Keeping the security tags on is gangsta
I know I am preaching to the converted on this, but I recommend the styling service at the new John Lewis to you HIGHLY.
It’s free, no obligation to buy (though you WILL) and they are quiet at the moment so book yourself in!
If you are not within reach of the new Westfield John Lewis, the service is available at other branches – there is a branch finder here.
But at Westfield they not only have brand new, massive swankhole changing rooms with loads of space to put bags and shoes and racks and racks of clothes, there are chairs and a 3-sided mirror. They’ll even get you a drink! I had a Diet Coke.
AND at the Westfield they have a section called “Loved&Found” which is where they put all the small, independent labels that they can’t roll out en masse throughout the rest of the store, but they nevertheless want to promote.
My brief to the stylist was: non-awful summer event dressing. Also my new-obsession: CO-ORDS.
If you don’t know what that is, I mean wearing a matching skirt and top, or trousers and a top.
Stay with me. I know it sounds a bit mad but actually it’s the very most modern and new and original way to dress.
There aren’t very many around at the moment that are actually wearable (they mostly come in the form of a bandeau top and a high-waisted bottom-half… not for us, eh?)
Non
My stylist, Lucy, who had the most wonderful bedside manner and was calm and helpful found me a couple of likely-looking co-ords and also went slightly off-piste with a navy jumpsuit, that I never would have picked out for myself, but it was terrific!
My winning outfit, at the top, which I am massively and utterly obsessed by is this skirt-and-shirt from French brand Swildens.
I am so crackersly in love with this, it’s like something my mother might have worn in the 70s and I am now actually EXCITED about maybe doing something in the summer because it means that I can wear this.
The skirt is here:
And the top:
I wear the shirt sluttishly tied at the waist and the sleeves rolled up to beyond the elbow with massive earrings and wedge heels. It can also be worn in a more covered-up Ossie Clark way.
The fabric is beautiful and has a subtle shimmery gold thread running through it. I’m dead. DEAD! I love this so much.
Yes, there is additional financial outlay for both pieces, but they can then be worn separately, too giving you not one outfit but THREE! I am so all over this trend.
I am a standard size 10 and got this in a 36 and it is true to size.
A very close runner-up is this navy jumpsuit from Modern Rarity. It is made out of a crepe with a lovely weight to it and made me feel very businesslike and ready for anything, which as you can imagine is not a totally familiar sensation to me. Far nicer than it has been styled on this model.
If the day of your event dawns and it looks chilly you could add any cropped jacket that you already own – or I like these.
One from Oasis:
Or this from Hush would be pretty:
One drooping eyelid like I have Bell’s Palsy
I also tried on a co ord from Jigsaw, these “mini-splash” trousers
These sandals LOL
and matching top, which will be online from Saturday – just search “Jigsaw Mini Splash” and it will come up. 
This looks like a jumpsuit but isn’t – for any fellow jumpsuit phobes. It is light and airy, not twee but also not madly formal, it would be just the ticket for a smart/casual event like end-of-term speech day things.
With a smart pair of sandals or wedges, your best earrings and your hair done you would look terrific.
I rather love these wedge heels from Boden if you are heading for uneven terrain:
Or these shades-of-Rockstuds, also from Boden were really surprisingly comfy and walkable-in, if the venue is somewhere with more institutional flooring. In fact John Lewis offered to give me a pair and I said no and now I’m kicking myself:
John Lewis have about a million pairs of gold hoops to choose from – I like these:
If you, like me, ever feel slightly allergic to being too formal, offset any uptightness with a crazy bag like this one from Whistles:
… or this one…
But don’t take it all from me! Get yourself down to a John Lewis styling session! Make them work for it.
Love that Swildens outfit and it looks great on you. It all looks so much better than the pics.
I’m definitely doing this next time I have a event, if I don’t forget it before about 2028.
I am more and more upset in my old age by the crappy styling on websites
It’s terrible. That Jigsaw outfit looks like pyjamas in the web photos but really cracking in yours. And why is she doing the Tory power stance in the jumpsuit?! My wedding dress was a two piece, worked so much better for my shape than a dress, so I like this co-ord thing.
you’ll be happy then I reckon by Autumn the shops will be awash
Esther – you look AMAZING in that jumpsuit! Love the idea of coords – brilliant for those who have a different sized yop to bottom.
yes exactly… plus it’s just a bit different. and quite 70s. win win win
The John Lewis website is down!!! Have Spikers already crashed it or is one of the first signs of impending disaster? Like the rumour about Radio 4 going off air!
Hi, I loved it too (thank you so much Esther) and ordered off the French website – it was fine – €11 delivery – some parts are in French but all good x
Ps v good shorts and blouses too – like Sézane but less frilly and actually in stock
Is that your waist? Good grief! You look fantastic!
Sue this is a VERY flattering picture
Crikey you’re looking SO WELL as my mum would say. Whatcha using hair wise? Mine’s a frizzy mess. I need product help.
Louise I use John Frieda Dream Curls – brush hair and shower then DO NOT BRUSH HAIR, apply Dream Curls liberally, blow dry the front part of your hair then leave the rest to dry naturally. ta da!
I’ve seen this stuff. ON IT. Thanks!
