Setting the peplum free

I've posted about this blouse before, here, and I mentioned how I normally tuck the peplum away into skirts, but when worn with trousers I set the peplum free, loud and proud. Well today I did just that, and teamed it with a waistcoat, an idea which occured to me whilst drifting off to sleep the other night. I'm actually really happy with the result. It manages to transform the look quite a bit from the blouse just on its own. I love love love these shoes, and have been wearing them a lot more recently. When I bought them the laces were big satiny ribbons, which were just too fussy and took up too much room, so a couple of weeks ago I swapped the laces for more subdued ones, and I now wear the shoes a lot more. The effect of the lacing is clearer for all to see, and they just look better, so well done me. I'm quite enjoying the flashes of red at the bottom, middle and top of the outfit, from tights, belt and earrings respectively. The gloves I got for Christmas and are just like my other long leather gloves, apart from they are topped off with black fur, yay! I can already tell that now I have a more exciting, super version of long black leather gloves, the old ones shall be ignored, as they pale in comparison. Furry bits make everything more fun!    

Cape (Mango), leather gloves (M&S), shoes (Kurt Geiger), shirt (Sara Berman), waistcoat (New Look), belt (ebay?), trousers (H&M). 

Feeling Flouncy

I was unsure about this shirt at first, but felt myself strangely drawn to it. When I finally bought it last year and it arrived, I was really pleased I'd made that decision. The pattern and colours are kind of ugly, but in that weird sort of ugly goodness we all secretly admire. And anyway, who doesn't want an art deco lady with her legs awkwardly crossed all over their torso? The fabric feels lovely, but mostly, I was impressed by the shape. The sleeves are beautiful, full of movement, with a double layer of ruffles. Theres also a big peplum, which I have tucked away into my skirt, but when I wear this top with trousers the peplum is out on full view, equally as flouncy as the sleeves (is flouncy a word?).

I also feel the wearing of pink and red needs a special mention here. It's seen as one of those awful faux pas', a fashion rule not to be broken! Well I say fuck it, wear socks with sandals people! Wear black with brown! Break some more rules! Do whatever makes you happy! (but please for the love of good don't mix your metals, I can't stand gold with silver. If my shoes have gold hardwear, my handbag has to too, and all my jewellery must be gold. Pink and red I can handle, but gold and silver, are you serious?) I happen to think the hints of red look nice here.

Grey coat (Therapy), vintage shoes, bag (Luella), scarf (H&M), skirt (American Apparel), black top (H&M), shirt (Sara Berman).

(I cannot apologize enough for this photo, my gloves make me act like a rabbit)