Menswear Edit: Surviving the Summer in Style

Managing the oxymoronic term of ‘smart casual’ can seem challenging on the best of days but when it is 30 degrees outside it can seem impossible. Keep your cool with these casually smart summer essentials. 

Swap your shirts for a polo in a luxurious fabric like silk and cotton and dress down a suit. COS do this so well and great for those with long bodies or who are tall. 

A short sleeve linen shirt may conjure up feelings of holidays but in a darker colour palette of navy or olive it becomes office appropriate. AMI is one of my favourite menswear label and I love this olive shirt, great for showing off a warm skin tone.  

The unstructured blazer becomes your workwear hero. Throw it on for an important meeting when you need to up the anti and then its light enough to carry without getting misshapen, when the temperature rises. This Club Monaco one is perfect for travelling too.  

T-shirts aren’t just for the weekend. Try a crew neck in a premium quality cotton with a linen blazer and selvedge jeans. Sunspel is my go to. 

Enjoy the summer, 

Penny x 

My Holiday Packing Hacks

With schools breaking up and the sun shining, at long last summer holidays are fast approaching! It's time to gather up the beach clothes and organise that suit case. Whether packing is something you languish or love, here are my favourite holiday packing hacks for the perfectly organised suitcase and stress free travel. 

Rethink the backpack - No, I don’t mean backpackers, henna tattoos and hostels, I mean a stylish backpack as your hand luggage that you can wear at the airport or exploring the city. Happiness is hands free! For him… for her…. and for the little ones

Plastic zip-up bags - because you want to make the most of every last minute in the pool and you will inevitably have damp items that need to be packed before you travel. John Lewis has a good selection.  

A packable hat - There is nothing worse than investing in a beautiful hat only to leave it in the airport restroom or it losing its shape in your suitcase. This is one of the most requested items from my clients and finally designers are catching on to need for packable hats. I love this one from Eric Javits or opt for fabric or raffia, Helen Kaminsky makes great ones.

Divide and Conquer - I love zip up pouches and cloth bags to organise my case. One for underwear, swimwear, electricals, jewellery and makeup. I know this seems like a lot of effort but you will thank me when you arrive and everything is in its place, you can unpack in 2 minutes and get to that sun lounger. I always pre-pack all the things that are going to live in my beach bag to avoid forgetting any of my waterside essentials. 

But if you know you are one of those people who leaves everything to the last minute and feels overwhelmed by shopping and packing for your summer getaway, I'd love to help so please get in touch. 

Happy summer break, 

Penny x

The style you won't stop wearing this month

DRESSES WITH SLEEVES

Summer is here... then it's not... then it's here... then, oops it's gone again! The dress with sleeves is the perfect anecdote for the here today gone tomorrow English summer. If you follow me on social media you know how evangelical I am about the way the dress with sleeves can transition through a day of varied weather conditions. The sleeves keep your arms warm in the mornings but you are still comfortable if the temperature rises. Here are my current favourites...

For the minimalist... J Crew's striped maxi

The Corporate option... Libby London's Richmond Dress

For the Romantic... Vanessa Bruno's Estonie Dress (on sale!) 

For the fashion or die... Daft's Faye Dunaway Kaftan

For the Classic... Topshop Unique's Dorney Shirt Dress

And layer yours with a polo neck come autumn. The perfect transitional piece. 

Here's to a sunny Summer! 

Penny x

How to buy a Trench Coat

MOST REQUESTED

I have decided to dedicate this blog to the most requested items, the items my clients are looking for and asking me to source*. By far the most popular item at the moment is the Trench Coat or Mac. So before you make your forever purchase consider the following...

FIT... A trench looks its best when it is fitted but consider its purpose. Do you want the versatility of wearing it over a suit jacket? Make sure there is enough room in the arm holes by moving your arms around when you try it on. It's too small if the buttons are pulling and the vent at the back isn't sitting flat.

If you are PETITE - higher buttoning, shorter styles will work best. And shoulder seams should sit on the tip of your shoulders. If you want to go for longer then something that isn’t bulky and that is more fluid. 

If you DON'T have a defined waist (like me!)- Opt for styles with trench detailing without the double breasted fastening like this. Or a style without contrasting buttons like this. 

COLOUR... Which to choose?? You want your trench to work hard so think about what colours you have in your wardrobe and your personal colouring. If you have COOL colouring look for stone, ecru, grey and navy. If you have WARM colouring then beige, brown, khaki, camel like this. 

FABRIC... Water resistant or treated fabrics will keep you dry. But also consider your body shape, whether you suit more fluid fabrics like this or stiff structured looks. 

DID YOU KNOW?

The Mac (short for Macintosh) came from Scotland and originated in the early 1800s. It was named for Charles Macintosh that patent the rubberised water proof fabric. The Trench came 100 years later when Thomas Burberry created all-weather coats for soldiers fitting in the trenches in WW1. 

Happy Shopping! 

Penny x

*If you would like me to recommend locate and advise on a particular item, contact me about joining my VIP Club. 

New Website & New Resolutions

NEW WEBSITE

Welcome to my new website! I can't believe it was 8 years ago that I launched my business. In that time I have consulted hundreds of you who have trusted me with your style and wardrobe. It is you that constantly inspire and challenge me and the reason I love what I do. My business and my clients needs have evolved and it has inspired my beautiful new simplified and functional website.  I would love to know what you think. 

NEW RESOLUTIONS

As I see in the new year with a fresh online image, I think about what else I would like to achieve sartorially in 2016. My goal for myself and for my clients is to buy 'smarter' - love forever pieces that will work more efficiently in the wardrobe. But this new year I would like to buy more ethically too by investing in brands with a sustainable vision. Here is a list of brands I will be investing in in 2016 and their must have pieces.

My TOP FIVE brands with a heart

1. Stella Jean | She collaborates with African and Haitian artisans to promote self sustaining local communities. I'd wear this Mietitore maxi skirt all summer with a simple white vest and the biggest smile on my face. 

2. Eileen Fisher | They use the most sustainable fabrics and responsible dyes they can get there hands on and by 2020 all their cotton will be organic. These coated black leggings hang in the wardrobes of most of my clients. As cool as leather but easier to look after, they look great with a slouchy knit and ankle boots. 

3. made Jewellery | Each unique piece is hand made by local artisans in Kenya. They have collaborated with fashion's most established brands - Louis Vuitton, Topshop and Whistles. Add an edge to summer's floaty feminine dresses with these cool arrow studs. 

4. EDUN | Founded by Ali Hewson and Bono in 2005, their mission is to source production and encourage trade in Africa. With the former design director from Alexander Wang now at the design helm this brand is taking a cool new direction. I love wearing white in winter and this update on the cable knit will look great with my plaid coat. 

5. Mar Y Sol | The sale of their products allows families in Madagascar to gain economic independence and preserve their traditional crafts all in a sustainable fashion. This Havana bag had me with its of-the-moment removable pom pom accessorie and its saffron yellow stripes and will look equally brilliant with jeans in the city or a swimsuit in the sun. 

Happy New Year! 

Penny x