I ordered a load of Adidas jogging bottoms and shorts because I suddenly had the urge to wear something other than massively oversized maternity trousers when I’m working from home. When I’m going to be sitting at my desk for hours, I invariably want something incredibly comfortable – loose around the waistband and ideally fleece-lined, sort of like the trouser equivalent of a dressing gown – and so I’ve often gravitated towards things I wore in my pregnancies.

I can’t say it’s the best look. Some of the maternity trousers even have holes in them. But they all tend to fit quite closely on the legs whilst giving the sense of blessed freedom around the torso and so it’s hard to give them up. I also have a pair of yoga harem-style pants, even though I’ve never actually done yoga, and they have a huge wide legs at the top and a flap of fabric that inexplicably hangs across one side, as though trying to conceal an item that I’ve attempted to smuggle between my legs. A fire hydrant perhaps, or a medium-sized cat. They are pretty comfy, I have to say, but could I nip to the shops in them? No I could not.

If I’m working at my desk I need to feel completely at ease, with no restrictions to my physical person, but I also need to know that at a moment’s notice I can be ready to greet someone I’m not married to (the postman, my next door neighbour, the list continues) (in fact the list is almost infinite, because I’m not married to absolutely everyone on the planet apart from Mr AMR) and/or hop in the car and fetch something from the supermarket.

So in this video I try on the new Adidas joggers and shorts that arrived (very promptly!) in my postbox the other week. There were some clear favourites and also one surprise mystery garment that I made fun of yet everyone on Instagram loved. Needless to say, I ended up keeping that particular garment and adding a matching tracksuit top to my subsequent order the following week, because I am so easily enabled…

I’ve linked to the products below the video for those who want to cut to the chase and not watch me prancing about like a fool.

AD info: no paid or sponsored content. Bought items myself apart from Hush coat, which I HAVE also actually bought in a smaller size FYI because I think the 10 might be too big. Affiliate links are marked *.

ADIDAS ESSENTIALS FRENCH TERRY 3-STRIPES JOGGERS – buy for £35 from Adidas *

ADIDAS PRIMEBLUE SST TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS – buy for £43 from Adidas*

ADIDAS MARATHON 20 SHORTS – buy for £22 from Adidas*

ADIDAS RUN IT SHORTS – buy for £22 from Adidas*

HUSH Leighton Teddy Coat – buy for £179 from Hush*

Watch my Trying on: M&S CLOTHES video.

The post Trying on Adidas Joggers and Shorts! appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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I spent much of September dashing in and out of my local M&S to buy bits and pieces for the seaside cottage, which will be available to rent for holidays from approximately the year 2032.

(At this rate. Cutlery, linen, pots and pans, butter dishes and tea towels, the list of essentials was endless and as soon as I’d get home from my shopping trip I’d realise that I’d forgotten to buy the waste paper basket, the fish slice, the egg cups and the bath mat. Bath mats, plural, x3, because you need one for the changeover day and then a spare. Hadn’t really thought any of this practical stuff through, let’s be honest.)

Anyway, on one of my frequent trips to M&S I couldn’t resist looking around the clothing department and was delighted – delighted I tell you! – by the sheer range of different styles and the general quality of the cut and finish. So I mammoth try-on was in order and here it is – my favourite item is the animal print cardigan, but if you’re into flippy little dresses then you’re in for a treat. And there’s a quite brilliant winter parka too…

Scroll down for try-on description and links to Marks & Spencer online.

