The Miu Miu Top

I was having a little organise of my blog posts tonight and planning my next few when I randomly looked through my 'draft' ones and found this one with pictures all ready but for some reason I hadn't shared it!  It was planned to follow on from a post I wrote about my bargain Prada skirt from Bicester Village last year but it obviously got side tracked.  So I decided this top is too good not to share. Probably about 18 months ago now I made a vow to myself to start investing a little more in my clothes, I think this was one of the first items.  I was pricey, £150 (and my hubby thought I was mad at the time) but it was over £600 full price from Miu Miu and I had that exact amount in vouchers so I took the plunge.  

Top; Miu Miu (via Prada at Bicester Village)
Jeans; Zara
Boots; Ash
Cardigan; Boden

It's silk so a winner in my books already, you know me and a good fibre!  There was only one there and it fitted so perfectly.  It is a little on the thin side so very delicate and needs a nude camisole underneath but it just felt like me as soon as I put it on and as it was Christmas/birthday money, it needed to be a treat too.  

I loved the darting on the back to add shape

The frills are a little fussy to iron but I think it's beautiful so needs must

The original changing room photo!

It's also a great length to tuck into skirts and I was having a play when sorting an outfit last year doing this.  I can't remember what I went with in the end but by the state of the clothes hanging on my wardrobe door I was in a rush for a change. 

Skirt; Zara
Odd shoes; Mulberry and Bally Switzerland

Skirt; H&M

As my wardrobe is all over the place due to home renovations, finding this post has reminded me just how much I love this top.  Over a year on and cost per wear wise I'm probably not there yet but I don't regret it and feel like it's going to be worn in years to come. Invest when you can people!

PS The only few negatives about finding this post are 1. those jeans - oh how I loved them but they somehow had a stain so I dyed them black.   Still wearable but it's the colour I hugely miss.  2. I miss my walk in wardrobe!  I'll get one back again, one day.  Next year.  Damn.

Some Miu Miu, Marant & Chanel Sparkle

Keeping it short and sweet tonight with an image based post (plenty to ramble on about in my next post coming this week) plus I have an article I'm working on for someone so it has to be brief, sorry! However less to read and more to ogle over for you.  I was in London last month and popped to Miu Miu as they were sharing their new range.  One of my favourite brands who deliver style, class, luxury all in one hit so regardless of whether it's purse string friendly for you, indulge in a little escapism with these divine clothes!  Naturally I popped to a few other stores whilst on Bond Street - rude not to right?

Such simple detail that set's the piece off 

I came over all 'Carrie Bradshaw' when I saw these!

Love clashing prints and bold coloured fur

Those ballerinas! 

I adore a simple pattern on a jumper and the colour selection was perfect 

I like how the pattern is just ket to the top half so it's not over powering

Neutrals - a firm staple of mine!

I home in on anything with a heart on!

A few treats (and an extra bag for the children) however it was early and I had a cuppa instead of the champagne that was offered!

Sparkle Shoes!

And more!

I then headed to Isabel Marant as I love the simplicity of the store and I knew exactly where it was from my boot expedition I wanted to have a little nose. 

Tassels with a little colour pop, perfection

I have a collection of tops like this, white/off white/cream and floaty, they never fail to look good with a skinny jean

As Chanel was so close, I couldn't walk past without a look.  I dream of walking in and picking something randomly with no thought just love for the item, in the moment, there and then.  One day. 

Sweet Dreams! 

X

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. 

The Sales Have Started!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, bricks really do strange things to a woman.....I'm moving house in the new year (fingers all crossed it goes through) and what with Christmas and too many birthdays in December and January to mention, we are watching our pennies.  I popped to Bicester Village as I had a spare 2.5 child free hours and thought as I was so close, after the school run and some work I may as well for party dress purposes.  Never one to disappoint and true to form, I homed in on some amazing bargains - none of the party dress variety - update on that in the next post.  It appears the sales have come early as there really were some great deals to be had.   These little leather bags from Coccinelle were starting at £49 when they were well over £100 originally.  

