Midlife Loves

"Timeless everyday style"

Midlife Loves

Tartan Stylee

Following on from my recent post on tartan & my pick of some of the best ways of incorporating this new trend into your wardrobe (click here to read) I've been a very lucky girl & been sent a gorgeous checked top from Next.  

Now on their website it's described as a soft t-shirt but in my mind it's more of an easy to wear blouse.  In fact it's one of the most flattering style tops you could find, a simple round neck that's not too high to stop you wearing a statement necklace, with lovely soft pleating falling from the neckline down to give a slightly loose fit & that ever important skimming of the hips & tum (already my mind is racing to the festive season where I for one will indulge a little (obviously I mean A LOT) so a great top to hide those extra pounds!!!).  The top has a short zip detail on the back & three quarter length sleeves which makes it idea for wearing not only while the weather is mild but great for layering over a long sleeve t-shirt (I'm thinking white but to be honest you could name you colour as navy, black, grey, beige would all look as fabulous) come the cool weather.  Made from 57% viscose & 47% polyester it hangs beautifully & has the most stunning beige/slightly golden tone check which is really warming again the grey background & of course the skin.

So without further ado here's a piccie of said top taken from Next's website.






Now you're probably thinking I've gone colour blind & wondering where this gorgeous beige/gold tone check is but rest assured the light grey colour in the picture is I PROMISE beige/gold.

Apart from the style & colourway (I'm totally loving all things grey at the moment) & the fact that it ticks the tartan trend box (but not in a Bay City Rollers kind of way).  I'm also loving the fact that it's a great wardrobe staple that can be made to work really hard as it's so easy to dress it up or down.

So for my first style I've gone for a dressy/casual look & simply teamed it with some pearls & grey jeans & picked up on the beige/gold tones by adding my nude court shoes.  


Style One




Pearl Necklace - Zara
Top - Next
Jeans - Zara
Pearl Bracelets - Handmade
Nude Court Shoes - Next


Next I've decided to glam the top up & have added a bling-tastic necklace, my tuxedo blazer & my faux leather red skirt.  As you can see from the addition of the skirt the top is going to work really well with lots of colours in your wardrobe including red, khaki, navy, yellow, beige, burnt orange........


Style Two




Necklace - Zara
Top - Next
Tuxedo Jacket - Zara
Studded Belt - H&M
Faux Leather Skirt - Zara
Shoe Boots - Next


Moving back to a more dressed down vibe & for style three I've teamed the top with my long boyfriend cardigan,  grey ankle boots & some distressed jeans.  I really love this kind of look for a relaxed weekend feel & could quite happily wear this relaxing as not only is it super comfy but if we had a surprise visitor at the door (is it just me or generally does this only happen when you're having one of those make up free, greasy hair can't be bothered kind of days???!!!) I'd feel happy to answer the door to said 'surprise' guests (I'm typing this through clenched teeth as I recall such visitors, I mean seriously have people not heard of phoning ahead?!!!! ;-) ).


Style Three




Cardigan - M&S
Top - Next
Jeans - Zara
Ankle Boots - Oasis


For the next outfit I've teamed the top with my faux leather trim skirt, new double breasted wool jacket & lightened the look with some grey tights & gold necklace.


Style Four




Necklace - Zara
Top - Next
Jacket - Zara
Faux Leather Trim Skirt - Zara
Shoe Boots - Next


Again dressing the top down, I've teamed the top with my biker jacket, distressed jeans & some quilted ballet pumps.  I really like the vibe this outfit is giving as whilst it's a great dressed down look it also feels styled without trying & would be a great outfit for running errands & shopping.


Style Five




Leather Biker Jacket - Zara
Top - Next
Distressed Jeans - Zara
Quilted Ballet Pumps - Brought in Majorca


Then on cooler days I'd simply added my gorgeous snood to outfit five.  I think this is my favourite look & am totally loving this outfit so expect to see me wearing this (or a variation of this outfit) a lot during the coming months.


Style Six




Snood - Gemini-Woman
Leather Biker Jacket - Zara
Top - Next
Distressed Jeans - Zara
Quilted Ballet Pumps - Brought in Majorca


I could honestly have gone on & styled my new top with lots more items in my wardrobe including my black leather skirts, wax effect jeans, skorts, faux leather leggings, khaki jeans......in fact the list is endless & I already know it's going to be one of those tops to go to when I look in my wardrobe & think I've got nothing to wear (which for some strange reason always makes hubby chuckle....honestly I'm being serious when I say it, not trying to make his day start with a smile & I can't understand why he doesn't get it!!!!).

