Is it stylish to wear white jeans?

edits styling notes

I have a style dilemma that is playing on my mind...

...is it cool to wear white jeans?

But this isn't the only question I am asking myself. Questions such as; Am I too old to wear them? Will they just get dirty all the time? Has Liz Hurley ever been a fashion icon for wearing white denim jeans? Are they better for evening wear?

There is no doubting that the white jean is back! It's the denim shade that often gets a bad rap for being hard to pull off. But I'm starting to think it's universally wearable, as long as you ditch the visions of that mutton look and style them to look effortlessly cool.

Here are some styling ideas for white jeans as an outfit

1. Wear white on white

2. Wear with a classic breton stripe

3. Keep it monochrome

4. Tone them down with a tomboy shirt

5. Wear with a simple sweater

6. Take inspiration from fashion icon Alexa Chung who seems to be able to style hers with everything

For more styling inspiration follow my pinterest board - White jeans 2016

Are you slowly coming round to the idea of white jeans in your wardrobe now? It seems like they can work with a variety of tops, colours and looks (perhaps just not kids mucky fingers!). I am currently looking to buy a skinny ankle skimming pair that has rips on the legs to wear in the daytime.

Here are my top 5 edit of white jeans to buy now

1. French Connection white denim jeans £80

2. Mango Skinny elektra jeans £35.99

3. Topshop MOTO white raw hem jeans £42.00

4. Madewell high rise white skinny jeans £96.55

5. River Island busted knee white skinny jean, asos £42.00

the holiday edit - what to pack for your summer holidays

The level of excitement in our house is reaching fever pitch as we are about to go on our Summer holiday! I'm glad everyone else is getting excited as I still have the daunting task of packing for everyone- three boys, one husband and lastly, little ole me! There is nothing more I love than enjoying a well earned sunny break but sometimes the planning it takes to get there can make it quite stressful. But over the years I've honed my packing skills and I feel like a bit of a pro packer, the key to it all is planning your outfits and making a list. One of the most common mistakes made whilst getting ready for a holiday is packing too much into your suitcase. Not only is it often not necessary to take so many clothes and accessories, but it can also cost you money if your suitcase ends up weighing more than your allocated luggage allowance.

Not my suitcase -obviously!

One of my stead-fast rules is don't pack anything you wouldn't wear at home, which is why I try on everything before I pack to ensure that year on year it still fits or it still fits into my holiday wardrobe. Making my holiday wardrobe work together is slightly harder as you are so limited to space than in your wardrobe at home. I try and pack in outfits for the evening or any daytime trips we have planned. I lay everything out and try and make items work with two different pieces that I am taking. At the last point before packing the bag, I always take 2-3 items out as they will never see the light of day.

But every year there are always a couple of things I like to buy new for my holiday, whether they are on trend, I need to update or I just have to have it...here are my 5 holiday must-have's.

1. The Jumpsuit

I am so in love with this chambray denim jumpsuit that it's been on my 'have to have' list for a couple of weeks now. It's from French brand Sezane, who function entirely online and ship around the world. This jumpsuit is not the only thing I love on their website, they have some gorgeous printed shirts, elegant dresses and some great casual tops for your daily wardrobe - I urge you to check it out as they sell out fast.

Sezane Jeanna Jumpsuit 135 euros

2. The cutwork dress

I have to confess, my cutwork dress that I did buy a few weeks back from &other stories has sold out and this is what they have replaced it with. I did buy it in black, even though a white cutwork dress is the biggest trend right now, I just thought I would get more wear out of a darker colour. I can't wait to wear mine with a denim jacket, bright coloured sandles and a fab clutch bag for evening and daytime with my hat, sunglasses and beach bag slung over my shoulder. So versatile and I will definitely be wearing back at home too!

