Warm...but not warm enough

Yesterday was beautiful- warm and sunny and we spent the morning down at Granary Wharf looking at our Friend's new apartment ( or flat, as we say up North!). We then took a river taxi - who'd have thought - up to Clarence Dock and the Royal Armouries. Very cosmopolitan. Well, it would have been if any bars,cafés or shops ( save for an empty Pizza Express) had been open. Let's hope that the much vaunted economic recovery filters up to Leeds before too long. It was still worth a trip though and the regeneration projects are clearly working.

Anyway... Clothes wise, although the day was sunny in the main, there was the usual chilly nip lurking beneath those rays. It's clearly not yet time to cast that clout! I needed a jacket -not too heavy duty- enough to take off the chill but not feel swaddled. I reached for last year's Per Una Quilted Jacket from Marks & Spencer. Perfect.

I wore that jacket with loads of things. It seemed to go with so much, was light, crease free and just the right weight. 

I could also have grabbed my Monsoon Fusion jacket, which I bought in the Sale last year - a great buy when reduced to £19. It does however, on occasion, make me feel a little Dick Emery- the Bovver Boy- for those old enough to remember !

I decided that, given the provenance of my original jacket, I would start in Marks and Spencer. They had a number to choose from but as I found a veritable gold mine elsewhere later, I'll just stick with my top three.

Marks and Spencer Per Una £59

This jacket, although not biker style like mine, was the closest in spirit. I think it was on the large side but has the same light, easy feel of last year's .The colours are strong and really quite dramatic. I happened to be wearing an orange T Shirt and it looked fabulous with that and my black jeans. In fact it would look equally good with dark indigo, washed denim or white jeans. Any number of colours worn beneath it would look good but perhaps nothing beats a crisp, white T Shirt. 

Given the fit of virtually all the jackets Iooked at, I would suggest something fitted beneath them. A wide neckline just bunches up and interferes with the way the jacket lies.

Marks and Spencer Indigo £59

This is a deceptively simple jacket with a lot more detail than initially meets the eye. The quilting is fabulous as it lends texture but doesn't add bulk. The raw edges are very "now" and the shorter length is extremely flattering- lengthening leg length for those of us challenged in that area. This is a classic- no pattern to get tired of and a strong but neutral colour that will work with most of your wardrobe- over jeans or trouser or to " toughen up" a Summer dress.

Marks and Spencer Indigo £79

This abstract print Kimono is the anomaly.It's clearly a different style from the others I've included in this collection but I feel it would serve the same purpose.It manages to lend an air of sophistication and style to the most casual of outfits. Perhaps not easy to wear with a dress or skirt but with skinnies or at the other end of the scale, with wide leg, fluid trousers ( maybe white and navy striped???) Ooo ? Exciting! Anyway, I loved it, so it's in!!

Moving on I found absolutely THE BEST collection of Jackets in..... MANGO!!  It's somewhere I have not really considered until recently but I am really impressed.

Mango Bead Ethnic Jacket £49.99

I was originally drawn in by the pink jacket. It is extremely pretty with a lot of detail on the shoulders. For me though it's boxy fit was not quite right. The medium seemed to strain around the arms and shoulders and although it did fasten at the front I did feel rather constrained. I'm usually a size 10, but sizing up just ruined the look entirely. It is so attractive that leaving it undone might be an option- but I found better fits for me so I left this one. Maybe for you??

Mango Beaded Jacket £69.99

Still on with the pinks- well, the sun was still shining, I found this cute jacket. Perhaps needs a little more sun than we have at the moment but I think it's a great buy for holiday. It's lightweight and lighthearted. It is a boxy fit but this time in a good way. They even had matching shorts but, despite what I've said about wearing what you want, that would have been a Sectionable offence!!

Mango Ethnic Quilted Jacket £44.99

This jacket is reminiscent of the Indigo one at Marks and Spencer although has a lighter feel. More of a bolero really and if that's what's needed, this is great, but the more substantial one at Marks gets my vote. Horses for courses however.

Mango Printed Quilted Jacket £44.99

The design on this is v attractive. It's a longer length than the one above so feels more of a jacket. Very well finished with pattern matching on the front seams.

Mango Beaded Quilted Jacket £59.99

This was the surprise FAVOURITE ! It is quilted vertically and fitted like a dream. It was supple enough to move with the body,there was no tension at any of the seams and although the quilted style is ostensibly an ethnic one, it actually looked a bit Chanel! Hard to believe but true. I tried it with a cream crochet top underneath and ... Came away with it. It looked smart but relaxed.

Here's me in the fitting room!

By this time my youngest daughter had rung me at least 10 times to ask when we were meeting for lunch. She managed to "guilt" me into Vietnamese Pho because I made her take back 2 underwired bras from Pink. It's tough love. 

Just had enough time to swerve into Next and was rewarded with a highly useful Biker Jacket in red and grey. What do you think??

Next Textured Jersey Jacket £50

These two felt and looked great. Both desirable colours, the red more coral and the grey more oatmeal and both looked more expensive than £50. If I hadn't already indulged I might have been tempted. Enough was enough though- I still had lunch to pay for and whatever else it cost to mollify a thwarted teenager. Time to leave the shops!!