Styling statement trousers

Wearing a strong pattern can be a bit of a challenge.  I have a great pair of trousers from Matalan but although I love them I sometimes struggle to style them.  

So how do you style a pair of very strongly patterned statement tousers?  

The key is if you go patterned on the bottom keep it plain on the top.  The shape of these trousers is a cigarette pant shape – slim fitting with a flat waistband.  A very 1960’s inspired look.  Matalan statement trousers via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

I co-ordinated the trousers with a cobalt blue shirt and jumper combo plus nude pointy flats for a bit of glamour.   

Matalan statement trousers via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

 Matalan statement trousers via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

I carried on the slightly 60s vibe with full hair and blue eye make-up. Matalan statement trousers via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog  

Matalan statement trousers via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog 

So would you go for a crazy pattern on your legs like me?  

Blouse – Primark

Jumper – BHS

Trousers – Matalan

Shoes – Dorothy Perkins

 

H&M Conscious Collection 2015

The H&M 2015 Conscious Collection has just gone live in store and online, and oh my, its a great one!  I have a few pieces from previous collections and they are all amazing quality and that bit more unusual and I always get comments when wearing them.

What is H&M’s conscious collection?  Well its built on seven commitments from the company, the plan being to create a better fashion future.

The commitments are:

This year the campaign is fronted by actress Olivia Wilde and the pieces are just stunning, as well as sustainable and beneficial to the producers.  H&M released the press statement below-

H&M is proud to announce that Olivia Wilde, actress and humanitarian, will be the face of H&M’s latest Conscious Exclusive campaign. Olivia, well known for her commitment to sustainability and her engagement for environmental causes will appear in the campaign wearing pieces from the collection. Conscious Exclusive will be available in around 200 H&M stores worldwide on April 16, as well as online.

I totally love this range…

My top picks:

Maxi dress £149.99

 Ruffle dress £39.99

Tuxedo jacket £79.99 & trousers £59.99 Coat £59.99

T-shirt £12.99, Maxi skirt £99.99

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Dress £39.99

 Long ruffled dress £79.99

Leather jacket £199.99

Its all just gorgeous!  Theres lots more to choose from too. All are available instore and in limited quantities on-line from H&M now.

Having just come back from Scandinavia having spent loads in H&M I think my bank balance is going to take another knocking!!!  What do you think?  Do you love the collection too?

All photos via hm.com 

 

Dita Von Teese – Starlift lingerie

A couple of days ago Dita Von Teese ran two photos one after the other on her Instagram feed showing one of her new lingerie lines.   

I just love the fact there are showing the range on two different body shapes without any fuss or fanfare.  Each look is slightly different but still strong, sexy and feminine and fits to the Dita Van Teese brand look.

Her lingerie is just gorgeous and is quite clearly is designed for any girl who wants it.  Its not ‘plus size’, its not ‘main range’, its just the range.  

I think wearing pretty/sexy/fun lingerie makes all woman feel good.  It definitely works for me. We are all different shapes and sizes and 99% of us do not have model bodies – if we did we’d be all be working as models.  Its lucky really, who would do all the other jobs?!?

The sets look great regardless…and thats the point. Thanks Dita x

Photos via Instagram

Meow!!!

Its a busyish Tuesday, I’ve got work to do, my son is still off school on his Easter break, the sun is shining and its a jeans and t-shirt kinda day for me…

topshop tee and boyfriend jeans look via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

I’ve teamed a boxy cat face t-shirt from TopShop with a boyfriend cut jean and a lowish heel patent studded shoe.  Being a shortie I’ve rolled and sewed the jeans to just above ankle length – as they are a bargain price pair from Primark a bit of customisation can make all the difference.  Plus a shorter length makes them much more flattering for the more petite girl. 

topshop tee and boyfriend jeans look via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

 

topshop tee and boyfriend jeans look via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

Plus I’m wearing some oversized cat eye sunglasses…of course! 😻😸😻.  This pair from ASOS are showstoppers.  I love their 50’s vibe…topshop tee and boyfriend jeans ASOS sunglasses look via Always a Blue Sky Girl blog

Have a great day whatever youre up to this Sunny Tuesday whether your feeling laid back like me, or dressed up to the nines…

T-shirt – TopShop

Jeans – Primark

Shoes – George at Asda

Sunglasses – ASOS

Love is in the air…well on my chest at least!