Cut-out embroidery dress £95.00

3. The shorts

Unless you're under the age of 25 hot pants aren't really going to cut it and with the choice being so limited in the short department, finding a suitable pair that look good, are stylish and give you the coverage you need can be really difficult and frustrating. I've spent a lot of time recently researching options for clients who don't want to have half of their bottom hanging below the hemline of their shorts (!) and so far, this style from Boden offers everything you might be looking for. They come in a range of colours but the best thing about them is you can choose what leg length you want: 4", 6" and 9". Size wise they start at a 6 and go up to a 22.

Boden chino shorts £42.50

4. The Hat

If you don't fancy wearing your sun hat at the airport, make sure you pack it with the inside full of something like lingerie or socks to help it keep its shape. I have been wearing a hat in the UK for a number of years now so it's worth purchasing and having one for those random hot days we have here! This year I decided to treat myself to a new one, and at £20 I couldn't resist the price of this Oliver Bonas fedora hat with the bright yellow stripe.

Oliver Bonas neon Rosie fedora hat £20.00

5. The bag

I am a sucker for a good bag, a good beach bag to hold EVERYTHING you could possibly need it in...the list is endless with kids right? This one from Madewell ticks so many boxes and is a perfect size for trips to the beach, lunch at the bar and day trips out. I'm not sure I'll need to buy a new one ever again. It also comes in a red and cream option.

Madewell Amalfi Jacquard Tote £37.86

Lastly, always take a pair of sunglasses with you! Mirrored lenses, cat-eyes and tortoiseshell styles are all hits for summer. Remember to pack in your hand luggage so when you step off the plane you are holiday-ready. Boom.

Edits summer style secrets

Summer's here, which means it's time to start planning for that perfect Summer wardrobe. It's not about blink-and-you'll-miss-them-trends, but investing in cool, stylish pieces you will want to wear again and again. Clothes that fit effortlessly into your life and outfits that make you feel good whenever you put them on.

Chanel cruise show in Cuba May 2016

Here are my Summer Style Secrets...

1. Layering is my secret to always feeling put together. Wearing lightweight stylish jackets over shirts or tee's makes me feel like I am ready for any eventuality.
2. I like my clothes to be versatile. Shirts are still my style hero as they can be worn in so many different ways; with shorts, skirts, jeans and over dresses, tuck it in, roll it up, button it up or keep it open, the style list is endless!
3. Trends are just suggestions of what to wear, so know your style. If you love minimalist laid-back pieces over boho then perhaps a simple white dress is your forever summer throw-on with a few pieces of bold jewellery.
4. Mix old favourites with new finds. I have a 'Summer box' of items I have collected over the years and I will wear them with my new season pieces.
5. Style your shape. Know your body shape and shop for pieces that will showcase your body rather than wearing 'figure fixers' such as baggy linen trousers or long jersey t-shirts.

If you have lost your style and need some help getting back on track and then contact me now for a personal styling consultation. My job is to take the pain and frustration away of not knowing what to wear. I will work with you to create the perfect style that suits your personality, lifestyle and budget AND is easy to maintain.

the bold print that is everywhere this summer

With colourful patterns such a hot trend right now, it was only a matter of time before we embraced the foliage print along with other more conventional styles. Give your geometrics and stripes a miss for a while – this season it’s all about palm, cactus and leaf designs from top to bottom. Whether you opt for a subtle piece of swimwear or a bold jumpsuit, this is the colourful style that everyone can wear.

French Connection, Whistles, Zara and Topshop are all purveyors of the trend, with pretty camis, work-appropriate blouses and structured trousers part of their repertoire. Check out my favourite pieces below – whether you sport them now or save them for somewhere more exotic, you’ll appreciate a little bit of nature being brought back to your daily grind.

1. Topshop Palm print jumpsuit - £39.99

2. Zara printed bomber jacket - £39.99

3. Whistles leaf embroidered sweater - £75.00

4. French Connection Lala palm drape wide leg trousers - £85.00

5. Zara palm tree print sneaker - £29.99

For more inspiration follow my pinterest board - Summer 16 bold prints