We are so close to the finish line with the kitchen…..it’s just teasing me with its unwired cookers and unplumbed dishwasher! I’m moving back within the next few days and there will be worktops by the end of next week so we can start to get back to some form of normality again. Oh and talking of normality being restored, my new wardrobe arrives today!!! WHOO HOOO! I can finally get all my clothes out of boxes…and hang up some of my recent purchases. Because living at your mother in law’s with 3 kids and no husband and a bad back = shopping therapy……first up, Hush.

(the honeycomb pattern belongs to a pair of pyjama bottoms that were sadly too small)
Following on from my last blog post, I ordered twice from the sale and kept half of what I got in the end. My back wasn’t strong enough to do a proper try on post – but I kept the V-Neck jumper and Scarf from this photo.

The geometric scarf was an amazing buy. If they weren’t already sold out, I’d be telling you to grab one now but sadly both colour ways are gone. Meanwhile, the jumper will suit some and not others. The v-neck is very low and the seams are sown to the outside. The former I don’t mind at all as I lends itself perfectly to layering. The latter however did make me dither a little as it does look like you have the jumper on inside-out. However, on balance, for the price and the fact that the colour suits me and is not one I already have in a jumper, I decided to keep. Worn here with my burgundy coat (bargain from Atterley Road last season)

I also kept the chunky cardigan (bought in a size S) and the long knitted scarf:


The cardigan is a no brainer for £25 really. It’s just a great piece of loungewear as well as a fab coatigan style for when the weather warms up a little and you don’t need a coat. The scarf has great colours and is cosy but the tassels annoyed me so I took them off…they were just looped on and super easy to remove.

For info, all the Hush sale stock is being removed from the site on Sunday night and until then, you can get a further 10% off (sale and current stock) using SPRING15. Sold out items have been coming back into stock occasionally over the past few days as returns are processed so do keep an eye on anything you fancy over the next 2-3 days – you never know your luck.
Next up, Mango. I ordered from them about 3 weeks ago and I’ll be honest and say that I’d forgotten what I ordered by the time the dispatch email arrived. It baffles me why some companies can send items out within days and for others like Mango and H&M (i.e.massive retailers) seem to have such logistic issues with online orders. Anyway, after watching the slow progress on the DHL site from Madrid to Belfast, it finally arrived, minus one item (refunded) but the good news is that everything else in the delivery was perfect and will be kept. And in fact if it hadn’t have been, there was a 48hour free return post label. So I have to wait 3 weeks for my delivery but it can all be returned to them within 2 days? <sceptical face> but let’s focus on the order success…all good things are worth waiting for, no?
First up, I’ve been looking for a grey wool coat since the sales started and just couldn’t find the exact shade of grey (there are 50 after all I’m told) for the right price. But this one looked like it would tick most of my boxes and I’m really pleased with it. Sadly sold out in the grey now but is available in black on this link in limited sizes (I ordered a M which is about a 10-12 in Mango) and it fits me perfectly, being more of a 10 on top.


I liked the sound of the coated skinny jeans in blue and have had good success with Mango skinnies in the past. The ones I ordered are a perfect fit for me in the 12/40. They do feel quite strange to the touch, almost rubbery but not shiny, and on the inside they’re the softest blue denim so they are really comfy to wear. Just on a whim, I also ordered a blouse with a print including grey, navy and camel and a plain navy lightweight scarf. Both are great – the latter will suit more in spring or summer so I’m not wearing here but the blouse is perfect now with my Mary Portas cardigan as worn today. Photos don’t really show these items off that well – apologies but in any case, they’re not on the Mango site anymore.

Lastly, a sneaky £11 Benetton purchase (from the Lisburn Road store). A wool mix, slightly oversized camel v-neck jumper. Total classic item and lovely quality. Worn here with an ancient Zara scarf from the Mens department.

Still lots of knitwear and warm coats left in-store for you local girls. If you’re wishing you bought a real down puffa this winter, they’re so well reduced right now with lots of different lengths and styles available. Oh and the kids’s sale is brilliant as well.
Right – half-term (and new wardrobe)…let’s be having you!
Ax

The post Hush & Mango Hauls….and kitchen installations… appeared first on School Gate Style.

I saw this linky over on Emma’s blog and I thought I’d try it out this week as it’s a great way to share with you some of the things that have been going on with me over the past few weeks…seeing as I’m not exactly setting the school gate on fire with my style. The linky is hosted by Morgana over at butwhymummywhy so if you’d like to get involved too… just click on the little loves logo at the bottom of the post.

Read
This week I’ve been I flying through my book club book. It definitely ranks as one of the best we’ve read. ‘After the Fall’ by Charity Norman is about a family who emigrate from the UK to New Zealand.  The book opens with a small boy falling off a balcony and being airlifted to hospital. The chapters alternate between present and past, following the boy’s progress in hospital and sharing the background to the move to NZ. It’s an interesting insight into the impact a long distance move has on a family and how the secrets and demons don’t get left behind. It’s an addictive, fast read – some of our recent book club books have been rather challenging so this was most refreshing!

I enjoyed it so much, it prompted me to seek out another one of Charity Norman’s books ‘The Son In Law’. It’s not as instantly gripping but I think it will be an interesting insight into a challenging family dynamic.

Watched
Living at my mother in law’s at the moment means I’m watching more TV than I normally would. We’ve got ourselves into a lovely routine some evenings of PJ’s, G&T’s and a 9pm drama so I’ve had to get up to speed with Silent Witness (harrowing at times/a bit hard to take seriously at other times), Last Tango in Halifax (not what I was expecting – really enjoying it!) and Broadchurch. Now I never watched the first series of Broadchurch as I have an 11 year old and I really struggle to watch anything that involves a child coming to harm. But I was told I could pick up on series 2 without having watched 1 and broadly, that is correct though I did read a synopsis of Series 1 online to clear up a few parts of the story that were confusing. Suffice to say, I’m hooked. David Tennant is really impressive and I love the dynamic between his character and Ellie.

Heard
Little May – an Australian band that Fearne Cotton played on Radio 1 last week. I was straight onto Spotify to listen to their debut EP and have enjoyed listening to it while blogging. I would say they’re a bit like a female version of Mumford. Not quite as rocky but with similar strong guitar and harmonies. This is my current favourite song of theirs – Boardwalks

Made
Lots of pies and casseroles Having lived with just a hob and microwave for the past month, it’s been such a novelty to have the use of an oven at Granny’s. Aunt Bessie’s oven chips have made a welcome return too

Worn
It’s not been too exciting the past few weeks but I do think this has as much to do with the time of year as it does with the fact that I don’t have all my clothes out of boxes, don’t have a wardrobe and am living out of a suitcase! It was nice to finally locate this coral coat from Almost Famous (now in the sale!) – a fab coat to brighten up the grey and blue.

