A Rare Double French Sole Purchase

It's been a while since I've popped to Bicester Village so I had a rare day off with both my girls now in school and had a good browse.  I knew French Sole had 'moved in' and the range they had to offer didn't disappoint.  I know there are so many other flat style shoes about that are a lot more on trend however for me, the classic ballerina stye works and if it ain't broke.......

Their styles do vary, some show a lot of toe cleavage which isn't for me but I found the above in my sizes, £80 for the metallic and £60 for the animal.  I have the animal already but it's a darker base coloured fur and a red trim.  I love them and they have worn so well being at least 5 years old.  It was a tough call as I loved the metallic however after a few wears I felt the leather would show my toe mark more (which hasn't happened on my current fur ones).  

Not being one to rush into a decision I had them both held then went back at the end and settled on the animal print pair.  As you can see above, my current ones have loosened up a lot.  They do come up small so I go up a size in them and they are still tight.  I got a further 10% off with my VIP card (AA customers - make sure you use this additional offer as it's not known that well!) so at £54 I thought they were a bargain.  They RRP at £135.

Dress; Topshop
Top; Boden
Shoes; French Sole (Bicester Village)
Bag; Prada (Bicester Village)

I wore them the very next day and although they pinched a little, I know they will loosen up.  I am so pleased with them, I love how a little animal print can just add a touch of glam to an outfit.  The sun shone so I wore them with one of my favourite purchases this year, my Topshop pinafore dress.  

Outfit Round-Up

This year is the year I moved on from my skinny jeans!  I am not totally without them of course, but the two pairs I bought from Gap that are their straight leg cut have had so much wear already. These were my bargain £12 ones teamed with a very old H&M t-shirt and Next animal sandals. Just a school run/about town look!

And then the skinnies came out for a girls night out!  These are also Gap, their wet look jeans.  I love the fit however the coating hasn't lasted as long as I had hoped.  Teamed with a blush pink lace Warehouse top and some very high heels (luckily we sat and caught up over cocktails and didn't have a dance!).

Clutch; sample from somewhere!
Shoes; Gucci
Ring; Dorothy Perkins
Earrings; Topshop
Bracelet; Valentino

Another day look - before the weather heated up of course.  Ralph Lauren ankle skimming jeans with a Cos top.  I've rolled the sleeves up a little as they finished just around my elbow and felt a little long.  I love the bright yellow hem, it really gives the top another dimension taking it from plain to having that little pop of colour.  

Im very pleased with my J.Crew purchases this year and this top has been no exception.  As I mentioned in my previous blog about it, I was a little dubious about the jewelled neckline but it has been in the machine, inside out on a hand wash cycle and no problems at all.  Gap jeans again and possibly my most worn shoes so far this year, my rose gold Primark sandals.  Don't get me wrong, they go with so much and are easy to throw on if I've not painted my toenails, but I know that won't be around next season as they have been well worn.  At £12, I didn't really expect them to last next season anyway.  

You get the idea - there's a theme to my casual looks - denim!  Flats were needed for the Robbie Williams concert and a cardi for when it got cooler.  I dug out this old Topshop cardi (and I'm talking 8+ years here) that has little peach flowers on it.  Somehow, it has stood the test of time and worked perfectly with my shoes and handbag.  The top is sleeveless, needed for the heat inside the O2.

Top; Zara
Cardi; Topshop
Watch; Tag
Bag; Italian - no idea, sorry!
Jeans; Gap
Shoes; Primark

It's been years since I saw Robbie solo (naturally I saw him when he reunited with Take That - HUGE fan!) and for some reason I didn't have any expectations, but he was amazing.  A true entertainer and the style of songs worked perfectly for him (his Swing Both Ways tour).  His Dad even came on to perform with him!  

Because.....it really is so true!

Bag; Prada
Pumps; French Sole
Jeans; Gap
Pouch; Lulu Guinness
T-shirt; Juicy Couture

Bicester Village (again!)

If you are local to Bicester Village (or just fancy a trip) and are rather partial to savings on designer clobber, head to the village now as further mark downs are happening.  Rupert Sanderson had huge savings, and even more if you bought two pairs.  I was so tempted by these lovelies but the right foot had been tried on and over stretched so much the gap bothered me a lot when stood up.

There were some great little gifts as well.  Fendi and Valentino anyone?

Yep, £15 for a Fendi purse mirror!

Valentino rockstud python bracelet, I couldn't leave it behind.  £180 down to £46

More rockstuds, £530 down to £340

I stopped at the bracelet, this was somewhere in the hundreds!

The village also has the British Designers Collective shop at the moment.  I loved the Etre Cecile sweater below.  

£110 down to £65

These Nicholas Kirkwood shoes were pretty special.  

£670 down to £335

In the BDC shop, so many fantastic pieces.  My selfie below!

Bag & Sunglasses; Prada
Top; Zara
Jeans; Gap
Shoes: French Sole

The Gap & Red Event & Some Sparkly Shoes

After waiting a whole extra month (thank you London transport for striking at the wrong time) I finally made it to Red magazines evening with Gap.  Gap has a new creative director Rebekka Bay, previously from Cos and this was her first collection since joining. 

