Flasher Mac

An appropriate setting to shoot the kind of trench coat normally reserved for dodgy park-residing flashers. Long, light, breezy and topped off with a few utilitarian buckles, this is the latest addition to my wardrobe in an attempt to outwit this weird, transitional time of year. Slouchy enough to bring me back round to the realm of trenches, it's the kind of piece I plan on dressing up and down. And it makes me feel instantly 'chic' (ick) whenever I put it on which is no mean feat.... All in all, it's a new goodie I plan on wearing a lot. Albeit fully clothed underneath. 

Now, time to pack for Barcelona... Follow my instagram @lucywilliams02 for updates of our travels while we're away. It'll be my first time there and I can't wait to explore. 

Trench coat | Zara (similar ones from ASOS here and here)

Jumper | Gap (similar here and from Topshop here)

Bag | Cos (similar here)

Leather leggings | Alice and Olivia 

Sandals | Birkenstock 

Sunglasses | Rayban

Necklaces | Lumo 

 ph. by James Wright using Leica M Series 

Ladders and Boards

After going over to L.A to shoot skater Dylan Reider for the upcoming issue of So It Goes, Jamie returned with two new additions. A gifted board for him, and a wooden penny-style board for me. To save from being that tragic person that simply carries a board around for (overage) cool points, some serious practicing is going to have to go down. But for now, I'm happy rolling around on it in our backyard. 

On a side note, this Pringle top is providing some light relief from white tee groundhog day. I guess it relates to what I was saying in my previous post on the little things; a small difference that makes an age-old monochrome combination feel just that bit newer. And I love how it looks layered over black so the sheer, ladder-stitch can really come into its own.

Trainers, Adidas Originals | Jeans, Zara (similar here and here) | Ladder stitch top, c/o Pringle | Leather jacket, HnM (similar here and here), sunglasses, Rayban. 

ph. by James Wright using the Leica M Series

Boy Clothes

O.K not real boy clothes, but they definitely have the proportions of those normally associated with the (un)fairer sex. And by proportions I clearly mean baggy, saggy and generally oversized. There's something seriously comforting about wearing everything just a little bit bigger than usual; it's almost like a layer of anonymity for those days when you feel like leaving lots to the imagination. Vintage denim and the softest, chunkiest (and sustainably produced) knit are proving a favourite pairing right now, and it ain't half as unflattering as you might think, especially when finished off with patent leather for just a little polish amidst all the androgyny.

Jumper, Wool and The Gang | Jeans, vintage Levi's via Urban Outfitters | Coat, Bash Paris via Vestiaire Collective (similar here) | Boots, Topshop

Monochrome Days

I think I've forgotten what its like to wear colour, having been living in various shades of monochrome for the last 6 months and counting (my face in the first picture dictates my feelings on this matter pretty succinctly). Don't get me wrong, I'll always instinctively go for the grey and black options, especially when it comes to the classics, leather, denim, cashmere etc, but it's about this time of year that I always lose my mojo slightly when it comes getting dressed in the morning due to some sort of monochrome monotony. 

 But the odd new detail, be it a rip or a zip, can make everything just that bit more interesting. I say 'interesting' tentatively here as anyone can see this is about as basic as it gets, but that's how I like it I'm afraid. Likewise, this vintage Celine clutch is my favourite thing to carry around right now. My signature black duffel has its place, but right now there's something really nice about leaving the house without being weighed down by the equivalent in kilos of a small child. As long as I have a few, deep pockets, I prefer to leave the baggage at home in favour of something more portable like this guy. Although being me, I'm already fantasizing about teaming it with some Levi's cut-offs and slides. You can take the girl out of summer and all that....  

On a side note, does anyone have some good tips/products for keeping blonde hair bright and the brassiness at bay? Mine is suffering so if anyone has any words of wisdom, they would be much appreciated! I'm up for anything, egg yolks, avocado, ketchup, the works.... 

Jeans, Zara | Leather jacket, Whistles | Polo neck, Topshop | Boots, Zara, Clutch, vintage Celine via Vestiaire Collective 
Other options below.

