Everything I wore in April
And what I'm looking at for summer
I thought I’d give this a go, a bit of a total outfit dump. Alas, the weather has done a full 180 since I started documenting my April outfits and now I am showing you cashmere in 23 degree heat (what else is new?!). So I’ve added a few May looks too. I still haven’t unpacked my high summer clothes yet so there are no shorts or vests really in sight but I’ll also show you a few of my early summer buys too, I’m not actually that great with forward planning my purchases (hence I always go swimwear shopping in June when there’s only mismatched sizes or the weird colourways in stock) but I have purchased a few items which I *think* will be long-term wardrobe hero pieces.
Anyway, what I wore in April:
3 trench looks. I love my Uniqlo one (from 2 years ago), I bought a size L which I think really adds to its ‘throw-on’ appeal.
Lots of Damson Madder. I know, I’m a fashion cliche but I like how their pieces make an outfit ‘sing’ and challenge me to bring something different to my wardrobe. I do feel the brand’s marketing is a bit ‘cool girl aesthetic’ though which I find totally alienating. But I fall for it.
5 (slightly) different versions of a blazer with trainers. The cream and tan blazers are the lined oversized And Other Stories ones (provide extra warmth for early spring - they do them all year round), the grey is Uniqlo: C (currently £29.90, a huge reduction!) which is light and great for travelling (it also doesn’t crease in a suitcase!).
I wore the Stella Nova dress (via The Outnet) for my 41st birthday:
And some random outfits that I couldn’t put into categories:
The Uniqlo cropped tee (which sold out after I added to an early newsletter!) with THE Cos culottes (which I also have in khaki), with a vintage scarf I found. This was a May look but I loved it too much not to add.
A Jigsaw suit I borrowed when I was pretending to be fancy for an Ad job.
Layering the Muji cropped raincoat from a few newsletters back under my trench - thank you for allowing me to discover it (also now sold out).
And a few items I bought in preparation for summer….
2 in 1!
Dress: The Frankie Shop
Shoes: Oliver Bonas
I saw this dress on Laura Fantacci last year, then searched for it and found it on sale (I got a M/L and there was already low stock - Arket have a lovely pale blue version here). I like the full length and pockets! Might even find a cord necklace to wear with it for total 70s vibe (and before you ask: it does not look better belted - I tried).
I also wore these Oliver Bonas raffia fishermen sandals last week around Borough Market (over 18k steps) and no blisters or rubbing. They look great with jeans too, I always think a pair of shoes I reach for immediately after buying are going to be around a while:
I’m also looking for a few more easy pyjama shorts, I love Arket for these, Monki have a more affordable version (I have in black from last year) and Free People also have some good ones (although they do seem to have an unusual pocket positioning).
100% linen stripe: £37, Arket
Linen mix: £18.99, H&M
100% cotton twill: £19, Monki
100% cotton shorts: £58, Free People
Spotlight on handmade sustainable brand We Are Kin, too. These 100% Irish linen shorts are £40 with biodegradable, plastic-free elastic:
And as I tell you most years, The Outnet has a great range of Arizona Love trekky sandals (these blue ones have good stock levels, too). I lived in mine last summer (and the many summers before that) and they’re all I packed for Japan (I also have a less fancy pair of regular Tevas which are better in water and cheaper, too).
See you next week (for Part 2 of the house tour!)