Finally just so you can appreciate just how excited I am when playing dress up & styling a new item of clothing here's a quick picture of some of the mayhem I  create in flinging various items of clothing on & off.....please tell me I'm not alone in this?!!!!




Finishing with some piccies of what I've been wearing these past few days.


Outfit One




Scarf - Zara
Leather Biker Jacket - Zara
Sweatshirt - H&M
Bracelets - Banana Republic & Massimo Dutti
Jeans - Zara
Wedge Trainers - Ash


Outfit Two




Jumper - Zara
Camisole - Zara
Necklace - Handmade
Bracelets - Massimo Dutti
Leather Skirt - M&S
Biker Boots - M&S


Outfit Three




Faux Fur Stole - H&M
Sweatshirt - Zara
Bracelets - Massimo Dutti & Banana Republic
Jeans - Zara
Ankle Boots - M&S


Outfit Four




Scarf - H&M
Jumper - H&M
Bracelets - Banana Republic & Massimo Dutti
Jeans - Zara
Gold Hi-Tops - Zara


So what do you think of my new top?  Are you like me & love it?  Maybe you've got something in a similar style & know how flattering this style is, not to mention appreciate when I say that it's going to be one of those tops for making you feel good on 'fat' days. I'd also love to hear which is your favourite outfit.

As always I love hearing your thoughts & PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one that drags half (ok may be a slight exaggeration there!!!) their entire wardrobe out during that all important trying on session after a successful shop????

Right I'm off to start our Sunday ritual of roast, fire, film, treats & alcohol....although not necessarily in that order ;-)

Have a great Sunday.

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14 comments

  1. Love how you have styled this top. It goes with everything! Also love your Ash trainers. Are they Thelma's or Genials? Are they comfy? Which colour are they? Have my eye on all black Genials but don't know whether the Thelma's would be smarter?

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    1. Hi thanks for stopping by & your lovely comments :-) The Ash trainers are the Thelmas in Clay. Yes they're extremely comfy, I got them for a steal on eBay as like you hadn't been sure whether to go for them or not. I could be tempted to buy a pair of Genials too at the right price as being that little bit lower they'd be perfect for rushing around. Hope this helps xx

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  2. Gorgeous top on you, Jane. I love outfits 1,3,5 & 6 on you. I love a good trying on session when I get something new and my mayhem is fad worse than yours pictured here!!, Lynne x

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    1. Thanks Lynne, I thing the angle of the picture of my mayhem managed to disguise a how deep the pile was....I don't mind creating the mayhem it's the tidying up afterwards I hate!!! xx

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  3. Gorgeous, gorgeous top Jane, love the colours, so very versatile! Looks great in each and every way you have styled it x

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    1. Aw thanks Michelle, I really love the colours in it & I don't think there's much in my wardrobe it doesn't go with!!! It's going to be really useful & my 'go to' top xx

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  4. Hi there! :) maybe we could follow each other on Bloglovin and/or GFC, Facebook?

    Please leave me a comment on my blog and follow by blog!

    http://kstylick.blogspot.com

    You can also like my Facebook page.

    https://www.facebook.com/Kstylick

    I will follow you back! :)

    Korean

    Fashion

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    1. Hi thanks for stopping by. I'll check out your blog shortly xx

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  5. I love this top, especially styled with skirts, because of the length you would generally try to wear it with jeans, but it looks amazing with the red leather.

    Fabulous styling.

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    1. Thanks Emma, it really is one of my favourite tops & is going to be soooo useful! xx

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  6. Its such a fab top Jane & I like edged up with the biker jacket! Ax

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    1. Thanks Andrea, yes I think that's my favourite look too...must try it with my black leather skirt next! xx

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  7. Fabulous styling, your Next top looks fab on you and your outfits really show it off to its best. I am soooo glad you put the pic on of your pile of clothes, a relief for me that I am not the only one!... sometimes all surfaces are covered with clothes by the time I have finished! x

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    1. Glad to hear I'm not the only one too!!! It usually looks like a war zone, I suppose I should be pleased I don't have a daughter otherwise they'd be two of us doing it & at least with boys it's only sock & pants you have to train them to pick up lol! xx

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