Weekend wardrobe ideas and exclusive discounts

So, looking at capsule wardrobe ideas again, it’s time to start thinking about slightly warmer weather. I’ve put together two new collections to give you some weekend wardrobe ideas. They have enough breadth to cover both smart and casual requirements. Let’s begin with grey and blush which is this season’s current winning combination – think of the shades of Provençal rosé.

Weekend wardrobe ideas – rosé and grey

Rosé V neck sweater – this is out of stock at hush but there are plenty available here

Smudge print top 30% off – you could go for print clashing and wear this with the patterned trousers

Silk camisole – I’ve seen this in store and the quality is exquisite – it would look great under a blazer or V-neck.

I have these cropped jeans in grey, they are not low rise as the caption says but my advice is to size up if you don’t want a spray on look. Also available here

Chic grey cigarette trousers that are also available in petite lengths

Statement trousers in this year’s dark floral, also available here

Blush suede flatforms for easy weekends

Beautifully textured block heeled snake print shoes that work for both casual and smart days

Closed pumps – an update on the classic ballet pump, minimalist and low profile

Rosé leather work bag with plenty of compartments, a grab handle and a shoulder strap. This colour goes with nearly everything.

Rose gold earrings with moonstones – proper jewellery at a reasonable price

High filter rosé sunglasses, heavily tinted for bright conditions

Summer cotton and linen duster coat with a stand collar for cooler days

Or for people who prefer a palette with more contrast,how about crisp navy and white with a pop of colour

Weekend wardrobe ideas – navy, white and orange

Trumpet sleeve top that can be worn either tucked in or loose, depending on the silhouette you want. The elasticated sleeves make this more practical to wear than most of the statement sleeves that are around.

I have already succumbed to this orange scallop neck top. It’s great value, I’ll be wearing it for drinks out tomorrow night.

There’s 25% off this flutter sleeve top over the Easter weekend, also available in a coral stripe and another practical approach to a statement sleeve

You need to try this shirred midi skirt to really appreciate it – it flutters and shimmers. It’s a dark navy and works well with boots and tights as well as summer sandals

Gingham is a huge trend this season and this is an easy way to wear it – I already have these gingham crops (size up). 25% off this weekend.

Backless loafers in a ‘go with everything’ soft gold – easy for summer in the city or at the beach.

The joy of this year’s block heeled court is that even higher shoes are easy to wear

An updated ballet flat in a muted shade for people who prefer softer colours

A great value crossbody bag with a minimalist finish that will really lift simple Summer outfits

Thinking ahead to Summer

Swimwear

I am getting emails every day about the High Summer collections. Summer still feels a bit far away but Seaspray sent me this hourglass swimsuit to try this week. I’m not going to traumatise you with a photograph of me wearing it, that would be grim. I’ll show you the shot of their bronzed model instead.

In terms of engineering, it is definitely a cut above the usual ones that I pick up from the high street. It sucks you in and pulls you up and the fabric is a lovely glossy deep blue which makes it look expensive.

Unusually for a swimwear company, Seaspray is British so I am very pleased to bring them to your attention. They make swimwear for a number of UK retailers but are now working hard to build Seaspray as a brand. One of the best things that they do is offer the option of longer length swimsuits for anyone like me who has a long body. I have always opted for bikinis to avoid the discomfort of a slightly too short swimsuit so this is a great find.

They also have swimsuits that focus on other features such as a full bust / small bust and styles to flatter broader hips or the waist. You can find those styles in their fit guide here. There are lots of plainer options that would be good for swimming in pools at the gym or on a Spa break too – simple swimsuits like these can often be difficult to find.

If you’re heading off on holiday, you can complete your look with their range of kaftans and cover ups like the Monteverde one that they sent me.

Seaspray are offering Midlifechic readers 20% off their collection until midnight on Friday 12th May with code CHIC20 so do have a look through – Summer’s nearly here.

Sunglasses

I have pinned down another exclusive offer for you, this time from Sunglasses Shop which stocks a number of leading brands of sunglasses including RayBan, Prada, Celine and Victoria Beckham.

I have always wanted to wear classic Wayfarers but whenever I have tried them, they just haven’t suited me. When I was perusing their site, I discovered that they have introduced a new, slightly narrower design specifically for this reason. It’s called the Wayfarer 2132 and it is available in lots of different frame and lens colours. These are my favourite.

Ray-Ban 2132 Wayfarer Matte Polarised

If I didn’t have a round face I’d opt for these Jackie Ohh IIs but you need to have a square or angular face (like Jackie) to carry them off.