But what I’ve enjoyed most this week is what I’ve worn on my skin. Back in November I succumbed to the marketing and bought a premium, cosmetic-giant face cream and the best way I can describe it is that I’ve felt like my skin has been clogged up with chemicals since I started using it. The cost made me perservere until it was finished but going back to one of my favourite organic natural brands was just amazing this week…my skin looks and feels 10 times better. If you’re concerned about ageing, don’t opt for the fast chemical laden results promised by the big corporations. In the long term, organic is the real secret to gorgeous skin. My new face cream is the Dr Organics Snail Gel Cream…don’t be put off by the name – it uses the remarkable cosmetic benefits of Helix Aspersia Muller, a unique substance the snail produces to quickly regenerate its own shell and skin when damaged. It smells of lemongrass and is so lovely and nourishing.

For cleansing, I’ve just bought some Moa Balm – I’m a huge fan of balm cleansers used with a hot flannel. My skin never feels as clean with cream cleansers or face wash. Moa is lovely as it’s full of healing yarrow – great for scars or nicks/cuts. It’s between £7 and £10 for a 50ml tub online – which is about two thirds the size I would have bought of my usual favourite, Temple Spa In the Beginning. So not a huge saving but it’s nice to mix it up a bit – I think your skin gets too used to the same products so it’s good to change things around. Boots Botanics have a great balm cleanser too though I’m not a fan of the smell. Funny how the smell is so important when it comes to skincare.

and finally…

A little message for all the mums out there awaiting AQE/GL results in Northern Ireland tomorrow morning. I’ve already negotiated to meet the postman at the start of his run though honestly, I’m not concerned about how well he scores at all…I just want this part of the process to be over. I know whatever he gets, it will all work out the way it’s supposed to and it will be for the best.

Ax

The post #LittleLoves appeared first on School Gate Style.

It may be snowing outside but I’m already thinking ahead to brighter, warmer days. I’m also looking for something to cheer me up as my back’s gone into spasm again and I’m back on a ton of medication. Hoping I can nip it in the bud this time so it doesn’t develop into anything major like the last time.

So I’ve been looking online at the end of the sales and at some of the new ranges to find inspiration for spring and summer.  I wear my Boden bretons most weeks (see below!) so I’m always on the lookout for variations on the classic breton. I saw this lovely one on the Oasis Belfast twitter account earlier today:

You can find it on the Oasis site here but I’m hoping to get in-store to try it on as I may need to size up to get the length I need. While I was looking for the top online, I also saw this other alternative to a traditional breton. The engineered stripe woven top – only £25. Love it.

I must say, I am well impressed with Oasis this season. I think they lost their way in recent years but the website has had a revamp and there’s LOTS I’m loving. They’re also ticking my 2 online shopping boxes…firstly, you get to see a model wearing the item when you hover over the item picture on the main page (without having to click through..does that make sense!?) AND there’s a video of a model wearing each item…I just love a video…it really helps when you’re online shopping. Anyway, back to the bits I’ve spotted.  This tunic may be a contender for my London blogger meet up (in Feb) outfit..
And these boxy tee’s look fab. Also available in a cream colour and I’ve decided I need/want both!
 I could go on and on but you’ll think Oasis sponsored this post – I promise they didn’t Tesco next and I was in this morning (just before my back gave up the goat) and was immediately drawn to this subtle geo jersey drape jacket. This is a lovely weight of jersey and nicely styled with the blush pink here. Kind of wishing I bought it now but I’ve done too much damage online over the past week (blog post to follow on that).
 This grey top is caught my eye also. It has an asymmetrical front hem. A lovely alternative to black for a night out.
 These patent heels are a great neutral colour too:
 and finally, this yellow scarf was almost purchased. The photo doesn’t do it justice – so full and soft and only £8. A great way to brighten up a breton…or that jersey jacket

 None of these Tesco items are online yet sadly but I’ll keep an eye and add the links. Finally, some great sale bargains that will see you well this spring. How about a Boden Autumn Trench – which will work just as well in Spring? Down to £38.70 from £129.
Boden Autumn Trench – in 12 or 14 only
These glitter pumps are so pretty and only £14.70 and the navy suede is £19.70. Limited sizes but they’re perfect for spring
Glitter Pumps
And is there ever a bad time of the year to buy a leopard clutch? It’s a tad pricy for something I’d probably not use that much but there’s 20% off clearance this Saturday…worth bookmarking!

Zip Top Clutch – £55.30 pre Saturday’s discount
A final lustworthy item that I can’t stop thinking about – these Helen Bateman Esther Peacock Point Toe Heels...ADORE! Ironic as I lie here in pain but I just want to buy them to look at as they are so beautiful. Great price too in the sale.

Finally, if you like my Helen Bateman Billy Bag as much as I do, they’re in the sale too – down to just £48..though there are only 2 colours left. An amazing bargain for a bag of this quality. I use my grey one almost every day so I *may* have invested in a black one…

Finishing up with a couple of outfits from this week….I have really tried to make an effort, despite the building site of a house First up, some old favourites on Monday – a milder day so I didn’t need a coat:

Cape – Vero Moda (not very similar but the best I could find!)
Jeans – Replay
Burgundy Boots – Bertie (similar)
Burgundy Jumper – Next (similar)
Checked Scarf – SGS Shop (similar)
(all old items)

And yesterday some layering outside my new red door…

Navy Jumper – Vero Moda at Call Me Pretty Boutique – called Black Iris but it’s definitely proper navy!
Jeans – Replay as before
Breton – Boden
Long Brown (in need of a polish) Boots – Hobbs (past season – similar here & here)

Keep safe in the snow everyone – back on Friday with a slightly different kind of blog post…

Ax

The post Spring Summer Inspiration appeared first on School Gate Style.

Way back in December, I started a process with local optician Gillian Gervais, that has been, without any exaggeration, life-changing for me. I have worn glasses since age 14 and in fact, should have been wearing them for many years before that but my short sightedness was never detected and I thought it was quite normal to not be able to see the blackboard in school

I hated wearing glasses so in my 20’s, I began to wear contact lenses and did so successfully up until about 5 years ago when genetic eye-dryness made lens wearing too uncomfortable for anything more than a day or two a week. So it was back to the glasses again and in recent years, I made more of an effort to buy funky, interesting frames so that the glasses were making a statement. But I was never happy with them and always took them off for photos or nights out etc.

As far as I knew, the only long term solution was laser surgery. The idea of laser scares the life out of me and it’s expensive but I was seriously considering it until I was told that my results would be short lived (perhaps 5-7 years) and in that time, I’d have to wear reading glasses as my short sightedness would be corrected to such a degree that my long-sightedness would be compromised. So with that news, I put aside all thoughts of ever ditching the specs.

