Schoolrun Saviours #YourNewDenim

Style Theory: My criteria for a perfect outfit for the schoolrun is as follows...

Can I put it on in two seconds flat, can I run in it, will it withstand rain/wind/sun and finally does it look passable and slightly put together?!

So pretty basic as there is just not time to think about outfits in the morning when manically getting the kids ready for school so a good pair of jeans, a breton and trainers are my ultimate 'go to' pieces. 

The item to really make this outfit work is a great pair of jeans. I have been wearing boyfriends for a lonng time now but with baggy tops the overall look is, well, kinda baggy. So when Wallis asked me to style up a pair of their jeans from their new range I thought I would mix it up a little and re-visit my past love the skinny jean. 

The Wallis Ellie Skinny jean are a complete jean revelation, they are high waisted (on me), incredibly comfortable across my stomach with the perfect amount of stretch, they they do not bag but instead skim over all lumps and bumps. They are a deep black colour that is so flattering and the cut seems to elongate my short legs. I chopped off the hem of my jeans so they rest just above my ankle bone as this, for me, is a flattering length. Add a breton top, my leopard print pumps (and possibly a waterproof jacket), a slick of pink lipstick and I am ready to take on all the schoolrun has to throw at me!

Jeans - Wallis Ellie skinny jean £28 (for a limited time)

Breton - H&M (old) love this one

Trainers - Air and Grace £139

Trench Jacket - Zara £49.99

Necklace - AnnaLou of London £52

Wallis are launching their new denim jeans tomorrow with two days of 20% off all styles, they have skinny, bootcut and straight legs cut. 

I am ready for what surprises next Tuesday's first schoolrun after 6 weeks has to throw at me....although thinking about it I am completely disorganised as I still need to order those blazers (forgot about that) sew on their school badges (never ever underestimate how long this takes) and track down the PE kits...

Are you organised for the new school year? What is your schoolrun uniform? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time, Fran xxxxx

This blogpost was written in collaboration with Wallis, styled by me, all opinions are my own.

Summer Instagram Outfits...

Dress (worn as top) - Zara (last season) similar here
Bag - Piel De Mar Javea
Shorts: H&M (sold out)
Shoes - Asos £16 

Style Theory: A quick run through of the clothes I wore on holiday this year, a mixture of last year's buys and a few more recent items. My most worn item was without a doubt my H&M denim shorts I also loved my CocoBay Swimwear throw that I did not get a snap of (only featured on my Instagram stories) but I wore it most days to the pool. 

For the evening this year it was all about dresses, they are so easy to throw on, no coordination needed and flat shoes won over heels. Having said that, I did wear my Castaner Espadrilles quite a few nights, espadrille wedges are about as 'heely' as I get on holiday. No or a tiny amount of make up, hair scraped back in a scraggy bun, all my family around and a glass of wine in my hand, the recipe to a truly wonderful, relaxed holiday in my happy place in Spain....

Dress: Isabel Marant @Matches £177
Sliders: Wallis now £15
Bracelets - Bella Jane Jewellery

Dress - Zara (last year)
Sandals - Miista Shoes
Bag - Piel De Mar Javea

Top - Zara (sold out online may still be available in store)
Shorts - H&M (sold out)
Sandals - Miista Shoes
Bag - Piel de Mar
Bracelets - Bella Jane Jewellery 

Dress - Topshop (old)
Necklace - Cabbage White England
Bag - Anna Pugh
Shoes - Asos £16  

Necklace - Cabbage White England
Top - H&M available instore
Shorts - H&M (sold out)
Bag - Piel de Mar
Sliders: Wallis now £15

Dress - Zara £44.99
Shoes - Castaner @Net a Porter
Bag - Anna Pugh 

Top - Zara £22.99
Hat - Spain
Bag - SWYC
Silk Bracelet - Silk Philosophy
Sliders: Wallis now £15

Dress - &Other Stories
Shoes - Asos £16  

Swimsuit (top) - Cocobay Swimwear
Skirt - Zara
Bag - my sister's!

Top - Isabel Marant @Matches
Necklace - Annalou of London

Dress - Traffic People
Swimsuit - Accessorise (sold out online)
Sliders: Wallis now £15
Necklace - Annalou of London
Bag - Piel de Mar

Dress - Zara (available instore)
Bag - Piel de Mar
Shoes - Castaner @Net a Porter 

Bikini - CocoBay Swimwear
Necklace - Annalou of London

Top - Topshop (sold out)
Shorts - H&M
Necklace - Annalou of London
Bag - Piel de Mar

For the first year ever I packed well and wore everything (all except 2 t-shirts) I kept everything simple and as I went on holiday later on the summer I knew what would be most comfortable in the heat. The main thing I did was to avoid taking a range of heels (I normally take a couple of pairs 'just in case' and never ever wear them) sliders and flip flops are the way forward on holiday!

