Category: transitional
Layers
It’s almost got to that time of year, well, not quite, but nearly there – it could be just around the corner – and then again, maybe it isn’t. So really it is – transition clothing here we come. And what seems to be singling it more than anything else is layers – new layers, old layers, re-found layers, vintage layers, whether it be retro blouses, snug fitting polo necks or Uniqlo quilted jackets, the shape, the change, the experimentation is where it’s all at.
(All pics Pinterest)
Bring it on!
Laters, Kate x
Transition shoes x
Are clogs the new winter shoe? Possibly. The pandemic has had a strange effect with changes rippling out and now clogs make sense – perfect for sliding on for little trips to nowhere. And then flinging off on return; they are the ideal indoor shoe for the modern person. But if this is the purpose of clogs, the sheepskin versions seem much softer and more appealing – I’ve been wearing my ancient shearling Celts complete with worn toe holes since summer first started waning, but if I was going for an upgrade, it would be for these Birkenstocks. My only fear would be the temptation of the rest of the Birkenstock range…
(All pics Pinterest and Birkenstocks)
Mighty fine….
Laters, Kate x
Padded x
Are layers the transition between seasons or are they the season, only the number being the decider? After being convinced for years over the importance of the big coat and the big jumper, I’m beginning to think it’s the later that’s more useful – that subtle transformation to come with fluctuating temperatures both outside and in, from t-shirt to adding thin jumper and maybe a shirt, to a blazer or denim jacket to a padded gilet before the final layer and herald of true winter – the thick coat. Once reconsidered as both a coat and a layer, the padded coat’s star quality starts rising exponentially, especially now they’re so lightweight, yet thin and warm.
(All pics Pinterest)
It also helps they hold structural shape. Another point of happy difference. Who knew the anorak would become a vital wardrobe staple?
Laters, Kate x
Long to belong x
Is the long winter, oversized eighties era coat finally coming back?
Apart from their ability to gather up leaves whilst walking down steps. It’s a huge thumbs up from here.
Laters, Kate x
The Pull x
The one thing I’ve been grateful for every day of this lockdown has been the weather. Nine times out of ten the sky has been a forget-me-not blue, possibly bluer, with each passing day as the urban pollution has cleared. It’s had an effect, not only on all our moods, but also on the garden that has now burst into acid green, waving fronds and baby buds. It feels we are in early summer rather than spring and I can’t imagine the same time with grey skies and pouring rain. As yet, I haven’t dared swap over my summer wardrobe, not wishing to give this gift life the kiss of death, but I have moved back to transition dressing – the same basics but with lighter layers, one step away from high summer cotton dresses. The last thing I’ve wanted to do in lockdown is buy clothes. But the truth is, if we want there to be a recovery, spending needs to happen, and not just at Amazon. With this in mind, all these pics all come from Massimo Dutti, offering the sort of pieces that stand the test of time: strong, classic and well made; if there are any holes in your wardrobe, here’s where to look to fill them..
(All pics Massimo Dutti and Pinterest)
And regarding prices? think Zara rather than Chanel. Just saying.
Laters, Kate x
Somewhere Summer..
The first snow drops, hints of blue, lighter mornings, the subtle suggestions of a season on the turn. I was reading yesterday that I would not be able to claim the emerging spring as a fact because there is no such thing as proof, no matter how much we look for it. Because proof can only exist when there is no doubt, and there is always doubt. Which I rather love, because it means the world is a chaotic, insane place, no matter how much we try to control it. It also means there’s no proof for my claim that there’s a zeitgeist on the air for summer clothes, but I can still put a finger up to the wind and feel it: Unstructured, loose, layered with soft, softened cotton and colours that carry age, a step away from dynamic and full blooded. A nod to ancient cultures, simplicity of form but attention to proportion and complimentary dimension.
(All pics Pinterest)
Bring it on.
Laters, Kate x
Blooming Marvellous x
I never like this time of year; the glitter and sparkle of Christmas has been packed away, the weather is cold, grey, rain, the garden is sleeping, the shops are full of unwanted crap, and Netflix has been over eaten to the point of explosion. But there is a little silver lining, a sliver of what’s to come, the turning of the tide: Indoor bulbs. Now is the time to raid charity shops, find big bowls and fill with your hearts delight.
(All pics Pinterest)
The second wave of wonder is, once they’re over, they can be planted in the garden. And the bowls are ready for giant summer salads…
Laters, Kate x
Statement x
Upstairs, in the furthest cupboard, I have some vintage clothes stored away for the day when Bella wishes to experiment. In amongst them is a full length chocolate brown velvet single breasted coat with the sort of split up the back that made you feel like a swash buckling highway man when walking down a street. The decadence of the material felt such a statement of the times, it was hard to see it having a real purpose again.
(All pics Pinterest)
But there is a point of view that says when the world is going to the dogs, party like there’s no tomorrow….
Laters, Kate x
90%
Buy less but buy better is a mantra that both speaks volumes and resonates with my innards. Which is probably why the company Ninety Percent ticks so many boxes: Producing luxury basics for every day with classic, well cut pieces that are detail driven, made to last and respond to age. But even more impressive, Ninety Percent is a sustainable label, based in London that shares 90% of it’s distributed profits between charitable causes.
(All pics Ninety Percent and Pinterest)
High f****** five to a kinder, more caring fashion movement that really delivers.
Laters, Kate x
Summer showers x
The weather is still strange here, if the sun shines it’s getting warm, but we can have sudden cold carrying squalls arriving from nowhere. In the evening, no matter how blue the sky has been, the temperature is still dropping away steeply. It means the transitional wardrobe is in full swing with the similar layers of winter, except they are lighter and looser: cotton instead of wool, silk instead of cotton, bare feet and summer colours…
(All pics Pinterest)
Oh for the days summer simplicity..
Laters, Kate x
Maison Bentley Style 