How to Wear Preppy Style in the Autumn / Fall #iwillwearwhatilike

I don't about you but I tend to think of preppy style as a look that I generally associate with the summer. 

I'm thinking Breton stripes, chinos, blazers, boat shoes, gingham, pastels, red, white and blue... All totally summery. However this weekend I fancied wearing my navy stripe sweater (last seen here, with florals) and wondered if I could still do preppy style in autumn despite it being late October.

It felt only right to keep the palette mostly autumnal, so navy and mustard yellow seemed like a good bet - and tan accessories always work for me because they match my hair.

For such a bright and not-at-all-neutral pair of trousers (peg leg, probably my favourite trouser shape), they've been a pair that I'll turn to time and time again. I call it The In-Built "I'll Match Everything" System... (or TIBIMES for short).

IT'S SOMETHING I'M WORKING ON AS A TOP SECRET INVENTION. I'LL TELL YOU MORE AFTER I'VE HAD DISCUSSIONS WITH MR. DYSON... IT'S GOING TO REVOLUTIONISE THE FASHION WORLD, I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

(And yes, it's a real thing...* It's something I'm working on as a top secret invention. I'll tell you more after I've had discussions with Mr. Dyson. It's going to revolutionise the fashion world, I can tell you that.)

SHOP THE LOOK:

Sharing A Quiet Week Before "Christmas" Takes Over #SaturdayShareLinkUp

It's Friday, it's time to link up all your blog and Instagram posts to the Saturday Share link up!
A quick one today - nothing much exciting has been happening for me this week (didn't meet any more supermodels from the 60s unfortunately...),
but November is going to be a super busy month! Once November rolls around it's pretty much Christmas in the blogosphere, with everyone talking about everything festive and inviting you to their Christmas-themed events.

There'll be only so many I can take...!

So this week on the blog I've shared 11 amazing over 40 fashion bloggers whose style you will LOVE - do check them out here and let me know if you've found any new ones to follow. I've also tried to decipher dress codes: How confusing are they these days?!

11 More Over 40 Fashion Bloggers With Amazing Style

I know what you're thinking: When am I going to get my next fix of fantastically stylish over 40 fashion bloggers? 

Well wait no more - the 40 plus woman is going strong in all areas of life, not least fashion blogging! I thought it was time I did yet another round up of all the best older fashion bloggers who blow me away with their amazing personal style. I featured a second round up of over 40 fashion bloggers in February (after the first one in 2014) as there are just so many out there.

I simply got impatient about featuring them as the list keeps longer and longer (I'm glad to say) - this list is not exhaustive!

FIVE YEARS AGO I TRIED VERY HARD TO FIND BLOGS BY OLDER WOMEN, AND THERE WEREN'T MANY OUT THERE - OR AT LEAST THEY WEREN'T GETTING THE RECOGNITION THEY DO TODAY, THUS MAKING THEM GO UNDER THE RADAR.

When I started blogging five years ago I tried very hard to find blogs by older women, and there weren't many out there - or at least they weren't getting the recognition they do today, thus making them go under the radar.

I am beyond pleased to see bloggers over 40, over 50, over 60 and older being regularly featured on fashion and style websites. And what's refreshing is that they're starting to pop up on lists of "bloggers with amazing style" amongst women of all ages, not just lists of older fashionistas.

The Best of the Blogosphere - 12 Unmissable Links (October 2016)

My Best of the Blogosphere - Unmissable Links post is a monthly round up of things I've seen, watched and liked in the blogosphere that I'm sure you'll love too. This month I'm sharing a stunning 65 year old's thoughts on health, fashion and beauty, a poignant vlog about dealing with severe depression, having your colours analysed and much more.

I've been moved by and have loved reading and discovering these vlogs and blog posts - I hope you will too :)

WHAT LINKS DID YOU LIKE - AND HAVE YOU FOUND ANY FABULOUS NEW BLOGS TO FOLLOW? COMMENT BELOW, OR TWEET ME @NOTLAMB!