M&S X GHOST Floral Tie Sleeve Mini Tea Dress*

M&S X GHOST Satin Floral Shirred Midi Waisted Dress*

NOBODY’S CHILD Peach Dress

AUTOGRAPH Floral Blouson Sleeve Maxi Waisted Dress*

Buy from M&S for £79

M&S COLLECTION Floral High Neck Midi Tea Dress*

M&S COLLECTION Ivy Skinny Jeans*

Buy from M&S for £19.50

NOBODY’S CHILD Pointelle Knitted Short Sleeve Top*

Buy from M&S for £35 (blue version now sold out online)

Watch my Trying On: The Best Strapless Bras video

The post Trying On M&S Clothes appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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I’ve been experimenting with ways of getting more use out of the sorts of autumn dresses I’d usually “save for best”. Dresses that I’m happy to invest in, because they are more often than not bought for a work event or a special occasion, but that then tend to sit forlornly in the wardrobe waiting for their next outing. Which is a travesty. A travesty I tell you!

Why do we always seem to spend the most money on the items we wear the least? The “only for best” shoes that we can’t even walk in (guilty of this many times over, seduced by the red soles), the ridiculous dresses that require tit tape, Spanx and someone to hold the hem as you make your way perilously from taxi to wedding reception…

So, how to get more use out of the dresses you’d usually save for best? It’s really quite easy – so much so that I’m almost embarrassed to write it out. Just add knitwear. Oh, and flat footwear. With some welcome warmth on top and a newfound ability to run for the train as the doors start to shut, the “save for best” dress becomes a daily staple – and one that’s effortlessly chic and pulled together at that.

The striking all-over print that has always felt a little much for a quick run into town suddenly takes on a new role when it’s paired with a chunky cable-knit jumper – it offers a flash of bold pattern to lift an otherwise unremarkable bit of autumnal dressing. Because what would I have on otherwise? I’ll tell you: pale blue skinny jeans. My autumn-winter uniform. Jeans and a knit, white trainers and a big coat. Isn’t it a nice change to have something bright and perky going on downstairs?

(Not to mention the fact that the maxi skirt part of the special occasion dress is a hell of a lot kinder to the undercarriage than a daily sartorial diet of tight, restrictive denim with ill-placed crotch seam.)

I’ve picked out three different autumn dresses here that all look snazzy and special for an evening out but are equally great under woolly layers and with wintery boots or trainers on the feet rather than skyscraper heels.

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Autumn Dress 1: Leaf Print Shirt Dress, £39.50 at M&S*

This is a real winner, this dress, but I feel it only comes into its own when you cinch the waist with a belt.

It has been made with reams and reams of fabric and so initially I felt a little swamped when I tried it on (I think it runs on the large size) but with a belt gathering the waist, the volumes of fabric suddenly felt highly luxurious rather than unshapely.

With a V-neck jumper thrown over the top (this one is from Reiss here*) and some boots in autumnal brown (these are Carvela, here*, and supremely comfy despite the heel) it becomes a throw-on dress for everyday wear. I’d probably stick to a navy cable-knit jumper in future but was trying to be snazzy with my styling here.

(I also decided to use a stick from the woods as a prop and I’m not sure whether it’s all a bit Lord of the Rings for my liking. You live and learn.)

Buy Leaf Print Dress, £39.50 at M&S*

Buy Cora Cricket Jumper, £138 at Reiss*

Buy Wine Leather Boots, £149 at Carvela*

Buy Leather Belt, £355 at Gucci*

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Autumn Dress 2: Floral Printed Midi Dress, £198 at Reiss*

This was something of a departure from the norm for me: the high-neck, the clinging fabric, the print-from-a-nineteen-sixties-sofa-set. However the gathering across the chest and back seduced me and I have no regrets: it’s “gothic heroine meets Hen Night in the West End” and I’m here for it.

On a sidenote, there were so many dresses in Reiss that I loved. I’m definitely adding them to my list of “places to always check when you need an outfit in a hurry”. The tailoring is really good and the styles are sharp and feel somehow professional. Like what I’d wear if I was the daughter in the TV show Succession.

Actually if I was the daughter in Succession and potential heir to billions of dollars then I’d probably be in head-to-toe Tom Ford and Dundas and Saint Laurent but let’s not split hairs here. Or heirs. Hohoho.

