Midlife Loves

"Timeless everyday style"

Midlife Loves

Happy Blog-a-versary!




'Happy blog-a-versary to me, 
happy blog-a-versary to me,
happy blog-a-verary My Midlife Fashion,
happy blog-a-versary to me!'


Woo hoo - can you believe it I've been a fully fledged fashion blogger for twelve months!!! I still can't truly believe it, in fact I still have to pinch myself at the amazing journey I've been on these last twelve months, the fantastic opportunities that keep opening up & the wonderful friendships I have made :-)

Now we all know how excited I get by birthdays but the fantastic thing is that not only do I have my own blog, I'm now like the Queen & can officially say I now have two birthdays each year - my 'official' birthday & my 'blog-a-versary' :-)  How amazing is that!!!!  Which of course can only mean one thing......yup a glass of fizz, a slice of cake & perhaps a sneaking little birthday treat for the birthday girl ;-)  

Of course my blog would be nothing without all of you & I want to send you all a MASS-IIII-VE thank you for all the wonderful words of encouragement you have all given me, whether it's by commenting on the blog, the private emails/messages I've been sent, following me on Bloglovin,   Twitter,  Facebook,  Instagram,  Pinterest  &  YouTube or just simply clicking on & reading my posts I REALLY, REALLY appreciate it & am honestly blown away that people want to read my ramblings & musings.

So in honour of my blog-a-versary I thought I'd ask you to complete this incredibly simple & quick survey as I've been thinking about possibly making a few changes, one of them being perhaps posting daily outfit posts as well as my normal twice weekly posts.  I'd love to hear what you think, after all my blog is nothing without you!


Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.


And finishing with a quick round up of my outfits from the last few days.


Outfit One





Scarf - Zara
Silk Shirt - Zara
Leather Cuff - Banana Republic
Biker Jeans - H&M
Boots - Zara


Outfit Two





Jacket - Gray & Osbourn
T-Shirt - Zara
Bracelets - J Crew & Handmade
Belt (not shown) - Massimo Dutti
Jeans - Zara
Boots - Zara


Outfit Three




Crossover Blouse - Zara
Leather Cuff - Banana Republic
Skirt - Zara
Boots - Zara




Faux Leather Quilted Jacket - Zara


So once again THANK YOU.  I'll be back at the weekend when I'll be taking a look at one of the must have items for Spring.  In the meantime I think I may need a top up on the bubbles ;-)  Here's to the rest of the working week flying by - cheers!

post signature

Playing Model For A Day :-)

So this Valentine's Day not only did I receive some lovely flowers & pressies from hubby I was also  lucky enough to be invited by Gemini-Woman to take a look at some of their new spring collections & play dress up too :-)

I absolutely love popping into Gemini as not only do I enjoy taking a peak at all their lovely clothes & accessories, everyone is also so incredibly helpful & friendly & you can always find someone on hand to talk you through their latest collections & help you with suggestions.

Luckily for me I didn't have the task of picking what to wear as Donna had put together some gorgeous outfits for me to try.  But before I show you the pictures I should point out that I have something to add to the well known phrase of 'never working with children or animals'...yup I have now discovered during said photo shoot that you should never work with newly cut fringes as they have the habit of parting quicker than the Red Sea!!!  Yup that's right two days before having my picture taken I decided to go for a bit of a Claudia Wrinkleman haircut.....well it's cheaper than botox right?!!!  But unbeknown to me due to years of being parted said fringe didn't want to stay put....luckily after my dis-as-ter I've now been let into a top hairdressing secret of how to stop said parting of the ways, so my hair is now back in the good books!

So let's get back to the photos.  First up is this gorgeous little number which Donna styled around this lovely Great Plains striped jacket.  Of course it's not going to come as any surprise to you to know that I love this jacket - navy, breton striped & made from a 100% cotton so nice & easy to wear & a great stylish alternative to knitwear when the weather is warmer but not hot enough to go without a layer or two.  It looks really fab teamed with the mint green jumper, which isn't something that I would have thought to put with the outfit as I would have thought it would be too washed out on me but the navy really helps balance the look.  Plus the Kennel & Schmenger navy boots are super gorgeous too & a lovely alternative to the brown & black knee high boots that I have in my wardrobe at home.


