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

Triple Stripes

It's no secret that stripy tees are an essential part of my day-to-day uniform (apologies to those who follow me on Instragram for the regular Breton updates), so when online boutique Atterley Road asked me to style up some of the nicest stripes I've seen yet (by French label Saint James), it felt like one of the easier tasks I've been set.

Embarrassingly enough, I was actually wearing stripes when I first went to meet the lovely Gemma from Atterley Road so the task in hand was immediately very apt! There's just something very easy about the Breton top; it dresses down leather trousers and short-short skirts and feels almost nostalgic, without being twee, with just about everything else. My favourite way to wear it is with denim cut-offs and Vans in the summer, but given we're firmly in the throws of Autumn in London, I gave the basic a bit more of a wintery spin. 

Classic French staples up top, elevated basics from the waist down; I like the mix of mannish, oversized pea coat and mini leather skirt - it kind of detracts from the glaring sight that is bare legs post August. 

Wearing Whistles boots, All Saints skirt, Saint James T-shirt and Saint James pea coat. 

These stripes were the loudest of the three so they needed the most dressing down. Ripped boyfriend jeans, biker jacket and patent booties (yep I succumbed to the new skort of Zara world) managed to veer the whole look away from the obvious seaside connotations.

Wearing Saint James tee, Gap jeans (customised by me), HnM biker jacket, Zara boots. 

Black leather skinnies and pointy heels don't feel quite so 'done' (or corporate come to that) when teamed with a Breton sweater. 

Wearing Saint James top, Twist & Tango coat, Whistles clutch, HnM faux leather pants, Zara heels.

Ph. by James Wright

Grunge, meet Gucci Bamboo

When Gucci very kindly asked if I'd like to style up their classic bamboo tote in the online exclusive blue, I of course immediately jumped and said yes. Anything to break my monotonous black bag habit. But when it came down to how exactly to wear the beauty, I was at a bit of a loss as to how to do it justice (aforementioned black bag rut had really stuck).

 However, I quickly realised the blue was way more adaptable than I initially gave it credit for. So much so, I pretty much just subbed it in for my standard black bag and in doing so, it immediately became really wearable and lost all 'it bag' connotations.  Don't get me wrong, its still the kind of bag you find yourself holding up and just generally gazing at (there's something about those bamboo handles that just ask to be stroked - not as weird as it sounds I promise), but its simultaneously something you can throw on easily and without too much thought. Always winning qualities in my books. 

 So that's how Gucci ended up coming together with the grungy-casual mixture of clothes I tend to live in at weekends for a high/low happy medium. On a side note, I can't stop tying plaid shirts round my waist. Apologizing in advance. 

Bag // Gucci Bamboo shopper exclusively available online from Gucci.com

Jeans // Zara

Shirt // Urban Renewal at Urban Outfitters

Striped top // Old Cheap Monday

Boots // Office

Ph. by James Wright

Girls in Gant Rugger

As you may of guessed from my Instagram, I am big into boy's clothes right now. Maybe it has something to do with the fact I've recently started co-habiting so I have twice the amount of shirts at my disposable, but there really is nothing better than an oversized, button-up man's shirt to temper the sexiness of a pair of leather trousers or a short short skirt. 

So when Gant Rugger asked if I'd style up some menswear to celebrate their new Girls in Gant Rugger campaign I didn't hesitate to get on board. Featuring beautiful Swedish editor and blogger Columbine Smille, the campaign is not only stunning, it also feels really current and taps into the cross-gender appeal of menswear that immediately resonated with me. Searching for that perfect cotton shirt or baggy jumper becomes so much easier when you delve into the menswear section and visiting the Gant Rugger store in London was something of a revelation. From this collarless pinstripe number to cable-knit sweaters and wool blazers, you're pretty spoilt for choice and I actually found myself coveting more items than I might in the usual high street womenswear stores. Plus the sizing really works for the girls-in-menswear thing, going down to XS for those that don't want a really over-sized shape.

The pinstripes of this shirt immediately jumped out (let's thank Stella for that) and I went for one size up to get a proper boyish fit which I kind of love with this teeny-tiny skirt that needs all the dressing down it can get. 

#Girlsingantrugger

Shirt // Gant Rugger

Skirt // All Saints

Trainers // New Balance

Watch // Larsson and Jennings

Coat // Old but similar here and here.  

Ph. by James Wright