Jumper LOVER

There's nothing quite like a new jumper to make you feel autumn-ready. Cosy, stylish and practical, jumpers tick so many boxes when it comes to versatility, and now is the perfect time to invest in some updated pieces.

After all, what else can instantly transform floaty midi dresses and printed skirts into seasonally appropriate attire? Or can instantly update your jeans and trainers combination? Knitwear has sartorial superpowers that shouldn't be overlooked, which is why now the weather is getting colder it’s time to start thinking about what knitwear will see you through this Autumn Winter.

These past couple of weeks has been Autumn shopping madness for clients wanted to update their style for the new season so I have been shopping knitwear for a while now. I want to bring to you some fab pieces I have seen online that are great investment pieces aswell as upping your style game.

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KNITWEAR TO BUY NOW

1. Mohair & wool leopard print cardigan, Zara, £79.99

2. Green Tiger stripe printed jumper, Whistles, £66.75 (currently with 25% offer)

3. Rainbow stripe jumper, Hush, £139

4. Embellished wool sweater, &other stories, £95

5. Diagonal wool cable jumper, Topshop, £35.00

6. Pink cable sweater, John Lewis & Partners, £63.20 (on promotion)

What dresses to buy for AW19

The ‘Buffet’ dress has been hanging around all summer, whilst they are a shape that covers everything, it doesn’t mean it’s the right shape for your body shape. It does have the tendancy to make you look bigger, and hiding your smaller areas too. So what dresses should you be buying instead of this dress that you see everywhere, well I have some great updates for you for Autumn.

A good dress will make you feel good, it should make you feel confident and pulled together. It also requires very little thought as it’s just one piece of clothing, so all you really need to think about it what shoes to wear with it. Easy. Boots or trainers would be my answer, with maybe a bright or leopard print heel for an evening out.

I’ve picked 5 options that are getting me excited for the new season ahead; florals, monochrome, maxi, leather and shirt dresses.

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FLORALS

Florals aren’t just for Spring. They are for all times of year. In Autumn/Winter, look for prints on a darker background, red is such a great colour for this time of year as it brightens up your wardrobe. It will also work well once you have to break out the 80 deniers.

Kensington dress, Hush, £75.00

Watercolour pansy print dress, LK Bennett, £325.00

Wild flower dress, Jigsaw, £160.00

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MONOCHROME

An easy win whatever season, choose a print that never dates so spots, stars, hearts and so on. You can add colour through layers such as chunky knitwear or jackets, or through accessories. A great cross body bag or coloured pair of trainers always looks great off setting against the monochrome background.

William star-print midi dress, Stine Goya, Harvey Nichols, £210.00

Bell sleeve black & white dress, Topshop, £39.00

Polka dot dress, Zara, £49.99

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LEATHER

This season’s hottest fabric trend and translates so well into dress shapes. Good quality leather is expensive so make sure you are going to wear the dress more than this season. Leather never dates, think biker jacket and pencil skirts, just be careful about shape and length as you will want it to last. But there is nothing more sophisticated, fashionable and chic than this season’s leather dress choices. Top of my list!

Leather shirt dress, Arket, £290.00

Grey leather judo dress, Topshop boutique, £250.00

Darted leather shirt dress, Uterque, £290.00

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CHECK

Checks have long been an Autumn favourite in shirts, trousers and coats, but this year the check dress is making a comeback in a more grown up way. The pattern is simple and easy so should work well within any wardrobe as along as you get your colours right. Pair with any length boot, biker or cowboy or with fresh white trainers for a more casual take.

Gestuz check shirt dress, John Lewis, £150.00

Smocked plaid shirt dress, &other stories, £95.00

Checked midi dress, Selected Femme, £90

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SHIRT DRESSES

Shirt dresses are a very easy way to look immediately smart at work, they bridge a gap between full-on suit and easy breezy too-casual dresses if you’re in a more corporate environment. You could pair with a heel or a smart boot for the office, but you can also dress them down with casual jacket a big boots for weekends.

