Challenge day 26 : Wear a bold coat with simple essentials.

I have managed to get to Day 26 without worrying that I don’t own the item needed…until today. I don’t own a bold coat because they just aren’t my cup of tea. I can’t remember when I last owned a bright coloured coat ( maybe when I had a bright red one at about 7yr old) so my heart sank when I saw this challenge, should I borrow, beg or steal one! No because then it would not be my style or my interpretation of the challenge. So then with a light bulb moment I realised that bold doe’s not have to be colourful, patterned or with bells on but it could be bold for its shape. The perfect example of this is a Vivienne Westwood ( I like Vivienne Westwood coats) that I have had for a good few years now and it is asymmetrical and unusual in its draping. It is basically like a big snuggle from a huge blanket and when I first got it I wore it to death. It is a comfortable hug of a coat and even with the temperatures rising ( slightly) it is very lightweight and easy to wear.
I have teamed this coat with simple essentials as the challenge requests so my new “mom” jeans and converse were the obvious choice.
Do you own bold coat?  If so, please tell me about it.

Which has been your favourite challenge so far? I think mine is Wear the item that you have been “saving”, Simple and classic .

Have a great day

Take care

Amanda x

Coat: Vivienne Westwood : SIMILAR HERE and SIMILAR HERE

“Mom” Jeans HERE

Converse: HERE

Bag: Sophie Hulme: SIMILAR HERE

Challenge day 25: Dress up distressed jeans.

Loving the last few days of the challenge, today is what I normally do.. Jeans, jacket, heels is my uniform, although I am being a bit more adventurous thanks to this challenge and a few things I will be carrying forward to my everyday style. 
Distressed boyfriend jeans can be worn whatever your age I think and dressed up or down they are so easy to wear. 
I have worn them today with an Equipment silk shirt, Missoni Jacket, Asos silver heels and Next silver belt. The silver shoes are a new purchase from Asos and I know that I can wear them with lots of things in my wardrobe, I am now on the hunt for some metallic flats and may purchase some brogue type “man” shoes, which look great with boyfriend jeans and feminine shirt/blouse.

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are sitting down, I have now in my possession a bright PINK pleated midi skirt..Yes you heard it, this challenge has sent me into a colour frenzy and the colour fairy has put a spell on me for sure. I don’t know when I shall wear said skirt, maybe on mothers day. When I tried it on my little Charlie said “OH Mummy you look like a princess!” My eldest on the other hand said I looked like a big fairy, before disappearing back into his bat cave, so opinion is divided and I am hanging onto the princess theory.

Have you worn something that is out of your comfort zone lately?
Please let me know.

Take care 
Amanda x

Jeans: Asos: HERE

Shirt: HERE

Jacket: Missoni: SIMILAR HERE

Shoes: Asos: HERE

Belt: Next HERE

Challenge day 24: Layer in an unexpected way.

Straight away when I saw this challenge I thought “Superman” …..pants over leggings. That would be very unexpected when I picked the kids up from school, and I white tight jacket with lots of straps would probably be my next outfit!
Bra over top? That would be unexpected too.
Keeping it realistic and legal I decided to go for the new trend of dress over jeans/trousers. 
I actually like this look, but I think for me without it looking ridiculous the dress length has to be quiet short. A long dress with trousers would make me look like I am trying to impersonate Will-i-am, so I stuck with a shift dress with leather detail at the bottom.
It is a great look if you are feeling a bit thick on the thighs because it cuts that area out and starts showing the legs at their slimmer parts, so that's a bonus!
I went for black on black as well which is a stark contrast from yesterdays post in my summery mustard, but today was like another season, dark, dull and really chilly.
How would you layer in an unexpected way? I would be interested to hear.
I have got a few treats from ASOS to spruce up my wardrobe, so I will share them with you over the next few days ( challenge’s permitting) 
I have also been asked to guest blog for, believe it or not Strata homes. They have started a blog and wanted a fashion input on trends and styles that would influence interiors. I am really excited about it and thrilled that in only a couple of months things are already looking promising. 
I must also say that I am grateful for all my readers and I love all of the comments which I do try to answer to each and everyone.
Until tomorrow..
Take care

Amanda x

Jeans: HERE

Dress: The Kooples ( old) SIMILAR HERE

Slip-on shoes: HERE

Coat: VivienneWestwood

Bag: Sophie Hulme

Challenge day 23: Wear a colour you haven’t worn for a while.

