Saturday 28 May 2016

Paris, je t'aime

In her bestselling book How to be Parisian Wherever you are: Love, Style and Bad Habits, Caroline de Maigret lets us into many a French secret. Within the anthology of essays she advises,  “Eat croissants and buttered toast for breakfast—because it’s Saturday morning and you burned enough calories last night, damn it.” With this firmly in mind, last week my bestie and I hotfooted it to the beautiful French capital for four days of culture and carbs.

Despite what the ‘I <3 Paris’ shops would lead you to believe there’s more to Parisian dressing than just throwing on a beret and a Breton top.  In between sightseeing and sipping I noticed a few sartorial standouts…

One evening I wore heels to dinner. Don’t. It’s not the done thing and your feet won’t thank you for it after a day involving climbing to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. If you simply can’t resist a little height then I found the answer in the form of an incredibly chic Parisian who while emerging from the metro, unpinned her hair, took off her glasses and slicked on some rouge YSL. She was wearing a classic trench over a simple black shift dress, bare golden pins and heeled ankle boots. An oversized bag completed this definitive example of work to play dressing. Her shoe choice added the desirable elevation while achieving that oh so effortless French style. WSd HQ has some fabulous boots that will take you through every season. Try the Hudson Azi boot (£135) or the Hudson Emmett Boot (£155) with bare legs and team your choice with the buttery soft Becksöndergaard Alea (£169).



Flats are also key for a day of strolling along The Champs-Elysées or exploring the bohemian Latin Quarter.  The Hudson Willow shoe is not only a stylish and comfortable choice but also perfectly achieves the androgynous Parisian vibe. I saw lots of tailored looks with a carefree edge and these minimalist beauties would look perfect with wide culottes and a crisp white shirt. Achieve a relaxed silhouette a la Sarah with the Becksöndergaard Lunette neckerchief (£49) and MINK PINK Wild West suede biker jacket (£108). She paired these dreamy pieces with the Vero Moda Julie tank (£8) and laid back tailored trousers. Put this look in Paris and the locals will be complementing you in their own lingo.



I embraced the French Trench in the form of a much loved Zara number but oh my do I wish I had opted for a Rains mac (£95). Unsurprisingly the weather is just as unpredictable as blightly and I returned home with sun kissed skin as well as the sniffles from a torrential downpour. The Rains interpretation of the classic trench gives you the best of both worlds with its waist-defining belt and structured cut, all the while remaining 100% waterproof. When it randomly decides to hit 25° in between the rain, you can fold it up and pop it in your bag. Practical Parisian chic.  

Photo Credit: Rains 

As I sat in a beautiful coffee shop on The Champs-Elysées enjoying a café crème and a mini madeleine I felt like I was on the FROW. This grand avenue is lined with luxury boutiques and many beautiful women frequent the thoroughfare with a Chanel in one hand and a handsome Parisian in the other. There were two accessories that were most notable: a pair of oversized sunnies and an across the body bag. Cool shades gave many an outfit an elegant air-we have a great selection of Vero Moda sunnies in store to suit every face shape and every style (£14). The across the body bags I saw not only looked effortlessly chic but they served a very practical purpose. In a city you’re constantly reaching into your bag for metro tickets, euros and your phone so make sure you can access your necessities conveniently. The amazing Anna-Beth (£109) from BSG is beyond tactile and super versatile. It has many a pocket and can be a cross body or a clutch bag. The Fab. By Fabienne May Leather Clutch (£149) is equally as fabulous and again achieves this dual purpose. Plus, free hands means a glass of fizz in one and a macaroon in the other…





The style lesson I learnt most from the wonderful Parisians is to relax- keep things simple and don’t try too hard. Less is more and it’s all about investing in simple statement pieces that you love and feel great in. Pop into WSd to find your Parisian je ne sais quoi…

Rachel x





Saturday 21 May 2016

And it was all yellow

Things are sunny side up at WSd HQ as we welcome a cheery pop of yellow ranging across the colour chart from lemon to mustard. Here’s our picks…

For ultimate biker chic reach for the MINKPINK Wild West Biker Jacket (£108). The sumptuous suede is oh so soft and in a gorgeous muted mustard tone. Complete with shoulder epaulettes and a belted hem this must have jacket will add luxe texture and colour to your outfit.