(Photo credits: Top row, left | Top row, right | Middle row, left | Middle row, right | Bottom row, left | Bottom row, right)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Sharron has written about how to look good and feel great whatever your age, asking her 65-year-old mother her thoughts on health, fitness, fashion and beauty (she looks nowhere near 65 IMO).

Talk about creative: Ann has styled a furry, emerald green tunic dress as a scarf, no less. It looks amazing.

A YouTube video that broke my heart: One blogger's story of how she dealt with depression... A really hard watch but I cannot applaud her honesty and bravery enough.

Cocktail Dress Code: A 1970s/80s Vintage Poppy Print Dress #iwillwearwhatilike

I promised that I'd post the outfit in full, so here it is: The vintage 1970s dress that I wore to the Specsavers Awards event the other week. 

Some of you may have seen either on my Instagram or my Saturday Share link up post where I was "making a spectacle of myself" (see what I did there) that I attended a big awards night that also raised a huge amount for the anti-bullying charity Kidscape, and I've finally been able to show you the outfit I wore in full.

I was lucky enough to meet Twiggy (scroll down for the pictures) and see a whole number of C, D and Z list celebrities, but it was a hugely fun night, and as it was for blogging work (covering on social media) then I'd consider that a great day at the office!

IT TURNED OUT PLENTY OF LADIES WERE THERE IN TROUSERS, SO I THINK DRESS CODES THESE DAYS ARE VERY OPEN... COCKTAIL DRESS PROBABLY NOW JUST MEANS "DRESS UP A BIT, MAYBE A BIT SPARKLY BUT NO JEANS".

The dress code was "cocktail dress" which can always cause a bit of confusion, namely - do you have to wear a dress? Or are trousers okay? In my usual "I'm into layering" fashion I decided to wear both - and ended up with my go-to combination of a dress over trousers. It turned out plenty of ladies were there in trousers, so I think dress codes these days are very open... Cocktail dress probably now just means "dress up a bit, maybe a bit sparkly but no jeans".

I first wore this dress for my 40th birthday party so it was nice to have a chance to wear it again, and to style it quite differently. Though it leaves me with a big question: What decade is this dress actually from?

SHOP THE LOOK:

12 Amazing Things to Buy From Marks & Spencer Right Now (Plus 20% Off Discount Code)

As you may know, I'm not one for physical high street shopping, preferring to do about 95% of all my shopping online.

I've written before about why I think there are 23 reasons why online shopping is better than high street shopping (just my personal opinion), but on the odd occasion I do find myself rummaging in the odd high street store, it's always a new experience for me. I often find things I would never have found online, though where my bank balance is concerned that isn't necessarily a good thing...!

Last week I had some time to kill while the husband was having an eye test, so I thought I'd pop into Marks & Spencer and see what the AW16 collection looked like. I'd done an interesting experiment with the rest of the Over 40 Collective over the summer to see if we could style a basic white top with denim, and I haven't stepped foot inside an M&S store for over a year.

WHEN I WAS SENT AN UNLIMITED USE 20% OFF DISCOUNT CODE FOR M&S TO SHARE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, I THOUGHT I'D SHARE IT WITH YOU - WE'RE ONLINE FRIENDS, RIGHT?!

The reason that I've picked out 12 amazing things for you to buy from Marks & Spencer right now is because there was so much stuff that I absolutely loved. I honestly could have come away with bags and bags of things, and that was only in my local (South West) store - nothing like the huge flagship store in Marble Arch where I enjoyed a Supermarket Sweep-style spree last year.

SHOP THE EDIT (ABOVE):

Therefore when I was sent an unlimited use 20% off discount code for M&S to share with friends and family, I thought I'd share it with you - we're online friends, right?! Keep scrolling for the discount code...

Sharing a Star-Studded Event Vlog & Why Not Follow My Posts By Email? #SaturdayShareLinkUp

The (still new) Saturday Share link up is live, so come and link up all your best bits from your blogs and Instagram right here! 