Outfit One




Jacket - Gemini-Woman
Jumper - Gemini-Woman
Jeans - Gemini-Woman
Boots - Gemini-Woman
Bag - Gemini-Woman


For outfit two Donna indulged my inner Bet & styled me in these stunning InWear animal print trousers...if these don't have my name all over them I don't know what does & the jumper is just the perfect slouchy styled jumper for teaming with patterned trousers as well as pairing with skinny jeans & tan accessories.  Now I've never worn loafer, I've loved them from afar but have never taken the plunge as I've worried that they would seem to heavy compared to my beloved ballet pumps but this pair from Hobbs may have changed my mind - stylish, comfy & I love them teamed with trousers, not to heavy at all & I'm loving the pointed fronts.


Outfit Two




Jumper - Gemini-Woman
Necklace - Gemini-Woman
Trousers - Gemini-Woman
Bag - Gemini-Woman
Shoes - Gemini-Woman


For the next outfit I'm wearing a printed jersey dress from the new Sandwich collection, which is in the most gorgeous warm shades that really could be worn with a whole host of colours.  And check out the wonderful tan cowboy boots.....these are really beauties, love the colour plus the fact they've got a great stacked heel so could be worn for general everyday life & the fact that they look great with a dress/skirt not to mention skinny jeans.....oh oh I can feel a purchase coming on ;-)


Outfit Three




Dress - Gemini-Woman
Necklace - Gemini-Woman
Bag - Gemini-Woman
Boots - Gemini-Woman


More neutral tones in outfit four where I'm wearing some super comfy & stylish leather fronted leggings & this amazing boucle knit jacket....I have SUCH a weakness for boucle & this French Connection clutch is gorgeous too, such a great size for fitting everything in.


Outfit Four




Jacket - Gemini-Woman
Shirt - Gemini-Woman
Leggings - Gemini-Woman
Bag - Gemini-Woman
Court Shoes - Gemini-Woman


Finally I absolutely love the colours in this next dress, which is also from the new Sandwich collection.  I have a real weakness for corals/pinks & pinky/reds & they have to be one of my favourite shades to wear especially come the warmer months.  In fact Sandwich have a whole new collection coming out in these colour tones, which I'm super excited about & I love this colour teamed with the grey just stunning!


Outfit Five




Dress - Gemini-Woman
Necklace - Gemini-Woman
Boots - Gemini-Woman


Now I also tried on several more gorgeous outfits but I'm going to leave those for another time but in the meantime if you fancy learning a bit more about me then click here to read my interview with Gemini.

Of course it would have been rude not to make a couple of purchases while I was there, the first of which is this gorgeous breton top, a real classic wardrobe staple that's going to look stunning dressed down with some distressed boyfriend jeans & ballet pumps not to mention cream jeans & tan accessories finished off with a navy blazer.






As for my other purchase I'll leave you in suspense & share it with you when I post the remaining photos from my photo shoot.  Which much to Joe's relief I remembered that I needed to look down but have now developed the habit of blinking.....Joe I promise I'll work on this for the next time!!!  

Finally a quick round up of my outfits from the last few days, starting off with a sneaky couple of hours off work to catch a much needed catch up with some lovely friends...sadly two friends were unable to make it on the day so the good news is we have the reason *excuse* to arrange another meet up soon :-)


Outfit One




Cutaway Tuxedo - Zara
Necklace - Brought in Majorca
Shirt - Zara
Bracelets - Gemini-Woman & Ashiana
Jeans - Zara
Boots - Zara


Outfit Two




Fluffy Jacket - H&M
Jumper - Gap
Necklace - Handmade
Leather Cuff - Massimo Dutti
Jeans - Zara
Wedge Trainers - Ash


Outfit Three




Jacket - Zara
Necklace - J Crew
Top - Zara
Bracelets - J Crew & J Crew
Clutch - Zara
Jeans - Zara
Boots - Oasis


Outfit Four




Parka - Zara
Scarf - Zara
Sweatshirt - Zara
Leather Cuff - Massimo Dutti
Jeans - Zara
Boots - Sports Direct


So what do you think?  Do you have a favourite outfit or accessory?  Maybe you're tempted to make a sneaky purchase or two?  As always I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Have a fab Sunday, after a rather muddy dog walk I'm off to eat, drink & be merry plus perhaps catch the odd forty winks or two!!!