So, heroine from a gothic novel but then – what’s this? Stompy boots to bring things back down to earth:

I’ve had a good old rave about these Russell and Bromley boots already but here we go again: beautifully made and absolutely worth every penny. I’ve wanted to invest in a pair of R&Bs for decades and don’t know what took me so long, to be frank.

I particularly love that I don’t have to do up all of these laces each time, because they are fake ones. What a tease and a thrill! Every time I look at the boots to put them on, my heart sinks a little because I see the laces, but a split second later my brain kicks in and reminds me that there are zips up the sides…

It’s the ultimate emotional rollercoaster, let me tell you.

The pretty little pink cardigan is from M&S* and is made from the softest cashmere – it looks great buttoned up and tight, twinset style, but equally good thrown over a dress to keep out the autumn chill.

Buy Bobby Neutral Floral Dress, £198 at Reiss*

Buy Pink Cashmere Cardigan, £89 at M&S*

Buy Stomper Boots, £345 at Russell & Bromley

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Autumn Dress 3: Flower Field Tiered Maxi Dress, £295 at Me+Em*

I mentioned in my last try-on post (for Reformation dresses, here) how I thought that Me+Em were quite literally a cut above when it comes to finish. This was the dress I was referring to. It just slipped on like a dream and hugged all the right places.

The zip-front and side stripe give it the sport-luxe feel that Me+Em are so good at and the floral print is gorgeous. It’s also incredibly easy to dress this down, perhaps because of the dipped hem which gives a less weighty feel to the front of the skirt.

Buy Tiered Dress at Me+Em*

The dipped hem is a clever trick, really; it stops you looking like one of those knitted dolly toilet roll covers. Do you remember those from years go by? Anyway, with many long dresses your feet completely disappear so that it looks as though you’re floating. With a dipped hem, you get the sense of luxurious length at the back but it shows your feet and a bit of leg at the front. Very smart.

I’ve dressed this one down with my trainers of longtime habit: Adidas Stan Smiths. These, however, are Stan Smiths with a difference: from a line called Primegreen, they are vegan and made with 50% recycled materials. If you’re looking for a leather alternative. People rave about Veja but I found them a little uncomfortable and I don’t like the yellowed sole on them…

So, Primegreen Stan Smiths on my feet (these are £75 here*) and a navy textured cashmere jumper from M&S (£79 here*). Navy jumpers seem to be my jam, these days – black feels so harsh by comparison and I feel as though it tends to wash me out. I’ve relegated all the black knitwear to the shelf, cedar wood balls sandwiched between the layers. I should get some of those vacuum storage bags really, shouldn’t I?

Buy Floral Tiered Dress, £295 at Me+Em*

Buy Navy Textured Cashmere Jumper, £79 at M&S*

Buy Primegreen Stan Smiths, £75 at Office*

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Which is your favourite dress? Let me know. Along with any handy tips for dressing down the dressing up dresses.

(Sizing and shoot info: I am 5’8″ and hover between a UK10 and a UK12 in most brands. Here I’m wearing all size 10 or small. Shoe size UK6. Images shot whilst away this summer, the house was amazing – it’s here at Kate & Tom’s.)

The post Autumn Dresses: Just Add Knitwear appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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My five favourite beauty, fashion and lifestyle products this month include some boots for stomping in, a dress for vamping in and a face cream that moisturises so deeply it’s slightly unnerving. Watch the video below if you fancy listening to me chatting through my favourites or carry on reading for the quiet, work-skive-friendly version.

I kickstart my favourites this month with a really exciting one for me, because I loved this product and brand so much that I’ve actually invested in the company. (Hence the AD disclaimer.) The product is a very high-quality supplement called Heights and it has been specifically formulated to support the brain – braincare, if you will. Now I know that the issue of supplements divides people and so if you’re not a taker then please feel free to scroll on down to just below where there’s a picture of me wearing a dress and looking sultry/dead behind the eyes.

