Midlife Loves

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Midlife Loves

To Stripe Or Not To Stripe + WIWT - Layering Up A Summer Dress

Victoria Beckham

Morning ladies so most of us love a good stripe & can easily justify another stripe addition to our wardrobes but how are you feeling about the latest trend of stripes down the sides of your trousers?

I will admit to thinking at first that it wasn't something I'd be trying but having seen the above recent picture of Victoria Beckham rocking the look in a more tailored & classic way it's got me wondering. That's not to say I'd consider going down the tracksuit route.  Don't get me wrong I'm all for a comfy pair of trackie bums but the addition of go faster stripes & an elastic waist is not something I'd be comfortable wearing outside the house.  No if I were to dip my toe into this trend it would have to be a more tailored version, similar to something Victoria is rocking.

So do such trousers exist on the high street or are they more the dress down version?  Well yes there's lots of more casual versions with elastic waists & more of a jogging bottom kind of vibe but I've also found some similar ones to Victoria's designers trews.

Starting with these grey crepe trousers that for those of us feeling unsure about the go faster stripes have very subtle detailing.

Jigsaw Relaxed Crepe Satin Stripe Trousers


Although I must admit these next ones look fab & I just love how they've been styled.

Topshop Side Stripe Peg Trousers


Or if you prefer a wider leg then how about these?

River island black stripe wide leg trousers


Although I'm thinking that a straighter leg trouser may be easier to style & I just love the simplicity of this look below.

Whistles Elyse side stripe trouser


But saving the best to last & if you're wanting to rock Victoria's look then these look fab & at a great price too.  The question is which colour?

Marks and Spencer Wide Striped Trousers


Marks and Spencer Wide Side Striped Trousers


However, stepping away from stripes & back to today I'm prolonging that summer feeling by teaming my Hush cream dress with an old Zara military jacket.

My Midlife Fashion, Zara military jacket, Hush triangle dress, quilted ballet pumps

Jacket - Zara
Dress - Hush
Ballet Pumps - Bought In Majorca

Summer Classics, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My Style, Topshop gold button jacket, mango poplin dress, mint velvet nika pointed toe pumps

Jacket - Topshop £49
Dress - Mango £59.99
Ballet Pumps - Mint Velvet £79

So ladies what are your thoughts on side stripes to your trousers?  Are you a yeah or nay?  Me I'm still undecided whether it's something I want to 'click that button' on but if I were I think it would be a toss up between the Marks & Spencer ones or the Topshop ones.  

As always I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Have a fab day & I'll see you tomorrow.
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My Midlife Loves

WIWT - The Perfect Lace Blouse

My Midlife Fashion, Laura Ashley High Neck Lace Bib Silk Blouse


Morning ladies now it's no secret that I love adding a splash of lace to an outfit so when Laura Ashley recently got in touch to see if there was anything from their latest Archive Collection that took my fancy this blouse caught my eye immediately.

As you would expect their Archive Collection is based on original iconic designs from their archives.  With this blouse being part of their Portrait Of Laura collection that is inspired by the Victorian era, designed to bring a modern edge to vintage designs.

My Midlife Fashion, Laura Ashley High Neck Lace Bib Silk Blouse

As you can see from the above pictures it really is beautifully made.  Available in off white/cream & made from 100% silk, the blouse has the most stunning detailing & feels very special as soon as you put it on.  

In particular I just love the high neck & pin tuck detailing.  Plus of course it's the perfect blouse for wearing under a jacket as you don't have any collar or neckline to worry about. 

Now in the past I have struggled with tops like this as whilst I love the detailing in the buttons I've found them hard to do up on my own.  But unlike some blouses I've previously purchased these are easy to fasten & I even managed to button all the back buttons up on my own quite easily.  

Due to the delicateness of the fabric the top is quite see-through so I would advise teaming with a simple camisole.  I'm wearing a cream one underneath in the pictures but also intend to try a nude version too.  Plus the design of the blouse it's quite fitted so if you find you can be between sizes I would suggest going up a size.

