Spring may have felt a little short-lived due to the late arrival of sunshine but the fact that we're now officially in summer and enjoying layer-free weather definitely makes up for the shortfall. A few weeks ago I made the full summer wardrobe switchover and greeted my cotton dresses, linen shorts and beachy cover-ups like long-lost friends - I truly love this season with it's carefree vibe and multitude of sartorial possibilities! Speaking of which, I've recently been coming around to the idea of crochet and a little openwork texture here and there. We're not talking full throttle, unlined, show your undies to the world dress here - no one needs to see that from me. But I think my head was first turned by this beach cover up from Hush - its a look I could do over a black, big-pants bikini at the beach or by the pool. Did I mention I'm going on holiday?? As in getting on an actual plane and leaving the UK?? Anyhoo - that dress - I'd also wear it with a black slip underneath as a lining for evening - double the usage is always a factor in deciding whether to purchase or not. And speaking of linings, I think this dress from M&S makes for a great grown up option. Read on ahead and you'll see that both texture and M&S are turning out to be a bit of a theme for this issue… Right, I need to turn my attention to holiday packing very soon - having not stepped aboard a plane since my 50th birthday trip to Italy, I feel completely out of practice with how and what to pack for maximum style with minimum effort. Although I was recently perusing Anna's incredible content again and did find that this formula she shares here pretty much covers every eventuality. Perhaps next time we go abroad, I'll get my butt in gear and schedule some travel content of my own. This time around, the distraction of A Level study leave and University prep has left me with a Fly By The Seat Of My Pants approach to my content… and besides, you can't do it all. I hope you enjoy the summer style issue and have a gorgeous weekend ahead… Until next time… |
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I've been so impressed with lots of Marks & Spencer's offerings so far this year… and it all started with that linen waistcoat/trouser co-ord that everyone scrabbled to get their hands on. The one thing that used to put me off was trawling through so much product online to get to the good stuff. However, since I became obsessed with everything that stylist Angie Smith wears, I realised a great way to uncover the real gems is via the #MyMarks hashtag on Instagram. There's a crop of influencers in amongst the masses who showcase the best pieces - it'll take a bit of scrolling to locate the best items - and don't hang around when it comes to getting your order in either! Also, an occasional browse of The Edit, Icons and Autograph will usually throw out something worthwhile. BTW, it was via a tip off from Angie's Stories that I found the textured knit above - for a relaxed look, she advised ordering in an XL which I duly did. I see the perfect late summer/early autumn outfit in the making with these three pieces… |
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When it comes to acquiring new additions for your wardrobe, shopping for pieces with longevity seems to be easier than ever thanks to a few class players that we deem High Street retailers. With the advent of brands like COS, ARKET, Massimo Dutti and & Other Stories providing good quality, timeless pieces that don't (quite literally) cost the earth, many other retailers also seem to be upping their game with the focus moving (slowly) towards quality over quantity and classic items that can be worn forever. As an antidote to all the cheap shiny shizzle about to be worn by the Love Island contestants for the next few weeks, below are three pieces that quietly whisper elegance, permanemce and grace… |
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Having gotten firmly back in the habit of posting outfits and style inspiration (and feeling invigorated by the process!), I've been thinking about another home for my style content besides the blog and Instagram. I think the LTK App (or “Like To Know It” as it was known when I first used it many moons ago) is excellent for me as the creator but I've also been thinking about the people who follow me there. I was recently surprised to see I now have almost 3K followers. At the moment LTK is the App I use to link details of an outfit and then post that info to Instagram Stories so you can access the item links if you want to. As you possibly know, if you purchase items via these links (here, on the blog or on Instagram), I earn a small commission from the retailer at no extra cost to you. Once it begins to mount up, this commission eventually forms a small part of my regular income as a digital content creator. And finally (after fifteen years), I've gotten to the place where I'm not afraid to think of the content I provide as valuable to others. By recognising the value in what I produce (and the fact that it's currently all free content), I no longer feel that “influencer shame” about making money via commission. The caveat being, as it's always been, I will never post any old crap just to make a sale - it's always contextual to my life and style and will be something that brings sartorial joy. But I think you know that by now! My point (and there is one in here somewhere), is that Instagram's many algorithms mean that most of the time, my content is only shown to a tiny percentage of my 20k followers. Which obviously sucks but also, there are more important things in life to care about! So… my question is, if I were to create more style inspiration content over on the LTK App, i.e. not just use it as a place for posting outfits but also for seasonal edits, capsule wardrobe pieces, recommended staples and statements etc, would you be interested enough to come over and follow me there too? Or do you prefer to see that stuff on the blog in longer form? I'd be really grateful if you have time to share your thoughts on this with me via email at: amanda@simplystartliving.com or hit reply to this one back up at the top. And my Instagram DM's are always open for such style chats too! |
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