I’m pretty selective about the vitamins/supplements I take and well aware of the noise around the fact that so many of them are – quite frankly – shite, but I’ve also had some noticeable health successes (for want of a better phrase) when I’ve consistently taken certain vitamins and supplements that have been recommended to me.

You could argue that it’s coincidental and obviously it’s anecdotal, because I haven’t been part of any trials or studies, but off the top of my head: my recurring cystitis is massively alleviated when I’m consistently taking D-Mannose, I don’t get my awful mouth ulcers so much when I take Vitamin B12 and making sure I keep up my Vitamin D intake is a priority for me since 2014 when I was tested and shown to be drastically deficient. (All of these were recommended to me by doctors or consultants both privately and through the NHS.)

I think that I’m healthily cynical about the vitamins industry as a whole but feel as though I’ve had enough positive experiences with good quality ones to be open to trying something new. And I loved that the Heights Smart Supplement targeted the brain and the health of the actual organ itself, which wasn’t something I’d thought of before. The capsules (you take two a day, anytime, and they’re fine on an empty stomach) contain all of the Vitamin D I need to take, the Omega 3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin B12 and then a careful selection of highest quality vitamins and minerals that help to support the brain.

Read more about Heights

If you’d like to give them a try then I have a 25% discount code for the monthly plan – use code RUTH25. It works out cheaper the longer the plan you subscribe for, but I did a few months first to see how I got on. Please do let me know what you think if you try them, I find the whole concept so interesting – you can read more about Braincare here.

Get 25% off Height Smart Supplements using RUTH25

Next favourites on my list this month: two fashion items. Stompy boots and vixen dress. I have some events coming up for work and wanted a dress that was noticeable (cue bold print) but not too blousy (enter stage left the long sleeves and high neck). There’s something slightly gothic about this Reiss dress* and I really like the autumnal colours in the print. I would never usually go for a high neck but I think that it works so well with the gathering over the chest and across the back – I think it’s really flattering.

Reiss Bobby Dress, £198

Stompy combat boots aren’t perhaps the natural pairing for a printed maxi dress, but I’ve been experimenting with ways of getting more use out of evening/occasion dresses and going down the “Lily Allen circa 2006” route seems to be quite a successful one. Fancy flouncy dresses with trainers. Pretty maxi dresses with hard boots. There’s a proper blog post coming out imminently, but for now, behold the “Stomper” (aptly named) boots from Russel & Bromley:

They’re so beautifully made. Expensive, but worth every penny in terms of build quality and the fact that somehow they still manage to look quite dainty. Initially I was vexed by the laces up the front, because nobody has time for laces, but they’re actually dummy ones and the boots have zips down the sides. Marvellous.

You can find the Stomper boots online here.

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Two beauty products now. The Jo Loves Fragrance Paintbrush in Pink Vetiver has been in the favourites before, more for the scent itself than the scent delivery system, but after a few little nights away here and there I’ve noted that the paintbrush is actually quite a nice way of applying perfume. It seems more luxurious than a rollerball – slightly cooling, and the brushstroke is sensuous – and there’s something a bit more enticing about softly stroking a fragrance on. It’s great for travelling with as it’s lighter and sturdier than a glass bottle and handy if you’re in a crowded train or plane and don’t want to spritz perfume on everyone within a five metre radius.

The Paintbrush is here* online and is £40 for 7ml for the initial packaging. Yikes! That’s £5.70 per ml. However the refill set is £35 for 21ml which is much more purse-friendly at £1.66 per ml. For comparison’s sake, the 100ml fragrance in a bottle is £1.15 per ml. I don’t think that the extra is too horrendous considering how convenient the brush is, especially for travel!

You can find the Jo Loves Pink Vetiver range here*. Pink Vetiver is absolutely gorgeous, by the way. I can highly recommend it as an autumnal fragrance that still has sparks of a summer evening. It’s spicy and slightly exotic with a sort of musky masculinity – pink peppercorn, ginger, vetiver and cardamom. Really quite addictive.