A few weeks back I blogged about how I had fallen in love with quite a few items from M&Co.’s SS15 range (see blog here). I decided to treat myself to a couple of pieces and today I’m wearing a casual look with the ‘LOVE’ jumper I just had to have! 

When I saw this jumper I wanted it immediately. A grey marl knit with flecks of pink and a hot pink intarsia logo spelling “love xx” it is perfect for a easy casual outfit.  I’m wearing a size 10 here and I’d say its a normal/slightly generous fit.  M&Co.’s main range runs 10-20 so if you want a size 8 you need to go to the petite section.

 

 

I wore the jumper with dark indigo skinny jeans from New Look and heeled boots from Marks and Spencer.  I added a pink vest from Matalan underneath for an extra pop of colour and some co-ordinating lipstick.  I also added two necklaces from Claires Accessories for a pretty layered effect. 

I think I’m in love with my new jumper! It is lovely quality, with a dense yet soft knit and well worth the money. Look out for the other fabulous M&Co. item I bought in a future blog coming soon.

NEWSFLASH – This is now £14 in the sale… grab it before it sells out!

Jumper – M&Co. 

Vest – Matalan

Necklaces – Claires Accessories 

Jeans – New Look

Boots – Marks & Spencer

Bonmarché Blogger Swap Challenge

A few weeks ago I was contacted asking if I wanted to take part in a 30-plus fashion blogger challenge.  I jumped at the chance (having just turned 42 I more than fitted the bill!)  The idea was to team up pairs of bloggers and for them to pick an outfit for each other from the current SS15 Bonmarché range.  

I was teamed with the lovely Charli, blogger of CurvyGirlThin and I got to work picking her out an outfit I hoped she’d love – Charli’s blog features clothes and lingerie reviews from a curvy girls perspective so check her blog out to see my outfit choice for her.  My package duly arrived and I was thrilled with it.  Charli and I must be psychic because we both picked the same hero piece – a gorgeous colbalt blue biker jacket for each other!

The outfit chosen for me was contemporary daytime look that could be dressed up for an evening – biker jacket, black slim leg jeans, a white vest and a statement necklace.  You can see why I was happy!  I added my own shoes – black and leopard print flats and was ready to go!  The David Emanuel jacket is a real hero piece – a strong colbalt blue but not too bright and made from a soft, moleskin type fabric.  I wore a UK size 10 – its a good fit and also looks great zipped up which isn’t always the case with a biker style jacket.









To make the look a bit more ‘fashion’ I rolled up the jeans slightly.  For a daytime look I would throw on a leopard print scarf – this also ties together the print on my shoes and I think looks super chic.  The jean length unrolled works well too (see photo) and again gives you different style choices if say, you were wearing a heeled boot.





The jeans themselves were a great fit.  I wore the size 10 with a 27″ inside leg.  At 5’2″ this was the perfect petite length for me and I was very impressed with the fit.  I’d say the sizing is true/slightly generous and if you’re in between sizes go down a size. They were tight enough, but not skin tight and with 2% elastane had a great stretch fit.  The bit I liked best about them was the way they sat on your waist – I find once you have reached an *ahem* certain age, lower rise jeans are just a nightmare for bulges and unflattering muffin tops. These jeans were very flattering and comfortable and perfect for if like me, after kids your tummy and waist isnt what it once was.

The necklace featuring the colbalt blue of the biker jacket finished the look off, however a necklace of this style isnt quite ‘me’ and I personally would probably have gone for something a bit more edgy without the ‘bling’ of diamanté or a scarf as I styled it.  I do love a big statement necklace and will most likely co-ordinate this outfit with one I already have – but lets be honest, jewellery is a very personal thing!  I think this particular necklace would look great worn with one of the David Emanuel dresses. 


I really love this look and think it works on lots of levels. I have to say, I have been really impressed by both the quality and fit of the items and will definitely be popping in to my local store to see what other pieces I can add to my SS15 wardrobe.

Jacket – c/o David Emanuel at Bonmarché*

Vest – c/o Bonmarché*

Jeans – c/o Bonmarché* 

Necklace – c/o Bonmarché* 

All available here

Scarf – Primark

Shoes – Dorothy Perkins

International Womens Day

So today, 8th March 2015 is International Womens Day. A day to celebrate being female – to be proud to be a woman, a feminist, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a lover and a friend.  

