Peace-out 2016

Welcome to the last What Sarah did... blog of 2016! What a year it’s been, from Brexit to Bake-off, to Bowie, there’s certainly been some highs and lows. To end the year with some positive vibes, we’re sharing our top picks of the EPIC WSd sale so you can start 2017 with a style savvy bang....

The Striped Shirt

Iconic and timeless, the Breton stripe is something that should feature in every woman’s wardrobe. The Scotch & Soda Breton top (now £48) will become your off-duty staple for seasons to come as well as a go-to top for every occasion, day or night! Go bold and team this humble hero with a clashing print or keep it simple with your favourite skinnies and a pair of leopard print flats.

The Little Black Dress

The oh so wonderful Audrey Hepburn made the LBD famous in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and it’s become one of fashion’s most evolving trends ever since. Variations of the timeless classic have been showcased in WSd over the years but the MINKPINK Valley of the Vine dress (was £70, now £56) is a contemporary update on the usually fitted dress. The split bell sleeves add a touch of glam to your winter look while come the summer they’ll take on an ethereal vibe. Wear now with cosy tights and heels or rock this beauty in the warmer months with bare legs and your favourite summer wedge or sandal.

The Boot

‘Winter boots’ is a bit of a blanket term and as soon as it’s mentioned at the turn of the season it sparks panic across the high street with everyone trying to find the perfect pair! Well we have the perfect pick of trans-seasonal boots that will ensure your strut has an added touch of smugness and sass all year round! The Hudson Mirla suede tan boot (was £150, Now £90) will be your saviour month after month. When the frost starts to thaw, tan brings a fresh look and these beauties will look great with ditzy summer dresses, white jeans and lighter denim. While there’s still a chill in the air, team with the MINKPINK teddy bear coat for neutral luxe.

The Trainer

Comfy kicks were the unwavering trend of 2016 and they’re not going anyway in the year ahead. We’ve fallen back in love with the shoe that previously only made an appearance on the treadmill, so much so that we’re channelling them with smart looks and even work wear.- who’d have thought it?!  Veja is our coveted trainer brand in store and what’s even better than the brand’s dreamy designs is their ethical credentials. Whether you love the metallic look, classic white kicks or a bit of colour, there’s a trio of dreamy trainers in store that all have a rather seductive sale ticket attached!

Pencil Power

A pencil skirt is a must-have in every woman’s sartorial stake hold and whether it’s for work or play it’s a wardrobe classic that you’ll wear forever. Denim is an ideal solution to the dilemma of mid-season and the MINKPINK long line denim skirt is a timeless classic.  Hitting the mid-calf, this beauty creates an oh so sexy silhouette that can be re-worked in a variety of ways. Balance proportions and team with loose-fitting sweat like the Scotch and Soda embroidered sweater for a casual day time look or pair with the MINKPINK military shirt for a dressier vibe.

There is so much fabness in the mighty WSd sale so head to HQ to take a closer look!

Whether you choose slippers or heels tonight, have a truly wonderful New Year’s Eve!

Happy New Year beauties!

Rachel x

New Year's Eve: In or Out?

New Year’s Eve...the night you’re expected to have the best time of your life and kiss a hottie at midnight. Oh my…the pressure!! Well at What Sarah did… we can take one weight off your shoulders- your outfit for the big night. Whether you’re ‘out out’ or planning to sip fizz and devour chips and dips on the sofa with the girls, we’ve got the perfect look…

 If you’re the matriarch of the party pack then you need to look the part and Neon Rose has got things covered. This velvet wrap cami dress (£40) takes the LBD into a whole new league and is bang on trend with a touch of this season’s most coveted fabrics. The contrasting panel of mink coloured velvet is a modern take on the plush baroque revival, while the wrap shape makes this number supremely flattering. 2016 saw a major 90s resurgence and the choker trend is one that’s continuing into 2017. The choker plunge neck midi dress is oh so simply in chic dove grey yet the fluted sleeves and cold shoulder detail elevate this beauty into sass-ville. Add a hint of shimmer with the Becksöndergaard eel skin granny purse (£39) in dazzling silver.

One of my favourite ways to see in the New Year is with the girls sipping fizz (you guessed it!) in the cosiness of someone’s house! Of course you have to look the part for all the snaps but really you’re secretly wearing your new slippers out of shot. Perfection. The Neon Rose choker fluted sleeve blouse (£29) makes a statement yet its boxy style cut makes it super easy to wear. Simply pair with your fave skinnies or coated jeans.

