ball gowns on the beach

I've always struggled with basics as I find shopping for them so dull. On the other hand, I have a huge oversupply of ball dresses as the possibilities are so much more interesting when buying them, and somehow they always seem better value for money, although on a cost per wear basis that is nuts (just call me Emma Bovary). The maxi dress is very much 'in ' this year and I wondered if any of these could be passed off as beach wear.

Matthew Williamson top for Nikki Beach not so much maxi, but anything else would be like wearing a Burka.

Versace inspired dress, I think not, this is a little over the top for day wear even in St tropez.

This is actually a wedding dress from Monsoon, but I think with the basket bag is OK for lunch at 55.

I bought this Temperley one with the bag at Bicester last week.

Lunch at Coworth Park

I couldn't wait to return to Coworth park after the dinner and and spa day.

It is dog friendly and with 100s of acres of polo fields the perfect place to while away the hours.

We met for coffee on the terrace overlooking the grounds, walked the dog for a couple of hours and then visited the Barnyard, the more rustic of the restaurants for lunch, after a bit more dog walking and a look around the spa which my companion had not seen, we returned to the main house for a post lunch coffee in the conservatory.  It was a perfect day and great way to catch properly on all the news that we had not shared over the last few months.  Coworth is definitely an occasion and demands a suitable outfit.

I have been unearthing some long forgotten treasures from my wardrobe and selected this Blumarine coral embellished silk and cashmere top (that I bought but could never fit into), very old Zara silk trousers, Versace shoes from Bicester from about 10 years ago, a (new!) Temperley bag, bought during last week's trip to Bicester and a new purse picked up from Wilbur and Gussie on Ebay.

The view from the terrace...

Gorgeous interiors in the loos...

Covetable interiors in the drawing room, I just want to move in...

The swan table should be the height of bad taste, but even this works brilliantly in the scheme....

The mini country village that houses 'The Barnyard' restaurant, all very Marie Antoinette...

We had potted trout to share to start and then I had goat's cheese brioche with mushrooms and mixed leaves and my companion had beetroot, walnut and mixed leaves plus a large sparkling water and it cost £29, which is not bad for a full day's entertainment! 

Perfect day, looking forward to another excuse to visit.

Bicester Village

Bicester was celebrating the jubilee in a suitably stylish way....

I loved this Cavalli collection when it was first in the shops, but I am not sure about luxe hippie any more, it seems really dated.

Anya hindmarch was had some better bargains than there have been for a while, some of the bags now starting with a £2, where it has been a £3 for the last year.

I liked all the color at Ted Baker, I am not sure what has come over me I am suddenly craving colour, I think it is the bad weather.

Pop up for London fashion designers, it was women's wear, now it is men's wear.

I think it was Missoni that got me into the colour mood, they seem to do it in a subtle way..

Tory Burch, the perfect antedote to grey British summer...

Mulberry, not much going on and still only 50% off, so could have bought for that price last year..

Marni, it just looks like H & M collection to me...

Jack Wills, actually more expensive than the sales in the shops, how does that work?

Valentino up to 90% off, they know how to do a good sale...

Matthew Williamson, really beautiful clothes that would last for ever at 75% off...

Temperley suitably patriotic, I did splash out  here...

Bought the orange dress below and matching bag.

Jimmy Choo, I just think Chinese copy...

Amanda Wakely still the best value, the most amazing silks and silk jerseys for less money than buying the fabrics and making the dress...

Where do you go for good sales shopping? Or do you prefer the ease and anonymity of online shopping?

Pretending the sun is shining...

On Saturday we were committed to a whole day outside, regardless of the weather, there would be no shelter and a minimum of 6 hours on a cricket pitch. I was torn between a cagoule, trainers and fleece trousers and dressing in the expectation of sunshine.  As my mother always says, if you expect a child to behave it will live up to it and so perhaps the same is true of the weather.

I went for all out sunshine in a Temperley top, this is meant to be a dress, although it must be for someone of fairy like delicate proportions.

These jeans are my new big find, they are age15 from Next (so VAT free hurrah! and fit better than any of my J Brand or 7 for all Mankind, which are slowly being sold off on Ebay as I am now being merciless in my  culling of jeans that do not fit just as they should).

The bag is from Anya Hindmarch and the jacket Zara, I was heading to Tonbridge in Kent, so I had to tick all the right boxes, nothing too revealing or too fashion forward and no logos!

Temperley tea party

Temperley is one of those big fashion labels that despite having an international following, has succeeded in retaining a local identity.  Perhaps it is because Alice herself is a hippie chick, whose heart if never far from her somerset scrumpy-growing roots.  This weekend I was invited to a launch at the head office/main shop just off Westbourne Grove.  Following the Temperley signs the journey may not be quite what you would expect of the label that dresses the Middletons....

 .....am I lost this doesn't look like a shopping hot spot?....

...........I've just zipped up my bag and put my phone away...

ta dah! not what I had expected at the end of this street....

Temperley is acutally a row of 3 mews houses and it is beautiful...

The union jack building and the burgandy painted row are all part of the shop.
It is so inviting on the outside and inside is equally cosy, and the welcome had a warmth to match.  Usually everyone just stands around looking at the collection in silence.  This was quite different, the sales assistants and prs introduced customers and press as they came in, so that every one was properly greeted and encouraged to chat.  We were offered tea or champagne and delicious nibbles.

 

There was also a beautician on hand offering mini manicures and make up retouches. It wasn't a famous name make up house, just a local girl who was distributing her cards for home facials and beauty treatments.

Similarly shoes were on offer from a new independent label called Emmy, a young 30 something from Islington who is trying to launch herself in the accessories world. Which other big fashion label would offer this kind of chance, when they have their own shoe range to sell?

And now for the collection, it was beautiful can you spot me in the shadows?.....