See you in the week.

post signature

Bling Off - Metallic Bags

So as a follow on from my last blog post on metallic shoes (see hereit seemed only right that I do a post on metallic bags as after all new shoes need a new partner in crime no?!!!  Plus of course it's a great little purchase that can be used all year round & like metallic shoes will go with everything in your wardrobe.  

Now I may have slipped a little Boden cross body bag/clutch into my shopping basket the other week when hubby was snoozing on the sofa.....well what he doesn't know won't hurt him & I've already rehearsed the 'what this old thing' line for when he spies it (hubby if you're reading this - when have you EVER heard me say that?!!! ;-) ).  Now unfortunately I'm unable to add the link to said new purchase as it was a sale item, which is a HUGE plus for me as it was reduced to a less eye watering amount of £34.50, which for a leather Boden bag I think you'll agree is a great result :-) Although I have to admit to being a little unsure when I hit the buy me button as despite being the exact style I was looking for - plain, simple, cross body which can be made into a clutch, instead of being a subtle shade of gold it's full on bling-tastic.  But seeing as I managed to snag a free delivery & returns code I reckoned there was nothing to loose & I'm thinking you can go big on the bling if teamed with a simple outfit such as distressed jeans & white shirt.  


Now although my Boden  purchase is no longer available fear not there are still some gorgeous bling-tastic bags around, although if I'm honest not as many as I would have thought but I suppose there should be more coming into stock as the temperatures increase which means more research *coughs shopping* at a later date, naturally!!!

So having snagged a bargain at Boden you'll be pleased to hear they've also got a gold bag in their spring collection too but be warned this is not for the faint hearted & ranks high on the bling-o-meter.  My sales purchase is slightly but not quite as bling-tastic as this but not far off!






Next up is this gorgeous cross body leather bag from Owen Barry.  I love the pony skin detailing on the flap & how the gold has been toned down by the addition of the brown strap.  This bag would look so cool teamed with some distressed boyfriend jeans, a blazer & some pumps for a really stylish laid back weekend look.






Now this next bag from Nica Alicia was more the shade of gold that I had in mind when I started my search, which in my mind is more of a distressed shade of gold.  I love the simplicity of the design of this bag although I can't quite decide if I like the cut out detailing around the edge of the flap.  Although without it there is the possibility that the bag could look too plain?!



I also love this next bag from Oasis, a gorgeous shade of gold & cross body too, perfect for a night out or when on your summer hols & you need a little evening bag to pop the essentials into.






Moving away from cross body bags & onto clutch bags, which I seem to have developed a HUGE weakness for in recent months & this River Island asymmetric is getting my heart all a flutter.  I just love the simplicity of the design not to mention the aged gold, slouchy look it has - pure perfection.






For something a little more structured in design then you won't go wrong with this gorgeous cuff designed clutch from Next.






Stepping away from gold clutches & onto silver (which seem to be even rarer than gold) & this envelope purse from ASOS is everything you will need from a clutch, being both simple & elegant in design.






Now another style metallic bag that I find myself longing for is a 'throw everything in, including the kitchen sink' kind of style.  You know the kind of bag that on days out as a family when you need a bag that everyone's sunnies, coats, camera, refreshments etc, etc can be chucked into but still feels stylish enough to hold & I don't think you could go wrong with a metallic shopper style.  Plus of course I think it would make the idea beach bag for hotter climates, although you may have to persuade your other half that it really won't affect their masculinity when walking to the beach to be seen with something with a bit of bling as opposed to something a little bit more neutral ;-)  Now for the money then you can't go wrong with this silver number from ASOS.






Or if gold is your preference then this crackled leather one from Zara also looks stunning.






Or what about this shorter handled design from Boden?






