Baby chic

We went to Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth a few days ago and picked up some reduced - price finds for B (and Mummy and Daddy too).  Gunwharf Keys is a collection of outlet shops and restaurants. (Zizzi's review to follow) The shops are full of last season's stuff- but if you're not a slave to current trends, this doesn't really matter. We found some lovely baby bits and bobs in Ralph Lauren and Gap. 

Jumper £30 Ralph Lauren Outlet. Bandana bib from Poppets in Hove 

Hat, t-shirt and cut off shorts, all from Gap Outlet 

Mummy Chic: Trans-seasonal workwear

Gosh, what a boring title! I was going for the sort of lingo you might see in Vogue but I made it sound like an STI.

Anyway, here's what I'm wearing today.

This is my workday-when-you-don't-know-what-the-weather's-playing-at look. 

It's all old, so I won't include links of where to buy, but I hope it'll inspire you to put some clashing patterns and textures together. top, Very.co.uk; skirt, Very.co.uk; tights, M&S; shoes; Velvet, Hove, necklace, Accessorize. 

That is all. 

Mummy Chic: Summer Dressing

So, apparently, it's summer now. We went to stay with my mum for a week and, as the weather here was miserable, we packed long sleeved tops and jumper dresses (for me- not the boys). While we were there it mysterious became summer and now we're back the dreaded Box of Summer Clothes is open.

I don't have many summer clothes and, as I'm rather a fan of a black opaque, I find summer dressing really tough. However, today I think I've nailed it. 

Later on, we're off to Hove Lagoon paddling pool ( Wait, what? It's warm enough for that? Er, yes it is!). So I am sporting a sheer lacy T-shirt from Next, my trusty pinkish White Stuff cut-offs and this swimswuit underneath. My necklace was a present from All Saints, which I've had for donkey's. 

In terms of make-up, hayfever has forced me to ditch the eye-liner so I'm compensating with bronzer. That is all. 

*Update*

B cuts a fine figure poolside as always.  

Batman swimmers, M&S Thomas jellies, Toys r us. 

Fashion Solutions...

Since I last blogged B has learned to crawl and to cruise and I've returned to work. I'm working on a post about the latter for the work blog and when it's up I'll post a (probably much less professional) version here.

As life s now ridiculously hectic I'm looking for ways to save way-too-precious time. Getting dressed is something that actually takes me ages. For better or worse I can't be one of those women who can go all day without caring what she looks like- Unfortunately I often look like one of those women, so I'm in search of a fashion solution which helps me shop smart, formulate an amazing wardrobe wear everything can be worn together and makes getting dressed in the morning (or at midday on my days off) an absolute breeze.

On my quest I have discovered Dressipi. There's a website and an app which do slightly different things. The website attempts to give you clothing recommendations based on your body shape and personal style. It uses what you say you 'like' and 'dislike' to build a wardrobe for you. It does, however, seem quite limited and apparently out of the sites catalogue of clothes I only seem to like jumpers and designer dresses- and they keep tyring to sell e beanie hats. Not great. The app is mainly for determining what size you are in different shops- so that could be quite useful.

So far my most amazing discovery has been Modcloth.com, a US site frequented by the likes of Zooey Deschanel (who I basically want to be). I haven't bought anything yet, but it's full of gorgeous quirky vintagey clothes that I need in my life.  Its sizing guide actually seems to cover all the sizes of the clothes that it actually sells- which is novel. It also highlights any size irregularities to reassure customers.  There's a fab social element too- shoppers send in their outfits and Modclothes tells you which products to by to emulate the look. Amazing!  Even if I never by anything from them- I feel my fashion sense has benefitted.

I've also discovered Stylit. Another American site, this takes your clothing likes and dislikes and turns them into a very slick Polyvore style mood board full of lovely things to by. I've had a few teething problems with links and the seem to favour trousers, which I don't but the outfits themselves look fab.

Here's to looking professional at work and less of a mess on mummy days :)

http://www.modcloth.com 

http://dressipi.com

http://mystylit.com

My Changing Bag

This post should have been called my refusal to use a changing bag.

I find the whole notion of a bag just for nappies a bit of a swizz. Either they're cheap but look rubbish - like kids swimming bags from 1996 or they're beautiful, too big and super expensive.

I've found a happy (and obvious) solution: a big handbag. I love Ollie & Nic - in my previous life my office was opposite a store and they have some lovely ones at rather reasonable price points. They're sale is great too.