Photo Credit: MINKPINK

 Electric yellow piping adds a pop of colour to this monochrome Fab. By Fabienne keyholder (£20). Add to your favourite black bag to create a fresh interchangeable look.

For a gift that’s a little ray of sunshine, the Orelia Hello Sunshine necklace (£18) is sure to brighten someone’s day. The gift card features a cute gold colour plated ‘Sunshine’ necklace set against the pastel yellow card. Complete with an envelope, this is a great (last minute!) pressie.


The iconic Granny purse  (£39) is handmade from soft and durable eel skin and is available in this sun-drenched shade.  With a snap lock fastening its ideal for your everyday essentials. This spacious accessory contains a little internal pocket, as well as two credit card compartments.

In the same golden sunset shade is the Handy purse (£25) with a press-stud fastening. Perfect to hold your fizz funds when you’re just taking a clutch out.

For a subtle hint of hot mustard the Ruka (£25) is a dream combo of black leather and yellow suede tassels. It looks particularly fabulous attached to the Adrienne Medium bag (£125) in the shade ‘Golden Glow’.


The Adela belt (£49) is the perfect pairing with denim. Try it with the MINKPINK Hourglass T-back blouse (£40) and Vero Moda shorts (£22).


Of course when it comes to yellow we simply have to include the iconic Rains jacket. The classic yellow jacket continues to brighten many a damp British day (£75).



Now all you need is a slice of lemon in that G&T…

Rachel x


Saturday 14 May 2016

Metallica

 Metallic is a trend with certified staying power, so its time to invest in some shine.


If you’re a little skeptical about going full on bacofoil then gently dip your toes into the trend with accessories. Master the light with these Vero Moda sunnies, which feature mirrored edging to add a subtle but oh so on trend hint of metal. Pair with a piece of mechanical beauty in the form of the Olivia Burton Chrono Racer watch (£155).


 Give your wrist the Midas touch with a beautiful handmade aluminium or copper bangle from Oswell and Rose.

 Embrace futuristic glam with the Dream Sister Jane Reflections Skater Dress. Style this beauty a la Sarah with the Sol Sana Porter Heels, which feature a sprinkling of ‘punk glitter’ in the form of metallic studs (£120). Combined with soft taupe suede, the hardware embellishment adds just the right amount of edge to these super comfortable heels.


 Add warmth and sheen to your home with a Parkminster tin candle, available in a selection of delectable scents. If you want to bring more metallic into your home but you’re nervous about making any drastic shimmering changes, then use picture frames as a starting point. We have a bevvy of prints from Lettterbox Lane and Basil & Ford (£15-£28), which would all look fab with a molten finish. Try a copper or mirrored frame for a refined gilded look.

Bring understated opulence to your outfit with the Somedays Lovin Tambourine dress (£129) and Hudson Sherbert sandals (£80). Pairing metallic with crisp white creates a fresh and balanced look.

Designed in New York and 100% handcrafted in Spain, Alejandrinas are the traditional shoe with ultimate style kudos. The Capri is made of metallic leather and hits the rose gold trend. Amazingly comfortable, these beauts will be your go-to summer shoe.



The Bell Keyring from Bell&Fox (£19) is the beautiful brand’s signature accessory. The gunmetal bell and chain makes a great addition to your bag too.

Look no further than Blu Studios for metallic simplicity at its best. This sumptuous British brand specialise in hand made leather bags and accessories, striving to combine ‘contemporary luxury with everyday wearability’. Add a Galactic touch to your outfit with the Metallic Leather Backpack (£160) or a flash of molten metal with the Metallic Leather Midi Clutch (£60).


There’s no need to save lustrous shine for after dark, pop into WSd HQ to get your shine on!

Rachel x


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