It’s TIME. Organisation season has arrived, baby! Back-to-school energy (finally)! You know who I wrote my biography project on when I was 12? Beyoncé. My Mum and my son are Virgos. My husband shudders when he sees me stalking around the house with a bin bag, and a skip hates to see me coming. This time of year reactivates me.

I’ve been doing a lot of travelling recently and that always leaves me feeling out of sorts, so before I tackled the big issue - my wardrobe - I went about a speedy beauty reset first. I detailed my full routine in a previous post, but whenever I want a refresh, I perform these three steps:

1. An everything shower. I’m cheating a bit here, because this takes up the bulk of the time and actually consists of many steps, but you already know that nothing feels better than freshly washed hair, just-shaved legs and a layer of fake tan*.

2. At-home manicure. I skip the every-other-week nail appointments in favour of a layer of Celisse’s Babydoll* (code ANNA15 for 15% off) - a sheer cool pink that leaves a healthy sheen on your nails. But the real secret to a good at-home mani is cuticle care: soften them with this*, trim them with these* and keep them conditioned daily*.

3. A quick depuffing treatment. I’ve become addicted to the ZIIP Halo*. Look, I’ve tried a lot of facial tools, but this ain’t a gadget. It delivers long-term, clinically backed results, but I see instant results every time I use it. It’s a handheld device, about the size of your palm, that combines microcurrent and nanocurrent electrical impulses to guide your face through what is essentially a workout, whilst energising your cells to produce more collagen and elastin. It syncs to an app on your phone where you can choose from 17 different guided treatments, though the 6-minute Sculpt is my favourite (and what I did above). If ever I’m feeling a bit swollen, nothing, well, sculpts me quite like it. I use it in the morning, post-cleanse, and I look a whole lot more refreshed and well-rested than I actually am. Everything feels lifted, my cheekbones more pronounced and lines softened. But the thing I didn’t expect was the change in my skin texture (that’s the nanocurrent doing its thing) - glass skin here we GO! I also love the treatment option for zapping spots, which helps to reduce inflammation. I’ve used it whenever one’s popped up, and it feels oddly satisfying (and works!). The good news is that I’ve got a code - ANNAEDIT will get you 10% off your ZIIP Halo. *Sponsored mention

So I was in a state where I was feeling myself, but I just wasn’t feeling my wardrobe. Judging from comments I’ve seen in the group chat and just floating around on Substack in general, I think there’s a lot of us in the same boat. So today we’re doing something about it. Let’s tackle the issue with some big Virgo energy. Hate everything in your wardrobe? Try this…

Do an audit. Not necessarily a clearout, if that’s not singing to you right now, but taking stock of what you already have always feels like the natural first step when you feel like you hate everything. I did a pretty epic wardrobe purge back in May, after my last session with stylist Reva Luft, which made me realise that a load of clothing I was hanging onto just wasn’t serving me. I had a ton of duplicates cluttering up my space, and too many pieces that felt like they ticked a box but were never reached for, mostly because of poor fit. In one single afternoon, I removed 50+ items from my wardrobe, and ever since, even though my options are greatly reduced, there’s a lot less noise, and it’s far easier to find what I actually want to wear.

If you have a downsizing itch you want to scratch, is there a category in your wardrobe where you own a lot but wear little? It’s a solid starting point. For me, that would probably be denim. The only rules I swear by with this are that you need to try everything on - no excuses - and during that try-on, each piece should just feel fundamentally great. Not ‘good enough’, but great. Remember, hems can be shortened, and holes can be fixed, but at its core, it should feel like something you want to wear.

Wait to sell stuff. Say you do have a pile of pieces you wish to sell or donate. Hold off. Just for a month or two. It’s just your insurance to make sure there’s nothing you miss. After my most recent closet cleanse, I waited almost three months to put everything on Vinted and in the end I rescued a fair amount. Have a pile waiting in wardrobe purgatory? Have a riffle through and see what you find. Here’s what I saved:

• Arch4 Cashmere Jumper - This made its way onto my to-sell pile because despite being the most expensive jumper I have ever purchased, it sheds SO BAD. But it’s also ridiculously thick and cosy, and the colour feels really unique in my wardrobe.

• LOQ Sandals - I can’t believe I ever thought I could sell these!!? They’ve been in my wardrobe for almost 10 years, and even though they aren’t a sandal I’m exactly wearing every day, they make me feel great, and that’s the test right there.

• Faithfull Polka Dot Dress - This dress still has the tag in! I bought it as a wedding guest dress two years ago and haven’t been invited to a wedding since. I tried it on and realised there’s just a lot of fabric around the chest, so my seamstress is on the case and is turning it into a deep V neckline.

• GANNI Callie Boots - Another longtimer in my wardrobe. I thought I’d be ok selling these and just have one pair of heeled boots, as I don’t wear them all that often. Then I started saving outfits where people were wearing western-inspired boots, so I dug them out. They are so comfortable. Think twice before you sell your comfy shoes!

• Whistles Green Suede Jacket - When I posted a photo post-declutter, readers realised this was gone! That’s what a showpiece this is! The long and short of it was that I just ended up missing it too much. It’s fun, and we all know my wardrobe needs more of that.

Move things around. If you’re craving change, here’s something that’s free to do - move around your wardrobe. I realised this morning that I’ve had my wardrobe corner set up the same way since my husband built it a few years back (it’s a good ol’ IKEA number), and even though it worked, maybe there was a better way to organise? End up not liking it? Move it back. But having a rejig might help to spark ideas in a different way.

Instead of splitting my wardrobe down the middle - half that I’m currently using and half that’s out of season - I just mixed it all together and grouped tops, bottoms and jackets and coats. I thought it might help me to visually see everything I own and stop me buying things I already have. I’ll have to report back on this one, but it was a fun way to spend half an hour.

Treat it like a boutique. This might feel like a lot of preamble before, well, putting clothes on your body and trying outfits on, BUT - I do think there’s some value in treating your rails, or however you store your clothing, like your very own shop. Sogole wrote recently about curating her very own ‘front table ’, and I LOVE that. I iron all my clothing after it’s washed, before I hang it back up. I use the Indyx app almost like a stock check; it keeps me accountable for the flow of clothing in and out of my wardrobe. I tidy clothing my wardrobe corner before bed every evening. I spray the collars of my white T-shirts with stain remover before slinging them in the washing machine and find debobbing my jumpers a form of meditation. A well-cared-for wardrobe often translates into a wardrobe that’s well-loved.

NOTE: This also includes actioning any ‘piles’ that have accumulated. Visit your seamstress, drop off your dry cleaning (and your return parcels whilst you’re at it) and head down to your local cobbler’s with any shoes that need some TLC.

Maybe you moodboard? Whenever I’m feeling in a styling slump, I realise that I haven’t made a moodboard or checked in with my styling inspo pics in a while. If I spot an outfit on Substack, IG or IRL that I love, I snap a photo and then file it away in a folder on my Indyx (because I take so many, I find it best to make monthly albums). But sometimes I forget to actually use it. To check in and have a scroll and see if there’s a spark of an idea that I could tweak and adjust to make my own. Maybe it’s a piece, a combination, a silhouette, or a colour combo; sometimes it just helps to have a nudge in the right direction.

Identify the problem. What’s really stressing you out here about your wardrobe? Is it that you’ve bought too many new pieces and now things feel disjointed? Have you got a big event coming up where you feel like you have nothing to wear? Has the weather changed and you feel like your clothing hasn’t caught up? There’s always a reason. So identify it and work on it. For me, it’s that I’ve got a trip to New York coming up that coincides with NYFW, which feels very daunting style-wise. The weather has the potential to be pretty warm, but I’m kind of done with summer dressing. Whatever the problem: the best solution is to set an alarm for 30 minutes and to get to work. Here’s what I came up with:

…and if all that fails, here are some quick outfit fixes that usually help:

• A good starting point is jeans and a T-shirt or a simple crewneck jumper. Funk it up with a fun shoe - think something unexpected, a colour or a print. For me, it's the most comfortable way to step out of my comfort zone (literally).

• Add in some layers: tie a shirt or jumper round your waist, wear a shirt open as a jacket (a handy hack for this time of year) or layer a T-shirt or jacket over a dress to turn it into a skirt. Lean into the whole ‘third piece’ thing.

• If you want to add jewellery but don’t know where to start - invest in rings. They are small fry in terms of visual space, but chunky styles can still bring impact. I’ll often skip jewellery entirely and throw on a massive ring like this*.

• Shirts, although simple, can sometimes feel a bit tent-like when you put them on. Angie shared some helpful styling tricks recently on IG.

• Remember the Tibi concept, Big/Slim/Skin. If something ever feels off in an outfit, this concept usually fixes it. The idea is that if you’re styling something big and oversized, pair it with something slim and fitted and make sure there’s a little skin showing; even if it’s a sliver of ankle or wrist.

