It may be starting to get slightly chillier out there but that's no reason to reach for the knee high boots and roll necks just yet. Nope, there are plenty of ways that we can extend the life of our summer clothes.

I thought that I would have a little play around and here I'm wearing my & Other Stories  midi length summer dress which I first wore way back in sunny June, with my current favourite Zara jumper and Jigsaw ankle boots.


I think that the longevity of this outfit is limited perhaps to the end of the month but the winter can be long! Last year I just remember being sick to death of jeans and jumpers so I'm happy to avoid going there for as long as I possibly can. One tip for this type of outfit is to get the right length jumper. Something that finishes just on, or above, the waist seems to be about right so as to keep the lines right and also to keep everything in proportion.

Do you have any ideas for stretching out those summer clothes? I would love to here them. Layering either over or under things, switching footwear, sneaky thermals in September? I'm open to suggestions!

Oooh and whilst I remember, I've published another vlog on my YouTube channel here. It's a quick pulling together of the first two vlogs with some new additions too - so I hope that you like it. Have a fab week. Beth x

Today's post is just a quick OOTD. Generally I don't wear too many outfits made up entirely of neutrals. Many neutrals just seem to wash me out and I'm better with colours which have some depth to them, just as you might expect given my dark colouring. However I really like this Boden cardi/jacket that I bought in the sale last year (similar here) and it seems to work OK with this & Other Stories printed blouse (similar (ish) here (£45). It's all quite soft and muted but I think :) that I can just about get away with it. A bit of colour from the sun probably doesn't harm either.

I carried on the "light" theme with some white Whistles jeans and pale suede Jigsaw ankle boots (available here in a size 36) - but then stuck a navy Whistles bag with it all, in all probability just because it was handy.

On this particular day I needed a little warmth but I didn't want to head straight for the winter pile of clothing. Nope, for now I'm hanging on to those lighter shades for dear life.

Wishing you all a lovely Sunday. I think that we have some sun due next week. Yipppeeee!  Beth x

Some of you may remember that a few posts ago I wrote about ribbed clothing and how much it features on the High Street this season. In this post I'm featuring a whole outfit which is ribbed and which I bought from Autograph at Marks and Spencer a few weeks ago. These two pieces were featured in Vogue so unsurprisingly they are not now available on line but I suspect that they may still be carrying stock in store.


For some reason this outfit reminds me of Friday nights watching Friends back in the 1990's - boot cut trousers, longer line jumper - we've been there before but I don't think that this means that we can't go there again!

In my second vlog, which you can watch here I'm talking about this two piece together with Topshop jumper and Marks and Spencer ribbed dress. I would love it if you could head over to see what you think!

And as is only fit for a 1990's inspired outfit, here I am doing my best Spice Girls pose. Anything to keep the photographer happy!

Last week I had a couple of hours to myself so I nipped to Zara and, amongst other things, I came away with this Zara wrap around denim skirt (£25.99).  I LOVE denim skirts. They are so perfect for this time of year, especially midi-length ones because you can still show a little leg whilst at the same time keeping warm.


For anyone who would like to see the skirt in the flesh, together with a more detailed review of it and another denim skirt from Zara, you can head over to my first vlog, which you can see on You Tube here.

Vlogging is  a bit of a new venture for me so I would love it if you could head over and take a look. The vlog is only five minutes long but hopefully people will find it a little bit useful.  I am hoping to vlog two to three times a week, covering all sorts of things from High Street finds, to beauty buys, trends for the season and styling hints and tricks. Really it's an extension of Style Guile but I can cover so much more in five minutes chatting than in five minutes writing!

(In all honestly, I'm slightly nervous and I'm hoping that I will improve as time goes by - but as with anything new, we all have to start somewhere. Thank you! x)

I have a shorter version of this type of cardigan which I bought from Cos several years ago but it's more of an Aspen/Wham "Last Christmas" type of cardigan than the one above, which I have fallen for hook line and sinker. I love how it's styled over a whimsical style of dress, rather than with the more traditional skinny jeans/leather leggings and boots look - although in fairness that's how I would be wearing it. If I ever owned one. Note to self: contact friend who regularly travels to the States to see if he fancies a trip to J. Crew.