That was until Gillian Gervais (a reader of this blog) sent me a message back in September inviting me to the opening night at the new location of her optician practice in Carryduff. I wasn’t able to make it but it started a thread of messages about my sight which led to Gillian telling me about Ortho-K Nocturnal™ lenses.  Gillian’s own website and the Scotlens website can tell you all the science but essentially Nocturnal™ Orthokeratology (Ortho-k) is the process of wearing a contact lens only when sleeping in order to correct short-sight. Stable corrected vision is provided all day without the use of contact lenses or spectacles. The process is reversible and in 2010 established by the FDA as having the same safety as soft contact lenses.

I’ll repeat the important bit – corrected vision provided all day without the use of lenses or glasses. To be honest, I was sceptical – it just sounded too good to be true but I agreed to come in to talk to Gillian and find out more.

At this initial appointment, Gillian assessed my eyes to make sure they were suitable for the lenses. She also took topographical images of the eye that show the level of short-sightedness so that progress when wearing the lenses could be measured.

A week later, my lenses arrived and I had a second appointment with Gillian to be shown how to put them in and take them out. They’re hard lenses – so if, like me, you’re a soft lens wearer, putting them in isn’t greatly different but taking them out does take a bit of getting used to. After a few attempts & trying a couple of different techniques, I mastered it and was cleared to bring my lenses home with an appointment booked for the next morning so Gillian could assess how the first night went.

You put these lenses in literally as you’re about to turn out the lights for the night – you shouldn’t read or watch TV while wearing them. Equally, in the morning, taking them out is the first thing you do. Incidentally, you can see perfectly with the lenses in so there are no issues if you wake in the night and need to tend to a crying child.

Friends have asked if they’re comfortable to sleep in. I think they’re like mouth braces or rollers in your hair – you’re aware of them initially so my first night’s sleep wasn’t the soundest I’ve ever had but a day or two on, I was sleeping through with no issues at all. When I’m awake, I am aware of them in the eyes but once my eyes are closed, I can’t feel them at all.

But now for the best bit – the results! That first morning, I took out the lenses and it was like a miracle had happened overnight. For your first few days, the sight does diminish slightly as the day goes on so Gillian saw me early that first morning for an assessment. Normally, you correct to about half your prescription on the first day so I was a little lower than that – attributable most likely to a poor night’s sleep. But even after just one night’s wear, I managed without my glasses until about 3pm that day. On Day 2, the results lasted a couple of hours longer so that by day 5, I was getting a full day of perfect vision. In fact, at my most recent check up, I was measuring with 20/20 vision.

I’ve been wearing them now for just over a month and have not worn glasses since that first day. The lenses are so effective that they actually over-correct my vision slightly if I wear them every night, meaning I can now miss a couple of nights through the week without losing 20/20 sight. Putting them in and taking them out takes seconds now and the few minutes spent cleaning/disinfecting for the next night is just part of my morning routine.

The little things that non glasses/lens wears take for granted like putting on make-up, swimming, having a shower – what a novelty to actually be able to see what you’re doing! Also, and this is a small one but means a lot to this sunglass lover – I can wear whatever sunglasses I fancy now – no need for dodgy prescription ones.

In terms of cost, there’s an up-front payment of £150 which covers the initial consultation and assessment & the lenses themselves. If all is going well after a few weeks, there’s a balance of £200 payable. Thereafter, you pay £25 a month, which covers the cost of your next pair (lenses are replaced annually) and all the ongoing support. And in case I’ve not already convinced you about how sold I am on these lenses, I’ve signed up to my standing order already. It’s not much more than I was paying already per month for daily lenses (that I couldn’t even wear all day) so it’s a bit of a no-brainer.

The lenses are ideal for children too so I’m going to get my son assessed for them once he starts at big school. The benefits are obvious from a sporting perspective but in fact, the way the lenses correct the vision means they can in some cases actually stop short sightedness worsening – amazing for younger glasses wearers. Gillian has fitted boys and girls from about age 10 for the lenses and the reports back are fantastic from a confidence/self-esteem point of view AND in terms of how they’ve helped children involved in contact sports and/or water sports.

In terms of suitability, if you can see close up better than far away and your prescription is up to -5, you can explore Ortho-K lenses and if you’re local, Gillian Gervais is the woman to contact. Contact details and more information on the lenses can be found on her website on this link. If you’re further afield, you can find a list of practitioners on this link and it’s possible to search for the closest one to you by post code.

Please just ask if you’ve any questions about the lenses, either in the comments section below, on social media or via email at [email protected].

Thank you to Gillian Gervais Opticians and Scotlens for enabling this post. No payment was made to me for writing it but I was gifted this initial set of lenses.

Ax

The post Nocturnal™ Ortho-K Lenses from Gillian Gervais Opticians appeared first on School Gate Style.

Would you believe me if I told you I’ve not worn anything worthy of a photo all week? I’ve been stripping wallpaper, racing around plumbing showrooms and providing an endless stream of coffee & cake to the amazing workmen we’ve had at the house. Love this photo the hubby took on Monday – I never knew so much money could be spent on stuff that ends up under your floor!

For three of the days, I wore work-out gear…the same work out gear (washed over night). I’m amazed that this lack of wardrobe variety isn’t bothering me – I guess the lure of a new kitchen is enough to keep me focussed. This week coming sees the floors levelled and the whole room plastered….the week after the floor is tiled and then on Monday 9th….the kitchen installation begins!

But one thing all the house activity hasn’t stopped, is my penchant for a bit of last minute sale shopping. And today is a great day to look at Hush as they’ve put on final reductions on the last of the sale stuff. Unlike most retailers, Hush don’t leave their sale stuff on once the new season is launched properly so if there’s something you like, at this stage, I’d grab it as I’ve noticed a few things have gone out of stock since mid-week.

I’ve had this jumper in my radar for a while – dithering over colours. Today, seeing the further reduction, I’ve ordered the mallard colour.

Fine V-Neck Jumper – £20

I’ve also lusted over this scarf all season but just couldn’t justify it given the million or so scarves I already have. But now it’s down to an amazing £15…would have been wrong not to

Geometric Scarf

Finally from Hush, I’ve ordered this chunky cardigan to try out – not sure if it will work for me but ordering it gave me free postage so it was a strategic decision..

Chunky Waterfall Cardigan – £25

There are beanie hats for £5 and the most amazing chunky socks that are perfect in wellies and long boots – also for £5. I can recommend both as I’ve bought in the past.

Ok – running here as we’re off to church with Granny! Back with the lenses next post I promise – just finalising the technical stuff with my optician!

Ax

The post Weekend Bargains at Hush appeared first on School Gate Style.

Is there anyone out there??! I don’t think I’ve had as long a break from blogging before. The house is taking up all my time (I started this post 12 hours ago!) and each day I rotate a very boring jumper/jeans/puffa jacket ensemble in shades of navy or grey. But I’m actually enjoying this forced capsule as it’s so easy to dress….and it’s inspired me to do a massive clear-out before my new wardrobe goes in during February. More on that when it comes – the hanging rails are melting my head!

