OOTD: What Do You Wear When Your Heart Says Summer But Your Brain Says Autumn?

I've got serious fashion problems right now: a wardrobe full of summery dresses, but weather outside that's about as rainy and dull as a November weekend. It's too warm to wear too many layers or opt for my autumn wears a few months too soon, but slipping into a maxi or strappy top feels a bit too exposed and impractical - especially as it's raining pretty much ever day right now. My options are somewhat limited, so I've been living in jeans and a tee (check out my last outfit for what I mean) and dresses like this I can wear tops underneath for a bit of added warmth without having to lug about a coat. I'm desperate to show you some of my awesome frilly floral numbers, but until the weather picks up I feel a bit of a donut wandering about dressed for the beach when everyone else is in raincoats and Uggs.

After a few weeks out of London while we moved house, last week I popped along for lunch at Bourne & Hollingsworth with the fabulous Kirsty and Lex (you must check out both their blogs) to catch up on all things life and blogging. The location is incredible and basically an Instagram paradise, decorated with the most beautiful greenery and vintage decor; unintentionally I kind of matched my look to my surroundings, with a khaki tee and floral shoes topped off with a pair of dangly earrings and a casual tote that I knew wouldn't get soggy! Here's the breakdown...

THE DENIM WRAP DRESS & TEE COMBO 

Gawd love a wrap dress for hiding all your sins, still nipping you in a little at the waist and allowing enough breathing room for a three course lunch. I'm not a huge denim wearer (blame it on being a 90's kid and wearing enough for a whole lifetime during my teenage years,) but I did love this Gap dress as soon as I saw it in store. The lightweight fabric and light material make it a perfect seasonal transitional piece, while you can still pop it over a tee for a bit of warmth (and decency in my case.) I hadn't been in Gap for about a decade, but I was surprised to find a few things that I really loved and actually were made to fit my boobs and bum - although this dress isn't made for anything other than a C cup! (FYI I'm wearing a 'L' but the 'XL' was huge, so I decided to opt for the size I'd have to wear a tee under rather than one that drowned my frame.) It's not exactly super stylish, but it's comfy and keeps me warm without sweating - and sometimes that's all a girl can ask for.

THE DANGLY EARRINGS 

For such a long time I've been buying statement earrings and not really knowing how to wear them, but in the last few weeks I've just jumped right in and started to style them up with every outfit just as a way to add a touch of something-something. I've found the key is to keep the rest of your look rather simple and plain (rather than patterned or clashing,) if you want to ease yourself in! These are from Zara and are probably supposed to be worn with an evening gown or something, but seeing as my outfit was pretty boring otherwise I think they added a little bit of much needed sparkle. I really like the colours and how the metal frame blends in with my hair (another way to keep it subtle if you're a bit nervous,) and how it works with the 'natural' tones of my tee and bag. Zara have the BEST range of earrings at the moment, so make sure you pop in for a look if you fancy rocking the trend. 

THE ROPE BASKET BAG

Basket bags are a saviour in summertime; they go with everything, are super affordable and instantly make you feel a bit more on-trend. (Check my post here on one of my fave affordable basket bags!) The massive problem though is that they're quick to break, look tired or be bent out of shape if you're not careful - so with this little number from Next I found the solution! Rather than being woven, it's actually made of rope to give it strength and durability; the look is the same, but it's so much sturdier and will keep going summer after summer I'm sure (rather than me having to replace my basket bags every year,) which for £28.00 you really can't complain about. It's big enough for me to carry my laptop, camera, book and the usual essentials, or pop in everything I need for the beach; it's super comfy under the arm too, so you won't end up with red marks on your shoulder. The best purchase I've made in a while!  

THE OLD LADY PRIMARK SHOES

One of the other issues I have right now is what the hell do I put on my feet? If I opt for strappy sandals then undoubtedly the heavens will open and I'll be slipping and sliding around like a newborn foal on ice, but trainers and pumps feel a bit too much when I'm still trying to work a dress or lightweight fabric. Ta-da: sliders! These black floral buckle sliders are from Primark (also available in plain black,) and although they remind me of old lady orthopedic shoes I'm kind of loving them; the sturdy rubber sole means they're great for walking (even in the rain) and still nod to the fact we're *supposed* to be in summer. Styles like this won't last for year after year, so I always think it's a good idea to buy super on-trend pieces as cheap as you can find them and then chuck them in a direction of a charity shop come next summer.

I hope you like my 'collecting the kids from the school gate' look!

GAP Denim Sleeveless Wrap Dress | £34.99 (Was £49.99) | LINK

Oasis Khaki Tee | £18.00 | SIMILAR HERE

Primark Floral Buckle Sandals | £8.00 | SIMILAR HERE

Next Neutral Straw Shopper Bag | £28.00 | LINK 
Zara Statement Earrings | £14.99 | SIMILAR HERE

Wanderlust & Co 'Dreamer' Bangle | £44.00 | LINK

Daniel Wellington Classic Petite Melrose | £139.00 | LINK 

SHOP THE LOOK 

Thanks to Kirsty from Fashion For Lunch for the photos! 

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