Last on my favourites list but absolutely not least: the new Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle Cream from Beauty Pie (online here*). This cream promises deep hydration and boy does it deliver. It’s not quite so dramatic as the Supreme Cream (renamed Power Elixir Moisturiser, here*) but the lightweight gel cream packs an amazing punch in terms of hydration and the effects are noticeably long-lasting. If you’re after a heavyweight moisturiser with a lightweight texture and no greasy residue then this is your bag – suitable for all skin types, it’s perfect for plumping out those crepey lines of dehydration.

Buy Triple Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisture Miracle Cream*

If you’re unfamiliar with the Beauty Pie membership system then read my post here; you subscribe to a certain plan and then have a spending allowance. The products are one price for the non-member and another, much lower, price for members. For this cream, the £60 equivalent price (they compare the product to similar luxury products on the market) is brought down to £15.57 for members. Add on membership and postage and you still have a very high-end face cream for significantly less than you’d pay elsewhere.

That’s the idea. It makes more sense once you get your head around it and Beauty Pie’s skincare is so consistently good that it is worth getting your head around it!

If you use the code RUTHSENTME* then you can get an extra £50 spending allowance on sign-up, so make sure you get your bonus if you take the plunge. Some of my most-used favourites are in this post but I would absolutely, unreservedly recommend the new Hot Oil Double Cleansing Balm, here* online.

Shop at Beauty Pie*

That’s my favourites done and dusted for this month – I’m toying with the idea of moving this feature into the middle of the month so that the title still feels relevant and timely. What do you think? I sometimes think that once the month has moved on I don’t want to read anything about the previous one. It’s like going backwards. Let me know your thoughts!

 

The post 5 Beauty and Fashion Favourites: August 2021 | AD appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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Next in my ‘Trying On’ series I am reviewing the best strapless bras – both for comfort and for a good shape beneath clothes. It’s actually very hard to find good strapless bras; most tend to slip downwards over the course of the day (or night) and if they don’t then it’s because they’re so tight around the ribcage that you can barely breathe. Some strapless bras stay up but mould your boobs into one long “boob sausage” (official technical term), others give great shape and lift but drop dramatically halfway down your torso every time you speak.

Just for you, the viewer, I’ve jumped and jogged my way through testing to find the best strapless bras. This is incredibly important work. A tough gig but someone has got to do it! You’re welcome. I hope it’s useful. Watch the video, and read the reviews and links below:

Strapless bra shopping: possibly the worst that bra shopping can be. Thankfully strapless bras are not a lingerie item I’d typically wear every day – I usually employ the “services” of a strapless bra because I’m wearing something tricky – sleeveless, or low-necklined or some other heinously complicated thing.

And I’m usually only wearing aforementioned heinously complicated thing because it’s a special occasion – wedding, party or whatever. Why do we do it to ourselves? The one time you want to feel your best yet you also know you’ll be standing about for long periods or dancing very badly, after having eaten half of the wedding feast… And you think I know. What’s a party without some extreme physical discomfort? Let’s find the tallest heels and the most restrictive bra!

Anyway, here’s my low-down of the best I tried. The key things you want from your strapless bra: longevity and comfort. ie, you don’t want it to slip down over time and you don’t want it to dig in. Oh, it’s also nice if there’s a bit of subtle moulding to the cups of the strapless bra to give a smooth shape underneath clothes so I’ve mainly chosen smooth versions for this very reason. I’ve tried to also look for brands who cater for a wide range of sizes (harder than you’d think and I did throw a few wildcards in) and also those who make their bras in more than one “nude” shade – Wonderbra and Boux Avenue come out tops here…

Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra

This Wonderbra* strapless bra has a great shape. It feels really well engineered and it is made specifically to be a strapless bra rather than a multiway. You don’t always get a good uplift with a strapless bra but this one has and it is surprisingly comfortable. After a lot of dancing there’s a tiny bit of slippage but overall it’s incredibly impressive. This would be great for a night out – great uplift and relatively comfy.