Laura Ashley even have a dress version of the blouse available here, or if you prefer a black version of this blouse, they have this one, which is cheaper in price & slightly different in design & equally as pretty.

My Midlife Fashion, Laura Ashley High Neck Lace Bib Silk Blouse

I've got lots ideas of how I'm going to be styling this blouse from pairing with boyfriend jeans & trainers for a casual feel to a midi pleated skirt & biker jacket for something with a bit more edge not to mention leather trousers & heels for date night.  But for today's look I've struck a balance between casual & smart by teaming with some skinny jeans, my new Marks loafers & a fab blazer I took a risk on & ordered from a company in Australia.  Although I'm hoping I may not need the jacket as I think the sun is due to put in an appearance today....fingers crossed & then I can top my tan up :-)

My Midlife Fashion, Laura Ashley High Neck Lace Bib Silk Blouse, marks and spencer trim mule loafer with insolia flex, zara skinny jeans

My Midlife Fashion, Laura Ashley High Neck Lace Bib Silk Blouse, marks and spencer trim mule loafer with insolia flex, zara skinny jeans

Jacket - Hanellei
Blouse - Laura Ashley
Bag - Yosa
Jeans - Zara
Loafers - Marks & Spencer

Lace & Denim, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My style, ted baker double breasted tux blazer, laura ashley high neck lace bib silk blouse, mango straight crop retro jeans, marks and spencer trim mule loafer, Miss KG henrietta clutch bag

Jacket - Ted Baker £199
Jeans - Mango £35.99
Clutch - Miss KG £45

So ladies are you a lover of lace?  if so what's your favourite way of incorporating it into your outfit? I'd love to hear your ideas & if you're on the look out for a lace blouse to add to your collection this season I'd highly recommend you try this one from Laura Ashley.

Have a great day & I'll see you in the morning.

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My Midlife Loves

A Designer Dupe & WIWT For Some Bank Holiday Fun

Office Lucky Charm Studded Boots


Good morning ladies happy Bank Holiday Monday.  Before I get on to today I just had to share with you these stunning Chloe Susanna studded ankle boots look-a-likeys.  How gorgeous are these babies & at just a fraction of the cost of the original designer ones.  I predict these babies are going to sell out fast, especially with the current 25% discount code so if you're tempted I get clicking that button in an instant!

My Midlife Fashion, Mango broderie camisole, hush military jacket, zara distressed cigarette length jeans, golden goose trainers

Jacket - Hush
Camisole - Mango
Jeans - Zara
Trainers - Golden Goose

Khaki & Denim, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My Style, Topshop oversized shacket, mango decorative trim top, mango straight crop retro jeans, hsuh star leather trainers

Jacket - Topshop £45
Jeans - Mango £35.99
Trainers - Hush £115

Back to today & we're up & out bright & early & off to Malvern to an antique fair in the hope of finding some treasures & bargains.  Our son has decided to give it a miss & get some much needed sleep after lots of late nights/early mornings on holiday & hubby has been bribed with bacon butties  & a visit to the pie stand (it's surprising what can motivate him when food's involved ;-) ).

So keeping today's look nice & simples with trainers & jeans for comfort & my ever useful Hush military jacket that I've teamed with a broderie cami to soften the look.

Anyone else up to anything special today or are you just savouring the luxury of an extra day to the weekend?  Whatever you're up to enjoy your day & I'll be back in the morning.

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My Midlife Loves

Holiday & At Home Purchases & WIWT - Military & Metallic

My Midlife Fashion, Massimo Dutti Navy Leather Biker Jacket

Shirt - Zara
Biker Jacket - Massimo Dutti
Dress - Zara
Frilly Sleeved Top - Uterque
Pearl Necklace - Local Boutique, similar here
Statement Necklace - Local Boutique, similar here
Grey Ballet Pumps - Local Boutique, similar here
Navy Ballet Pumps - Local Boutique, similar here

Morning ladies & happy Sunday.  Following on from the requests to share my holiday purchases with you I thought I'd dedicate today's post to my holiday spoils as well as a few sneaky purchases that have been made since our return.