So there you have it, what do you think?  Are you considering going down the metallic route this spring/summer?  If so are you going for silver or gold or maybe you're going to be throwing caution to the wind & getting both?

Finally here's a quick round up of what I've been wearing since my last post.


Outfit One




Poloneck - Primark
Leather Biker Jacket - Zara
Bracelets - J Crew & Banana Republic
Studded Belt - Zara
Tule Skirt - Next
Shoe Boots - Next


Outfit Two




Pearls - Brought in Majorca
Sweatshirt - Zara
Bracelets - Ashiana & Gemini-Woman
Belt (not shown) - Massimo Dutti
Jeans - Zara
Boots - Zara


Outfit Three




Leather Biker Jacket - Zara
Silk Shirt - Zara
Necklace - Handmade
Leather Cuff - Banana Republic
Trousers - Zara
Shoes Boots - Next


So there you have it the best selection (in my mind anyway!) of metallic bags that are currently available.  Of course seeing as there wasn't quite as much choice as I would have liked I reserve the right to research this topic again at a later date & maybe, just maybe make an additional purchase or two.....well surely if you need a gold bag your must need a silver bag too....right??!!!  

I'd love to hear if you'll be joining me on rocking a bit of bling this spring & summer & if so which style you're looking for & what you plan to wear with yours.

Have a great few days & see you in a couple of days.

post signature

Bling It On - Metallic Footwear

Yup my inner magpie is out in full force today & the bling-o-meter is about to reach max as today I'm looking at metallic shoes :-)

Now for those of you that have been following me for a while will know, as part of my midlife crisis I purchased a pair of gold boots at the beginning of Autumn, which I absolutely love!  They've been great for teaming with a pair of boyfriend jeans & just adding that extra bit of sparkle to brighten up the oh so dull & lifeless winter days plus they're guaranteed to put a smile on my face no matter what the weather yup & that even the never-ending rain can't take the smile from my face when I look at my gold boots!!

Of course I wasn't sure if it was the impending milestone birthday that prompted my purchase but from all the gold & silver shoes that are around for spring & summer all I can say is either everyone is hitting some form of crisis together or they're going to be HUGE!!!  I mean even Boden have got several different designs of shoes & boots that will quite easily pimp up your wardrobe so it must mean it's going to be big right?!!!!

One thing I love about metallic anything is if you pick the right tone for your skin tone then they will give you that added bit of sparkle & glow plus of course they're just great for teaming with every single colour in your wardrobe, so are guaranteed to be a hard little worker, which let's face it makes our job of justification of said purchase soooo much easier ;-)  Plus of course we haven't got to wait for spring to arrive to wear them which is another result in my book, although I have yet to find a pair of metallic wellies but watch this space!!!

I'm really looking forward to wearing my gold boots this spring/summer when my skin is looking a little bit more sun kissed (real or bottle variety I'm not fussy!!!) & teaming with a pair of gorgeous soft pale blue distressed boyfriend jeans & a simple white t-shirt - in my mind I'm thinking effortless glamour, whether it actually looks this good remains to be seen!!!

So in case you fancy joining me in said outfit how about these Boho boots from Boden?  A gorgeous soft shade of gold, handy side zip & a fantastic block heel for height & leg lengthening - that has to be all the boxes ticked right?!!!






If however, you fancy a silver pair then you haven't got to look far as Boden also have those brogues Chelsea boots...not such a high heel & personally I think these would look better with a more fitted jean but if you're looking for a silver boot then this has to be the best pair I've seen so far.






Moving away from boots & onto shoes, Boden also do this fab silver pair of loafers....see I wasn't kidding that Boden are awash with all things bling-tastic!!






If however, loafers aren't you thing but you fancy a heavier looking shoe then they also do a silver pair of brogues.






Or for a slightly duller silver with a more pointed toe what about these ones from Faith?






Or if you fancy a pair in gold how about this gorgeous pair from Gap?





Of course thinking glass half full & all that, if we're going to be enjoying the glorious sunshine that we so quickly got used to last summer then you may be wanting more of a court shoe & these ASOS pointed heels look real stunners & have to be the ultimate in disco shoes.  I think these would look absolutely fab with a pair of jeans (skinny or boyfriend), a fab blazer & simple top for a night out with the gals.






