The Little Zara Round-up

I was in London last week for a few appointments and naturally popped into a few shops, Zara being one of them.  With no kids in tow or clients to shop for it was purely a browse for me - rare and unfortunately as normal, on a time limit but I snapped a few pieces that stood out.  I do love their coats, especially the 3/4 length light weight patterned ones.  They seem a staple now and I bought one last year whilst in Spain (so much cheaper in Spain, see here for the one I bagged).  However I don't think £69.99 is too unreasonable and I thought this would be a great everyday style.

Coat £69.99

If it's not a stripe, suede shoe or cashmere that I naturally gravitate towards then it's cream/off white tops!  I just think they are such a classic colour to have in your wardrobe.  Again, this seems to be a style that Zara bring out season after season in some variation.  I love the plainness of the first followed by some colour in the second one. 

Top £25.99

Top £25.99

Lastly, I like to always look at something that's not necessarily an item I would buy - it's good to push yourself out of your comfort zone, you never know what you may find!  Being a jeans person I do try to wear more skirts come the warmer months as I hate tights.  A pocket on a skirt is perfect for me as I like it to very relaxed and pretty casual.  This photo doesn't do the skirt justice.  It had a waffle texture and lovely side pockets.  

Navy skirt £29.99

Funnily enough I went to a Zara today but not in London as I was working with a client.  Very little jumped out at me and I saw only the coat from above.  Needless to say it is always worth checking other stores as they don't carry the same and it's great to see the clothes in the flesh if you can as it's far more inspiring than an online image.

The Hush Camo Sweater

I did mention in my Topshop post that there was another sweater that came my way in January and this is it.  I bought the hush camo shorts last year and loved the print.  I then bought the Uniqlo camo sweater a while back to replace an old one as as much as I love it, my heart was still with the hush one.  So when it went down in the sale and I remembered I had a £10 voucher from a friend referral (definitely worth doing!) I ended up paying something silly like £18 for it.  

The camo colours on it are perfect, exactly what I was after however I did debate over it for a few days and was going to send it back as it has the whole bat wing arm thing going on.  I'm not usually a fan but when I pushed the sleeves up it seemed to work even better and the style felt more comfortable on. 

You can just about see it in the below shot that it's wider at the top of the arms where the print is but with the sleeves ruched up, it just becomes that comfy, slouchy jumper we are all after. 

Sadly it's no longer available (and I'm sorry for being so slack in sharing as it was in January I bought this in the sales).  However this print seems to be a staple for them so watch this space.  I will one day get the joggers too but miss them in my size every time they go into sale.  They currently have a blue colour in them for £45.

Camo jogger at hush £45 

Outtakes; Yes, it takes THIS many (and more) to get a half decent shot to share.  It's a pain that I was not born to pose naturally, I feel so awkward and most of the shots end up in the bin!  Thanks to the patient 9 year for taking them though.

Window Shopping

Going way back to some lovelies I photographed just after Christmas in the sales. Some are just too good not to share, whether they're still available or not (and I warn you now, there's a lot of luxury items to follow - hence the 'window shopping' title).  I do love to window shop and day dream about what I would buy should money not be an issue and items didn't have to work so hard for me. Starting with some Valentino's that were more recent in Bicester Village. These aren't at the actual Valentino shop but the Kurt Geiger one that stocks a huge array of brands - so do pop in.

Miu Miu silk tops at Prada, Bicester Village in January - £50.  Yes, I was so tempted.

Currently in Zara, £49.99 suede beauties

Spotted in TK Maxx last week for £50 - Valentino sunglasses

It's a good job these were too big on me or 'dry February' may have had to have changed...!

The Christmas sales in particular are always a good time to invest in accessories and this last one was no exception.  I could have gone mad on shoes and handbags but I was so restraind.   I decided I wanted to invest in shoes that could be worn more on a daily basis than a special pair (more on them soon).  I was also not in need of a large handbag so all of the below didn't come home with me.  But how beautiful is this little lot!

Fendi at Bicester Village.  Canvas with the softest leather handles.  I still love this. 40% off down to £223.20

Chloe at Bicester Village, £795 down to £282 - the raw suede lining was just as good as the external view

Miu Miu at Selfridges £890 down to £445

Gucci at Gucci Westfield, these had 40% off from memory.  I was very tempted by the yellow as it was a cross body style bag I had my eye on

Karen Millen samples (very recently) at Bicester Village - these were £45 (from my poor memory, but am pretty sure they were under £50).  The back pack especially was gorgeous

Also at Karen Millen at Bicester, these suede shoes were also £45.  How stunning are they.  I just don't go out enough to warrant them!

