Blogger Challenge: Style Your Man’s Christmas Outfit

Blogger Challenge: Style Your Man’s Christmas Outfit by dawnandmaddy on Polyvore

As I look at the pin board above I can only dream and hope that I can inspire some sense of pride in dress on my fashion disaster of a son.   My daughter is the teenage equivalent of Anna Wintour and spends hours deciding on what goes with what and carefully buying clothes and then I have Tom.  A clothes horse as far as shape and size goes, but more of a donkey when it comes to putting the look together. 

For Christmas I said I was going to buy him clothes and asked for his input; my major fear was that he would say "Shell suit"  and it was close.  His hearts desire is a new tracksuit!!!!  Before you think "oh he's a fitness nut", you couldn't be farther from the truth.  His idea of fitness is running for the bus to get to college, where he is a musician.  The only exercise he gets is carrying amps and playing guitar.

I've put together the look to showcase the idea that comfy doesn't need to mean slovenly and that looking smart can still be casual.   The Armani Jeans are fantastic and grey so he won't automatically think urghh denim jeans and fittingly are called Comfort Jeans.  Teamed with the gorgeous black Hugo Boss jumper, he could be warm and stylish without looking like granddad.   I've added a Superdry coat, for the British weather, which I know he would wear as it is de rigueur for all the boys on his college course.  The Superdry bag, looks stylish for carrying stuff to college and the Toy watch would hopefully mean that he'd not miss the bus home quite so often because he forgot the time. 

I'm a little bit in love with the Vans trainers.  I doubt that I will ever see him in a pair of shoes but they are a million miles away from his scruffy trainers.  The obligatory boxer shorts, have to be Calvin Klein so that they can poke above his jeans, in homage to his favourite film.  The little box of socks from Hackett are already sitting under our Christmas tree and are a must for anyone who finds it a nightmare to pair up socks that they have rescued from the sock monster who lives under the bed.

Now to go off and write his letter to Santa, fingers crossed he's not on the naughty list. xx


All the clothes above were sourced from Mainsline Menswear, who happen to be running a great bloggers comp to showcase gifts we'd like to give the men in our families and how we'd like to see them dressed for Christmas.  If I've been good perhaps they will let me win this??? 

You can find more details here...http://blog.mainlinemenswear.co.uk/2013/blogger-challenge-style-your-mans-christmas-outfit-and-win-250-of-designer-clothes
 

Budget Summer Dressing

Budget Summer Dressing by dawnandmaddy featuring dorothy perkins

Dress £25.00 - axparis.com  Denim Jacket £22.00 dorothyperkins.com  Shoes £8.00 -bankfashion.co.uk   Bag £9.99 - Newlook.com    Sunglasses £4.90 - forever21.com, Jewellery £10.00 - bhs.co.uk  Total: £79.89



 

Inspired by  www.myvouchercodes.co.uk to create a summer outfit for under £100, I've put together the look above.  I'm a huge fan of dressing cheaply and hunting out bargains.  I love this dress, which can take you from day to night with a quick change of shoes, and jacket.  These pretty ballet shoes from Bank, add just a touch of fun and as I'm styling this for a british summer, the jacket is a must have.  The Sunglasses are admittedly hopeful but at only £4.90 I thought I could afford the risk. 

 

If you think you can style a summer look for under £100, take a look here and have a go, I'd love to see what others come up with.  #StyleSaversChallenge

 

 

Summer Festival Look

Summer Festival Look by dawnandmaddy

 

I love summer, I love music festivals, I do not love rain, so I'm banking on a lovely summer this year for my festival going.  I'm off to Glastonbury in a fortnight and am determined that year I will not need my wellies, poncho and a boat.  I'm insisting on buying suntan lotion, after sun and sandals.  So above I've produced my dream Glastonbury look, without a welly boot or pac a mac in sight.   

 

I've gone for these denim dungarees, it's a huge look this year and very comfy.  I like the embroidery on the pockets of these.  I'm also a big fan of all the aztec prints that are showing up on outfits this season so plumped for this one from urban outfitters. 

