Friday 21 March 2014

Breton & Cambridge Satchel

Ah, the off-duty staple of many a Hollywood starlet's wardrobe from vintage decades until now, the striped Breton top and jeans!  There's a reason this look has stood the test of time - it's dressed down, but stripes always sharpen a look.  It's chic and incredibly wearable.

In the slighter warmer months, it's my at-home uniform.  If I'm doing housework I wear an old pair of Levi's with a turn up, and if I'm relaxing (and not doing anything to get dirty, like scrubbing or gardening!) I might wear my Bernie Dexter jeans.  The other day I styled mine with a nod to the 1950s, with cat eye sunglasses, red lippy and turn ups.  You might also notice I'm sporting a lovely red 'batchel' from the Cambridge Satchel Company - I won it!  Pago, the fruit juice company, held a competition to style an outfit to represent one of their flavours.  I dressed to represent their tomato juice, and I was absolutely delighted to be one of five winners.  You can see the other winners and the entries on the Pago Facebook page.





 Red 'Batchel', Cambridge Satchel Company - prize via Pago fruit juice competition!
Jeans, vintage Levi's
Stripe top, New Look
Cat eye sunglasses, vintage
Lippy, Mac 'Ladybug'
Pewter ballet pumps, Sainsbury's

The Levi's are too short in the leg for me, and slightly flared, hence the conversion into turn-ups!  I have found that Levi's are one of the only brands of jeans that actually fit me and my figure that...how can I put this?  Has a little more junk in the trunk?!  Modern jeans are too low-rise, cutting painfully across my hip bones, as well as flattening my derriere and straining across my thighs.  My Baby thinks this pair of jeans is the sexiest piece of clothing I own, and is like a Wonderbra for buttocks!

Now here's how the starlets did it in their bretons and jeans: Bardot, Monroe and Seberg.  They are all so fabulous!




Do you wear a breton and jeans?  What do you think of this classic look?

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34 comments:

  1. I haven't worn jeans in absolutely years, but I do love Breton tops. I have a slightly cropped one but always think I should pick up a longer one but each time I find one I talk myself out of it again!

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    1. I think I've been trying to talk myself into a cropped one and haven't yet! Can understand how jeans are a bit 'marmite', especially among vintage affecianados! x

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    2. The last jeans I had, I loved, they were flares and I wore them until they fell apart and then I moved on to bootleg cords but after seeing one too many photos of me looking far too big in the hip area, stopped in my tracks!

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  2. I most definitely do! It's a wardrobe staple for me. Buying jeans is such a nightmare though, I hate low rise jeans anyway but I have a long torso so that tends to make most pairs low rise on me :-( I have found a neat trick is to buy jeans with a 'short' leg length and I instantly have 3/4 length trousers.

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    1. That is genius! I never thought of that! I might try it x

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  3. I haven't owned a pair of jeans in about 20 years. I do like them on some other people - as with any clothes, it depends on the wearwe and how they wear them.

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    1. Jeans are very individual aren't they? I dislike how the majority of those 'skinny' jeans give everyone a muffin top, regarless of how super slim and slinky they might be! x

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  4. Oh I love this look Porcelina. And your Batchel is gorgeous.I love the red. I'm a huge fan of breton tops too! Love Liz xxx

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    1. Thank you Liz, hope you're getting lots of use out of your own batchel! x

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  5. This casual look is perfection! Loving your eye for style!

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    1. Thank you for stopping by my blog, always lovely to 'meet' new people! x

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  6. First off: congrats!
    Second: you look fabulous, channeling the Brigitte-feel out from the screen.
    And last: the bag is adorable.
    All in all: you are one lucky lady, dear.

    Hugs
    Marija

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    1. Aw, thank you Marija! I was feeling lucky!! x

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  7. wow how amazing that you won that absolutely beautiful bag!!! and i have to agree with the girl above me you are definitely a second brigitte bardot in that outfit! amazing!!!
    hope you have a wonderful sunday evening!
    kiss,mary

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    1. If only I had Brigitte's pout and her ability to draw eyeliner well!! Thank you for stopping by, hope you are also having a lovely Sunday evening xx

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  8. Congratulations! You look divine with jeans, like the style of those wonderful ladies who accompany your post ...

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  9. I wore this exact same outfit this weekend (minus the gorgeous satchel) Great style. Thanks for popping over to Bella & bear and leaving a lovely comment and link x
    http://bellalovesbear.blogspot.co.uk

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  10. I love Breton stripes , I think I have a few as for the satchel, I´ve been meaning to buy one but I can´t decide which color to buy or to buy a printed one. Great styling on the satchel and Breton top and congratulations on winning the satchel! :)

    http://dressingupforme.blogspot.com/

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    1. Ooo I would be intrigued to know what colour you would go for in a satchel - I love the red, but they have some fab new bright colours that would look sensational for Spring. They're pricey though, so I don't think it would hurt to hold off until you're really sure what you want and would use most often. P x

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  11. This is the perfect at-home outfit - relaxed and casual, but still classy and put together. I love all your inspiration photos!

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    1. You can't beat some old photos for inspiration, despite the modern miracle that is Pinterest and all the lovely modern fashion bloggers, I still get the biggest inspiration from bygone eras! P x

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  12. Great casual look, adore the bag!


    xx Karolina
    CARAMODE

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Karolina, I am a big fan of your lovely blog x

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  13. How wonderfully exciting!!! Many happy congrats on your awesome win, dear gal. After a long, grey winter, one needs a vibrant handbag/satchel like that to help usher in spring with.

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Amen to ushering Spring in! Gosh it's felt like a long winter this year, and we didn't even have snow or bad ice or anything, it was just quite wet and the WIND was phenomenal. It ripped some guttering off our house, and uprooted a rosemary bush, as well as sending one of our dustbin lids off into the next valley no doubt!! P x

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  14. What a fabulous prize, well done ! Loving the Breton stripes and the Levis - with my Docs it was pretty much my casual outfit of choice back in the 1980s, looking at you I'm hankering to try it again! x

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    1. Thanks Vix, I missed out on Docs first time around - maybe I should try them now?! x

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  15. I love how you styled this, your nod to the 50's is perfectly darling! Congrats on the win! ~Ann
    Tarnished Royalty

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    1. Thanks Ann, and thanks for stopping by! P x

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  16. Thank you sooooooooooo much for linking and sharing your wonderful style with us.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. Thank you for stopping by!! I'm enjoying the linkups lately, discovering lots of good new blogs! P x

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  17. I am considering buying my first ever pair of jeans and may try Levis. I have a similar figure to you!
    I recently started to wear trousers after being a skirts/dresses only person and now wish I had done so many years ago. They are so versatile and comfy!

    Rebecca

    Http://rebeccatriestrousers.blogspot.com

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  18. A timeless look, indeed. And that satchel is AMAZING!!! The fact that you won it just makes it more incredible.

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