Salt Water sandals - worn by stars and kids alike

These Salt Water and Sun San sandals have been cult classics since the 1940's. Developed from a need to save leather in World War II one Walter Hoy used the scrap leather from military boots to make sandals and soon families from all over St Louis were buying them for their children.

These are absolute classics with a load of attitude. The metal tongue and buckle is rust-proof and the sole rubber making them both bouncy and ultimately practical. The leather used in all these sandals is coated with a water resistant sealant and apparently they mould to your feet making them really, really comfortable, especially in the heat.

You can wear then to the beach and into the water - no more hobbling across pebbles and worrying about sea-urchins. Celebrity children wear the kids version and include Ruby Maguire and Suri Cruise. Adults who have been seen sporting them include Maggie Gyllenhaal, Sienna Miller and Alexa Chung. I might well be joining them. But what colour to choose?

Adult sizes from around £38, buy online or from selected stockists.

Superdry Bargain - iconic flip-flops

I am on the hunt for flip-flops. I want them in gold and I want to wear them in town as well as on the beach. Even though the style experts say that they should never be seen in town I just don't care.

Having said that I came across these brilliant Superdry flip flops which are not really stylish to wear as a sandal alternative but will definitely see me happy around the pool or beach.

At £14.99 (and this is including free delivery in the UK) they are reasonably priced and means I can buy into the Superdry label without looking too 'try hard'.

Kinky Knickers launch new range in honour of Wimbledon

Quintessentially British knicker brand, Kinky Knickers, have launched a range of gorgeous lacy undies in honour of Wimbledon season. Brainchild of Mary Portas, Kinky Knickers are all produced in Middleton here in the UK and only use British made products. They are the perfect way to fly the flag and buy British and I just love the colourways of this particular underwear collection which comprise....

Purple and Lawn Green

Strawberries and Cream

 Grand Slam White

Each pair is £15 and they are available at John Lewis, House of Fraser and independent stores nationwide. You will want to show these off - wish Kinky Knickers did a full range of swimwear and lingerie, I'd certainly buy them!


 

Rigby and Peller swimwear for Summer 2013

Going for tropical colours with great shapes, the Rigby and Peller swimwear range will create a splash whether you are in the local swimming pool or somewhere far more exotic. All the hottest colours are found in their Spring/Summer ranges so snap them up.

Purple bikini top £115

Purple bikini bottoms £61.95

Printed South Beach one piece £170

Fuchsia bikini top £92.95

Fuchsia bikini bottoms 56.95

I love the shaping on all the cups and the colours are sensational. There is always room for one more swimsuit or bikini in my suitcase...In store now!

Spring/Summer at Uniqlo

There are some great collaborations in store and online at Uniqlo at the moment so I felt compelled to share.

The Cabbages & Roses floral print collection has more than just a touch of vintage too it but is wearable whatever your age or shape.

I have this t-shirt from the range.

Celia Birtwell has put her name and her pattern book to lots of ranges recently and her is her latest. I have a pair of fantastic cropped trousers with a more monochrome print waiting for some good weather, but how can you resist these fabulous colours?

And last but by no means least, Lulu Guinness has produced a range of simple yet stylish t-shirts to team with black cut-offs or wide skirts.

         

In my experience Uniqlo clothing is great value for money but also wears pretty well for the prices and wash a treat!

Mid-season Sweater from Top Shop

I am still freakin' cold and getting fed up with looking at hosts of pretty, flimsy, light Spring fashion that I just won't be buying yet! So I went on the hunt for a great S/S sweater that I will probably end up wearing all year at this rate. I love this one from Top Shop - reminds me of one my husband wore in the '80's in terms of the pattern. His didn't have the fantastic two-tone sleeves and was in wool - and I'm sure his was from a second-hand shop so was probably a '70's one in actual fact.

Cotton/acrylic mix sweater, £40, Top Shop.

Adding Colour for Spring with Clarks

La Chantilly in raspberry suede, £80 Clarks

The new suede shoes that are ready to literally burst into Clarks stores for Spring/Summer are a welcome sight for sore eyes and feet. Love the mid-heel. Love the colours to brighten up all my neutrals. Love the prices. What more can be said really....

