Buy Less, Wear More and Introducing Always Wear Red

I bet she's warm. draped in all those yummy cashmere scarves!!

I just got off the phone with Michael Owen, the brains behind and founder of Always Wear Red, a luxury cashmere and silk accessories company launching on 14th Feb this year. We talked about how cashmere is a worthwhile investment for any wardrobe - soft, durable, and when it's made of superior quality cashmere, like the Always Wear Red cashmere scarves are, it won't pill because the longer the stand of cashmere when it's woven, the less the chance of bobbling. How's that for sustainability! (They are hiring by the way - check out the job opportunities by clicking here.)

We also reminisced about owning fewer items of clothing when we were teenagers but loving them more and an image of my favourite jumper from my teenage years popped into my mind - a funnel neck knitted jumper from Warehouse, pastel ice blue in colour with 2 darker blue lines running horizontally across the bust. I LOVED that jumper. After each wear and wash I would carefully fold it, wrap it in tissue paper and place it on the middle of the second shelf in my wardrobe (yes, my clothing memory is THAT GOOD!) I owned that jumper for about 4 years and when it gave up the ghost during my second year of uni I was distraught, convinced it would never be replaced. In fact, I did try and replace it with a camel roll neck from Miss Selfridge. Much to my disappointment, the "roll" bagged after every wash only compounding my grief for my much loved Warehouse number. That jumper was just...awesome. I felt so smart when I wore it, so cosy (a must if you live "up north"), and so stylish.

How often do you feel absolute love and joy for an item of clothing?

I tidied my own wardrobe this morning, re-ordered my shoes for the new season and re-folded the items in my draws - I call it "spending time with my clothes" - it helps me see what has given up the ghost, what is missing, what I need to buy next, what I'm loving, what I'm wearing and most importantly, what I'm not wearing. Today turned up a surprising item - a faux sherling coat purchased in early December last year. When I bought it I couldn't wait to wear it - I wore it out of the shop I thought I was so in love with it! I wore it with some white jeans and an awesome grey knit underneath a week later. But since then the love has waned: it just ain't ME. So, jacket, in the words of Carrie Bradshaw to Big, it's the end of the line:

"You and I are like that red wall. It's a good idea in theory but somehow it doesn't quite work."

You and I are like that red wall. It's a good idea in theory, but somehow it doesn't quite work.' Carrie
Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/suzannah-ramsdale/542963/sex-and-the-city-the-best-carrie-bradshaw-quotes.html#pHJAdFc8UWTHZTKs.

You and I are like that red wall. It's a good idea in theory, but somehow it doesn't quite work.
Read more at http://www.marieclaire.co.uk/blogs/suzannah-ramsdale/542963/sex-and-the-city-the-best-carrie-bradshaw-quotes.html#pHJAdFc8U

Here are the pictures and the measurements. If you want to make me an offer then please do. Just email me at info@wardrobeangel.co.uk or leave a comment below. I'll post it to you this week.

Size 10-12, faux sherling coat with 2 real pockets, spare buttons available, fully lined. Chest 36” Length 28” (approx.)

100% Polyester

Til next time...stay wardrobe happy x

The Wardrobe Angel

Jumper jumper on the wall - show me ways to wear you more

So I was at a client's house the other night and got a tad obsessed with a jumper she owned. With the great British weather being so changeable of late a jumper is still the cherry I am popping on the top of my daily outfit cake. So back to the client's jumper. She was wearing it with jeans, I showed her a few more options:

This is THE JUMPER teamed with ....a maxi dress. No? Really? Why yes. The maxi certainly ain't a beach/holiday maxi - there wasn't a beaded tassel or frill in sight. The dress in question was from Whistles and when you buy from Whistles you want to get your wear out of it.

Here's why it works: the monochrome maxi lends itself well to the bold lime-yellow of the jumper and teamed with a bold satchel bag and pointy boots the dress becomes a skirt. There is a simplicity to the outfit in the colour combinations but a striking textual difference (think chunky knit vs. soft cotton vs. leather) which means the eye will rest longer to drink it all in.

Here's the jumper with a sheer shirt underneath it (unworn - you can see the tag still attached just waiting...hoping...wondering in the wardrobe "will I be used?" Why yes, it's time to cut the tags off), a leather pencil skirt and the same accessories. The low scoop of the jumper neckline reveals the sexy sheer shirt but by popping the jumper over the shirt the sheer shirt becomes suitable for the weather (no freezing in the name of fashion here). No coat needed: the jumper does the hard work #bonus.

The leather panelled skirt sings with the bold satchel bag and pointed boots smartening up the jumper and making it suitable work wear.

THE JUMPER gets teamed with 7/8 trousers, ballet flats (note the studs though - more on them later) and a printed shirt.  It's the British equivalent of Parisian chic. Perfect weekend wear/hot second date/city break fodder, this outfit is smart but on-trend and stylish.

Again using the monochrome back drop of the outfit to make the jumper POP, the jumper stands out but the pattern on the shirt keeps the outfit from being dull. Which is the perfect segue into the studs on the shoes I asked you to keep an eye on. The studs and the metal casing on the satchel keep the outfit away from classic/feminine and steer the outfit into cooler territory.

Til next time....x