Mango Madness

Head over heels for Mango this season. 

It could be because the monochrome palette appeals my aversion to colour, or the simplicity of the styling, or the heavy duty feel of the clothes, whatever it is, Mango is top of my wish list right now. 

Here are a few of the pieces I'm currently coveting:

From Left: Snake boots, white coat, navy roll neck, grey culottes, black bag, black hat.

From left: Floral dress, grey cardigan, silk top, burgundy roll neck, black boots, sequin skirt.

What you should be buying NOW...

...Like right now, go on, go get your credit card and I'm gonna sort you out before it's too late.

You see it's suddenly winter and although we may not want to admit it, those Asos duster kimono coats just ain't going to cut it against the November chill. We need layers and we need them pronto. So lemme break it down for you, here are the 5 key pieces you need in your wardrobe today...

1. The Coat

The catwalks were littered with calf length coats this winter and the high street has followed suit accordingly. For the taller amongst us I'd suggest something oversized and flowing - pure drama, and for those with a smaller frame go belted for definition, shape and less swampy-ness.

From Left: Brown River Island, Grey John Lewis, Grey Asos, Tan Asos, Blue Zara, Grey Asos, Tan Mango.

2. The Knit

Quite frankly it's gonna have to have a rollneck if you want to be taken seriously this season. Personally I'd invest in a couple of more luxy knits if budget allows because I find the high street ones tend to bobble and lose their shape so quickly and you're going to want to wear this over and again all winter long. TheOutnet is an amazing haven for luxurious staples without the depressing price tags. Having said all of that, the below one from Asos is also fantastic quality and you can't go wrong with some Uniqlo cashmere...

From the top: Stripe Marni, Blue River Island, Camel H&M, Navy Velvet by Graham&Spencer, Light Blue Stella McCartney at TheOutnet,  White and Black Toga Pulla, Grey Uniqlo, Blue Vanessa Bruno Athe, White Acne, Model shot ASOS.

3. The Shirt

Yeah I know, it ain't rocket science, the shirt has been a seasonal staple since the cavemen were getting theirs tailored at Thomas Pink, but for some reason this season the shirt feels cooler than ever. Wear yours open with sleeves rolled up, wear it as a dress, get one that crosses over at the front or ties round the waist or leave it untucked and wear it with culottes or tailored trousers. The DKNY blue shirt dress is my personal favourite - I've been wearing mine with Adidas Superstars all summer long.

From top left: Blue Dress DKNY, Black Denim Mango, Blue Mango, White Leather Marques Almeida at Topshop, Stripe Elizabeth and James, Embellished Check By Malene Birger, Black and White Check H&M, Blue Dress Atterley Road, Blue Iris and Ink TheOutnet, White Atlantique Ascoli.

4. The Skirt

If you hadn't guessed by now, Summer's midi length skirts are here to stay for winter. Picture those floaty calf grazers in heavier fabrics and bulkier shapes, paired with a chunky knit (as above) and a knee high boot (as below). This may seem like a tricky trend but as someone who has loved a shorter hemline for far too long to be deemed respectable, I recently tried the midi trend and now anything above the knee just doesn't feel quite as current.

From Left: Fringed H&M, White Mango, Nude Topshop, Black H&M, Yellow Topshop Unique, Burgundy Warehouse, Silver ASOS, Stripe Joseph.

5. The Shoe 

Or boot to be precise. Now don't worry, the ankle boot isn't going anywhere, you can still wear your bikers and western boots with much pride this winter. However, if there's one shoe you should be investing in, it has got to be the KHB (knee high boot). Think 70s, chunky heel, in tan, brown or black suede or leather, worn under your midi length dresses and skirts. The KHB's big brother, the OTKB (over-the-knee boot) serves a similar purpose and can look just as fabulous, perhaps more of an evening alternative to the KHB. Just tread carefully with hemlines when working this trend or you risk looking like a BOAS (bit of a slut).

From Left: Black Mango, Brown Croc H&M, Black Suede Office, Brown H&M, Dark Brown Aldo, Navy Leather Gianvito Rossi, Brown Suede Topshop, Black Suede Zara.

Additional images: lacooletchic

GUESS WHO'S BACK?

Yeha! That's right! It's me!

I'm back from the abyss of moving house and life and world, with more bang-for-your-buck content to keep you occupied between 11 and 11.15 on a Tuesday morning when you've finished your coffee, emptied your inbox and haven't all that much else to do.

It's been a crazy summer for me, having bought a house last year that looked like THIS:

And turning it into THIS:

That stuff ain't easy I tell you, hours of walking round with tiles and painted bits of wood looking at them in different lights and mumbling things like 'oh yes a terribly cold colour in a North facing room' because that's what you're supposed to do when you renovate a house dontcha know.

So, although still only partially furnished (one table, one sofa, one bed, lots of echoing) the house is pretty much done and I can get back to focusing on what's really important in life - WHAT TO BUY FOR WINTER?! (and world peace blah blah blah).

I will of course be doing the usual Stylist Shops rounds of the high street now the new season has started to drop, but until I do, here is my current shopping list for you to peruse at your leisure....

Black Skirt Vanessa Bruno, Grey Marl Rollneck H&M, Black Tee Marc by Marc Jacobs, Black Sneakers Adidas, Grey Trousers Mango, Black Skirt Lot 78

Silver Dress H&M, Grey Coat Mango, Silver Sneakers ACNE, Grey Wool Trousers Zara, Black And Blue Skirt Topshop

Finally, the ultimate evening dress, the one that's gonna solve everyone's what-do-I-wear-for-a-winter-wedding crisis - this casually non casual, fringed fantastical slice of perfection from Net-a-Porter's 'Finds' collection.

