Just a quick post today because I can’t imagine many of you will be reading when there’s glorious sunshine outside. Anyway, we’re back from France and I’ll tell you all about it and how the packing capsule worked out next week. In the meantime I’m whizzing through some ‘summer sales – great buys’ and I’ll end with good news in a quick midlife lately roundup.

Summer sales – great buys

It’s hard to think of anything other than t-shirts at the moment isn’t it but there are some real bargains to be had deep in JL&P’s collections. I’m starting with this dress which has an incredible 65% off. It’s made from silky jersey, flatteringly cut on the bias with an asymmetric hem and it’s available in red or navy.

Summer sales - great buys

Asymmetric jersey dress, also available in navy

I find my yellow suede block heels are the shoes I wear most on grey summer days, they work hard to lift simple outfits so here’s another amazing bargain, reduced by 60% and still available in all sizes.

Summer sales - great buys

Yellow block heel courts

The cobalt linen shirtdress that you saw me wearing in Marrakech is also 60% off – size down though, it comes up big. It’s also available at 65% off in yellow or black.

Summer sales - great buys

Cobalt linen shirtdress

Moving on but sticking at the 60% off mark are the lovely Daisy dresses in green or pink – size up, they come up small.

Summer sales - great buys

Daisy dress

At 50% off is this jumpsuit. I saw someone wearing it desk-to-drinks style a couple of weeks ago and it’s stunning. It works now but thanks to the extra sass that the tuxedo stripes give it, it would be really good for Christmas events too. Also available in black or navy.

Summer sales - great buys

Jumpsuit

For some strange reason this is labelled as a ‘keepsake pouch’ which is probably why it hasn’t sold out. I bought it and you’ve seen me using it as a clutch. The thing I like about it is that the finish of the leather makes it look far more expensive than it is – and now it’s 40% off.

Summer sales - great buys

Clutch

Cashmere is always a good buy in the sales but how this is still available with its flattering deep V-neck and easy cut I don’t know. I’ve gone for a classic, soft grey which has 40% off but other brighter colours are up to 60% off.

Summer sales - great buys

Cashmere V-neck

And then there’s this cover up. The heatwave started on our last day in France and by the end of it we were feeling fried. I was so glad I had a kaftan with me to cover my sun scorched skin. From the reviews it appears that some people have bought this to wear as a dress in the UK and been surprised that it didn’t work. I’d say it’s definitely a beach piece but the ivory linen with gold spots would work with all of your swimwear. Other colours and various lengths available.

Summer sales - great buys

Linen kaftan

Hush haven’t had a very exciting season in my opinion but they’re always better at winter than summer. They repeat this cotton jumper every year though and it’s now in the sale at 55% off. I have it and I find it’s great for summer evenings – as always, size down.

Summer sales - great buys

Bubblegum pink cotton jumper

The slubby cotton t-shirts are always good too, they’ve done them in lots of summer colours this year and they’re now 25% off (size down).

Summer sales - great buys

Slubby cotton t-shirts

There’s always a lot of time spent on either grass or sand in summer and so espadrilles are the shoe of the moment. It can be hard to find them in a mid-sized heel but these have a gold fleck and they go with everything. They’re currently 51% off and they’re also available in light blue.

Summer sales - great buys

Mid heel espadrille

These Bensimon style pumps were already a good price and they’re now 26% off, available in lots of colours.

Summer sales - great buys

Canvas pump

Midlifechic Boutique

I’m delighted to say that the new clutches have arrived from Marrakech along with new stock of the straw baskets. They’re all in the Midlifechic Boutique, you can choose from ‘vacances’ embroidered in navy…

Straw vacances clutch

Vacances clutch

… or ‘bonjour’ embroidered in black.

Straw bonjour clutch

Or if you prefer brights, we have multi-coloured pompom clutches which add a splash of colour to summer outfits.

straw pompom clutch

And then we have Mr MC’s pet project – he’s created this beach-to-bar tote. It’s made from offcuts of organic cotton from our t-shirt business which are then shredded and blended with polyester made from recycled plastic bottles. The idea is that you keep one in your beach bag and use it to transport your valuables from beach to bar, leaving your towels, sun cream and everything else behind on your sunbed. He had them made in denim blue so that nobody would object to carrying them, here’s the proof from our trip to France – just remember to reverse your bag so that you’re pointing in the direction you’re taking.

beach bar bag

beach bar tote

Beach to bar tote

As always I’m proud of the products we’re selling – we’ve minimised any harm to the supply chain or the environment and we’re managing to create them for a reasonable price. Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered one which helped us to have confidence in what we’re trying to do, they should all have been delivered now.

Midlife lately

Just a couple of UK based outfits to show you. This was from a couple of weeks ago when Mr MC was inaugurated as president of our region’s Chamber of Commerce. It’s a two-year stint which is going to be heavy-going and will include the launch of the Eden Project North which will be on his patch – all very exciting.

He intends his particular focus to be on the smaller businesses in the region though, helping them to grow and thrive. So many people move up here like we did for a better quality of life and it’s important that we make it easy for whoever wants to come. There will be quite a few formal events which will give me an opportunity to wear some of the dresses in my wardrobe – being a creative they’ll never get him in a suit and tie though… or shoes… as you can see from his special afternoon when he was awarded his very own medallion.

Mr & Mrs Midlifechic

And of course as First Lady I’ll now expect them to have chairs that match my outfit at every event I attend!

Midlifechic pink skirt

Skirt (now in the sale, size up); Shirt; M&S Shoes (sold out); Necklace (gifted SS15); Earrings (gifted SS16)

This was last night, arriving at an after work business drinks event when the sun shone even more brightly than anyone could have wished for.

Midlifechic

Zara dress SS18; Sandals; Clutch

And there was one more bit of excitement for us this week, the degree results came out on Wednesday and I’m pleased to report that the eldest did outstandingly well. We’re very proud of him, the world is now well and truly his oyster. He too was thrilled and it has to be said that he’s worked very hard and really deserves it. However, I think even more exciting for him was another vote of recognition that came on the same day. He was announced as this year’s BNOC which stands for ‘Biggest Name on Campus’. I guess it confirms that however hard he’s studied, he’s partied pretty well too!

Lancaster University BNOC

So there we have it, father and son flying high in their own unique ways. I must now crack on and think about a graduation outfit (I’ve been strangely superstitious about it and didn’t want to jinx anything by really focusing on it until now). And because I know you’ll understand, I’ll just add that even though I’m bursting with pride at the boy’s result(s), it was, in a way, a bittersweet moment when he rang to let us know. I’m sure some of you have felt the same at not being part of your offspring’s big news day. For his Eleven Plus, his GCSEs, his A Levels and his Internship appointments I was there to share his excitement… but this time my place was at the end of an excitedly breathy, but swift, phone call.

Which, of course, is how it should be.

The wheels are turning and he is moving on.

Disclosure: ‘Summer sales – great buys and midlife lately’ is not a sponsored post

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