MY MARKS & SPENCER COLLABORATION PART 2

This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Marks & Spencer and Shopping Links

This post is a continuation of my collaboration with Marks & Spencer and Shopping Links.  If you missed the first part of this project, here is the link where you can catch up with the first part and also find out what other pieces of their collection I have selected.

As you might know that I am a big fan of shift dresses due to their uncomplicated style and the simple manner in which you can wear them everywhere and these two dresses fitted my expectations to a T.

I was attracted to this floral print double-layered dress with its bright and sunny colours that reminds me of spring and the interesting detailing around the shoulders which makes this dress look different from others.  And the black silk ribbons at the nape of the neck that can be tied into a pretty bow adds a youthful vibe to it.

I paired it with ruffledopen toe shoes that seem to match the light mood of the dress very nicely but again, come the cooler months and this dress will look great with black tights and court shoes for a day at the office or with booties for a night out with the girls.

Then there is this tunicdress with flared sleeves that are very hot right now, it sends a totally different message, its darker colours are more suitable for the cooler months and when paired with black tights makes it a dress suitable for the office or for after work drinks. 

My last choice of the collection was this lovely linen jacket. I specifically love the fact that it does not have any buttons, therefore you may wear any top underneath it without it feeling tight or bulky.  And again, versatility is the key.   For a casual day-to-day wear, it would look great with skinny jeans or cargo pants, flats and a simple t-shirt underneath.  Also, I like to scrunch up the sleeves to add some urban panache to the look.  And for the office, you can wear it with a pencil skirt, smart blouse and a pair of court shoes and look smart and chic at the same time.

Outfits details and shopping links:

Yellow shift dress: Marks & Spencer

Shoes: Marks & Spencer

Flared Sleeve printed tunic dress: Marks & Spencer

Linen jacket: Marks & Spencer

HOW TO WEAR A SHIFT DRESS

There are many factors involved in making a woman of a certain vintage looking fabulous and, in my opinion, not all of them involve clothes or shoes or accessories.  Most importantly, for me, is the knowledge of what works for your body type, what your body’s assets and flaws are and how to take the best advantages of the former and try to minimize the later. And one more important point – you have to be brutally honest with yourself.  And that, my dear readers, comes with experience.

Dress:  Camilla & Marc

Shoes:  Christian Louboutin

Bag:  Chanel

Hand cuff:  Hermes

I am also quite aware, that why my legs are still slim and toned (due to hours spent in the gym and on the running track), my face is a signal of my age, hence as much as I am tempted to wear extremely short skirts, tight dresses and plunging necklines, I am well aware, alas, that this type of clothing is more suitable for my daughter.

Having said all that, I am all into dresses at the moment and I have a new flavour of the month - a shift dress.  I adore them for their simplicity and versatility; their clean silhouette fits almost every body shape and size, you can dress them up or down and they are fantastic transeasonal staple.

In one of my recent trips to Camilla and Marc, I spotted one of them in a luminous orange hue and took it to the change room. I loved its easy cut and the way it accentuates the best parts of your body and hides the ones that you are not so happy about; the single colour of it is a perfect background for playing with all sorts of accessories, from necklaces and bracelets all the way down to shoes and bags, depending on the occasion, your mood or the time of day. 

For a trip to the movies I paired it with thick heeled short black boots, a funky necklace and for a colour pop (my favourite way to wear brights) – an aqua shoulder bag.  

As the days are getting cooler, a pair of black tights is a great addition to this sartorial look.  On a night out to a dinner at a two-hatted restaurant, I accessorised it with a string of pearls, a Chanel evening bag and a pair of killer heels from Christian Louboutin.  But no matter where or how I wear it, this dress always earns a compliment.

Dress:  Camilla & Marc

Boots:  Midas

Necklace:  Zara

Bag:  Coach