So a quick return to blogging to show off one of my successful sales purchases – over the knee boots. The long black flat boots I already had were on their 4th winter and were starting to show it – especially as they were the only boots I had in my capsule after we moved so they were worn almost every day during December. I decided to look for another pair in the sales but this time to get some over the knee ones. On Boxing Day, I tried on several pairs in Belfast but couldn’t get my size so ordered them online.

The try-on however helped me get a feel for what style suited best so I knew I wanted ones that were well over the knee at the front but open at the back, ideally with some detail down the back of the boot. I almost bought a pair that had buckles behind the knee to secure the front piece better but decided that would be a bit of a faff every time I had to put them on…they did give a nice slimline look to the leg though.

So here are the ones I bought – the Dune Torz boot – available in a few shops but the best price is at Zalando here and Amazon here – both coming in at about £80.

The first thing that won me over is the quality of the leather and the smell from it. Just glorious. Even after a few weeks, I’m aware of it as I sit here typing this. Next was the ease of putting them on. The zip at the back is only a detail. there’s actually a half zip on the inner leg that allows you to pull the boots right on and it’s easy to zip up. They come well over my knee and I’ve had no issues with sagging. Size wise, I’d say they come up a bit big so if between sizes, go down. Mine are a 39.
So here I am wearing them today with endless layers as I had workmen in the house all day leaving doors open…grrrr. Wallpapering has been done but I’ve yet to carpet my hall, stairs and landing…hence the dodgy flooring



Boots – Dune (size 6/39 – size down if you’re between)
Jeans – Maison Scotch (Size 29 – past season – same fit different colour here & here)
Down Jacket – Uniqlo (Size M – Christmas present from hubby!)
Black Favorite Roll-Neck – Boden (Size 12 – Christmas present!)
Scarf – Benetton (old – similar here & here)|

Amazingly I’ve not had any smart comments from the hubby…and my mother in law compliments them every time I wear them. So they mustn’t look too ‘Pretty Woman’ In terms of wearing with skirts, I’ve not had as much luck. Just didn’t work but I’ve never been a fan of long boots with skirts on me anyway.

I’m off now to pack bags – the kids and I move back in with my mother in law tomorrow for a few weeks while the old kitchen is taken out and replaced, along with the gas boiler. It’s going to be a long 3 or 4 weeks but this is the last big piece of work we need to do so I’m keeping focussed on how lovely it will be to have a proper working kitchen again. On the plus-side, being at granny’s will hopefully give me more time in the evenings to blog – I’ve still to tell you about my my life-changing nocturnal lenses. I promise to dedicate my next post to them.

Hope you’re all keeping well and that 2015 is treating you well so far..

Ax

The post Over The Knee Boots appeared first on School Gate Style.

What a week – hope you all had a lovely time over Christmas. Our first one in the new house was just perfect. Lots of family time, Christmas movies, too much food….and the sales! I’m not sure whether to be proud or ashamed of being in the queue for House of Fraser at 7.45am on Boxing Day…

but in my defence, I was looking for house stuff. I’m a huge fan of the Living By Christiane Lemieux range at HOF – it fits nicely with the art deco era of the house and it will work really well with the colours I’ve planned for the new kitchen. I picked up placemats, coasters, mugs, glasses and some towels. All in storage for a month or so until the kitchen goes in…cannot wait!

Clothing-wise, I had only one item on my wish list and that was a mid-length navy cardigan – very sensible  I found a great unstructured one in Mary Portas (not online). 100% merino wool for just over £30 – I’ll feature it soon on the blog. The Mary Portas range is always great in the sale – I also bought this oversized knit in the ink colour way…love the zip detail on the neck. There’s no doubt, the range is definitely aimed at taller women with apple figures but I find her tops & knitwear generally work on me.

I only stayed in town for a couple of hours on Boxing Day so on Saturday, I was itching to check out Next and M&S for my annual stock up on underwear and nightwear – can’t bear to pay full price for lingerie or for anything you wear in bed. While walking through Next, I was tempted by the coats and shoes but I’ve already ordered a pair of over the knee black flat boots for £30 during my VIP slot last Tuesday, a coat from the Zara sale online AND  a second pair of over the knee boots from Zalando (blog research – won’t be keeping both pairs), so I resisted.

But back to today’s outfit which showcases one of my Christmas presents from Mr SGS. I’ve had a 100% cashmere jumper on my wish list for ages but they are just soooo expensive. What a treat to get this gorgeous one….it’s a great shape for me as I don’t suit traditional jumpers with waistbands. Great shopping hubby I enjoyed wearing it today with a fab little fur snood I got in the M&S sale on a slippery walk to Starbucks. I can’t see the novelty of being so close to everything ever dwindling!


Coat & Hat – Trespass
Boots – Sorel (some reduced in the ASOS Sale here)
Jeans – Maison Scotch (past season)
Cashmere Jumper – Philosophy
Fur Snood – M&S
Black Cross Body Bag – Warehouse

Finishing with an outfit from last night when we were invited to friends (and now they’re neighbours) for their annual Christmas quiz. It’s our 3rd year attending and we joked that the last two were so good, we decided to buy a house on the same street to ensure we could stagger home this year…and stagger I did…but mostly because of the heels and the ice!

Black Jacket - ASOS (past season)
Black Sleeveless Top – Warehouse (current season)
Boyfriend Jeans – Gap (past season – current here)
Snakeskin/Suede Heels – LK Bennett Outlet

Not sure if I’ll get a chance to blog again before New Year – let’s see how this week goes. The workmen are back in the house again from tomorrow so I’m going to be looking for inexpensive ways to keep the kids entertained and out of the house. Fingers crossed for dry weather!

Ax

The post Cashmere, Fur & The Sales appeared first on School Gate Style.

Long time, no blog – sorry my friends but I know you’ve all got more important things on your mind than fashion this month. In any event, I’m still living out of the suitcase I packed 3 weeks ago for a week at my Mother-in-Law’s. A bit traumatic but actually it’s lovely not having dressing dilemmas in the morning..I won’t know what to do with myself when the wardrobes are finally fitted at the end of January.

So my last post before Christmas is to share these cosy new items from Trespass – they’ve been keeping me super warm on the school run…and have been an absolute blessing as I can’t find any of my coats, hats, scarves or gloves, since we moved!

Although I’d heard of Trespass before, I had no idea that they stocked such a great range, including real down filled coats. The prices are competitive too – my boots, coat, hat, scarf & gloves all came in at less than £140.

I’ve harped on about real down filled coats before. In terms of warmth, they are streets ahead of anything with a polyester fill. This Snowglobe down filled coat is also unbelievably light – I honestly didn’t expect it to be as warm as it is. It compresses down into a tiny little drawstring bag, making it perfect for travelling and for storing over the summer. The price point of just over £70 is excellent for this quality of coat and as well as being super warm, it’s showerproof too. Size-wise, I’m wearing a Medium.

