Current Discount Codes

A little round up of some of the best out there at the moment;

New Look - 30% off selected lines (up to 50% starts Thursday 24th May).

What a stunning jumpsuit!

Asos - 20% off of everything until 8am Wednesday 23rd May.  Use code EVERY20 then there will be 30% off Occassionwear for 24hrs.

Adidas sliders now only £24. 

La Redoute - up to 50% off everything until 29th May.

I've raved about this cashmere jumper before, it's one of my favourites and a classic.  Great value with the 40% off.

Laura Ashley - 30% off all Home then Thursday 24th May - Tuesday 29th May 40% off everything.

I have this Lewes rug in the paler grey but love this Charcoal colour they now have.

Boden - 25% off a different department each day this week - shoes on the 24th May.

I have always rated Boden's shoes and after adding a metallic pair of skater pumps to my wardrobe last year, I highly recommend a metallic shoe now!

Topshop - a great sale section online.

I've seen this in the flesh, if you can handle big sleeves, it's a stunning embroidered blouse .

Very - up to 40% off sale for branded items.

I love this Adidas top.  Also worth a look if you need some new Uggs - now's the time to buy them!

The Grey Cashmere Jumper

It's almost as bad as the camel coat search the grey jumper one, it's just one of those staples that needs to be right.  When La Redoute had their '40% off everything' sale I ordered 3 to try, not holding out much hope to be honest.  I have found as cashmere has become more available over the years, it's quality has become worse, a lot thinner.  I have jumpers and cardigans that are 5+ years old and still look good, any recent purchases just don't seem to have held their shape.  With the discount they were all between the £50-£70 odd mark which is about my limit for cashmere.  The cheaper two were thinner but the colour the perfect marl grey.  

La Redoute Cashmere Boat Neck Jumper £95
The neckline just wasn't right on me.

Crew Neck Cashmere Jumper £89
The perfect shade of grey but when I tried the below on, it was the clear winner.

La Redoute Collections Cashmere Jumper £119
A definite slouchier style jumper than the first two, which i preferred (but my dear Mother didn't....sorry Mum!)

Due to time of the year (we have birthdays straight after Christmas!) I did have a momentary question but the £71.40 (after the discount) one was so luxe, I loved how the shape was that little bit different and the thickness was just how it should be. It did come up slightly large, I have turned the sleeves up, however all my recent cashmere has shrunk and I've even gone two sizes up in anticipation of this. As I've got older, it really is about more quality pieces, less of them perhaps but pieces that won't date and will stand the test of time. There was also a cheeky offer to pay for it over 3 months 0% so that did make it more achievable. I've worn it straight away and absolutely love it. It is slightly darker than I thought I wanted but actually it doesn't matter as the pile is so rich, it's more about that than a slight shade discrepancy.

The only other one that has caught my eye in recent months is Zara's cashmere.  I have scoured the high street and it really is worth paying slightly extra for the quality.  It was also a great thickness but I stupidly didn't try it on when I was in London and my local store doesn't stock it.  You can order online but it is the pricier end.  I love the pale pink but it's a slightly more boxier style than my La Redoute one.  One to watch in the sales I think.  Silly me for not trying it on!

Zara Round Neck Cashmere Sweater £95.99 

Zara Light Pink Round Neck Cashmere Sweater £95.99

And because I didn't think the sales would get any better than 40%......naturally, they did!  Currently La Redoute have offers on; £30 off a £60 spend, £50 off £100 and £100 off £200.  Making my jumper now £69!  I'm not going to get mad over the few pounds but at now under £70, I really recommend it.  Use code XMAS and it expires 16th November 2017. 

PS This isn't a sponsored post, I've just done my research and shared what I've purchased! 

Feeling A Little Wintery

Not so long ago when we were having some un heard of mild weather for this time of year I said I wasn't really planning my Winter wardrobe, I hadn't given it a second thought.  Well I'm there now, below 10 degrees doing the school run in the morning is freezing to me, I don't do the cold.  I always feel a little uninspired at the start of the colder months so I haven't done much planning, more delving into my jumpers and layers.  Oh and I always wear vests!

Cashmere jumper; La Redoute
Gilet; Zara
Jeans; Gap
Boots; Topshop

Cashmere jumper (again!); La Redoute
Scarf; Damart
Trousers; Gap
Boots; TK Maxx

I bought my 'raspberry' jacket earlier in the year from the Zara sale just as the weather was getting warmer.  I took a bit of a risk as it only got worn once before it went away but the risk paid off.  Apart from the berry trousers above, it has been worn daily and it has received so many compliments.  One lady on the train stopped me to say what a lovely cheerful colour it was on me, how lovely!  

Done up, I love the neck and the popper fastenings make it so easy

Great big collar when open
Jacket; Zara
Jumper; TK Maxx
Jeans & boots; Topshop

And finally, yes, I am one to share - this time, my thermal vest.  Thank you Damart for sending me a few, this being my favourite.  It's thin and inconspicuous with a little gold detail to make it more appealing when I'm dragging out the layers in the dark mornings.  I have actually been wearing it for a while (I told you I felt the cold!) and it's still as good as new after many washes.  I really recommend them.  

Any one else in their thermals yet or have I peaked too soon?!?

The November Shopping List

Well, I can tick off all of my three items from last month; bobble hat, black jeans and Christmas party outfit - now that's a first, what's going on?!?  I only tried on a few hats in Topshop and saw a few pricier ones I liked on-line when I stumbled upon one in Primark.  I am not a huge Primark fan but it has it's place and for £3, the colours would go perfectly with my grey wool coat and it looked fab.  I compromised on the quality (acrylic - yuck) and the fur pom pom that I actually wanted but I'm pleased with the money spent on it as I have other hats I also wear a lot, this was just a fashion item for me that I liked. 

