The Best Cold Weather Boots...the Edit

Style Theory: Sometimes you need a really practical but comfortable pair of boots, whether they are for a skiing holiday, weekends in the countryside, walking the dogs or just running the kids up to school and avoiding soggy feet. This year there are plenty to choose from and I am loving these Ikkii Boots for a fun twist on a sheepskin boot..

Boots - c/o Ikkii (available at Avenue )

Jumper - Boden (soldout) similar here 

Faux Fur Jacket - Topshop (old season) similar here

Leggings - Twist and Tango now 

Bag - Say What You C

Ikkii boots are super comfy, utterly luxurious, made of suede and leather with your entire foot inside encased in soft sheepskin (always size up if you are a half size as they do come up a little small) They are like walking on puffs of air and would be perfect for a skiing holiday as they have rubber soles with grips, a cool apres ski look. 

If you are after waterproof boots Sorel are fab, they are comfy, do not let a drop of water in and look pretty cool..here are the styles I have..

Sorel Glacy Shortie Boot

These boots are incredibly comfortable and my most worn boots so far this winter. They make the schoolrun a breeze as I can take on mud, puddles and scooters into the back of my ankles with ease. They are great for weekend walks and are so warm, sometimes too warm (which is no bad thing in my book)

Sorel - Cate The Great Wedge Boot 

These Sorel 'Cate The Great' boots, they are waterproof but have a wedge heel to make them a little more glam. Great with leather leggings or dresses..

Ilse Jacobsen Rain boots

These Ilse Jacobsen boots look fab on, slightly DM-ish and pretty cool. They are made of super soft natural rubber and do not have a heel so they are light. They have a cotton/viscose mix inner so keep your feel warmer than unlined wellies but I would still wear with extra thick socks to keep your feet warm in the really cold weather.

Here are a few other snowboots that will keep your feet toasty and dry in this crazy wet weather..

Some years I get it wrong with footwear, last year I spent the winter in white trainers and soggy socks, this year I am ready for all types of weather..

There's a new trainer in town...

Style Theory: In my mind there is no better trend than the trainer trend. It is possibly the most practical and comfortable trend in years (closely followed by the UGG boot trend from the 00s - I know you either loved or hated them but there was no doubt they were the ultimate in comfort) The humble trainer still reigns supreme, I have been wearing my Stan Smiths non stop for the last few years, I have dabbled in Adidas Superstars, indulged in Golden Goose and now I have a new obsession..... the Nike Cortez.

Completely old school, I had a pair of Nike Cortez at university and, of course, Tom Hanks sported them as Forest Gump in 1994! (mmm I am really selling them to you?!) but...they are the trainers for Spring 2016 and do look pretty cool on.....

They will look fab with crop kick flares, boyfriend jeans or with a denim skirt or dress. The gold cortez would be perfect to wear to work (even just to look slightly edgy on a daily commute then change in to heels at work) 

I am slightly obsessed with both the white and the gold colourways below but I think the white may just have the edge for casual-wear, thinking forward to summer, with little summer dresses, or denim shorts. They look cool and fresh and I for one will be jumping on the bandwagon for this trend..

Nike Cotez @Office

Nike Classic Cortez Bronze @Office 

Now looking at the bronze I think I like these equally as much. Anyway, suffice to say this style of trainer is gorgeous and will be the most fabulous addition to a Spring/Summer wardrobe.

Outfit Post: In the Navy...

Style Theory: Navy...understated, flattering on the skin, slightly Parisian in nature and all round easy colour to wear. It is the antithesis of streetstyle, it whispers rather than shouts, it is effortless and doesn't take an awful lot of styling to look good...

For driving around to meetings miles away I needed to feel comfortable but slightly business-like so I reached for a navy ensemble, practical, warm and understated...

Jumper - Banana Republic 

Name necklace - AnnaLou of London 

Jeans - J Brand @Revolve * check shipping as I have a feeling these are US but do ship to UK

Coat - Maje

Boots - Topshop 

Bag - Radley (old season) similar here

Hat - Anthropologie (sold out)

My J Brand jeans are my new, favourite smart/casual items of clothing, they are expensive but so far, so worth it. They fit like a glove, have perfect stretch, do not dig into my tummy (no undoing my jean button when I drive then forget to do it back up when I dash out for petrol!) They are definitely better with heels and the Topshop sock boots are the perfect partnering. 

I saw this jumper on Michelle from MyFashionable40s and had to buy one too (she has great style), it is from Banana Republic and is gorgeous, I love the ruffle detail and the fact it is just so wearable. Similar to my Cos jumper I have worn non-stop for the last year. It smartens up jeans but will also look great with my distressed boyfriend jeans and leopard print heels for an evening out.

My name necklace is a must incase anyone forgot my name (I like to make things easy for people) and my Maje coat, another huge investment (still sitting on credit card eek I will pay it off at some point!) but it is one of those coats that looks understated but classy.

So when in doubt reach for navy...it can make you look sophisticated and chic with minimal effort.

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Happy Sweaters...

Style Theory: Slogan sweaters make me happy. I am a huge fan of the more subtle slogan sweater, a hint, a word, irrelevant/relevant it doesn't really matter, they are fun and they are perfect for slinging on at the weekend with a pair of jeans and trainers or putting on for the schoolrun. They look cool and make a statement without saying a word.