I loved the snake effect style more than the suede!

Next up this Anya Hindmarch bag really tested me.  It was £594 down to £145 and a great size - bigger than the Coccinelle above.  I fell for this one and went back later on just to see it again.  I nearly parted with my cash and probably my birthday spends but was swiftly reminded by my husband that my sister, Mum and I are heading to London over night after Christmas - wouldn't it be wise to save my pennies for that.  Well, um, no because now I blatantly won't find anything. So dear family, if you are reading this, there was a new one ready and waiting for me back right of the shop......chop chop!

I've been after a new cosmetic case for my handbag for over a year now.  I have an old Gucci one which has seen better days.  It just holds random things like plasters, nurofen, lozenges, hair grips, ointment - general Mummy emergency bits, nothing glam.   I do however like to house them in something special.  I saw a gold Anya Hindmarch one in the sales last Christmas but Santa must have missed the boat on that one as it didn't arrive in my stocking.  This Fendi was over £100 down to £45. I must admit, leather accessories in handbags don't seem to look good after a short amount of time. My Miu Miu purse looks tatty yet my canvas Gucci cosmetic case (has some leather trims like the below) has lasted years and years before it looked worn.  I'm therefore swaying to the below. This is blatantly a post for my husband and families benefit.  As my birthday is only 10 days after Christmas I am helping them out really. 

Oh and this lovely leather bracelet from Mulberry - £50!  Yes, honestly, all leather with a bow and the Mulberry tree on it, I really didn't think this was a bad price at all.  They had other colours in but I loved the red.

Ugg had also joined in on the sale act.  I liked these fringed boots initially but they came up small and wasn't so keen once they were on.  They were £50.

These gorgeous kids skirts from The White Company were £28 down to £11.20 however when I went back later they had gone up to £16?!?  They had some beautiful children's clothing in, so well made and reasonable prices.

I did manage to grab some lovey Christmas presents but absolutely nothing for myself.  I have a happy husband and better bank balance for it but I'm already feeling like I've missed the boat ever so slightly.  Now, what would you go back for if you had a spare 3 hours Friday and a mate just so happening to be popping there that I could meet up with?!?!?!  I wore the below ensemble to window shop that day!

Coat; Mulberry
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Ash
Bag; Prada

Jumper; & Other Stories 

What's In My Bag?

Bag that day; Balenciaga

If you're anything like me, you will love a nosey post like this!  This was a 'I have no kids with me' bag hence only one token child 'ish' thing but I do generally lug around this hefty lot with me all the time.  I am a 'just in case' kind of person.  I won't bore you with pictures of what's inside everything, we will be here all day but here's a few close ups.

These four are always with me without a doubt;

• Miu Miu purse 
• Lulu Guiness zip pouch; most probably intended for cosmetics but holds all my families gift cards and coupons, yes I have a coupon purse....
• Gucci cosmetics pouch; I don't tend to take my makeup out with me, it's purely a lip balm, mirror, lozenges, plasters, hair grips kind of pouch
• Smythson business card holder

• Mini iPad with read leather case; this is new to me, I'm not an iPad fan but it is perfect for travel and size wise brilliant to hold.  I am in love with it already (and I don't often say that about technology pieces!).  Just in case any of you have saved up your Tesco vouchers, it's their double up promotion period and iPads are included, hence I got mine for next to nothing!
• Mini filofax; I refuse to use the calendars on my phone, I like pen and paper for diaries

• Gucci sunglasses
• One Direction tissues (I did tell you at the start there was a token 'child ish' thing included, these are them!
• Dior Nail Glow; I painted on the go that day
• And finally, believe it or not, a Mulberry tape measure.  You never know when you need to measure something......

So does anyone else carry this much with them on a regular basis?  Aside from the nail polish and iPad, the rest is pretty much standard in my bag.  I have tried to cull it, but the one time I leave something behind, I need it.  Obviously sunglasses aren't needed come the Winter months!