Buy for £32 at John Lewis*or ASOS* and about a million other places online! Sizes – 30-38 A-G cup.

Boux Avenue Strapless Bra

There’s a little bit of uplift with this but more slippage than the Wonderbra. It is more like a t-shirt bra, definitely less engineering to it than the Wonderbra*. I can see me having to hoist it up repeatedly. It’s very soft and comfy though and comes in quite a few different shades.

Buy the Boux Avenue Straless Bra* in sizes 30-40, A-G cup.

Freya Deco Strapless Bra

The Freya strapless bra has a T-shirt shape and like the Boux* one it is also multiway, whereas the Wonderbra*  is designed just as a strapless bra. It does stay on really well and is pretty comfy – I would say it’s a bit sturdier than the Boux one.

Buy from Freya in sizes 28-38 B-GG cup.

Wacoal Halo Strapless Bra

The Wacoal Halo is a lovely soft, lacy bandeaux top rather than your standard strapless bra. It isn’t as structured as the other bras and wont give you as much uplift however it is beautifully made and the prettiest of the lot. I’m not sure where I would wear it though?

Buy the Wacoal Halo Strapless Bra* in sizes 32-38 B-E cup.

M&S Lace Trim Push-Up Strapless Bra

M&S’s Lace Trim Push-Up is a really well structured strapless bra with a wide band at the back for support. The mesh and lace design is so pretty.

Buy the M&S Lace Push-Up Strapless Bra* in sizes 32-40 A-E cup.

See also:

M&S Lace Bandeau Strapless Bra

The Bandeau strapless from M&S is very pretty but I bought it a size too small and can’t get it on! If you fancy it for yourself, in the right size, then you can buy it here*.

I also wear:

Roland top from Reformation

Buy here*.

My overall strapless bra verdict:

My personal favourites were the Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra* and the
M&S Lace Trim Push-Up Strapless Bra* but overall bra brand winners have to be Wonderbra and Boux Avenue for their range of sizes and colours. They both have a selection of nude tones – four and three options, respectively.

I think I’ve found strapless bra perfection – or near-perfection, at least. The Wonderbra Ultimate Strapless Bra* does gives an incredible shape, doesn’t fall down and also allows you to breathe in and out.

AD info: no paid or sponsored content. All items paid for. Affiliate links are marked *.

Watch my Trying on: Me+Em Clothing video

The post Trying On The Best Strapless Bras appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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Try-Ons: Hush Clothing

On my continuing mission to find the perfect denim shorts I ended up doing a huge Hush shop. All the items are linked below the video pane – I think quite a lot of it is now in the sale because it has taken me so long to post this. Sorry! Or perhaps that’s a good thing…

Can you guess which items I kept?

Watch my Me+Em try-on here and my Short Shorts try-on here!

Denim Shorts*: https://tidd.ly/3kHb46i

Red-trimmed pink cami*: https://tidd.ly/3ziOBQX

Camo Vest*: https://tidd.ly/3eEKneB

Green metallic vest*: https://tidd.ly/3wU19fW

Lily Pyjama Set*: https://tidd.ly/3rnkuVR

Jersey V-Neck tops (pink, yellow)*: https://tidd.ly/3iNokDV

Black deep-V knitted vest*: https://tidd.ly/3hSKJ3e

Leonie Relaxed Shirt*: https://tidd.ly/3rqc6oD

Cotton Blend Jersey Shirt*: https://tidd.ly/3y08A6I

White Sarong Skirt*: https://tidd.ly/3kBSzQF

Floral Jersey Vest Top*: https://tidd.ly/3xYpK4w

Brown Cotton Top*: https://tidd.ly/3kLwjE5

Valeria Tea Dress*: https://tidd.ly/3hTyjbr

Jemma Dress (sleeveless)*: https://tidd.ly/3hRijqn

Camo Linen T-Shirt*: https://tidd.ly/3eFMONZ

Black Long-Sleeved Puff T-Shirt*: https://tidd.ly/3kFjVp5

Black ribbed scoop vest*: https://tidd.ly/3zbQX46

Black side-strip joggers are Me+Em*: https://bit.ly/2U6GtEo

 

