JONAK Paris is one of my ultimate favourite places to buy shoes, I stumbled across them last summer in Paris and bought a pair of suede sling back heels that go with every outfit, especially with white jeans and a tan in summer. I’m so impressed with the quality of the leather, the pricing is fair considering the longevity and how expensive these shoes look in person.

Top Left - Brown suede lace up loafers £155

Top Middle - Black leather round toe mules £145

Top Right - Round toe suede pumps £135

Bottom Left - Black Penny leather loafers £155

Bottom Middle - Brown patent oval toe pumps £145

Bottom Right - Black patent oval toe pumps £145

Ordering is easy and no issues with shipping and duties when ordering from the UK.

Check them out and let me know your thoughts.

J xxxx

YMC knit - these are made of Scottish Lambs Wool, the fit is great, its light and soft and cosy.

M&S trousers - these are the tapered back ones I get a size 12 and I actually cut the back detail off. It looks much better and is easily snipped off under the belt loops.

Black patent block heel shoes - mine are from Joanie (I have a post coming this week on work shoes and where to buy them keep your eyes peeled for this!)

Tuesday

Breton Striped top - This is the best, most affordable(£42), well made Breton stripe I’ve found. It has a structure to it that makes it stand out from others I’ve tried, it fits perfectly on the shoulders and looks great. They do a navy and white too.

M&S trousers - Paired with the same with the tab detail mentioned above, these are the navy.

Wednesday

American Vintage knit - Vitow in black, I’m also desperate for this in the Steel Grey. La Redoute seem to do the most competitive pricing for the UK, AMV is a French company and often the conversion makes it a little more expensive to shop in the UK. This is around £154 currently over there.

Zara trousers - I don’t recommend these, they are a bit shiny I was running out of wardrobe options this week.

Thursday

We had a work offsite last week so Thursday was a little more casual.

Cloud Cashmere knit - over the shoulders in a dark grey marl. Mine is from Lilysilk and I love it but any grey jumper will create a similar effect. I love love the combo of navy brown (hair and glasses) and grey together.

Navy COS T-shirt - I really like the colour of this top but the shape isn’t my favourite unless its tucked into something other than jeans. Hence the grey jumper draped over the shoulders, a simple easy outfit but with different textures and layering.

Black Levi’s high waisted ribcage jeans - my all time favourite, I’m tall and curvy on my hips and bum, my waist is the smallest part of my torso and these are straight through the leg and curvy where they need to be.

Friday

M&S button up long sleeve polo shirt - I love how this looks sometimes but struggle with styling it, either way its an easy basic to throw on when I’m in a rush.

These are my favourite black trousers for work they are again affordable (£30) wash really well and look great. I got the tall as I’m 5ft 9 and they are long enough even with a block heel.

I think I might make this a series?

Let me know if that’s something you’d like to see!

Have a lovely weekend.

J xxxx

I’m finding myself really drawn to basics; true - blue washed denim, primary colour knit wear, dazzlingly white t-shirts, kilts, blazers, boots.

1. I saw this pic of Jennifer Lawrence on pinterest the other day and loved the red, showing a bit of ankle and wearing with muted colours and those clogs its a very cool look. Also LOVE her fringe, I feel like I have the same face shape as her.. maybe a post wedding chop is on the horizon?

   

2. CLOGS - a lot of inspo for these came from the JLaw inspo pic above, and maybe these are a little premature considering its been pissing with rain the last month buuut early March into April I think a pair of clogs with an oversized barrel leg trouser could look especially cool. I found multiple pairs but these from TOAST are some of my favourite

   

   3. A great black blazer I would like one that skims the top of the thigh, has a very slight shoulder pad, simple pockets and a bit of interest to give a modern look.

4. Some really good narrow but square toe boots, I have looked high and low for the perfect, low heeled boot. I’m quite tall (5 ft 9) and can often feel overdressed with even a slight heel but I think with any wide leg trouser a narrow toed boot can look sophisticated but effortless.

   

   

   I really want to get a pair of those arket ones - they are almost entirely sold out and a perfect dupe for the Row pair that everyone raves about.

5. A really good belt, I own a grand total of 1 belt currently and its thin and I have no idea where it is.. I would like a thickker black belt with a large silver buckly (not a chunky buckle, just a simple one that isn’t small.)

Now I feel like I’ve done the retail therapy and I’m going to be thinking about those Arket/Row dupes for the next few weeks. Not sure this was a productive session but Alas.

Thanks for reading.

Jxx

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As the colder months start to get a little closer, I find myself wanting to hunker down and get cosy. Lighting candles and slow living, cooking at home and lighting the fire.

2. Natural wood kitchens

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Okay lets get to the point of this (rather short) post - The Chicken Piccata - I cooked it last night, Matt was out babysitting and I put on a podcast (Wisecrack, true crime pod, very good so far if you are looking for something new to listen to) whilst I chopped.

