Camel Coats

It's been a while since I've done a research post so here goes with one on camel coats.  It's a bit of a hole I've only just noticed for some reason.  I have a grey coat and a black/tan animal coat as far as wool coats go so I've managed fine previously.  However both are pretty old now (you know when you really love a coat and it just lives in your wardrobe then one day you realise it is a tad tatty?) so I've been keeping an eye open.  My need for wool though seems to be a issue.  Goodness I hate a cheap coat that bobbles after one season, I buy to last.  Struggling.com but my findings so far;

My inspiration but it may be a little long for me and this is over my budget but I love how it is smart yet worn casually.

Topshop £195 

Being short I am tempted to go for a pea coat style and like this one at Uniqlo but it's only 33% wool, I need more than that for warmth as well as being obsessed with a good fibre composition (regular readers know I wear thermals and friends know I wear a vest pretty much all year round!).

Uniqlo £69.90

A duffle style from House of Fraser, but I'm not too sure on the actual duffle bit as I think it makes it too casual for what I'm after but it's 56% wool so not bad.

Therapy at House of Fraser £69.30

I love everything about this ASOS coat which I saw on Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup but sadly it's out of stock.  A fair price and at 74% wool I'm not surprised it's sold out.  Come on ASOS, get it back in again!

ASOS £85

I am a huge M&S fan so I naturally checked them out.  A little too girly for me and only 44% wool for nearly £100 so it wouldn't cut it in my boat. 

M&S £89

Getting closer with John Lewis and this Precis Petite coat which is £179 down to £89.  70% wool, 20% polyamide and 10% cashmere - now that's better! If only the fur collar was removable I would possibly give it a go.

Precis Petite £89

And just in case anyone's after a grey coat, I think this is gorgeous from Mango and 62% wool for £69.99 (sign up to their newsletter, they are always doing 20/30/40% off promotions).

So who has a camel/tan wool coat with a great wool content for under £100 - do share please!  I feel I will wait until the sales now anyway!

PS The hubby has just pointed out that I don't have a 'hole' in my wardrobe for one, I don't need a coat in every single colour......um yeah but it's a staple colour right?!?  What does he know!

The Sandals Update (I apologise in advance...!)

1.  For rubbing it in that in a weeks time I will be on the beach and 2. because this outfit has even hurt my head!  But finally, finally I came to a decision.  By the end of last week I was starting to feel better so I managed to put my dress on and actually try the shoes on with it.  So it goes as follows; 

Love these Steve Madden ones but so not right with the dress, too much bulk at the end of my legs

Loved these the most but when I took a step right back to look a far in the mirror, they properly chopped up my already short legs (hence I love to wear a heel to give me some height and make the legs look longer!).  Also prefer a thonged sandal to hold onto my feet better in the sand and heat.  Sorry Steve Madden!

My 'new' Dune shoes bought in January I think - they were about £12 so no telling off for purchasing way out of season with no reason to wear them OK?  I have since found out a little more about the venue and suffice to say, flats it is.

The winners by Office!  Honestly, my pants photo doesn't do them justice.  Apologies, by now I was exhausted with it all and you are lucky to get these semi decent photos!  I liked the nude leather and the jewels were so perfect colour wise it was like they were meant to be.  I definitely have the 'space' for some jewelled sandals in my wardrobe and the thong style is always a plus for me. 

The 'nearly' ones from Mel.  Goodness the smell is so good.  Slight difference in the colours of the two different sizes I ordered but as they were going back that's fine.  I do think I will still try and buy some thonged style ones next year, purely for the baby powder scent, it is too good. 

I was sat by this point!

I promise to share some snaps from the day in my full attire and properly made up.  But my work on this outfit is done, at last!

The Mega Sandal Order!

I ordered big!  House of Fraser had an additional 10% off for card holders, I was getting desperate and there was nothing in the shops so I ordered 7 pairs!  Just in case you've missed my last posts, I have a beach wedding to go to at the end of the month and so I've been after some blingy sandals to go with my dress.