I have a new thing to share this week, though really it's not that new at all - more, it's been given a facelift (shame that can't be applied to other things round here)... #joking

If you've wondered how best to keep up with the blog and realise that you miss some of my posts when they're floating around on social media or creeping undetected in your feed on Bloglovin, have you considered following my blog by good old fashioned email?

I know many of you already do (hello!), but for me personally I've found over the last few months that it's the very best way for me to keep up with my absolute favourite blogs, the very cream of the crop. Now I'm not saying that you'd think that about my blog, but if you do then WOWSERS, and thank you!

SIGN UP FOR POSTS BY EMAIL BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK - YOU WON'T GET ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYBODY ELSE, AND YOU CAN UNSUBSCRIBE AT ANY TIME (THOUGH OF COURSE I SINCERELY HOPE YOU WON'T).

Sign up for posts by email by clicking on this link: http://eepurl.com/ck2uIL - you won't get anything else from anybody else, and you can unsubscribe at any time (though of course I sincerely hope you won't). I've just this week given the email a new look as I said - you can see the last one here: http://eepurl.com/ckTM91 (it now has nicer fonts and an image so you can see the crazy colours I'm wearing before you click through).

And I can't forget to mention the amazing vlog about the star-studded Specsavers awards event I went to last week... One of the other bloggers - Amena - made this fantastic video (you'll see me on the red green carpet and generally soaking in the atmosphere):

Autumnal Layering | Styling a Camel Midi Skirt With Multi Textures and Warm Colours

There are so many lush textures and colours in this autumnal outfit I almost don't know where to start...! 

You really can't beat the colour camel at this time of year, and along with tan (perfect for accessories) it's the best that brown can possibly be. I think camel has had a bad rap over the years as being a bit like beige (i.e. bland), but with all things 70s being so on trend for the past couple of years it's really having the time of its life right now.

This weekend outfit (one that was spent doing housework, running errands and the grocery shopping - yes, my life is that fabulous) is a delicious mixture of multi textures and soft, warm colours. Dusky pink goes so well with camel, and as mentioned tan is the daddy of accessories colours IMHO.

CAMEL HAS HAD A BAD RAP OVER THE YEARS AS BEING A BIT LIKE BEIGE, BUT WITH ALL THINGS 70S BEING SO ON TREND FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS IT'S REALLY HAVING THE TIME OF ITS LIFE RIGHT NOW.

And as is so often the case with autumn, the old favourites come round once again... I know that these get a lot of attention every year:

SHOP THE LOOK:

Capsule Wardrobe Pieces: 7 Classic Trench Coats to Shop

My capsule wardrobe series is coming along nicely with the latest piece to invest in: The classic trench coat. Where would the final scene in Breakfast at Tiffany's be without Holly's trench coat in the rain...? 

As I've covered sunglasses, white t-shirts, midi skirts, dark wash jeans and cashmere sweaters already I thought it was about time some outerwear joined the capsule wardrobe party.

Autumn is the perfect time to invest in a classic trench, and although I say "classic", styles do vary enormously. But I've found seven trench coats of different lengths, proportions and colours for you to shop that will suit all shapes, sizes and budgets - I just didn't realise that there would be so many variations on such a classic style.

AS I ALWAYS SAY IT'S PERSONALITY THAT SHOULD COME FIRST WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING SOMETHING TO SUIT YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

As I always say it's personality that should come first when it comes to buying something to suit your personal style, so take a look at the various trench coats from the following (shown in ascending price order) depending on what suits you best:

Stuck in a Rut: The Importance of Updating Your Beauty Look and Routine Over 40

Whilst giving myself a manicure the other week, I was thinking how much of a pain my nails were being that length. 

I was constantly finding it hard to pick things up (long nails don't make this easier, it makes it harder).

I was getting gloops of moisturiser under them when applying it to my face. Same with food when cooking.

I had problems putting fitted sheets onto the mattress, and I couldn't press the button-thing to pop open the boot of the car (I had to ask my husband to do it as my nails were just too long).

Even flushing the toilet (the push-button type) had to be done with my knuckle FFS.

