Styling Primrose Park AW16

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Top - Primrose Park, Gilet - Gushlow and Cole, Jeans - Frame, Boots - Isabel Marant (available at ANNA)

Primrose Park is my own label that I wholesale to other stores and of course I sell it in ANNA.  I thought I'd take this opportunity to share a few of my favourite styling ideas and how I'll be wearing the collection this Autumn.

I love shearling so this fab pale pink gilet will be in my wardrobe and it compliments my 'Falling Leaves' print button shirt. Team with skinny jeans and Isabel Marant Dicker boots... perfect!

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Top - Primrose Park, Shirt - Current Elliott, Jeans - Frame

I've styled the Primrose Park Mandy top with a camo jacket/shirt, a client of mine informed me that this is a 'shacket'!  Well whatever it looks great with this top!

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Dress - Primrose Park, Gilet - Gushlow and Cole (available at ANNA), Hat - Rag and Bone

Another Gushlow and Cole gilet teamed up with this very easy day dress... I don't usually wear hats but I can't resist this one by Rag and Bone.

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Top - Primrose Park, Jeans - Frame

This is my favourite print from the collection and this shirt is our best selling shape, also a snip at £99!

SHOP ALL PRIMROSE PARK > 

Shorts

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Kimono - Velvet (available at ANNA), Top - Rabens Saloner (available at ANNA), Shorts - Current Elliott, Shoes - Ash, Necklace - Icon

I'm not a great lover of shorts... obviously... but sometimes I do feel the need to stop worrying about 'the leg issue' and get them on. These are my old favourites, Current Elliot ripped white shorts, I'm far too old for them but what the hell... But if like me you want to forget the age thing then wear shorts with loose forgiving layering tops, hide the bottom and tops of the thighs with a longer kaftan or kimono.
One more tip; always accessorise... it draws the eye away from the bits that you are not so keen on!

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Kimono - Rabens Saloner (available at ANNA), T-shirt - American Vintage (available at ANNA), Shorts - Current Eliott, Necklace - Icon

How to Wear a Kaftan Everyday

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Kaftan - Hartford, Vest - By Malene Birger, Espadrilles - Chanel, Necklace - Icon (available at ANNA), Jeans - Current Elliott

Every year around this time I have a shop full of kaftans, all of which I love, sadly everyone thinks that kaftans are only for swanning around on holiday. Thankfully though, I believe that there is a place for them in everyday city life so I thought I'd give you a few ideas on how to wear my favourites.

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Kaftan - One Season (available at ANNA), Vest - By Malene Birger, Necklace - Icon, Shoes - Sam Edelman, Jeans - Current Elliott

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Kaftan - Mes Demoiselles (available at ANNA),  Vest - By Malene Birger, Shoes - Golden Goose Deluxe Brand,  Jeans - Current Elliott, Necklace - Icon (available at ANNA), Cardigan - Selected Femme (available at ANNA)

Primrose Park

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Top - Primrose Park, Trousers - Primrose Park

Primrose Park is my own collection that is available at ANNA but also other fabulous stores; The Cross, Precious, Cavells... to name a few.

The label was created for women that love colour and print, I totally believe that the older we get the more colour and print we should wear!  Greys, black and beige can be safe but terribly draining so try and steer clear of these dull colours next to your face.

This ikat shirt and trouser set is perfect for loads of occasions, dress it up with heels or wear separately teaming the top with jeans and wearing the trousers relaxed with a t-shirt and pumps!

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Dress - Primrose Park, Hat - Star Mela, Shoes - Chanel, Necklace - Icon (available at ANNA)

This dress is fresh and fun, the print is clean and vibrant.  I've teamed it with my Chanel espadrilles (summer treat to myself!), a hat and an Icon Buddha necklace. An effortless holiday outfit.

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Kimono - Primrose Park, Vest - By Malene Birger, Necklace - Icon (available at ANNA), Jeans - Current Elliott, Espadrilles - Chanel

I think kimonos are a must in everyone's wardrobe; perfect over a summer dress, a pair of shorts or try just jazzing up a vest and jeans.

SHOP MY OUTFIT: Dress - Primrose Park, Necklace - Zozishine, Bangle - Zozishine, Espadrille

This is one of our best selling dresses in a sand washed silk.  It feels lovely to wear and can be dressed up with wedges or worn relaxed with flats.

The Primrose Park collection can be found at: ANNA, The Cross, Precious, Cavells, Bibi, Anya, Bod & Ted, Coco Blue, Doodie Stark, Katharine Bird, Toil and Glitter, NO 42.

See Concept

I found these fab little specs in Paris on one of my many trips scouting around.

They were in a lovely concept store called Merci.  They are now available in various stores across Paris and London and I can absolutely see why...

They are a must for everyone that needs magnified help when reading... my arms just aren't long enough any more and it's really uncool to hold the menu at arms length in one of those swanky eateries.  Mind don't get me onto restaurants in London... maybe that will be my next blog post, when was it acceptable to think £150 per head is reasonable??????

Sorry, back to See Concept, the company was started by a couple of cute French boys straight out of Uni, they sell the brand themselves and the passion remains at the heart of the company.

They vision strength ranges from +0  to +3 they come in an array of colours so that you can be really mad or quite straight, they are bendy and really well priced £29 -£39, so you can buy a couple of pairs to suit your mood.... as you can see I went for MAD!