Cable knit pom pom £14

Cream version - which was my favourite

Primark £3

The black jeans purchase came about in a slightly more random way.  My friend had hugely recommended the Topshop Joni jeans to me.  I have never been a high waisted fan and have recently fallen out of love with skinnies, favouring a straight leg style from Gap.  I was actually after a comfy jogger style trouser to travel in as my flight was 8 hours.  However, she was so enthusiastic about them I gave them a go.  I neglected to take a photo of the blue colours I tried on as they were so awful on me and my toddler wasn't being very helpful at that point but thankfully I pushed on through and tried on the black.  Wow.  Not only did I feel 'cool' (yes, I still use that word) in them but my they were comfy.  The ripped knee was a bonus as I think they do look good, despite being asked by various family members if I had torn my jeans by accident....Can I also just add that the rips in the knee also make them a hell of a lot easier to move in - more give!  I travelled in them comfortably for the entire trip, not considering for one moment that I was uncomfortable.  There was also no gap at the back when I sat down giving me a huge draft!  So I ticked my black jean need as well as a comfy pair of trousers need.

Topshop £38

(I didn't go out with different shoes on - I was playing with footwear at that point!)

And finally the Christmas outfit by way of a silk Uniqlo shirt.  Random I know but I mentioned last month that I wanted to wear my black and white stripe skirt again.  It's a fairly glam skirt in my books  but I also wanted to keep it fairly sleek and sophisticated.  As you may know I am a high lover of damn good fabrics, silk being one of them.  Uniqlo had theirs on offer so I managed to grab this for £19.90.  Yes, honestly, under £20 for silk.  Bargain!  I've tried it on briefly (was on holiday shut down mode) and it works perfectly.  I promise to share in December when it get's its party outing.  

Just a simple, black, sleeveless silk shirt that can be worn again

I had tried this on from Topshop but it was to low cut for me and didn't fit right

To print clash or not to print clash, that is the question...
Skirt; H&M
Left shoe; Mulberry
Right shoe; Bally Switzerland

I turned my back for one minute....Elizabeth got a bit of a telling off for this!

So what I bought not from my list.  Well I had a day trip out with some girlfriends and a little light shopping was done, rude not too.  I found this animal print denim top in Warehouse reduced to £20.  A lover of anything animal print I snapped it up and wore it with my new Joni jeans to travel out of the UK in.  It's fairly loose fitting, making it super comfy.  

Warehouse £20

This was so not properly on my radar.  Joanna over at Poppy's Style has and amazing leather Mango skirt which caught my eye with the elasticated waist (can you tell there is a running theme of comfort with my style....?!).  Whilst away she kindly alerted me to 30% off at Mango and after a few failed attempts (foreign, weak wifi - arrrgh) I finally managed to get it for £41.99.  I've already worn it!

Cashmere jumper; La Redoute
Boots, Sam Edelman

I promised my eldest I would include one she took (after a little cropping), thank you H!
Gilet; Zara

I think I may need to change the direction/title of this monthly update as my list at the bottom for the coming month always seems so short compared to what my research has been from the last months list but hey ho, here goes it;

Pretty much nothing on my list, Christmas is around the corner and that's never a cheap time of year is it.......BUT please Santa may I have this?  I have worn my animal print gilet so much more than I thought I would and this colour looks good on me right?  I have been a very good girl this year, eaten all of my dinners and baked lots of cakes for people.  Love Natalie. X

Topshop £65

More pricey than my one but the fur was very lovely, I will give it that

The Tidy Up & Some Outfits

I was on another one of my missions last week-end to clear out some more elderly members of my wardrobe and have a re-shuffle in there.  It went well, the charity shop was pleased!  Does anyone else find that their nail polishes never go off either?!?  I tried to have a sort out but after running out of fingers and toes to test on, I concluded that they were all fine anyway!

My original nail polish basket was over flowing so they ended up in a softer basket then in the tray of my tall unit that normally houses jumpers, t-shirts etc.  I had had such a good sort through that it left space at the bottom to neatly store my favourite shoes (ok, and the pricier ones) as well. The unit is from Ikea's Pax range but I have a walk in wardrobe (it's not as large as it sounds) so this just stands on its own in the middle.  It's great that whenever you buy items from them, they are all made to fit inside one another.  The shoe boxes weren't bought initially to go in the unit, but they are just the right size anyway.  I love opening the door now and seeing them right in front of me all safely tucked away and protected (from the cats and the children!).  Sometimes a little re-organising is all it takes to make the wardrobe more inspiring and enticing.  

A comfy casual outfit below.  My favourite Topshop Baxter jeans and a very soft La Redoute cashmere jumper.  My animal French Sole pumps have worn in beautifully, I fully recommend them.

I had a meeting with a client last week to sort through her wardrobe.  Whenever I do wardrobe edits I like to be comfortable as I get stuck in and always end up on my hands and knees at some point (mostly turning trousers up, I don't go under their beds searching for clothes honest!).  My silk and cotton J Crew T-shirt finally got an airing.  I picked out the deep purple and wore my Gap jeans with them, then my old favourite Miss Selfridge leather jacket, quite possibly the best £35 I have ever spent on leather!  I remember trying it on in the Debenhams in Westfield on New Years day years ago (my sisters birthday and we had all gone shopping!) and my whole family hated it.  I just had a feeling about it though and unusually for me, I ignored their advice and bought it.  

I love the silk back!

Finished with another pair of Spanish shoes from last years holiday that were ridiculously cheap, around £10 from memory, leather in and out!  It doesn't matter about the cost, it's about what your clothes are made from and how well they are constructed that counts!

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine and starting to wear your Spring/Summer wardrobes!