Lets get going with summer..a few gems from M&S

M&S £29.50

Style Theory: If you follow me on Instagram you will see these items 'in action' on Instagram stories, I really try to try on or at least see, in real life, the items I write about on the blog so I know the clothes/accessories I am choosing are good quality and whether the fit is good (this is why my blogging is rather infrequent and I do not blog every day just for blogging's sake, I would hate to point you in the wrong direction!!) Some things I am not able to try on but make sure I read all about them, find out what the fabric  is like and if there are videos online I watch them..they are amazing I wish every store would do these videos as they really show how the garment moves and whether it will hang well or not. Anyway, I digress, today I had a local meeting them popped into M&S to see their new Spring Summer range that is hitting stores now. To be honest my wardrobe is boring me and it needs a little interest addded to it so I found a few good tops that are reasonable and will add some much needed newness to my uniform of jeans and trainers.

I did notice that M&S have been working on their prices (my work in buying for years means I can see a price re-structure a mile off!) so the clothes are definitely, in general, quite reasonable compared with Topshop etc who seem to be putting their prices up.

Here are a few things I tried on and apologies, there are some screen grabbed snaps from instastories so I am mid talking hence the attractive face..

M&S Pure Cotton Checked Top £29.50

This is a cute top, I love the arm detail and the frill at the base, it hides a tummy perfectly. I would size down one size, above I am wearing a size 10 and I do need a size 8. It is quite a short top, fine on me as I am small but maybe would need to be worn with a vest top underneath if taller.

Stripe Wide Leg Trousers £45

Stripe Wide Leg Trousers £45

These trousers look so much better in real life than on the website. They are a silky material (it is viscose but looks so much better, very luxe) They look really expensive and are a gold and black rather than cream and black. I actually really liked them paired with my red jumper and in the summer would wear them with a red or white boho top and flat tan sandals. They are true to size (I did find them a little tight across my tummy but bareable!) in the photo above I am wearing a size 10 short and at short them are the perfect length (I am 5ft3)

Long Sleeve Yoke Blouse £27.50

Long Sleeve Yoke Blouse £27.50

This top was great for the price although I was sure it was £25.50 in store?! (I may be wrong!) It looks great tucked into jeans and has lovely details. Not a forever top (the quality is not the best) but one to give your wardrobe a little lift..

Indigo Range £35

Cannot find this online and not a great photo but it was a cute blue broderie anglais top - I picked up a 14 by mistake but I think my normal size would be the perfect fit, in store in the Indigo range.

Cotton Broderie Shift Dress £55

Cotton Broderie Shift Dress £55

Loved this dress, it is beautifully cut in at the arms for a flattering look, you would have to wear with a strapless or multiway bra so the straps can't be seen. I sized down to a size 8. I would wear with neutral strappy heels (below) 

Office £60

for day time with these..

Palmairas Sandals £42

These are so comfortable and blend into tanned feet, they are flattering and once you wear them on holiday you will never take them off!

Indigo range £27.50

Indigo range £27.50

A light, easy to wear top, it will look great in the summer with a pair of levis cut off shorts and white supergas, for now toughen up with a camo or khaki jacket, jeans and trainers.

Leather block heel sandals £49.50

How good are these sandals? They are so Isabel Marant for under £50! I didn't see them in my local M&S but am desperate to try them on. Perfect with black dresses or skinny jeans (see below)

Photo via Pinterest

M&S £35

Love these shoes they are so Kylie/SJP with a Halston Heritage style summer dress they will look amazing!

So there is a little round up of my findings today, these can all be seen on my Instagram stories until tomorrow evening (Weds 15th March) There are more exciting clothes hitting the shop floors now so fashion will be getting exciting again!

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Fran xx 

Archive By Alexa at M'S - The Best Bits...

Archive By Alexa at M'S  - The Best Bits...

Style Theory: There is no doubt I am a sucker for a collaboration especially if it involves Alexa Chung, she has such an eye for wearable fashion. Her incredible style joined with M&S prices make the new Archive by Alexa range very exciting

So how did it look? Well, the quality was good, sizing slightly hit and miss and the prices reasonable. The design details on each piece were very Alexa but as she is incredibly tall and super slim I wasn't sure how this would translate to a 5ft3, 41 year old woman who had seriously indulged over Easter. So I had a try on session in Marble Arch M&S today in between meetings to see and here are the results..

The Harry Blouse £35

This was always going to be my favourite piece in the collection and I must admit I love it. I bought a size 10 and found that it did come up a little small, it is really tight across the top of my arms (but I am a bit chunky there at the moment so with less Easter eggs it may be ok) I didn't size up as I am quite narrow across the shoulders and thought it may be too big..so plumped with the UK10 and the hope I will lose weight/the blouse will stretch! I prefer the pink colour over the white as I am a big pink fan but the white did look good.

The Ada Blazer £49.50
The Ada Trousers £39.50
Shoes - Gucci Marmont 

The blazer and trousers were a surprise hit. The blazer looks fab on, I sized down to a size 8 and it fits well at my shoulders and is a good length, I have a cropped blazer but was on the look out for a longer one and this fits the bill. I was slightly nervous about the serious 80s styling but I think it works. 

The trousers were also fab on, these are a size 10, they were quite tight across the waistband but as I said earlier I am definitely slightly bigger that normal so I think in normal time they would be ok. I love the button detail on each side of the waist with pockets. They are super high waisted so although they are cropped dont make your legs look too short. This whole look above is a fab work look, slightly 80s power suit but done in a 2016 way. 

The Eliza Dress £45

Again, I was surprised this looked nice on, I thought it would be too short but I really like it. It will be perfect for holiday with flat tan strappy sandals and for now I think I would wear with black opaque tights and my gold shoes above. The fabric is a linen-like feel but quite thick so it keeps it's shape. This is a size 10, again it was tight at the top of my arms but pretty loose everywhere else so I would say if you have slim arms to size down. I bought the 10 as did about 10 girls in front of me in the queue for the till!

The Misty Dress £45

This is a beautiful floaty dress but I was just too short for it. It comes up big so definitely size down. It would look fab with high strappy sandals for a spring/summer wedding.

The Elsie Dress £39.50

This is cute but I felt I was a bit old for it. This was a size 10 and fitted true to size.

The Myrtle Jumper £29.50

I love the colour of this sweater but it was thick and fitted. This is a size 10, not quite my style, it would look great on someone taller and slimmer (and not wearing a navy bra!)

The Frances Trench £89

I ordered this trench, firstly because I love the colour, secondly because of the name! They only had larger sizes left in store so I didn't try it on but will hopefully collect it tomorrow so will let you know how it looks.

All in all I thought the collection was really lovely and well priced, unfortunately the styling online really does not do it justice, it looked fab on Alexa Chung of course but I was glad when I stumbled across it in store. Hope this gives you a little bit of an idea of what it looks like on a 'normal' person.

Have you bought anything in the collection, is it your style or do avoid the hype? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Frances xxx