Happy glorious spring Sunday! What a great weekend, BBQ’s were being dusted of across the country no doubt and that feeling of warmth on your skin is like meeting a long lost friend. 
Today's challenge did worry me a bit, being Miss black and cream I did have to think about this, and when I opened my wardrobe the lack of colour was evident. So the summer wardrobe was scanned and I decided to pick a silk mustard top I have had forever from French Connection. I love this colour with gold accessorises and red lippy, so feeling all summery teamed it with mustard yellow sandals and jeans.
It was lunch with the family today and I had a lot of compliments on the colour and my outfit. It really has surprised me during this challenge that to go outside of your comfort zone but to keep inside of your own style really works. I will definitely wear more colour and have infact just ordered a pink pleated midi skirt from ASOS which I wouldnt have gone for before. I am not saying I will go as far as mixing prints but baby steps..
Which colour do you seem to avoid and why? Please let me know.
Hope you have all enjoyed the sunshine, enjoy the rest of your evening.

Amanda x

Top: French Connection (old) SIMILAR HERE

Jeans Topshop Baxter: HERE

Sandals (old)  SIMILAR HERE

Bag : Chloe

Bracelets: Hermes

Necklace:  Mawi HERE

Challenge day 22: Keep it simple in skinnies and a sweater.

Yippee! My kind of challenge, especially on a Saturday..Perfect. 
I am feeling a bit under the weather so I wanted to be comfortable and skinnies and a sweater is exactly what I would normally wear when feeling like this. 
After sending Mr HOL out to do the shopping for me,  I had a little route around in his wardrobe as I wanted to wear a loose fitting fine knit jumper and Voila! I got my hands on a black V-neck cashmere wool loveliness by MCQ Alexander McQueen and it was the exact fit for me , loose on the arms and body but not massive.

 I have acquired a fawn coloured MCQ jumper from Mr HOL as it had made it into the tumble dryer and didn’t fit him anymore (Ooops!) so I am now looking at this one and I can feel little devil horns sprouting through my hair…. 
I didn't go as far as borrowing his jeans and quiet frankly if they fitted I would be in a deep depression!
So I teamed the black jumper with my favourite skinnies from Topshop and to give the outfit a bit of a zhoosh, I wore Micheal Kors shoe boots and bright orange Mulberry bag .

Jumper: MCQ (mens) HERE

Jeans: Topshop SIMILAR HERE

Shoe boots Micheal Kors: SIMILAR HERE

Challenge day 21: Belt your outerwear.

Well the "challenge gods” were shining on me today (or so I thought) ..After 30 minutes of trying to make my coats look nice with various belts all of which made me look like a sack of spuds tied in the middle, a delivery from French Connection arrived with a cream trench coat WITH belt. Brilliant! my challenge is done…Ummm.
 I have been looking for a beige/tan coloured classic trench coat for a while and thought I had found the perfect one. It is totally the wrong colour it looked darker on the picture and wouldn’t last two minutes with a sticky fingered toddler who wants picking up every second (like me, he is not fond of walking) and it is far to stiff. The fabric is quite thick and doesn’t move like the cotton ones I am in search of. So please if you have seen the elusive trench coat I am after please tell me.

So I have half filled the challenge…... What do you think to this trench coat?

I wore it with some black leather and jersey trousers, black shirt, tartan scarf and skater shoes.
I hope to be back on form tomorrow because it is a challenge with my name on it.

Trench coat: French Connection HERE

Trousers: Just Cavalli 

Tartan scarf: Alexander McQueen

Skater shoes: Kurt Geiger: HERE

Challenge day 20 : Dress down your favourite black dress.

I can’t believe I am on day 20 of the challenge, only 10 more to go and I am going to buy myself a little medal for my great achievement !
Today's challenge was unusual for me as you know I am not a great fan of a skirt in the day, so to wear a black dress and dress it down was pushing me to my comfort limits!
I chose a dress that was in a jersey material so instantly it felt easier to wear in the day, it is a pencil dress with a peplum around the waist which is extremely handy to cover any lumps and bumps or Sunday lunch, and is a really simple and classic shape.
To dress it down a teamed it with a soft leather biker jacket and some classic Chanel ballet pumps and Gucci bag.
I would normally wear this type of dress with a heel but when I put the heels on it instantly dressed it up, so sticking to the brief I went for the ballet pumps.
How would you dress down a black dress? 
I have included a picture of Spiderman who kept photo bombing me and was determined to get in the pictues! 

Take care 

Amanda x

Dress: French Connection SIMILAR HERE

Jacket:  Muubaa SIMILAR HERE

Ballet pumps : Chanel 

Bag:  Gucci