Let’s face it the party only really starts at midnight, so sleep is highly unlikely until Sunday afternoon! But if you need a quick turnaround from dancing on the tables to sitting around one with your Nan then we have the perfect outfit for you. Believe it or not the sumptuous petrol blue colour of this stunning MINKPINK velvet dress isn’t its only ‘oooh’ inducing factor. It’s reversible- yep that’s right this beauty can be worn in two gorgeously different ways. By night, wear this wonder with the plunging ‘V’ at the front and to keep your Nan happy simply turn the dress around and team with a pair of cosy opaques and the Moda in Pelle Ametti Boot (were £90 now £72).

If your resolution is to be more economical in 2017 then invest in the MINKPINK crushed velvet print skirt (£) and top (£38). This duo can be worn together or separately so you’ve got four guaranteed outfits! Bargain!

On New Year’s day when you’re still feeling a little delicate, the MINKPINK Sunday jacket (£58) is the Berocca of knitwear. Team with the beautifully feminine Scotch & Soda sheer peplum dress (£110) and the Hudson Mimi Bordeux boot (were £150, now £120) for an ensemble fit for a potential NY brunch scenario.

However you decide to see in the new year, pop into WSd HQ for an outfit thats sure to set off a few fireworks! Here's to another year even more fabulous than the last!

Happy New Year beauties 

Rachel x

Empire State of Mind

So I didn’t really mention it beforehand but for anyone that didn’t know I’ve just touched down from five fabulously festive days in the big apple. Ha ok… so from the moment I found out I was heading to the city that LITERALLY never sleeps, I may as well have dangled a pretzel in the face of anyone who would listen (namely poor Saz and Maz)!

Before I knew it I was sitting on a plane in my treasured and dreamily comfortable Kooples joggers and the MINKPINK ‘Some Place’ tee (£28) all set for a magical city that I had only ever imagined with the help of Home Alone 2. Well with the Sex & The City movie playing on my little TV and a glass of fizz in hand I was ready to take notes from Miss Bradshaw on the concrete jungle that awaited me…

Of course I had already done my research on this wonderful city and among the ‘Must see NYC’ and ’20 ultimate things to do in NYC’ guides, there’s countless articles entitled ‘How to dress like a New Yorker’… I find it hard to believe the latter is a guide many refer to, as refreshingly this melting pot of a city doesn’t seem to have any set style rules, but in between bagels and Broadway I noticed a few sartorial standouts…

It’s bloody cold but oh my does New York know how to embrace the chill. This city truly comes into its own in the winter with ice-skating, twinkly lights and the scent of roasted chestnuts filling the air. At the top of my packing list was a warm coat, boring it may be but after merrily bumbling along through our mild British winter in my Rains jacket, I hadn’t quite anticipated how grateful I would be for a down filled number. Of course at every turn you could spot a Moncler or a Canada Goose but without a shadow of doubt, a Vero Moda beauty would have looked just as worthy on 5^th Avenue. The Betsie Parka (£84) is filled with a combination of down and sleeping bag technology so it’s not heavy like a full down coat (perfect for packing) yet still traps the air for extra warmth.   The multiple pockets are a must for storing your phone in between snaps, while the faux fur adds a hint of luxe to this functional style.

Pretty much all of the major sights of NY are outdoors and with the thrill of these iconic wonders come photos, but if you’ve only brought one coat then that holiday blues Facebook album will look like you did the city in a day. My top tip is to mix things up with different scarfs to vary your look. I brought last year’s Vero Moda blanket scarf, which not only doubled up as a cosy wrap on the plane but also created a snuggly cocoon when temperatures plummeted. Check out this year’s beautiful pink and grey versions (£26). It can also be a real faff piling winter gear on and off in between the sensations of the city but a lighter number like the Becksöndergaard Sivel (£65) is a welcoming bundle of warmth thanks to a wool and cashmere blend yet without the heaviness of a big scarf.

I noticed that true New Yorkers didn’t seem to be channelling the same Michelin man style layering a la tourists, yet they also weren’t exhibiting any teeth chattering movements either- I mean how does that correlate? Well I assumed prime position at the top of the Empire State to soak up the architecture suss out the street style of these apparently untouchable locals. My findings were blinking obvious really-it is all about clever dressing. First stop is gloves and whether you’re enjoying a fleeting taste of the American dream or you’re living it, you’ll constantly be clutching your phone, albeit for photos or the latest news. Fingerless gloves are a must and these Becksöndergaard dreamboats (£22) are super functional but will gain you major street cred from the multi-tasking moguls of the city.

