BORN TO BE WIDE?

I don’t wear wide leg trousers - in fact, they scare me. There’s something about all that surplus fabric swishing around the ankles that feels like a death trap (they’re just asking to be chewed up by the tube escalator, surely?) However, after years of the wide-leg fear, something funny has happened. I’ve seen the light and my eye has been turned by a slouchier silhouette.

I blame ME & EM – if you’re unfamiliar with the brand, ME & EM are a cool womenswear label with a focus on modern, simple dressing. Their catalogue is beautifully styled – think wide leg pants paired with box-fresh Stan Smiths for a look that’s as effortless and cool as they come. 

In what can only be described as fashion fate, a few weeks ago, following a press sample clear-out at work (perks of the job) I found myself in possession of a lonely pair of white wide-leg trousers (yup, as impractical as they come) in need of a home. So it only seemed right to style then up on here and see how the whole look worked out…

THE EASY WAY TO SHOP THE SALES

With sales happening all-year round in the modern world of retail, I find myself missing out on great bargains all the time. I don’t have a great deal of time to shop – so any website that curates the good stuff is a real winner for me. I have just discovered one such website, where I found this Reiss jumper for £30, reduced from over £100. Warning: it's going to be responsible for damage to your bank balance! 

Shop the look: 

WHAT I WORE TO LONDON FASHION WEEK

I told myself I wasn't going to attend London Fashion Week this season. As a part-time blogger I have no real reason or entitlement to be there, I just happen to love the whole experience. But having given it some thought I realised I would be really sad to miss out on the whole event - I have attended 10 consecutive seasons now and am yet to feel jaded by fashion. So on Saturday I put on my finery and headed to the new venue - Brewer Street Car Park (more on the venue later…) - for the Jasper Conran show. Here's what I wore:

WHAT TO WEAR TO A SUMMER WEDDING

Heading to a summer wedding? Here's the style dos and don'ts to keep you on the sartorial straight: 

LFF OUTFITS: SOMETHING BLUE

With a wardrobe dominated by a palette of black, white, navy, grey and of course – stripes, colour is out of my comfort zone. So here’s something adventurous by my standards – a dose of cornflower blue.

OUTFIT POST: MY 9-5 UNIFORM

Unofficial statistics suggest the average woman wears just 20% of their wardrobe. In honest truth, despite working in the fashion, I probably don't fare much better than that. I'm a '5-outfits-at-any-given-time-gal'; I wear and wear my favourite looks until they look shabby and move on.  So what I am wearing right now? This outfit - possibly the easiest and most effortless I own.

WHAT TO WEAR FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

What to wear for a job interview? It's one of the most googled style questions for a good reason, I think we have all had a sartorial crisis pre-interview at some stage in our careers. Having been Marketing Manager for The Fold London - a British fashion brand that empowers modern professional women - for nearly 5 months, I've learnt so much about the trials women face each day getting dressed for work, pitching for promotions and interviewing for new roles. So, when City Calling got in contact and asked me to write a blog post on this very topic, I thought I'd share some of my recently acquired wisdom. Here are the tips & tricks to follow:

Research the company: Do your research online and investigate the internal dress code (the company website and social media channels often offer clues). Tailor your style to the company's image so as not to alienate those interviewing. 

Stay in your comfort zone: Now is not the time to try the latest trends or to make a bold fashion statement. Wear something comfortable yet smart that makes you feel good. 

Wear comfortable shoes: I made the mistake of wearing new loafers that I hadn't broken in to an interview last year. Just walking into the interview was uncomfortable and I felt self conscious rather than confident thanks to my unavoidable my-heels-are-in-agony limp (unsurprisingly I wasn't hired). A mid-height heel is good solution, walkable meets confidence-boosting is a winning formula. 

Watch your hemline: A raised hemline will raise eyebrows. Keep things knee length or below, you'll be thankful when you sit down in front of HR and your hemline rises! 