Now every busy mum should have a pair of snow boots in your wardrobe. They’re ugly – no getting away from it – but they’re incredibly practical and in the really wet and snowy days, will ensure that your good boots don’t get ruined. These Trespass Floral Boots are a steal at just over £30. Easy to pull on and off and very cosy. I got a size 39 and I’d say they’re snug so if you’re between sizes, go up to allow for a thicker sock.

To finish off my cosy outfit, I added a hat and scarf set (the hat has a fab fleece lining) and some  amazing Crossover gloves. These are the first non-bulky gloves I’ve found that keep my hands properly warm and dry – highly recommended for any fellow Raynaud sufferers.

Huge thanks to the team at Trespass for keeping me warm on the school run for the past few weeks – I’ve tested the items well…including during a spell of chainsawing while clearing the back garden this week!

I was glad to bid the last workman farewell this afternoon (until Monday) and we’re now looking forward to the first Christmas in our building site new house…it will be one to remember for lots of reasons
Wishing all of you – my lovely readers – a very Merry Christmas with lots of quality family time and great memories.

(my freshly undercoated front door – soon to be glossy red!)

Ax

PS – Extra 10% off Boden sale on this link – use G4Y4 at the till!

The post Keeping Warm on the School Run with Trespass appeared first on School Gate Style.

because that’s the sort of sensible purchase you need to make when you’ve just moved house and are living in a building site. Well, I should clarify that the kids and I have done a runner to Granny’s house and left hubby to live in the new place alone…but that’s another story….back to the furry skirt.

So I was out getting supplies for the workmen when I nipped into Warehouse at Forestside and decided I needed something new for a few nights out over Christmas. But I wanted something that would also work in the daytime. Meet my new  furry skirt…

I tried it on first in the size 10 but it felt very tight & short on me and was creasing across the front of my hips.

Here it is in the 12 – a better length and more accommodating of a Christmas food baby.

Here’s a close up of the fabric and a peek at a little cross body evening bag that I also bought. It’s a blatant copy of the Celine Trio, which I love but can’t afford. This non-leather version is perfect for nights out and is only £15.

There’s also a coat in the same material which is a great alternative to all the furry coats out there at the moment as it’s got the look but not the bulk, which has put me off buying one up to now. It looks better in the photos than it did when I was there but it could have been the exhaustion that skewed my opinion. Just one thing – the coat is only £20 more than the skirt…am I being unreasonable to think a skirt is 10 times easier to make than a coat and therefore it should be at least half the price??

Finally, I was reading in Look magazine about how we should all have a pair of sparkly jogging bottoms so I tried these..

So so comfy and looked ok but they were a bit tight on the calves for me and needed shimmied down too much.
Loved the subtle sparkle

I brought this top in just to have a plain black top to try with the skirt and ended up buying it…it’s a lovely fit and has a cute detail on the back. This is a size 10. Can’t have enough plain black tops and Warehouse do them so well.

Open Back Shell Top – £28

Finishing with what I was wearing – an outfit you’ve seen before but I’m working out of a tiny capsule right now so theres no room for creativity. I’m living in my Celtic & Co sheepskin boots at the moment as I can’t find my flat boots anywhere and as for my Helen Bateman Billy Bag – well, it’s been an utter godsend this past week or so…especially when we left our old house for the last time and I had to fill it up with all the randomness of the house, which included wires, bulbs, a bottle of bleach, sandwich bags and about 6 sets of keys we can’t work out doors for.

Grey Fur Gilet – Next (size down)
Breton – Boden
Jeans – Maison Scotch (past season)
Boots – ℅ Celtic & Co
Handbag – ℅ Helen Bateman

Hoping I can squeeze in a post or two this week while staying at my mother in law’s. I’ve finally found the holy grail of foundations and want to share it with a few of my winter skin savers.

Right – I’m off to bed to try out my nocturnal lenses for the first time. Looking forward to a day without glasses or lenses tomorrow – the first in 26 years. Will report back with a proper blog about these as so many of you have contacted me with questions. If you want more information in the meantime, full details are on the Gillian Gervais website.

Ax

The post A furry skirt…. appeared first on School Gate Style.

Ok I promised a mention for this top ages ago and then forgot. Sorry! The trouble is that it doesn’t photograph very well – nothing dark grey/black ever does unless you’re outside during the day…and I’m finding sequins are not great on a building site. But it’s the perfect going-out top for me. Not too blingy and can be dressed up or down. So easy to wear and very flattering.

Next Grey Sequin Layer Top – £30

I’m pretty sure it comes in a few other colours but I’m struggling to find them online right now. The sequins are at the front only and are not super sparkly ones – more of a dull finish. Lovely dark grey so it looks great with black skinnies but also will look amazing with the grey jeans I *will* find before my next night out. I ordered it on the next day delivery service and am pleased to report that it worked a treat again.

So I will try to share it in an outfit soon. I’m not due to have a night out until next Friday’s school mums’ night out – naively agreed to and all paid up for in October when I was sure we weren’t moving this side of Christmas. It will be a dry night with the car parked outside unfortunately. But that should mean I won’t forget to take a picture

And now for the Zara try-on. I mentioned on my last post that I bought a few bits in Zara last weekend. I had great hopes but didn’t get on great with them sadly. First up – this black top was supposed to be the perfect going out/daytime top and while I love the shape and style, I just wasn’t loving it enough overall as a top. A good gauge when you buy stuff is to see how much you want to wear it there and then. I didn’t. Back in the bag:

Next, I was looking some red for the festive season and the detail on these basic jumpers from Zara is lovely. But they’re tiny and there were only Mediums left. I’d have needed an XL I reckon!

Lastly, the shape & colour of this top was an instant hit. I bought it in the size M. It looked great in-store and then the creases happened on the way home. 20 minutes in a bag at the most. No way Zara…lovely top and a great fit but I’m not dealing with those creases every time I wear it!

Now to work out when in the next hectic week I’m going to get a chance to get back to Zara to return the lot.

Hoping to be back on Tuesday or Wednesday next week to report on my nocturnal lenses. For those of you not on social media, I’m having Ortho-K lenses fitted on Monday, all being well. You can read all about them on this link and the plan is that they will remove the need for glasses or lenses during the day. So excited about it! Here I am with my optician, Gillian Gervias on Tuesday, being measured up for them.

In the meantime, keep in touch on Instagram if you want to see how the move and everything else is all going and you never know, you may get an occasional glimpse of something other than trainers and leggings!

Ax

The post Next Sequin Top & Zara Try On appeared first on School Gate Style.