• …and here are 10 more ideas in this post from last autumn that still ring true - ‘10 Styling Concepts I Use on a Daily Basis’. See? You and your wardrobe really are a match made in heaven.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

Unlock the full 400+ post archive here

With Nothing Underneath have finally released their years-in-the-making denim collection*, and of course it's perfection. There are three styles: the straight-leg Crawford*, the wide-leg Fawcett* and the cropped-flare Stevie*, available in three washes. Of course, my favourite is the Crawford, and at yesterday's launch event, it was the style everyone made a beeline for. In terms of fit, I’m anywhere from a 29-31 in denim, though I wear these in a 32 (my actual waist measurement is 32 inches for reference). I could wear a 31 for a closer fit, but I like the slightly oversized, boy-ish vibes my true waist size gives. I’m pretty sure my ANNA10 code works on them too - I’ve just checked!

*Paid mention by Hair + Me

The NET-A-PORTER new-in section is on fire. Virgo season really does bring all the delights:

• One day I’ll own a piece of Dries; perhaps this Floral Silk Top*, these funky Organza Trousers* or this bag that’s having a bit of a Substack moment*.

• I know it’s not exactly the time to be buying shorts, but these Comme Si ones look like they have a great, thigh-flattering shape* and I adore the navy.

• UGLY LEOPARD PRINT SHOE ALERT*! I would buy every single style in this print till the end of time.

• I’ve sworn off coloured corduroys, but I love the shape of this navy pair* and always get on with the cut and fit of AGOLDE trousers.

• Love the idea of this St Agni Double-Layered Jersey T-Shirt* worn with wide-leg trousers to balance it out.

• I’ve just bought this little Valesque bag in crushed green velvet* (exclusive to NAP, FYI). It looks like the perfect size for when you just need to bring the essentials with you.

Your style-related smorgasbord for the week:

• Speaking of shirts, I loved Angie’s IG reel where she showed all the little styling tricks for getting the most out of them. Such a good one to watch if you put a shirt on and feel instantly swallowed up by it:

• I needed Diana May’s reminder to get my ass down to my seamstress to get some adjustments made that I’d been putting off. I mean, just LOOK at that mini dress.

…so I did. And a week later, most of my pieces are back, and I’m so chuffed. Here’s what she did (and here’s me passing on the seamstress reminder baton):

• She shortened the hems on two of my T-shirts. She has all the correct machinery so she can hem, even on stretchy fabrics and it just means that now there isn’t so much to tuck in to my trousers (which are mostly high-waist).

• She hand-stitched the lining back on my vintage Max Mara jacket which had come loose around the sleeve openings.

• She moved the buckle on the side of my new St Agni tunic so there isn’t as much of a gap at the sides.

• The main reason for my visit was that I wanted a lot of length cut off of this nightgown I’d bought to turn it into a mini. She lopped off a solid 6 inches from the hem and it’s exactly what I wanted.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

Get 'The Wardrobe Edit' in your inbox

*Paid mention by Hair + Me

My nine-month hair growth journey. When does postpartum hair loss just become hair loss? That was the question I was asking myself last year, when four years after having my son I still felt like my follicles had seen better days. So I signed up for Hair + Me off my own back last November and have been a proud, paying customer ever since. It’s a 100% online service where you fill out a medical consultation and receive a personalised treatment plan that uses scientifically backed ingredients (mine are in capsule form that I just take before bed, so it’s easy to remember). I’m nine months into my treatment now, and I’ve really noticed a difference around my hairline. It’s fuller! It’s fluffier! I have to say, I was pretty shocked when I put the before-and-present-day pictures together. Now, errr, what are we doing about greys?

A baseball tee that feels super chill. We visited the Isle of Wight at the start of the month for a week, and even though I packed my wardrobe into a single tote and gave it about five minutes of thought, I surprisingly packed well! Less is more and all that. I really enjoyed the ease of the LESET Baseball Tee*; with shorts, with cotton poplin trousers like I wore above, with jeans. I could imagine it pairing well with any wildcard trousers or skirts you owned too - it goes with anything. It signals chill, and that’s exactly what I’ve wanted style-wise this month. I’d opt for your usual size; I’m wearing a medium here.

The search for the perfect baby tee is over. It’s here, and it’s this, and it’s only £25*. Over the past few months, I have tried so many, and they all felt like they were cutting off circulation around the tops of my arms. This one, however, has room around that area, but I also like that it isn’t too long in the body so you don’t feel the need to tuck fabric in, which isn’t really what you want to be doing during the summer months. Essentially it ticks all the boxes, plus it’s 100% cotton.

I know it’s summer, but this sweater is GREAT. By now you know the J.Crew Rollneck*. It’s a Substack darling that pretty much gets rave reviews across the board. But I get it. I bought mine back in April and even though it’s not exactly seasonally appropriate right now, I took it away with me to the Isle of Wight and wore it every single day, whether it was thrown in my bag for a beach walk after dinner or put on first thing to eat breakfast outside on the patio. It just makes every outfit feel - do I even dare to say it? Ok, I’ll whisper it… chic. It runs pretty true to size if you like a relaxed fit - I’m wearing a medium here, or you could size down so it felt less oversized.

The tote bag I haven’t put down. I actually picked up the Alex Mill Perfect Weekday Tote* a few months ago for ‘research purposes’ (no really, I’m desperate to make a tote bag!!), but in August it barely left my side. I grabbed it in a rush when we were packing for IOW because I thought the size would be perfect for all my luggage for a seven-night trip (spoiler: it was!), and ever since then it’s become my go-to bag, mainly because it's so roomy. But I also love the two strap options - hand-held feels a little more polished, shoulder straps for practicality - and the colour! I don’t tend to wear much colour on my body, especially in the summer, so this bag is doing a lot for my wardrobe. People always ask about sizing, but I’d say the ‘Weekend’ version must be huge. I wouldn’t want, nor need, a tote bigger than this.

An armpit routine that works. Guys, I’m sweaty. Like, it’s bad. Has anyone jabbed Botox into their pits and it’s worked? Tell me! My algorithm seems to know this about me, so I regularly get served sweaty gal pit routines, and I’m a sucker for ordering anything and everything that comes recommended. They rarely work, but this one kinda does. It doesn’t stem the perspiration, but I’d say my overall odour at the end of the day is fresher, so that’s… positive. It’s a two-parter: a swipe of The Ordinary’s Glyolic Acid* before bed and then a roll of the CYKLAR Mandelic Acid Deodorant* (I like the Naked Neroli scent) after I shower in the morning. I didn’t know that I could smell this good. It’s worth noting that this is a true two-part routine; when I’ve travelled and not used the Glyolic before bed, I don’t feel like it’s as effective at keeping my natural whiff away.

A recipe that’s entered the weekly rotation. You know a recipe is good when you make it once, then again the following week, and the week after that. It’s Emily English’s Chicken Cottage Cheese Meatballs. Cottage cheese haters, I hear you! Me too! I’ve taken to using a hand blender because the curds make me want to barf, but smooth? Smooth cottage cheese is good! It means that these chicken meatballs are so juicy. It’s the kind of recipe where you find your rhythm, and now I can rustle it up in 30 minutes flat. A good weeknight dinner or a good choice for hosting too if you throw it on the table with a side salad and some garlic bread.

Want more recipe recommendations? I’ve 36 more for you here in last week’s post…

I <3 IOW. I’ve spoken all summer long about how woefully unprepared we were for the school holidays. We didn’t even book a holiday until June when it finally dawned on us that a six-week stretch in the house might send us a little stir crazy. We managed to find a great self-catered converted barn on the Isle of Wight and had possibly the best holiday we’ve had as a family of three. I mean, I’m sure the glorious sunshine had something to do with it, but being a fairly small island where you can drive from one side to the other in 30 minutes, nothing is a trek, and there was so much to do. We barely scratched the surface:

FOR KIDS: Blackgang Chine (obvs), Robin Hill (we visited three times), grab Bikes and ride the Red Squirrel Trail by Shanklin, and East Cowes is a great spot for crabbing, with a big play park nearby.

FOR FOOD: Loaph is exceptional for brunch (we went back again!), Harvey Browns for a farm shop and cafe, Fin’s for a beachside lunch and The Red Lion for fancy-feeling pub grub (stop by Compton Bay for a sunset beach swim).

The book I couldn’t stop reading. I take Pandora Sykes’ book recommendations very seriously. So much so that I read her recent post - ‘I Don’t Believe in Beach Reads.... But If I did, This Would Be My Beach Read of the Year’ - purchased said book on my Kindle and then went back to reading her post. I literally pre-load them so they are ready to go. She first mentioned ‘Careless People’ by Sarah Wynn-Williams* nine months ago, but I’ll admit I didn’t bite. I’m not really a memoir girl. But this story just keeps snowballing. Meta are suing Sarah for every penny she’s worth for publishing her story. So, with a long train journey stretching ahead, I picked it up at Waterstones, and the girl behind the till said it was the ‘best book she’d read all year’. Reader, I spent the next three days enthralled. Pandora puts it best (read her review here):

It remained juicy and agitating, both predictable (rampant amorality, miscommunication and egos) and surprisingly - devastatingly - revelatory. That the top dogs at Facebook are not bastions of moral virtue will not be surprising to anyone at this point, but what did surprise me is how much of it is about ignorance - American exceptionalism combined with a total misunderstanding of how other countries and cultures operate - and omission, as much as it is about money.