Wear something memorable: This slightly contradicts my other tips, however, I strongly believe that an eye-catching accessory can set you apart in a sea of candidates. One former boss told me she hired me because she liked my mint green nail polish (!) - this tip applies even if you don't work in a creative environment - a colourful tote or an eye-catching drop earring can help to differentiate from the crowd.

Here's some job interview outfits to consider:

Corporate: Le Marais navy tuxedo jacket, The Fold London, £245. Le Marais navy tapered trousers, The Fold London, £155. Navy heeled courts, Dorothy Perkins, £25. Structured work tote, Charles & Keith, £59.

Creative: Silk stripe blouse, Uniqlo, £39.90. J.W.Anderson navy pleather skirt, Avenue 32, £148. Sophie Hulme textured shoulder bag, The Outnet, £294.25. Navy honeycup ankle boots, Rupert Sanderson, £555.

Career move: Iris & Ink silk shirt dress, The Outnet, £160. Skinny bud drop earrings, Monica Vinader, £110. Maribel red courts, Liam Fahy, £390. Mini Devonshire tote, Loxley England, £425. 

TREND EDIT: GREY MATTERS

Going grey is the height of sartorial chic this autumn/winter, thanks to appearances on the new-season catwalks of Derek Lam, Michael Kors, Topshop Unique to name a few. The key to nailing this trend is to rep shades of grey (no pun intended) top-to-toe, bar accessories (I love the cobalt blue leather clutches seen in the Derek Lam AW15 collection and a glossy black boot will finish the look). Having done some digging, I found some on-point grey pieces on the high street; Warehouse's sleeveless wool coat (no. 4) is a smart buy at a mere £65 - layer it up over a grey roll neck for an affordable take on the trend. For a chic take on the 9 - 5, the Fold's herringbone skirt (no.1) would look the part with a silk blouse. If you're in the market for a new tote, Stella McCartney's soft and slouchy Beckett bag is a real investment piece. The simple bucket shape and industrial grey hue will see you through winters to come. Proof that this season, grey is anything but drab. 

1. Brook skirt in Herringbone, The Fold, £165. 2. Stella McCartney Beckett faux leather bag, Net-a-porter.com, £715. 3. Baja grey Agate set earrings, Monica Vinader, £165. 4. Grey sleeveless wool blazer, Warehouse, £65. 5. Cashmere tunic, Uniqlo, £89.90. 6. Felt borg trainers, Next, £24. 

LFF EDITS: SS14 CO-ORDS

I'm happy to report that SS14 is the season of the practical trend. We have the 'ugly sandal' that is making pavement-pounding a pleasure, the office-appropriate midi length and now the no-brainer 'co-ord' trend. Seen in the Eudon Choi, J.Crew and Henry Holland collections, coordinating separates offer the ultimate easy solution for everyday dressing - putting an end to zombie-esque staring into your wardrobe abyss trying to concoct an outfit at 7am pre-caffeine fix. Unlike a dress, co-ords also offer versatility and can be mixed and matched with wardrobe staples for different looks if you're feeling creative (pair Eudon Choi's jacquard floral skirt with a stripe t-shirt for the catwalk interpretation). If you're on a tight budget, the high street is ALLOVER this trend like Spencer Matthews + any female with a pulse - try Warehouse, Zara and Whistles for the best sets. Here's my edit of the best buys for all budgets and the accessories to finish the look:

£: Top- Bottom Printed crop top, Zara, £25.99. Printed asymmetric skirt, £29.99, Zara.  Nails in Obey, Topshop, £5. Vans true white classic slip on trainers, ASOS, £47. 

££: Top - Bottom Blue palm leaf top, Warehouse, £38. Blue palm leaf skirt, Warehouse, £45. Nude jewelled satin sandals, Next, £30. Atlantis Lapis Flint ring, Monica Vinader, £145. 

£££: Top - Bottom Eudon Choi Mathola floral-jacquard top, Matchesfashion.com, £545. Eudon Choi Centaurea floral jacquard skirt, Matchesfashion.com, £723. Lips in Ohh La La, Topshop, £8. Nicholas Kirkwood zigzag suede pumps, Net-a-porter.com, £510.