There are so many lovely knitted neckties available this season. They are such a great way to finish off an outfit while also providing some warmth. I particularly love the look of a matching jumper and necktie, there is something very elegant about this combination. I am wearing a navy jumper from Rise & Fall (more on this later) with a scarf from L’Envers. The waffle knit of the scarf contrasts beautifully with the flat texture of the jumper. It goes without saying then, that we both love mum’s cardigan from Toast. Not only is it a fabulous colour but the necktie is integral to the cardigan (no slipping off and losing this one!).

The stripy top that is poking out from underneath mum’s cardigan is a long sleeved turtle neck by Kate Barton. It is the perfect under-layer, particularly if you’re not keen on a high neck but you do like it to be seen beneath your knitwear. It is details like this that can take an outfit from a ‘jumper and jeans’ to something a bit more interesting and put together.

Ultimately, it is the shape of your trousers that will dictate the overall vibe of an outfit. The more directional the shape, the more modern the look. Conversely, the more classic the silhouette, the more classic the overall look. There is no ‘right or wrong’, ‘good or bad’ it’s just personal taste. I’m making the point because sometimes it’s difficult to know why an outfit looks a certain way. If you compare mum’s outfit last week to the one that she is wearing here, the top half of both are not dissimilar, it is the shape of the trousers that are very different. The L.F. Markey pair are a wide, contemporary cut while the Jaeger trousers are slim, tapered and more traditional in shape. We love both looks and I think that both styles suit mum well.

This tartan jacket is made from a blanket. Not only do I love this particular tartan but it’s also very warm - much like the warmth of a picnic blanket over your shoulders. The jacket has been lovingly designed with beautiful over-sized buttons, interesting sleeve details and deep front pockets. I love that it looks like an overshirt but performs as a warm jacket. The tartan encompasses all the colours that I wear most frequently in winter. It is worth thinking about this when you invest in a winter jacket/coat. The outerwear is going to be much more useful to you and easy to wear if the colours are versatile and compliment your personal colour palette.

Now, back to the navy blue jumper. I have been after the perfect navy jumper for a while and finally, I have found it! Super soft, very warm, fitted but not too fitted and simple without being boring - ta da! It’s here. This is the same style as the pink one that mum wore in last week’s post. I am a UK 8/10 and I am wearing a small. Mum is a UK 10 and wears a medium. We would both fit into either size, so it comes down to fit preference.

Lastly, this tote bag. It is part of Maze’s 40th anniversary collection. It is a collaboration between themselves and Kate Sheridan. I adore navy blue and black together so it is right up my street. It’s also really big. I now know that I can fit two swimming costumes, two towels, two pairs of goggles, snacks to sustain a small village, change of clothes times two, wallet, phone, keys, lip balm…… and if I suddenly needed to whip the kitchen sink out and put it in my bag, it would fit. So, if you too need a stylish bag that can hold the contents of your life, look no further!