No spend January continues...

I had such a restful weekend as we went away for a few nights to Legan Castle Farmhouse in Kilkenny. You may remember I went glamping there during the summer but obviously being that we are in the middle of January and in Ireland there was no sleeping in tents this time. Instead we stayed in part of the main house and enjoyed a weekend of no tv, limited internet coverage and delicious grazing boards with lots of local produce and fresh food which Caroline the owner makes herself.

We normally go abroad for a few days in January but this year we decided to do a staycation, especially when we were able to bring Blanche (our diva pomeranian pooch) with us. The farmhouse is quite near to Mount Juliet, about a fifty minute walk there and back, and because the weather was cold but nice and dry, we were able to bring Blanche on a lovely walk while also walking off the selection of cheese and other goodies from the grazing board.

It’s so much easier dressing for cold and dry weather rather than when it’s wet and I’ll be the first to admit I own very little in the way of practical rain gear - which I’m very aware really makes no sense considering the country I live in.

I’m still going strong on my no spend January but I think my first purchase, whenever that may be, will be a nice raincoat. One that’s practical but that I can also wear to meet clients and still look stylish. I’m going to start researching this ASAP.

This little frosty cold snap has meant that I’m getting great wear out of my mid length teddy bear coat from Zara that I got as a Christmas present. It’s a great neutral taupe colour which pretty much goes with everything and has been keeping me toasty and warm on my early morning walks with Blanche. I think I said last week that I was doing the 100 Days of Walking challenge and, as I write this, I’m on day eleven which isn’t too bad.

The combination of cold weather and my no spend January is really making me search through my wardrobe a bit more and I’ve started to wear items that had sat unworn for ages.

I’m also layering a lot and have paired a floral dress with a button up cardigan I bought last year and popped my longline denim jacket over it. Just add a faux fur collar and you have a perfectly textured and layered look.

I’ve also discovered a sage green jacket that I bought in & Other Stories that had been sitting in the wardrobe since last year, practically unworn, as I always just thought to put it with jeans but during the week I’ve worn it with a grey funnel-neck knit from Dunnes Stores and a light, blush pink midi skirt.

Again, I just added my black boots from Office that I’ve worn practically every day for the last two months and if I want to go completely extra, I may throw a grey shearling collar over the top of it all when I wear it again.

The transformative power of a well placed accessory in changing up a look is amazing.

I’ve got a busy week ahead with an exciting shoot planned plus a trip to Dublin for some Spring/Summer fashion press previews so I’m sure I’ll be full of new season style inspo next week that I can use in my own wardrobe!