And the shop of the season goes to Ma … Ma … Ma ...

Tuesday 24 June 2014



…. Mango? Nop!

…. Matalan? Nop!

…. Marks & Spencer. Nop!

…. MADEWELL. Yay!

Two successes from Madewell. Get in there Madewell! They succeeded where Mango failed for me this season. I loved the dark grey Mango jersey top which everyone pounced upon but which made me look like I had shoulders of an American football player. I loved this frills galore version even more but which was two inches too long and too too many inches too wide and made me look like a toilet dolly. But this little Madewell top seems to be a happy amalgamation of the two. Not jersey but a lovely soft cotton. Not as frilly but almost frilly. Girly but not dolly. I'm happy :o)




Madewell Memento top, Zara jeans, Topshop Koala espadrilles

Oh and did anyone spot the black and white leather espadrilles? Remember when I was going off my head trying to find some back here



Mission finally accomplished! Topshop must have felt sorry for me and finally put out their Koala espadrilles in the black and white leather design which they should have done in the first place and would have saved me all that effort in tracking some down in this design. And for anyone interested in them, I'm sorry but they are sold out online - I think they sold out in 3 days or something like that but if you want the look and don't mind them in canvas, Pull and Bear do this pair which look really good.

And to add a bit of colour to the proceedings - I pulled on some loom band bracelets which I've just started getting the hang of. Slightly addictive. Hmmm. Who else is doing loom bands out there then? Fess up!



The sun wasn't too bright, so I lugged the tripod out again today. I'm getting quite good at setting it up now. Too bright and the sun shines in my eyes and I just squint at the lens. Not cool. And though I'm getting better, it takes a few attempts to get it right as I kept having to battle the clematis or I'd find that I'd cropped my feet out of the shots. I even managed to get a splinter from the fence - the things we do for photos eh?


Practice makes perfect


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Last Note :


  • Thank you again Joanna. You are naughty aiding and abetting but don't stop will you :o)
  • The Madewell top is available from Shopbop if anybody in the UK is interested. I am wearing a size small (size 10).

45 comments

  1. Love this outfit Sue but gutted you tempt us with sold out espadrilles x

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    1. Aww - I'm sorry Sharron. I did tweet out about them as I didn't do a blog post but you must have missed it - easy to do. But I'll remember to let you know if I see any more on my travels.

      Best wishes for the wedding - I'm sure it will be fab with you behind it!

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  2. I love everything, best espadrilles I've ever seen, fantastic top and cool loom bands x

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    1. Thank you Donna - the loom bands make it don't they? ;o)

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  3. Your new top is the right blend of boho cool. I really like what I've seen online but there isn't a store on the FLorida gulf coast - sadly.

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    1. Oh no that's a little unfortunate. It's almost like so near yet so far isn't it? We can just keep hoping that they will eventually include the UK online or resort to Shopbop.

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  4. How is it that I look like a 55 year old granny and you look like a hip, happening 30-something year old? Is there a secret you're not sharing, Sue?

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    1. Ha ha - there is no way you look like a 55 year old granny! Most of the time I hang out in tatty jumpers and jeans but thank you for the vote of confidence - it's much appreciated :)

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  5. Gorgeous Sue! Ditto Sharron's comment re the espadrilles!! Can't wait to see a certain other Madewell top....:)

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    1. Thanks Avril and thanks for being my mule for the other top - I think you've spotted it now on the previous post.

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  6. I wish you never put that link to it for us to buy in the UK - I WANT IT!!!! Looking amazing Sue, the whole outfit looks fab and those shoes.....so Chanel! x

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    1. I like the espadrilles as they definitely have that nod to the Chanel ones without going over the top with the logo. And I can see that this would be a perfect top for you Natalie. Go on - you know you want to :o)

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    2. I've resisted on the top after my J.Crew splurge, but the shoes. Oh Sue those B shoes, I need them! Been to my local Toppers and nothing, not even on the website anymore. I am going to have to try them on in another colour to be sure of my size then start sending SOS's out around the country to my friends!!!!!x

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  7. I love this version more than the Mango one! Good call Sue ;) Also really like the espadrilles, so glad you got them finally! And you know if you ever wanted anything from down under you have my email! x

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. I loved both the Mango ones but they just didn't work on me so thankfully this one did though it was a little bit of a gamble. And yes - I finally got the espadrilles - you've got to love a trier don't you! And thanks for the offer - you never know when you might get called upon!

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  8. So nice to see something from a different brand...you look fab:) Hope you are enjoying the week!
    ~Anne xx

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    1. It is nice to have something a little different but I feel a little bad that I'm telling people what a lovely top but you can't buy it unless you go through awkward channels. But I'm sure there will be people out there who will be like me and go to the trouble. We're all mad.

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  9. Lovely little top and I love how it looks on you! I heard of Madewell years ago on the Petite Bloggers in USA. Everything I liked the most on them turned out to be Madewell :-) I think Alexa Chung did a collaboration with them way back then. I couldn't get away with the sleeveless cut with my shoulders (yeah I blame them and the kids for everything lol!). Mango have been fantastic for me this season so can't complain.

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    1. Yes, Alexa did a collaboration with them a few years back which I was gutted about not being able to indulge in. But I think I was lucky with my tops this time and the fact that they both fitted well despite not having bought anything from them before and not being sure how their sizing runs. I can't really do sleeveless tops not because of the shoulders, more because of the arms but this is a nice little top to wear with a cardigan for a little coverage.

      I've not really spotted your Mango buys yet this season - look forward to see what you've nabbed.

