The Wool Coat Saga

I shared a Warehouse navy pea coat last year on here and was hanging on for it to be reduced further. Well that happened but then another one also rocked up when I was ordering it that I liked. Dilemma!  I ordered both then took to Instagram to ask for a little help, some good points raised but the majority were for the striped style.

However it was a plain coat I was after so I was struggling with letting the navy one go. I had pretty much given up on the camel coat search by this stage, I was going with what I'd seen, liked and fitted.  The navy one was £35 eventually and the stripe £50.  I took to eBay to sell a few items and decided (against the husbands advice that I really didn't need more coats - school runs need variety too you know!) to keep both.  £85 for two coats that both contained a good amount of wool felt like a pretty good deal.  

I wore the stripe one straight away, it was the perfect addition to a simple outfit.  

Bag; Prada (via Bicester Village)
Hat & gloves; Moschino (via TK Maxx)
Jumper; Boden
Jeans; Topshop
Necklace; gift

Jeans & Boots; Topshop

I have since grabbed it more than I thought I would.  It has fitted pretty well in to my wardrobe as the stripe makes it a smart casual coat rather than the dressier animal wool coat I have (a firm favourite of mine). 

The navy peacoat started off slowly but once I started wearing it that was it.  My only negative has been that as per someones advice on Instagram, it does show up the fluff.  However at £35 I can put up with that as the fit is lovely.  

My very own black panther of a cat - Rafa!
(It was a different day but yes, same jumper.  More on that in another post)
Jumper; Rag & Bone
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Isabel Marant

This was the coat I was trying to 'replace' for want of a better word.  It is a very old Zara one I bought when I was working in Brussels.  At the time my mates thought I was nuts as animal print wasn't everywhere (we're talking over 5 years ago) but it's now a firm staple and is brought out season after season.  I wanted more wool ones to wear and so far, I'm pleased with the new additions.  The weather's been so up and down I still think I'll be wearing them for a while yet!

Phase Eight Bargains

I was working with a client in House of Fraser the other week and a fair few items in Phase Eight caught my eye.  I wasn't able to take photos but they had the cutest leather cross body bag - which has now been reduced even further in the sale.  I've been really impressed with them of late, it's not a brand that is heavily on my radar but I have recommended different items to several of my clients, from shoes to dresses.  They seem to have got it right as far as delivering to a broad age group.  I will stop my rambling and just share and link a few of my favourites right now - mainly handbags, they really are my thing but do have a browse around their site.  Oh and be quick - these beauties won't hang around for long.  When I was planning this post the other week they had some other amazing handbags which have now gone.

NB This isn't a sponsored post, purely me sharing a brand I recommend at the moment!

£49 down to £22 I saw this in the flesh and it is gorgeous - the perfect small bag size 

Suede and tassels - what's not to love?  This bag is £69 down to £34

£65 down to £29, this leather bag is great for a luxe day bag feel due to the gold and the tassel

£55 down to £16.50 I love this beach bag, it's the perfect colour combination so that it won't look scruffy after a few uses

A great little clutch, metallics go with everything and the texture/animal print adds a bit of character.  This leather clutch is £59 down to £41

This suede bag is a great travel companion, or if like me, you daily carry the kitchen sink with you, a great day bag to.  Tan is one of my favourite colours for bags as it's so easy to wear.  £120 down to £60

Their shoes are equally as good and if I wasn't so sleep deprived, I would continue on and share a whole load - but I promise there really is something for everyone so follow this link to head straight to the shoes.  Flats, sandals, heels, boots, sparkles, leather, they have got them all covered.  I will leave you with the below though, a favourite of mine.  I ordered the blue but the colour was just that little too similar to another pair in my wardrobe, the black however is a classic.  They were so comfy and well made - suede lined, I could just picture them with some casual rolled up jeans and a cute little top (oh and maybe one of their bags too).  My self imposed budget means they can't be mine right now though (insert sad face if I could!).

These are £110 down to £33

My Bargain (of the home improvements variety!)

