Haute Casual or as I call it - Elegant Slumming.

Wednesday 19 December 2012


The laptop is still going bonkers and whirring and clicking like Wall-E so I've commandeered the Grumps' laptop for a quick post before it gets dragged off me (he gets a bit precious about his toys).

I've been reading posts on this thing called "haute casual". Depending on which post you read and how it's interpreted, to some people it's about casual clothing in luxe fabrics and to others it's just wearing casual clothes and making them look expensive. I don't mind either way because it gives me a legitimate excuse to wear my joggy bots out in broad daylight (a big taboo in mummy land). Okay, I'm jumping on a late bandwagon and I don't know what I'm on about but I wanted an excuse to wear some joggy bots simply because I love wearing joggy bots.


Pic 1. The Basics - Topshop Oxblood Tee + H&M Joggy Bots & Converse
Pic 2. Topped off with Next Cream Bomber Jacket Thing

I had this fantastic brainwave as I was folding up Ben's joggy bots. I buy him his joggy bots from H&M for £5.99 and they come in a variety of colours but essentially they are quite a slim cut. Well I was eyeballing them and thinking they're quite nice and I hadn't seen any in the shops which ticked my criteria of (1) not too long (2) not too expensive and (3) not too thin when I had the lightbulb moment of raiding the boys section in H&M for a pair which might possibly do the trick. I was fair giggling to myself at my sheer brilliance and even more so when I found myself in an H&M changing room pulling on a pair of boys black joggy bots (height 152cm which equates with an 11-12 year old boy, I think) and they fitted!

 

Pic 3. It's not haute till you put a furry thing round your neck
Pic 4. Ta dah - haute casual (okay I'm taking the proverbial Michael here)

The sweatshirty knitty bomber jacket cardigan thing is from Next (yes Next!) which I spotted when I was using it as a thoroughfare to get to Zara and spotted it out of the corner of my eye. It's warm, stretchy, comfy and light coloured which makes a nice change from the darks which I've been gravitating towards just recently. The picture online is dreadful and I would not give it a second glance if it weren't for the fact that I saw it in real life first. And then I got to thinking where's the haute in this outfit? It's not haute in that anything is in a luxe fabric so I will have to take it the other way and try to make this look more haute by sticking a fake fur stole around my neck. I love this furry stole thing. It's the kind that you stick on the lapels of a coat to give you a fake fur collar but I have never worn it that way. Instead I tie one end over the other and it has a little hook in the right place so I can fasten it in place. I used to wear it when I was working in an office over my cashmere jumpers to stave off the air conditioning. 

So there you have it - my take on haute casual or as I prefer to call it ... elegant slumming. Whatever term you choose - it's still a good excuse to don some comfy pants isn't it?

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Last Note :

  • Joggy bots aka jogging bottoms aka tracksuit bottoms aka sweatpants aka sweats.

  • If you're thinking of going for a pair of joggy bots in H&M - get one size down. They loosen up and I am now in size 146 which is age 10-11. I'm getting younger by the day!

  • I think this will be my staying in outfit for the next two weeks whilst all the boys are off (school and work).



32 comments

  1. I really like the slim cut jogging bottoms and what a great idea to get them from the kids section! I bought some sandals from the kids section of marks and spencer this summer, so much cheaper too! Xx

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    1. Kids clothing is tax free isn't it? And though the ties at the front are a little shorter than I would like, for £5.99, I can't really complain.

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  2. I would live in these if I could. Sadly mine are not for wearing out of the house, although thanks for the tip off of where to hunt some new ones down! ps sorry to hear about your puter. What a nightmare. I keep having reeeeeally slow internet meltdowns at the moment, which is driving me bonkers. Hate technology sometimes! x

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    1. Mine are the ones which have more of a cuff at the bottom and more fitted than the others which are just a piece of elastic through the hem. The original 152 cm ones have become indoor ones - they are almost getting too baggy but hey - they are warm with fleecy insides which is why Ben loves them. They are the perfect slobby bots.

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  3. Lol lol - getting younger every day! Love it! :)

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    1. Do you remember C&A? We used to have a branch when I was very young and every time I went in there, I used to measure myself against the height charts they had in the kids department. I don't think I ever got past 152cm :o(

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  4. I got some age 13 girls waterproof rain trousers for camping this year - purple - does that count? Unfortunately most of my attempts to raid the kids department end in failure of the leg length department. Like this look though! My kids off school wardrobe will be "smash and grab." Definitely no outfit posts!

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    1. Yup - it counts. I don't think it matters where they come from as long as you're happy with the fit. I never have the problem with the long leg department as you can imagine. And when I don't like the joggy bots anymore, I can save them for Ben - it won't be long before he's in them - he's getting tall or I am getting small(er).