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  10. Another fabulous Madewell top Sue! It's exquisite! I love it with the jeans......and don't get me started on those gorgeous espadrilles! So glad that you managed to get your hands on them in the end! All in all outfit perfection going on here! xx

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    1. You've got to give me 10 out of 10 for perseverance don't you? I did think I'd had it with the espadrilles but I just got lucky and I love them. They work so well with so much.

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  11. Love it ALL (that's a lie - I could leave the loom bands!!) But LOVE the top and LOVE LOVE, LOVE, the espadrilles. The loom bands are the preserve of my 13 year old, so can't love them. But you look fab x

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    1. Come on Helen - live a little - get a loom band bracelet on you! Get down with the young uns!

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  12. I ducked into a Madewell because of you and saw your blue and white embroidered top. Sadly, I do not fit anything but t-shirts with them right now--the dresses require way too much tailoring to make it fit me, and I really don't need more tees! But I'm glad you're having a good season with them, your last two purchases are really lovely. I like the blues.

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    1. Really? I would have thought your sizing would have been not far off mine - your exercising is reaping rewards for you. I've steered clear of the dresses as they look a little too long for me and the fit I guess would be off so I'm sticking with tops for now. And I think you're positively lucky having a Madewell on your doorstep, I'd be having such a good shopping time in there!

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    2. The dresses are quite long IMO. I'm 5' 1". I tried this on in a size US 4 and 6 because I was entranced with the color. The 6 was too large overall; the 4 it in the waist but was very roomy in the chest (my shoulders are small, I guess? And not enough va-va-voom if you know what I mean.) I didn't go down to a 2 because I figured the hemming of the skirt would add an additional cost. I'm just a little bummed that I don't quite have the figure for most of their clothes, which I believe flatters a longer-torsoed, straight-bodied lady.

      My local mall has Madewell, Banana, Club Monaco, H&M and Zara all in the same general wing so I always start in that area first when I'm looking for something to wear :)

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    3. I've steered clear of the dresses so far but I think that's because they actually have the dress length measurements on their website and I know what is my best length and when things are going to be too long or out of proportion for me. You sound like you're about the same size as me in clothes and I'm the same height. But you're right about the longer torsoed straight body styling but Madewell does have that kind of tomboyish vibe about them which I like so much.

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  13. This is gorgeous on you, Sue. I'll be having a cheeky look soon! You know I'm heavily involved in loom bands already! I can't get away from them being surrounded by 8 and 9 year olds in school! Lynne x

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    1. Are you off to the States then? If so, lucky you!

      And yes, I can imagine there is a lot of loom banding going around you at school.

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  14. Oh I love this Sue - absolutely love it! (Can you tell I love it!). I still can't get the hang of this fashion pose thing (even if I had anything worthwhile to pose in!) - still look and feel a complete prat! Also - I have a very similar loom band myself (the brighter one) courtesy of my daughter - she has a loom band factory in her bedroom! x

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    1. Fashion posing thing is not a doodle - it's hard not to look like a plank and it's weird smiling at the camera with no one behind it. Actually it's easier with no one behind it actually.

      I think a loom band factory would be going a little too far for me. I've only bought a couple of packets so far and I think that's the extent of it. I'm too lazy to learn anything but the basic technique.

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  15. Really love the really love the espadrilles and so perfect with your outfit!
    Abbi x

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    1. Thanks Abbi! I think the espadrilles just make the outfit that little more interesting don't they?

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  16. Love that top! Off to the US in August so may have to find a Madewell.....We are looming crazy in the house too - check out youtube for some cool tutorials - we just made the 'sunburst' loom bracelet - very fun!

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    1. Oh no - sunburst loom bracelet! You know I'm going to have to try it don't you?

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  17. Love that top, it is beautiful - but a question from this busty mother - what is it like after it has been washed? Do you hang dry then wear or does it need 30 minutes to iron?.

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    1. Guess what - you could actually get away with not ironing it. I put it in the wash as soon as I got it as it had a few creases from being in transit and being folded and they wouldn't iron out nicely. So I chucked it in the wash, hung it on a hanger, pulled out any creases and left it. I could have worn it as it was dry but I prefer a little iron (old habits die hard) and it hardly creases through the day as well. I wore it for a full day yesterday and I could have worn it again today without looking too crumpled. And I think you mean "busy" mama rather than "busty" don't you? :o)

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  18. Officially my fave look of the summer...that top is gorgeous and so delicately beautiful and those espadrilles...perfect, I am so gutted I missed the boat on those despite you giving me the heads up..I need to be quicker! Stunning Sue xx

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    1. The top is a lovely fabric actually - very soft - almost like a silk cotton mix which is what I thought it would be like. And no espadrilles to be found? They were on and off the Topshop site so fast, honestly. I thought they would have had them in the big London stores though. Did you take a look at the Pull & Bear ones? They look nice on the website and I think I would have bought a pair from there if it wasn't for the fact that Topshop got there first.

      And can I say, my fave look of the summer so far is you in the denim shirt and culottes. Now that is rocking!

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  19. Ooh, don't know if I have to thank you for adding yet another temptation to my ever growing list! That Madewell top is gorgeous!!

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    1. Shopbop is the way to go for you as well I think! I wish they did shop to Europe.

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  20. That top is gorgeous! I have to keep an eye out for the Madewell sales - I think I stopped going on their website as they didn't ship to NZ (or maybe that was APC?) but I love their stuff. The shoes especially. And um that last shot of you?? Gorgeous! x

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    1. Thank you Jamie-Lee. And I finally got my espadrilles - yay! Can't say I didn't try!

      And even though Madewell isn't readily available over here - I still can't resist looking - I just love their styling.

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Susie So So