The post Video: Huge Hush Clothing Haul appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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I’m playing catch-up with this video-embedding quest – this Me+Em clothing try-on was actually first posted last month. I’ll get there in the end!

I’m not going to ever do particularly long blurbs with these try-on videos – they’re absolutely self-explanatory. So click, watch and enjoy! (It’s better for watching on a smart phone as it’s in portrait mode.)

Products tried, all Me+Em*: https://bit.ly/3xNZAle

Oh my God, my favourite thing – the pouf sleeve tee – isn’t there! Here’s the SKU, if you can find it and I’m just being dense then please let me know! SS21JT49000004010

Side-Stripe Jogger*: https://bit.ly/2U6GtEo

Pink Blouse*: https://bit.ly/2VMkKC0

Yellow Dress*: https://bit.ly/3z0Bns2

Black Shirt Dress*: https://bit.ly/3eii45h

The post Video: Trying On Me+Em Clothing appeared first on Ruth Crilly.

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You know the drill with these, by now: it’s a real-time (ish) try-on of my latest clothing order, this time from perennial favourite, Hush Homewear.

It wouldn’t really have been such a big order, but I have to get everything in both a size 10 and 12, because I sit between the two and never know how something is going to turn out. I actually think that Hush runs ever so slightly on the generous side, which means that more often than not I’m a 10, although I have to say that it was touch and go with one of the dresses – I kept it, and I’ve spent the week breathing in so that the middle button over my stomach doesn’t completely pop off!

Anyway, here’s the try-on; in case you’re curious, I kept the cashmere pink sweater (it’s just such a good shade of pink, really uplifting and non-twee) and the Sophie star dress. It’s rare I manage to find a cashmere jumper with a low-ish v-neck and so when one crops up I grab it. The low v’s are good over dresses and shirts, rather than a high round-neck that can make everything look a bit bunched up or matronly.

Links to items are below the video pane – enjoy! If you want captions on then just press the little CC. Although this one is captioned by Youtube so God only know what hilarity might ensue…

Leopard Sweater, £79*: http://bit.ly/32Cdkk6

Pastel Camo Sweater, £69*: http://bit.ly/32CS0es

Green Camo Sweater, £69*: http://bit.ly/3a8f3QC

Pink Cashmere Sweater, £135*: http://bit.ly/39c3IiC

Sophie Star Dress, £99*: http://bit.ly/2Trzgdk

Sophie Turtle Dove Dress, £99*: http://bit.ly/2Trzgdk

Leopard Kensington Dress, £75*: http://bit.ly/2PyhcNL

Me+Em Satin Trousers, £160*: http://bit.ly/2tSovYT

Me+Em Green Cashmere Sweater, £195*: http://bit.ly/2PycRKh

Adidas Primeknit Trainers (SO COMFY) £89.95*: http://bit.ly/2wXztO3

The leather jacket is a very old Whistles one.

The post Hush Homewear Try-On: Spring 2020 appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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I did an Abercrombie & Fitch order last week because the knees had gone through on my favourite skinny jeans. To be quite honest with you, I’m no longer sure that superskinny jeans are really the best cut for me anymore, but they seem to be the only jeans made stretchy enough to go around my doughy, highly-temperamental post-baby torso (I reckon it fluctuates in girth on an almost daily basis) and so I ordered a load more in the same cut and size.

And some shirts, and a vest top and a cashmere cardigan, and some henley tops, which are in a style called Soft AF, which I took to mean “Soft As F*ck” but then later realised that the AF stood for Abercrombie & Fitch.

