One love
I don’t love Valentine’s Day and neither does my husband. He resents being forced to be romantic on the back of a commercially driven retail conspiracy – and he’s got a point. But somehow I find myself doing a very loosely themed Valentine’s blog (aka red things) – not because you should actually buy these items because it’s the 14th February, but because they are light-hearted pieces that might make you smile, will add a bit of fun into your wardrobe and because if you can’t beat ’em, you might as well join ’em.
First up is this Lips Print Top £99 from Whistles. When it’s the start of a new season, the high street often plays it safe with stripes/spots/stars and other very wearable prints. However, this ‘conversational’ print is definitely more exciting than other non-prints. I like it teamed with tailored trousers which you could do for work but it would also move seamlessly into the evening.
It comes in a couple of other pieces including this flirty little Lilly Lips Print Dress £149 which you could de-girlify with the addition of a leather jacket and boots.
Away from lips and now to hearts with this Heart Ruffle Wrap Midi £42 from Oasis. It does come in red too but is shorter and possibly a bit too much?
On the sweater front they also have a Rainbow Heart Knit £38. Give this a bit of a fashion lift by wearing with smart joggers/tailored track pants, trainers and a leather jacket. Or with a chiffon skirt as Hush has done below.
A more full-on, but also fun style is this Sequin heart sweatshirt £69 from &Other Stories which I have now found on their site.
Or do it with a slogan like these from Hush (all of which are in stock so hurry before they’re not):
Spots are everywhere at the moment (more of this anon). So amp it up a bit with some red: Spot Print Skirt £49 from Warehouse. It does come with a matching blouse but I find that combo a bit matronly somehow. Pair it with a simple sweater and sock boots.
While at &Other Stories they have polka dots covered with the Ruffle Tie Wrap Dress £79.
And now just looking at nice red prints in general (for those who don’t fancy wearing their heart on their sleeve – pardon the pun), Whistles has put their best selling Paige dress into this Eclipse print £135.
River Island is going down a more folk route and has this Red Tile Print Lace Trim High Neck Blouse £35.
However, it’s at &Other Stories where my favourite red based print is of the moment: Poppy Print Wrap Maxi Dress £79. Now this is a stunner but it was also in Grazia recently so it is also sold out on line unless you are a size 34.
And unfortunately the same is true of the Midi Skirt £45. Sad face but there was stock in Kingston last week.
But Monsoon does have this Tina Mixed Print Skirt £59 which would do a similar job.
And now the best of the rest:
For some block colour try this Ruffle Sleeve Blouse £45 that would be good for lots of different occasions.
And despite not being a hugely ruffley person I am rather drawn to this Ascot Ruffle Blouse £59.
For a red knit try this Puffy Sleeve Sweater £49.
Make a statement with this Clean Crombie £86 from Warehouse.
Or a more subtle approach is this Bridget Stripe Jacket £56 which is a style I really like because you can do a lot with it. Wear with jeans – tick, wear to the office – tick, hit the town in – tick. You just change the bits that go with.
So forget the fact that next week is Valentine’s Day, but do embrace a bit of the red stuff into your life this spring – even a smidge.
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