME into one of them! I need to leave Bristol!) It reminds me of Haysi Fantayzee - a much hated (it seems to my horror) band from the 80s featuring 90s clubber DJ Jeremy Healy - the styling is very similar to this collection anyway. See below.

 We also cannot forget Strawberry Switchblade who were the Queens of big be-ribboned crimped hair...I love them....

Louise Gray I think you are fantastic! I shall attempt to covet you this year . Get layering and clashing kids!