Spring Archives - Style&Minimalism

Cooler Spring Nights

Spring isn’t always that warm in England, it gets brighter and the days get longer but warm sunny days don’t always equal warm evenings. When the cooler temperatures descend upon us I usually throw on a jumper, as I can feel the cold quite easily. When it comes to knitwear, there’s nothing quite like a cashmere jumper, super soft and effective at keeping out a chill, and if looked after correctly will last you many years. I’ve been wearing this 100% cashmere jumper from ME+EM whenever it’s chilly. It’s fairly lightweight (so ideal for this time of year) and the pale cream colour feels nice and fresh for spring. I’ve been investing in cream items quite a lot recently, as it’s such an easy colour to work with.

**ME+EM** Longline Cocoon Cashmere Jumper in Cream* | **ME+EM** Crop Palazzo Pant in Black* | **PB 0110** AB 52 Tote in Black* | **Ace & Tate** Suzy Sunglasses in Bio Black* | **Merci Maman** Personalised Flat Bangle in Gold* | **Cate & Nelson** No. 165 Watch* | **Littionary** 14k Tiny Gold Dot Stud | **Dinny Hall** Bijou Star Stud in Gold* | **Otiumberg** Small Gold Graduated Hoops

I’ve been living in these soft jersey cropped palazzo pants since I got pregnant. They’re not a maternity style but as they have a roll top waistband, similar to some maternity pieces I’ve tried on, they’ve been a valuable addition to my current wardrobe. They fitted me comfortably before I had a big bump, they’re still really comfortable now I do, and I know they’ll work for me after my bump has gone. They’re a regular size 10 which makes me feel good as not many of my clothes are at the moment and although size doesn’t matter it does help, mentally, when you feel like you’re just getting bigger and bigger.

Spring Style Staples with Baukjen

**Baukjen** Rhian Cargo Jacket in Khaki* | **Baukjen** Drue Cotton Shirt in White* | **Baukjen** Neath Jersey Pant in Black* | **PB 0110** AB 52 Shoulder Bag in Black Leather* | **Air & Grace** Cherub Sneakers in White Leather*

I’m eternally on the hunt for the best style staples, the building blocks to a good versatile wardrobe. I’ve teamed up with Baukjen to share a few of my favourites from their current collection. They’re an obvious choice for staples as they form a large part of their collections each season. They mix in some great on-trend pieces but always have a good selection of versatile essentials.

I’ve had an original French army field jacket for many years, bought in Camden one sunny day many moons ago. I love the style but it was never designed to by worn by a woman, it is wide across the shoulders and I’m never going to have the sort of biceps that will fill out the arms. I feel it’s finally time to retire it, now that I’ve found one that fits beautifully from Baukjen. My new (incredibly soft) cargo jacket is a classic “shacket” style, perfect for layering over shirts and t-shirts. It’s warm enough for this time of year and I’m sure will work well over a summer dress in a couple of months when it warms up properly.

The white shirt epitomises the concept of a style staple. This one from Baukjen has a Mandarin collar (otherwise know as a grandad collar) and a long straight masculine cut. It’s made from a lovely crisp white cotton that hold its shape well. I know I’ll be wearing it long after my pregnancy for that borrowed from the boys look.

Jersey pants have taken over where my beloved jeans left off. It’s been sad to say goodbye to some of my favourite denim styles (they just do not work with a bump) but it’s not going to be for forever. I once thought stretchy waistbands were only for toddlers but I was wrong. Finding a comfortable pair of black trousers has been a game-changer. They’re versatile enough to wear for work or at the weekend, depending on how you style them. I’ve been wearing them with the waistband rolled down (under my bump) with a longer length top. They’re not maternity trousers but they’ve been working just as well. I would rather not spend money on maternity trousers if I can help it as I hate the idea of buying something for such a short period of my life.

None of the pieces I’ve picked out from Baukjen have been designed specifically for maternity, they’re just versatile pieces that work for all shapes and sizes, as a good style staple should.

Fresh Spring Fragrances

**Roger & Gallet** Thé Fantaisie* | **Atkinsons** Posh On The Green* | **MALIN + GOETZ** Cannabis*

If you’re looking for a simple seasonal update why not try a change of fragrance. With Spring only a month away I’ve selected a few fresh Spring fragrances for you to try. I prefer fresh scents over strong ouds or sweet fruity fragrances anyway, as they feel cleaner and less overwhelming to me, and to others. I see fragrance as an extension of style, people react not just to how you look but how you smell, too, good or bad. My signature scent is a woody clean amber, it’s slightly warm, unisex and always gets a good reaction but it’s more suited to the the colder months of the year.

This time of year is usually about fresh starts, flowers and plants start to regrow, we begin to switch our homes for warm, cosy hideaways to fresh and bright spaces, and we start to shed the heavier warmer layers in our wardrobe. It’s the perfect time to swap your winter fragrance for something fresher.

