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Here’s a pretty little autumn wardrobe update for you; a gorgeous silk shirt that’s cool enough to be worn now, at the tail end of the summer, but robust enough for layering underneath chunky cardigans and jumpers when the weather starts to get chilly. Some silk shirts can’t survive a layering mission – they’re just too flimsy and delicate and altogether too much of a faff – but this one from Boden* holds its own and doesn’t runkle up like a sheet of tissue paper.
I think that the colour-block cuffs and collar help to make it a candidate for successful layering; that bright ochre sort of shade popping out over a plain grey cashmere jumper is just a delight. And then there’s the overall print, autumnal browns and yellows on a pretty pink background. It’s quite unusual, really, and I’ve had dozens of comments on it…
I have many silk shirts (I went through a slightly frantic phase of buying cut-price Equipment shirts from The Outnet) but this Boden one, strangely, has garnered the most interest. I say strangely, because the others (all a bit more “rock ‘n’ roll”) have seemed more my style with their deconstructed leopard prints and lightening bolts and silver stars, but there’s something very comfortable and easy about this print.
Which is called, by the way, Milkshake, Meadow. Note the comma between the two words: I’ll admit it has thrown me. I mean Milkshake Meadow would be abstract enough – what is it? A field where people go to drink milkshakes? My milkshakes bring all the boys to the meadow? Or a meadow that has been flooded with milkshake, like a weird trippy LSD-enabled scene from a Beatles video?
But no, there’s a comma. The print is called Milkshake, Meadow. It’s so cryptic. And somewhat enticing. I love milkshakes and I love meadows. Sold.
If I had to describe the print, though, I’d say it’s more Orla Kiely than Milkshake Meadow. I’d be crap at thinking of names for things, if I had a shop – this shirt would probably be called “autumn print with ochre accents” which would bore people to tears before they even clicked on the image.
This is possibly the most irrelevant digression that’s ever happened on a fashion post so I’ll stop now – you can find the silk shirt at Boden here*. It’s £110, but I had a code on the back of the catalogue thing that came through my door and got 10% off. I have a size 10 and it fits perfectly, despite me being more of a 12 on account of my 30E boobs – and on a practical note, it is 100% silk but I feel that the pattern makes it slightly less scary in terms of getting it accidentally stained. Easier to wear than one colour silk, which I tend to ruin within about eight minutes.
(I once went on a cooking TV show with my friend Ruth (not an imaginary friend, she just shares my name) and I wore a brand new army green silk shirt from Whistles. In the first three minutes of the show, I whisked something in a bowl and splattered the entire left side of the shirt. Three minutes! Ruined! I still have it in a cupboard somewhere because I couldn’t bear to let it go, despite three different cleaners saying it was a hopeless case.)
The video with the shirt in (as it will now be known) is here…
By the way, I have no idea why I’ve punctuated this post with pictures of my cat, Mr Bear. He was just there, available, and I made use of him. I know he’s massive but apparently not overweight for a British Shorthair, so that’s…surprising. I mean he’s almost as big as me so I’m sure he eats trifles or Victoria sponges or full cheese boards when we’re all asleep.
This is absolutely stunning. I caved and went an ordered myself one (it is my birthday soon afterall) really pleased as I also found a discount code online.
Such a gorgeous top!
Ruth, tell me this and tell me no more- do you have no choice but to iron it? Would hanging it up wet do the trick? Ironing is something I’ll avoid at all costs and often stops me buying beautiful items…
It’s silk, so I would probably dry clean…let me check the washing instructions on it! I never iron. I wear things til the creases drop out, hahaha.. xx
Gorgeous find! The design is absolutely beautiful!
x Sofia
http://www.thecozie.co
That is such a lovely shirt, it looks stunning on you!
Danielle xx
https://www.fashionbeautyblog.co.uk/
Nice shirt Ruth. On a more general note It’s a shame Boden can’t move away from their patterns. I notice they are stuck in pattern mode again (will it ever end?)while most AW18 collections elsewhere have moved into the more monochrome solids. They also don’t want to appeal to the over 40’s demographic (ironically the one with the most cash to splash) which is a shame but their loss. Like you I do love a silk shirt and they work with everything. Love the Ochre in this shirt.
I am not a fan of pink on me, but I can imagine the yellow accents looking beautiful under a grey cashmere sweater.
Anne|
That is a gorgeous shirt. I really like shirts, although I ALWAYS end up having to sew a popper in between the buttons on the boobage area no matter how nicely the shirt fits, I always get a little peep hole appearing there to give a full view of inner boob for whoever is standing on the wrong (or right?) side of me.
And I think all posts should be punctuated with pictures of Mr Bear. What a magnificent unit he is. x
Believe me or not but every time you post about silk blouses/shirts recalls me of your kittens riding unicorns silk blouse x truly one of the kind choice however it makes me mad its nearly impossible to get it ! For years i been looking if anybody sells it but to no available eh x anyway amazing post Ruth x
I love it when you post pics with beautiful Mr. Bear, he is so cute and cuddly. Fun post, thanks for the chuckles! Your home is so lovely.
I’ve been wanting this shirt ever since I first saw you in it. It’s really unusual and the colours suit you perfectly x
Colours reminiscent of the Bloomsbury Group. Lovely and slightly odd.