The H&M Edit - 10 Items on My Wishlist

H&M are my favourite affordable fashion brand right now. They offer great quality at reasonable prices and their clothes, especially their summer dresses, are absolutely stunning. Here’s my edit of the 10 pieces I’m loving most from H&M at the moment.

1) Tan bucket bag, £17.99

One thing I really need in my wardrobe at the moment is a tan handbag. It’s a very versatile piece that works beautifully with both light and dark outfits. This is one of my favourites from the high street. Because it’s a bucket bag, it’s good for everyday use. I would style it with my dark blue floral dress from Joules as the tones would go beautifully together,

2) Wide belt, £14.99

I love the organic materials trend. i love feeling the textures of my clothes and accessories. This is a practical belt that still looks interesting and unique. Wide waist belts are flattering on most bodyshapes and a neutral one like this is perfect for cinching in an oversized dress or breaking up a solid colour.

3) V-neck black top with lace detail, £17.99 

A black lace v-neck is one of those pieces that you will wear time and time again for all sorts of occasions. It’s appropriate for work with a smart pair of wide-legged trousers but can also be easily dressed up for dinner and drinks. Tops like this which have a bit of movement to them are extremely flattering and comfortable and always feel more expensive than they are.

4) Chiffon floral blouse, £12.00

This is a very low price in the sale so it will probably be gone soon but it’s so pretty that I had to include it here! It’s a louder print compared to the rest of my wardrobe but sometimes you have to do something a little different so that your style can evolve. I would pair this with a high-waisted mini skirt and ankle boots for a 1960s-inspired silhouette.

5) Pearl circle earrings, £9.99

I’m slightly obsessed with pearl jewellery! I love the circle design, which I find more flattering on my profile than hoops. These would add instant glam to a casual outfit. They would look especially sophisticated alongside the v-neck black top from earlier.

6) Johanna Ortiz x H&M floral dress, £ 34.99

On my hourglass figure, this oversized wrap dress could either be really right or really wrong for me - there’s no way to know without trying it on! I’m on a mission at the moment to find some summer dresses that I don’t have to wear a strapless bra with so this beautiful short floral dress could be the answer. The sleeves are quite long but, as it’s linen and unlined, it would hopefully still be cool and comfortable in hotter weather.

7) Linen-blend white dress, £24.99

All-white is a huge trend for SS20 and this strappy a-line dress would look great on a variety of bodyshapes. I would probably size down to encourage it to fit in all the right places. The dress is lined so you should (fingers crossed) be able to wear it without worrying about your underwear showing. It’s a classic style that you could wear year after year and it would be especially useful for summer holidays abroad.

8) Crinkled floral dress, £29.99

Can you tell I have a thing for florals? I’m actually am not keen on patterns myself but I do have a soft spot for delicate florals, which H&M are very good at. If venturing outside, I would cinch this halterneck maxi in with a belt - perhaps the organic one we mentioned earlier - but would wear it loose if working from home for maximum comfort.

9) Striped wide-legged trousers, £ 29.99

On my Instagram, it looks like I live in long dresses but I’m actually a huge fan of trousers, especially wide-legged, high-waisted ones. They are smart enough for work yet cool enough for more casual outings and they always garner compliments. I would wear these with my chocolate silk vest from Reiss to pick up the brown tones in the stripes. They would also look lovely with the black lacy tee above.

10) Rust maxi skirt, £24.99

My style has definitely changed a lot as I’ve gotten older but one thing I’ve always loved are crinkly, tiered maxi skirts. I love how this has been styled on the H&M website with a plain beige tee and neutral mules. On hotter days, I would wear this with a camisole and slides to keep myself fashionably cool, perhaps with a classic white shirt tied in a knot on top.

10 Items You Should Definitely Have in Your SS20 Wardrobe

We are stuck in a perpetual winter here in England but I’m being optimistic and still thinking about Spring/Summer fashion. Here’s 10 things I think make the perfect capsule wardrobe this season.

1) Lightweight Outerwear

Brits never put their coats into storage because one minute we could be in a slip dress and strappy sandals and the next we’ll need a padded down jacket and wellington boots! It’s therefore important to have a strong collection of coats and jackets in your wardrobe.

 The trench coat is a staple for most women, camel being my colour of choice, and denim and leather jackets are timeless trends that are both having fashion ‘moments’ right now. Wear a leather or denim jacket over a printed profile dress to add edge to a romantic, feminine look.