Cloudy Skies in fuchsia suede,  £45 Clarks

Drum Major in orange suede, £50 from Clarks

Animal collar Oasis sweater for Spring

It looks like animal prints are cutting a swathe again through our Spring/Summer fashion wardrobes but I must admit being over 40 I am a little hesitant. I feel more Bet Lynch than anything else, but what I am happy to embrace is a hint of print like the one on the collar of this gorgeous sweater from Oasis.

It's 100% cotton so is great for mid-season and is available in black and blue, although I love this coral red which also helps me to stick to my promise to myself of trying to buy more colour for my wardrobe.

Red crew top sweater, £38, Oasis.

Brilliant Botanicals making a fashion splash for Spring/Summer

Adara clutch bag from Coast, John Lewis £55

Botanicals are big for Spring/Summer but you have to be really bold to wear them in a large piece like a dress or skirt. I prefer a nod to a trend like this as an accessory so this bag is just right for adding a flash of colour. Look out for scarves, bags, jewellery, tights - make it bold, make it bright and make a statement!

And if you'd like to go down the dress route (brave) then I love these two dresses from Hobbs.

Blue Invitation Doddington dress, Hobbs £189

Purple Invitation Fiore Dress, Hobbs £189 

Personally, I am planning on wafting through Summer with this Kaliko Clemetis print skirt...

Kaliko Clematis print skirt from John Lewis,  £85

FitFlop - made for men too!

Supertop in Inky Blue

My husband doesn't really like my FitFlops - he much prefers heels (like most men let's face it) but I fly in the face of his raised eyebrows and wear mine in Summer and Winter. The truth of the matter is he should also look to invest in a pair. Nine times out of ten he buys casual trainer type shoes and often after one wearing he's moaning... So I am doing this post to make him, and other men, aware that FitFlop make shoes for them too! So stop moaning about aching, squeezed tootsies - no one will ever know you're wearing the same shoe as your partner!

Here are some of the latest styles from the new Men's Spring/Summer range. And if you'd like to order a pair for your man or yourself I also have a Free Shipping code you can use when you order from the website - simply use FFBLOG4. (*Free standard delivery on purchases from fitflop.co.uk valid from 29/01/2013 – midnight 05/02/2013. The code is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion.)

Ike Boot in chocolate,

Flex  in Inky Blue

Supertone in Slate Grey

Flex Bungee in Cord

Many of these are on offer at the moment on the FitFlop site so check them out for some real bargains!

Take a look at the pick of Cos for Spring/Summer

Cos is going strong and I have to say it's my 'turn to' label for easy to wear yet stylish clothing. You do need to be taller than average I must admit, as many of the designs are long and lean, but having said that, you can also get away with it if you are curvy (which I am). Timeless, classic, well-made - what's not to love!

Fabrics are good quality and hard-wearing and the colour palettes are classic and will span the seasons. Here are a few of my favourites from the new Spring/Summer collection which is available to buy online!

Printed Spring/Summer Coat, £125, Cos 

Abstract print top, £59, Cos

High-neck top, £59, Cos

Elastic detail soft jersey dress, £55, Cos

Coiled bronze necklace, £29, Cos

Alexander McQueen ring - my perfect mix

I love skulls and I love bees (I even have a tattoo of a bee as Deborah means Bee) so coming across an amalgamation of the two on the Alexander McQueen site set my heart racing. Definitely one for the list for the coming season this gold/amber crystal bee and skull cocktail ring is a mighty affordable £150. Gold is the colour of metal too which I prefer over silver any day so that is another tick in this ring's favour.

Gold/Amber crystal bee and skull cocktail ring, £150, Alexander McQueen

New Look Spring/Summer 2013 preview

Oh it's so pretty and we can't really wait for Spring to be here. I know we haven't had Christmas yet but walking in to the New Look Spring/Summer 2013 press preview yesterday made me hanker after warmer days and more daylight. So here it is - great prints, lovely use of lace, lots of beading, an altogether uplifting collection from the kings of the high-street.

Jaeger Spring/Summer 2013 sneak preview

Another day, another press preview and this time it's Jaeger. I love a bit of Jaeger and have quite a collection of their signature pieces of jewellery. Highlights for me for the Spring/Summer season were the printed fabrics and the colour palette with lots of black, white, mustard and brights to jazz it all up a bit.

Here are some of my favourite pieces.

Jaeger scarves and shoes

Jaeger Spring/Summer 2013

Gorgeous Jaeger necklace

Jaeger dresses and separates

Jaeger grecian inspired print

Jaeger black and white stripes

Jaeger signature handbags