This recipe is simple it involves panfried chicken breasts, ‘a silky, buttery’ sauce with capers, lemon for sharpness and pan fried shallots. And it was, quite frankly, one of the best meals I’ve made at home since I discovered the Ottolenghi Spicy Mushroom Lasagne, which also had a similar effect on me.

It involves pan frying the chicken breasts once you have seasoned then sprinkled with flour, what I liked about this recipe is that its simple. No egg involved, and 20 different pans and utensils, just dusting the chicken breasts with flour before pan frying. Now here is the good bit - they are pan fried in a mixture of olive oil and butter. The sauce involves frying the lemon with the shallots for a few minutes in the browned, buttery chicken sauce then adding chicken stock and simmering down for a few minutes before finishing off with capers and yet more butter. The result is one of the tastiest dishes I’ve had in the last I’d say, 4 years.

I served it, mostly because of the copious amounts of butter involved, with a plain undressed salad and some crusty sourdough to mop up all the delicious juices. I also served it in the pan itself so we could really get every last drop of the sauce which was the perfect balance of rich, sharp and gravy-like.

I thoroughly enjoyed and would rate this dish a full five stars. A must try. Even for a week night.

J xxx

My twenties were a minefield of dating, I have always been a hopeless (literally hopeless) romantic. Every date I went on I would be thinking, could I see myself marrying this guy? Sometimes ignoring serious red flags because I liked the *idea* of him or agreeing to another date even when I knew it wasn’t going anywhere. After maybe two or three years in London I dated a guy I met on a ski trip in France, he happened to also be from Scotland and he was, looking back, absolutely awful.

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Items mentioned (affiliate links below)

MERIT Complexion Stick (my shade is Linen) https://go.shopmy.us/p-26959498

Haus Labs Foundation (my shade is 120 warm fair) https://go.shopmy.us/p-26959476

Charlotte Tilbury Setting Spray https://go.shopmy.us/p-26959531

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner (shade kiss n tell) https://go.shopmy.us/p-26959587

COS Skirt (found the actual one but out of stock) https://go.shopmy.us/p-26960162

COS skirt dupe (in stock) https://go.shopmy.us/p-26960109

Maybeline Sky High Mascara https://go.shopmy.us/p-26959806

ST Eval Candles https://www.st-eval.com/?gad_source=1...

L’oreal Hair Spray https://amzn.to/4nLX20A

Andrew Fitzsimonns texture Spray https://go.shopmy.us/p-26959849

Flat Hair clips https://amzn.to/4nLX20A

I’ve put together a bit of a list of general items I’m lusting after for the new season- let me know what you think.

1. A Long line black wool coat - I want a tailored boxy fit that is long and double breasted, I think paired with a navy roll neck and some sunglasses this coat is the ultimate, throw-on-to-create-an-outfit piece. I found a couple of high street ones but ultimately I think a wool coat is a bit of an investment.

   

   Whistles Long Line Wool Coat - £369

Almada Label Wool Coat - £384

2. A grey knit that is soft, warm and the right shade. I made the mistake of getting a grey cardigan in the wrong (very pale) shade and the fit wasn’t quite right, a few years ago. Every time I think a grey cardigan would add a nice layer to an outfit I pick that one up and then put it back and think *must sell on vinted .* I’m on the hunt for a new one and I’ve linked a few I think could be contenders below.

A.V. Vitow - £165 H&M - £17 Other Stories - £87

3. Silver earrings - I just think a small earring with a drop gives such an effortless feminine look to an outfit, most of what I wear are neutrals and often navy or black so this creates a nice contrast especially with minimal make up. Both of the earrings below are Otiumburg, I used to buy a lot from this brand as most items are solid sterling silver, solid gold or gold plated silver.

Silver Roscida Drop Hoops - £125 Stilla Duo Earrings - £155

3. A smudged lip liner, I’m seeing this trend of a flush of colour on the cheek paired with a minimal eye and a smudged liner on the lips giving that almost lip stain look. I *LOVE* this I think its perfect for autumn winter, its minimal and would fade perfectly. I think I’m going to pick up the Bisou Balm, they have so many colours. I also noticed Refy have some similar products but none of the shades were jumping out to me.

   Bisou Balm - £30 Merit Signature Lip - £20

4. WoodChuckSato Tabi boots - I’ve been considering buying a pair of these for the longest time but just never taken the plunge I think this season could be it. I love the heel height and the soft leather. *Edit - I took the plunge I got these exact pair in the size 41 but they are yet to arrive so I will of course update when they are here*

WoodChuckSato Tabi Boots

5. Smythson diary

   Smythson Panama Diary £190 Smythson Panama Diary £190

   In an ideal world I think I would go for the Leopard print on the left, I’ve always thought of it as a neutral and having a diary in this print is a fun way to add a bit of interest and pattern without committing to a full Leopard coat or a handbag. HOWEVER this diary is £190 and I think maybe I’d feel a little less stressed by picking the navy leather option!

