Standout Style Pieces From 2019
I’ve been doing my own version of the capsule wardrobe for a few years now and it’s something that I absolutely love and would recommend to anyone if they want to get more of a hold on their personal style. Having that type of structure is something that I thrive from and having a little more of a restriction on how I shop has helped me a lot resisting with impulse purchases which I only end up regretting and only adding pieces that I know I will get a good amount of use from is what I strive for now. Last year I didn’t add a huge amount of new items to my wardrobe but the ones I did purchase are ones that I’ve seriously loved and these are a few standouts from the year.
arket striped breton style dress (birthday present)
I’m a big stripe lover but something I was yet to find was a striped Breton dress and I finally found it last year from Arket. Not a brand that I’m overly familiar with but I do know they’re part of the H&M family and there is often a good amount of striped attire on there if like me you’re partial to a striped top or two. I wore this dress a lot last summer and I adore it, it’s long sleeved which can easily be rolled up if it’s a little warmer and it’s a good weight for a dress, it’s not so thick and heavy that it’s completely unsuitable for summer but it’s not thin either which I don’t personally like for dresses in this style. Paired with either Converse or tan sandals it’s such a lovely simple item to wear and it’s one that I’m itching to wear again.
topshop t-shirt midi dress (ebay)
Years and years ago I had this dress but in the mini version and it was something I wore to death and this summer I saw my best friend had found the midi version on eBay and it was something I knew I had to hunt down for myself. Midi styles are something I find myself wearing more and more now as I find them way more comfortable than anything short and this dress is the epitome of comfort. It’s such an easy one to style and it looks nice with whatever you style it with, personally I like it with a pleather jacket and some sandals or Converse if I’m walking the dogs in it. If you’re someone who struggles a lot with being bloated then a dress like this is your best friend as it skims over the stomach area and cinches in just above.
tog 24 roll-neck jumper
My boyfriend and I had a little wander into Tog 24 a couple of months ago as we were looking for some new walking boots for him and ever since it’s a store I’ve found myself frequenting more and more. It’s also dog friendly and their logo is a little whippet in a flat cap so you know I’m bound to love that. I picked up this navy roll-neck jumper a couple of months ago and ever since I’ve had it on at least twice a week as it’s such a good knit. It’s super soft and lightweight but it keeps you incredibly warm without feeling bulky, I’ve only needed to wear a thermal under it a couple of times which is brilliant. Over the years I’ve become more and more partial to a roll-neck as it means that I don’t have to battle with scarf hair if I don’t want and still not let any of the cold get in and I also love how they look when they’re a little more relaxed as they’re the perfect mix of chic and comfy.
barbour kelsall coat (christmas gift)
Barbour is a brand that I’ve become a huge fan of over the past few years and I’m now a proud owner of two of their coats. I’ve wanted the Kelsall style for a long time as it’s different from the jacket I have already and it looks more like a winter coat due to the shearling lining in the hood and faux fur trim. Despite looking more like a serious winter jacket this is still super lightweight to wear and it doesn’t make me feel bulky at all which is the case for so many outdoorsy style coats. Even though it is lightweight waxed cotton it still keeps me incredibly warm and it blocks out any wind which is key for any coat. Barbours are coats that you can have in your wardrobe for years as long as you look after them and regularly re-wax so they maintain their waterproof coating and I love seeing how Barbours age.
stutterheim raincoat
We had the wettest summer we’ve had in years in 2019 so that meant a raincoat was a necessity and I originally bought one on eBay (that I resold) to test the waters before I invested in the style that I’ve wanted for years. Stutterheim raincoats are not cheap but they are lovely and for a raincoat, pretty darn chic if you ask me. Their fit is very oversized so I do recommend that you size down as much as you can as and ideally I would have gone down another size with mine but it wasn’t an option where I purchased it from. Obviously, as well as looking nice the most important thing is that they keep you dry and I’m pleased report this keeps all the rain off as it’s a rubberised finish and the hood has almost like a peak detail that helps the rain off your face too.
sainsbury’s pleather camera bag
After I bought my Fujifilm XT2 at the end of May I needed to find a bag that could fit in my camera as well as a few other essentials and this has become my go to for many occasions. For a £14 bag it’s held up surprisingly well and it’s not started to fray or crack which I thought it might start to do after a while with the amount of weight I put in it. I use this when out walking the dogs and I want to take my camera but don’t want to take a backpack and it performs perfectly and of course I use it when out and about too as it fits in everything in with ease and due it having 3 compartments nothing ever gets lost. Ideally I'd like to find a bag exactly like this which is a little more well made as I can't imagine this is going to last forever but for right now it's perfect.
straw bag
This little straw bag was my go to all summer and I’m excited to pull it out again as it’s such a sweet design and nothing says British summer more to me than a straw bag (and rain, of course). I’d wanted to pick up a bag like this for such a long time as they rose in popularity in 2017 but I was always worried that they’d either be scratchy on the inside if they weren’t lined or the circle design would be completely impractical. I’m pleased to report this is lined so it’s not scratchy and my possessions are safe and it’s got an accordion type design so it doesn’t just flop open spilling everything onto the floor. The strap is quite thin so if you’re stuffing the bag full then it might become quite uncomfortable if you’re carrying it all day but other than that it's the perfect warm weather bag.
grey blanket scarf (christmas gift)
For Christmas from my best friend my only request for a gift was a big grey blanket scarf and she found the perfect one. I’ve been wearing this none stop lately and it makes walking Josie and Edie when it’s cold and windy outside so much cosier as it’s a little bit like wearing a neck pillow to be honest and it keeps me so warm although I do end up with a serious case of scarf hair afterwards but it’s totally worth it. As it’s so ginormous I can also use it as a blanket in the car or if we go to a cafe I can use it for Josie and Edie to lay on as anyone with a sighthound will know, they absolutely will not lay down without something soft underneath them so it's more than just a scarf.
F&F tan sandals
I spotted these Saltwater sandals wannabes in Tesco at the end of Spring and I wore them a lot this summer. When it comes to expensive purchases I often try and find something similar at a cheaper price point first so I can make sure that it’s something that I do actually want and will wear and when these give up on me then I will certainly be purchasing the Saltwater sandals that are well loved by so many. I was surprised at just how comfortable these shoes are but I will say they’re super flat so if you require arch support then this style might not be something that you like at all but they’ve been fine for me and something I’m looking forward to being able to wear again this year as they held up well throughout last summer.