How to buy quiet time in a restaurant with a five-year-old. I have two suggestions for you, and let me tell you, silence is a rarity in our house, so know these are really that good. First up: Lego Minifigures - the possibilities are ENDLESS, but our kid, being a fellow Virgo, remembers their OG configuration once play is complete. I regularly carry around a tupperware box full of them (new ones, combined with my husband’s old stash) in my Alex Mill tote. Whip them out at a restaurant, and the lull between ordering and food feels short (even when it’s not). Second, we had to make a last-minute purchase when we got to Bath and realised we’d forgotten to pack books. A quick trip to Topping’s (EPIC) sorted us out, and we got swindled into buying a Mini Set of Where’s Wally Books* that come complete with a magnifying glass. FUN! Let’s just say I booked an eye test the next day.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

All of this to say, thanks for hanging in there with me. I wasn’t really sure how the summer holidays would work with well… work, and it’s taught me time management lessons by the bucketload. It’s kind of incredible what you can do with very little (read: no) kid-free time. I love what I do and never wanted to desert it for the entire summer, and although I’m gagging to put some time into posts that feel a little meatier, I hope you’ve enjoyed the lighter summer entertainment schedule. Give me a week or two, and I’ll be back to my usual programming. But today? Today, you’re getting the newsletter equivalent of verbal diarrhoea.

This past week I visited my mate Ruth Crilly (fun fact: we’re distant relatives!), stayed in Bath for two nights, then travelled up to the West Midlands to see my husband’s family, before returning home to a big ol’ tower of parcels. I shirked my unpacking responsibilities to do a live try-on on Substack, which so many of you asked me to repost, that I thought instead of saving it for paid subs, I’ll post it here, with the added CliffNotes.

But it’s not just that that you’re getting; I also had a Style Edit prepped for Friday that I didn’t get round to finishing, so I’m adding that too, along with my usual weekly outfit diary. Three posts, rolled into one. ENJOY! A good smorgasbord to get a feel for what’s usually posted behind the paywall. Like what you see? Subscribe, upgrade, make my day. Thank you!!

Subscribe to 'The Wardrobe Edit'

TRYING ON THINGS I’VE PURCHASED RECENTLY

I feel like I usually go LONG in these videos, so I'm proud for getting this one in at a cool 38 minutes - I think that’s a record for me. Watch along for my latest DONNI buy (1:38), a Reformation sandal rejig (6:00), a Substack-hyped piece that didn’t work out for me (10:50), a very good dupe for The Row loafers (15:30) and an autumnal ARKET haul (20:18).

Then I mentioned Kelly’s latest post and how I’d like to expand the ‘funky pant’ category in my wardrobe further:

Midimalist

Top-Forward or Bottom-Forward: Which One Are You?

Scrolling through Courtney Grow’s TikTok outfits recently; I had a thought when comparing which of her outfits were speaking to me. It came to this: are your looks top-forward or bottom-forward…

Read more

22 days ago · 148 likes · 90 comments · Kelly Williams

I’ve had my eye on the Sea New York Priscilla Top* for almost two years (!!!). But I didn’t fancy the extra charges of ordering from Sea direct, so when it found its way onto NET-A-PORTER I pounced…

A BELATED STYLE EDIT

Ok, onto the section I meant to post on Friday, but instead sat in front of my laptop for a solid hour, staring at a blinking screen. Turns out that 4 pm on a Friday afternoon isn’t when my writing energy is particularly high. QUELLE SURPRISE! If you ever want live updates, you could always join my Instagram channel or bookmark my ‘Wishlist’ page on ShopMy, where I always have one on the go.

Each year I try to convince myself that I’m at a place where I finally enjoy summer dressing. I’m getting better at working out what to wear in the heat! Like, it’s fun?! Right?! Then the autumn collections start to work their way into my favourite retailers, and I’m immediately ready for a 16℃ day and a crisp morning. Enter Massimo Dutti’s latest drop*…

The new-in section is worth a browse for the styling alone, but highlights include:

• This black blazer feels very vintage Armani*. If I worked in an office I’d snap it up immediately. I’d order this zebra print skirt too*.

• Possibly the best leopard print ponyhair bag I’ve seen on the high-street*. There’s a slightly smaller version here*.

• A very CBK-vibes jacket*. If you’ve ever eyed up a full-length blazer jacket but it felt a little too formal, this feels like a more casual version thanks to the midi length.

• I genuinely cheered when I saw this Argarle-inspired cardigan was 100% cotton*.

• All the looks that I really loved are styled with these mid-heel sandals*. Love me a fully covered-up outfit worn with a glorified flip-flop.

WHAT I WORE THIS WEEK

…and finally, my usual Sunday outfit diary. As I said, we were away for most of the week, and since we travelled via nine trains over four days, we tried our best to pack light and managed to squeeze everything we needed into just a backpack and two tote bags for me, my husband, and our little one. So I wouldn’t say these outfits were exactly big hitters in the ‘inspired’ department, but they more than got the job done.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

So I went back to the ol’ mantra of ‘write what you’re excited to write’, and today that’s, well, food. I’ve had this post sitting in my drafts for a few months and added to it whenever a recipe I wanted to share popped into my mind, and now there are 38 in total. Breakfast is a bit of a non-event; just some kind of smoothie during the week, and crepes or fluffy pancakes at the weekend, so here’s a mix of lunchtime ideas, my go-to recipes for dinner (and hosting!) and a very hefty section dedicated to baking and desserts because that’s my favourite.

NOTE: This post might make it seem like I cook a home-cooked dinner every single evening, but let the record show that we eat fish fingers, chips and beans more than I’d like to admit. And India Knight was right, these frozen fries are next level.

LUNCHES

‘Things on toast’ is a classic category for me (I’m a Brit after all - beans and toast is in my BLOOD). Here are some lunchtime classics:

• Peas on toast - sounds gross, but hear me out. Heat some peas, then mash them up with a fork, mix in plenty of salt, pepper and grated parmesan and dare I say, I prefer it to avocado.

• Cream cheese and tomatoes - this was my pregnancy craving. Layer on a thick layer of cream cheese (get your hands on this), top with tomatoes cut in half, drizzle on olive oil and season.

• Apple, cheese and mustard - another absolutely vile-sounding mix that I make a lot over winter. Pop two slices of bread under the grill, toast it on one side, then turn it over and top with a mixture of one grated apple, a handful of grated cheddar, and a spoonful of wholegrain mustard. Grill that side until it’s a little melty. Thank me later.

• Ricotta, peaches and honey - My summery ‘on toast’ go-to. Smear with ricotta, then top with any kind of chopped stone fruit you have hanging around and add a little honey (got any fresh thyme? Throw it on!), done.

My go-to picnic menu:

• This Jammy Pepper Pasta Salad that gets better as it sweats in the sun (really!). I ignore the ricotta salata instructions and just use feta instead.

• I wouldn’t say I’m a sausage lover (watch it!), but those mini little cocktail sausages that are like 20% pork? YES PLEASE. Mix them with oodles of honey and wholegrain mustard, then cook until nicely glazed. They are always the first thing to go.

• At the last picnic I went to, I made Allison Roman’s ‘Old-Fashioned Strawberry Cake’, which in her book is known as ‘Doughnut Cake’, and it was heavenly. It travelled well and was so light and fluffy. I return to it every summer.

DINNERS

If you take on one thing from this post, make it this mango salsa recipe. It’s SO easy to make and helpful to have on hand for summer dinners. Chop up the following, mix it in a bowl, and you’re good to go:

• 2 mangos

• ½ red onion

• 1 red pepper

• 1 chilli

• The juice of one lime

• You could throw in coriander here, but I’m a card-carrying coriander-hater, so I omit it.

A quick interlude here on side salads, which get a bad rap because I believe in order to be tasty, they must be properly dressed. Again, this sounds like a faff, but I just put all the ingredients into a little container, shake to emulsify (FUN!), and then tip it on. All you need:

• 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

• The juice of ½ lemon (sometimes I add more if it needs a little more acid)

• 1 teaspoon of wholegrain mustard

• 1 teaspoon honey

• Salt and pepper

A quick note on hosting. I love to cook! I love to have people over! But catering for other people’s tastes/little kids who have a whole host of preferences can be tricky. I find the easiest thing to do is to lay out a kind of ‘picky bits’ dinner. Tacos are great for that. I do big tortilla wraps, small corn tacos, some kind of slow-cooked meat (this one is great) or a shredded rotisserie chicken (sometimes both - options are what we’re going for here!), grated cheese, the aforementioned mango salsa, tomato salsa, guacamole, avocado chunks, sour cream, pickled red onions, rocket. Everyone can make their own and just pick out what they want. It always goes down well.