Since seeing this image (courtesy of the Sunday Times Style Section) I have hunted high and low on-line for something similar. I've tried Banana Republic, Gap, Mango, Zara, Cos, Jigsaw, Atterley, Hush and even the men's section of some of those brands but the closest that I have found is this...

Topshop Starsky cardigan (£55) - which I would be quite happy to buy, just for the name. But no, these things cannot be rushed. I must wait a little longer to see what comes in the stores. For some reason I suspect that I may find one in Primark, when I'm least looking for it. And that's what I love about clothes and shopping!


Oooh and I just wanted to share this birthday present from my school friend Charlotte, over at Lottie's Interiors. It is gorgeous - THE perfect shade of pink for me (she knows me well) - but far too nice to go in the kitchen and be filled with biscuits - so instead it's keeping my beside table tidy. Seems that I need to acquire a few more bracelets. Ho hum. Life's tough.


Hope that everyone has a good day on Tuesday and that it's not too miserable to return to work after this lovely (!) bank holiday weather that we have been having. Beth x

These Russell & Bromley shoes are EVERYWHERE at the moment. They are the one pair of shoes that those in the fashion know have identified as being this season's "must have" shoes and they are in every September issue, every weekly magazine and every supplement known to man. In fact it's virtually impossible to open a mag at the moment and not been greeted by them.

These are the shoe in question - the Russell and Bromley Collisee, which are £185.  (Please excuse the image, I don't think that the folks from R&B like us using them that much and for the life of me I can't link to them either, which makes me even more suspicious).



So what is is that I need to share? What is it that I have to get off my chest? What is it that causes me sleepless nights and much angst? (OK, slight exaggeration there).

It is this. That the Topshop Jive mid heel court shoe (£46) is virtually the same as the Russell & Bromley shoe and it bugs me to bits that those in the fashion know don't also share these shoes with us. I feel that it's pretty deceitful because if I know that they are out there (and they have been well and truly out there - since January infact) then they must know that too.


OK, so cards on the table time, just in case anyone decides to pull me up on it. I'll admit that the Topshop shoes have a moc croc finish, rather than a plain finish - but personally I prefer that. Also, they're not leather - although this could be seen as a good thing, particularly for veggies. They have an ankle strap, rather than a "across the foot" strap, but the R&B strap is so high as to virtually be an ankle strap. And whilst I understand that some will prefer to pay the R&B price for an R&B shoe and that they may well be better made, for those who covet this style of shoe but can't afford them, then I think (and hope) that these offer an acceptable solution. They also come in a wine/burgundy colour, which is going to be a huge colour for the season.


Phew! You cannot imagine how much better I feel now that I've got that off my chest. Happy Bank Holiday weekend everyone! Beth x

When fringed handbags first came on the scene, I really didn't like them at all. They just didn't do it for me but as is sometimes the way with these things, they have steadily grown on me and now I'm on the look out for just the right one. Personally I prefer the softer shades of grey and camel - again I don't really know why that is but somehow I find them just a little less harsh than black ones.

This leather tassel hobo bag (£65) arrived in Topshop only this morning and the colour is gorgeous. The slight downside for me was that although the handle could be lengthened, it still wasn't long enough to be worn as a cross body bag. Also, whilst the fringing is 100% leather, the bag itself is made from nylon, which for its £65 price tag is not entirely surprising but I did feel a little bit conned when I rummaged under the tassels only to find grey nylon.


Now I've had my eye on this fringed suede bag from Mango (£69.99) for quite a few weeks. Today, whilst in Birmingham, I found it in our new Mango store. I gave it the good once over but decided to look a little further before making a final decision, namely at this one from....


....The White Company which is £129 (and which a friend expressly told me NOT to look at as I would fall in love with it. She may just be right.)  Although it's described as a clutch bag it also has a strap, so it can be worn as a cross body bag - and I do like having two hands free. It also comes in stone too, making it doubly lovely.


