Sartorial Corner: Jeans in winter

 I battle with getting dressed for winter. If you read my blog often you might have figured this out by now. The countless posts on how to wear the winter skirt, the winter beanie and the winter coat has simply been a way to help myself cope with dressing for winter.

Look, as much as I want to be trendy and stylish, my style is mostly dictated by the fact that I’m a mother. I need to be able to run after my son all the time. Needless to say I spend a lot of time in jeans and Converse (or boots). Yes, we can’t all be Victoria Beckham. The same goes for my style during the winter months. It needs to be cosy and comfortable; yet something I wouldn’t mind being seen in by the fashion police.  Jeans is always my item of choice but, it does not always guarantee warmth.

This post is dedicated to finding ways to accessorise old faithful so you can show the cold a thing or two. If you have any tips on making your wardrobe more winter appropriate, please share them with me. Goodness knows I need them. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy the pictures.  

A statement coat will make even the dullest of jeans look polished. 

You can wear jeans top to bottom and add your own pieces for comfort. 

Add a stunning pair of boots. 

Layer up! 

* I do not take credit for the images in this post.

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

Pencil me in.

I live for pencil skirts. They are just about the only kind of skirts I can wear without looking frumpy. When your behind is as big as mine you dont take chances looking frumpy. 

However, pencil skirts are often associated with the more formal or corporate world and its not an item you would consider to be casual. But fashion leaves nothing untouched. I love the idea that a pencil skirt can be dressed up or down. This post is dedicated  to finding ways to making the pencil skirt an everyday item instead of only for the office.

Denim anything is the perfect way to bring some casual into your wardrobe. And a plaid shirt; but tuck it in to give you that carefree but polished look.

Or try a bad ass leather skirt and take it a step further with a leather jacket.

If its slightly chilly outside pair your pencil skirt with a shirt and sweater. Side note: how cute is this skirt?

Be your most authentic self. Add layers and over-the-top shapes if your skirt is more on the plain side.

Last, but not least. Switch up the footwear. Nothing says "modern" like adding a pair of sneakers.  Add a lightweight bomber and you are good to go.

How do you wear your pencil skirt? I would love to hear from you!

*I do not take credit for the images in this post

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

HAT-trick

Hats, like  many other accessories, is a way of expressing yourself. A manner of telling people exactly who you are without saying a word.

Gone are the days when wearing hats were mainly to cover up bad  hair days. Hats have become very important accessories. Caps are no longer for the post man and big avant garde hats are no longer only for church ladies.

A hat tells the story of your personality. It's as important as the entire outfit and no longer just an after thought or a simple add on. Also, a hat is not limited to one season. It's one of those accessories that you can wear all year around.

So what is your poison?  A beret, wide-brimmed, a fedora or a baseball cap. Whatever you prefer, I am sure this post is bound to inspire you. When you wear a hat you exude the idea of confidence and mystery. It's cool, vibrant and ultimately refreshing.

How do you style your hat? Do you think hats are just as essential as the rest of the outfit? I would love to hear from you.

Image source: www.gettyimages.com

TILL LATER, LAUREN!

Basically.

My closet is a mess. Over the last five years I have made quite a few bad decisions when it came to buying clothing. Don’t get me wrong, fashion plays a major role in my day to day life. I love reading magazines and blogs and watching anything on television that has to do with fashion. After having a baby my body changed so much and it completely blindsided me.

Not in a million years could I have anticipated the amount of changes I would go through. I no longer had my flat tummy and I started to dress to cover up, well, everything. You can imagine the torture each shopping trip held for me. To make matters worse, everyone else around seemed to be in the best shapes of their lives. Needless to say, I started to shop to nurse my battered ego instead of making calculated and rational decisions.

So that is where I am at now, a wardrobe SOS. I have a few really good pieces in my closet but they are usually overshadowed by the junk that I bought in my state of weakness.  I figured now that I am finally happy with how my body looks it is time to get my act together, wipe the slate clean and try to do this right. No, my body is not in perfect shape but, now I look at myself differently. I realise that beauty comes in a myriad of shapes and sizes and, once you are at peace with how your body looks, you learn to appreciate it. It gets a lot easier to look after your body. It’s a winning situation all around. Ok, now that my Dr Phil moment is over, let’s get down to business. What better way to start afresh than to make sure I have the basics covered and then to build on that.

THE BASICS

* The white T-shirt

* The black turtleneck

* The coat

*The blazer

 *The white button down shirt

* The black long sleeve T shirt

*The neutral cardigan
* The crew neck sweater

* The basic black dress

* The leather jacket
* The versatile denim jacket

* The pencil skirt

* Jeans- that you can pair with anything

*A pair of well fitting cargo pants
* The basic black pants
* A pair of neutral flats

* Classic black heels

* Stand out heels

Once you have the basics you can add more trendy pieces to make your wadrobe more versatile. Let's see how my journey goes from here.....

* I do  not take credit for the images in this post

TILL LAUREN!

Trend watch: Pyjama Chic

My style is mostly dictated by the fact that I have a strong dislike for being uncomfortable. I hate sore feet, pants that cut into my side an even unbearable bra straps.

Over the years fashion seems to be reaching a new level of comfort.
The old saying "suffer for beauty" seems to have been replaced by designers and brands opting for looks that are not a pain to wear.

Lately, the pyjamas trend has really caught attention. Don't get me wrong...this trend is not about being seen in your old cotton pyjamas. This trend is still sleek and sophisticated albeit super comfortable.

While the pyjamas as day wear trend is all about that laid back, effortless feel; its imperative that you keep the look polished. You don't want to look like you literally just jumped out of bed and hit the streets.

There are a few things you can do to ensure that your look does not seem unkempt. Make an effort with your hair and make up. While minimal make up is fine, going without it completely might make you look washed out.

Accessories and footwear are also important. Wear stand out accessories  (things you would never be able to actually sleep in) and footwear that feminine and delicate. This is what will elevate your look from drab to pyjama chic.

Are you planning to get in on this trend? Pyjama chic definitely sounds like a trend I could learn to love. Tell me what you think.

TILL LATER, LAUREN! 

*I do not take credit for the images in this post.