From one beauty to another - these are from Manolo Blahnik and were in the Libery sale after Christmas, £650 down to £325

Completely having a play here!

With Winter feet and un-manicured toes these Chanel's still looked good - properly day dreaming about these.  They were around the £400 mark and no, not in the sale!

Finishing with something a little more accessible, these jumpers from & Other Stories.  I love a chunky knit at the moment, almost as much as a sweatshirt.  I am back in London soon and on the off chance these are still in (saw these a few weeks ago), I may just have to try one on as I love that they are that little bit different.  They were both half price at £47.50 (£95 full price - wow!).

PS Just checked and the above jumpers are both £40 online but there's £6 for delivery. 

Topshop

I always go through phases with Topshop, sometimes I find lots and other times I find it too high fashion.  Unfortunately for my bank balance (but luckily for me as I had a 20% off birthday voucher from my store card) I found a few gems and could have kept on going.  I fell for this top completely.

NB I'm not an advocate of store cards, this one remains empty most of the time but they give you a nice little birthday treat and an additional 10% off the first week of the Summer & Christmas sales so needs must...!)

It has a slightly dipped hem at the back, a high neckline (which I love on me and is great for smaller chests such as myself) and it just fell so beautifully.  It's rare I randomly buy items without something in mind for it but there was no rational behind this top, I quite simply adored it.  It is £36 so with an additional 20% off I didn't think it was too high a price to splurge on a top I perhaps didn't need right now.

Ditsy Floral Blouse £36

Back to something my workable for my wardrobe with this sweater.  I am a sucker for a sweater at the moment, but this is it no more needed (OK, there was one more I bought but details on that later). I did flinch slightly at the low cotton content but as I loved the logo, I swerved past that point.  Not me I know, especially when a sweater I bought from them less than 6 months ago is now bobbling.  I am hoping that as this is black, it won't show the wear so quickly but it's a reminder to myself to stick to my guns on decent fibres.  

It is lovely and snuggly and I don't have any black sweaters so at £26 (then another 20% off) I thought it was worth a shot.  They also now do it in a mint green which would be perfect for Spring.  

California Sweatshirt £26

There's always one that got away isn't there - this was mine.  The queue was long, I was hungry, my patience wearing out and my voucher wasn't working at the tills on the full priced items.  I decided to just order online but in my haste, neglected the fact that this was in the sale, with a further 20% off in store making it £16.  Naturally it wasn't online and being as there was only one in store in my size the chances were slim at getting it again.  Oops!  The husband says it was one of my 'fashion' moments and it was nasty anyway.  I on the other hand thought it was quirky but someone else is now wearing that quirky.  When will I learn?!?!

Just in case there is any size 6 or 7 shoes out there - these bobby dazzlers are now £15 from £62 and all leather. I added them to my order but they were out of stock in my size by the time they processed my order - don't you hate it when that happens?  Someone get them quickly, they are gorgeous!

Kitsch Shoe £15

Anyone else enjoying Topshop too at the moment?

Breton Bows & Sparkles

Well I have some wifi finally!  House moving is never easy so please bear with me as I feel I have so many posts to catch up on but still feel worn out.  I am starting back with a simple post on a breton I found at the J.Crew store in London.  I saw it when I had a day out with my Mum and Sister but stupidly didn't try it on, as I thought we might make it to the bigger store down Regent Street with more sale items in.  Needless to say we never did so when I was in London next I managed to pop in and grab one as they were sold out online in my size.

J.Crew striped t-shirt with bow embellished back

If you look closely you'll see a little sparkle to the bows.  I loved how simple it was, just a plain breton with a twist at the back in the form of some bows.  They did it in red and black but I kept with a traditional navy stripe.  It was £59.50 down to £29.00 (a much better price for a cotton top) with only size XXS left online I'm afraid (it comes up true to size and pretty tight in the arm) but check back in case other sizes come back into stock.  It was a very windy day as you can see and after working a Sunday (it's a good job I love my clients!) I just wanted to get inside so please excuse the next shot. However below is just to show you it really is a classic breton from the front, no frills, just a good hard working stripe.  Then from the back, magic!

I am a pretty classic dresser, I like to add a twist to an outfit with accessories or sometimes an all out there top but something like a breton is just my go to.  I can wear a print up top easily, it suits my shape so I tend to stick with what I know works on me.  Bretons just never go out of style.  I have my eye on this swing style one below from Boden as they sent me a Birthday voucher.  Another classic with an additional small twist, this time in the cut.

Boden Supersoft Swing Top £29.50 (or £50 for two/3 for £72 - different colours available)