Mint Velvet has this gorgeous fringed cross body bag for £99 which is also a contender, although looking back over the photographs, I think that I prefer the ones with the flap over them.


And finally on my hit list, there's this equally gorgeous Jigsaw fringed cross body bag which is £98. I haven't yet seen this one in the flesh but I'm sure that it's only a matter of time.


So, I'll keep you posted. There are fringed bags anywhere and everywhere right now so do let me know if you spot a gem somewhere on your travels. Beth x

"Oooh, that's a pretty necklace" the seven year old observed several times during the course of the day, which I'm sure Rachel, who runs the online jewellery business Yosa would be delighted to hear. She kindly asked me if I would like to choose a piece of jewellery to feature on Style Guile and I chose this lovely Triangular Outlines Necklace which you can see below.


I love big, bold, bright, statement necklaces, and Rachel has a great selection of these too, but sometimes it's nice to wear something which is a little understated. If I'm not wearing a statement necklace, I tend to layer a few finer necklaces together but this necklace is a fabulous compromise between the two as it's substantial enough to hold its own ground without being too bling - and some outfits just don't need bling. Geometric shapes are going to be a huge trend for the upcoming season so this necklace also ticked that box nicely and will do a fantastic job of updating some simple dresses and tops.


Rachel has lots of lovely pieces including bracelets, ear-rings, bags and scarves as well as necklaces and she sends everything out beautifully wrapped. You can find her on instagram as well as twitter and facebook too. There are lots of amazing women out there running small businesses alongside running a family and it's fantastic if we are able to support them.

As to the rest of my outfit, I'm wearing the Felsted print trouser from  Baukjen (£69 in the sale) similar here (£109) which I bought just after Christmas, together with a Hobbs top, Whistles handbag and Adidas Stan Smith trainers. The trousers haven't had chance to make much of an appearance but I'm planning on changing that as they are so comfortable and easy to wear. Oooh and just look at that elasticated waist (which I'm hiding for that very reason)!

Many of you will already be familiar with Marks and Spencer's current campaign entitled "Style Evolution". M&S is celebrating women who have embraced style change at certain milestones and phases in their life. The campaign started back in June,  with six bloggers, including Amanda (the Online Stylist) and Rachel (Lady M Presents) who I consider as blogging friends, being invited to spend a day at M&S Head Office. What they got up to that day can be viewed on the Marks and Spencer website here. 

For the next stage of the campaign M&S have asked several bloggers, including me, to write about their own "Style Evolution". In doing so, we were asked to choose some pieces from the M&S collection, to include at least one dress from the current collection.

My Midlife Forties and Fashion Mum of 40 have already written their posts which I so enjoyed reading as, although we aren't dis-similar in age or stage in life, the outfits that we have chosen are very different - and of course reading about other people's milestones is always fascinating.

The knitted dress that I am wearing above is from Limited Collection. Now, for some reason, this dress isn't online. I can't quite work out whether that's because it has already sold out, or whether it's because the site hasn't quite caught up yet but what I can say is if you do come across one in store, it's worth giving it a try. Knitted dresses are going to be a huge trend for the upcoming season but more than that it's a) warm b) incredibly comfortable and c) not the slightest bit scratchy - all of which make it a total winner!

For my second dress I chose the Autograph geometric print dress (£39 down from £59). I love print and colour and this dress could be styled in so many different ways depending on the occasion. A blazer and heels would make it perfect for a meeting, or a pair of block heeled knee high boots would give it a 70's vibe. Also the olive and coral colours make a refreshing change to navy and black for work.

Wearing it with the Autograph open front cardigan with cashmere (£45) and a Marks and Spencer cross body bag gives the dress a different feel.



Autograph open front cardigan with cashmere (£45)

There was another outfit that I loved but I wasn't sure that I could pull it off, in the sense that it is very slim fitting and quite possibly a little unforgiving. I'm still going to give it a whirl next time I'm in town though - just in the safety of a changing room!

