A Little Topshop Edit

I'm back!  Illness got the better of me and I gave in to antibiotics in the end (which I hate taking) but I'm finally on the mend so please excuse the lack of silence.  Just before I got poorly I had a day out in London with my lovely blogging friend Jane and before we met I popped to Topshop.  The only item on my mind was a party frock.  I always try and buy way ahead of the time to save the embarrassment of seeing someone else in it.  I really didn't spend long in Topshop, it's amazing how speedy you can be without the kids.  I literally grabbed a load of jeans and some fancy dresses and headed to the changing room.

I put this on and thought no, not quite sure why really.  I'm not a huge dress person so maybe it just felt a little too dressy and fitted.  I then tried on everything else and something made me go back to it.  I think I looked at the photo on my phone of the above and fell back in love with the neckline.  

Monochrome Floral Contrast Dress £100

No I won't wear it with the boots but I needed something on my feet!  I bought it and it's a lot more than I usually spend in Topshop but I felt it needed a proper try on with heels.  It's actually still in the bag as I've just not felt well enough to try it on again.  I think I need to see it with proper shoes as I am still wondering if it's a bit short. 

The socks made the full length shot.....oops!

I loved the idea of this one and decided to try something longer on me.  It just didn't fit properly anywhere and I didn't like the length, I'm petite and felt it was just way too long.  

Fishnet Braid Trim Midi Dress £89

I try to practise what I preach and took in this sparkly midi on the off chance it would work (I knew it wouldn't but you should always try shouldn't you!).  I felt like humpty dumpty.  Ok so the angle of the photo isn't the most flattering but I just don't feel I can carry this style off.  Jane didn't think it looked that bad in the photo and maybe it was just not what I was used to seeing myself in.  I will carry on trying, perhaps the pleats just didn't work.

And this was the petite version! 

How it should look.  Glitter Pleat Midi Skirt £55

Gorgeous little animal number below.  A blouse fabric and very easy to wear.  I just don't have the need for another top like this (saying that, should it go in the sale then maybe I would....).  

Mono Animal Ruffle Blouse £34

The lace one which is completely inappropriate for ice Queen me who feels the cold and can never wear short sleeves in the Winter (aside from said party dress) did get the better of me.  I adore lace.  I adore monochrome.  I couldn't walk away.  This however has also stayed in the bag and hasn't been tried on since.  On reflection of the photos I'm now wondering if it's a bit short in the body for long wasted me - please no when I try it on again!

Lace Ruffle Top £36

I papped this cute little white blouse, a really lightweight crisp cotton.  Perfect with black trousers for a smart look or jeans for a more casual vibe.  

Poplin Ruffle Shirt £34

I also popped in & Other Stories and to be honest nothing much grabbed me.  It all felt a little plain in there until I saw this bag in the sale.  I was so tempted, it was a cotton with leather trim shopper style  down to half price.  It just looked huge on me but I do slightly regret it, I love a throw it all in bag.  It's not online but the bucket bag and purse is.  It doesn't say leather trim online but I searched for the label in the bags and it definitely was.  

& Other Stories £22.50

I went for a monochrome look that day also.  My Topshop top I blogged about last month is now a subtle shade of baby pink......Note to self.  When ill again, don't allow husband to do any washing.  Kids new school cardigans in red with my cream top.  Grrrrr.   

Top & Jeans; Topshop
Boots, Isabel Marant

& Other Stories Cotton Knitwear

I've featured some gorgeous knitwear from this brand recently so when I was in London last month for work, I took a break and popped in.  The ones I had seen previously in the sale had gone but I managed to find two others I loved that at £45 for a thick knitted cotton, I didn't think were a bad price.  This monochrome stripe one jumped out at me straight away.  

I loved the heavier black panels around the tops of the arms as it gave the whole jumper a smarter feel. 

I tried this one on as the colour felt more 'Spring', it was a pale peach.  The perfect pastel colour.

I ended up going for the stripe (surprise surprise!) as I just really like the way it fitted me and the peach jumper was definitely a more casual feel.  I did go a size up as I didn't want it as tight as the first picture shows plus it allows for shrinkage which happens when it's 100% cotton.  Worth mentioning that they were offering a 10% discount in store if you bought in some old material to recycle.  They weren't fussy, it could be towels, linen, clothes and not a huge bag full either.  

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 

My Two March Purchases, Worn Together

I think I mentioned a few posts ago that I'm trying to stick to a strict budget and buy a few really decent pieces a month (I took February off after the January sales and started back properly in March!). So I've already shared this & Other Stories merino jumper but I hinted at the other purchase, my second pair of Ash boots!  They weren't planned, I saw them in the Next sale at £80 down from £160.  I wasn't 100% sure due to not seeing the colour in the flesh so as it was free delivery to the store, I popped them in the basket.

They weren't the colour I was expecting and weren't perfect, the tassels had fallen off on one side, the ring was missing, some slight scuffs on suede but Next's Customer Service team were faultless in rectifying this and I ended up getting them for £30 - WOW!  A trip to the shoe menders later and just like my black Jalouse one's, they are rarely off my feet.  The colour is great for coming into Spring, I am ridiculously pleased with them.  The colour varies in different lights so taken a few snaps to try and show them.

Coat; Miss Selfridge
Jumper; & Other Stories
Jeans; Topshop
Bag; Prada
Sunglasses; H&M (Hello Kitty - not mine!)
Boots; Ash

Guest appearance from Lizzie cat again!

I still adore this Miss Selfridge coat I bought in the January sales, initially I thought the fur hood was a little too much but it's grown on me so much, I just love it. 

April has started well with the Bargain Buy currently featured - the Boden grey merino.  I have a breton on back order from them but my goal this month is bottoms.  I've never enjoyed shopping for them, I always struggle but I need to make an effort as I live in my favourite Topshop ones and even I'm getting a little bored right now.  Will update next month on my April buys!