Hello again! I’ve missed talking to you all, I hope that you have had a great summer. Here in England the sunny weather just seems to be going on and on….! I took my girls to the park last night to eat their supper as it was still so warm. Of course it makes dressing for this time of year quite confusing but if ever there was a time to enjoy light weight jackets and trench coats, now would be it!

I believe that a bomber jacket is a great style for keeping your look cool and youthful. The one that mum is wearing here is from Zara. It’s a style that the high street tends to do well. The colour and texture lends a smartness while the athletic ribbed collar and elasticated hem adds a trendy, sporty vibe.

I love corduroy for autumn/winter and this jacket by Arket ticks all the boxes. The brand calls it an overshirt which suggests some indication of its weight. As we move into winter, its the sort of jacket that you could keep on indoors. In true Arket style, the cut is more interesting than some. The sleeves are long and flared - it really does feel like a painter’s jacket (not that it would be at all practical for painting in I should add!). It has a perfect slouchy, relaxed vibe - ideal for layering with shirts and knitwear.

A stripe or check works in an outfit in the same way that it would in an interior space - the pattern helps to prevent everything from looking too ‘matchy matchy’. Mum’s outfit would work well without the knitted vest but it adds a different dimension to the look. I believe that this particular knit by Toast would add hat ‘je ne sais quoi’ to your wardrobe.

The other unexpected item of clothing mum is wearing here is the pie crust collared shirt. I say it’s unexpected, because the outfit is generally quite sporty and masculine which is why I like the more formal and feminine addition of the blouse. I love a frilly collar to add a touch of femininity to an otherwise androgynous look. As you will know by now, I love contrast! These blouses also look great with a silk neck scarf tucked into the collar.

My shirt is striped and blue so of course I am going to love it! But the principal of a striped shirt as the base layer of an outfit works regardless of its colour. The striped fabric provides an excellent foundation on which to layer other colours and fabrics.

Lastly, I have two more thoughts to share with you before I wrap things up for this week. Firstly, I believe that investing in a fine knit red polo neck to wear under jumpers and shirts this autumn will be a great investment. Although I have mine tied around my waist (it was still so warm when we shot this!) the top would look great under the blue shirt, but also poking out from under a variety of my winter outfits.

Lastly, Blundstone boots are a great option for winter if you’re in the market for a boot. Although they are quite chunky, they seem to go with lots of looks, including dresses or skirts. The quality is excellent and they’re comfy! Mum has had this particular pair for several years and they’ve worn extremely well.