Ok so that’s enough of the heavy thinking posts for a while, let’s take our very first 2025 look at some easy wardrobe updates. It’s so lovely to see the first, very early glimpses of spring. As soon as Christmas was over we used to wait for my dad to start saying “we just have to make it through to the second Sunday in February when we’ll be able to have tea at five o’clock with the lights off.” And last Sunday we finally made it. These small signs that the year’s turning are enough to make me feel like a wardrobe refresh – pops of spring colour make all the difference.
The snowdrops are still in bud in our garden but they’ll be out any minute. As you know I struggle to get anything to grow because of the sea winds that come straight off the bay but the snowdrops just do their own thing – and I know that in April I’ll be guarding the leaves fiercely because Mal will want to mow over them when he first does the lawn. That’s when I really notice the difference in our urban versus rural upbringings. Growing up in a cityscape there wasn’t much nature around him when he was little but there were parks and as well as padding his grant out by being a nightclub podium dancer in the evenings, he worked as a park gardener in his university holidays. For him there’s nothing more satisfying than straight paths, right angles and neat borders with clearly defined edges. But he has to live with me and I grew up amongst woods and hedgerows; there are no straight lines in nature so I like blousy cottage planting that spills over onto the grass, winding paths and curved beds. Thank goodness neither of us is passionate enough about gardening to fall out about it (we just have winding paths and curved beds!).
Anyway there’s still some time to go before we hit the spring equinox on 21st March but these first glimmers do motivate me to change my wardrobe up a bit. For the six weeks after Christmas I seem to live in navy and grey, it’s almost a sartorial detox after the Christmas sparkle and it fits with the ‘nowhere to go, nothing to do’ January state of mind. Now though I’m ready for some colour again and the spring shades are my absolute favourites. The annoying thing is that most retailers focus on blush and ice blue at this time of year, it’s just a traditional approach to the merchandising calendar – but not White Stuff. As you know I’ve been following their growth plan here over the last couple of years and a move away from their muted palette towards more vibrant colour is something lots of you have suggested in your feedback to them. So I’m really pleased to be showing you the result in their latest drop of easy to wear pieces today.
As a news update, last October they were bought by TFG London who also own Whistles, Phase Eight and Hobbs but they’ve kept the same team in place so the brilliant midlifer Jo Jenkins will still continue with the plans for revitalising the brand that we discussed on here last year. The great thing is that it’s working for them, White Stuff are defying the rest of the high street with exponential growth. They had a phenomenal Christmas – online sales were 32.5% up against Christmas 2023 and they attracted 96,000 new customers in that ten week period alone. I don’t think there have been growth figures like that from any other brand.
Wardrobe refresh – pops of spring colour
The look, in my view, continues to be relaxed British country so it works perfectly for my life at home. Even though they’re introducing much brighter colours they’re still shades that you’d find in nature so they don’t jar, they just choose the very best of the seasonal tones.
Pops of spring colour – primrose yellow
So let me start by showing you an utterly simple outfit. You’ve seen me wearing their everyday jeans quite a bit since last autumn. They’ve become a customer favourite and now they’ve released them in this lighter wash for SS25. The cut is a slim boyfriend jean, kind around the midriff and tapered from the knee down. It makes them easy when you need to keep your hems out of the mud – for the most flattering look simply adjust the cuff to sit at the point before your calf starts to flare out. Looking at this picture I should have added one more roll but it was chilly and I was keeping my ankles warm! In terms of sizing I’m wearing a size 12 regular and they’re on the generous side so if you’re in between, size down. They also come in a petite and long fit in this and the darker blue colourway.
