Happy Birthday to Winser London that turned five this March! Quite an achievement in todays saturated clothing market where fast fashion on the High Street rules. With a specific theme of high quality affordable basics, Winser London has built a solid reputation in a relatively short time.
To celebrate this milestone, Kim Winser & her design team identified the five key pieces that make up the foundation of every Woman’s wardrobe. This idea particularly appeals to me as I often talk about the importance of closet staples. You can read more detail about that here. In essence, creating infinite outfit options is easy if you choose your basics well. Quality in both design & manufacture is essential when staples are our most worn pieces, right? It’s no wonder I adore Winser London, they’re entire range revolves around this concept!
My outfit today includes one of the aforementioned five key pieces. This Winser London Boyfriend jumper is the perfect example of a beautifully crafted staple. The sweater is long-line so it works equally well loose over jeans or trousers. However, be aware it does come up quite big as the style is over-sized. Mine is a SMALL but I would also fit an XS. The quality is obvious as you can see in my close up shots & it comes in a whopping eleven colours! Here The Sequinist styles her black one a few different ways, she also has it in pink & blue. I defy you not to find one or two colours you love too…
Winser London Tweed
FUNKY FRAMES FOR EVERY OUTFIT
Since the dreaded age related short-sightedness kicked in I’ve been forced to wear glasses for reading. Yes it happens to us all & so it came as no surprise, but Oh. Em. Geee. How bloody fast did my eyesight deteriorate after the age of 45? Seriously? Now at 50 I am completely blind, you know the saying, as the proverbial bat, oh boy… I’m literally stuffed if I forget to take my specs out with me. I can’t tell you how debilitating it is! Or do you know?
On a positive note, there is the fashion aspect of wearing spectacles to consider. With every sad new prescription I’ve actually enjoyed the change of frames, choosing a completely different style every time Yipeee! You probably know my good friend Liz who is THE go to Blogging Optician. Have a look through some of her posts about how to choose frames & other super helpful advice. Since there are so many options now, she can arm you with points to consider & take away all the confusion.
My latest acquisition is from the new Steel Collection by Ollie Quinn. There are several styles in this range, both gold & silver metal as well as a few in plain black. Ollie Quinn glasses are designed in-house, made with great attention to detail yet delivered at an affordable price. Hopefully you can see in my shots how gorgeous these glasses truly are. If this funky retro style isn’t your thang, there are plenty of other designs to choose from. Not only that but they happen to be having an awesome sale right now! For example, have a look at this pair in a vintage tortoiseshell style now reduced to $80. I also love this pair of black & gold Prada-esque frames, also reduced to just $80!
Now if you’re concerned about getting into a bricks & mortar shop, fear not. With most existing prescriptions your lenses can be fitted in the frames remotely & posted out to you! How cool is that?
THE SEARCH FOR GOOD COFFEE
Wherever I go I absolutely must have a source of good coffee, full stop. Anyone who knows me (especially my Husband) understands the gravity of this. Rarely will I drink more than one cup a day, that’s connoisseur not addict ladies. In any case that one coffee, two tops, MUST… BE… GOOD.
I have been known to take my small espresso maker with me visiting non-coffee-conn friends. Even the Work Wife will tell you, when we were in NYC last year I went out at 7am every morning to pick up our first caffeine fix in my P.J’s! Needs must people, needs must.
So it was an incredible relief to find that my new home town has a magical place called The Ridgewood Coffee Company. Naturally I have my home-brew but isn’t it nice to go out for coffee occasionally too? I’m one of those nuts who quite likes sitting alone in public places, do you know what I mean? Being on my own has always been an efficient way of meeting new people. It’s amazing how many strangers will smile at you & engage in conversation when you’re alone. Plus this allows me to indulge in my favourite pastime. I’m a master PEOPLE WATCHER from way back…
OTHER WAYS I’VE WORN IT
- SHOES – CHANEL | with black jeans | with leather pants
- BAG – ESTEEROSE LONDON | with floral dress
Notice my pastie white pins peeking out from this sensational wool tweed skirt? Sadly I haven’t had spare time to buy fake tanner, I barely got around to shaving! Luckily the clever asymmetrical hemline distracts the eye & I get away with it… kinda. My skirt, designed by Yasmin Le Bon, really is a showstopper. In fact all the tweed from Winser London is exceptionally beautiful & on a par with Chanel. Although expensive in comparison to the rest of their range, it’s considered reasonable for tweed of such high quality. Truly collectible, if you’re a fan of wool like me. I’m sorry to say that this particular skirt sold out, however there is a new season range to drool over so it’s not all bad.
Bye for now loves xx
*Many thanks to The Ridgewood Coffee Company for allowing me to shoot in their very cool establishment
Comments ( 16 )
No Fear of Fashion
That is one hell of a fun skirt. Both in material as in cut. Oh and as in print. Very nice.
Your specs are great too. Make you look a littly soucy haha.
Never knew Winser London was so young. I thought it was a well established firm.
As for the search of coffee… I totally agree with you. I have the same, only I am a connoisseur (I would have spelled it connaisseur) and an addict. Any country which hasn’t got good coffee is not a favourite. That used to be Great Britain in the old days. I remember 40 years ago (yes, yes) I had to go into the cellar of Dickens & Jones to get a good cup of coffee in London.