To remember the women who came before us and fought for us and our rights.  And the women who taught us, nurtured us and loved us.  The ones who continue to inspire us to be better human beings whether we are male or female.





Do we need days like today?  I’ll be honest, part of me finds it slightly patronising – the fact there is a yearly ‘day’ separates us and thats part of the issue.  I doubt there would be much noise about an International Mens Day.  But ultimately days like this are about empowerment, knowledge and creating change and that can’t be a bad thing.  Lets remember, women are still oppressed throughout the world, earn less than men and are subject to physical and sexual violence.  There is still sexism in many workplaces and as women we are still judged mainly on our appearance. 



Feminism has become a dirty word recently but ultimately it is all about equality for all – not that men are bad or women are better (or vice versa).  The below quote sums it up for me – 



So for me, today is being proud of being a woman, supporting other women and continuing to fight for equality where there is none.  To feel lucky I was bought up by a strong, intelligent woman, who in turn had a strong woman as her mother.  To feel lucky I grew up believing I could be anything I wanted to be.  And to be proud of the woman I am now – I revel in my femininity, love to dress up and be pretty.  I embrace my sexual power and use to it my advantage.  Does that make me a weak woman?  No – its who I am and I am proud of that!  I am also strong, articulate, confident and full of opinions!!!

But for me – 



Lets make every day our day – only we can seize the many different opportunities that present themselves and that takes bravery.  We are women – hear us roar!!!

Sarah xx

All images sourced via http://www.Instagram.com

National Christmas Jumper Day

Ok, I’m going to come clean – I’m not really a Christmas jumper type person. I love fun fashion definitely…but looking like a clown? No thanks! However over the last few years there’s been some gorgeous Christmas jumpers and there’s something so festive about wearing one. And for someone like me thats great!

I also like a good cause and today is Save the Children’s National Christmas Jumper Day. The idea is simple – wear a jumper and make a donation – £2 if you’re and adult and £1 if you’re a kid. After searching everywhere (and not wanting to spend a fortune) I finally found a jumper I liked in the kids section of Store21. If you’re not familiar with Store21 (the old Ethel Austin) check it out – its really got some hidden gems all at bargain prices. It is pretty and girlie, baby blue yet still Christmassy…and I do love a Robin! If you’re a size 10 the age 11-12yrs kids will fit you. No VAT to pay either!
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I smartened the look up by wearing a white shirt underneath, skinny jeans and worker style boots.
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Look – they are kissing under the mistletoe 🙂

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I also added a pair of snowflake earrings to add to the festive look.

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Did you take part? Did you go full on Christmas or more muted like me? Whatever way we wore it its still a great way to raise money for a fantastic charity.
Jumper: Store21
Shirt: South at Very
Jeans: Dorothy Perkins
Earrings: New Look
Boots: New Look

A bit of Magic & Sparkle

I was in London a few weeks ago and popped into the huge Marble Arch M&S store for a browse and to check out the Christmas windows (old window dressing habits die hard). Out of all the areas Limited Collection is my favourite brand and the area I buy most from. At 41 I guess I’m technically a bit old for it – but I don’t care about that – I’m a firm believer in that age is just a number and I’m going to be a fashionable pensioner!!! Topshop better be really for me in 2040ish !!!!

The one item that stood out in Limited Collection to me was a white t-shirt with black print and diamanté embellishment that said ‘make your own magic’. I loved the words and at £19.50 it was a great price too. I went for the size 10 – its a slightly loose fit so if you want very fitted go a size smaller.
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For todays look I teamed it with skinny Jeans, metallic pointed shoes & a long M&S waterfall cardigan as I am always cold and its winter! I also bought some lovely earrings from Forever 21 while in London for only £3.50. They are diamanté with a curved pearl drop…I love them!

I love this t-shirt and think it will work well for casual and formal wear. While in Limited Collection I also bought a patent look PVC mini skirt to wear with it tucked in. Will feature that look nearer Christmas.

I think this top is going to become a favourite with me…
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T-shirt – Limited Collection at Marks & Spencer
Jeans – Dorothy Perkins
Cardigan – Marks & Spencer
Shoes – Primark
Earrings – Forever 21