Currently Coveting

This embroidered Topshop bag is top of my must-have list this summer. It looks like something you'd pick up in a flea market in Bali, without having to venture outside the M25. 

And while I'm imagining myself on the beach, here are a few extra beach bag essentials....

From the top: Hammam Towel, Deszo Necklace, LA Bruket Body Scrub, Stella McCartney Sandals, ASOS Sunglasses, Aesop Body Cream, Marysia Bikini

Plus no trip to the beach is complete without a good book, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry is a beautiful, heart wrenching story of life in India during the 1970s - full of rich cultural and political history and characters you'll feel like you've known all your life.

Sale Shopping

Dear readers, I must apologise for my disappearance of late. I've been spending every spare minute working on my house renovation which is requiring decisions to be made on an hourly basis - which is pretty traumatic for someone who can't make decisions! 

Once things start to get finished I will post some pictures on here as everyone loves a 'changing rooms' style before and after - and you can check out a couple of pictures of the kitchen which went in this week over on my instagram (@rachelingram14).

Now, sick of spending all my hard earned money on grouting and floorboards, I've been trawling the internet for some sale purchases to cheer me up as I remain homeless! If you have to live out of a suitcase at least make it a suitcase full of wonderful things....

First on the wish list are a pair of pointy flats that will carry me through to winter:

From the top: Philip Lim, Nicholas Kirkwood for Erdem, Valentino, Paul Andrew, Mother of Pearl, Rochas, Stella McCartney, Nicholas Kirkwood

A statement sweatshirt is still on my 'to buy' list to throw on with denim shorts on cooler summer evenings....

From the top: Carven, Au Jour Le Jour, Stella McCartney and J.W.Anderson

And a few summer wardrobe updaters:

From left to right: Bag Jerome Dreyfuss, Top J.W.Anderson, Shoes Aquazzura, Sunglasses Illesteva, Shorts Genetic Denim, Sandals Ancient Greek Sandals, Trousers Isabel Marant.

From left to right: Shoes Gianvito Rossi, Bag Whistles, Top Chloe, Shoes &OtherStories, Top Suno.

My final and ultimate sale finds come from the mecca that is &OtherStories on Regent Street. I could literally buy the whole store - but I've left some for you too. Check out the sunglasses - they're a fashion insider's high street trump card (as well as H&M and ASOS sunnies).

Bag, Clutch, Loafers - all &OtherStories.

New Season Shopping : Dana Levy

Many years ago I worked at Red Magazine assisting their Fashion Editor on fashion pages and photoshoots. My job was to source all the clothes for the shoots she would style, and we would then fill suitcases and jet off round the globe shooting them on models, making beautiful pictures. 

One time this editor asked me to get some colourful, beaded bracelets in for a summer florals story and I contacted a jewellery designer I had seen stocked in Liberty - Dana Levy. Dana's jewellery was a resounding hit on the shoot, such a hit in fact that not only did we shoot it in pretty much every issue of Red for the next few years, I have since shot it for every magazine I have ever worked for after that! Dana's jewellery is not only in the pages of Glamour Magazine monthly, but adorns every fashion and beauty editor at the magazine too - she really is an insider's secret weapon.

So, the dilemma was, to share or not to share?! Part of me wants everyone to know about her cool, fashiony-without-trying styles and wear-all-summer-long pieces, but part of me wants to keep her to myself!

Ultimately though her jewellery is too good not to rave about, so here is a little look at some of the current summer collection, all available at www.danalevy.co.uk.

Click the images to shop the pieces or visit www.DanaLevy.co.uk for more styles.

New Season Shopping : Laurence Dolige

There's a brand I've had my eye on for a while now, a brand so low key you'll be hard pushed to find a stockist, but so cool you'll buy the whole collection once you do. 

Parisian label Laurence Dolige is the discerning girl's Sandro or Maje, the insider's Isabel Marant, delivering cool classics with a twist in the way that only the French really can.

The Autumn Winter 2014 collection launches end of July and I have a sneak preview of what's in store for you - think chunky turtlenecks, suede coats, checks, sequins and stripes, worn all together. 

Browns, burgundies and greys are this fall/winter's key colours and Laurence Dolige hasn't missed a trick with a colour palette an aesthetically appealing mix of autumnal tones .  

Shop the Spring Summer collection still online here, and wait with baited breath until you can indulge in corduroy and tailoring from Fall Winter.

Insta-Update

Just a few pictures from my Instagram of late. 

If you don't already, follow me @rachelingram14 for one too many pictures of my feet in assorted shoes...

Wearing from top: 

Stripe Tshirt Zara, Leather Trousers Isabel Marant for H&M, Shoes Jimmy Choo.

Tshirt LNA, Jeans Pepe Jeans, Bag Valentino, Shoes Superga.

Shirt Paul and Joe, Jeans Zara, Jacket See by Chloe.

Jumpsuit Topshop, Shoes Jimmy Choo and Valentino.

Coat DKNY, Tshirt Zara, Jeans Urban Outfitters, Bag Lulu Guinness.

Top &OtherStories.

Waistcoat H&M, Top Cos, Trousers DKNY, Sneakers Adidas.

Shirt Uniqlo, Culottes ASOS, Bag Chloe.

Jeans AG Jean, Boots Zadig et Voltaire.