The tights, add just a little touch of fun to the outfit and I adore butterflies.  I know how dreadful the ground can be underfoot but as I'm on an anti -welly crusade, I've gone for trusty converses, rather than sandals.  I'm also a great one for pony tails at festivals.  I have bum length hair which suffers from a lack of decent washing facilities so ponytails are the way to go, but I have invested in several of the hair jewels on Asos this season to bring my hair on trend.

Last but not least is my trusty rucksack for carrying all that sun tan lotion in.  I am so in love with this spider back pack from Surfdome.  I know it comes with a rain hood, (which I won't need), but I'm counting on it being my spider bodyguard and scaring away all the real ones when I'm asleep in the tent at night.  Hopefully, they will take one look at the massive spider in the corner and run away.

 

I created this board from things I found on Shopstyle, which is truly one stop clothes shopping paradise and am pleased to say that not only did I get a chance to get some last minute goodies for Glastonbury, I also get to enter their great competition which is hosted here by Natasha from Girl in the Lens to build a festival look for under £200. 

 

My entire outfit comes in at £155, which leaves me £45 emergency cash for an umbrella, wellies and a raincoat should the worst happen....

Cocktails in New York

For Cocktails in New York, I've gone down the classic little black dress route, but I loved the cut out detailing on this Top Shop dress, which makes it just that little bit different.  I've then added colour with these amazing shoes from Asos and the lovely earrings.  I think the outfit could be worn anywhere, be it a really posh upmarket wine bar to a hotel ball room, without looking out of place.  I have to admit to ordering the shoes myself because you can never have enough shoes, even if I don't get to wear them in New York.

Travel Supermarket have got a great little competition where you have to publish a Worldwide Wardrobe post on your blog including an outfit and accessories for the five different destinations, explaining why you chose each look. You can enter just one of the categories to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to that destination or enter an outfit for all five categories to be in the running to win all five holidays. - See more at: www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/worldwide-wardrobe/

Sightseeing in Paris

Travel Supermarket have a great little competition running on their website to publish a Worldwide Wardrobe post on your blog including an outfit and accessories for the five different destinations, explaining why you chose each look. You can enter just one of the categories to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to that destination or enter an outfit for all five categories to be in the running to win all five holidays. - See more  here

This is my entry for Sightseeing in Paris:

For a day out sightseeing in Paris, I've gone for practical.  Jeans and a T Shirt, are wear anywhere clothes, which will cope with the dirty streets and hard graft of a day seeing the sights.  Much as I'd love to romanticise about Paris, it is in reality a grubby dirty city full of pickpockets and a lot of walking.  I've therefore, chosen a bag which has lots of buttons and an inner zip, and shoes which have lovely flat heels - although I couldn't resist these quirky little cat ballet flats from Asos to add a touch of style to the outfit... it is Paris after all.  Which despite my calling it dirty and grubby is my favourite city in the whole world and one which I love wandering around in discovering all the little side streets and cafes where I can sit and watch the world go by.

Clubbing In Ibiza

Travel Supermarket have got a great little competition where you have to publish a Worldwide Wardrobe post on your blog including an outfit and accessories for the five different destinations, explaining why you chose each look. You can enter just one of the categories to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to that destination or enter an outfit for all five categories to be in the running to win all five holidays. - See more at: www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/worldwide-wardrobe/

For Clubbing In Ibiza, I followed the Neon Trend that has really caught my eye this season.  I have to admit that I thought I'd never be caught dead in a bright neon sweatshirt, but that is exactly what I am wearing as I type this 
blog.  This beautiful dress from Jane Norman caught my eye, especially when you consider it's only £35.00, which left me enough in my budget to indulge in these amazing shoes from New Look.  I'm absolutely certain that they would kill me by the end of the night, but it would be oh so worth it and who needs shoes in the day time on the beach -  the blisters can then heal all day!  With open toes shoes like these, you'd need a good nail polish.  I'm torn here between sticking with the pink theme or opting to clash with the bright yellow, but whichever would be sure to make a statement with the rest of the outfit and I'd certainly be hard to miss in the a nightclub... just have to hope that I didn't sunburn to match.