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  5. Ooh, I like. What would really push the boat out is if you also donned some high heels. Go on, I dare you. ;)

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    1. Kristina - I will dedicate a post to you and hopefully satisfy your whim for seeing me break out (slightly) ;o)

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  6. Genius indeed - I often have a gander in the men's department for t-shirts and jumpers...but never thought about pants...Love your new look on the blog btw x

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    1. Thanks Joanna. Still tweaking little bits or rather a lovely lady called Fen is helping me tweak the blog and she's done a lovely job hasn't she? It still feels like me with my little face drawing (drawn originally because I was too shy to post a picture of myself). I'm always raiding the men's department for accessories but I can't carry off the jumpers too well as they tend to be broad of shoulder and narrow of hip.

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  7. You are just hilarious. Another great post!

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    1. Iva, I just have this vision in my head of you sitting there twiddling your pearls and shaking your perfectly coiffed head at me as you read one of my posts.

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  8. I like the term elegant slumming! hee. that bomber jacket thing is really nice. good spotting!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. Thanks Steph - it's one of those things you're not looking for but you're drawn for some reason and for once, I don't have anything like this in the wardrobe. Hope it becomes a go to item - it's certainly very comfortable and easy to wear.

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  9. You look great! Really well chosen and I love the fake fur collar - really want one but everything is too big or too nasty. I raid the boys' and girls' departments in H&M, Gap and Zara a LOT! Favs are military style jackets, slim jumpers/cardis and jeans. And the men's department in Gap and H&M, fav finds are slouchy jumpers (brilliant finish and materials) and parkas - yes really!

    I'm resisting the joggy bots or whatever they're called, it'd be the beginning of the end for me - I mean I've only just discovered the joys of bf jeans so the bots would be much too casual though comfy I know.....However, the Next jacket is a different matter! Great shape and colour! Hard to find light coloured jackets like this - thanks for sharing!

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    1. I know what you mean about it could be the beginning of the end but you could pair with your wedge trainers and ramp the look up a bit? You could even pair with some ankle boots like Marlene did for a more dressed look?

      Yes - the Next jacket was an unexpected find indeed but that's always the way isn't it? Looks nice just with jeans too. Boyfriend jeans especially :o)

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  10. Ha! I cracked up when I saw your little translation at the bottom. Ofg course I had already googled 'joggy bots' thinking I was learning more britishisms from you, but all that came up were your own blog posts! Google bites itself in the tail. But, the real issue at hang, is how much I actually love your joggy bots outfit. I have always wanted to wear sweatpants out into the world, elevated somehow into actual pantsdom, but have never had the wherewithal or the guts to do it. When I get back to Madrid I'm doing it. I swear. And I will think of you!

    http://nomadic-d.blogspot.com/

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    1. Gosh don't tell me I've just added something new to the English language? I've called them joggy bots since I don't know when so I thought they were just a normal phrase but apparently not as you've googled. And you're scared now - sweatpants in the real world outside! Are you going to do a post to prove it ;o?

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  11. Iva's right ... you are hilarious! Have a wonderful Christmas :)

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    1. Have a fab Christmas, Helen. You go and spend some serious dosh in NYC!

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  12. Genius!!!! Now I can wear jiggers legitimately as a fashion statement and not just wear them with trainers and lpretend I've been to the gym!!!!

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    1. I know - I think you were so excited at the prospect of wearing them out in public - you couldn't type! You go to the gym - explains the enviable figure - I saw you in the black dress on School Gate Style!

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  14. Elegant slumming is a perfect description! I've been trying to find a shawl collar cardigan that allows me to slum elegantly as well in my crew neck tees and jeans.

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    1. That's another way to do elegant slumming but I swear you can do it with joggy bots too and a shawl cardigan ;o)

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  15. Great idea to glam it up with the faux fur - you have reminded me that I have a faux fur collar at the back of my wardrobe - must get it out! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
    PS Thanks for all your lovely comments too!
    http://missbbobochic.blogspot.co.uk/

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    1. Thank you to you too Miss B for your lovely comments! I hope you have a lovely Christmas and wonderful New Year too.

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  16. Lovely post, I have taken immediate inspiration from it, and have put together an outfit for myself, resurrecting a lovely fur scarf I have had for yonks! Thankyou :-)

    If you get a chance, please check it out http://thislittlepretty.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/wearing-it-todayelegant-slumming.html

    I am consequently thrilled to have found your blog, and will look forward to going back through your posts for more inspiration xx

    Erika @ thislittlepretty.blogspot.com xx

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    1. Hi Erika - thank you for stopping past and leaving a comment and I'm really pleased that you got some inspiration from this post. Have popped along to visit your blog and you look fab in your outfit! Popping back now to have a proper read.

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  17. I love how you offset the textures with total basics - it strikes such a perfect balance!

    http://lasaloperie.blogspot.com

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Susie So So