The Fe-line Frock Swap is back!

Hi lovely Fe-liners!

Well we’re already in September (I know, how did that happen?!) but fear not! September is a great month to set yourself new goals and resolutions that may have gone astray over the summer. It’s a perfect time to refocus and plan for the season ahead.

There is something really thrilling about the changing seasons, the golden hues in the trees and the sense of anticipation of new beginnings. We like to think of the year as having two ‘New Years’, January and September. It’s always hard to stick to resolutions in January as the weather is grim and the days are short and all you want to do is hibernate; so September is a great chance to reboot and set a resolution or two, while the sun is (hopefully) shining and the eventfulness of summer ebbs away.

Resolutions can be really simple things: like taking the time to read. We have just launched a Fe-line Book Club which is a great way of exploring new titles that you may have not picked up previously. If you think this would be a great September resolution for you then why not sign up to our Book Club mailing list to get all the latest info. What’s more, we will be chatting and reviewing books online so you don’t have to be Oxford-based to join in. It’s a great way to get back into reading or to motivate you to finish a book, and Team Fe-line definitely need that, so what better motivation than the chance to chat with lots of lovely like minded women! If you didn’t catch Debs’ blog all about the book club you can find it here.

Another great way of feeling renewed and refreshed for the season ahead is to have a wardrobe over haul. There are some great trends out there this season, and even if you incorporate just one look you can freshen up your winter wardrobe. The best way to do this is to have a clothes sort out, which is always very therapeutic in itself. Work out if your winter staples are still good to go and if not, add them to a list of items you want to replace or purchase. It’s always good to have a pair of boots for day and another for evening wear, and lots of layers, so jumpers, cardigans, scarves, as well as a winter coat and a parka or rainproof jacket. Once you’ve worked out what you need make a priority list and add any extra items that would be great for adding a new twist to your look, like scarves, hair accessories, a new dress or a winter coat. By prioritising which are the most important things you need to buy you won’t go shopping aimlessly and you can budget based on what you need the most.

The other good reason for having a sort out and making a list, dear Fe-liners, (and this is the good bit!) is that you can work out which items are perfect Frock Swap material! We will be holding our first Fe-line Frock Swap of 2014 on 20th September at the Old Museum in Oxford. It’s a great way to part with those pieces that you may have only worn once or twice, but haven’t come out of the wardrobe in a while, and swap them for some exciting new pieces that might be on your list of Autumn must haves, or be perfect for freshening up your look for this season. The Frock Swap is only £2 so it’s a perfect way to try something new, a great September resolution!

 

As well as the Swap, there will be a whole host of exciting things going on. Entrance to the event is completely free and there will be a great selection of stalls including Kinship of Oxford, Ladies Who Lunch Jewellery, , and One for Sorrow, plus workshops from Katie Dyer on Autumn/Winter style and making the most of those Frock Swap finds, and Debs will be holding the first Fe-line Book Club meeting at 2pm, for our book After I Left You by Alison Mercer, with Alison also making an appearance at 3pm. On top of all that there will also be a pop-up bar and café! It’s going to be a corker, so get your swapping pile ready and join us for lots fun and frolics.

Love & frock swapping,

 

 

 

All for one, and one for all.

One trend that all women seemed to be absolutely terrified of this summer was one-pieces. Whether it was a full length jumpsuit, a thigh skimming play-suit or even delightful denim dungarees, us women just seemed to be petrified of embracing them. I have to admit that when I first saw a full length jumpsuit I found the idea of wearing something that covers your whole body in the one fabric/pattern very daunting, however the more I looked around at different styles and shapes, the harder I fell in love. I know you’re probably mumbling under your breath at me right now, something along the lines of “that’s easy for you to say because you’re a teenage girl”, but you couldn’t be more wrong. I may be a young fashion-conscious girl, but I know for a fact that when it comes to jumpsuits, playsuits, and even dungarees, age is certainly not an obstacle. Whether you’re nineteen like myself, twenty-five like Vanessa Hudgens or thirty-five like Kate Hudson, there’s absolutely no reason for you to be afraid of one-pieces.

• Playsuits

When I first heard that one-pieces were going to be a huge trend this summer, I was so excited that there was finally going to be a new trend that didn’t involve showing any midriff. However, when they began to flood the high street shops, I found it all a bit daunting. As I’m a pretty small girl (let’s just say I’ll never, ever hit the six foot mark) I automatically guessed that I wouldn’t be able to pull of a jumpsuit because I thought that they’d just “swamp” me. So I decided to start off a little bit easier by braving a playsuit. In my opinion playsuits are much easier to wear than jumpsuits because it’s like wearing a mini summer dress. I would recommend playsuits in a heartbeat as they come in a large array of colours, patterns, necklines and even sizes so there’s bound to be a playsuit out there to suit you. Whether you go for a tribal printed beach one to pair with a slouchy satchel, a pair of gladiator sandals and plenty chunky accessories, or a monochrome party one that you could clash with a pair of red patent heels and a matching clutch bag. Playsuits really are one of the easiest trends to pull off, and they can even be worn when the weather gets cooler with a chunky knit cardigan, thick tights and coordinating ankle boots. There really is no excuse for you not to have one in your wardrobe. If Beyoncé can own more than one, why can’t you?

• Dungarees

I can guarantee that every woman reading this post has had a vivid childhood memory involving wearing dungarees, and now is your time to relive wearing them. Whether you brave an ankle-grazing baggy one, a bold coloured/patterned one, or if you’re like me and just want a simple short denim one, there are plenty types of dungarees that can be bought to make you forget all about the ones your mom forced you to wear when you were a kid. I’m going to be honest and admit that I find full length dungarees impossible to pull off. I’ve seen many women wear them with a simple pair of converse and a plain matching t-shirt, and I’m always oozing with jealously because every time I’ve tried one on I end up looking like a ten year old.  However, when I came across a short pair, it wasn’t long until I matched it with absolutely every pair of tights I own. There wasn’t a week that I didn’t wear them during the summer with either a pair of bold tights and a simple t-shirt, or with my gladiator sandals and a smock top, I just found them insanely comfortable and easy to wear. They’re just such a simple item of clothing that can be pulled off by any woman regardless of their age. It can even be worked as a day-to-night piece by just swapping flats for heels, a t-shirt for a high collared shirt, and adding a dash of glitz and glam with a statement necklace.

• Jumpsuits

Jumpsuits are certainly not for the fainthearted, however with a little bit of confidence you’ll find that they’re not as hard to wear as you may think. I used to find them pretty scary because, similarly to the full length dungarees, I always thought that they’d just ‘swamp’ me. I spent the whole summer pining over them and drooling with envy over every photo that I saw of a famous blogger or a celebrity that was wearing one beautifully.  It took me a while, but I eventually gave up and faced the fact that I couldn’t own one. However when I saw one in Primark that had a fabric overlay across my chest, I couldn’t resist it, and I’ve never turned back since. They’re actually quite easy to wear once you team them with subtle, matching accessories, simple flats and of course a confident, bright smile.  There’s no reason for you to shy away from the jumpsuit trend.

I hope that this post has given you the confidence boost you need to go out and invest in a stylish one-piece. Whether you wear it on the beach, during a shopping trip, or even on a night out, there’s no reason for you to be scared of the trend. If I can own many playsuits, a jumpsuit and a dungarees, then why can’t you?

Stylishly yours,

Images:

www.huffingtonpost.com

www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz

www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/fashion

www.kayture.com

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