Once a year I host a Friendsgiving for my mates and spend the whole day making a feast. I can’t exactly comment on how authentic it is to the true Thanksgiving experience, but all of these recipes come highly recommended:

• This is the recipe I use for the chicken and the gravy (we’re just not turkey fans!)

• The Allison Roman Peppered Squash Gratin is heavenly

• …as are her Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potatoes

• I used this recipe for the green beans

• Dare I say that these Soft Dinner Rolls are the star of the show

• I make this Pumpkin Pie (I really go hard on Allison Roman’s Thanksgiving content)

• …and good grief this Ina Garten Brownie Pudding recipe is SO easy and SO good.

BAKING & DESSERTS

This post could have been just about cookies, because they are kind of my thing. This cookie recipe on my old blog has been viewed over ONE MILLION times, and it’s still the topic I get tagged in most online, even though I posted it seven years ago. I really do love cookies. I love to eat them. I love to make them. Baking cookies is my happy place.

NOTE: I have better luck with U.K cookie recipes, as our butter behaves differently from butter in the U.S, so I often find the American cookie recipes don’t translate too well. Just my two cents!

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

Unlock the full 400+ post archive here

NYC-based brands, friends and PRs, I’ll be in town for New York Fashion Week, 11th-15th September! I’m currently filling my diary, so drop me a DM or an email at anna@theannaedit.com to get something in. I’ll be packing an empty suitcase to take with me…

The Reformation 30% off sale is actually pretty good*, and plenty of pieces are still in stock in most sizes. I’ve rounded up my top edit here*, but if you’re after a decent deal on a wool or cashmere jumper, try one of these:

• The Cashmere Boyfriend Sweater* for a more relaxed-feel knit.

• Opt for the Nikki Cashmere Crew* if you want a jumper that you don’t necessarily have to tuck in.

• Fancy a deep V? The Jadey Cashmere Oversized V-neck* is what you’re after.

In today’s episode of ‘Is it The Row, or is it COS?’, we have six contenders:

• The Facade Jeans* have a good amount of puddle to them and feel like a good dupe for my sold-out FRAME pair.

• If you’re after straighter-leg jeans, try the Chord Jeans*. I adore the styling here with the black flip-flops.

• Can you tell I love a V-neck right now? I always find COS cashmere stands the test of time really well*.

• …and yes, they’ve brought back their OG The Row dupe - the Rounded Cashmere Crew-Neck Jumper*.

• COS’ outerwear game is always strong; their Belted Cotton Trench Coat* looks like it has some heft.

• Because I just can’t fathom spending £1k+ on a pair of shoes, I will be ordering the Leather Moccasin Loafers* to see if they satisfy my itch for The Row Loafers.

A quick beauty interlude because this week I had what was the most ridiculously exciting day of my career to date, which I’m unable to reveal the photos from for like EIGHT MONTHS, so I’ll leak you the makeup look instead. Polly Mercer worked her magic, and I truly have never been so chuffed with my hair and makeup:

• She used a mix of the Lisa Eldridge Skin Tint* and the MERIT Minimalist* on my complexion. We traded product recs non-stop for an hour and agreed that, skincare-wise, the combo of basic products + azelaic acid + adapalene is ELITE.

• She used a Makeup By Mario Cream Blush* (although I didn’t catch the shade), along with the SoftSculpt Skin Enhancer in Light/Medium* to bronze (MY FAVE!) and the Westman Atelier Face Trace in Truffle* to contour. For touch-ups throughout the day (it was 31℃, and we shot mostly outside, so I was dripping!), she used the By Terry Hyaluronic Powder*.

• She tightlined across the tops of my lashes, washed MAC Groundwork* over the lids and finished off my lashes with Urban Decay’s Tube Job*.

• For lips, I paid special attention - I’m always down for a new lip combo. Polly lined with the Makeup For Ever Artist Pencil in Wherever Walnut* and then kept layering up the Tatcha Lip Mask* throughout the day so the lips didn’t dry out at all.

Your style-related smorgasbord for the week:

• Some weeks I digest more words. Others more visuals, and this week I’ve felt more inspired by the latter (perhaps it’s the summer holiday fatigue setting in? TWO MORE WEEKS!!).

• You can browse the full By Malene Birger SS27 runway on their website*. To me it all felt so fun, but also wearble. It made me want to break out of my jeans and a T-shirt rut ASAP.

• I’ve found that the only way to get any reading done right now at this point in my life is to have whatever magazine or book I’d like to take a moment with, in my bag at all times. So I’ve been out and about and walking around the house with the latest issue of L'ETIQUETTE magazine (as recommended by Reva and Melanie) tucked under my arm and sneaking in a few pages whenever I get a quiet moment.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

Help is at hand. Of course my ‘35 Very Stylish Substack Writers On What They Wear When It’s Too Hot To Think’ post should be your first port of call, but I’ve scrolled my camera roll for visual examples of another 10 ideas to see you through the final sweaty slog of summer. You’re welcome.

Tie a shirt around your waist. Have you ever read a Substack post about styling tweaks where this isn’t mentioned? I’m flogging a dead horse at this point, but I cannot stress enough that whenever an outfit is feeling a little flat, how much a shirt or jumper slung around the waist works wonders. I try to remember the advice that Kelly Klein dished out to me during our session together:

• First, open up all the buttons of the shirt.

• Just like with jumpers, create a flat edge by folding over the collar, but leave the collar side facing outwards once you tie it around your waist to show the shirt’s shape.

• Double-knot it so there isn’t so much sleeve dangling down (game-changer!!).

• Pull the knot slightly to the side so it’s a little off centre, and then fuss around with tucking your jumper over the top and draping it how you’d like.

Love the Founder & Designer of DONNI, Alyssa Wasko Stein’s trick of tying a shirt through your belt loops and into a bow. So much so that I screengrabbed her IG stories for you…

…and whilst we're on the subject of shirts - they can be whatever you want them to be. In the summer I favour a lighter linen or hemp composition (these are my fave*, ANNA10 for 10% off), but whatever the weight, shirts can kind of be, well, anything. Here are three levels to play with:

LEVEL ONE: Utilise it more as a jacket, worn open over swimsuits, tanks or tees. A ‘third piece’, if you will.

LEVEL TWO: Wear it backwards. The way my husband laughed when I asked him to button me in, but joke’s on him because he’s taken me out for dinner wearing this EXACT look before and not even realised. As someone who is unadventurous in the tops department, wearing a shirt backwards gives me a chic-looking, high-neck going-out top for no extra cost.

LEVEL THREE: Another Kelly Klein tip, but turn it into an asymmetrical one-sleeve top. YES REALLY! Watch how she works her magic here:

Try the ‘Three Outfit’ challenge. This is something that Reva Luft hammers home every time we chat, but attempting to create three outfits (or more) with a new piece before it takes up permanent residence in your wardrobe is a habit to make routine. Of course it’s a handy practice for fresh items, but whenever you’re feeling a little stuck it’s a tool to get the juices going. Whether it’s finding new ways to style one of your most-worn favourites, or giving yourself the task of working your way around a trickier garment. Either way, you’ll end up with a handful of new outfits and ideas.

Grab a graphic tee. Ok so you’re really stuck? Here’s a recipe that I’ve been reaching for all summer long - a graphic tee + shorts. My life right now consists of a simple loop - park, skate park, park again (‘Mummy watch this!! x 1789901). I need ease, and boy does this outfit have it. I find that the pairing of a silky-looking pair of shorts is the finishing touch that pulls it all together.

Keep it simple. Permission to wear all one colour. Of course, in my wardrobe that’s pretty much limited to either all black or all white, but often I feel most comfortable in my outfits when I don’t overcomplicate it.

Roll the waistband. The Substack fashion girls love to roll a waistband (I spotted it on both Leandra and Kelly recently), but as a card-carrying member of the bloated belly club I just wasn’t sure it was for me. That was until I bought the LESET Nando Lounge Pants* and I realised that the waistband roll is a handy little hack for adjusting length. Want your trousers to sit a little more cropped and fix a roomy crotch area? Roll the waistband. Maybe once, maybe twice. A small shift in silhouette that can help to switch things up.

Try a vibe sandwich. Borrowing another Kelly Klein idea here (she really is the QUEEN of hot and humid dressing!). In her own words:

I love a peplum. It gives shape and reads inherently feminine and a bit dressy, which makes it even more fun to pair with something masculine or sporty on the bottom. Then the feminine shoe at the end balances out everything; it’s a sporty sandwich lol. fem blouse / sporty pant / fem shoe.

Now I don’t own a peplum, but in keeping with her theory I worked with a classic shirt here as a ‘fem blouse’ of sorts, pairing it with sporty shorts and a ballet flat as a feminine-leaning shoe - a vibe sandwich.

