Finding the perfect summer dress for my beach getaway

I am, quite literally, counting down the days until I will be escaping work, school, swimming lessons, meal times, after school clubs, nursery runs, supermarket trips and more. Bring on the pools, the seaside, the restaurants and the cocktails. I NEED this holiday!

This summer we are taking the girls to the Algarve in Portugal - a first for all of us. We don't very often escape to the beach so we've had to do quite a bit of shopping to choose a summery beach wardrobe for me, for Mr. B. and for the girls.

To find the perfect summer dress for my beach getaway to Portugal, I browsed the holiday dresses and maxi dresses online at JD Williams who assured me that there was something to suit every taste - and they weren't wrong. I hadn't really considered a maxi-dress until I started browsing and then I decided that this blue tile print dress would suit the occasion perfectly, and I'll tell you why.

• I want to pack light. I really don't like having to take a bazillion heavy suitcases on a family holiday so all of my holiday clothes are things I think I can wear equally well in the evening, as in the day. This layer-top maxi dress is smart-casual so I can wear it with a cardigan in the evenings to cover up, or with sandals during the day to keep cool. No need to pack two different dresses for two different occasions!
• This blue maxi dress pairs perfectly with my brand new sunhat which has a streak of blue on it. When I've worn the two together in the sunshine this afternoon, I've almost felt as if I am on my hols already!
• The layer top is naturally slimming. There is a thin line of elastic under the bust to hold the dress in and allow the layer to fall naturally over the chest and it makes what is an otherwise long, straight dress into something more noticeable.
• A strappy dress with no zips or buttons is perfect for pulling on over the top of a swimsuit on your way between pool and apartment. I have a funny feeling I may just live in this dress on holiday!  The straps are adjustable too which means you can make it a perfect fit for you.

I'm sure I'll be sharing lots of holiday snaps over on Facebook and Instagram so watch out for how I style and wear this JD Williams dress this summer.

Disclosure: I was sent this dress in return for my thoughts on summer dresses.

My Winter Dresses Wish List

In the new year I nearly always take on a bit of clothes shopping for myself.  It is a chance for me to splash out and reset my wardrobe for the wintery couple of months ahead of us and it always feels like a new start when you're wearing a new outfit.

This winter I've got my eye on a couple of wintery dresses.  The new job does this to me!  When it is really chilly I like to wear a short dress or t-shirt dress over a pair of plain black or plain brown leggings and this winter there are lots of baggy dresses which work perfectly worn this way.  If you know me at all, you've probably got an inkling that I prefer to do most of my clothes shopping online - a full-time job and a general dislike of crowds means I'm not cut out for shopping in-store.  But, when you're entire experience of the fashion world is limited to mail order catalogues and shopping websites, it can be hard to get a good feel for the latest high-fashion trends and how to apply them to your own wardrobe...

...Which is why I've had an awful lot of fun browsing the fashion website, Lyst, and creating a wishlist of my favourite winter dresses to get my through the cold spell.  Lyst is a very clever website.  It isn't just one store, and it isn't just one fashion brand.  It is a place where fashion brands come together for your own personalised shopping experience.  From the very moment you register, Lyst starts asking you questions about the styles and products you do like, and those you don't so that it can tailor its recommendations and inspiration to you.

I put together this winter dresses wishlist (or should I say wish lyst?) as an ideas board so that I can look out for similar items on my travels but if you want to buy then Lyst can quite cleverly tell you who is selling the item, and what the best price is.

On my list of wintery dresses you'll find long sleeved floaty dresses and shirt dresses such as this ribbed long-sleeved shirt-style Kickin It Dress from Free People.  I like the dark navy and think it would pair well with sparkly jewellery.  For me, I'm far more likely to pair this dress with a pair of thick black tights or black leggings but I like the fact I can wear it with boots if I'm feeling brave.

I have a good few dresses on my wishlist which follow the same sort of theme - long, floaty and long-sleeved.  I love the look of the grey sweatshirt fleece dress from Momoni but I think this one really would look best with boots and a bag.

But winter dresses don't always have to be long-sleeved.  This French Connection black Nadine dress is short sleeved and a short style but with a formal collar which gives it a smart look that I could wear to work, or out to a restaurant.  At present, Lyst have found that it is on offer at John Lewis.

Take a look at my winter dresses wish list on Lyst and, if you find something that inspires you, why not make a lyst of your own.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post but that doesn't stop it being fun to read.

