H&M Conscious Collection.

I was returning a dress in Selfridges yesterday and was trying to be as quick as possible about it by running through the store (I actually think a few security guards almost set off to chase me thinking that I had made off with a Mulberry bag) when I rushed past the H&M concession, stopped and had to do a double take. I hadn't paid much attention to their previous conscious collections as they were just a bit "meh"- boring with not much to set them apart from the rest of the shop. This was totally different though. Apparently the designers drew inspiration from Swedish folklore and 17th century clothing from Northern Sweden. It's odd that the collection features lots of white: lace, blouses and dresses in crisp cotton. Include the linen shorts and light, decorative jackets and you are looking at a summer collection. However, there are also some lovely grey, woolen trousers and a long cocoon shaped coat which are suitably autumnal. Unfortunately, I fell in love with the summery items. I may have to save them for next year though as the temperature outside has dropped by 14 degrees in the past week. Brrrr.

Going Out Shoes

I've been becoming increasingly frustrated by shoe shopping for a while now, so I was pleased to find these in H&M the other day. The antidote to the stripper shoes peddled by most retailers these days (heels seem to get higher every season - since when was 5 inches considered normal for heel height? What happened to 3 inches? GAH) these are unfussy, classic, and just chunky enough to have a bit of edge to them, but still feminine rather than weird looking. Plus, I won't fall over in them like I did in these shoes, and I won't be taller than all the boys I know when wearing them. Win. They also have a pleasing 90s vibe to them, and I remember having a very similar pair in velvet (but with a lower wedge) when I was about 10 - my very first 'going out' shoes.

Details: Plain metal jewellery and sequins

Just a couple of things that I seem to be wearing all the time recently; plain gold metal jewellery from H&M, my favourite grey t-shirt (AA), blue sequin skirt from Zara and monster shoes from Viktor & Rolf that I hardly ever get to wear, but absolutely love.

The Trouble with Flares pt. II: Palazzo Pants

I'm still pretty much on the fence regarding flared or wide-legged trousers, but went for these Primark ones because a) the print pleased me and b) at £12 it seemed like a fairly harmless introduction to this particular genre of trouser. They are however, pretty tricky to style, and the best I've so far managed to do is to pair them with summery clog-style sandals (you have to wear them with a heel or you really do look like a hippy) and a super-plain grey t-shirt. They're also surprisingly weather-dependent; aside from the fact that they soak up rain, they also look bizarre in anything less than blazing sunshine. The print also makes accessories impossible, and you have to be careful with hair and makeup to avoid looking like you're going to a 70s themed pool party. Having said that, if anyone wants to host a Boogie Nights themed bash, my costume is competely sorted.

Trousers from Primark, clogs from H&M, t-shirt from AA