As you can see from the above picture these were my buys from Mallorca.  I think it's safe to say there's always going to be the odd Zara purchase that slips in & despite the exchange rate not being as good as it has in past years there's still a considerable saving to be made when shopping in Spain on brands such as Zara, Mango, Massimo Dutti & Uterque.  As an example I saved £16 on just the maxi dress compared to here in the UK!

Another Mallorcan must when I pop into Palma is to stock up on ballet pumps & I always go back to the same shop who stocks a great selection of my favourite shoes in a wide range of colours & designs.  This year I'm sticking with my colour pallette of greys & blues & bought a stunning grey sparkly pair & a two tone navy patent & suede pair.

Another couple of buys that had been packed before I took the above photo.

Zara Short Shimmer Dress


This dress is simply stunning & looks a lot more expensive on - I'm planning on wearing mine both for dressier occasions (would be so comfy for Christmas Day) & also for normal daywear with a biker jacket & ankle boots. Plus it's not as low in the neckline as it looks above!

Zara tweed jacket


And I don't need to explain this stunning tweed jacket do I?!  Luckily I'd had another good wardrobe sort out & eBaying session before we left on our holiday!

Then a couple of buys from one off stores including some Mallorcan pearls & a statement necklace, which I'm currently trying to decide if I want to swap the ribbon for a chain.

As I mentioned earlier there's also been the odd purchase since our return to, including this coat & these shoes, which I've mentioned on a previous post.

Then a couple of statement blouses to team with all my seperates - perfect for dressing up or down & timeless classics that are never going to date.

john lewis alice temperley animal print top


John Lewis Somerset by Alice Temperley Pintuck Blouse


Ooh & this jumper I spied at a recent press day & featured on the blog the other week but be warned sizing comes up small on this & my normal size was also a little short in the body so I've gone up a couple of sizes to get the fit I was after.

marks and spencer limited edition ruffle shoulder jumper


Finally a couple of great H&M finds.  Firstly this lovely mohair blend cardi which will be perfect for throwing on when temperatures drop.....I'm thinking simple combo of jeans & a classic white shirt & perhaps pearls with ballet flats will make a great understated look.

H&M Cardigan in mohair blend


Then this pleated midi skirt will be ideal to team with a crew neck & biker jacket.

H&M Pleated Skirt


Finally I'm a total convert on the benefits of cashmere jumpers so when I spotted this 'V' neck for a good half the price of others I thought it worth a try.

H&M V Neck Cashmere Jumper


Back to today & I'm teaming an old metallic skirt that I picked up in the Zara sale a couple of years ago for the grand sum of £5!

My Midlife Fashion, ASOS lace trim camisole, zara pleated metallic midi skirt, metallic ballet pumps, zara military jacket

Necklace - Bought In Majorca
Top - ASOS
Skirt - Zara
Jacket - Zara
Ballet Pumps - Bought In Majorca

Leather & Metallics, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My Style, Mango decorative Trim top, kin elise pointed toe slip on trainer, miss selfridge pleated midi skirt, warehouse faux leather biker jacket

Jacket - Warehouse £59
Trainers - Kin Now £34

So ladies there you have my recent purchases - I'd love to say that's me sorted for the coming season but I think it's probably safe to say hubby should be so lucky ;-)  

Finally just in case you missed yesterday's post, you might want to click here to read all about an amazing shopping night that promises to be a lot of fun & I'd love to meet you bubbles, cupcakes & shopping what more could we want?!

Enjoy your Sunday & I'll be back in the morning.

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My Midlife Loves

A Special Shopping Invitation & WIWT

My Midlife Fashion, Zara single breasted navy blazer, white jeans, white cigarette length jeans, quilted ballet pumps, say what you c emoji necklace, chloe marcel bag

Blazer - Zara
Necklace - Say What You C
Top - H&M
Jeans - Zara
Bag - Chloe
Ballet Pumps - Bought In Majorca

Navy & White, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My Style, john lewis hepburn blazer, dune hero leather ballet pumps, topshop lace trim camisole, boden ⅞ chino trousers

Blazer - John Lewis £89
Camisole - Topshop £28
Ballet Pumps - Dune £60

Happy Saturday ladies, how lovely is it knowing that we've got a 3 day weekend ahead of us?!

