Sometimes clothes just need to be effortless, tried and trusted turn-tos when you need to slip into something stylish and comfortable, that requires little or no thought for the rest of the day. Second skin clothes if you like. My new favourite the culotte, especially the wide-cut variety, is a paid up member of the club, so too the Breton top, the crisp white shirt, cashmere lounge pant, slouchy knit, and maybe surprisingly for some, the bohemian dress. These are clothes you can dress up and down. Add heels, subtract heels. Throw over a smart jacket or simply a belted trench. Perfect for home office wear, perfect for weekend wanderings and ones that will be staying put in your wardrobe for quite some time to come. You’re welcome.
When the temperature dial persists in showing ‘minus’, it’s tough to see the allure of a fine gauge knit, and yet layering is the perfect way to keep warm. Jigsaw’s cotton cashmere combines that layer of luxury warmth without feeling bulky. Jumper £49 (SALE), striped t-shirt £27 (SALE), silk culottes £139 , white cross strap trainers £98, all Jigsaw.
When a jumper is part sweatshirt, part blouse, affordable AND extremely covetable. A wider cut ‘big’ jean is the new thing and what better way to package it than wrap it up with a big bow. Tie waist jumper £35, jeans £40, both coming soon from ASOS, grey cross front trainers £98, Jigsaw.
When is a Breton not quite a Breton? When LK Bennett add oversized spots that’s when. Quirky cool worn with leather culottes, cashmere socks and slides, yes it’s athleisure all the way. Liberty print knitted top £125, Jody black leather trouser £425 both LK Bennett; sandals £85, www.jonesbootmaker.com, Tabitha luxury black cashmere socks £29, Pantherella.
It’s been dubbed the ‘It Knit’ for good reason. M&S’s fluted cuff grey jumper is the perfect smart knit. Work, play, weekend, whatever – team it with a wide cut pant and you have the epitome of stylish casual wear. Job done. Knit £35, M&S Collection, wide white pant £49.50, Autograph, M&S .
Cashmere lounge pants? Well why not. If you’re ‘WAH’ (working at home) and in need of a little style and comfort these are your go-tos. Just add a crisp white shirt and Converse for those spontaneous ‘out-of’office’ moments. White shirt £45, ASOS; cashmere joggers £99, Autograph, M&S ; white Converse All Stars £48,Schuh , Tabitha cashmere socks £29, Pantherella , black suede baseball hat £4.40, www.misspap.co.uk.
Your stay at home luxe look…. (just add cashmere)
The humble white shirt is well, not quite so humble these days. You can find your perfect ‘one’ in many a guise, from fitted, flared, long, cropped, tie sided or sleeved, bib fronted, pleated… I could go on and on. This from Karen Millen marries all the crispness of tradition with the modernity of a tied sleeve. Shirt £110 (coming soon), pleated culottes £55 (SALE), brogue trainers £135, all Karen Millen.
Quite frankly the perfect slouchy knit. Dropped shoulder, wide sleeved and as cute with a lounge pant as it is layered over something sparkly. The Stylish Stuff loves. Brea V-neck jumper £88, Freepeople, Cady trousers £129, Jigsaw, bobble hat £17, Accessorize and nude slider sandal £45, www.jonesbootmaker.com
For the bohemian at heart, there’s always the allure of a long dress. Wear with heels and trench for a take-me-out look or simply throw over the Freepeople Brea jumper (shown above) for a lounge at home vibe. Dress £415 MesDemoiselles, black trench £465, Laurèl. black cashmere socks £29, Pantherella, cork soled hi heeled sandals, LK Bennett.
Hair and make up artist Karen Mason talks us through how she achieved the bed head texture in model Erika’s hair.
“I first added a thickening powder to Erika’s roots – it’s important to remember to use it sparingly and massage gently into the scalp. I used Yarok Feed Your Style Dry Shampoo £17.50 which is perfect for achieving the undone texture we were after for the shoot. I then tonged mid sections of the hair with round barrel curling tongs, leaving the roots and ends well alone and simply concentrating on the middle part of the hair. To finish, I backcombed the hair with a wide toothed comb and spritzed on some Aveda Thickening Tonic, £20.
Art Direction & Styling Shelly Vella
Photography Emma Sweeney
Hair & Make up Karen Mason
Model Erika Pattison at Select
Photo Assistant Georgie Noble
Photographed at Flora & Fauna Studios @florafaunastudios