Finding my inspiration again...
After a few weeks of illness.
How many people are ill just now? I spent the best part of the last two weeks battling a virus and then a sinus infection- out the window went the belts and braces content-strategy in favour of a 7pm bedtime and a whole lot of sleep (which just didn’t ever seem to be enough!) My face swelled up (more on that in next week’s The Recap- I have recommendations!) and it’s safe to say, I’ve not been ill like that in a long, old while.
What can I say about February. It’s the tail end of winter, the tail end of the (retail) season, the weather is a tease.
Spending two thirds of it under a duvet in an illness-induced lethargy seems to me to be a summary of sorts. February is the month that creeps up unannounced, grabs you by the collar and shakes the life out of you until you’re begging for Spring. That’s a graphic metaphor, but probably tells you all you need to know about how brutal this Feb has been. When you feel immensely grateful to just be able to go to work in the morning, or stay awake past the kids’ bedtimes, you know you’ve been ill.
And yet, somehow, against all odds and just in the nick of time, the sun comes out. The stupor of illness lifts, the 28th comes around and all of a sudden, we’re charging into March- let’s aim for renewed vigour. That was, in fact, the whole focus of this article.
I was in much need of a breath of fresh air. Revitalisation. I was looking to breathe new life and reinspire myself. And so, in the spirit of throwing myself back into some semblance of flow and creativity without the risk of falling back into bed, I decided to give myself an easy task this week- pull on clothing that makes me feel happy and inspired.
Only uplifting outfits here in this week’s dose of stalf-y goodness. To start us off, here are some of my fave pinterest saves, ones I revisit again and again:
Add to the moodboard above some of my own past-fave outfits (I have a file on my phone for the days I’m in a slump.)
I asked myself- what have I always loved? What has always uplifted and reenergised me, which looks never fail to pull me back into my flow.
I started there.
With this article, I simply allowed myself to be pulled towards the pieces in my wardrobe I’m finding the most exciting right now (ahem, and more than a few nods to what’s launching on the site this Saturday.)
I’m starting with pink and pattern. Of course.
What I really should have pulled on with the below trousers and shoes was this blouse. (It’s my all time faithful. It’s the piece that picks me up come rain or shine or snotty nose, and you can snap it up with 15% off just now on the site.)
Having said aaaaaallllllll that, said blouse was in the wash, so I went for the next best thing- the happiest shoes I own and pink Fair Isle.
You won’t have seen the striped trousers before. They’re NEW.
THIS IS OUR BRAND NEW HICKORY DENIM… it’s been a while since I’ve been this excited for a fabric to launch.
It’s an 8oz (medium weight) organic denim, black stripes on ecru, finished with ecru corozo buttons and oh my goodness do we have some treats launching in this fabric.
But for now, we start with The Work Trousers:
This is the kind of stripe that can do strange things on a screen when photographed on a phone- in person it’s simple, pared-back-pattern at its finest. A minimalist’s nod to print, if you will, and classic to its core. It feels like true American workwear and yet also elegant and timeless at the same time.
Just you wait to see how we styled these trousers for the latest shoot. Oh my goodness it’s taking all my control not to share every picture with you all!
People often mistake this trouser shape for a wide, straight leg. In actuality, it’s more of a loose taper. Not the curved Cocoon shape we’ve been making for the last decade, but looser through the thigh to ankle and with a soft, linear taper. See below photo, which captures the shape pretty well in my mind.
Something about the classic workwear vibes of the jeans paired with the sheer joy of acid pink satin ballet pumps complete with ribbon ties, just made me sing.
It’s the perfect introductory outfit.
Looking back through my file of fave-outfits on my phone, it’s no surprise that the whole vibe is very jumpsuit-heavy.
Without doubt, my most worn Jumpsuits are this one here and the Painter’s Blue Dungas- perfect workwear vibes iterated in a sumptuously soft, brushed cotton. I’ll interject here and give you fair warning that this style will (sadly!!) be disappearing from the site come Friday night, as will the 15% discount, place your orders now to take advantage of a little ££ off.
