The Bargain M&S Cotton Jumper

The sun is out - yay!  I couldn't help but be drawn to this selection of jumpers in Marks & Spencer the other day.  The colours screamed Spring and they were a great price at £19.50 for 100% cotton.  I thought they were perfect for this time of year when it's not hot enough to go short sleeved yet (ok, some may disagree but I feel the cold!) but too warm for woollen knits.  

I think the pink was my favourite!

When I was looking for the link for the above, I stumbled upon this gorgeous lilac one (also 100% cotton) which is currently in the sale.  It's down to £8.99 but only has size 8 and 10 left so be quick as this is an absolute steal.

Some Jack Wills At Bicester Village & Topshop

I tend to go a few months without visiting Bicester Village, then I go several times very close together!  Today was kiddies shoes shopping time and my youngest was so pleased with hers that we only managed to get one off to swipe through the till!  The Timberland shoes from this post went back today.  When a 6 year old tells you they are 'Granny', then they need to go back to the store.  Good job as I found this lightweight cotton Ralph Lauren jumper for £25, bargain!  

Navy & Cream breton, can't go wrong with a breton!

From the previous visit I bagged this amazing junky cardi from Jack Wills, £129 down to £39.  Now even though it was a bargain, it's normally more than I would spend but I was fairly impulsive with it.  It must have been meant for me as I have worn it at least 5 times in the 9 days I've had it.  It cheers me up!  I've been wearing it with my animal ballet pumps as I like that they are trimmed with red so the cardi picks this colour out more.  

The colour on it is fantastic and comes down to nearly the length of the cardi

Such a fab knit, added a clashing animal print!

We finally have a Topshop in my town - woohoo!   It's so nice to see things in the flesh rather than online.  They have so much colour in at the moment.  But it's not over whelming, it's all wearable and also not high fashion.  Well done Toppers on your A/W collection!  Here are some of my favourites.

It's all about the knit!  Beautiful powder blue £36

A great simple cut dress £46

A brighter version of the blue

If I didn't already have a green Topshop dress, this would be mine.  My favourite loose style cut £45

And still on the coat obsession, I forgot to share this pink one I found in Bicester Village the other week.  It's from Ted Baker and was £289 down to £199.

Probably my favourite none pink coat at the moment is this one from Marks and Spencer £139.

Oh and just in case you weren't aware, 87 sleeps until Christmas and the shops are getting ready......

The Marks & Spencer Sale - Again?!

Please someone tell me if I'm completely loosing the plot, but a few weeks ago I was hitting the final dregs of the Marks and Spencer sale (I love their final mark downs) and now all of a sudden there is another one?  In the last one I managed to get the odd few cards for 50p, a bed valance for £4 but my prized bargain is this cashmere sweater for £17.  It's a size up for me, but at that price I really wasn't bothered and it felt so nice on.

I've just managed to order a few bits for my eldest in the latest sale and hooray a new bra!  The bane of my shopping life, but my current ones need burning I admit that.  Free delivery to store and it should be in any day now.  I didn't think there was much in the way of shoes this time, the sale before seemed to have all the decent ones.

Talking about sales, French Connection, Oasis, House of Fraser and Topshop to name but a few, seem to also have amazing ones at the moment so now's the time to have a root around.  Here are some of my favourite sale bargains.

French Connection; (remember party dress season is closer than you think, grab a bargain now!)

Marks & Spencer;

£29.50 down to £19

£45 down to £18

Topshop;

£35 down to £15

£45 down to £22

House of Fraser;

MiH jeans £155 down to £38.50

Barbour £99.95 down to £49.95

Oasis:

£50 down to £15

£28 down to £10

Where have you been shopping in the sales?

My New Coat

Hello to all my loyal readers and any new ones, welcome.  Thank you for dropping by again, I know it's been a while since I've posted.  Another 4 weeks left of my contract in London and after a lovely break in Spain (more on that in another post) I am playing catch up this week-end and drafting lots of posts.

If any of you remember, I was madly 'in love' with the above Zara coat.  For some reason (probably time if I'm honest) something stopped me from checking out with it in my basket.  I started to regret it when I saw the below in a magazine, thinking how much 'on trend' it was.  However, luckily the newly refurbished store opened in Knightsbride, phew, and I found it in the back corner of the shop.  I pushed the tourists out of the way as I saw my size (ruthless) and grabbed it to try on.  I wasn't allowed to take any photos but straight to the point, it wasn't worth writing home about.  It wasn't meant to be mine after all, I am a firm believer in fate.  For £99.99 I expect quiet a lot and it didn't deliver.  It was a very thin fabric, more an off white than a sharp fresh one, un-lined and literally hung at the back like a sack.  I am petite and I had seen it on a taller lady so  maybe I'm being a little harsh on the item but needless to say, I was pleased I hadn't wasted my time ordering it and having to return it by post.