It suddenly occurred to me: WHY was I putting up with this? Why didn't I just cut them shorter?

The reason I didn't was that the thought of having shorter nails horrified me: I've had long, pointed (almond shaped) nails for about two years after I decided that I just wanted long nails, for no other reason than "because I wanted them". I was used to having super long talons waggling around at the end of my fingertips. However, the danger was that I'd got myself into a rut, and I couldn't cut them shorter because... Well, for no better reason than "Well I can't".

❝

AS YOUTHFUL 40-SOMETHINGS WE'RE OFTEN VERY AWARE OF TRENDS IN CLOTHES AND PICK AND CHOOSE THOSE THAT WORK BEST FOR US. BUT HOW OFTEN DO WE CONSIDER OUR MAKE-UP? OUR NAILS? OUR EYEBROW SHAPE?

❞

It made me think: How often do we get ourselves into a rut when it comes to our beauty look and routine? As much more youthful 40-somethings than our mothers and grandmothers were at the same age, we're often very aware of trends in clothes and pick and choose those that work best for us.

But how often do we consider our nails? The makeup we wear (and use)? The way we do our eyebrows? Our skin care routine?

How to Style a Camel Blazer For Autumn/Fall #iwillwearwhatilike

Here I am yet again, wheeling out the longline camel blazer for autumn. I make no apologies as this is my go-to outerwear piece for this time of year...!

After having featured a pink coatigan last week, I've realised that this style of lightweight coat/blazer/coatigan is probably one of the most versatile for cooler weather. It's almost like a perfect cover up to make old jeans look smarter, and too-smart trousers less stuffy.

If you've followed the blog for a while you'll have notice that I've worn this coat so many different ways (with culottes and snakeskin boots, with mixed florals, with preppy style Breton stripes), and I can't see myself getting tired of it anytime soon. The colour and cut are just, well - perfect.

THIS WEEK I DECIDED TO BREAK OUT THE SECOND FELT HAT OF THE SEASON: THE VINTAGE 60S BAKER BOY HAT I GOT FROM EBAY.

This week I decided to break out the second felt hat of the season: The vintage 60s baker boy hat I got from eBay last year.

SHOP THE LOOK:

Meeting Twiggy and Making a Spectacle of Myself #SaturdayShareLinkUp

The Saturday Share Link Up is live - better late than never! 

I can't believe that I've failed to get it out in time after just one week, though I have a lame excuse, sir: The dog ate my homework.

Er no sorry, I mean a car alarm was going off outside our house all evening yesterday (a few feet from our front door) and it totally distracted me from what I was meant to be doing, i.e. this post. We were on the phone to the non-emergency police services, who passed us onto environmental services, who passed us onto... You get the picture. After half an hour you're truly fed up, after an hour you're wanting to tear your ear drums out.

Anyway! it's now live, here's a quick explanation as we're only in week two of this new linky:

As many of you know I host a Monday link up called #iwillwearwhatilike, where everyone can join in by adding their outfits. However I always stress that it's for outfits only, but I still get people linking up anything-that's-not-an-outfit post. So this is a brand new weekend linky that's for everyone to share anything and everything, old or new, from your Instagram or blogs, no limit to how many you link up... use the hashtag #SaturdayShareLinkUp if you're tweeting about it (tweet your link, add a picture and I'll retweet it)!

(Fridays 9pm UK time, 4pm EDT, 1pm PDT; Saturdays 7am AEDT)

THIS WEEK I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING NONE OTHER THAN THE ORIGINAL SUPERMODEL HERSELF, TWIGGY

Each week I'll also share my favourite blog post, Instagram post or Facebook post - this week I'm sharing a little snippet of some of my Instagram posts and Stories as I had the pleasure of meeting none other than the original supermodel herself, Twiggy!

Capsule Wardrobe Pieces: 4 Cashmere Sweater Styles to Shop

My Capsule Wardrobe Pieces series has restarted this week with no.5, the cashmere sweater.
I honestly didn't know what the fuss about it was until I got my first cashmere (actually only a few years ago) - and that's despite working for a luxury cashmere brand in a concession in Selfridges in the mid 90s.