Jackie Ohh II

Anyway there are plenty of pairs to choose from and Sunglasses Shop are offering Midlifechic readers 18% off sunglasses until 21st April using code MIDLIFE18. The offer excludes Chanel, Dior, Gucci, Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Tom Ford and Valentino but it does include the brands I listed above and lots of others.

Midlife lately

This is where I always feel I should have tales of glamorous adventure to share with you but the last two weeks have been mundanely busy ones. The downside of working for yourself means, of course, that you have to hit the deadlines when they come along and every client has wanted projects completed before Easter.

This has left me feeling guilty because I haven’t as much time off as I’d hoped for with the boys, in particular the middle one and his revision schedule.

However, this was last Saturday which ended up being a day spent mostly in the car. The eldest had arranged to meet his girlfriend in Kendal and was hoping for a lift. That worked well for me because I had things I needed to return and the youngest needed new school shoes – again!

So, we drove the 30 minutes to Kendal and as soon as we arrived I realised that I had forgotten all of the things I needed to return. So, after an hour’s round trip, I felt I deserved a cup of coffee in the sunshine.

Cashmere jumper; earrings

I was wearing an outfit that has instantly become one of my favourites. It was sent to me by Hope and it is part of their new Spring range. The Summer collection has also launched online but it is a bit chilly to be showing you that yet.

So, let me start with the jumper which is pure Italian cashmere. Knitwear is one of the things that Hope do best – they put so much thought into the detail. I have spent years searching for the perfect navy cashmere jumper and this is it. It is knitted in one piece so there are no seams and no ribbing. This means that it sits beautifully and doesn’t cling anywhere.

It is described rather unattractively online as a boxy knit but it isn’t boxy. It has a perfect boat neck and the sleeves are gently raglan so they flatter rather than drown you. The unstructured hem on the bottom and cuffs rolls softly as you wear it.

It is a mid-weight cashmere so it is just right for this time of year when the weather is so variable. I have worn it most days this week because I love it so much, it works really well over a shirt as well as on its own.

I’m also wearing Hope’s chalk cotton stretch ankle grazers. They are not jeans so they can be dressed up or down. I prefer a slightly looser look in lighter coloured trousers so I sized up. Off white jeans or trousers are a really easy way to add a touch of Spring to your wardrobe when the temperatures haven’t quite risen. You can get 10% off purchases at Hope when you subscribe to their newsletter or if you leave a product review.

So, we did everything we needed to do in Kendal, retrieved the eldest, drove home, had a cup of tea and then set off again. This time it was with the middle one who wanted to watch a friend in a play. There are times when I wish we didn’t live rurally and this was one of them. The catchment area of the boys’ schools is a 50 mile radius so we often cover long distances to serve their social lives.

This time we headed South to a village on a coastal promontory that is truly an outpost and it was a long old drive. However we knew there was a pretty pub on the way back so we scheduled a pitstop…

Navy cashmere jumper; cotton stretch ankle grazers; shoes; sunglasses; bag – past season

… it’s a lovely place to watch the sun set.

By the time we got home, Saturday was pretty much over. I felt bad that the youngest had spent most of the day in the car so I promised him that we’d go ice cream tasting early the next morning.

This is one of his favourite things and it involves going to the (sometimes) sunny seaside town of Morecambe where, in my opinion, the UK’s best ice creams are sold. Of course it is important to taste more than one as you walk along the seafront. It is, after all, a gastro experience when you’re 13.

Just as we got there, my phone rang. It was the middle son who had made it to his restaurant job but was now sick and needed collecting. So, I left Mr MC and the youngest to get started and made another hour’s round trip in the car.

After I wrote about the cut of their jumpers often being slightly off last month, Pure Collection sent me this new Featherweight Cashmere Boyfriend jumper to show how rapidly the styles are improving. They are now longer in the body and the V-neck is wider and deeper which makes them much more flattering.

Featherweight cashmere jumper; Boden cropped jeans (past season); Stan Smiths silver flash (past season); John Lewis leather tote (past season)

It is a Summer weight cashmere so I still needed a top underneath to combat the ferocious coastal breezes. It has a lovely sheen to it and, as well as this turquoise, it is also available in lime or grey. There is 25% off everything at Pure Collection this weekend here.

I had an unusual reader request for more pictures of Gary last week (which I’m not taking personally) so here’s one! He firmly believes that he and the youngest are both puppies and they spent the morning rolling around together on the beach.

And that was last weekend – a typical one in most households that contain teenagers I suspect. Six and a half hours spent driving but some lovely time in the sunshine too.

With that I wish you a wonderful long weekend with lots of R&R and minimal taxi driving. I’ve listed all of the Easter weekend offers that I’ve seen below and I’ll continue to add to them as they come in – just in case you find yourself doing a spot of shopping. Happy Easter everyone.