Any day now you’ll see the fashion press starting to talk about trench coats. Why? Because they know we’re all sick of our dark winter coats so when you still need an outer layer, it’s the fastest way to give your early spring outfits a lift. I love the look of a trench coat on other people but I can’t stand wearing them myself, there’s just so much fabric flapping around and I don’t like the fuss of the storm panels and epaulettes, I just find they add so much extra bulk. So, I always opt for a simple, 50s style, classic, straight mac. This is an update on that because it’s made from denim so it’s the relaxed country version of a more urban look. If cream is too risky for you colourwise there’s also a soft green or a denim blue version. I’d read the reviews and sized down to a 10 here which was the right decision, I think a size 8 would have been an even neater fit.
In terms of a wardrobe refresh – pops of spring colour are the jumper and the silver leather phone case that’s really good for walking because it has slots for your credit cards too. The jumper is the perfect primrose yellow, it’s made from a linen and cotton blend so it will be lovely to wear in summer, for now I’ve slipped one of White Stuff’s brilliant cotton t-shirts underneath. As well as the yellow there’s are bright orange, bold pink and classic navy versions. Size-wise I went for a 10 which was a bit tight on the arms so I should’ve stuck with my usual 12 which would have been perfect.
Ivory denim mac; Yellow linen blend jumper; White tee; Light wash jeans; Retro pumps; Reversible silver/navy leather belt; Silver phone case
Now the plimsolls – admittedly a bit dicey on February’s muddy lanes but they’ll come into their own very soon. White Stuff have done these in lots of colours for the season but I really loved this slightly retro ivory option, they’re a bit more forgiving than white. I like the heavy sole and the very slight hint of soft metallic on the panel at the back of the heel, it’s a lovely detail. They’re comfortable because they have thick soles with cushioning, they’re generously sized though so go down if you’re a half size and not sure. I think they’re a great price for something that’s so well made and will be easy to wear with dresses, jeans and linen trousers. Also available in bright yellow, bright pink, soft blue, khaki or white.
Pops of spring colour – leaf green
Now this is a great outfit for wearing on a relaxed day. This shirt is 100% soft linen jersey so it feels absolutely lovely against your skin, the only problem is that other people seem to think so too because it’s selling out fast. It’s great for wearing with a cardigan now and then with the sleeves rolled up on a warmer day. Once again I sized down to a 10 because I’m so used to White Stuff being oversized. It’s fine because I’ve been living on things like carrots and houmous since Christmas to get rid of the festive joy that was sitting on my stomach and hips and only two glasses of wine have passed my lips so far in 2025! However, my usual size 12 might still have been a kinder choice.
And the jeans – I love them. We talked a lot about the benefits of patch pockets in the style posts I did last autumn. They’re great for anybody who has a long body like me because they break up the expanse between midriff and thighs. They basically work magic if you want to distort the eye over the tummy area. They’re made from a blend of organic and recycled cotton denim and they’re heavier than other jeans I’ve tried in this style which makes the slight flare hang better. I’m wearing a 12 regular and they’re the perfect fit.
Green linen shirt; Patch pocket flares
Another easy way to add pops of spring colour to your outfits is with accessories and White Stuff doesn’t get enough recognition for the quality of theirs. They have so many well priced bags in different shapes, sizes and colours, all made from very good quality leather with carefully thought through pockets and compartments.
Green leather bag; Green linen shirt; Patch pocket flares
Pops of spring colour – peony pink
This jumper comes in either this lovely warm shade of peony pink or an equally uplifting sky blue. I found it really hard to choose which one to feature in my edit but the fact that this had matching shoes swung the needle. Knitwear was one of two categories that really drove White Stuff’s growth over Christmas (along with their nightwear which is the best on the high street). This jumper is made in one of their lower priced wool blends so it’s a good choice for anyone who finds pure wool itchy – a highly reported phenomenon with women post menopause. It’s soft to wear and it didn’t irritate my skin at all. It is oversized though, I’m in a 10 here and an 8 would still have been a loose fit – that makes it a good cut for wearing with slimmer jeans like these.
I have another great bag to show you, Jenna Lyons can keep her leopard as a neutral, for me it’s metallic and soft gold leather like this is hard to find, it’s often too strong and brassy. Once again it’s a great price for a piece that will work hard to give a boost to every outfit.