2) The Crossbody That’s Also a Clutch

Huge handbags are inching their way back into fashion but in my wardrobe, a smaller crossbody is always my go-to. They are harder to fill with rubbish I don’t need and don’t cause any strain on my back or shoulders. If you’re a lover of huge handbags or you need one for the office, pop a smaller crossbody in your big bag so you don’t have to take all your belongings with you when you nip out for lunch.

 Clutches are hugely in style right now. Thanks to designers like Bottega Veneta, they’ve made the leap from evening to everyday accessory. Make your money go further by buying a crossbody with a detachable chain so you can switch up your look whenever you feel like it. Lighter handbags in neutral tones are perfect for Spring/Summer.

3) A (Groundbreaking) Floral Dress

H&M x Johanna Ortiz

I’ve worn nothing but floral dresses this season. Not only are they eye-catching when you do venture outside but they are relaxed and comfortable enough to work from home in all day. H&M have some wonderful affordable designs and, of the more premium brands, Ted Baker always deliver when it comes to floral dresses.

 If you’re a lover of neutrals, dresses are the pieces you can afford to be more playful with, as you don’t have to worry as much about how to style them. And floral dresses are so easy to dress up or down - add heels and a clutch for date night or slides and a bucket bag for your daily walk. (Visit my Instagram to watch my IGTV where I style the same floral dress from Joules for every single season!)

4) A Camisole in a Neutral Colour

I don’t think I could live without my camis in Summer. Because I only buy them in neutral tones, they go with all my other pieces and they keep me cool when it’s hot (and can also be easily covered with a jumper if it suddenly gets cold again!).

 Pair a skintight cami with a paperbag a-line skirt or a floaty cami with a pair of high-waisted jeans to balance out your look. The high street is a great resource for camis - H&M and River Island provide good quality for a low price.

5) A Pleated Midi Skirt

Thankfully this trend isn’t going anywhere. At 5 feet tall, I used to turn my nose up at midi lengths because I thought they would cut me in half (whatever that means) but it’s actually a very flattering, elegant length. The pleated midi works for any occasion: add a crop top and flip-flops for holidays; a slogan tee and bright white trainers for a trip to the shops; or a silk cami and heeled 90s sandals for a wedding.

 Midi skirts are also a great transitional piece as they are surprisingly warm and look great with opaque tights and boots.

Reiss

6) Neutral Knitwear

Knitwear isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of SS20 fashion but I bet you wear it more often than you realise in these warmer months. It is especially useful for the unpredictable British Springtime.

 Lightweight jumpers and cardigans are fantastic assets at this time of year. I like to go for neutral colours like cream or oatmeal as these can be thrown over any outfit (as you skip merrily out the door in your summery clothes then realise, to your dismay, that it’s p*ing it down).

7) Slidin’ into Summer

Those flip-flops that give you blisters between your toes? Chuck them away and get yourself a pair of slides. I adore my white Birkenstocks (uncomfortable when you first try them on but with wear they mould to your foot shape and begin to feel like a second skin) and my Hermes dupes from Dune, which are so comfortable that I’ve taken to wearing those around the house instead of slippers.

 There are plenty of choices for SS20 footwear, the most obvious being the 90s-inspired barely-there sandal, but you can’t go wrong with a comfy pair of slides.

8) You Can Leave Your Hat On

Apart from little old ladies doing their gardening, most British women wear their floppy sunhats on holiday and then shove them to the back of cobwebby cupboards for the rest of the year. It’s such a shame because sunhats add instant glamour to an outfit and they also protect your skin from the sun so why wouldn’t you want to wear them?

 The slogan hat was a trend I loved and will probably never move on from - see my ‘Do Not Disturb’ hat which is all over my Instagram. You can also use big floppy hats to spy on good-looking surfers, a la Samantha from Sex and the City.

9) ‘Hiding from the Paparazzi’ Sunglasses

These are in every fashionista’s collection and are one of the few accessories that the majority of shoppers are happy to splash out on. Bigger has been better for a long time when it comes to sunnies - there was a brief spell where skinny sunglasses tried to take the limelight but we still all crave the Audrey Hepburn look. Tiffany & Co are of course the perfect place to buy a glam pair of sunglasses.

 Like floppy hats, a huge pair of dark sunglasses instantly elevate your outfit and add some Hollywood glamour.

10) A Pair of Culottes

Like floral dresses, culottes are amazing to work from home in because they are just SO comfortable. It feels just like wearing pyjamas!

 Culottes always garner compliments and can easily be smartened up for the office. Pair with a floral crop top and wedges to tick off the retro flower-power trend this season.