The house move is imminent – we’ll be handing over keys in less than 2 weeks and the new place is far from ready so it’s a case of all hands on deck for the next 10 days or so. Ever dedicated to my blog (ha!), I’m trying to get a photo on the days when I’m not in leggings/tracksuit bottoms, so here’s last week’s building site/kitchen shop/B&Q style
Wearing my long flat boots more with this colder weather as they’re so easy for running about. Mine are from Carl Scarpa a few years back. I teamed them with my BHS Navy pea coat, Boden Off Duty Jumper (both from last winter), jeans from New Look and a fab new scarf from Next. I know, I know…scarf overload…

Close up of the scarf – love how it works with navy & the light grey. It’s cosy too and not really huge like lots of these blanket scarf. It’s much more wearable for that reason.

Next up, long boots again with a cape. I was going to stock this cape in the shop but it came as a twin pack and I didn’t like the other colour way so took the decision not to buy it. I knew this colour would sell but I’d end up losing money on the other one so it wouldn’t have made business sense. Sorry girls – if it’s any consolation, it’s quite hard to wear…kept slipping off my shoulders! But with a belt it would be better and it also works as a great oversized scarf.

Back in the ankle boots for this hangover outfit from Friday (book club was the night before and as it was my last one as a resident, I probably enjoyed it more than I should have!). Furry Gilet and Breton are both from Boden, Jeans are Maison Scotch from Feather & Stitch and my boots are the Navy Ash Jalouse. Sorry for the poor photo – indoor photos on these gloomy days are tricky!


Last up, grey and burgundy for a trip into Belfast on Saturday morning. Boots from Seven Boot Lane, Coat from Dunnes, Jeans are Gap & my jumper is H&M. My son had his second (of three) transfer tests so with an hour free in the city, it would have been rude not to go into Zara.

I took photos of my Zara try on so will try to blog about it in the next few days, house move permitting.

Right – back to work here now as I’ve a ton of shop orders to make up. For anyone who’s not heard, due to the move, I’m closing up the shop on Friday evening for a few weeks. So there’s a re-location sale for the next 3 days with amazing reductions on all my winter stock. Grab a bargain while you can – some lines have sold out since this morning. Thanks for all the orders so far – I will endeavour to get them dispatched by Thursday.

Ax

The post Outfit Update & Relocation Sale! appeared first on School Gate Style.

Following on from my last post where I shared my new Helen Bateman Billy Bag, it’s my pleasure to tell you that Helen has offered me one to give away on the blog! Worth £155, the winner of this competition can chose whatever colour they want from the Helen Bateman website….

To  be in with a chance to win, simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. The competition will run until Monday 24th November with the winner announced on Tuesday 25th. UK entries only – prize subject to availability – winner chosen at random by the Rafflecopter app – all winner entries will be verified! Good luck and thanks again to Helen Bateman for this amazing prize.

Ax

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post WIN – a Helen Bateman Billy Bag! appeared first on School Gate Style.

I’ve talked about the hunt for a grey handbag on this blog before. They’re not easy to find! Back a couple of years ago, I ordered what I hoped was my holy grail of grey handbags from a consignment store in Dublin and while the colour & size are perfect, I’ve never got on great with the shape of the bag and definitely don’t use it as much as I’d hoped. So the hunt continued….

Then I was approached by Helen Bateman, a designer based in Edinburgh who is best known for her shoes but she has also designed two really stunning leather handbags for her collection, the Lila and this grey leather wonder – the Billy Bag.

The Billy Bag is also available in lots of other colours….some of which make my grey look a bit dull but I’ve tried the bright coloured handbag and find that I don’t use them as much as my grey, black or navy ones. And once you see the lining of this bag, you’ll realise it’s not one bit dull.

These bucket style bags became popular when Zara introduced them a few years back but I never liked the zip-in liner they came with. This bag gives you all the benefits & style of a bucket bag but it’s fully lined with all the pockets you need for smaller items so you won’t be rummaging for them endlessly. The leather is an excellent quality and will improve with age. There are sturdy studs on the base also – a key requirement of a good tote! Given the number of bags I’ve bought over the years, I can happily stand over this in terms of quality. It’s a lot of bag for your money and will most definitely stand the test of time.

I put the Billy bag through it’s paces all weekend. On Saturday, we went to the school open day and it was perfect for accommodating the 52 bits of plastic the kids bought as well as the 4 (yes 4!) boxes of tray bakes I bought from the cake stall (the mums at our school are amazing bakers). No plastic bags anymore thanks to the NI charge but I was ok – tons of room in the Billy Bag.

On Sunday, it was the girls’ birthday and we took a small group of their friends to the cinema and on to Pizza Hut afterwards. Once again, the bag was stuffed with wipes, tissues, plastic bags (in case of a Code Vom), candles, matches, cupcakes…etc etc. With room to spare.
To give you a sense of perspective, here’s how I styled it on Saturday:

Grey Leather Billy Bag – ℅ Helen Bateman
Grey Cashmere Poncho – Gray & Osbourn
Grey Oversized Jumper – H&M
Jeans – Gap
Knitted Snood – Esprit (past season)
Navy Suede Ankle Boots – Ash Jalouse (also available here)

I’ve definitely gotten out of the way of a bigger bag in recent months but now my days are filled with site visits and house related shopping, I’m glad to have a larger bag with me to stuff all the brochures, paintbrushes, bags of nails and other randomness..

The range at Helen Bateman is really stunning..here are some of my other picks:

Lila Black Patent Chelsea Boot, Mimi Orange Shoe Boot, Esther Peacock Point Toe Heels, Alissa Silver Glitter Point Toe Flats, Lila Taupe Patent Leather Bag

She’s also got some fabulous scarves, including these wool & silk ones which would make amazing Christmas presents.

Parto Scarf, Sita Charcoal Scarf

I know I shouldn’t really showcase other scarf shops but the designs are too good not to share. So please do pop over to Helen’s site for a look and show her some School Gate Style love. If you sign up for the newsletter, you’ll get 20% off your first order and watch out on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to be the first to find out about any special offers or sales.

Thanks to Helen for gifting me this beautiful handbag and thank you for supporting the brands that support this blog.

Ax

The post Grey Handbag Love – Helen Bateman Scotland appeared first on School Gate Style.