Shopping in London

Shopping in London 

Travel Supermarket have got a great little competition where you have to publish a Worldwide Wardrobe post on your blog including an outfit and accessories for the five different destinations, explaining why you chose each look. You can enter just one of the categories to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to that destination or enter an outfit for all five categories to be in the running to win all five holidays. - See more at: www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/worldwide-wardrobe/

This is my entry for the Shopping in London category.

London is at the best of times a wonderful vibrant city, at the worst of times, it's a miserable wet grey kind of place.  So I plumped for yellow touches in my outfit.  It's either going to fit right in or brighten up a dreary street, whichever its a win win.  Of course this is London so the obligatory umbrella is in there, who knows it may even be needed to ward off the suns rays and I am ever hopeful with these wonderful quirky top shop sunglasses.  

As London and shopping mean, for me anyway, lots of walking, pushing my way through crowds and standing on the underground, I went for comfort dressing, with this great t shirt and joggers from Top Shop.  Comfy and unlikely to crease, these should see me through a heavy day shopping and would be easy to whip on and off in changing rooms.    I love these bright Vans which should stay nice and comfy for a long day on my feet and the duffel bag hopefully would keep all my new purchases safely stored.

Thailand Full Moon Party

Thailand Full Moon Party 

Travel Supermarket have got a great little competition where you have to publish a Worldwide Wardrobe post on your blog including an outfit and accessories for the five different destinations, explaining why you chose each look. You can enter just one of the categories to be in with a chance of winning a holiday to that destination or enter an outfit for all five categories to be in the running to win all five holidays. - See more at: www.travelsupermarket.com/c/holidays/worldwide-wardrobe/

This is my entry for the Thailand Full Moon Party.

I'm not a great one for partying in my swimming costume or bikini.  So I opted for these really great shorts.  The pompoms on the bottom look really fun, although I do worry how practical they will be, but who says you need to be practical on holiday.  I love the bandeau top from Jane Norman,which is in a lovely bright colour.  Matching the denim shorts, I've gone for a hardy little back pack to carry all my sun tan lotion, aftersun and mosquito repellant.  I love the hair jewels that Asos and lots of others are doing this year and I think that would look great worn in the evening and really suit Thailand.  The necklace looks fun and matches the outfit beautifully and the coral sandals from New Look, give you the height you need at a party, without being so delicate that you'd ruin them on the beach.  All in all a look that you could have worn all day but will slip seamlessly into a night out.

Swimwear Style Blogger Competition

I've found a really great bloggers competition on swimwear365.co.uk, to choose your favourite item from their range and style it.  I have to admit that I've completely fallen in love with this cute pink swimsuit.  It comes with integrated underwiring and an elasticated under bust.  It even comes with  removable pads to give you a few options if you need them.  Luckily for me it's underwired which is a major requirement for me in swimwear.  I'm not brave enough for bikinis (or even tankini's) anymore, I leave those for my teenage daughter, but still like to wear fashionable swimwear with a bit of style.  I'm  not quite ready for black complete cover ups just yet.  I swim on holiday, not just laze on the beach and so a swimming costume like this ticks all my boxes.

 

I love the bright neon colours that are so on trend for this summer - I'm still holding out hope that we will have a summer - and think these shorts from River Island which can just be pulled on over the top of the costume will be great. They have a bit of length to them, hotpants are not my thing anymore, I wore them first time round!.  The bright pink blouse from Dorothy Perkins, covers all the bits that WILL wobble and is such a lovely colour.  I'd be happy just to throw it over the costume and go. 

 

The sunglasses and shoes add another touch of colour and fun, and I'd be set, whether it be a day at the beach, a day at the pool, or even just walking around town.

 

 I can see this outfit being a staple of my summer.

 

If you want to have a go at styling your own outfit or just seeing the lovely costumes on their site then nip along here... http://www.swimwear365.co.uk/blog/homepage/springsummer-2013-swimwear-style-blogger-competition/