[Working for that brand it was drummed into us to say "sweater", not jumper, which is why I tend to always say the less-British version. When you're selling knitwear worth over £500 (don't forget we're talking a 20 years ago £500) you got glared at if you had a momentary lapse of concentration and referred to madam's purchase as her "new jumper"...]

So until I had a cashmere sweater of my own I didn't appreciate just how soft, warm and luxurious it really is. I find it an absolute joy to wear - it doesn't itch like lambswool, and it's apparently several times warmer (despite being so lightweight).

I FIND IT AN ABSOLUTE JOY TO WEAR - IT DOESN'T ITCH LIKE LAMBSWOOL, AND IT'S APPARENTLY SEVERAL TIMES WARMER (DESPITE BEING SO LIGHTWEIGHT).

Here are some of the outfits I've worn with my cashmere sweaters. You can see how well they work with both smart and casual looks, as well as during all seasons. If I could afford it I think I've have them in every colour going...!

My oldest one is the coral colour, and it's still in beautiful condition after much washing (the "hand wash" cycle in the machine) and hasn't needed de-pilling. As long as you take good care of good cashmere it will look after you - in a stylish and warm way ;)

Keep scrolling for a selection of cashmere sweaters in a huge array of different colours - and where to shop them...

What to Wear With a Pink Coatigan | Winser London By the Over 40 Collective

The 80s called, Krystle Carrington wants her look back. Or so I thought when I looked in the mirror at this outfit... 

(which, by the way, I absolutely love. More on that in a bit). In fact I'm so enamoured with this ever-so-slightly 80s look that it makes me want to go out and get a huge pair of shoulder pads, dump a whole can of hairspray on my head and start practising my best breathy Krystle voice. Feel free to use the comments section to say how excited you also are at the news that Dynasty is returning. Shoulder pads and red fingernails (to scratch out Alexis's eyes) at the ready.

What I'm actually wearing (and not really intending to "Dynastify") is a stunning pale pink Winser London Milano wool coat from their new AW16 collection. (I'm calling it a coatigan though, because it's beautifully crafted from a floppy unlined knitted wool. And if it's floppy, it's a cardigan. But if it's smart enough and thick enough for outerwear then it's a coat. Thank goodness someone portmanteaued those two to make coatigan.)

Anyway, yes - you may remember that I wrote about this British brand in May, when I wore their camel wide leg trousers and a pale pink sweater (I seem to like their pink clothes). That was a collaborative post with the other members of the Over 40 Collective, and we're doing the same again for Autumn/Winter.

❝

I'VE ACTUALLY DONE SOMETHING VERY DARING FOR ME - I'VE DONNED HEAD-TO-TOE BLACK. WELL, I KNOW IT'S NOT TOTALLY BLACK - THAT PALE PINK COAT DOES COVER MOST OF IT - BUT I RARELY DO A BLACK TOP AND BLACK BOTTOMS.

❞

I've actually done something very daring for me - I've donned head-to-toe black. Well, I know it's not totally black - that pale pink coat does cover most of it - but I rarely do a black top and black bottoms.

SHOP THE LOOK:

     

What I Wore to an Informal Awards Ceremony #iwillwearwhatilike

Back in July I was invited to an informal awards ceremony and of course the "what shall I wear" question inevitably came up.

I did, of course, eventually find something to wear (my usual daily outfit of jeans and t-shirts or sweatshirts with slippers is not a good look at an awards do!) - but as it was an evening thing in London and my photographer-husband wasn't with me I didn't get any photos of my outfit.

So fast forward three months and I finally found some time to recreate the outfit and show you the fruits of my "panicking-the-night-before" labour - it was time to get my superhero cape on!

THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE PURCHASES THAT I BOUGHT WITHOUT AN EVENT TO WEAR IT TO (ALTHOUGH DOING THE DISHES IN IT WAS VERY TEMPTING), AND UNTIL THAT DAY IN JULY IT HAD SAT UNWORN IN MY WARDROBE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE PERFECT EVENT TO COME ALONG.