We also sell the sunnies that also come 0  to +3.

Available in ANNA stores.

A Day in The Life of...

Joseph coat, Raquel Allegra knit, Primrose Park shirt, Rag and bone trousers and my faithful rafs.

This is a typical day in my ANNA life.

I start my day bizarrely enough at 6:40am wake up call for 7:10 Barrys Bootcamp! 

Breakfast usually on the run after juicing for RP. Today i am off to a few buying appointments.

 I walk to appointments whenever i can and i am lucky because regents park is my shortcut to the west end. 

OMG! I've just bumped into my BF in the park, quick catch up with her then off i go again. 

 First stop, Chinti and Parker http://www.shopatanna.com/chinti-parker/

I love Chinti and the new collection doesn't disappoint. Emoji jumpers, how cool!

 Next up, Odd Molly.

 This season sees the return of Odd Molly in ANNA.

The Tribute collection is very strong and i can see the original quirky style has returned.  

Whilst choosing my pieces for the stores i have a quick bite and some water, more often than not i drink too much coffee and eat too many biscuits in the appointments, its good to get some real food!

 My last appointment today, is Frame Denim http://www.shopatanna.com/frame-denim/

 Here i am with Sam making my selection. I am very conscious of choosing the correct shapes and washes for my client base rather than high trend driven, niche pieces. Everything in ANNA is personally picked by me. I like everything but obviously i am only ever one size and one age at one time so i can't wear everything all the time. 

I end the day with a quick meeting with the GM of ANNA who is on a shop visit at primrose hill. psssst... Yoga 6:45pm, nutter!!

Dressing up for Christmas

I'm off to a big concert event that my husbands company puts on each year, I'm told it's an informal Christmassy evening, oh no... what do I wear to that! Well this is my idea of easy concert dressing! You can't go wrong with black legging/jeans by Rag and Bone and a statement sequin cami from good old Topshop!  (And of course, my fav Raf trainers!) 

Next we're off to our friends fantastic Christmas Party at their gorgeous home in Belgravia, I've got this dress from Saloni, it's new in and I bought it to have for my holiday but I think it works brilliantly well as a coat over my Zara velvet slip dress.... Lucy Choi glitter shoes, always a winner during the festive season, also super comfy!!

Or... try the Zara slip dress with a cardi and heels for a Christmas supper.

Finally, Christmas eve without sequins just isn't festive!  Try this cheeky sequin pencil skirt by Malene Birger... my Christmas treat!

Have a sparkly Christmas!

Audrey

On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of introducing Roman Holiday at the Primrose Hill Film Club. The Primrose Hill Film Club is a great community run project that shows world and classic cinema and offers to showcase short films by local film makers. It was a great honour for me to introduce Roman Holiday as Audrey Hepburn has always been my style icon.

Audrey was born to a Dutch mother and an English father in 1929. She began acting after failing to reach her dream of becoming a ballet dancer.  She was brought to the worlds attention after appearing in Roman Holiday for which she won an Oscar.

After appearing in American vogue and becoming Givenchy's muse the world embraced her and recognised her unique beauty. Audrey believed that her iconic style came from Mr Givenchy and never recognised the beauty that came from with in her. She believed her feet and ears too big and the rest of her too flat!! But she was obviously wrong about that! Hepburn became the worlds most adored style icon, AND she has just been voted Britain's most stylish icon of all time....22 years after her death!

Her iconic image is replicated all over the world by all sorts of women, her uniform cropped Capri pants, flat ballet shoes and LBD's are still best selling items in fashion stores today. But I believe like Mr Givenchy that beauty and style come from within the person. You cannot buy style. Audrey Hepburn had beauty everywhere. Her voice was soft and mesmerising, her eyes were always expressive and dancing and her personality was playful and forever child like. She said of Hubert de Givenchy, ' his are the only clothes in which I am myself. He is far more than a couturier, he is a creator of personality!' How true this is, I always say to my clients, if you feel comfortable and confident you will look and feel beautiful, however beautiful clothes WILL NOT make you feel beautiful and confident!!

 Audrey will always be our style icon.

Saloni, £195

Joseph, £205

French Sole, £90

Pastels

Spring is here so I've embraced the season with pastels even though it continues to rain!  I feel fresh and summery and I'm still managing to keep warm. I've teamed my Velvet pink sweat with these uber trendy Levi's 501 CT jeans, these are a season 'must have' if you can get them, they sell like hot cakes!! 

I bought this By Malene Birger coat last year for a wedding, worn with a cream dress it looked elegant and smart but I love the fact that I can now wear it dressed down with jeans, that's what I call economising!!  Mango does a similar one for a fraction of the price.

You can't go wrong with a Grenson brogue!

As you know by now I love to accessorise, this scarf works well with pastels or navy, also it's a lovely sarong on holiday! 

My lovely friend gave me the Balenciaga cuff, a real treat for my 50th!

WHAT I WORE...

Coat - By Malene Birger (find similar here) | Sweat - Velvet (available at ANNA) | Necklace - L'atelier Clandestin (available at ANNA) | Jeans - Levi's | Shoes - Grensons | Scarf - ANNA | Cuff- Balenciaga