I've got some exciting news to share with you - I think it's safe to say we all love shopping, bubbles & cupcakes?!  So how to do you fancy joining me for a spot of shopping on Thursday 8th September?

River Island Style Studio


I've been asked by River Island to host a Style Studio in their exclusive studios at their Bull Ring store in Birmingham between 6-8pm.  

So what's involved?  Well basically there'll be a talk from their lovely stylist Laura on the latest trends for AW16, followed by my top picks from the season & then it's a case of all girls together having a trying on session & gossip :-)  Plus there will be bubbles, nibbles & cupcakes!  And the best bit is that the event is entirely free & you're under no obligation to buy, all you have to do is just come along & enjoy yourself.

If you're interested then just email me at mymidlifefashion@gmail.com with your name & contact number but be warned numbers are limited so please get in touch as soon as you know you can make it to avoid disappointment.  

I'd love to meet some of my wonderful followers & if you're thinking you'd love to come but it's a little outside of your comfort zone not knowing anyone etc then either bring a friend or just take the plunge it really will be a great night. Plus let me reassure you there's going to be no one more nervous than me (I've got to stand up & talk - eek!).

Back to today & it's a fairly quiet one for us - popping to the shops for a few Bank Holdiay weekend treats for tea & then visiting my mum & partner who've just moved house, before the boys get their hair cut & then crashing on the sofa for cocktails & tapas this evening.

Enjoy your day & I'll see you tomorrow.

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My Midlife Loves


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WIWT - Lace & Denim

My Midlife Fashion, Marks and Spencer lace trim camisole, zara distressed cigarette length jeans, golden goose trainers

Camisole - Marks & Spencer
Jeans - Zara
Trainers - Golden Goose

Lace & Denim, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My Style, Hush Maria Silk Cami, mango straight crop retro jeans, hush leather star trainers

Camisole - Hush £80
Jeans - Mango £35.99
Trainers - Hush £115

Morning ladies well we made it to the end of the week :-)  I must admit this first week back has seemed quite a long one but with a 3 day weekend on the horizon I'm looking forward to chilling with the family.

I'm keeping today's look nice & simples & pairing my lace cami with distressed denim & my couldn't live without trainers for comfort.

After a week of detoxing after our holidays I think a cheeky glass of bubbles may just be in order tonight to mark the start of the weekend ;-)

See you in the morning & before I leave you just a quick discount code to share - get 20% off at The White Company when you spend over £100.  Simply click here & use code AN524 at checkout :-)

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My Midlife Loves


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WIWT - Double Denim

My Midlife Fashion, Chlose Medium Marcie bag, J Crew always chambray shirt, zara cigarette length white jeans, quilted ballet pumps

Denim Shirt - J Crew
Jeans - Zara
Bag - Chloe
Ballet Pumps - Bought In Majorca

Double Denim, My Midlife Fashion, Shop My Style, J Crew Always Chambray shirt, boden ⅞ chino trousers, coach turnlock leather hobo bag, dune hero leather ballet pumps

Denim Shirt - J Crew £78
Bag - Coach £325
Ballet Pumps - Dune £60

Whoop whoop my favourite day of the week - only one more sleep until the week plus it's a Bank Holiday one too :-)

I'm going for a spot of double denim today with this lovely J Crew thin denim shirt which I'm teaming with white jeans & navy accessories.

First pilates session late this afternoon after 2 weeks off so I'm guessing I'm going to be aching in the morning :-0

Last day to grab 20% off all Boden shirts, blouses, tees, kaftans, skirts, trousers & jeans simply click here to shop.  Plus if you love Hudson Shoes, check out their secret sale here with 50% off & if you spend over £125 get £10 off with code VOUHUD10 :-)

Have a lovely day & I'll see you in the morning.

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My Midlife Loves

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