From L to R; Steve Madden, Carvela, Ravel, Dorothy Perkins and Office

I am not well at the moment so I'm not really thinking straight (yes, for those that know me well, I never really do anyway I hear you shout) and hate forcing a decision.  So at the very least I whittled it down to the ones that fit and sorry to say, those sparkly Gina look a like Carvela gems did not fit.  So I have two to decide on.  I also hate buying items just for one occasion so my gut is loving the black and white pony skin the most, regardless of the fact the gem ones go perfectly. 

I do like to mix it up a little hence the pony skin is still winning by a mile at the moment!

Then I raided my wardrobe just one last time - just in case.  I bought these Dune shoes in the Winter sales and they are yet to be worn.  So not right for a beach but apparently the bride is wearing mega heels later on in the evening as we are at a 'venue' of sorts.  So I'm contemplating these for a moment too.

Then I decided to just try on the 'doubles' (I bought two sizes in styles that had both available) and testimony to how not with it I am, I had completely forgotten about my favourite Steve Madden ones that I had put under the pony skin box as I just assumed it was the other size!  So here are the white pony skin with gems.  I love them, but they so don't go with the dress.....

So what do you guys think?  I need to cart the big box back to the post office ASAP (I hate returns hanging around for long) as I am too embarrassed to do a store return with this lot!  

Sandals Research (yes, you read that right!)

I'm struggling to keep to my shopping list this month, I hold my hands up.  Partly because there are still some little sales going on and partly because I hate having to buy something specific, I feel compelled to get it right!  Not to mention the need for some sparkly sandals for a beach wedding next month that I won't be able to wear again for about 6 months.  I have been doing a little research but I haven't purchased, yet.  So here goes, baring in mind the dress above;

My favourite so far and only because there is the subtle hint of animal print involved!  I don't think they would work that well but I love them!

Steve Madden at House of Fraser £34 (was £69)

I like the simplicity of these but I think they are bordering on too simple.

Ravel at House of Fraser £30 (was £40)

Probably the best in terms of ticking boxes so far; leather, bling, sandal, not too pricey.

New Look £27.99

No bling but I actually have a black sandal hole in my wardrobe so these could possibly kill two birds so to speak.  There is black in the dress and a kind of flower/abstract print so they aren't a million miles off.

Office £26 (was £40)

I am due a trip to Bicester Village this week so I am holding off until I've been there.  Failing that, I think I will just have to order a few pairs as I did with the dress and take it from there.  The shopping list this month feels like no fun at all!  (Hence I've just got majorly side tracked over at Zara and added some bits to my basket, to check out or not to check out.....).

The Day Dress Research Post

Where has the decent weather gone?  In a bid to bring it back and cheer myself up, I've been on the hunt for some easy day dresses (personally for the school run, the jeans need a break!).  Without knowing it, I had picked mostly dresses with blues in so in a bid to add some colour, I found a few others to share!

Starting with my favourite print - the breton stripe, like most, it features a lot in my wardrobe but there's not much to hate about it.  I love the relaxed casual style of the below.

Mint Velvet £69

Some colour and florals with this number.  It looks short but then the model is probably leggy!  Wrap dresses are great for meal dates - forgiving if you over eat!

Therapy at House of Fraser £45

I'm a big fan of shirts at the moment so this dress ticks the boxes for me.  I am not as successful with Gap dresses unfortunately as they are always too long on me but don't let that stop you giving it a go.

Gap £39.95

Really simple dress, love it and the navy as well.  You can easily dress this up if needs be and or change the belt but I particularly like it just the way it is.

& other Stories £45

Gorgeous print and colour palette below, another forgiving shape as well.  It looks very comfortable.

COS £59

Just because it's my blog and I can - another breton! I may have to order this, what a bargain price from Zara.

Zara £19.99

I really want to add a necklace to this, even just a little chain but I love the white with the dark navy. The sleeve length is great as it smartens it up slightly.  Be interested to see this in the flesh as feel it's another fair price point.

Topshop £25

Anyone else bought some easy to wear day dresses recently?  Or are you throwing your jeans on most days for the school runs like me at the moment?!

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