Layers of Chains

I've always loved layers of very fine, gold chains and feel a bit naked if I don't have at least one on. I'm also continually in a process of wearing them too often in the shower until they go greyish and tin-coloured, and subsequently have to replace them with fresh new ones. I'm waiting until I get the chance to go to New York and invest in some Cat Bird trinkets - constantly falling for every, single one of their instagram posts - but until then, I'm a fan of cheap-and-cheerful chains so it isn't too painful when they inevitably break/fall down the plug hole. I had one instant at a festival last summer where a girl next to me in a crowd managed to hook her waving finger around my tiny necklace and snap it off. Flukey yes, but it was definitely a silver lining that it was only from Argos (yes Argos. Trust me, they do good gold chains).

These three are the current favourites in rotation, although the gold moon from ASOS is the real winner in my eyes.

Evil eye, Urban Outfitters | Moon, ASOS | Spike, Orelia

ph. via my instagram (@lucywilliams02)

LFW day 2 | Fedora vs Wind

Perhaps not the wisest decision to wear the widest fedora I own on the windiest day of the year. To say I almost took flight a couple of times is an understatement; there was one particularly dodgy moment en route to the Charlie May show where I almost got swept off the balcony into the Thames before being rescued by another show-goer (luckily the show itself was definitely worth the perilous journey). But after a miserable, wet start to fashion week on Friday (I'm talking soaking jeans up to the knee and dripping nose) the appeal of having a kind-of permanent umbrella in tow outweighed the practicalities of 50 mph wind. And it wouldn't be fashion week without at least one hat day - those of you who have followed me for a while will know my trusty fedoras always get an outing or two for the shows. I think they've almost become a bit of a comfort blanket or something, either that or a sartorial nervous twitch... Either way, that particular day it is was wind 1, hat 0. 

Hat | Vintage, similar here and here

Coat | Vintage, similar here and here

Clutch | Vintage Celine from Vestiaire Collective, more here and here (surprisingly affordable too)

Jeans | Zara, similar here

Boots | Zara

Moon necklace | ASOS

Spike necklace | Orelia at Topshop

Watch | Larsson and Jennings 

Decent Exposure

Sometimes a silk shirt can just feel a bit stuffy.  It's like prim is ingrained in its DNA; that collar naturally wants to close up and button up. Anyhow, I find un-doing just one button too many changes the whole vibe into something more relaxed and less refined. This two-toned Sea NY shirt has that bowling-alley kind of 70s feel that detracts even more from the flashes of black bra too. I guess the addition of baggier-than boyfriend jeans help with that too. 

 Plus, if like me you can get away with never really going near a wire in the bra department, creating an extra deep V can be both flattering and a way to show off those pretty lace triangles we all love to pin (just added this one to the collection). As long as you keep the shirt loose (and the cleavage factor to a minimum as a result), a little bit of decent exposure can go a long way.

Shirt | Sea NY

Jeans | Zara (shop similar below)

Shoes | Zara (shop similar below)

Jacket | HnM (shop similar below)

Necklace | Orelia

 Bra | Ell and Cee (similar below and Urban Outfitters)

Ph. by James Wright

Layers of Grey

One thing I really hate about winter is how limited my wardrobe suddenly seems. I'm practically cold-blooded (lots in common with lizards as far as physiology is concerned) so keeping warm is prioritized above everything else, meaning the likes of bare legs, open coats and flimsy shirts are out of the equation for a couple of months. Instead, jeans, jumpers, duvet-like coats and boots become something of a uniform. And no matter how much you love said coat or said boots, its at about this time of year that we're all just about over embracing winter and start to look forward to spring and all the new season has to offer. Or is that just me... 

The main thing really I miss is my leather jacket. I live it for 3/4 of the year (I say 'it' but there are normally a couple on rotation) and have got to that point now where I'm pining for easier, breezier temperatures that require little thought or planning in terms of outerwear.