M&S Autograph funnel neck dress (£55)


Autograph open front line cardigan (£55)


As many of you will know, I turned 45 last month and I consider that to be a little bit of a milestone. Half way between 40 and 50. Hmmm. As to my Style Evolution? The older I get the more confident I get about my style choices. After all, what is there to lose? Women my age no longer have to wear pearls and a pleated skirt and there are plenty of women older than I am who are forging the way - still looking great, modern, fresh and as if they are having fun with their clothes. As long as I'm not treading on any teenage toes along the way or embarrassing my children (or not too much at least, that's what parents are for after all) then I'm happy. And I hope that you all are too.

Matilda also dislikes taking photos. She says my shots are boring so to make them less so, we always do a "funky" shot at the end. "THIS is how you're meant to do it." she says. Sometimes we have to do a "fierce" shot or a "pop star" shot. I agree with her. They're much more fun and I think that a few more will be making an appearance on here. Although she doesn't really like taking the photos, she takes her job seriously. So seriously that she pulls ridiculous faces when she's taking them so that my grin - ridiculous as that also may be - is genuine. Which it is. She's great at going cross eyed. A trick I've never been able to master.


Her Onesie is another favourite outfit. We like our cosy things in this house. In fact I would go so far as to say that Onesies have influenced a lot of my fashion choices recently. But more about that in my next post.


And the best shots are the fun ones. This dress is one that she chose from M&S on our one and only shopping trip ever - the same trip that she chose her cardigan - and the cat print green dress in the top right pic below. I think that she looks like some slightly mad creature from a Roald Dahl book, which is quite apt really, given her name.


Now I know that many of you will be in the same boat as me tomorrow - finding out the GCSE results, so I hope that goes really well for everyone. Additionally I am tasked with the job of going down to school, collecting them, opening them and telling NO ONE the results (other than Mr SG) until Flo gets home from London tomorrow night. It's all under her direction and I'm terrified of cocking the whole thing up. I expect that I will have a stress dream tonight - turning up late, the wind whipping the results out of my hands, opening them and tearing them up inadvertently. I'm more nervous than if they were my own. And what I've realised is that, unlike most things in life that cause us stress, there's no point doing any kind of prep because it's all decided, which is weird. Often doing some research, getting a good night's sleep, wearing a nice outfit, having a good breakfast, listening to words of wisdom or the right music - all of that might help but not tomorrow. I can turn up naked and it won't make any difference. And now I'm waffling. See how nervous I am? I think that I had better go.....

Last year there was a lot of coverage in the press and amongst bloggers about the Autograph leather ponte leggings (£99). So when they arrived on the scene this season, I thought that I would give them a try before they sold out. And I only just managed it because, the size 8 has now....sold out. Given their popularity last year though, hopefully M&S will be on top of this and fingers crossed, they should be back in store again soon.

The leggings aren't completely leather but rather leather at the front and ponte at the back. And you know I really liked them but what I found slightly strange was the fit.

The thing is that most very tight things - let's take tights for example, or normal leggings, or skinny jeans - are rather stretchy. So they expand whilst you're getting them on and then they fit snuggly once on - the power of lycra and all that. However these leggings are quite unforgiving when you're putting them on - a bit like jeans used to be before lycra was included in their composition. So it takes a while to get them on. There's no give in the leather at all, particularly as they are lined with polyester.   However, gradually they warm up and give a little so that you can then pull them up another couple of inches. Or perhaps this pair are too small - which is why I've ordered a size 10, just for comparison, although the size 8 felt fine once they were finally on. But it's important that they're not baggy in the leg - nah, that's not a good look.


I also fancied trying a sleeveless tunic jumper. This cable knit one is from Limited Edition at M&S but the website doesn't seem to have quite caught up with the stock yet. Whilst I like the idea of the jumper, I'm not quite sure of its wearability/versatility. It may only have a window of opportunity in my wardrobe of about four weeks. But anyway, sometimes it's good to try these things just to see what you think. Do any of you have your eye on anything? Is the High Street managing to tempt you yet or are you hanging on to summer clothes for as long as possible? x

Donna says: "Navy is actually in everyone's colour palette" - phew, that's a huge sigh of relief from me!