Peony pink turtleneck jumper; Light wash jeans; Peony pink Mary-Janes; Gold crossbody bag
Alfie our perma-kitten loves a soft jumper – he’s sixteen now and still shows no sign of slowing down, he really is a wonder cat. I have to tell you how much I love these shoes, they’re such a great colour and the Mary Jane strap makes them easier than ballet flats to keep on your feet. There’s something about the squared off toe that means they don’t feel too girly and the leopard lifts them away from your primary school days. It’s difficult when there aren’t half sizes, I’m an EU 41 and I sized up to an 8 but they were too big, a 7 would have been just right.
Peony pink turtleneck jumper; Light wash jeans; Peony pink Mary-Janes
Pops of spring colour – sky blue
This is why I didn’t choose the sky blue in the last jumper – because I wanted to show you this cardigan. I told a couple of you about my ‘old people’s home’ bookshelves in the comments a couple of weeks ago, they hold my all time favourite books in print and they’re the ones I’ll take with me if some day I have to live in one room. I haven’t done an edit of them for ages so the book chat we had prompted me to have a look through them with fresh eyes and I think there are about fifteen that can be replaced with more recent finds. Anyway, one book I’ve been wanting to buy for weeks is Wintering by Katherine May and look what I found! I already had it but must have bought it early in the season because the bookmark’s still in November – I guess Christmas took over that year. Anyway, that was a happy moment.
Let’s talk abut the cardigan. It’s made from 100% organic cotton in a ribbed knit and isn’t it just the sort of thing you can see yourself wearing from now until September? It’s so easy to throw on over a simple layer. I’m always looking for knitwear that works tonally with jeans for a column effect – again that’s something we talked about a lot last season so I won’t go into it again. I’ll just say that tonality balances an outfit, making you look taller and slimmer, even when you’re wearing horizontal stripes like this. I could tell that this was oversized from the model pictures and so I sized down to a 10 which was the right decision for me.
Striped cardigan; Off white mixed media blouse; Patch pocket flares
With the cardigan on, the shirt looks just like a simple, very slightly off white jersey top… but look at the lovely detail on the sleeves. Spots and polka dots are a big trend for the season ahead and they add such a nice little twist here…
Off white mixed media blouse; Patch pocket flares
… look, they even appear on the yoke at the back. Unfortunately it’s another piece that has almost sold out in days but there’s a broderie version too if it’s gone in your size. I’m in a 10 and once again a 12 would have been better.
So that’s my simple wardrobe refresh for you if you’re ready to add a few pops of spring colour but still stay warm. If you’re following my Instagram feed you’ll know by now that I’m over in South America beginning the adventure of a lifetime in Colombia where it’s a little bit warmer… but wetter. Somehow we’ve chosen to go from our home in the wettest part of the UK to the wettest country in the world! We’re in Bogotá at the moment but tomorrow morning we’re moving on to the city of eternal spring. It’s had me thinking about seasons even more. In Colombia the sun rises and sets at the same time, just after 6am/6pm all year round. And much as I love spring I don’t think it would be the same if it didn’t come as a burst of joy after months of winter. Even though we complain about them we’re so lucky to have the pace that the seasons bring to our life in the UK aren’t we? And of course there are the maxims too – “if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” Night turning into day, winter turning into spring… it reassures us that life turns and tough times get easier sooner or later.
For the next two weeks, if things go according to plan, I’ll post spontaneously every now and then. It will be in diary form so I’ve no idea what’s coming up but it will be a reflection of travel in real time… let’s see how that plays out. Don’t forget to subscribe below if you’d like to know when I’ve posted – and thank you to everyone who’s keeping me company on Instagram @midlifechic.
Disclosure: ‘Wardrobe refresh – pops of spring colour’ was commissioned by White Stuff but as always they were happy for me to give an honest review
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