6 Classic Items I'm Saving Up For

My blog hasn't been going for very long (this is only my 3rd ever post!) but something you should expect to hear a lot from me is this: buy clothes you love. For me, that means buying clothes that are good quality, that look and feel divine, and that are classic and will go with everything else in my wardrobe. Unfortunately that often means I have to save up my pennies for a long time before I can buy the thing I really want!

So today, I'm sharing a list of the items that I've had on my wishlist for absolutely ages - as well as one item that I love but don't think I could ever bring myself to spend that amount of money on.

I am always on the lookout for the perfect trenchcoat. It's a timeless staple, perfect for transitional seasons, and goes with nearly all my outfits. I used to have a beautiful Tommy Hiliger trench which I wore TO DEATH and sadly had to part with. Since then, I've been hunting down a replacement. My Tommy Hilfiger coat was not only stylish but waterproof too, so very practical for rainy days and boat trips. Sadly most online retailer don't make it clear whether their coats are waterproof, but I did find this belted camel trenchcoat from Marks & Spencers. The coat pictured above is also from Tommy Hilfiger and I am absolutely lusting over this one and squirrelling away pennies for it!

Aspinal of London make beautiful bags. They are expensive but they do also go into the sale more often than you would expect. Pre-owned options are also rife. I'm in love with the black trunk bag with travel label patches, which is the sort of thing I adore - timeless with a twist. I like my pieces to have a touch of the unexpected, like the suitcase-style patches and the unique silhouette, while the colour keeps it classic. My understanding is that you can fit a fair amount in these bags too, and I also love a cross-body strap - so comfortable and practical, especially for days out.

I've been saving up for a cashmere jumper for a long time. You can get quite affordable cashmere jumpers, but I just haven't gotten around to picking one up yet! I want several cashmere jumpers in an array of neutral colours. Numpty over here actually found a baby pink one in a vintage store last year for an amazing £20 and I am still so annoyed with myself for walking out of that store empty-handed! I will definitely scour charity shops and vintage shops to see if I can score a bargain, but on the high street I've seen some lovely potentials in Marks & Spencers, Reiss and John Lewis.

When I have cash to splash, the first luxury item I'm going to buy - you heard it here first! - is a Burberry scarf. I've adored these for years. They are the perfect finishing touch to an autumnal outfit and never fail to turn my head. I of course want the cashmere version (what's the point of spending all that money on lambswool?) and this is probably the only luxury item I would ever seriously consider purchasing, because I know I would wear it pretty much every day throughout the colder months.

I did actually buy a pre-owned Burberry scarf recently but sent it back because it was darker than I expected. It was also vintage, which I don't mind, but because this is something I've wanted for so long, I think I need that just-out-of-the-box feeling when I put it on.

The most expensive item on this list is the Mulberry Bayswater handbag in black. I don't know if I could ever bring myself to spend £1000+ on an accessory, no matter how much I expect to wear it, and at £995 the Bayswater comes pretty close to that limit. However, I've been looking for the perfect work handbag. In our office, we hot-desk, so I have to carry my laptop and papers around with me all day. It's been difficult finding a bag on the high street that's strong enough to carry all my things and will also keep them safe from rainwater (why do so many handbags not do up?!). Mulberry handbags are leather so I'd expect them to look good as new for a long time and it's honestly the only bag I've found that's the right size for my purposes.

Last year, I found the most beautiful black leather jacket with rose gold hardware in Ted Baker. It was stunning. Sadly I couldn't buy it at the time and now I can't find it anywhere online. I'm therefore on the hunt for a similar leather jacket and I'm a fusspot about the style - I don't want a biker jacket because they don't suit my style or my figure. It needs to be quite a tailored leather jacket, rather than a bulky one, because I know that will look best on my hourglass shape. Wish me luck in finding one!

Finally we come to the item on my list that I would love to have in my wardrobe, but don't know if I could ever actually buy: a pair of Valentino Rockstud shoes. I've heard wonderful things about how comfortable they are and both the sandals and the stilettos are gorgeous. I just don't know if I could ever part with that amount of money, especially for a pair of shoes which I know I will wear out immediately (no shade towards the quality of Valentino shoes, I just wear out my shoes ridiculously fast!).

I currently own a dupe of the stilettos from Dorothy Perkins, which are very comfortable and I love how they look. I've also recently bought a pair of sandals heavily inspired by the Valentino version, from Daniel Footwear. I think both these pairs will satisfy me until I'm in a position to consider spending silly amounts of money on luxury footwear.

So, dear reader, please let me know in the comments which item you think I should prioritise, and which items are on your 'when I've got the money' wishlist?