Beyond Nine was started by Naomi Raybould in order to fix a problem. During her pregnancy with her first child, she found that she could not find clothes that she wanted to wear. Naomi said in an article recently “I had never appreciated what a big role clothes played in my identity until I couldn’t wear what I wanted to”. This is something that I can relate to so strongly. When I was pregnant I remember feeling like a fish out of water, turning up to meetings thinking, how are they going to know who I really am? I don’t look like me! Obviously pregnancy is a passing phase and whether you have been pregnant or not, I’m sure that many of us have experienced phases in our lives when it feels like our clothes are out of kilter with how we feel inside.
Women’s bodies change so much during the course of our lives. Interestingly, whereas to start with, Beyond Nine was a brand to accommodate women during their pregnancies and postpartum, they have evolved into a brand that allows for the ever changing nature of being in a woman’s body. These jeans are a case in point. They have a flat front and barrel leg but the waistband at the back is elasticated so as to accommodate all manner of fluctuation. They really are, a pull on and go kinda jean!

I have never been disappointed with the quality of Beyond Nine clothes. Something that drives me mad about new brands is when they become successful and the quality of the garments begin to deteriorate. This is not the case with these clothes. The knitwear is a relatively new addition to Beyond Nine’s repertoire and I am impressed. I’ve always been partial to a cotton knit and these ones don’t disappoint. Heavy enough to drape well but not too heavy as to be hot for Spring/Summer.

N.B. Mum’s knit is wool with a small amount of cashmere.

You won’t often see either of us in grey (not because we don’t like it but because it doesn’t tend to suit us) but this particular shade seems to work well. Of course, the colour that is actually against mum’s face is the burgundy of the scarf. I have mentioned this before but a clever hack to wearing tops in colours that you like, but perhaps aren’t the most flattering, is to wear a neck scarf in a colour that suits you really well. That way, the colour that is by your face is the colour that most suits your complexion.

I love an item of clothing that can transcend seasons… and locations! These striped linen trousers are capable of both. Here I am wearing them in an outfit suitable for colder climes but as soon as the sun comes out (or when i’m lucky enough to be on holiday!) the t-shirt will be whipped out and on will go the sandals. Yippee!

I love the vertical stripe with the contrasting horizontal one, it’s a great design detail.

Can we also take a moment to appreciate mum’s loafers from Russell & Bromley. The perfect example of ‘if it’s not broke….’. I suspect that they have been producing a version of these loafers since their very first collection. I think that Russell & Bromley lost their way for a while but in my opinion they are back on track. The styles that hark back to their heritage are the strongest for me.

I also LOVE the denim shirt that I am wearing. I have been searching for a great denim shirt for ages. Good quality, long, simple in design and NO fading. Ta da! COS did it. Great for wearing on its own or under knitwear. If I am lucky I have 0.00001 seconds in the morning to get ready before I have to take my girls to school and a shirt like this is perfect for throwing on and running out the door….