Maybe jeans and a tee is enough? Another formula I keep returning to - a loose-fitting or baby-style tee + relaxed jeans + the fanciest sandals I own. You might think that the denim is the most important puzzle piece here, but I’d argue that it’s the sandals that put in the work. Go easy on the rest of the outfit and wear the most refined/whacky/fun sandals you have in your collection. That’s the outfit.

Dig into a magazine. Got a magazine hanging around? Current? Past? Vintage? Even better! Open it up and see what you find. Over the past year I’ve been slowly collecting almost every edition of Vogue Paris Collections (the three earliest issues have eluded my eBay searching so far!), and there’s nothing better than picking up a random copy and seeing what inspires me.

…or try something new. The point of this post is to inspire you to work with what you already have, but what if you feel like there’s one purchase that you’ve lusted after all summer that you think would add serious range to your racks? I’d argue that now is a good time to buy it. There’s still a solid month or two left where you can get to grips with it, but it will still feel fresh to you next summer when you dig it back out.

For me it was a pair of bermuda shorts. I love shorts. I own less than five pairs and wear them practically every other day in the summer. But they are all short and mostly silky. What if I had a pair that grazed the knee? A small shift that feels kind of big to me. Turns out the Reformation Silky Sandy Shorts* are perfect. Perhaps it’s Bermudas for you too. Or a graphic tee? A tube top? Or a funky pair of sandals? I know an end-of-season buy can feel pointless, but I enjoy the excitement of the short-but-sweet road test, knowing that we’ll be reunited next year.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

I take photos of my outfits all week long to share with paid subscribers, giving you fresh ideas, easy outfit formulas, and inspiration to make the most of your wardrobe for the coming week. Upgrading your subscription gets you full access to every outfit diary and unlocks all 450+ posts in the archives, including posts like ‘Rating Every Single Thing I Bought in 2025’ and all my city-specific shopping guides.

Upgrade here to unlock the full post

Today’s ‘Everything I Wore This Week’ instalment is a special edition as I spent the past seven days on the Isle of Wight. Being newbies to the kids’ summer holidays game and the six-week stretch of zero childcare, we realised last minute that we had no actual holiday plans. FAIL! So we scrambled and found a self-catered converted barn on the south of the island, booked our ferry crossing, packed the car and off we went.

It turns out it was a great decision. My parents joined us for a few days and stayed in their motorhome at a nearby campsite; the weather was lush, and there was so much to do that we could have easily filled a two-week stint (our kid would have happily visited Robin Hill daily). I hadn’t travelled to the IOW since I was three, but I won’t leave it 33 years next time, and I can see it becoming a yearly tradition for us.

Packing-wise, the brief was: light. We went in the car so had space by the bucketloads, but I wanted this to be a proper turn-off, tune-out kind of trip. My beauty supplies were sparse: just skincare and a ton of SPF, no makeup or fancy hairstyling products, and I wanted the same back-to-basics approach with my outfits. So here’s what I packed for a seven-night family trip with pretty decent weather and plans no fancier than devouring a cone of fish and chips on the beach…

• 1 x Jumper - the J.Crew Rollneck Jumper*

• 1 x Long-Sleeve T-Shirt - this one from LESET*

• 3 x Short-Sleeve T-Shirts - a vintage navy blue one from Vinted, then this RE/DONE Car Graphic Baby Tee* and a RE/DONE Black T-Shirt*

• 2 x Vests - the Flore Flore May Tank* and the LESET Nando V-Neck Tank*

  • We weren’t planning on doing any washing there, so I took a fresh top for everyday-ish.

• 1 x Jeans - vintage Levi’s 550’s from The Consistency Project

• 1 x Cotton Poplin Trousers - the DONNI Pop Cargo Pants*, OF COURSE

• 1 x Cotton Shorts - sold-out LESET pair, but these are similar*

• 2 x Tote Bags - the Alex Mill Perfect Weekday Tote* for all my luggage, then the Loeffler Randall Mira Tote* to use every day (I didn’t need this and just ended up using the Alex Mill one!)

• 2 x Shoes - my Havaiana Flip Flops* and Converse* - I would have been happy with just my flip-flops, but knew we’d be riding bikes and doing longer walks so needed something sturdier

SATURDAY

Our travel day was relatively chilled: an hour drive to the ferry, a 45-minute crossing and then 30 minutes on the other end to where we were staying. I wore my black jeans only because they were one of the biggest things I needed to pack and threw on my new RE/DONE Car Tee* because it’s new and I was excited to wear it.

The big win of the day was packing everything I was taking with me in just one tote. For seven days, I’ve never managed that before! Clothing, underwear, shoes, PJs, charging cables, toiletries… I couldn’t quite believe it! All in the Alex Mill Perfect Weekday Tote*. I mean, I was dealt a solid with the weather; it wasn’t that any of the clothing I was bringing with me was particularly big, but still. It inspired me for future trips. Unpacking on the other end was dreamy.

SUNDAY

It wasn’t intentional, but for this trip I packed mostly black, white and navy, so actually the golden khaki tote* ended up doing the heavy lifting in my outfits (it’s probably why the Loeffler Randall Mira Tote* stayed at our (holiday) home). I wore this outfit for a morning wander down the beach, then to the UK’s oldest theme park, Blackgang Chine (it’s like over 150 years old! MAD), then to the local pub for a Sunday roast. The only thing I did was throw on my J.Crew Rollneck* in the evening to tackle a 1000-piece puzzle.

Want to read the rest? Paid subscribers get access to my full outfit diary every week. Sign up for an annual membership to snag the best monthly deal.

You can upgrade here 🔗

Read more

Unlock the full 400+ post archive here

The hot question of the week is ‘What is that BAG?!’. I’m here to tell you that it’s the Alex Mill Perfect Weekday Tote* and it’s, well, pretty perfect. Number one, it’s huge, but not unwieldy. I somehow managed to sling a whole week’s worth of luggage in there (for a seven-night trip I packed everything into this tote and my Loeffler Randall Mira Tote*), and have worn it every day on our trip because it easily fits everything we need for a day-long adventure. The colour is doing the heavy lifting here, but I also love that it has shoulder straps, or shorter carry-straps if I want it to feel a little more elevated. I bought it as part of my tote bag research (TWE totes coming next year, fingers crossed!), and although I have tweaks that I’d make personally, I can’t argue that it’s a very, very good tote.

I just love RE/DONE T-shirts. I’ve owned their Hanes 1950s Boxy Tee* for years, and if you’re after that sort of thin, papery, vintage feeling T-shirt, then I’d always point you in their direction. But who knew they did such a good graphic tee collection too? Inspired by Reva’s outfit from my ‘35 Very Stylish Substack Writers On What They Wear When It’s Too Hot To Think’ post, I went on the hunt for a fun graphic T-shirt in more of a baby tee fit and ended up with the RE/DONE Classic Car Malibu Tee*, which was exactly what I was looking for. I’d say they run true to size; I’m wearing a medium here, and the code ANNAEDIT15 gets you 15% off.

My black baby tee search is over!! And the winner is the COS Slim Cotton T-shirt*. It’s 100% cotton and, just as importantly, features an armhole roomy enough to accommodate your arm flesh without cutting in. Plus it’s £25. WIN.

If you fancy seeing me try on things I’ve bought recently (featuring some GEMS and some utterly horrendous buys - I’m still not over how bad that LBD was!), check out this week’s post…

Your style-related smorgasbord for the week:

• Lindsay Sword wrote a cracking piece last week - ‘5 Reasons Why Wearing Black Makes Sense in Summer’ - and I was like, wait, is this show about me?!

• Not style-related, but ‘You Should Date Your Friends’ by Elin Strong hit me hard. Having a friendship group where most, including me, are still in the ‘small kids’ phase of life means that free time is at an all-time low and social gatherings are minimal. I want to change that!! A friend date always fills my battery. I endeavour to fill my calendar with more.

• Kelly AND Reva?! In video format!? What did I do to deserve this? I know Substack is all about the words, but I do love a video drop from time to time, and if you watch in the Substack app (it’s where I do all my newsletter reading, so it doesn’t clog up my inbox), it automatically saves where you got to in the video. A very handy tool if you watched this in three parts, like I did (see above: small kid).

• Another Anna Baldwin IG Reel, but this one was the permission I needed to lean into the full shirt tuck:

• And finally, a good reminder from Angie if you’re starting to feel like every outfit you put on feels the same. I definitely went overboard with the slightly cropped, elasticated waist, barrel-leg fit. GUILTY!

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

It was a mixed bag, and actually a lot of what had arrived that day was packaged up and ready to be sent back by that afternoon. Watch till the end because I tried on a dress that was laughably horrendous. Like ‘all body positivity has left the building’ bad. But there were some gems too. As always, I’ve timestamped it for you if you want to skip ahead and linked everything I mentioned, tried on and styled below too. ENJOY!