HOLD THE FRONT PAGE: I’ve just been back on the site to check and it does say Soft AF! Not Soft A&F! Is this a sneaky little play about with words or did they just not want to bother with the ampersand? It’s not particularly on (wholesome American beach-loving young incredibly good-looking people) brand, is it, to call a range Soft As F*ck? (I’m taking the u out of fuck in case loads of naughty people end up here after searching bad words. It happened once when I did a review on that podcast, My Dad Wrote A P*rno. Even though I took the first O out of porno, I still got loads of dodgy traffic! The mind boggles. Something must have slipped the net…)

I just can’t imagine the people at A&F sitting around their boardroom table and coming up with “Soft AF”.

“What can we call this new really soft and cosy range? Bern? Chuck?”

“How about Soft As Fuck, Carl?”

*Silence*

Then again, maybe they are being all “down with the kids”. I know I am – that’s how I’m aware of what AF stands for in the first place! Check me the F out. I’m lit. When it comes to slang I am queen/qween, yas I am.

Anyway, before you all die of old age and/or feel the need to slowly smash your own face into your desktop, repeatedly, here’s the video. If you’re at work and supposed to be preparing a powerpoint presentation with the Q4 profits and losses then I highly recommend you just watch it with the sound off and skip through it at twenty second intervals. That’ll give you a good idea of what’s going on without getting you fired – it’s not the sort of video you need to listen to, particularly, though I do make some low-level quips that are probably about a two or three out of five on the funniness scale.

Cosy AF Long-Sleeved Henley (I wear size M)*: http://bit.ly/2RHIMtp

Coral Check Shirt (size small)*: http://bit.ly/36GOFex

Blue Plaid Shirt* http://bit.ly/36GOFex

Cashmere Boyfriend Cardigan*: http://bit.ly/2GKmHE0

Grey Lace Cami*: http://bit.ly/31gTMRM

Simone Super High Rise Jean Leggings, I wear a 29R*: http://bit.ly/2RCZJ8j

Grey Super High Rise jeans are here* http://bit.ly/37HDcwL

The post Soft AF: Trying on the Basics appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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I ordered a load of stuff with crazy sleeves from Zara. I haven’t completely lost the plot; I wanted some interesting ruffles and puffs to add a bit of pizazz to some makeup videos I want to film. I wanted something sculptural, almost, because one of the videos is about skin-finishing and doesn’t really have much going on in the way of colour. So the architectural sleeves were supposed to do the talking and the skin would be all clean and glowing and simple by comparison…

Anyway, enough of my frustrated art director ramblings: here’s the try-on video. I haven’t done a proper fashion vlog in years, so it was a bit of an eye opener to edit the video and see myself getting changed in between shots, when the camera was still running. I say “eye opener” and mean “absolute shock” because my body was a totally different shape than I expected, especially around the middle! Oh well. I’ll start thinking about my health and general lifestyle choices after Christmas, because it seems fruitless to begin now.

Fruitless is a pretty good choice of word there, too. Sums up my diet! Haha.

FEATHER-EFFECT MINI SKIRT, £25.99: https://go.zara/35w8cyl

MASCULINE SASH BELT TROUSERS, £49.99: https://go.zara/2O9mWNG

VELVET DRESS WITH DOTTED MESH, £25.99: https://go.zara/2pL2fye

ORGANZA SLEEVE SWEATER, £25.99: https://go.zara/2OchqKf

BLAZER WITH CONTRASTING SHOULDERS, £99.99: https://go.zara/33cqXoS

RIBBED TOP WITH RUFFLE TRIMS, £25.99: https://go.zara/2XEewku

The post My Zara Crazy-Sleeve Shopping Try-On appeared first on A Model Recommends.

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My Zara Crazy-Sleeve Shopping Try-On was first posted on November 23, 2019 at 6:49 pm.
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