Watercolour shirt dress, &other stories, £85.00

AM-PM Cargo shirt dress, Me&Em, £299.00

French Connection Carri shirt dress, John Lewis, £110.00

What to wear right now

September is a tricky month to dress for, with its ‘hot one minute, cool the next’ weather; you leave the house in the morning wearing multiple layers, only to come back home with most of them stuffed in your handbag. The trick is to wear pieces that straddle the seasons, hitting that sweet spot between keeping you warm while being breathable and cooling too – and all the while looking super stylish. In other words, the holy grail of autumn fashion.
An oversized cardigan can be thrown over a long-sleeved floral dress , while a timeless double-breasted blazer in camel corduroy makes for a versatile lightweight jacket and faux leather becomes your new best friend. As it’s still warm enough to forgo socks, now is the time to wear your slip-on shoes – pair with a satin skirt and a white tee. Finally, there’s the boilersuit – a wardrobe essential that gives your wardrobe a style boost this September.

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Re-spin your style with these key pieces which will go on to becoming the cornerstone of your Autumn style -

1. Boilersuit / Cargo jumpsuit

   A jumpsuit is a wardrobe staple and can be worn all year round, layering a polo neck underneath or a fur jacket over the top. At this time of year the weather is just perfect to give it it’s own pedestal and chuck on a pair of trainers.

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2.Leather culottes & trousers

Whether vintage, vegan, faux or the real thing, leather bottoms are an instant hit this Autumn. I have a pair of leather leggings that I have had for a number of years and also a pair of faux leather culottes that I am currently living in. This time of year they are great to wear with no tights, layering top layers such as blazers, or chunky cardigans or even a sparkly jacket.

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3.Over-sized blazers

I love blazers and a new addition to my wardrobe is top of my AW list at the moment. There are alot of checks around , mensy styling and also double breasted. Wearing one over your dress, jumpsuit or with a pleated skirt will update your styling and keep that cold chill at bay in the mornings.

Multicolour check blazer, Whistles, £151.20 (currently 20% off)

Astrid puppytooth blazer, All Saints, £258.00

Wool oversized blazer, &other stories, £159

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4.Skirts

Skirts have been a big staple of mine all Summer so no doubt I will continue to wear them through the Autumn but I need to update my style as I am getting bored of t-shirts and skirts. This is fine when I sling a blazer over the top, but now I want to add printed blouses, shirts, sweatshirts and soon knitwear tucked into my skirts. Just in time for the hiking boots too.

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5.The chunky bright cardigan

Alot of my clients will tell you that I do NOT like a cardigan. I much prefer a jacket as a more sophisticated, versatile piece in your wardrobe. If you own a cardigan it’s normally a frumpy, lazy way of keeping warm, I like to educate clients on other ways to layer up in the Winter. But this season I am lusting after chunky, statement, coloured cardigans - with emphasis on the statement. The cardigan needs to bring something new to wardrobe and wearing it with dresses and skirts is how you bring freshness to wardrobe.

Wool blend puff shoulder cardi, &other stories, £75.00

Yellow cable knit cardi, River Island, £42.00

Blue soft feel cardi, Zara, £25.99

New season's winners at LK Bennett

LK Bennett, a British Icon, a firm favourite with Kate Middleton, good quality, expensive but classic. These are words that I would of used to describe the high street chain for the past few years. I have a number of clients who I will shop in LK Bennett with them due to their work attire or when clients have occasions such as ascot, weddings and christenings it will be on my list to look at. Until now I have never thought of them as fashion forward, classic yes, beautifully cut yes, modern sometimes…but today after a personal shopping trip with a client my head has been turned!

Their new AW19 collection had me excited at every turn and every dress. The client did buy 2 dresses from the collection and after we parted ways I had to go back and try some on myself. Here are my top picks from the new collection…

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Leopard print cotton dress, £295

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Bright green tie neck dress, £325

The same style also comes in bright red and in 2 other prints

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Navy pleated dress, £250

The same style comes in bright purple too

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This gingham shirt dress is sold out online but you can find it in stores -

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These 2 beautiful bags also caught my eye…