TIMESTAMPS:

0.00 - 6.06 - A sunglasses fail

6:07 - 10:36 - Vintage-inspired Zoe Kravitz nightgown

10:37 - 15:52 - A new St Agni Top that I snagged in the sale

15:53 - 18:26 - The best high-street cotton baby tee

18:27 - 21:53 - The sandals I’m returning

21:54 - 34:01 - A LESET Bermuda short try-on

34:02 - 38:01 - A dress so bad you have to laugh

Read more

I take photos of my outfits all week long to share with paid subscribers, giving you fresh ideas, easy outfit formulas, and inspiration to make the most of your wardrobe for the coming week. Upgrading your subscription gets you full access to every outfit diary and unlocks all 450+ posts in the archives, including posts like ‘Rating Every Single Thing I Bought in 2025’ and all my city-specific shopping guides.

Upgrade here to unlock the full post

MONDAY

After wearing short shorts with an oversized tee for approximately the last 71 days (you can find the full archive of almost three years worth of outfit diaries here), I fancied something different on Monday for a trip into town to see the Dentist. Jeans! These are a pair of vintage Levi’s 550s that I bought from The Consistency Project in New York last year. These have a cropped fit on me and fit wider in the hips and narrower on the calf than the 501s, which are more of a straight-up-and-down cut. If you want a vintage Levi’s primer, then this is the post for you…

TUESDAY

I seem to switch; one day in all-black, one day in all-white. I cannot believe that I wrote off bermuda shorts without even trying on a pair, because, well, they are brilliant. The extra coverage is appreciated (shaving only to the knee - FTW!), and as someone who lives in jeans + T-shirt, or T-shirt + shorts, this feels like another string to add to my bow. Also shoutout to my new T-shirt (very much inspired by Reva’s one in this post), which my four-year-old kid LOVES. It’s silly and fun, and I forgot how RE/DONE is a treasure trove of vintage-feeling tees. Paper-thin is their thing. If you want a plain version, I’ve had the black style of this one in my wardrobe for years* (code ANNAEDIT15 gets you 15% off).

Read more

Unlock the full 400+ post archive here

I have no idea what has gotten into the water at Reformation, but every time the new-in page refreshes, my wishlist gets longer…

Rounding off this section with a few things that I’ve actually purchased myself this week.

First up - the Salomon XT-6 Trainers in Black*. I originally bought these in the green*, but they’ve sat unloved in my wardrobe. I thought I needed to size down, but instead I’ve ended up with a pair of trainers that are too snug and that I never wear. I just know that if I owned them in the correct size, and in a colour that I feel far more comfortable with, I’d be reaching for them all winter long. I’m thinking of them like the trainer version of my rainboots*.

I just like to sprinkle in a NET-A-PORTER order from time to time and added three things to my basket recently:

• Christopher Esber Jelly Sandals* (mad price for flip-flops so I’d suggest these* or these*) - In my search for weird and wonderful shoes, I wonder whether it is just a pair of clear jellies I’m after? I’ll report back.

• Thistles The Jack Sunglasses (I snagged the last pair, so linking them directly here*) -Substack writers love to regularly tout these as the universally flattering sunglasses shape. As a round-faced, big-browed gal, I’ll be the judge of that.

• Eres Les Essentiels Aquarelle Swimsuit* - This is A LOT of money for a swimsuit, so unless this is utterly perfect, it will be returned. But what if it is as good as everyone says? I have to find out for myself. I sized up as per the sizing suggestions.

Your style-related smorgasbord for the week:

Inner peace to me is being all caught up with my Substack inbox:

• The winner of the best title I’ve seen on Substack all year? ‘Careful Babe, They’re Putting Mass Surveillance In Your Vintage Designer’ courtesy of Kendall Flavin from The Dressing Room. As a lifelong wearer of the Ray-Ban Wayfarers, I’m in the market for a new style (see above purchase)…

• Kudos to Lindsay Sword for capturing exactly what I want to be wearing right now in her post, ‘Casual Vibes Only: Clothes for Walks, Workouts and WFH’.

• Harling Ross Anton’s post ‘Everything I Made My Sister Buy This Month’ is proof that just a handful of new buys can transform a wardrobe (good postpartum dressing advice too in this one!).

• New (to me!) Substack alert - Boy Room by Sam Bolinatz. Read this post and prepare to want to recreate every single outfit.

• This is something I’ve been thinking about a lot recently: ‘The Best Outfits Require the Least Thought’, written by Louisa Hatt.

• Not necessarily a fashion pick, but I just ADORE how Kat Chan from Full Serving approaches wellness and nutrition. It’s all so… doable. Her ‘How to Feel Like Yourself Anywhere’ post details her top tips for balancing holidays and travel with actually ingesting some greenery and keeping the old colon cogs turning. Always grateful to India Knight for the intro.

The Wardrobe Edit really does have the best dressed readers. Case in point: this post in the chat from Shannon Jones…

I’ve now seen this bangle hack on my explore page 170 times, but the first one I spotted was this reel from Claire Hagen. It gives that relaxed, open feel to a shirt without the need for constantly fussing and tucking.

I knew I’d want to reference this Alyssa Wasko Stein shirt tying tip at a later date, so I screen recorded her IG story like the DONNI stalker that I am.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

Get 'The Wardrobe Edit' in your inbox

If you’re a regular reader of my ‘Everything I Wore This Week’ series, then it will be of no surprise to see the LESET Yoko Tank Dress* listed up top. The recent temps in the U.K. had me stressed. There was nothing in my wardrobe that felt appealing for a 32℃ day, and that’s exactly where this dress comes in. It’s tissue-paper-thin, barely touches your skin, and you can easily wear a bra underneath, which I mostly need for sweat-catching purposes. It’s on the shorter side (I’m 5’7” for reference), so throw on a pair of these underneath* to be on the safe side. If your size is sold out, try this for something similar*.

The weather this month has meant that I’ve been playing with a far smaller section of my wardrobe than usual. Jeans?! Sweaters?! Long sleeves?! I don’t know her! There’s been less to work with, and trying to conjure up an outfit whilst the first beads of sweat work their way down your back isn’t exactly an inspiring moment. So I’ve been leaning into ease. All black, all white - done. No faff, no fuss, I’m ready. Because of this, unsurprisingly, the pieces in my wardrobe that I own in both black and white have been in rotation the most:

• Flore Flore May Tanks* - The big win this month was realising these bras fit perfectly underneath them*.

• RE/DONE x Hanes T-Shirt* - I’ve had these T-shirts in my wardrobe for years; the perfect ever-so-slightly-cropped, vintage-feel tees.

• LESET Barb Shorts* - The hefty, silky composition means these pair extremely well with lightweight cotton T-shirts or tanks.

• DONNI Pop Cargo Pants* - I once owned these in five different colours, but have since downsized to just the black and the white. Nothing is comfier.

The newsletter inclusion that has been months in the making. THE TIME HAS COME! MERIT’s new mascara formula, Clean Volume*, has launched, and it’s the mascara that has got me back into daily mascara use. I was lucky enough to get an unmarked sample a few months back and have been eagerly awaiting its release so I could share it with you because it’s, well, game-changing. Let’s get to the good part - it comes off with cleanser and warm water - no separate eye makeup remover needed, but it also manages to hold a curl in my pin-straight lashes. If you have a natural curl to your lashes, this will be no biggie, but to those of us who usually have to do a whole routine with a mascara that feels simply impossible to remove come bedtime, this is BIG NEWS!

And the brush! It’s like a little lash comb, so you can coat each lash, almost push them into position, and lift them to exactly where you want them. The formula builds if that’s what you want, but because of the brush, it never gets clumpy. It doesn’t flake or smudge; it’s just my lashes, but with a little more volume.

*Sponsored mention (but trust me that I would have included this either way - it’s not left my makeup bag since)

It’s not that I didn’t care about SPF until I had a kid, but these days it’s built into my daily routine in a way where, before, perhaps I wasn’t as stringent. Now we all apply sun cream head-to-toe before we leave the house, and to make it pleasant enough for all (him and me), I make it as easy as possible. Boots Kids Soltan SPF50+ Lotion* on his body, an Ambre Solaire SPF50+ Spray* for his ears and the back of the neck and then the Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun Aqua-Fresh SPF50+* on his face (it doesn’t make his eyes sting, and he’s genuinely into it because I tell him how it comes all the way from Korea).

For me, I stick to something from La Roche-Posay for the face (either this* or this*), but for the body I was always a little stumped. Sensorily, I despise anything sticky on my body, so suncream was never my favourite category. Bask sent me their Non-Aerosol Spray SPF50 Sunscreen*, and I have zero complaints. The fine mist sinks into the skin in a minute flat, leaving zero residue - you don’t even know you’ve got something on. It’s the kind of SPF that mates have been borrowing and then are instantly enquiring ‘What IS that?!’. For top-ups on the go, it’s golden.

Instagram suggested this song as an accompaniment to a carousel I was posting. My kid heard it, insisted we add it to his playlist (sidenote: such a good hack for long journeys!!), and we’ve listened to it daily since. It both feels like the unofficial soundtrack to this summer and makes me feel nostalgic for the summers of my mid-twenties, when mates would come and stay for long and lazy weekends, and we’d lie on the beach and read our books for hours. Can you tell I just really want to go to the beach and read for hours?!