So I normally share my clothes shopping habit however my shopping habit doesn't stop there.  You could put me in a supermarket (especially foreign ones, I love foreign ones) if there were no other shops and I would still be happy!  The hunt for a bargain mainly drives the habit.  Winter months I do tend to hibernate a little, especially after Christmas so I've been focusing on lots of little homely updates.  This post is just a little idea a friend had for my fireplace that has cost me minimal yet made me love it - when I previously did not.  I've never had a fireplace and have wanted to rip my gas fire out since we moved in 4 years ago.  Several different logistical reasons stopped us and after painting the surround when we first moved in, I still kept looking at it in disgust.  

The sample

I looked at fully opening up our chimney and putting a log burner in - my end goal, but a costly one.  At well over £1500, this was not the house we wanted to spend that kind of money on.  So my friend suggested tiling over the marble surround.  Back in December I found a tile I loved but as always, you've guessed it, I wasn't happy with the £70 price tag to do it.  I searched and searched and waited a little longer.  £30 later, they were mine!

My husband and I are no DIY experts, we avoid it if at all possible but when it saves us a fair bob or two, we are always willing to try.  This wasn't the easiest thing to do (and only my hubbies second ever attempt at tiling - the week prior was the bathroom!) and required all our hands to keep them in place whilst placing the next ones up etc (they slid a little!).  There was a reason my girls didn't play in the playroom that day - that marble run came in great use!  We used normal tile adhesive after scouring the marble and left the first lot to set over night. 

The jug was £1.70 from Homebase and the pot from Ikea £1.90 - not sure what I'm doing with this yet, it's just very similar to my wall colour so I had to buy it!

By night my candles are lit and lights twinkling

There were a few other samples I had ordered to try, this one being one of them.  My husband came up with the idea of backing this with some felt/padding......hey presto, some new coasters!  So yes, at 45p a tile, I've ordered a few more!

A little random post from me but if you have a fireplace and you don't like, for minimal spends there are ways to change it.  I also ordered some more fake pebbles from ebay (mainly due to my youngest nibbling them as a baby) which were £10.  The cream grout was £5 so for £45 my fireplace is now a lot more pleasing on my eye.

Some Bright & Cheerful Inspiration

Writing from my sick bed (I wondered why I had been feeling ill all week then took a look at my poor tonsils today!) I feel in need of some hope that Spring is coming soon.  Thankfully I've had emails dropping in my inbox all week with some colour which has cheered me up.  I am having a dry February (I hardly drink so yes, you've guessed it, I'm talking clothes shopping).  I have a little bit left from my birthday money which I'm in no rush to spend.  I don't really want to buy Winter bits now as that's just too depressing but it's still too cold for a Spring wardrobe.  So it's a good excuse to go cold turkey this month!  Please note the disclaimer here, should something pretty amazing turn up, I have the right to spend my birthday pennies ok?

So here's some of my favourites from the emails I've received this week.

French Connection

This a-line dress is £150 so fairly pricey but knowing French Connection and their quality, it will last a long time.  I love the simple elegant cut with the contemporary twist coming in the form of the print. They also do a skirt for £70 if the style isn't right for your shape but like me, you love the print. 

Miss Selfridge

How adorable is the above?  I don't wear midi skirts as, as of yet, haven't found one that does my small frame justice and doesn't completely dwarf me.  However I feel when I am next passing a Miss Selfridge, this one needs to be tried on.  Yes, just in case you missed it, this is a skirt and top combo. The skirt is £45 and the top £35.  (PS they are having a flash sale tomorrow - Friday 13th February 12-2pm, use code FLASH20 for 20% off full price items.  I hear there may well be a 25% voucher in Glamour magazine floating about too).  

Boden

I love this whole look from Boden but in particular the peach jeans.  These are £49 which I don't feel is an unfair price for jeans.  I have a cornflour blue pair of ankle jeans by Ralph Lauren that I only wear in the Summer months and I love them as the colour really does make them a more versatile Spring/Summer wear.  These would look just as chic with a trainer/plimsole style shoe. 

Some very Spring colours above, for now though, I'm back for lots of layers and of course my trusted thermals!