A few months ago I read about an Online Colour Analysis service offered by Donna over at I won't wear sludge brown and more recently I thought that it would be fun to write about it on here.

But before we start, my own approach to people and their colours when styling them can generally be summed up as follows:

• The colours at either end of the spectrum - ie black or white - are probably the hardest colours to wear next to your face and most people don't think twice about wearing those colours, so let's not get too hung up on which colours do and don't work;

• We all have a fairly good instinct for which colours work for us. For example, whilst previously I didn't know exactly which colours were "my" colours, I knew that certain neutrals and certain yellows and greens made me look as though I belonged in a coffin;

• Whilst colour is an important feature of a piece of clothing, it is only one of about five important features, the others being fabric, fit, shape, washing instructions and cost. Dressing head to toe in colours that are right for you is fine but if the outfit is  made of nylon, in a shape from the 80's and it's two sizes too small, it's going to look pants, irrespective of the colour being perfect;

• A good lippy, or a scarf or necklace, in a colour which you know suits you can work wonders with a top that is in a less than perfect colour for you.

If you type the word "ribbed" into the Topshop website it comes up with 269 results - which is a sure sign that ribbed clothes are going to be huge this season - or next season - whichever way you look at it. From ribbed cropped tops, to ribbed cropped trousers and from ribbed jumpsuits, to ribbed swim suits anything and everything is ribbed.

All things 90's are in the midst of a huge revival, so be warned! By its very nature ribbing is not terribly forgiving. On the other hand, it can add curves to a chest where perhaps there are none and it also gives a really nice neat silhouette. With a little careful styling, ribbing can work beautifully. So before you write it off as a trend that's not going to work for you, there are a few tips worth bearing in mind...

• One of the easiest ways to wear ribbing is as a layer underneath something else. A ribbed top would work fantastically well under a faux fur gilet or suede waistcoat (fringing isn't compulsory) with just the sleeves peeping through.  I recently bought this jumper from Topshop (£28) which I will layer under all sorts of things when the colder weather arrives. The other great thing is that it will add warmth without lots of bulk. 

• Another way of layering a jumper like the one above is to wear a jacket over it, maybe a leather one or a blazer, just leaving a vertical strip of the jumper showing at the front. With some smart culottes it's a great work look - still smart but very modern. Layering a Peter Pan collar underneath it on a bib makes for a preppy look. Or, a ribbed top can make a statement in its own right, such as this asymmetric top from Topshop (£32)

• Long line cardis are a huge trend for the season and buying into a ribbed one of these isn't so much as buying into a "look" as adding a cardi to your wardrobe, which just happens to be ribbed. Given the fact that they can be quite fine knits, it's necessary to watch what peeps through from beneath - jeans for example can leave bumps where the buttons are. Leather leggings would give a smooth silhouette. Another offering from Topshop is this cardi, for £39.

• For anyone who fancies it, ribbing can be embraced as a full on look in many ways, from a jumpsuit to a dress. I love this two piece outfit from Topshop (£78) which comprises ribbed cropped trousers and a long line tunic.

• Autograph at Marks and Spencer has this two piece ribbed dress and long line cardigan in olive. Somehow, seeing the outfit on a more mature model makes it easier to relate to as a trend. The cardigan is currently sold out and the dress is available in limited sizes, presumably because it has featured in Vogue. Not so good for us but I'm happy for M&S! Each piece is priced at £55.

• And another little gem from Autograph - this fabulous ribbed jumper and trousers ensemble. Now if I could wear this from October until April - and look as good as the model in doing so, I wouldn't mind winter approaching. The tunic top is £49.50 and the trousers are £45.

• Or maybe try a jumpsuit? Zara has this great option. Yes? No? Maybe with a white shirt underneath??