Anna and I had a long discussion the other day about our love for Ocado. Peak adulthood is an early Monday morning Ocado delivery, and I will die on that hill. Not needing to physically enter a supermarket to do a weekly shop is the only way I can stick to a food budget, plus this way you get to sprinkle in a few M&S treats. Enter the M&S Loaded Pistachio Ice Creams. My word. These are HEAVENLY. I wouldn’t say I’m a chocolate ice lolly kind of gal. Give me a Calippo over a Magnum any day of the week. But these? Well, these are special. The chocolate is thick, and they use the same pistachio cream inside that they sell in the pot, which I happily eat right out of the tub. The ice cream of the summer for me.

Look, I’d be lying if I said I haven’t found the start of the summer holidays testing. It’s our first one, so we’re finding our feet with how to balance our little one being home 24/7, with pretty much zero childcare or clubs and figuring out how work fits into the equation. So know that you’re just seeing the nice bits here. But one silver lining has been summer evenings in Brighton.

Contrary to popular belief, I don’t live in London. I’m Brighton-born and-bred (I always explain it by saying draw a line down from London to the coast and that’s where I reside), and I know I’m biased, but I feel so lucky to be able to call it home. Nothing beats a post-dinner dip in the sea with a friend, or pushing bedtime and going down there with my husband and my kid, or wandering along the promenade after dinner at one of my favourite restaurants. Or even tiny glimmers, like picking raspberries at dusk or reading my book in the garden as the sun sets. My friend and I were talking the other evening about how romanticising our lives feels integral to our general day-to-day happiness, and we must try to do it more often. So my summer holidays survival tactic is to try and have some kind of ‘moment’ each day, even if it’s small and fleeting, because my word, I need it.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

In that last post, I uncovered my ‘Vivianna Does Makeup’ lore. I got my start in the beauty blogging world way back in 2010, and I’ve loved makeup and beauty since I managed to locate my Mum’s makeup bag. To date, one of the best presents I’ve ever received was a vanity table with plastic makeup when I was four. Back in my university days, I’d squirrel away my student loan to visit MAC on the first Thursday of every month to get a first look at the new collection drops. I still remember my first ever Space NK purchase (NARS Cream Eyeshadow in Mykonos - RIP!). And my debut trip to a U.S Sephora felt like a religious experience. I. Love. Makeup. Always have, always will.

Over the years, naturally, my tastes have changed, and right now, whilst I like to wear makeup, I don’t love to look like I’m wearing it. Less is more. Glow over matte. Tints rather than coverage - you get the gist. This is a pretty comprehensive list, but what I use daily fits into this handy-to-travel-with Space NK Makeup Bag* and the rest sits in my bathroom cabinet, and I switch products as and when my skin and/or preferences change.

BASE

FOUNDATION: Dior Forever Foundation Stick in 2N* (PCA). I can’t say I’m much of a foundation gal, but I picked this up recently after seeing 1781 rave reviews for it, and I have to say, I can see what all the fuss is about. Like, how can a stick formula be so creamy?! The key is to apply it just after you’ve finished your skincare, so you’re still nice and juicy, and I like to blend it in with a damp BeautyBlender* to remove any excess and fully melt it into my skin (application video for you here if you’re interested).

Notable mentions: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk* (PCA - I tend to use a blend of the shades 4 and 6). I wore this on my wedding day, so it will always have a special place in my heart. For a base that looks a little lit from within, but never shiny, this is it. It sits more in the ‘event makeup’ category for me.

TINTED MOISTURISER: Sculpted by Aimee Hydra Tint in 4* (PCA). Tinted moisturisers are realistically what I’m reaching for daily. Usually applied with my fingers in approximately 20 seconds straight just to even things out a little and give some extra glow. This one does exactly that, and there’s still a little left on my face come the end of the day. Whenever I use it, I feel sunkissed and fresh, which is exactly what I want.

Notable mentions: In recent years I’ve also enjoyed the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser in Alaska*, Lisa Eldridge Seamless Skin Enhancing Tint in T8* and MERIT The Uniform in 24*. To be honest, there isn’t much that differentiates them. They all leave my skin looking and feeling hydrated, whilst providing just a smidge of coverage.

CONCEALER: Lisa Eldridge Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting Pencil* (PCA) & Glossier Stretch Concealer in Light 4*. I operate a two-concealer policy in my makeup bag. The Lisa Eldridge Pencil is a stiffer formula that works best in small doses drawn over pimples or dark spots and then softly blended at the edges with your fingers. Then I’ve used the Glossier concealer since it launched 10 YEARS AGO (!!!). It’s got a peachy tone that brightens under my eyes that I’ve never been able to replicate with another product. I apply it with my fingers, focusing it nearer the inner corners, and it never ever looks dry under my eyes. It doesn’t set - some people might not like that - but my dry-ass undereyes appreciate the extra hydration.

Notable mentions: If I’m after a creamy formula with a doe-foot applicator, KOSAS Revealer Concealer in 4* is my favourite. It looks lush under the eyes and works well all over the face too. If I’ve got a lot of acne that I want to cover, nobody does it better than the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place 24 Hour Concealer in 2N*.

POWDER: This category is a little lacking because powder just isn’t something that I reach for daily. I’d rather look like you could fry an egg on my face, to be honest. If I ever need to lock my look down for longevity, I’ll dust a little of the KOSAS Cloud Set in Breezy* down the centre of my face. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light* is another option I use to softly set (I’d recommend picking up one of their limited edition Christmas sets as they come in handy for travel).

CHEEKS

BRONZER: Makeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Skin Enhancer in Light/Medium* (PCA). If you’re going to take one recommendation from this post, make it this. I have zero complaints with this product. It’s a cream compact that bronzes, but it sort of contours and highlights at the same time. Most days it’s my one-and-done cheek product. It just makes me look ‘healthy’ - I’ve just reordered my third one.

Notable mentions: On really oily days, I’ll set all over with the DIOR Forever Nude Bronzer in 20* (I think it sometimes comes up as 02 light matte) on a big fluffy brush. I rarely ever contour, only really if I’m filming or shooting something, and for that I’d use the Victoria Beckham Contour Stylus in Travertine* - it’s the only contour I’ve ever used down to the nub. Then because the skincare I use leaves me pretty glowy, I don’t tend to need an additional highlighter, but if I am having a particularly dry day, I’ll grab the CHANEL Baume Essentiel in Sculpting* (PCA) and rub it across the tops of my cheekbones.

BLUSHER: Rhode Pocket Blush in Tan Lines & Freckle* (PCA) or MERIT Flush Balm in Fox or Beverly Hills*. Back in the day, I never wore blush. My complexion is naturally pretty ruddy, but over the years I’ve got that more under control, and now I see the true power that a blush brings to your routine. It lifts! It glows! It makes you look alive, you know? I like my blush formulas creamy and preferably in a stick so I can just scribble on, blend and go if I fancy it. Zero faff, zero fuss. Try as I might, I can’t pick a favourite between these four even though I’m sure my husband would say they all look the same. The only difference is the Rhode is a little more pigmented than the MERIT, but sometimes I’m craving that more watercolour, tinted finish.

EYES

EYESHADOW: Armani Eye Tint in 22M*. I think I first used this product back in 2019 and I have barely used another eyeshadow since. It’s a liquid tint, which sounds like such an annoying product to use, but I touch my brush lightly onto the doe-foot and then just swipe it all over my lids. The whole process, both eyes, takes around 30 seconds. Because it’s a liquid, it’s like using paint, and once it dries, it’s locked in.

Notable mentions: MERIT’s Solo Shadow in Midcentury* is a similar mid-tone, matte brown if you’d rather a cream formulation. I always have the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Palette* on hand in case I do fancy doing more of a dimensional look to the eye (lol - like twice a year). And I have to give a special shout to the Victoria Beckham Kajal Eyeliners* because they truly are the best - so silky and smooth and once they are set they aren’t budging - but I never use them.

MASCARA: MERIT Clean Volume Mascara*. This is probably one of the newer additions here, but I was lucky to get my hands on a pre-launch sample a few months ago, and I haven’t reached for another mascara since. My lashes are painfully straight, but as this is a tubing formula, I can get the benefits of a waterproof mascara - a.k.a lift and curl - but without it feeling like tarmac to take off (it comes off with just warm water and cleanser). Sometimes I build the volume, sometimes I rake through my lashes afterwards with a spoolie to give a more natural finish - it just depends where the day is taking me.

BROW GEL: KJH Beauty Nano Brow Set*. Of course Katie Jane Hughes made the brow gel we’ve all been waiting for. She is the QUEEN of the fluffy brow! Her formula sets without feeling too crispy, and the brush is nice and tiny so you can really go through your hairs and cover each one. It never leaves those weird white fibres in your brows like other products. My brows are huge (Dad’s genes) and this pins them down.