Atkinsons Posh On The Green*

Inspired by the British love of a manicured lawn, this scent takes its inspiration from traditional garden parties, polo matches in the summer sun, a day spent watching the cricket and Wimbledon’s manicured grass courts. There’s even a touch of gin and tonic about it. It’s a clean blend, suitable for both men and women, with top notes of coriander and petit grain, middle notes of galbanum and geranium, and base notes of vetiver and cedarwood.

MALIN + GOETZ Cannabis*

Don’t jump to conclusions too quickly with this one, this is not going to make you smell like a naughty teenager. As with all their fragrances it’s fresh and lively; with top notes of bergamot and black pepper, middle notes of magnolia, and base notes of cedarwood, patchouli and sandalwood. If you prefer something a touch more masculine, this is a great one for you.

Roger & Gallet Thé Fantaisie*

This is a much more complex fragrance with many different notes yet it remains delicate. Alberto Morillas combined top notes of pine tree, lemon, mandarin, orange, geranium, and coriander; middle notes of nutmeg, palmarosa, clary sage, pink pepper and black tea; and base notes of benzoin resinoid, sandalwood and vetiver. It’s another unisex fragrance but I would say it’s more rich than the others and leans towards the feminine.

New Discoveries This Spring

Discovering new brands and being able to share them with others is one of the things I love most about my work. Aside from the obvious (not being an advocate of fast-fashion), I don’t shop on the high street so often. This is partly because I like to share something other bloggers maybe aren’t and prefer to have a more individual style, and partly because I like to invest more in the sort of items I’ll keep for years to come. I spend a lot of time on Instagram researching new brands, it’s easy to disappear down the rabbit warren that it is, and once I get started I go from one account to another, the suggested followers function is one of my favourites. The fairly new save function has created an incredible hidden feed on my account, full of talented individuals and products. I’m sharing a few of my latest discoveries; I hope you discover something new, too.

Khaite

Last year, Khaite (pronounced “Kate”) launched exclusively at The Line and has already made waves this side of the Atlantic, gaining the attention of the style mavens at Matchesfashion.com, who have just stocked the latest collection. The New York clothing brand was founded by Catherine Holstein and is part of Vanessa Traina’s Assembled Brands. With luxury fabrics from Italy and elegant silhouettes, it’s more mature and confident than her earlier namesake label. It has a very European feel, mixing masculine and feminine elements. Ease is at the heart of the brand with classic knits and denim sitting alongside more structured dresses.

See more of the collection here.

Áeron

I’ve been following Áeron for just over a year now and have loved everything I’ve seen them create. The Hungarian brand makes the most stunning elevated basics in some of the finest materials available, including a Japanese suede that has become a signature of the brand. They’re the sort of pieces you will keep in your wardrobe for many years to come and will still be asked where they’re from, every time you wear them.

See more of the collection here.

Doên

Doên is a brand that really appeals to my bohemian side and, not surprisingly, it’s from Los Angeles. Their clothes have a beautiful feminine aesthetic, evocative of 70s California. Think pretty peasant tops, prairie dresses and knitwear in muted shades and vintage prints. The collective of creative women behind the brand look to support other women within the industry and especially their workforce. Across their website and social media platforms they showcase a beautiful lifestyle brand, bringing real women into their campaigns that represent the brand holistically.

See more of the collection here.

Teija

Combining her Nordic roots with Victorian techniques, Teija (the designer behind her namesake label) creates stunning contemporary designs, that have already been picked up by Dover Street Market. The designs are super minimalist but also wearable. Think frills, big cuffs and pin tucks in solid colours and classic stripes.

See more of the collection here.

Greens Are Good For You

**Sandro** Veinarde Leather Biker Jacket in Black | **Second Female** Fabora Blouse in White* | **Samsøe & Samsøe** Lucy P Skirt* | **Woman by Common Projects** Original Achilles Low | **Retrosuperfuture** Paloma Black Matte Sunglasses* | **A.P.C.** Demi-Lune Shoulder Bag in Black | **Jessie Harris** Sphere Hoop Earrings | **Littionary** 14k Tiny Yellow Gold Dot Stud Earrings | **Hopscotch** Small Gold Hoops | **Merci Maman** Personalised Flat Bangle in Gold* | Larsson & Jennings Lugano Watch*

I have to admit that although it looks quite warm in these pictures it was actually a touch on the chilly side but eager to embrace the change in seasons I bit the bullet and wore a little less. My transitional dressing from winter to spring often includes tights and thermals.

Green hasn’t featured much in my wardrobe before but this lovely muted green (called darkest spruce) seems to fit quite nicely with my clean aesthetic. I’ve just had a lovely cardigan delivered that’s a similar shade, which I’ll be sharing soon. A pleated skirt is always a good investment. It’s a timeless design that shows up season after season. This one is fairly similar to a Proenza Schouler one I spotted back in the winter of 2015, proof (if you needed it) that fashion goes in cycles, it’s actually from the Danish brand Samsøe & Samsøe.

I worried a little when I first put on this Second Female top that I might be mistaken for an off-duty dentist but however I may appear to some I love this alternative take on a white shirt. I think I might try it under a dress next. In truth, I’ll probably try it with half my wardrobe, after-all, a white shirt goes with everything.