So that is my summer holiday over for another year, the kids are back to school soon and I am keen to get stuck into Autumn Winter fashion. So many gorgeous trends and looks about, cannot wait to share my favourite finds with you. For daily outfit updates follow me on Instagram @Thefashion_lift xx

As always thanks for reading, I love hearing your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxx

Seeing Spots...

Style Theory: Sometimes spots just work, a couple of years ago I bought the M&S black and white spotty dress and wore it non stop, this year spotty co-ords are rocking my boat. This crepe top and crinkle trouser duo are incredibly comfortable, stretchy - yes, roll up-able yes, non iron - yes! The perfect 'shove in a suitcase outfit' for a cute summer holiday outfit, wear with sliders in the day, heeled espadrilles in the evening. The outfit looks 'put together' like you have really thought about it but in reality it does not need any thought at all.

Top - Zara £25.99

Trousers - Zara £22.99

Bag - Next £34 (available in store) I love this one 

Shoes - Castaner @Net a Porter £70

Hat - Topshop £7 (sold out online - similar here)

Photos by Victoria Metaxas

I will be wearing the top with my denim shorts on holiday and pairing the trousers with a tee and sliders for a laid back daytime look. In the winter the trousers will look fab with a cosy black poloneck and dark red ankle boots - heaven, is it wrong I am already looking forward to oversize knitwear and a return to all things cake-like?!

What do you think of co-ords - are you sucker for a lazy outfit like me? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxx

It's All in the Stripes

Style Theory: Stripes and trainers, my failsafe go to whether it is a breton, jeans and trainers or a beautiful striped dress and white pumps. This LK Bennett dress feels sumptuous on, there is acres of material creating a swishy, twirly skirt, and fitted tailored top. It is the perfect Summer event dress and can be so easily dressed down with trainers and a biker or dressed up with heels and a navy blazer.

I love a dress, but for me it is far more comfortable when paired with trainers, it makes it look slightly edgier, a little cooler and most importantly is practical and comfortable. These Superga flatform trainers provide me with some much needed height but are still comfy to walk in. I truly believe in not keeping best for best, I like getting maximum wear out of my clothes (life is too short and my social life not as it once was!) and pairing your dresses with trainers makes them daytime appropriate.

Dress - LK Bennett @VeryExclusiveUK £141 - Still available here (but full priced)

Trainers - Superga UK £55

Biker Jacket - Asos old Season - love this one

Bracelets (just seen) - Stacking Bracelets Bella Jewellery 

Are you a fan of the dress and trainer look? What have you been wearing to summer events this summer? As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxx

Flirty Florals

Style Theory: Florals on a dark background are huge fashion trend for now and through to SS17. Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Erdem to name but a few all featured this look in their SS16 collections and their most recent SS17 catwalk shows still embraced the trend so it is worth buying into now, it is not going anywhere soon...

Dress: Zara £49.99
Trainers: Adidas Hamburg £72

I am pretty smitten with this Zara dress, it is so comfortable to wear, a light cotton fabric with a cotton slip underneath. It is super voluminous, shorter at the front than the back and looks just as good with tan sandals as it does with trainers or sliders. 

Here is my edit of the best floral dresses on the high street now..

Topshop Camo Floral Shirt Dress £39

Camo and floral and a hint of cold shoulder detail..heaven.

Topshop Floral Wrap Slip Dress £39

This is a beautiful dress on but I had to size up as I found the wrap to not be very generous.

Topshop Floral Printed Shirt Dress by Rare £55

This dress is so up my street, I love the frill skirt and high neck, it looks fab..

Oasis V&A Silk Dress £85

I completely love Oasis 25 piece collaboration with the V&A, the prints are beautiful a little different from the usual Oasis prints and the fabrics are more luxurious, also love the pyjama style suit here

Zara Midi Dress £99.99

Intricately embroidered, this dress looks so expensive on.

Asos Tea Dress £38

This season the tea dress is big news and this is a gorgeous version. Wear now with flat tan sandals, wear in the autumn and winter with black opaque tights and western style ankle boots.

Warehouse Ditsy Floral Dress £55

A cute ditzy print that will take you seamlessly from summer to winter.

Are you a fan of the floral print? Have you bought into it this season, as always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, until next time Fran xxx