The Sunday Review - Vertbaudet Girlswear

Lara was asked to try out some of the current range of girls clothing from Vertbaudet and she quite happily obliged! If you've been following Mellow Mummy for some time, you will know that both myself and Mr. B. struggle to get inspired to go shopping for ourselves and our same fashion laziness tends to rub off on Lara (most mornings I currently plump for a pair of jogging bottoms and a long-sleeved top for Lara).

I love receiving the Vertbaudet catalogue through my door and their emails in my inbox. Their girls clothes ranges often make me want to buy the entire catalogue full of clothes and, unlike most children's catalogues, they prompt Mr. B. to poke his nose over my shoulder and show genuine interest in buying clothes for Lara.



In this picture, Lara is posing (yes, actually posing for the camera) in a Vertbaudet Tunic Dress (£23) .The dress is a bright orangey pink paisely pattern with a light grey lining. The dress comes as part of a set with a pair of leggings but we paired it with some tights and a cardi to make Lara look really feminine.

I did try and make her look even more girly with the addition of some hair clips, but this is what she thought of that idea!



I found this tunic dress to be the perfect length for Lara to wear with leggings or tights and the great thing is that during the summer, she will be able to wear it on its own. Matched with a pair of brightly coloured sandals, this dress will make Lara look really summery.

Our current favourite dress for wearing to swimming lessons is this knitted jacquard dress (£21). It is so easy to pull over a toddler's head so it makes the perfect outfit for when we are in a rush. The dress is warm for the winter, but given the short sleeves, I expect to get usage out of it right into the summer.



And finally, we were asked to try this Faux Fur Gillet. It's not really my cup of tea but Lara seems to really like it and actively rushes to put it on in the mornings. I admit, she does look very fashionable in it, I just wouldn't have thought of buying it myself. It is astonishingly soft, pretty damn realistic (it reminds me of wild rabbit) and looks very grown up with a pair of jeans and a plain white top. This gillet has a small button at the top and is fully machine washable. It is currently reduced and costs £18.75 on the Vertbaudet website.

Reminiscing... My Wedding Dress – A Meme

Now, you may have already worked out that I'm not the giggly, gossipy girly sort. Chattering about wedding dresses isn't usually my thing, but I received such a lot of great comments about the picture of my dress on my Life Plan meme that I felt it only right to join in with the Wedding Dress meme when I was tagged by Kelly at 'You found Kelly's Hiding Place'. After all, if there's one thing a woman is allowed to get girly about, its her wedding dress.

Me with my 'Mate of Honour'

My wedding dress is festering in my loft. If I don't manage to find a buyer this year it is either going to Oxfam, or else (if I have met my new year's resolution and remembered how to use a sewing machine) I may possibly be adventurous enough to chop it up (the thought makes me shudder) and transform it into a gorgeous dress (or two) for Lara.

If you've read my Life Plan then you'll know that I had always set my sights on a brightly coloured wedding dress. Yellow was my colour of choice but despite it being my favourite colour, I look absolutely hideous dressed in yellow so I quickly ruled that out! Our wedding took place at Easter 2008 and we had a strong spring theme (yellows and greens) with traditional English daffodils, pale early roses and freesias. I was on the lookout for a green wedding dress; something classical, but with a hint of spring colour.

I had seen the dress I wanted in a magazine and managed to find a local supplier. On the day when my Mum accompanied me to the boutique to look for dresses, I tried my hardest to keep an open mind but I kept coming back to the one I had set my sights on and; when I tried it on, I knew it was right! I think its programmed in to us to KNOW… a bit like a wizard and his wand!

My dress is an Alfred Angelo 1516 original in Hunter Green. It is a pale ivory colour with a stunning green panel that runs down the whole of the length of the dress and forms a round semi-cathedral train. I think my dress embodies my character extraordinarily well - traditional, elegant and yet with a streak of originality - something just a touch out of the ordinary. I like to push the boundaries without rocking the boat!



The front of the dress is decorated with a floral pattern made up of small beads and pearls around the bodice and in a diamond shape across the front of the dress. The floral pattern is continued on the train and up to the laced corset back.



If you are interested in buying my dress, make me an offer! If you're not, I guess I had better lift that sewing machine out!

I tag Claire of Life through the Slim Lens

and Catherine at Baby Genie

If you would like to carry on the meme, add a comment or tweet me to let me know and I'll tag you officially!