 From uptown to downtown, leather jackets were never out of place and one thing New Yorkers know how to do when it’s freezing outside is layer!! For an authentic Manhattan look, team your leather jacket with the Scotch & Soda wool poncho, which drapes elegantly across the body. Use the metal star pin to secure this super warm graphic print beauty and to reinstate your super fabulous shape, which can often be lost through layering.  I teamed my MINKPINK Sunday Jacket (£58) with a black roll neck for a morning in Bloomingdales but for optimum layering complete the look with your leather jacket to introduce different lengths to your look. 

 Whether you’re clocking up the miles in Central Park or you’re perusing The Met, you’ll need comfortable footwear. From my NY observations, beauty is not pain and despite what Gossip Girl may lead you to believe the heels aren’t as high as the skyscrapers. Trainers were the most popular choice from block to block and the Veja copper Esplar leather kicks (£82) are a luxe trophy trainer that will gain you the approval of the ultimate Brooklyn babe. 

One thing you’ll never catch a New York woman without is her handbag. The Amette bag (£109) from Becksöndergaard is made from super soft goat leather and also abides by New York’s cardinal style decree that ‘black is the new black’.

I also used the Becksöndergaard Louella Toullier tote weekender (£32) for travelling, which proved to be perfect for holding all the essentials for an eight-hour flight.

The biggest lesson I learnt from this wonderfully vibrant city is that confidence is the secret to style. The pavement is a New Yorker’s catwalk and from the Bronx to Brooklyn, it’s clear that Sarah’s motto of ‘it’s not what you wear, its how you wear it’ is going transatlantic.

Rachel x

Stocking Thrillers

The sight of a full stocking on Christmas morning is one of pure joy yet the sadness of getting to the last gift in the corner of the bootie is also just too much to handle (dramatic? Me?!) Well, we’ve put together a mini gift guide of WSd treasures to ensure that those stocking fillers and secret Santa offerings are gifts than keep on giving…

There’s nothing better than a Christmas morning cuppa before the fizz pops and it will taste superb from a Bombay Duck tea cup and saucer (£17.95). And for the perfect blend? How about a Novello tea, coffee or hot chocolate caddie (£10.50)?! Amid the collection in store are special stocking fillers just for the Sarah in your life. WSd has collaborated with this fun brand and Sarah-fied some of the slogans for added sparkle and sass of the simplest of life’s pleasures. 

One of the best things about a stocking is that it’s full to the brim with gorgeousness and fun…bits and pieces that you don’t necessarily need but that are just, well…lovely! How beautiful are these little knick-knacks from Day home? The ‘smile’ and ‘love’ twisted wire signs are only £5 and come in sleek black and gold envelopes. The sumptuous heart cushions will add an eclectic homely touch to any space or one of these beauties would make the perfect addition to a baby girl’s first Christmas stocking. Cute!

Take the stress out of Secret Santa with a much-loved Emily Coxhead Happy Jar. These little jars contain tiny handwritten notes of happiness that fulfills the beautiful Emily’s mantra of ‘sprinkling a tiny bit of happiness all over the planet’. £6 for guaranteed smiles is a small price to pay and bang on budget at that! A beautiful customer scooped up four on Sunday for Crimbo gifts so get yours quick!

Skip the frankincense and myrrh and head straight to the good stuff with an Imogen Owen fine bone china mug, hand decorated in 24-carat gold (£14). All Imogen Owen products are ‘made in Britain using traditional skills and quality craftsmanship’ and this amazingly talented designer and illustrator has created her own unique and beautiful calligraphy style. There’s also a fabulous selection of naughty but nice Christmas cards in store. In the words of Sarah, “calligraphy heaven with gangster words!”

Scarves and candles get a bad rep at Christmas and are often considered ‘panic buys’. Well at WSd we totally bust that myth with our selection of wooly wonders and seasonal scents. The Vero Moda super sized blanket scarves are oh so cosy and super soft. Available in dusky pink or a beautiful grey, these beauties are a fail-safe choice at only £26. To finish off the perfect gift, a Parkminster mini votive is presented in an elegant yet simple brown card gift box and rings in at only £5.

For the girl that has everything how about Orelia pin badges  (£18) to pimp her lapels?! They’re fun, super on trend and will fulfil that yearning childhood desire for a Blue Peter badge…!

Don’t forget to make your WSd Christmas wish list! Simply tell us what you’re coveting in store, we’ll take a photo of it and pop the snap into an envelope stamped with a special wish list message. All you have to do is give it to anyone wishing to buy you a festive treat!

Rachel x