Actually not a super hero cape at all, but a smart white tailored cape from Zara (similar) I bought last year, I think. Yep, this was one of those purchases that I bought without an event to wear it to (although doing the dishes in it was very tempting), and until that day in July it had sat unworn in my wardrobe waiting patiently for the perfect event to come along.

SHOP THE LOOK:

What to Expect on the Body Coach 90 Day SSS Plan (Results So Far!) #notlambFIT

Two weeks ago I parted with one hundred and forty nine of my British pounds for a personalised health and fitness plan, 

the Body Coach 90 Day SSS Plan. I decided to take action in a way that forced me to restart my stalling fitness programme in the only way I knew how: Pay a big chunk of money for it. It may not motivate everyone to lay off the cakes and chocolate, but it sure incentivises me...!

I described the programme in my first post about the SSS (Shift, Shape and Sustain) Plan how it's a three month plan designed to "fuel your body with lots of food and concentrate on correctly timing your macronutrients to ensure your body burns fat, increases in energy and transforms you into the shape of your life".

And there are three words I'm going to pick out from that quote off the Body Coach website: Lots. Of. Food.

THE QUANTITIES OF FOOD I AM EATING ON THIS PLAN ARE UNPRECEDENTED. PUT IT THIS WAY: I CAN EAT FOR ENGLAND, AND I'M STRUGGLING WITH THE AMOUNT I'M HAVING TO CONSUME ON A DAILY BASIS.

My god, the quantities of food I am eating on this plan are unprecedented (for a "diet", anyway, though that's a work that Joe Wicks A.K.A. the Body Coach doesn't like to use). Put it this way: I can eat for England, and I'm struggling with the amount I'm having to consume on a daily basis.

Add to that an exercise routine that's a whole lot shorter and easier than what I was doing previously, and in terms of "user friendliness" this plan is very much to my liking.

Want to know what my results were in these first two weeks of more food and less exercise?

New: The Saturday Share Link Up (and New YouTube Videos!)

It's time to announce something new here at Not Dressed As Lamb,

and that something is an idea I've had (and been researching) for a little while now. As many of you know I host a Monday link up called #iwillwearwhatilike, where everyone can join in by adding their outfits, old or new, from Instagram or their blogs. However I always stress that it's for outfits only (the clue's in the name!), but I still get people linking up their travel posts and beauty posts and anything-else-that's-not-an-outfit post.

So here we are: A brand new weekend linky that's for everyone to share anything and everything, old or new, from your Instagram or blogs, no limit to how many you link up... it shall henceforth be known as the "Saturday Share" link up with the hashtag #SaturdayShareLinkUp!

(Fridays 9pm UK time, 4pm EDT, 1pm PDT; Saturdays 7am AEDT)

A BRAND NEW WEEKEND LINKY THAT'S FOR YOU TO SHARE ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING, OLD OR NEW... IT SHALL HENCEFORTH BE KNOWN AS THE "SATURDAY SHARE" LINK UP #SATURDAYSHARELINKUP

Each week I'll also share my favourite blog post, Instagram post or Facebook post - or maybe a new YouTube video perhaps, as I'm doing today - and not just one but two...! My YouTube videos are like the number 19 bus: You wait all day for one (and in the case of my YouTube career, over a year), and then you get not one but TWO turn up at the same time ;)

Smart Casual Look for AW16 | Bold Print Blazer With Jeans, Over 40 Style

Although the dress code "smart casual" may strike fear into the heart 

of many a fashionista, I do think it's my favourite way to dress on an everyday basis when you've no idea what's expected of you when you're going somewhere (anywhere). Obviously I wouldn't assume smart casual would be the dress code of choice at a wedding or some other swanky event, but it's a pretty safe bet when you're just really not too sure whether "super casual" or "pretty smart" is the order of the day.

Thing is, what's the actual meaning of smart casual? I think I've come up with the best way to describe it: Smart everything, but you can add jeans (smart ones). So no trainers, sneakers or baseball caps. No hoodies. No old sloppy cardigans, unless you've got a lush cashmere cardi.