I love all of these especially the Jigsaw one. Agree your pics are better than websites. Esther you look so slim can we please have some diet tips? You know thats all we really want X
Sarah I eat FUCK ALL. and especially like almost no meat. that is my diet tip. but no-one wants to hear that
alcohol?
loads
Could we have a post on vegetarian food? I’m very keen to eat less meat but my Northern Irish husband is a dedicated meat-and-two-veg man and so I want to come up with something that will convince him!
well… he has to WANT to change – but yes more vegetarian cooking on the new website x
I like that you’re honest about it rather than some guff about just running around after the kids keeping you slim. Unfortunately maintaining slimness in our world of endless food options means restriction to a pain in the arse level.
Also convinced that portion sizes being based around male calorie requirements skew our eye and stomach-assessment of what an appropriate meal size is. I blame the patriarchy.
Me too. For everything.
Love that coords idea & it looked fantastic on you. Sadly, my waistline is not my best point so think I’d struggle. I am so happy though as the navy jumpsuit & blush accessories outfit looks almost an exact match for what I’ve already bought for Ascot.
This makes me happy as I’m 46 so worried about looking too frumpy but also being super allergic to looking smart. I’ve gone for a midi length navy Cos dress not jumpsuit & navy hat as don’t like ALL matching accessories. I just want to look like me not a weird smart person so I’m slightly dreading whole thing.
Louise I hear you
I want diet tips too. You look lovely and slim. I want to be a size 10. I also love eating crisps haha
yeah no crisps no steak no biscuits. loads of booze.
I don’t have a sweet tooth, so as Oscar Wilde almost said, I can resist everything except crisps. But it does make a difference not eating them unfortunately. I had some Hula Hoops just now, but I’m in control, I SWEAR it’s a one off.
Johnny Lou-Lou’s Westfield is just down the road from me, but I’ve only popped in briefly to snag some Laura Mercier blurring primer SPF stuff. (Great, btw). HOWEVER the Laura Mercier lady bigged up the stylist service and said – be still my beating heart – that if one goes for the styling service you can get a free make-up/makeover session afterwards from the brand of choice. Have yet to test this out, as my summer wardrobe has come mostly from Uniqlo and Gap, but I do need a workey workey jacket and trouser combo. so shall be venturing forth and reporting back. Lisa x
TELL US WHAT HAPPENS LISE
Where are the shoes from that you’re wearing with the navy jumpsuit that’s not a jumpsuit? They are cute!!
Oh god I forgot to link to them! they’re LK Bennet xx
Esther I love your food posts too (used to follow you on RR) and Id love to hear about everyones low calorie alcohol tipples as I can stop eating but stopping drinking is not an option as I live with three anxiety ridden, moody, depressed, sweary, revolting teenagers. Many thanks X
Sarah: vodka. Ice-cold vodka with soda and some fresh lime. You’ll get used to it, does the trick and about 30 calories x
Seedlip fake gin with diet tonic is a good one. Campari and diet tonic also good if you want some booze. Also vodka/fresh lime and soda. I am partial to a spot of fake beer (Becks blue) when I am not boozing, as it’s fairly low cal. Champagne?!
I’ve just looked up the calories in all the drinks I like and can’t help you. And feel a bit sad now going into the weekend.
Thx for tips tricky to have vodka in house of unstable teenagers but I do have a secret fridge they haven’t discovered yet. The teenagers are not interested in gin which is my usual tipple with no cal tonic but 30 calories is a lot less so I will find a way. Also love campari and champagne! Cheers everyone Happy Friday X
Campari and Champagne would make one helluva happy Friday !!
This looks brilliant Esther, going to try it – have a son getting married next year and have a complete horror of ‘mother of the bride’ type offerings, so hideous…
YES I am very much in love with the co-ords! The Jigsaw ones look amazing on you. I’ve seen these everywhere already but yes, all cropped to fuck which is NOT USEFUL. I’m glad to know there are others out there.
Love this post and all the comments. But love more that I am on the train to London for the weekend wearing my Spike t shirt that husband gave me for an early birthday present.
PETRA YESSS
At 5ft 3 I would look totally ludicrous in a jumpsuit but that navy/blush ensemble looks v classy and absolutely FAB on you! Agree re terrible website styling – I’m trying to buy clothes, not a house. I don’t want to look past the ugly for outfits with “lots of potential”…
Abi I’m 5’3 size 14-16 pear shape and never even looked at a jumpsuit as I always thought just NO with my height and shape. Then I saw my equally short, even fatter friend wearing one and she looked brilliant. So I tried one. I loved it. Now I have a few. Surprisingly they are incredibly flattering. I urge you to try on a few and see what you think.
yes Hannah AND – we must never forget the awesome power of the local seamstress/tailor who can take things up/let them out/in. I try to think of all clothing as just a suggestion in terms of shape and size
Esther that looks WONDERFUL on you. Dusky pink or ‘vieux rose’ as the fab French call it suits you SO MUCH. But please also buy the navy ‘pulled together’ two piece with jacket as you look AMAZEBALLS! Go on, TREAT YOURSELF !
Do you think they could do fellas? Husband has worked hard to slim down considerably this year and is more of an annual shopper kinda guy, IYKWIM. Would love a professional to sort his wardrobe out!!
Emily they DO do fellas! Give them a ring xx
Booked into John Lewis Leeds next week. Thank you….I think!
don’t thank me, thank John Lewis. Report back!!!!!! xxx