Similar in design is this great pair from M&S.






Or upping the anti on the bling-o-meter what about this pair from Tesco?






I have to admit I'm absolutely loving this next pair from Tesco.  Limited edition so they may not hang around so I'm thinking no dithering or hesitating in clicking the button on these beauties.  I'm just loving the darker shade of silver...di-vi-ne!






Going back to Boden & if you fancy rocking the look but want a low heel then these pointed sling backs should do the trick.






Or for a slightly higher heel & in gold what about these Chelsea sling backs?






If however, you can't decide to go for silver or gold then fear not as Boden have even thought of this dilemma & made the 'Party Heel' which features both colours, not to mention a handy ankle strap for keeping said shoes firmly on your feet should you find yourself in the position of having consumed one to many glasses of water ;-)






Or if they're not to your liking then how about this heeled sandal pair from ASOS?






This next pair not only cover the metallic trend but also the block heel trend that is making a come back.  How useful would these babies be for going away?  Just think because they'd go with everything, it would mean more room in your suitcase for souvenirs (*shopping!!!!*).






Or for my fellow now high heel wearers what about this silver block heeled shoe from ASOS - such a great heel height for daytime or evening & would look fab teamed with jeans/trousers or skirts/dresses.






If a wedge heel is more your cup of tea Boden cater for you with this silver mid-heel pair.




Or for those of us that love a ballet pump Zara have these gorgeous ballerina flats in stock.  I love the jewelled front & the crystals mean they're a great pair for teaming with either gold or silver accessories.






I'm also loving this softer toned gold pointed ballet pumps from River Island & once again LOVE the embellishment.






Now this next pair from Zara I have actually seen in the flesh & you really do have to see these to believe them.  If you are ever wanting a pair of what I can only describe as Cinderella shoes then these are the ones.  Flat so perfect for anytime of day, suitably pointed to embrace the latest trend & SUPER SUPER sparkly, I almost just want to buy these just to have them in my bedroom to admire!






And having seen them in the flesh in the nude tone as well, I have to admit I've also fallen for these babies too but having tried them on I'm a little unsure if they'd be that comfortable to wear as they seemed a little hard on the feet & that's before my feet swell in the heat!!






Or what about this gorgeous gold toned ballet flats from ASOS, which in my opinion would look just as lovely with a cut off pair of denim shorts as they would a long white maxi skirt.






Or if you're more of a trainer kind of girl then  how about these gold Superga - style, metallics & comfort all in one shoe :-)










So what do you think is your inner bling-o-meter racing or are you reaching for your sunnies from the sheer thought of all that sparkle??

Moving away from all things bling here's a quick round up of what I've been wearing these past few days, which has seem my normal working week splashed with a dash of glamour with another wonderful photo shoot with the lovely peeps at Gemini-Fashion....pictures to follow soon!!!


Outfit One




Cutaway Tuxedo - Zara
Necklace - Mango
Animal Print Shirt - Zara
Leather Cuff - Banana Republic
Leather Effect Leggings - Zara
Boots - Zara


Outfit Two




Over shirt - Zara
Necklace - Mango
Bracelets - Ashiana
Wax Effect Jeans - Zara
Boots - Zara




Coat - Zara
Scarf - Zara


Outfit Three




Necklace - Handmade
Denim Shirt - Zara
Oversized Jumper - Zara
Bracelets - Gemini-Woman & Ashiana
Jeans - Zara
Boots - Oasis


Outfit Four




Scarf - H&M
Denim Shirt - Zara
Jumper - Gap
Bracelets - Gemini-Woman & Ashiana
Jeans - H&M
Boots - Boden


So will you be joining me in sporting something shiny & metallic on your feet this spring?  Perhaps you've already taken the plunge.  If so what have you gone for gold or silver, shoe or boot, heel or flat or all of these combinations?!!! I'd love to know what tickles your fancy & how you plan on styling yours.

Have a great few days, enjoy the rest of the weekend & see you soon when I'll be back with some more bling!

post signature
© My Midlife Fashion | Professional Blog Designs by pipdig