Greetje
MT
OMG that’s so true about coffee in the UK Greetje! It was bloody awful…Not to mention the polystyrene cups Ugh terrible for your health & the Planets. Going to Italy for the first time was a coffee revelation, never had I experienced such bliss & for only 1 Lire! Still it’s like an unspoken law there that you only pay 1 Euro for an espresso, in most places 😉 Back then I was definitely addicted but back then I did a lot of naughty things so we won’t dwell heeheehee
Thank you for the lovely compliment on my outfit, my lovely friend xx
Emerald
Looks like you’re settling in well! I am also a coffee fiend and I always need to have a decent cafe nearby where the staff get to know what my order is. Even on holiday!
That’s a great skirt – love the red background. Looking forward to reading about more American adventures.
My eyesight was perfect until 45. And then within a week I couldn’t do without reading glasses. Middle-aged, eh?
MT
A woman after my own heart you are dear Emerald…
And yes, what is it about 45? Oh well, no use complaining right? 😉 xxx
LIzzy
Awwww, thank you so much for the mention. It’s so lovely of you. Now, where to start with the outfit. You look beautiful and serene Michelle. No mean feat given your very recent trans-Atlantic relocation. Your skirt is fabulous and of course, as a fellow Winser fan, I love the jumper. And the frames are perfection. They really suit you. It’s lovely but to see your new neighbourhood and to see you settling in. Lots of love xxxxx
MT
It’s my pleasure Liz xxx
Suzy Turner
Michelle, you look absolutely gorgeous! It’s wonderful to read your posts – I hope you’re settling in well now. I’m dying to hear more about your adventures over there!
I’m also a master people watcher and love sitting alone in coffee shop. I’m also really picky about my coffee and think that Portuguese coffee is the best I’ve ever tasted – you should come over here for a visit!
Big hugs from a sunny Algarve (at least YAY!).
Suzy xxx
www,suzyturner.com
MT
Portuguese coffee is good? Well then I must come! There’s a Portuguese family in my neighbourhood actually, I’ll ask her where I can buy it here. I know she shops in a Portuguese supermarket. I do mini move updates on my stories Suzy, until I have time to start the proper blog posts about it. I have a feeling they’ll be epic, since I have a lot swirling around in my head about it all. I wouldn’t want to bore you all with too much detail so I’m going to give myself time to write it in stages.
Enjoy your sunshine honey xxx
Lisa the sequinist
I love seeing the photos of you in your new digs, as much as I miss you being on this side of the pond! That Winser skirt is brilliant with (our!) pink boyfriend jumper. I love the specs, the shoes, the bag, the whoooooooole enchilada. I’m so looking forward to your next instalment, to see what you get up to over there! Thanks for taking us on the adventure with you. I can’t wait to sit and have a coffee with you in that coffee shop xx
MT
You know how badly I wanted this skirt Lisa…I love it so much! As for our pink jumper, I’m pretty much wearing it on repeat at the moment. It’s perfect for unpredictable temps isn’t it? Miss you too Babe xxx
Rozanne
I’m a fan of the Winser boyfriend jumpers, and am sitting on my hands to stop myself ordering the orange, having resolved to only buy second-hand for a while….. Love the tweed skirt too, one day I will invest. It’s great to see shots of your new neighbourhood and I look forward to seeing many more and hearing more about your new life over there! Oh, and I echo all the comments about coffee. Though I am feeling a bit sad at the moment as my favourite treat, a bloody good flat white (not easy to find) is off-limits since discovering a dairy intolerance. My tastebuds will not be duped by the non-dairy alternatives…. First-world problems, eh?! ;O) X
MT
Yay to buying second-hand – Boo to dairy intolerance!
That’s a major bummer Rozanne, I’ve tried a few alternatives in coffee myself so I totally get it. I switched my milk intake to almond milk a while back when I read about the cruelty to cows that goes on in dairy farming. The children still drink cows milk in their cereal but I buy free range organic for them. It’s expensive so I’ve managed to cut back in other areas & the kids no longer have milk drinks.
From all the research I’ve read, adults should not be drinking cows milk at all. We’re all lactose intolerant & there’s way too much fat in it.
Still, it is the best in coffee right? You have my deepest sympathies my friend xx
Rozanne
I think you’re right about all of us being lactose intolerant to some degree. I read that a higher percentage of people in Northern Europe have the enzymes to digest it, so it is heavily dependent on your ancestry! I also believe raw milk is more digestible, but it is very hard to come by and I haven’t tried it. You are also right about the conditions in the dairy industry, that’s why I only ever buy organic milk from trusted farms for Sean. Oat milk is the best sub in coffee, isn’t it, but it still has that slightly icky, manufactured aftertaste that makes the coffee taste a little bitter too. I will just have to reacclimatise to espressos and Americanos! It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it ;o) X
MT
Actually I was going to suggest you go black Rozanne. Since you drink such high quality coffee, it’s a shame to taint it with icky milk subs. Well anyway that’s my two cents worth & I’ll tell what I don’t mind mine black at all. May the force be with you my friend, good luck xx
Eleanor O’Neill
So good to get an insight into your new home Michelle – it looks amazing! I absolutly LOVE the little bag you’ve got with you in some of the shots…would you tell me where it’s from? It’s so nice!
MT
Thanks Eleanor, Yes it’d my pleasure! The bag is from a small online boutique called Estee Rose London 😉