Autumn Winter Wardrobes

I can never get through summer without thinking 'what's next for Autumn/Winter?' Hell, it already feels like winter up here in't north - I'm sitting here watching the rain bounce down and I'm wearing a JUMPER. A JUMPER I tell you! It's AUGUST!!!! Weather rant aside it's the way my mind has always worked - I start preparing my wardrobe for winter right about now. Plus I've never been great at 'doing summer', I'm more comfortable wrapped up in scarves, coats and knits rather than wafting around in barely there cotton smocks. 

Houndstooth check is always a 'go-to' pattern for the winter season; you'll see it on coats, blouses, skirts, trousers, bags and even jewellery. I picked this blouse up in a charity shop for the princely sum of £3! Yay for charity shops! Here I've styled it with a faux fur cape from Per Una Duo (the now defunct part of Per Una which was for teenagers! Ye Gods M&S what were you thinking???) which was bought as a gift over 10 years ago and still going strong. So now it's vintage, yeah?! Bottom half I'm going to style it with:

• Black jeans. 
• Black midi pencil skirt
• Cream wide legged trousers (which are in desperate need for a few inches being sawn off them as I am midget sized apparently and the trousers were clearly meant for Kate Moss-esque beings.)
• Various fierce heels. I've got a cracking forest green pair of courts from Office that'll go mightily finely. 

I'm also going to try throwing it over a few dresses to turn them into skirts. Then add massive thick black tights. Heaven! As well as starting to stock up on all items Autumn/Winter I do a few other bits and pieces with my wardrobe now so when the cold chills come I am ready:

• Get my winter coat dry cleaned. I also need to get mine re-lined as it took a fair battering last winter. It is gorgeous and camel coloured and lovely and reminiscent of the 80's which is just me down to a tee.
• Hand wash my cashmere to freshen it up post summer (not worn) for winter (wear it a lot)
• Check tights for holes. Purchase more. Feel smug.

Til next time...!x

Cate Wood Collections

This year I am going to buy a house (big dreams!) and in January I went to look at a few. In one of the houses I discovered the fantastic Cate Wood and the house search was temporarily forgotten. This talented jewellery designer and creator handcrafts pieces which are ornate with a modern vintage inspired feel. Leather, horsehair and vintage items are reclaimed and repurposed from car boot sales, markets, charity shops and eBay to create bespoke pieces. As Cate so rightly puts it “The design is dictated by what materials are available.” Talk about upcycling!

Necklaces, bracelets, earrings and trinkets abound on her website and there is also an option to personalise some of the products. My personal favourites are the bracelets: stackable, they are a ready-made wrist full of festival accessories, a calling card for summer times. Durable and long-wearing, Cate has just started a range of alternative christening bracelets made to stand the test of time.

After school Cate went to Batley Art College and studied Surface Pattern Design and then went on to study Fashion and Textile Design at Manchester University, graduating in 1992. During a career break which was supposed to encompass a worldwide yearlong travelling spree, the best intentions were scuppered when Cate happened upon Brazil: the rest of the world could wait. After falling head over heels in love with the city, she returned to the UK full of passion and started Saving Face jewellery. Three years later and Cate Wood Collections was born.

Just under a year old, the brand has already picked up a motley crew of devoted fans (just check her Facebook Page for positively bubbling comments on her work) and Cate’s work is now stocked in selected galleries and shops. The icing on the creative cake is that Cate also does commissions so please contact her directly if you have something specific in mind.

Before I left I ordered a Tally, a Button it Up and a two elliptical friendships bracelets. Can’t wait to get them worn in before the summer! 



Cate Wood Collections: for more information click here