Spring Fling.

Spring has been rearing it's head this March, with countless sunny days I was starting to get a little worried. Worried, you say? Yes, picture me in Brighton melting in black and my big camel winter coat whilst others are sunning it up in more appropriate attire of chic ray ban sunnies and floral tops. 

Spring, whilst it is something to rejoice- helloo crisp sunny mornings and balmy pub garden evenings, strikes a wardrobe dilemma as the weather can never decide if it wants to be sunny summer, or like this week, dark grizzly winter. 

It is the annoying in-between like weather, where you wonder: coat or no coat, to bare leg or not. With our inconsistent weather, it is no surprise that we often get it wrong. (When I say we, I naturally mean me- cue me determined this week to sport my new spring wardrobe and ending up shivering at the cold, wet train station). 

Anywhoo, whether the weather can make up it's mind or not the shops sure have. Here's the trends I'm loving this season and what I cheekily bought on my recent shopping haul....

Chinos.

£38 Miss Selfridge. 

Stone Chino's £38- Miss Selfridge

                                        

The trend that encapsulates the look this season. A perfect in-betweener for this not quite short weather, but a signifcant departure of winter's heavy jeans. I tentatively plucked for Miss Selfridge's camel peg leg trousers (petites) as they fitted my short little legs and  come with a fab expensive looking belt! At first, it did feel strange not to have skinny jeans tugging at my legs, but the sheer comfortability took over -whoever said fashion was no pain, no gain, obviously had never worn chinos. 

Fashion has taken a major shift away from tight, skinny jeans- to wide legged, pleated, flared- you name it, anything BUT skinny is in. From madly printed palazzo pants to peachy slouched trousers and even coulottes- yes, culottes the trousers reminscent of your brownie days-  prove that the seventies vibe is well and truly swinging this summer. 

 multi  palazzo pants £17- Dorothy Perkins

Paperbag twill trouser £22.99- New Look

Rose pleated culottes £38- Topshop.

THE silk blouse.

I feel "the silk blouse" needs a capital "the" to epitomise its sheer importance this season. Sheer, silk blouses are everywhere this spring; find them in peachy tones (the colour to be wearing this season it seems!), icy pinks and contrast creams and black. I opted for the £10 (bargain!) burnt orange blouse from Primark. But here are others I would buy if I had more money! 

Buttermilk cut out back shirt £38- Topshop.

Peach grandad shirt £36- Topshop

Contrast placket shirt £36- Topshop.

 High wedges 

With loose fitting bottoms like the palazzo pants and wide- legged  trousers, give your silouette a lift with high- sky wedges. Stores have become inundated with various different styles, but go for semi- wedges that are perfectly suited to our unpredictable weather.   

Canvas fabric wedge £19.99 New Look

Orange semi- wedge shoes River Island £59.99

 Walk away orange suede Office £60

What will you be wearing this Spring? Send me your comments- love to hear from you fellow fashionista's :) 

Emily x

                                             

Warburtons Gluten Free Launch.

On January 21st I attended, or rather snuck in on,  the Warburton’s Gluten free event at the Covent Garden Hotel. Situated just over the road from Bauer headquarters, it would be rude not to have popped in! 

Another scrummy breakfast was on the cards, this time it was a selection of the much anticipated Warburton’s gluten free breads, teacakes and crumpets- including Phil Vickery's own bacon- which for the record was delicious!

The lovely Phil at the launch

Phil Vickery- I hear you call. What the devil was he doing there? 

Well, the celebrity chef has teamed up with Warburton’s to create the first mainstream gluten- free breads for people who suffer from Coeliac disease. 

Working closely both with Phil and Coeliac UK, the national charity for people with Coeliac disease, they have developed a range of breads, teacakes and crumpets all completely gluten and wheat free- so celiac’s  no longer have to miss out on what perhaps you and I take for granted. 

It has been recorded that one in 100 people in the UK are thought to suffer from Coeliac disease, however according to NICE (national institute of health and clinical excellence) only 10-15% are currently diagnosed. 

It’s a disease that we Britons know little about, even though there is over half a million people in the UK suffering from it. 

When Warburtons quizzed 3,000 people nationwide many Brits were unsure what the disease actually entailed, with 8% of people thinking a person with coeliac disease couldn’t eat salt, 6% thought it was a term for a first- time mother and 3% even thought it was the name of a religious cult! Hmm, not so great awareness then. 

Phil Vickery, celebrity chef and gluten- free food expert explains “There are more coeliacs in Britain than the population of Coventry and Hull combined- yet there remains much confusion about this disease”. 

However the good news is that research has shown Brits are willing to learn how to cook for people with coeliac disease.  

As Phil enthusiastically states, “the good news is that Brits are willing to learn about gluten- free and wheat – free dietary requirements of others and there is an increasing range of great- tasting food available to these people so they don’t have to miss out!” 

Not only are people willing to learn, but many are considering a wheat- free diet for themselves. With 18% of the population choosing to buy gluten/wheat free foods for themselves or their family, it is becoming a popular lifestyle choice. Mostly the young crowd, (25-34) year olds, are  likely to take up a gluten free and wheat free diet, whilst quite contradictorily it is the older generation (55+) who are the most aware of what coeliac disease is!  

So whilst gluten- free diets are becoming fashionable, I think the most important thing is that coeliacs can have greater access to gluten- free breads and can actually enjoy a piece of toast for breakfast or a tasty sandwich for lunch. 

The fact that Warburtons have launched a gluten and wheat free range across supermarkets means that there is a greater accessibility for coeliacs to taste good quality gluten free breads. 

Sarah Sleet, CEO of coeliac UK states that “Warburtons is the first major mainstream UK baker to launch a gluten- free and wheat free range and we’re delighted to see greater food choices becoming increasingly available to people with coeliac disease”. 

Do you suffer from Coeliac disease? Is it hard for you to find gluten- free products? Or perhaps much like me, had you not really heard of Coeliac disease before and didn't know the slightest what it was all about? 

I really did learn alot from the Gluten- free event, from chatting to the various guests, food editors and coealiac experts galore. Including Mr. Phil Vickery himself who was extremely enthusatic about the new venture, not to mention graciously welcoming- he even held my glass for me so I could eat my bacon sarnie!

 So let's hope this article has helped to demystify the stigma of gluten- free diets and if you want find out more check out the lovely Sarah's gluten-inspired blog @ 

http://glutenfreemee.wordpress.com/ for tasty recipes and know- how on living a gluten- free life, or perhaps try reading Phil Vickery's new recipe book Seriously good gluten free baking- which I received free in my goodie bag!

The full Warburtons range- available at a supermarket near you!