Orton Dress in Seaweed, House of Hackney £245 Take velvet for example. I have always loved velvet and no one is more delighted than me at it being a key trend for AW15. Velvet dresses, velvet stoles, velvet bags and velvet boots in teal….Yes, slim heeled, elegant and quite decadent velvet boots in a gorgeous rich teal with this season’s almost pointed yet softly almond shaped toe. Not a sensible buy maybe given that you can’t polish them and they definitely need to be treated with care in wet weather yet one of those buys that gives you such pleasure because they are a thing of beauty and we all need those in our lives! Teal Velvet Ankle Boots, Hobbs (£199) (pictured below). Henna Mongolian Suede Coat, Monsoon £399 that is of a quality to last whilst also feeling sumptuous and looking stylish. The White Company had the perfect pieces, from three quarter sleeved fine cotton/merino wool mix polo necks in dove grey through to sleeveless navy cable crew necks that would work beautifully with thin long sleeved t-shirts. I settled upon a Cashmere Poncho (£198) (pictured on page 08) in soft blue which was hugely flattering and so effortless for everyday layering. Like-to-haves always include for me a new Winter scarf. A scarf is an inexpensive way to add a whole new look to your existing Winter wardrobe. My choices include a 100% pure wool, softly textured long scarf in beautiful burnt orange (which matches both camel and grey coats- bonus!) from Hobbs at only £55 and an oversized grey check blanket style wrap at Joules for £44.95. 07 So, what happens next is the indescribable part of any shopping trip. It’s when you happen upon things or they happen upon you and suddenly you are head over heels in love. And finally…I discovered ‘Loved & Found’ at John Lewis. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Birmingham is the first store to welcome this new initiative. Essentially it’s a carefully curated showcase of contemporary designers, lifestyle brands and stand out pieces. One dress in particular stole my heart and became THE dress of the season for me. Forget all your soft neutrals, this dress by House of Hackney is an absolute riot of William Morris print made contemporary. The silk Orton dress in Seaweed (£245) (pictured top left) channels the 70’s high-necked pussy-bow vibe with a gently flounced skirt and long fluted cuffed sleeves. Acid limes and cobalt blues mix it up with The ‘Olivia’, Jones Bootmaker £89 The ‘Olivia’, Jones Bootmaker £89 Teal Velvet Ankle Boots, Hobbs £199
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