I only had two outfits worth photographing this week – the rest of the time, it was wellies/raincoats & tracksuit bottoms! I hope none of you saw me

First outfit is one I wore on Wednesday on a trip into Belfast to get carpets for the new house. We’d heard about an architectural salvage place up off North Street and as we were close by, we called in for a look. What an Aladdin’s cave! Definitely worth a look if you’re in the area and are a vintage or up-cycling fan. We were looking for a large knob for our front door (ooo errr missus) but they didn’t have any this visit. Here’s what I wore:


Grey Puffa Coat – Dunnes
Jeans – ℅ Replay
Navy Spotty Blouse – Boden
Cream Vest – Zara
Cross Body – Boden
Black Leather Wedge Boots – UGG™ Australia ℅ Cloggs

Then yesterday, I was on a bathroom & light fittings mission which took me all over Belfast & Lisburn. Cannot recommend BHS enough for their lighting by the way – and there’s 20% off at the moment. Here’s what I wore


Coral Wool Coat – Almost Famous
Grey Utility Trousers – Uniqlo (past season)
Grey Scarf – Zara
Denim Shirt – White Company Outlet
White Vest – Zara
Cross Body – Boden
Black Suede Ankle Boots – Ash Jalouse

While I was struggling out of BHS with a large box of lights, I spotted this burgundy fur coat in the teenage section of BHS. Loved the colour so had to try it on (in age 15-16).


It’s a gorgeous quality fur (not as shiny as the photo – I had a spotlight right above) and is on 20% off this weekend too. Well with considering if you want to tick the fur trend this season but not break the bank. Available on this link. I couldn’t justify sadly…my coat problem is well documented

Today it was our open day at school so I had a lovely morning catching up with my mum friends. Mostly, we’re all rushing on the school run and don’t have time to talk for long so it was lovely to chat properly. I’ll share the outfit tomorrow as I’ve a new handbag to show you and haven’t edited the photos yet.

Oh and before I go, I’ve found the best ‘just throw it on’ top from Next which will be perfect for nights out between now and Christmas – can’t wait to share…it’s getting its debut tonight!

Have a lovely weekend,

Ax

The post A Couple of Outfits from This Week… appeared first on School Gate Style.

This week, the girls and I were lucky enough to be asked to do some mother & daughter styling for Cloggs Footwear – showcasing their extensive range of UGG™  Australia boots. There’s more on offer than the traditional sheepskin boot – I was surprised to see such a wide range of leather options and boots with proper soles and heels. After lots of discussion, clicking, scrolling and debate (they take online shopping as seriously as their mother), the girls opted for the same boot in different colours…the Kensington Junior. Not unlike a traditional UGG™  but more substantial, in a nubuck leather rather than suede and with zip closure – important for one of my daughters who has a very wide foot & high arch.

Meanwhile, for myself, I chose the Emalie a waterproof black leather wedge. I’ve tried some flat black ankle boots in recent weeks and they just don’t suit me. However, anything with hard/block heels (no matter how low), I find difficult to wear all day. But after a day wearing my Fly wedges boots in brown, I realised where I was going wrong – I needed a black wedge – and these have been amazing over the past few days. I’ve worn them all day every day since Friday. Size wise, I got the 7 as there aren’t half sizes. This is equivalent to a US9 – which is the way UGG™ are sold. I would say they come up a little on the big side in terms of length and width. I probably could have squeezed into the 6 but not sure if I could have worn with a winter sock? Hard to know. They are generous around the ankle also.

The best bit? The sheepskin lining…so cosy and comfortable and it’s removable so you can launder it or use it in another pair of shoes.
Here we all are getting ready for a lovely walk on Saturday..

G – Boden Cardigan, Next Tights, Next Denim Shorts, Ugg™ Junior Kensington in Black
Me – H&M Jumper, Gap Jeans, Ugg™ Emalie in Black, Scarf (gift from my sister)
K – Boden Cardign & Long Sleeved Top, Dunnes Jeans, Ugg™ Junior Kensington in Brown

But about 20 minutes after these photos were taken, the skies opened and it rained solidly for 24 hours. So zip forward to the next day and we finally got our walk…

The girls are wearing their Stormwear™ coats from M&S and I’m wearing my old favourite mac from Karen Millen. My sister in law bought me this coat about 7 years ago. A hugely generous gift at the time but it still looks as gorgeous as the day I got it and comes out every year. I added in one of the new cosy scarves that I’ve just got into the shop. It came originally in 3 colour ways and I only have a limited number to sell – in fact, I’ve already sold out of one colour – just this and a blue shade left.

Oh and before I go – Cloggs are running a competition on their site at the moment to win a year’s supply of kids’ shoes and a pair for yourself too! Check it out on this link:

Thank you to Cloggs Footwear for supplying the boots for this review and thank you for supporting the brands who support this blog.

Ax

The post UGG Australia at Cloggs Footwear appeared first on School Gate Style.

Between now and Thursday, Boden is offering 25% off all items (code is F2J7) so just a quick post to share this good news! Bad timing for me as every penny is currently being gobbled up by the new house at the moment. But if I were to treat myself, here’s what I’d be trying out for size…

First up, I’m still hankering after a leopard handbag so this one is definitely on my wish list for Christmas. I wear my off-duty jumper from last year loads. The shape is so flattering. This year, the navy and mustard are calling to me! And it’s a great time to stock up on basic tops. The crew necks, which come in stripe and plain colour ways are down to £11.

Zip Top Clutch in Leopard,  Textured Off-Duty Jumper, Essential Crew Neck

Next, this green velvet trim spotty top has taken my fancy. It gets great reviews – also available in pink & navy colour ways but the green would suit my colouring best. gorgeous grey coatigan that would get so much wear and if you’re looking for a well priced pair of basic black ankle boots, you can’t go far wrong with these.

Velvet Trip Top, Seed Stitch Coatigan & Boho Boot

All the blues now – if you’re looking for a checked scarf that is a bit different – this one is fab. And after seeing Nikki over at MidLifeChic wearing the Ingrid coat, I’m just loving it.

Skye Scarf in Cream Check, Ingrid Coat – Blue & Raglan Sweatshirt

Finishing with some serious bling for Christmas. Every fashionista was drooling over these Boden jewelled pumps and with 25% off, this is as good a time as any to purchase. My favourite is the gold colour way and how fab would they look with this uber-blingy Sequin Cable Jumper? Finally, these super skinny spotty jeans are a great night out alternative to black skinnies. Lovely in the daytime too!

 Jewelled Pumps, Sequin Cable Jumper & Super Skinny Jeans,

Back to picking wallpaper for me – though a few basic crew-necks *may* be sitting in my basket. I’m also tempted to get the twins something gorgeous for their 6th birthday next weekend…

Hope you’ve had a good weekend,

Ax

The post Boden 25% Off Until Thursday appeared first on School Gate Style.

I’m so slow getting this post up – apologies – but do you remember when I asked you all to do a survey about making packed lunches? And I told you it was because I was helping to launch a new Kingsmill product? Well, that launch went ahead the other week and I had to come into Belfast to be part of the photoshoot. Sounds very showbiz but to me – it was simply the perfect justification to buy a new coat that’s how I roll.

