Aintree Race Day Looks With OUTFIT!

OUTFIT is an out of town fashion destination store brought to us by Arcadia, the big guns behind Topshop, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins to name just a few of our fave haunts. We've all experienced big event outfit stress, and the inevitable 3 hour walk around town but ending up buying the first dress you tried on situation from shopping hell right?! They understand that we just want to sweep the high street in one trip, mixing and matching different brands' clothes, shoes and accessories as we go to make the perfect, well, OUTFIT! Did you know that you can even order from the individual stores online and collect from an OUTFIT store? Only recently I placed Topshop and Miss Selfridge orders and sent them both to my local OUTFIT store for collection, meaning I could try the whole lot on in the shop, returning the unsuitable bits for a refund at one checkout point without even taking them home - genius!

Anyhoo girls, it's Aintree time in just over a week, and whether you're going to Ladies Day on Friday 10th April, or to The Grand National itself on Saturday 11th, you're going to want to look flipping fabulous! So it was with a sense of duty that I headed to OUTFIT in Liverpool to create a few all under one roof alternative looks to the bodycons and superproms that you might be used to seeing on Race Day. Personally I'm not into the traditional race day looks of brightly coloured frocks and fascinators so I thought I'd do this my way - on trend, wearable and cool as a cucumber. To the outfits! . . .

Upper Left : Tailored Sleeveless Jacket - Topshop £45, Crochet Bralet - Topshop £22, Wrap Front Jogger Trousers - Topshop £30, Gold Lena Sandals - Topshop £56, Clutch - Topshop, Necklaces - Topshop Freedom.
Okay, so this was the first one I pulled and I got a little overexcited in Toppers, but it looked so good together that it ended up on a mannequin - hurrah! I could see this type of look on Kendall Jenner, a hot young thing who has a torso for days and isn't afraid to bare it!

Upper Right : Floral Printed Jumpsuit - Miss Selfridge £49, Mixed Bead Collar Necklace - Dorothy Perkins £12.50, Pale Blue Platform Court Shoes - Dorothy Perkins £29, Suedette Clutch Bag - Dorothy Perkins £10.
This one was SO pretty together, the peach of the jumpsuit looked amazing with the pale blue and lilac accessories even though they weren't from the same store range.

Lower Left : Lime Embellished Kimono Top - Wallis £35, Monochrome Animal Trousers - Wallis £30, Lime Tres Chic Clutch - Miss Selfridge £16, Gallop Patent Court Shoes - Topshop £58.
So we're not all tall and leggy with shoulders as sharp as SJP's, believe me I know, so if you're looking to cover up a little more then colour block your top and accessories and enlist the help of some statement trousers to up your style game! Tres chic as the little clutch says!

Lower Right : Nude Lace Trim Trapeze Top - Miss Selfridge £28, Wrap Front Joggers - Topshop £30, Wedges - Miss Selfridge £45, Necklace/Bracelets - Dorothy Perkins.
This top was insanely pretty, and would look gorgeous with a full midi skirt on the right girl, but just not me, so I paired it with some relaxed grey joggers and gorgeous chunky nude wedges for a cool silhouette.

And as for me, what did I end up taking home? Here's my finished look . . . 

OUTFIT (literally) : Jacket - Dorothy Perkins, Cami - Dorothy Perkins, Trousers - Warehouse, Shoes - Topshop, Bag - Lulu Guinness, Necklace - Mi Moneda.

This is totally my race day/summer occasionwear style, but when I was shopping for it it wasn't actually what I had in mind, yet it kind of fell into place as I walked around the store because I was really able to think about what I was putting together! I like to feel relaxed and look laid back when I'm enjoying myself, as opposed to constantly wondering what my fussy dress is doing. I want to be able to breathe out after a few glasses of bubbly and not snap my Spanx or bust a zipper. I want to be able to discard the jacket if I get hot but not feel like I'm neked or hauling around a dufflecoat. I want to be colourful but not in your face. So I love this look and it took me several trips to the OUTFIT changing rooms to get it just right, but the experience was really enjoyable because I could mix and match brands until it was spot on. I remember sending Tara 3 pics of different camis under the jacket and wandering around colour swatching the Topshop heels to various jackets and trousers, none of which were actually Topshop! 

Meanwhile, if all this is a little too Jade for your taste and you like something a little more prinny for your race day get up, then check out the OUTFIT Races Guide for something spesh, and ScouseBird's #CircleOfFab Guide for that true Aintree look! 

Seriously I can't pimp this out enough though, if you have a local OUTFIT then please utilise it for the purpose it was made for; mix it up, compare fabrics and colours, price match similar pieces (basics are a minefield when you can't compare them at hand!), wander the store and enjoy the shopping experience! I think you'll find that you walk out with a different kind of OUTFIT :)

J xoxo