Whenever we’ve hosted pop-ups or markets over the last few months, the Painter’s Twill is THE fabric that gets the most attention. I think it’s the surprise of it- buttery softness and yet wonderfully practical.
This is the outfit I ended the day on. I loved this combo so much, I wore it back out the house again. The blouse is a very old one from Yoli and Otis, and the shoes are Soeur, but really, it’s the Dungas that sing for me. The are a true chameleon. I pull them on with nothing more than my fave white tee and feel like a queen (I actually wore them just like that for a breakfast meeting in London earlier this week.)
If neutrals aren’t your thing, Painter’s Blue is also utterly gorgeous paired with all things lilac- namely our soon-to-be-relaunched Frosty Lilac sweatshirting.
This colour.
This has always, always been my favourite shade of sweats and I am so glad to see it back in the collection (where it belongs!!) We had this batch made especially for us.
It’s a grown up lilac. Almost pale blue (but not.) There’s no sickly sweet tint or saccharine hue to this shade. It’s a fully grown-up lilac (do you understand my meaning here?) I feel totally comfortable wearing this shade head to toe on the school run (see outfit further below) without feeling overly girlish or too feminine- this particular shade strikes a great balance- I have not, to this day, in all my searches (there have been many) found a better lilac tone:
Sticking with the Frosty Lilac theme for the next outfit… I know many of you love navy.
I urge you to get your navy worn alongside Frosty Lilac sweats, as per the below:
This is my fiancé’s work smock. He wears it in the workshop, and it kindly filled the navy-shirt-shaped-hole in my wardrobe. You could substitute the smock with navy cashmere, inky merino, midnight cotton, just whatever you do, get some navy paired with this new Frosty Lilac.
This will be my main school run/ studio wear/ errand day attire for the foreseeable.
Ok, at this point I’m definitely feeling much more enthused about the whole getting dressed in the morning thing.
But then this happened and it took me to a whole new level:
Enter Satsuma Stripe.
From now on, when I want cosy, but with a squeeze of citrus energy, I will look to our Lazy Trousers in Satsuma Stripe. It’s perfect paired with cream knitwear (there’s also a tee to go with the bottoms.)
This fabric is lightweight yet cosy. Crisp yet soft. Organic cotton, in the most zingy orange-tinged, micro stripe.
I feel it needs no more explanation. This colour is a palette cleanser, a a shot of pure spring (or summer- let’s dare to dream!)
Ok. I had intended to only give you a glimpse of the Hickory Denim in the Work Trousers, but what happened was that I came across the below piece on the rail in the studio and had to take it home to style- it is 100% joy-giving and energy-bestowing, after all.
The (new) Coat Dress.
I could honestly have pulled this coat dress on with any of our patterned trousers.
Any of them.
It’s a statement, sure, but it plays well with SO MANY colours/prints/patterns. I can’t wait to spend a whole article just exploring the virtues of this one fabric (or even this one garment.)
Let me tell you it is almost warm enough to wear your coat dresses as your outerwear! I am counting down the days until that moment. Spring will soon be sprung and I’ll be shoving my puffer coat into storage for 9 months and replacing it with something altogether more effervescent:
This stripe is really so well mannered. As in, it just gets on with everything I chuck at it. I styled a small handful of looks with this Coat Dress (got waaay ahead of myself) and can confirm it is the piece I will be ordering first from the new collection- so much inspiration bestowed by one item. This was the missing puzzle piece I was looking for to pull me back from the brink and fill me back up with enthusiasm.
All I’ll say is you just wait for the campaign pictures.
One last look with this Coat Dress (because it really is just that good!) Anyone own our Crinkle Cami Dress in Jasmine? (psssst. it’s coming back in this next collection because my heart missed it!)
Please pull it on with a simple linen shirt and an organic, hickory stripe:
Here ends my punchy foray into finding the inspiration to get up and dressed with joy. I’m back. Next week it’s The Recap (a short month and a week off ill means I’m playing catch up and it’s come round again so fast!) I have an abundance of recommendations for you- all the goods that have perked me right back up post-poorly. I’m also chatting wedding-prep (my legal ceremony is just over a month away!)
See you then, gang!
Paris x