In the meantime, its all about trying to find happy mediums which normally means one thing; layers. I picked up this sleeveless grey coat in the Zara sale recently in the hope of layering it up with said leather jacket to try break the monotony of my current Eskimo-like sartorial ways. Hurry up Spring, we miss ya. 

Coat // Zara
Leather Jacket // Whistles
Jeans // Zara (similar from Current Elliot)
T-shirt //Olive Clothing 
Watch // Larsson and Jennings
Rings // Theodora Warre, Natalie Marie jewellery and Noemi Klein
Boots // Sandro (similar from Kurt Geiger)


ph. by James Wright 

Stella's Christmas Jumper

Christmas came early Yesterday as Jamie and I prepared to go our separate ways to our families for the holidays, and did so by overeating and opening presents. We had dinner at The Shed in Notting Hill, which took us both by surprise at just how good it was (still thinking about the gnocchi and venison), and then headed home to take our places by our soon to be abandoned tree.

As usual, he massively showed me up as far as gifts were concerned, and the star of the show was this much-sought after, much-loved Stella McCartney jumper which was waiting for me under the tree. Not only was it the best surprise (I couldn't get it on quick enough), it could also technically fall in the bracket of festive knitwear. Well, its definitely the closest I've ever got to a Christmas jumper. And not an applique Rudolf in sight. 

Jumper // Stella McCartney

Skirt // Zara

Boots // Sandro

Coat // Bash via Vestiare Collective 

Jewellery // Theodora Warre, Natalie Marie jewellery and Noemi Klein

watch // Larson and Jennings

Bag // Whistles

ph. by James Wright

Lace Up

I’ve been trying really hard to avoid Zara recently. Not out of any bad feeling towards the store or the clothes, but more as a preventative measure against succumbing to buying far too much that you ultimately mentally grow out of within a few weeks.

Seriously, I sometimes think about the amount I’ve spent in Zara over the last five or so years and it would probably amount to not one, but two pairs of Chloe Susaanna boots (my dream ‘one day’ item for as long as I can remember). A terrifying thought and one I try not to dwell on too often.

There’s no denying Zara is great (my most-worn and most-complimented jeans are all from there) but you can end up falling into something of a black hole unique to the Spanish store, whereby you feel like you could never wear that coat without that jumper, that jumper without that skirt and so on... 

Anyway, I’ve definitely learnt to reign it in after many, many impulse buys but still have the occasional Zara moment. This Saturday was one such day.  I went in with the pretence of Christmas shopping for others, and came out with two items for myself. C’est la vie I suppose.

If you’d told me at the start of the day, I’d be coming home with a pair of lace-up skinny jeans, I would probably have laughed but that’s exactly what I came home with.  Britney in her Crossroads days would be so proud. They too might end up being a fairly fleeting purchase, but right now, I kind of love them. 

Jeans // Zara

Jumper // Zara

Coat // Very, very old vintage from Paris

 Boots // Vintage

Bag // Gucci

More options below...

 Ph. by James Wright 

Leather Forever

I couldn't really talk about wardrobe basics without at least one mention of a leather jacket, so I thought it was fitting to centre my final look for Stylebop.com around my ultimate can't-live-without-cliche. 

I really do live in my leather jacket. From in the summer with denim shorts and tees, to the winter with loads of layers both underneath and over the top, I would be pretty lost without it. I find it makes anything and everything just look better and feel more in tune with me - especially useful when it comes to dresses, florals or anything that could veer towards twee. Plus it really is one of those items that just as you think you've found the perfect one, another comes along to test both you and your wallet's willpower. This one by Faith Connextion ups the ante with the braiding at the back and the all important quilting on the sleeves (a detail that just makes a good one in my books).

A little black flared skirt and cream polo neck complete the picture with New Balance (aka the comfiest sponge-soles to grace my feet) taking the girly pieces to a much more casual place. 

Jacket // Faith Connextion at Stylebop.com

Top // Zara

Skirt // Jil Sander at Stylebop.com

Bag // Marc by Marc Jacobs at Stylebop.com

Trainers // New Balance

Rings // Vera Meat and Natalie Marie Jewellery 

Ph. by James Wright