LIPS

LIP PRODUCTS: I’m pretty loyal to my lip products. Most of the time I’m just using the Summer Fridays Lip Butter in Pink Sugar*, although I’ve recently converted to the EADEM Le Chouchou Lip Softening Balm in Shaved Sakura Ice*, which feels rich on the lips, but never sticky. If I can be arsed, I’m lining my lips with the MERIT Signature Lip Liner in Beverly Hills*, which is a gel-formula so feels soft and pliable on the lips. It matches my lip colour really well, so makes my lips look just a smidge fuller.

Notable mentions: I’ve got a pretty long list of notable mentions here because even though I typically only have two lip products in my makeup bag at any given time, it’s the category that I switch up most often:

• Glossier Lip Liner in Graze* - before the MERIT Lip Liner came along, this was my favourite. It’s a bit peachy pink, so more suited to summertime, but it enhances my natural lip line without looking obvious.

• Westman Atelier lip products are bloomin’ expensive, but (sadly!) bloomin’ wonderful. The Liquid Lip Balm in Nou Nou* feels like the U.K-available version of the EADEM Balm, and their HydroBalm Tinted Lipsticks* are like tinted moisturisers for your lips - like a ‘no lipstick, lipstick’. Ballerine is my favourite neutral (shown in the video above), Juice if I want something more coral.

• If I want a more classic lipstick formula, I’m reaching for MERIT Signature Lipsticks*; Ginger for a browny-toned peach or Vermillion for a red (watch this video for the technique of how I get a more natural ‘blotted’ finish).

TOOLS

I don’t really own that many brushes because, quite honestly, I hate to wash them. So the less I have, the easier brush hygiene becomes (this soap is all you need for cleaning*). Here’s what I use:

FOR THE FACE: The BeautyBlender* but only with the DIOR Foundation that I mentioned above and always, always damp. The Westman Atelier Blender Brush* is ridiculously priced but I’ve used it consistently for the past seven years, and it still looks brand new. To go with the Makeup By Mario Bronzer, I use an old discontinued Beauty Pie Angled Brush; they do a similar one here* or this looks like a good dupe*. For setting powder, I like a light touch, so I use the Haikuhudo Brush* (again, this looks similar*), or if I’m using a powder bronzer and want a more all-over approach, I load up the Hourglass Powder Brush*, which washes up really well.

FOR THE EYES: I literally own one eye makeup brush. I never do eye ‘looks’ these days and just want something that lightly diffuses a sheer wash of colour, and the Makeup By Mario EF2 Brush* does exactly that. I always make sure I have the Surratt Eyelash Curler* tucked in my bag (it’s GREAT for pin-straight lashes) and I keep a pack of cheap spoolies on hand to work mascara through my lashes for a more feathery look.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

I take photos of my outfits all week long to share with paid subscribers, giving you fresh ideas, easy outfit formulas, and inspiration to make the most of your wardrobe for the coming week. Upgrading your subscription gets you full access to every outfit diary and unlocks all 450+ posts in the archives, including posts like ‘Rating Every Single Thing I Bought in 2025’ and all my city-specific shopping guides.

Upgrade here to unlock the full post

MONDAY

I went up to London for a meeting on Monday, and I cannot stress to you just how exciting it was! SORRY! BIG TEASE! I’ve never worked with a brand on a collaboration of this scale before; it’s already been a year in the making, and it won’t see the light of day till April next year. I just know you are going to love it. I do! It didn’t really matter what I wore there as I knew I’d be in and out of samples, so I defaulted to the easiest outfit of all - T-shirt and jeans. Antonia did a great deep-dive on that exact subject this week. And even though I highly rate this LESET Nando Tee*, I’m wondering if this is a good enough high-street dupe*?

TUESDAY

A pattern started here that repeated itself for the rest of the week; a longer-sleeve, slightly oversized T-shirt, with a pair of short shorts. I’ve got a pretty long torso, and this is one of those formulas that I feel works well with my body shape - covered up top, legs out. This might seem like a nothingbuger of an outfit, BUT, hear me out. This T-shirt is by far the best long-sleeve T-shirt I’ve ever tried*. Mid-weight, with a slightly flared sleeve, it’s oversized without feeling baggy (I wear a medium - it runs true to size). And I think the bag is doing some heavy lifting here too, just to add some balance to an all-black look. My L.L.Bean tote order is the natural colour, in the medium size with the long straps*.

Read more

Unlock the full 400+ post archive here

The best/worst thing about writing this newsletter is that I am often tempted to buy more than I really need. UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY. Recently, it has resulted in an unusually high amount of returns - nothing has really hit the spot:

• I couldn’t get the sizing right in these AGOLDE shorts* and CBA to keep trying (my guess would be to go one to two sizes down from your usual).

• This Reformation Augusta Top* in my normal size fit well around the bust, but was too tight around the waist and without a side zip, I knew that a size bigger would be far too roomy around the boobs.

• The MANGO dupe for the MATTEAU Fisherman trousers had potential*, but a medium felt like pulling a potato sack around my waist. They’ve just updated the sizing guidelines to reflect that you really need to size down here.

• Anything and everything from DÔEN. Try as I might, I’m just not a DÔEN gal.

• The fit of the Massimo Dutti Parachute Pants*, a supposed Still Here Sport Jeans* dupe, was beyond awful on me. Too short. Too tight. I genuinely laughed when I put them on. I think I’ve realised that as the owner of a long torso, these semi-waistband-less denim styles just aren’t made for me.

• I ADORE the Underdays Everyday Thongs* and have been patiently waiting for them to make a matching bra. I ordered both of their new bralette styles*, and neither came close to the subtle sexiness of the Negative Whipped Non-Wire Bra* nor the comfort of the Boody Triangle Bralette*.

This list is not exhaustive, which explains why I feel like I spend my life at the local post office. That guy and I are TIGHT! But it does demonstrate that I’m being pickier with what actually penetrates the barrier and makes it into my wardrobe, which can only be a good thing. My Vinted account breathes a sigh of relief!

One combo that did make it through? The Reformation Sandy Satin Shorts* and a new style from LESET, their Nando V-Neck Tank*. They both went from parcel → body → straight out the door.

The shorts are basically my OG LESET Barb pair*, but with a longer inseam. They are Bermuda shorts, which have taken me a solid two summers to succumb to, but a little less contact between my sweaty thighs and public seating feels long overdue (more for the general public than for me!). I thought I’d find the length tricky to style, but on my 5’7” frame, I haven’t had to put much thought into it. They go with everything. Sizing-wise, you can go one size down. I regularly find myself wearing a large these days in Reformation, but I wear a medium in these.

The same with the tank. Ultimately, it’s just a black tank, but the V-neck is an uncommon feature in my wardrobe, and doesn’t it just look chic? To me, it’s like the ’90s CBK-esque, summer version of a turtleneck. Wide straps, bra-approved, fits true-to-size, I love.

Ready for a bag interlude? From L-R:

• Mesh bags are a great option for adding texture to your outfit without reading too boho, if that’s not your vibe. This one comes in black or camel*.

• But also, beads are great, and we love them*, and it will be a miracle if I get to September without buying a beaded bag.

• Not exactly the cheapest one out of the line-up here, but isn’t there a style from The Row that looks identical to this*?

• Mesh but make it stripes*? This one has beach bag written all over it.

Thanks for being part of The Wardrobe Edit. If you like what you read, I’d truly appreciate it if you liked, shared, or left a comment - it makes all the difference.

Share The Wardrobe Edit

Want more?

• Shop my wardrobe here

• Catch my weekly YouTube vlogs here

• Follow along on Instagram

If you’re a brand interested in partnering on a future post, please email na@insanity.com.

Read more

I take photos of my outfits all week long to share with paid subscribers, giving you fresh ideas, easy outfit formulas, and inspiration to make the most of your wardrobe for the coming week. Upgrading your subscription gets you full access to every outfit diary and unlocks all 450+ posts in the archives, including posts like ‘Rating Every Single Thing I Bought in 2025’ and all my city-specific shopping guides.

Upgrade here to unlock the full post

MONDAY

There isn’t really much to report on Monday’s outfit; sometimes a head-to-toe one-colour outfit is all you’ve got the juice for. This is something I explored in my recent styling session with Reva Luft, and for summer it feels like my go-to uniform. No fuss, no faff, just the added detail of a hefty ring stack or a statement shoe - just a little something. A ballet flat would have been my preference here, but adventures on a pebble beach called for something less delicate, so rubber flip-flops it was.

TUESDAY

Tuesday’s outfit did NUMBERS on notes because, really, jeans and a T-shirt are always enough. The details matter here. A paper-thin tee that gives a vintage feel* (I’ve had this exact one for years!), and loose jeans that look a little lived-in and like you’ve borrowed them from your husband’s side of the wardrobe (these are the FRAME Low-Slung Barrel Leg style, which look to be discontinued, but these have a similar shape*).

Read more

Unlock the full 400+ post archive here

Read more

The practicalities forced on summer outfits mean they…

Read more