Crabtree & Evelyn Archives - With love from Lou

Summer has arrived! I know this because it’s been around 32° in the little town where I live recently. And since the sun has been out, I thought it was time to get my legs out as well … ooh err!

Today I thought I would show you what I’m wearing, as I think it’s perfect for summer, and all the items are from the high street so it’s a super affordable outfit as well. I hope you like it!

Vest Top
As I’m quite aware of my mum tum, I love tops that I can hide it under. This apricot coloured vest top from H&M is perfect for that as it has a rounded hem that ensures it’s covered up! It also has narrow shoulder straps and a V-neck at the front and back. Usually when I buy vest tops they tend to have round necks, so this makes a lovely change.

I wear a lot of grey and black during the autumn and winter months, so when I was shopping for my summer wardrobe I wanted to make sure I incorporated lots of lovely bright colours, and this is by far my favourite of all the ones I’ve picked up. It’s super comfortable as well and I don’t feel at all self conscious when I’m wearing it – winner!!

Apricot Vest Top – H&M – £7.99

White Kimono
If you follow me on social media you’ll have probably noticed that I have a lot of kimono’s in my wardrobe. However, they’re all ones that seem to have a lot of material to them. And although this is fine most of the time, when it’s as warm as it is outside at the moment I find they end up sticking to me and making me even hotter than ever.

After weeks of looking for a plain white kimono that I could wear over the apricot vest top, I finally came across this beautiful lightweight one from Boohoo. It’s lovely and comfortable to wear, and I love the style of it. In fact, I’m tempted to get it in a couple of other colours as well!

Frances White Kimono – Boohoo – £15.00

Denim Shorts
Something I haven’t worn for years is shorts, so I really surprised myself when I found myself picking up this worn looking pair of denim ones from H&M recently! They have a fairly high waist, and are a lot shorter than any I’ve ever worn in my life. I love the frayed detail on the hems, and I actually think they look quite nice on, despite me not having the nicest of legs. I think I probably need to find a shorter, less rounded hem top to wear them with, but I’d still pair them with this one as I like the look I’ve created on the whole.

Worn Denim Shorts – H&M – £19.99

Fringed Shoulder Bag
I couldn’t resist picking up this brown, fringed shoulder bag while I was in H&M filling up my summer wardrobe. It has a zip closure, 3 inner pockets, and the long shoulder strap (which can be taken off) is long enough to wear across the body. My mum was saying that she thought it looked really small when she saw it, but I can actually get lots of things in it at once. I usually have my sunglasses, purse, phone and some makeup as a minimum, and there’s still space for more.

Brown Fringed Shoulder Bag – H&M – £19.99

Wedges
It’s been a few years since I last bought any wedges, so when I saw this gorgeous pair in Quiz I just knew I had to treat myself to them! They are a beautiful beige colour, and the cork style wedge is covered in a delicate looking lace. I wasn’t sure how much wear I’d get out of them when I first saw them, but I actually wear them with most of my summer outfits, such as playsuits, dresses, jeans and shorts.

Beige Lace Cork Wedges – Quiz – £29.99

Star Charm Necklace Set
I love layering necklaces, so when I saw this set from Forever 21 I just knew I had to get my hands on them! They feature rhinestone-encrusted and cutout star charms in a lariat design. It’s lovely and delicate and I think they look gorgeous with brightly coloured clothes like the ones in this look.

Star Charm Necklace Set – Forever 21 – £6.00

White Gold Rings
The rings I’ve had for years, and both were gifts from Nathan. They are white gold with diamonds and I never take them off. They could do with re-plating though so I may have to bite the bullet and get them done soon!

Nails
And finally my nails are painted in Crabtree & Evelyn’s nail lacquer in ‘Clementine’. I’d never tried Crabtree & Evelyn products until recently when I was invited to an event in one of their stores, but I’m super impressed with the brand. This nail lacquer actually has one of the best formulations I’ve ever used, which is fantastic for a product that costs just £6.00! When I paint my nails with this it takes just one coat to achieve full opacity, and they remain chip free for at least 3-4 days. I got this particular shade in a goody bag and I absolutely love it. It’s perfect for summer!