Let me know what’s on your autumn wish list!

J xxx

Building a work wardrobe I think can feel daunting, and wanting to show personal style whilst working in a corporate role can be tricky to balance. Here’s what I stick (loosely) to when it comes to work clothes some of these are affiliate links :

1. A pair of navy trousers, and a pair of black trousers

Wide Leg Trouser Size 12 Tab Detail Wide Leg Trouser Size 12

Two pairs are important because you need to be able to wear a pair when the other are in the wash. I’ve linked the two pairs I’m wearing below. In the left image these are a pair of navy wide leg, long length, crepe trousers in a size 12 - £29.50. And the image on the right are interesting, they have a tab detail on the back that allows you to adjust the waist, they are also wide leg and considerably thicker material than the other; I mostly wear these in the colder months and have a black pair also in a long size 12 - £40.

2. Shirts and blouses

   

   WNU Midnight Navy Shirt Size 12 - £120

   Having three to four good quality smart shirts that you can iron once a week, that go with your navy or black trousers will save so much time thinking what to wear in the mornings. The one above is a recent one I treated myself to around my birthday from With Nothing Underneath, it’s 100% hemp fabric in a midnight navy - I tend to wear this one with black trousers (I love the combo of black and navy together). All of my shirts and tops are interchangeable with any trousers I have in my wardrobe. I also make sure to have a few non iron blouses that I can take in my backpack for after spin that I know won’t crease on the way - the one below is M&S.

   Similar H&M blue shirt - £19.99 Similar WNU version - £95

   This blue shirt from Zara gets *SO* much wear, at least once a week in my wardrobe, it looks professional and is bright, can be worn in summer or winter and always looks smart.

3. A couple of long sleeve knits

Adding a few expensive knits mixed in with more affordable fitted thinner ones can really elevate your every day wardrobe. I have some gorgeous cardigans and jumpers from American Vintage which get compliments every time I wear them, the fabrics are beautiful and warm and they are an every day luxury that I adore.

American Vintage Vitow Cardigan Other Stories similar knit

4. Jackets & Shoes

   For me I don’t mind investing money in a good pair of work shoes and some great outerwear like a rain coat or a smart tailored jacket. I also absolutely love a patent shoe with black trousers and adding a pop sock really makes things look cohesive. I worked with Joanie last year on a youtube video and they gifted me these shoes, I’ve worn them in the office every day since.

Urban Outfitters checked coat Joanie shoes

This jacket is old season Urban Outfitters I get so much wear out of it through the autumn months and into winter especially to smarten up a casual pair of blue jeans and white t shirt on the weekends or with an all black outfit for a dinner.

5. Accessorise!

I tend to stick to a colour pallette that centres around navy, black, white and camel (and stripes) so I tend to add a bit of interest to outfits with earrings or necklaces.

These COS earrings are some of my favourites, I also love a drop pearl pair.

COS earrings

Ottiumburg Sterling Silver Lily & Roo Pearl Drop

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my work wear favourites!

J xx

6:10 am Out the door

6:30 am Train to London

7:30 am Spin class

8:15 am Get ready for work

9:00 am Coffee and sit down at my desk to work

My Monday morning has looked like this for the last two to three months. But it really begins around Sunday afternoon the day before, snuggled on the sofa watching tv where a mild panic sets in and I start to think:

shit, I haven’t ironed any work clothes for the week ahead

or

why didn’t I buy some ingredients to meal prep lunches this week

I have to add that this really is a mild panic as I’m never quite panicked enough to tear myself away from my Real Housewives of Salt Lake City marathon.

My ideal weekend would consist of a Sunday spent pottering in the house, nipping out to buy coffee and maybe breakfast, then cooking at home; getting cosy - lamps on, blankets out and a documentary at the ready. And I’m not prepared to give up my Sunday to start the working week any earlier.

I’ve never been someone who is good with consistency, sticking to a new routine is something that does not come naturally to me after week or two. But I’ve decided I really am desperate to turn into one of those people whose lives are structured and habitual. Someone who can fit exercise, a full time job, a social life AND a clean house into their everyday. I’m thirty two years old now, and I think my new Monday morning routine could be a bit of a turning point for me.

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But what happens when you get to your late twenties and realise that your closest relationship, your long term best friend, is the only person in your life you feel apprehensive about spending time with. You overthink every interaction, the meet ups are never about you, or creating new memories together. They focus always on the other person, analysing and dissecting every interaction they’d had that week. You pay for the coffees every single time (and the wine). They are dismissive of your opinions, sometimes belittling. On …

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