I was even more happy as I had been naughty a few weeks earlier and sort of impulsively bought a Barbour.  Not to impulsive as that one had been on my wish list for over a year but in that I had about 10 minutes to commit with a no returns option (250 miles away from home in their outlet store and it was about to close!).  I had both my parents with me, both Barbour advocates and owners who insisted it was a timeless investment piece. It was £229 down to £129 and a Limited Edition Liberty print (Limited Edition always wins with me).  And to be fair to my folks, it was worn within 48 hours, which is always a good sign.  The quality is outstanding and I am pleased to say I was kept fully dry!  My only grumble is that I can't wash it - arrrgh, with two kids what on earth am I supposed to do with a dirty coat?  Any Barbour owners with advice, please do share!

Me trying to do a back shot!

Not exactly 'The Black Dress' that the hanger suggests

On that note, a friend of mine is on the look out for a Mac style coat.  I confess I am a bit of a coat collector (my husband fears it is over taking shoes but not handbags).  My Mac was bought from Tommy Hilfiger in Bicester Village a few years ago for £100, another amazing buy and fully washable!  The leather trims on the belts are all detachable.  Here are a few available on the high street now.

My Tommy coat

Classic style from M&S £45, simple black piped edging add's a little something extra

If you prefer a single breasted style, why not try this rose colour from Miss Selfridge £65

Asos do a great contrast sleeve style for £75

If you want to go darker, Gap have this navy option for £59.95

House of Fraser have a great range in, including this classic cropped version from Warehouse at £60

Shopping Ban Lifted - & I Can't Shop!

So since my last purchase I have completed a month of no shopping, congratulations me!  With that in mind and the fact I have a contract in the centre of London, smart business attire needed, I hot footed it in to town today to try and grab a few key pieces to see me through.  Having worked in smart/casual environments for the best part of 10 years, my business clothing has depleted and at best, I reckon it's going to last me the week.  I was after some separates, namely a skirt and perhaps another pair of trousers.  Nothing.  I'll take that a step further, not only was there nothing for me in smart clothing, nothing casual jumped out at me either!  Everything I looked at I scrutinised and felt wasn't worthy of my hard earned pennies.  It seems my break has done me good, it's made me appreciate what works for me and not scrimp on quality for a fast fashion/shopaholic fix.  Mmmm, how long will it last I wonder?

I did find these lovelies to share with you though, £49.99 from Marks & Spencer.  They were so well padded and looked very comfy, it's just the ankle strap that I have an issue with.  I must make an effort to get used to them as I really like them on people, I just feel restricted and uncomfortable when I walk in them.

I thought this cute little cosmetic case from Next was very quirky and a great reminder to us all.

Note to self, save these socks for the house only.  Didn't plan on trying on any shoes, but was having a play and forgot I'd put these on, oops!

And finally, a mug shot!  Posing is not my strong point, I've said it before.  This was the best of about 10 and both eyes were open!  I just wanted to share my bargain £2 dress from H&M I blogged about previously.  I've worn it twice now but this time I added my heeled M&S boots and a slightly clashing vertical stripe on my cardigan.  I have worn these boots more times than I thought, they seem to go with everything and with heels I feel my posture is better.

Tunic - H&M
Cardigan - Ralph Lauren (Bicester Village)
Leggings - Topshop
Boots - M&S

I Love my Boots!

Yay my bargain M&S boots got their second outing today for a kid's birthday party.   I am so pleased with them.  For £35 I feel they have really woken up my look, black boots would only heighten my negative mood with this ridiculous whether we are having.  I paid more for my jeans and coat!  Good old M&S and their sales.  My only slight grumble is that they are a rather hard suede and dig in my ankle when I walk.  However I may be being slightly unfair as this is only my second wear, and both have been short times so they probably need breaking in some more.  Either way, the slight discomfort will be endured as they are worth it!

Teamed with my favourite Topshop Baxter jeans 

Another one of my bargains, my FCUK coat from Bicester Village last year, £60 and worn loads!

My wish list item this week - some bling sandals!  Yes, just to rub it in, I am heading to where the sunshines is in approximately 9.5 weeks (who's counting?!).  I live in sandals like these, with a strap between the toes in the warmer months.  My selection are rather plain though and who says bling isn't for every day wear?  At £28 and real leather, I may be giving these a go when Warehouse do another 25% off discount.

Friends is the Right Places - Thank You Jo Jo! x

When I want something I can't get - I'm like a woman possessed.  My poor friends and family get 'SOS' emails with price, style name/number, stores near them, all the details until I find what I want.  When time was less of an issue for me, I would actually call around stores across the UK to get exactly what I wanted.  (I still have a Christmas tree in Bournemouth that was 75% off, sorry Lizzie, I will come and get it).  So after I waited online for the M&S sale last Tuesday and found that some of my lovely readers who are size 3.5's had obviously ignored my warning that these babies were mine, they were sold out in seconds.  So the following day I was on a mission.  Poor Jo who happens to work very close to the Metro Centre was sent a text to get in there ASAP for me.  By Monday (yesterday) they are with me!  I really do have fab friends.  £65 down to £35 - I LOVE!

My only question is - do I cut that strap at the back?  Does it make them a little 'cowboy'?  I've worn them already today as I've been poorly so they were the perfect pick me up, amazing what a new pair of shoes can do for you!  I will leave the strap on for a while as once I cut it, there's no going back.  Did anyone else manage to get any of Marks and Spencer's fabulous shoes in their sale?

PS Kurt Geiger sale starts on line midnight tonight!