Items in which I feel I now live include turtleneck tops. I must have about eight, half of which are greeny- blue. How did life function without them? They tend to be layered over a vest top and under a medium to light jumper or a dress, sometimes under a shirt. That super cosy extra layer keeps me happy in these testing winter times. My warmer season alternative is, for want of a better description, the 'older lady t-shirt' which instead of floppy cotton band tees is a heavier knit top extending to mid upper arm. Not snug, with a rather pleasing amount of surplus. They keep me lovely and warm when a vest top isn't enough. Talking of keeping warm enough, it's been evident that I don't feel the cold as badly as I used to in my teens. I used to struggle with numb extremities all the time and terrible chilblains to my hands, incredibly painful and at best unsightly. C on the other hand feels the cold a lot more now. 

Kezzie wore an asymmetric skirt on her blog recently too. If I was designing this skirt I'd have kept the hem straight and would have secured it to avoid any flash mishaps. I also would have tried it in a fabric that didn't retain it's washing crumples so much. I promise I ironed it. Much as people shun their irons and boards, I am relatively at peace with mine and commune with them often. It's not that I adore the process, though it beats washing up and emptying bins by a long stretch, but more that I do appreciate nicely ironed clothes. And sheets. Oh, a lovingly pressed duvet cover and pillows is a gift indeed. 

The change of season has lead to a lot of unsettled weather round our way. Sunshine, showers, swirling winds... you name it, it's been thrown into the mix over the last week or two. I've been thinking about my Autumn/Winter wardrobe and how to make sure I'm catered for in all situations. Jeans and jumpers are a must, which has drawn my attention rather sharply to my dwindling collection of each. The problem with wearing favourites so often is that they wear out rather inconveniently.
Of course thoughts of outerwear are surfacing more now too. I got through summer showers in my Fayda jacket which was a real asset bu now I'm looking for warmth as well. Enter my new Lana jacket in blackberry. What a beautiful shade; a rich purple which will complement so many colours in my wardrobe. Lovely to wear something which makes me feel good.


Autumn holds so much potential for exploring the great outdoors The gorgeous rich light, the whole new spectrum of colour seeping through the countryside. Seeking out new sights, foraging for treats to harvest and of course just the simplicity of wandering in a landscape you love. But go prepared! The nip of the chilly breeze and threats of rain can put pay to well laid plans unless you have a good coat on. Lighthouse clothing know all about what makes for a good adventuring jacket and as well as being super practical, they are also chic and luxurious.
The drawstrings to the waist make such a difference to me; I feel like a woman in this jacket instead of a snowglobe with legs. The pockets are sturdy, deep and you can also pop your hands in at the sides too, to keep them out of the wind. Quality materials, stitching, lining, good shape hood, nifty pockets and all carefully weighed up detail really does make the Lana jacket a real standout piece of outerwear. It's highly waterproof and breathable cotton outer which is windproof and a lightly padded brushed cotton chambray lining. The Lana also comes in sunrise yellow if you fancy an extra pop of colour.
A massive thank you to Lighthouse for sending me this jacket to wear. I'm so glad that it's mine to keep me snug and dry while I'm out exploring this season. They have a fantastic range to keep everyone kitted out and I'm a big fan of the brand and what they stand for. All opinions and content my own, as ever.
Sophie

I'm sure that the fluffiest jumpers are food for the soul. Feeling the softest tickle on your skin and the wonderful bubble of warmth held in the air pockets is a sure way to keep you as warm as can be. You can barely see my fluffy blue oversized jumper in these pictures as I was wrapped up nice and toasty with my knitted hat, tartan scarf and padded denim jacket. That jacket was a good buy - around 3 or 4 years ago I think I bought it on ebay. Little did I know that I'd wear it hundreds and hundreds of times, I'd be lost without it! I've even worn it with jeans before, but that's our little secret.

Stay cosy!
Sophie 

Word of the moment is 'layering'; don't forget it boys and girls, for a successful strategy means the difference between being comfortably cosy and freezing your bits off on a cold day. Always start with a thermal vest (trust me!) nobody's going to see it. Then add a short or long sleeved top and as much as you want after that. I love wearing shirts and blouses over Autumn and Winter so wearing a long sleeved top underneath is fab as your arms are kept warm enough. Another prime opportunity to wear a knitted tank top is not to be missed; this grey one works with so much it really is a hard working piece in my winter wardrobe.

This winter I'm keen to ensure I don't lapse back into just jeans with a variety of different jumpers which I have been prone to doing in the past. There is nothing wrong with jeans at all, but as I've built up a collection of cold weather-appropriate dresses, skirts and shorts I would rather like to get some use out of them. It's easy to put off wearing certain things when in fact you'd feel better wearing what you originally had in mind. Dressing up in pretty clothes rarely fails to lift your mood.

Still wearing my cute little honey bee necklace from Nova Silver! Love it so much.

Thermal tights, walking boots and a warm coat (coat unseen, else this would have just been a post featuring coat and boots. Whisked the coat off for a quick few pictures!).

Are you a habitual layer-er like me?
Sophie

Let's just take a moment to applaud this gorgeous strip of wild flowers still in bloom in mid September, I think that's pretty marvellous. When the temperatures take a dive, I tend to reach for a nice thick shirt and a knitted tank to keep me cosy. There are not enough tank tops being worn these days, let me tell you! I maintain that keeping warm starts from the core; vest, top, long sleeved item and then a snug knitted tank to keep all the warmth in before a giant jumper. Don't even think of whining to me that you're cold unless you're dressed appropriately, there will be no sympathy from me!
Mustard. It's a colour that was everywhere a few years ago for Autumn yet these days people shy away from this bold shade of yellow. It's seasonal, it's bright, it's cheerful. Don't shy away from mustard, mustard is your friend. Be kind to mustard for one day, when your mind clears and you see the light, you too will want to to cosy up with this autumnal shade. Mark my words.
Sophie

Once upon a time I had a black and grey Primark dress that I loved dearly, in fact it was one of the first outfits I ever posted on here (before I had a little cull). It was one I loved and wore quite a bit but then the unthinkable happened; it vanished! In reality it either broke and got binned or in a fit of madness I may have donated it back to charity – I never did get to the bottom of it. Fast-forward a couple of years I came across this alternative one from the same mould which in fact is a tad better as it has a more flattering neckline as well as being a lighter colour and these buttons which add a little something.

This shirt was also a recent charity shop buy, I do like a nice thick shirt and this one ticks the 'so thick it rustles' box. Wearing long sleeved shirts in winter means it's a doddle to stay cosy; I'm wearing a thermal vest and a long sleeved top underneath. When it's this cold out it has to be thermal tights all the way, I've found out of Primark and Peacocks that Primark win every time. I stocked up on a few colours when I saw them but it's usually black that I wear, my days of bright tights seem gone, I just don't feel like I want to reach for them anymore.

If you're wondering why I've cut my feet off in all the pictures it's because I slightly misjudged where the camera was pointing and after a few minutes of faffing around outside I decided that I wasn't about to start again and besides, you can see my boot in one of my pictures. Note to self, stand even further back next time, like the other side of the fence.

Wearing most of the jewellery I own, all at once which is my favourite thing to do at the moment, all from random places. My hair seems to be growing at quite a pace at the moment which I'm so happy about, I'm yearning for long hair and finally it looks like it might be a possibility this coming year, hurrah!

Sophie