In saying that, this sweater caught my eye when I saw it on Boden's website, it is not necessarily cool but I just love it...

Not exactly rock 'n roll, but so cute. I love the gold glittery 'Tea' (I am a sucker for a touch of glitter) and the sweater is seriously just my cup of tea! I sized up two sizes, this is a size UK14 I am normally a UK10, I probably could have gone just one size up but I do like them super slouchy so I am happy with this size.

Here are a selection of my favourite slogan sweatshirts to brighten up January...

Starting with the ultimate in slogan sweaters..Bella Freud

These sweaters are iconic worn by Kate Moss, they look so cool in the winter with black skinny jeans and boots or a leather/suede skirt and opaque tights. In the summer over denim shorts or a floral skirt a la Alexa Chung. They do come up slightly on the small side so if you are investing size up. I am saving up for one of these, they are on my wish list!

I love Zoe Karssen too, her sweaters always have a cool edge..

On me this would be a pretty ironic statement as I am sooo not rock and roll..but worth it for the conversation.. Again I would size up in Zoe Karssen, I have one of her sweaters from a few seasons ago and bought the small but could have really done with the Medium as it is a little snug.

Cute, understated, cool..

Simple and chic..

This is my favourite part of part of Paris so maybe kind of stating the obvious?! But it is a gorgeous sweater, neat and grown up, it would look fab with tailored, ankle length, black trousers and trainers or with black leather shorts and opaque tights. In the summer pair with pale blue skinny ankle length jeans and white supergas for a simple stylish look.

I saw this in store yesterday and love it. Buy big and wear under a bomber jacket with skinny jeans and trainers for a comfy and cool 90s look. Or sling over your gym gear..either way this hoodie will look fab.

A good choice for the ladies turning 40 this year, a cool birthday present perhaps?

Love this pale blue, will look gorgeous in the summer with sunkissed skin and shorts. For now wrap a mid grey oversize scarf around the neck and wear with blue jeans and adidas superstar trainers.

Loving the look of this sweatshirt, Hush SS16 range has just launched and this is my favourite piece.

Selfish Mother have the most fabulous range of sweaters from 'Mother' to 'Sista' to 'Human' and the best thing is £15 from the sale of every sweater goes towards Women for Women International - an amazing charity that helps women in 8 war torn countries to rebuild their lives. They are, also fab sweaters really warm, thick and look great on (again size up, sloppy is good!)

So as you can probably tell I do prefer the more subtle slogans, I don't like them to be too 'in your face' or obvious. They are the most useful sweaters, clash them up with midi skirts, pair them down with jeans, any which way goes!!

Outfit Post - The Ultimate Kick Flare Jean

Style Theory: There is a new 'hot' jean on the block, well, not completely new it has been knocking around since last year but this year the 'crop kick flare' will come into it's own. Frequently worn by Alexa Chung, the crop kick flare is a move on from the 70s slightly flappy crop flare we saw dominating the high street last summer. This flare is like a shrunken bell bottom jean, it is tight on the thigh and knee and kicks out gently mid calf. The jean ideally finishes just above your ankle bone and looks fabulous with every footwear from trainers to ankle strap shoes to heeled ankle boots. 

Images via Pinterest

Due to the skinny jean shape and the kick flare, this style is super flattering on the width of the leg but does not lengthen so if you are a shorty like me, heels are best (although I will be wearing these with my trainers in the summer even if my legs do look short!) Wear them tight and they will flatter.

I have found my ideal pair J Brand Selena, crop boot leg jeans. They are super expensive but as soon as I put them on they fitted perfectly, had the most fabulous stretch and were the perfect length, I knew I would get my money's worth out of them..

Blouse - &Other Stories £65 (available in store - sold out online) or similar here

Jumper - Mango (old season) similar here

Jeans - J Brand @ House Of Fraser £220

Boots - Topshop Boots £79

Bag - Gucci Soho Disco Bag £650

Coat - Maje now £239.50

They really are comfy jeans and will look fab with white trainers (stan smiths/Golden goose/Adidas superstars/ Superga platform) in the spring and summer. The kick flare at the bottom makes my ankles look a little thinner and I love the high waist, it holds in my mum tum. I sized down one size smaller than my normal jeans as these look better tight and jeans do always give a little. They also come in black but the dark blue will take me from winter to summer, they will look great with off the shoulder tops (I have my eye on lots of Russian style tops) and flip flop or slides. 

J Brand Selena Jeans @House Of Fraser £220 

There are lots of brands of kick flare jeans on the high street if you fancy just 'dipping your toe in the water' of this trend..here are a few options..

Topshop Crop Kick Flare £36 

Warehouse Cropped Kick Flare £15 

River Island now £12 

River Island now £12 

So it is definitely worth bagging yourself a pair now when they are in the sale, if you have time try on a few pairs so you get the right, flattering length and fit. Jeans are always so hard to get right so when you find a good pair that fit and flatter go for it.

The Hotel my sister stayed in above was the St Ermins, Marriott Hotel, London. It was gorgeous, lovely, quite bijou room, the hotel was beautiful inside with fab staff. Me and my husband went home (nothing can beat my own bed - I am such a homebody, although I must admit Marriott beds do come a close second!) 

Are you a fan of this style of jean, did you buy a pair last year. I kinda love my J Brand ones and will be wearing them non stop this year..