What to tell you about first….the coat or the bread?!…..The coat it is -

I spotted it while walking through Menarys in Lisburn the day before the Kingsmill launch. It’s from Esprit and is a boiled wool style. There’s no lining so it almost falls into the coatigan territory…..but I’d say it’s closer to a coat.  Menary’s don’t have an online store but you can get it here on the Esprit website. It was a bit of a treat (especially given the imminent house move) but I had been admiring Michelle’s M&S coat on her blog the same week and after a quick peek at how she’s been wearing hers, the deal was sealed. In a further example of twisted retail logic I figured I might as well buy as much as I can before the bills start coming in for the new house!

I kept the rest of my outfit very simple as I think the coat made enough of a statement. Jeans are from Call Me Pretty Boutique, black leather ankle boots from Clarks (a few years old now) & denim shirt from Boden (SS13).
And check out fellow blogger, Karen from Raising Mighty Girls – how amazing is that Jigsaw coat from the current range?

So the product we were launching was Kingsmill Thins and they fall somewhere between a sliced loaf and a pitta bread – the kids have been enjoying having them for lunch a couple of times a week.  As part of the launch, we had to come up with a different way to use them…apart from the obvious ham/chicken sandwich option. Almost immediately, my son suggested his weekend favourite – French Toast. An inspired choice as it’s so easy to make! Beat an egg, add a splash of milk, dip the bread, fry in a little butter & serve with syrup or a sprinkle of icing sugar.

Thanks to Kingsmill for giving Karen and I this opportunity and you’ll find Kingsmill Thins in the shops now in both white and 50/50…a nice change from the usual sliced loaf
Ax

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Those of you who follow me on Instagram will have picked up that there is change afoot at SGS headquarters. As of the beginning of December, we are relocating…nothing like a pre-Christmas house move to get the adrenaline pumping! Oh and add in AQE/11+ exams for my eldest during 3 of the 4 weekends in November…..and the twins’ birthday. We don’t do things by half

So it’s fair to say that I’m up the walls a bit. The house we’ve bought, while beautiful, is old and has been very neglected in recent years so we’ve a lot of work to do. Luckily, we were able to get the keys in advance of handing over our current home so we’ve got about 4 weeks to get this new one habitable.

Therefore, my posts in the next month will be fewer in number and shorter in content – I know you’ll understand why. Once we move, I have to build in a period of WiFi instability too. Thanks to some help from friends & family however, the shop will remain open and orders will go out as normal until further notice – and on that front, some lovely warm winter scarves for this colder weather, along with gorgeous statement necklaces for the party season, will all be added this week.

But for now, here’s a weekend outfit that I managed to photograph for the blog. A combination of some old and new favourites in my wardrobe. Photos by the 5 year old in front of the lovely lawn we’re leaving behind – Mr SGS has his work cut out for him in the new house!
Just a note on my scarf – it is a freebie from label.m haircare! I got my hair cut last week at Uber Hair as usual and this scarf was available with every 2 products purchased from the label.m range. No brainer. Love the colours and it’s a heavier material so perfect for this time of year. If you’re local, Uber Hair is on the Lisburn Road and for everyone else, the label.m stockists are on this link.



Jacket – H&M (SS14 – similar here)
Cream Blouse – H&M
Jeans – M&S Limited Collection
Ankle Boots – Ash Jalouse
Scarf – label.m free with haircare purchase

Ax

The post Let the madness commence…. appeared first on School Gate Style.

I was contacted recently by the team behind Pink Lining, telling me about their stylish changing bags and asking me to take a look at the website. I’m past the changing bag phase now (phew) but I know lots of you still have babies and toddlers so I checked them out and was very impressed – I wish I’d had one a few years back…

I was offered my choice from the entire Pink Lining changing bag range and it wasn’t easy to find one favourite. After much deliberation, I opted for the Bramley Tote in Hydrangea because I loved the striped straps that are adjustable to suit any pram. It was always a frustration for me that not all changing bags sit well over prams as well as buggies (and don’t get me started on twin buggies!!) You can read more about the strap design and see photos of it attached to a pram on the Pink Lining website.

Inside, the bags have pink lining (obviously!), a decent sized changing mat, a wet bag, an insulated bottle cover, small mirror, key fob to clip your car keys onto (so you don’t lose them in the bottom of the bag) and several pockets for smaller items. On the outside, it’s got two large zipped compartments. Big ticks for the extra pockets – you can never have enough of these.


But I’m most impressed that you can pick up additional bottle holders & changing mats on the Pink Lining website – great for mums with 2 or more little ones.  Additionally, you can find a matching wallet or co-ordinating phone cover…and so much more. There’s even ultra comfy ballet pumps which help with back and joint pain during pregnancy (and beyond….I’ve my eye on the navy pair!)

To give the bag some perspective, I styled it up with a simple mum-friendly outfit – skinny jeans,  long wedge boots, a flattering draped cardigan and a scarf (all old favourites from my wardrobe).
I know I say it all the time but scarves are great for pulling an outfit together but they’re also useful for breast feeding – especially if you’re still getting the hang of it in the early days – AND for making a sling to carry your tiny one in (loads of video tutorials on YouTube).



So now for the best bit – I’m giving this gorgeous Bramley bag, worth £69.99, to one lucky reader. To be in with a chance of winning, simply follow the instructions on the rafflecopter app below. And if, like me, you’re past the changing bag stage, wouldn’t this make an amazing gift for someone who’s expecting or just given birth?
The giveaway will close next Sunday evening at midnight and I’ll announce the winner on Monday. UK entries only.

Good luck!
Ax
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Pink Lining Changing Bags for Stylish Mums appeared first on School Gate Style.

My last dress for the Allium B Dress Challenge is a bit more luxurious – the Luella. From the online image, I didn’t think this could work on the school run. It’s an amazing silk dress in the most beautiful print but I initially thought it would be more of a going out/Sunday lunch dress.

But in fact, it all about the styling. I realised it matched my Next fur gilet and suddenly, it was perfect for daytime wear! Here I am wearing it last week – on one of those days where it was October but still freakishly warm. On a colder day, I would layer this with a navy or a denim jacket.





Dress – ℅ Allium B
Fur Gilet – Next
Navy Suede Ankle Boots – Ash
Necklace – SGS Shop
Tights – M&S

I do think out of the 3 dresses, this is the only one that felt perhaps a bit dressy for the school run but actually, it works well with the two grey coats I wore the other Allium B Dresses with and they help to dress it down more than the gilet does. But out of all 3 dresses, this is the one I’m most in love with. The material, the print, the colours…just stunning. We might be 2 months away but this is already my Christmas Day dress. How organised do I feel?

So challenge completed – 3 x school runs in dresses…all in the one week! And I’ve made a commitment to myself to wear a dress at least once a week from now on. I’ve seen here how great they can look on the school run but also, it makes getting ready in the morning SO easy…one item pulled over your head and you’re good to go!

Thank you to Mary & Clare from Allium B for my School Run Dress Challenge – it’s been a pleasure wearing your beautiful dresses – and thank you to all my readers for supporting the brands that support this blog.

Next post is a competition – stand by!

Ax

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