My 'changing ' bag was £140 (at full price) and fits nappies, feeds, wipes, toys, a change of baby outfits and all my its and bobs. It has as many compartments as you'll ever need and is this lovely neutral colour. Voila!

Gurgle...not just nursing & nappies

My sisters-in-law bought me a subscription to Gurgle magazine for my birthday last week and I love it.

I wasn't sure what I was expecting. I hate judgy advice literature - I'm a firm believer in 'mum knows best' and making your own mistakes - but Gurgle isn't like that at all.

I read a lot of magazines and since I got married and then pregnant I've stopped buying some (Company) and look for relevant articles in the others.

Gurgle is great as it contains fashion, beauty, celeb and travel features which are relevant to people with kids. It does also contain parenting features, but they come in colourful non-judgmental spreads which are much more pallet able than when then spout from your old spinster of a health-visitor.

I've even downloaded a parenting book to my kindle as result, which I'm sure I'll report back on soon.

I'm a convert and can't wait for my next issue to arrive.

B is for...Boden

Being a bit of a nerd, I do enjoy a good internet shop and, being a bit of an online marketing geek, I love a good website.

Boden is quite awesome because, not only does it have lots of lovely, Mummy-friendly, British fashion it adds lots of lovely, personal touches and tailors your visit depending on your size and body shape.

If you take advantage of the 'style advice' section, by filling in a questionnaire, the site throws out a list of recommended products, which change each time you visit.

The questionnaire is great, as it doesn't just ask you what shape you are, it takes your measurements and calculates that for you. It also asks you what size you are in different items at other stores and tells you what size to buy. It also lets you know if it 'thinks' an item will suit you when you browse through the pages according to what you've told it you like and dislike during the quiz.

The tone of voice the site uses, makes you think of it like an encouraging shopping buddy- so I didn't even mine being told that a skirt would be 'perfect for you in a size 20'. Boden obviously doesn't go in for vanity sizing and comes up a little small. 

The site also allows you to out outfits together and the clothes themselves come in classic shapes which are all available in range a prints and colours. 

The choice is so vast that I can' possibly just buy one thing- so I'm going to wait until I need a holiday wardrobe before I make a purchase!

Mummy Chic Pt. 2

Another Mummy wardrobe outfit. The white cardigan may not be the most child friendly item of clothing I own: The trick is to rock the baby poo like you mean it.

Fashion News: Discounts

Some discounts landed in my inbox this morning, thought I'd share.

Spring Shopping Party at White Stuff (TODAY ONLY!)

http://www.whitestuff.com/

Vip week at Gap (online and in store 30%, with voucher- available from their website) 

http://www.gap.eu/

Spring discounts at Oasis

Enter March20 at checkout or go in store 

http://www.oasis-stores.com/

Mummy Chic Pt.1

Not to brag, but I'm actually quite proud of the fact that, since I had B, I've washed, dressed myself in a half decent outfit and put a wee bit of make-up on.

So, this is my first mummy-chic outfit. I tried to get J to take the pics but he seemed to be trying to make me look as fat as possible with his weird camera angles- so I took them myself, hence the slightly-too-close-close-ups. Eventually (and as I lose more weight) I'm sure will be able to produce tidy pictures.

Anywho, without further ado, the outfit....(forgive my enthusiastic use of Instagram!)

Shirt with paperclip print, White Stuff, Jumper (lovely, pretty and soft but gets fluff everywhere) also White Stuff.

Chinos, also White Stuff, Brogues, Clarks. 

Made the chronic error of wearing these beautiful brogues without socks and then walking to the pub and back. I'm now sporting a hideous blister that will, no doubt, rupture during my spin class tonight- but the look was totally worth it!

http://www.whitestuff.com/

http://www.clarks.co.uk/

B is for...Brilliant Maternity Wear from Topshop

After scouring the internet for ages, looking at 'proper' maternity wear shops that specialise in all manner of baby related things, I was becoming  a bit disheartened. It seemed that all manner of maternity clothes were made not particularly for new mums but for my mum. Actually, my mother is far too stylish to be seen dead in most of it too.

Maternity clothes looked mummsy and far too old and frumpy for me. I'm only 25 you know. I can still wear skirts cut above the knee!

That's when I discovered Topshop maternity. It's brilliant, practical, comfy, fashionable and a little bit grungey. I can swan around it most of it retaining the illusion that I am a (pre Steve Coogan) Courtney Love sort of person.

This is what I bought....

And these are a few bits I want...