WHAT'S THE ACTUAL MEANING OF SMART CASUAL? I THINK I'VE COME UP WITH THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT: SMART EVERYTHING, BUT YOU CAN ADD JEANS (SMART ONES).

This combination of grid print blazer (SS15, sadly) and jeans is, for me, one of my favourite combinations, as described in last week's 6 great autumn (fall) outfit ideas post. It's a look I'll always feel good in wherever I'm going, and this outfit has been accessorised to the max with these stand-out pieces of heels and handbag, both from the new AW16 collection at Lotus Shoes.

What I love about them is that they're both animal prints, but not your usual leopard print:

SHOP THE LOOK:

          

4 Easy Ideas for Cheap, Homemade Halloween Costumes

So the month of October has rolled around yet again, and of course that means Halloween. What used to be the holiday most favoured by the US has now become the third biggest holiday for UK retailers after Christmas and Easter. 

I think last year, with Halloween falling on a Saturday, it went kinda nuts in the UK and almost everyone everywhere was holding spooky parties (ourselves included, see above).

However what differs between the way we dress up in the UK compared to the US (and Canada, from what I remember when we lived there for a couple of years when I was little) is that here we tend to dress as all the spooky stuff: Witches, vampires, devils, zombies, random miscellaneous monsters and only things that a four year old's creepy imagination would conjure up. (Many times I've wanted to ask a parent "What is he?" about their child when they've come round trick or treating...)

IN THE UK WE DRESS AS ALL THE SPOOKY STUFF ONLY: WITCHES, VAMPIRES, DEVILS, ZOMBIES, RANDOM MISCELLANEOUS MONSTERS AND ONLY THINGS THAT A FOUR YEAR OLD'S CREEPY IMAGINATION WOULD CONJURE UP.

But what us Brits find odd is that in the US anything goes - and I've noticed that means anything. Maybe it's because the Brits are fond of a fancy dress party at any time of year (I'm thinking toga parties, "vicars and tarts" or any other random theme), so for Halloween we get our zombie thang on.

That said - we've always been fond of fancy dress in our family... No one shies away from it. Someone shouts "Fancy dress!" and we're straight down the charity shop or searching eBay within seconds.

And that's what was instilled in me by my parents since I was small: To us, fancy dress was not about going out and hiring or buying a costume, we always had to make our own from whatever you could beg, borrow or steal from around the house or a trip to Oxfam.

(Please note weren't really encouraged to steal from Oxfam, or from anywhere really. Plus other charity shops are available.)

YOU COULD SHOP THESE HALLOWEEN ACCESSORIES IF YOU'RE NOT FOND OF DRESSING UP TOO MUCH...

How to Style Sequins as Workwear #iwillwearwhatilike

Sequins may not be the first thing that come to mind when planning a workwear outfit,
but depending on the sequins and depending on the workplace they can add a dash of fun to an otherwise fairly "safe" outfit.

I was invited to be a guest speaker at a blogger workshop last week, and although the dress code at blogging events is usually "anything goes", I had a few requirements from my outfit that day. I needed:

1. Comfy trousers for sitting on the train for a few hours (my Winser jersey trousers)
2. Comfy footwear for running round London and travelling on the tube (my Nike hi-tops)
3. Something warm now that the early mornings and the evenings are chilly (my longline blazer)
4. A workbag to hold everything including my laptop/tablet and Olympus Pen camera (my Model KT workbag)
5. A reasonably professional look to the outfit
6. Something to add a bit of pizazz to the outfit - I am a fashion blogger, after all! (I chose sequins, like this top)

Somehow I managed to meet all those requirements - which doesn't usually happen, ever (I usually end up with sore feet or get too cold because the jacket I took wasn't warm enough). Although it was a fairly basic outfit with nothing out-of-the-ordinary in the way of accessorising, I think the secret to this outfit being suitable workwear lies in the sequins themselves.

SHOP THE LOOK: