Reasons to wrap up.

This season I have been really obsessed with classic, luxe items; wool dresses and skirts, long ladylike coats and brogues. Just gorgeous, womanly shapes and good quality fabric.

At first glance, the only retailers with such attention to detail are out of most people's price range, but I discovered you can pick up some pretty good stuff without spending a fortune - many high-street shops are actually spot on in terms of design and quality. New Look really set the bar high for gorgeous winter work-wear and I particularly love the retro vibes there at the moment; there's a fantastic array of 60's style mini skirts and shift dresses.

I was really sold on details like the scalloped hem on this monochrome checked skirt, and the fact that it is lined. I styled it with glossy tights, a black slash neck top and a ladylike string of pearls.

Black top: Primark // Skirt: New Look // Pearls: my Mum's!

This pinafore style dress is also from New Look and I love the understated tartan and cheeky pleats at each side. It looks cute when worn with some ballet flats, but it can be smartened up with high heels when I want to look more corporate for work. My Boden coat (second hand four years ago!) really makes the colour in the dress 'pop' when they're worn together. I have never found a coat I like as much, but I'd also love one the same style in a modern tweed, so that's on my wish-list.

Dress: New Look // Coat: Boden (from a dress agency) // Shoes: Bertie

New Look are brilliant, but for luxe winter fabrics like wool and cashmere, high end retailers like Hobbs really know what they're doing. If you've got a bit of Christmas money to spend, nowhere really compares; for a treat or just a long, admiring browse, it's certainly one of my guilty pleasures. Their designs are so classic they pretty much suit everyone, but their NW3 collection targets a younger market, and I was smitten with this wool dress which I snapped up in the sale. I love the ladylike silhouette, especially emphasised with a skinny belt in pillbox-red.

Dress: Hobbs NW3 // Belt: Hobbs // Shoes: John Lewis Collection

Pinafore dresses are also up there with my absolute favourite styles so I couldn't resist this strawberry pink one, also from Hobbs. Worn with these high heeled brogues from Office, this look feels very 60's secretary.

Dress: Hobbs // Black top: Primark// Coat: Carboot sale // Shoes: Office

All that remains for me to say is, Happy New Year! For me, this year has been one of the busiest, most exciting, musical and fashion-filled I can remember, so if you're reading, thanks for being part of it. I'm planning a little-chic makeover here on the blog for 2015 so stay tuned, and I'm also style blogger for Exposed Magazine Online - check it out!

What do you wear in Monaco?!...

Hello again, after a little break! I've worked really hard these past few months on lots of exciting things but now I'm back on it with Little Chic. Firstly,and before I launch into my Winter coat tales of woe, a little post about an amazing holiday I took in August. 

When I look through my wardrobe rummaging for warm Winter layers, I feel nostalgic when I see some of my holiday outfits. It's lovely to remember certain days from my trip to the south coast of France, and like scents, some outfits are so reminiscent of a perfect day or the excitement of a particular day out-like getting ready for a trip to Monte Carlo in the most wonderful intense August heat.

I went to Villefrance Sur Mer, a historic coastal town 15 minutes from Nice in one direction, and 20 minutes from the Principality of Monaco in the other. Across the bay from Villefranche are two other stunning villages, Beauliea Sur Mer and Cap Ferrat, where exclusive villas nestle amongst the trees all the way down to the peaceful coves dotted around the peninsula. It's known as the Golden Triangle, and 'golden' is pretty close to the truth-it's amazing (see end of post for some travel tips).

I’ve always coveted the elegance of French style and the taste with which outfits are chosen and homes furnished (choosing an apartment on Air B’n’B proved the latter to be very true!) So with French-chic in mind, and a carefully packed suitcase, I was excited to put my favourite summer outfits to the test.

 The rather fabulous bay of Monte Carlo, seen from outside the Palace of Prince Albert II.

Posing near the steps of Monte Carlo Casino.

I picked up this unusual Laurèl top in a charity shop a few years ago now, and didn’t realise how much of a favourite it would become. I have never seen anything like it since-you pull it around and zip yourself into it. It is boned in places so it mimics a corset, it but isn’t uncomfortable in the slightest. I have worn it back home and styled it a little more conservatively, perhaps with jeans and a little cardi, but I think it was really made to be worn in France with this outfit-the only accessories a hat and sunglasses.

I wore it the day we went to Monaco, with some navy shorts and a simple sunhat to balance out the bare shouldered look.

 Grace Kelly's rose garden, Monaco.

I made a friend.

I also loved this orange dress-I still can’t quite work out what to call this shade - orange or tangerine? Or dark peach? No idea, and I really don’t know where it was from but I rescued it from the carboot-sale pile about three years ago and am so glad I did. I really don’t have any sense of strict rules about what colours I should wear with my red hair-if it feels good, I wear it.

Cooling off in the shade of Villefranche Old Town

 Villefranche bay.

Cap Ferrat, from the driveway of the Villa De Ephrussi Rothschild (you need to go, if you're ever on holiday there).

Then there's this little pink floral silk scarf-my ultimate accessory of the year. I am still wearing it with a smart jacket for work well into Winter, so it really is the definition of a multi tasker!
It was from Oxfam Originals in Manchester earlier this year, and I wore it in the Summer to brighten up a black t shirt with a coordinating skirt. I love this outfit as it is so simple and yet feels really pulled together. I love the subtle coordination a scarf can bring to an outfit. Audrey would approve.

In the gardens of the amazing Villa De Ephrussi Rothschild.

 The wonderful view of Villefranche from the bay of Cap Ferrat

My carboot purchase of the Summer was this playsuit-you wouldn't know it was Dorothy Perkins! It was a very cool, handy little outfit for a particularly boiling hot day trip to St Paul Du Vence, a historic town with a very artistic past, a little further inland.

I have never enjoyed a holiday more, both for the location and the good times. Having a minimalist capsule wardrobe of some stand-out items was worth thinking about beforehand. I didn't take a lot with me, and only a few items in addition what's photographed here. So wherever I'm going in future, I reckon thinking French can pay off-keep it simple and chic will follow.


Info.
Villefranche is the stuff of dreams. Worth a look, if you want some holiday inspiration for next year.
Check these websites out to daydream about next Summer.

Cap Ferrat on Trip Advisor 

Villefranche rentals on Air BnB (this can be a really reasonable way to stay somewhere gorgeous).

This travel and photography blog has a great feature about the Golden Triangle.

Get your skirts on

I don't know why my appreciation of the humble skirt has taken until now to really blossom, but I think maybe I overlooked them in favour of dresses. For the last couple of years I've had a thing about Hobbs dresses, the vintage and classy kind worn below my knee with wedges or high heels, but I'm having a phase where I prefer skirts worn with flats and a simple t shirt-not least because I got sick of high heels ravaging my feet!

This summer I have indulged in how easy skirts are to wear, and how little thought you need to put in look great. I've just found it too easy to roll out of bed and shove on one of my favourite skirts, firstly because I love them and they suit my figure, giving my little frame some definition, but mostly because the girls I see who I have instant style crushes on do tend to keep things really simple.

I have worn this blue Topshop one non-stop since picking it up second hand a few weeks ago, and it's quickly become a favourite. I wear it with either a black or white T shirt tucked in but I think the blue and white look particularly summery. I didn't have any accessories with me when these photos were taken but I don't think this look needs anything else really. I also love my flowery New Look skirt (last pic) with a brown leather belt and black T shirt. It's just a bit sad that the glorious British summer seems to be fading-I have one last week of heat to make the most of my skirts, when I go to France next week and then I think I will return to that in-betweeny almost autumn weather and the frustrating dilemma- "What can I wear today that isn't too warm in the office but keeps the chill off outside". And I will be reminiscing about how easy it was to just pull a skirt on!

T shirts: Both Limited collection M&S // Blue Skirt: Originally Topshop, from Oxfam on Ecclessall Road, Sheffield // Flowery skirt and brown belt: New Look

Blue sky thinking.

I didn't think there was really any style kudos left for the denim dress to claim, but Oasis have had a bestseller with this one. The flared skirt stays modern by being just above knee length, but the effect is cute, and not "Cowgirl"! My favourite touch is the little crocheted collar-so delicate that it looks like a handmade addition-but I also like the scooped back which stops the whole effect being too sweet and innocent.

I like how easy it is to wear, and yet the design still shows a bit of imagination. I don't shy away from stuff with a bit more of an edge but I was starting to wonder whether some of the more demanding catwalk looks were having too much of a direct influence on the high street, making some things almost inaccessible for women who just want to grab a nice new summer dress to wear for work. In my opinion, Oasis have really nailed the market for summer, with pieces that are totally wearable but never stale.