I’m a bit of a broken record really. How many times have I banged on about what an amazing fallback monochrome is?

It doesn’t matter how basic the pieces, black and white just seems to transcend your normal style and add a halo of classy elegance. Am I right? I think in this case, the two pieces are quite nice in themselves. The simple cut of the black shorts (the invisible sidezip really helps with this) and the asymmetric ruffling of the top (mostly tucked in). I also love the quite deep V-neck, as the top is lined it sits better than most. Both pieces were from the Zara sale.

The bag is an old favourite, from an amazing little boutique Mimi Berry on Cheshire Street off Brick Lane. It was a total splurge for me but I’d gone back time and time again over a period of weeks agonising over which shade of brown to go for and then finally bit the bullet. I just loved the simplicity of the design. A much cooler version of the Bayswater, I thought, and still think! I was also thrilled to discover inside it a gorgeous old pashmina scarf from Delhi I thought I’d lost. Yay!

I’m wearing quite a lot of shorts and top combos at the moment. Summer style alert. I could quite happily do this look in numerous variations. In case you’re wondering about the continued appearance of the Hasbeens, well, they give a little height but are so easy to walk in – I had two blogger events to hit last night plus a family do all the way over in west London. (Shriek. I never go there!) I should also mention that I switched up the jewellery I’m wearing in this post for some lovely goodies I received from the Gogo Philip store launch – more on that later.

In the meantime, lots of fun ahead this weekend with old friends stopping by London, so looking forward to dinner tonight and a Sunday BBQ. What you up to, then?

Wearing Zara top (kind of similar in sale here), Zara shorts (no longer in sale, but others here), Mimi Berry Beau bag (in sale here) and Swedish Hasbeens (similar here).