It was a week of blissful reverie out in Portugal. I didn’t open my laptop once! Ok, I was still tapped into the world of Instagram, but that as my only internet fix left a lot of time to re-tune into life  beyond the wifi world. And in the beautiful rural Algarve sloping around in pale NYJD denim it wasn’t that hard…

The weather in Portugal wasn’t as crazy hot as it’s been in London (sod’s law, right?) but we had gloriously sunny days interspersed with a few showers – you can see the sun was going in and out in these pictures! But with temps below 20°C some days, bringing a pair of jeans and jumper was just the ticket. Actually there’s nothing nicer than slouching around in comfy clothing that’s probably a little more than you need on. A big old farmhouse in the middle of a field can get cooler as the sun goes down, we even had the woodburner on some nights, so if like me, you shiver easy, this is the perfect easy-going but cosy outfit.

The denim! Let’s talk denim. These jeans are by LA brand NYDJ, or Not Your Daughter’s Jeans, one of the best selling brands in the States. In the UK, they’re available in places like Fenwicks and John Lewis, and, oh yeah, my Mum’s been wearing them for years and swears by them and their quality! On being introduced to the brand and trying on for a little test run a month or so ago, I was immediately sold. There’s something about the way the stitching works about the hips and bum – a slimming panel I’m told! – that really makes you look quite trim and the front look flatter!

The pair I’m wearing are a skinny style but as I like my jeans a little looser these days, I sized up (if you’re going for the regular skinny look then the advice is to go one size smaller) and got that most desirable ‘girlfriend’ look, which translates as a neater boyfriend. These sit snug on the hips and hold their shape well, at least as when put through my rigorous testing of as picking flowers in a field… I jest, I actually wore these most days, also while DIY-ing, sanding and painting old furniture!

With enough neatness on the lower half – that’s what a girlfriend shape gives you – to wear with an oversized jumper, I paired the pale wash denim with this beauty of a knit by Danish brand Samsøe & Samsøe, which I have also been wearing all week! Creature of habit, much? But seriously, how gorgeous is the pink flecked with grey? All that was needed to complete was a pair of white kicks (white trainers do exist outside the world of Stan Smiths, I must remind myself! These by classic French brand Aigle) and a simple tube necklace (rose-gold plated), this one by a German brand I’ve also just discovered, Madeleine Issing, with lots of the lovely delicate, minimal designs I love so much.

Hope you like the pictures – although you can see I was battling with warm and cool tones as the sun popped in and out of the clouds! The field is full of springtime yellow daisies which all disappear come the summertime Algarve heat of July and August, so now’s the time to enjoy them. In other news, a bit of a reinvention coming up with a new blog design in a few weeks time and going for the chop on the hair front, so things are going to be looking a bit different round here soon… Feels good to refresh in the spring!

Necklace by Madeleine Issing

NYDJ jeans* | Samsøe & Samsøe knit* | Aigle trainers*

Madeleine Issing necklace* | Renne Jewellery rings*

Created in collaboration with NYDJ. All opinions, styling & direction my own.