So first up, what to wear.  Yep, it was a last minute job with a few unexpected extra's thrown in to really make me work hard to get there but thanks to a great mate who happens to also be fab with my kids, my childcare dilemma's were sorted swiftly.  I am definitely very much a dresser based on mood, I need to feel it at that moment in time.  I had wanted to wear something bright but I just couldn't so after lining up some of my favourite tops, The Kooples on the right won.  It's navy with black lace, comfortable, forgiving in the tummy area and stylish.  

The below however is what my husband came home to find.  SORRY!  He knew it was no mean feet to get there so he tidied it all up for me and made no comment.  I am grateful for his patience with me at times like this!

With half an hour to spare before it started, I dragged my friend to Selfridges to have a play.  She was mortified that I try on expensive handbags and shoes then walk away.  What's wrong with that?! In my dreams one day I would love to walk in and pay full price for high end items, until then though, I am content with trying them on and dreaming, then finding them cheaper elsewhere (best ever charity shop find post coming soon).  

I give you, Mr Christian Louboutin.  Just to sparkly for words and the camera!

The best outfit shot you will get from that night, I was to distracted!
Jeans; Gap
Top; The Kooples
Leather jacket; Miss Selfridge
Ballet Pumps; French Sole (changed into my Bally Switzerland courts for the event!)
Bag; Balenciaga

More sparkles over at Gina.  My only regret on my wedding day was not splashing out on the silver Gina sling back shoes I had fallen in love with.  I couldn't justify the price at the time.  8.5 years later and I still think about them and how many more wears I would have had out of them.

Over at Gap we were suitably welcomed with Champagne and canapés whilst we awaited the talks to start.

Fiona Collins from Gap started off the evening (check out her amazing heels, I should have zoomed in!) followed on by Red's fashion & shopping editor Laura Fantacci.  Laura put together some great staple looks, my favourite featuring the denim shirt.

Probably the shoe of the moment right now, the skater shoe.  Move over bright colourful trainer, the skater is in town.

I was pretty slack on the photo front, I was to busy rummaging around and playing dress up.  Luckily that day Gap's 30% off had arrived so armed with my voucher I decided to not get carried away and only buy what I needed.  I loved this print below, £24.95.  It made a nice change from Gap's staple stripe prints even though I am still a fan of their stripes, if it ain't broke and all that.  However I feel I have bought a few sweaters recently so I wasn't really in need of any more.

So I ended up with some jeans.  Those who know me, know they are my favourite bottoms to wear, I am a jeans girl and a 'skinny jeans' style girl at that.  I have tried on various other styles but the fit never seems to work. Until that day in Gap. Emily Gegg from Gap had on an amazing pair and after we chatted about how she also had been into skinnies but these made her change, I tried on their 'straight leg' style.  I wanted a lighter pair for Summer and these were perfect.  I paid £31.46 and have worn them so much already.  They have lightened up my wardrobe, although the sun has helped as well!  They are not a boyfriend fit but are looser than a skinny, the perfect in-between style.  They do come up large so you may need to go down a inch in the waist.   

worn with my Converse and Zoe Karssen sweater

So the moral of the story is, for all the ladies who I work with and those on email, even when you do think you've found the perfect style jean, it's always worth trying another style again.  You never know what you may find, even I have moved into a new jean era! 

Some New Brands (To Me!) To Share

One of the things I love about PR company press days is discovering new brands and being able to see them in the flesh, especially brands that are only based online.  The lovely ladies at Bright Light PR are always a pleasure to see, thank you to them for allowing me to come along and browse.  Here are my two favourites.  Now this first brand was on to a winner as 1. it has part of my name in (Nat) and 2. they are leather handbags, not a lot can go wrong from here on in.  Introducing 'nat & nin'.  The leather was amazing.  It's not often I really get excited by new leather bag brands, it takes a lot.  However the colour palettes were just perfect, think taupes, neutrals and the quality of the finish was immaculate.  Here is what's coming from their Spring/Summer 2014 collection next year.

This is a man's bag, but could easily double for a woman.  Ideal for travel.

My favourite by far.  The strap can be tucked in turning a day bag to an evening clutch.  The magnetic clasp under the flap made the closure fuss free and secure.

Larger day style bags.

Another brand that grabbed me was Annie Haak Designs and namely her unique yard of gold bracelet.  I mainly wear white gold and silver but I would like to wear a bit of rose gold for some reason.  Maybe as it's Winter I feel the need for a bit more warmth in the colour of my jewellery.  I loved the idea of this piece, it's literally a continuous yard of gold beads that slip on over the hand and are loosely held together with a ring of gold.  Available in silver (£128) and yellow gold (£148) as well.  It is currently on sale from £210 down to £155.  I am seriously tempted as I've been looking for a special piece of jewellery to remember someone by and this really grabbed me.  It's also really rare I find a bracelet that fits me so well, they are usually so large on me.

I had a great day in London that day, also meeting up with Avril from School Gate Style.  Here she is trying on some funky glasses at another press day and still looking fabulous.

And what I wore.  Thank you Avril for taking some photos as I always forget to.

Grey cashmere jumper; H&M
Chino's; Ralph Lauren (TK Maxx)
Blet; Topshop
Blazer; New Look

Necklace; Primark

Handbag; Prada
Shoes' French Sole (Atterley Road)