The Purchases; Jack Wills, The Kooples & Topshop

I promised on my last blog to share my latest purchases so here goes.  First up, the gorgeous belt I found in the Mary Portas Living & Giving shop.  It is by Comptoir Des Cotonniers and was £15, brand new still with the tags on!  The leather is gorgeous and so soft.  I would probably wear it more with a dress or a shorter jumper but you get the idea below.

Now my extravagant purchase.  I sacrificed the 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' DVD's for this (I love that my husband thought I'd like the complete series as a present but it's on repeat so much and for re-runs, Sex & The City wins hands down).  Lace is one of my favourites and have a few very old tops  that are now showing signs of wear.  The silk on this was amazing and the lace seemed so well made.  I have never purchased from The Kooples before so it's a tad risky to spend this amount but I don't believe it should let me down.  £135 down to £65 in Selfridges.  

Back to my kind of price range, I am loving wearing sweaters at the moment and this was a steal for £17.10.  It was originally £49 by Jack Wills.  It's a great navy colour and the stars just give it some more character.

I've fallen back in love with Topshop this last 12 months.  I felt they went a little high fashion and forgot about us novices but they seem to be getting the balance back.  I have a black blazer which is more 'office' and a very very old navy New Look one which credit where it's due, has worn so well.  When I saw this I loved that it was slightly longer and has a flick of sparkle through it.  £100 down to £30, 70% off - wow!

(not worn yet, nor would I wear with what I had on, but you get the idea of the great cut of it)

Also in the Topshop online sale was this top.  Pre Christmas I had a massive wardrobe clear out, a lot went and there are now gaps galore.  I thought that this simple shaped black tee could work in my wardrobe really well.  The beading detail is fantastic and as with the The Kooples top above, I wear my detail up high on my body, where I need to add some bulk so to speak!  £36 down to £20.

I saw this 100% wool hat in H&M.  I thought it didn't look to bad considering it's not my normal style of hats.  However my 7 year old told me I look like a cowboy/girl and my husband called it ridiculous.  Mmmmmm does it really look that daft?  (I was feeling brave in putting it out there for you all to comment, go easy!).

PS probably very slow to the table but who knew Essie was now in Boots??!!  Excellent for the spare advantage card points!

Who else has been picking up some great end of sale bargains?  I am glad the sales are coming to an end, there is to much temptation for me and holiday savings need topping up.  I am still contemplating joining Avril over at School Gate Style for her Frugal February month.  No shopping for February, mmmmmmmm.

The Christmas Presents: Bare Minerals, Dior, Essie & H&M

I thought I'd share with you a few of my favourite presents (sorry, there is favourites!).  Kat over at Does My Bum Look 40 recommend these Dior Lip Glow balm and glosses and being a fan of their Lip Maximiser (the tingling gloss plumps your lips) they went straight on my wish list.  I love them!  The lip balm is sheer in colour when it goes on (although as you can see from the below it looks pink) and has this special formula that adapts to your own natural colour, so it is different on everyone.  It makes my lips look pinker but is so natural and is perfect to use minus a lip liner and mirror.  It may be my new 'Chubby Stick'.  The gloss works in a similar way (don't be put off by how bright it is below) but literally its the gloss version, goes on clear and adapts to your natural colour.  If you want an easy, low maintenance pout then give these a try.  

I was thrilled to receive Miss Olivia Palermo's favourite 'Lollipop' Essie nail colour.  It's brighter than I thought it would be but that hasn't stopped me loving it.  I've got a little too used to a duller red.  This is refreshing on my nails, not as neon as below, but a slightly more orange tinge to it.  I think it will be worn loads over the Spring/Summer months.  I hurried a coat on for New Years eve and one coat still gave a great colour.  I didn't have time for a second so it did chip the day after, but I think a second  coat would have made it stay put a little longer. 

A favourite foundation brand of mine is BareMinerals.  My sister picked out this blusher set for me and it came complete with the softest brush.  I have used all three colours together which gives a definite shinier look but have also been using the cream and pink on their own.  I have been trying to get to a counter to re-buy my powder foundation as I have now finished it and love it to bits but I've so far been really unlucky and the staff have either finished for the day or been on a break!  I will get there soon as I miss it already.  

Finally onto the scarves.  My black cashmere scarf featured in this post was lovingly sent by Santa, thank you Santa so much.  It is yet to be worn but is a missing item in my scarf shelf so it's a definite keeper.  It's a lot wider than it appears so I am pleased with the extra cashmere for the money!  Now sadly onto a returned one.  I saw this one also from H&M a while ago and being an animal print lover and thinking it was a bargain for around £8 added it to my wish list.  Seen below, I was pretty happy with it so far (sign says 'Merry Christmas' by the way!) until I sat in the car and looked down at my cashmere top beneath.  It was covered in fluff.  I hadn't realised when I wrote to Santa (!) that it contained angora and it's never been a material I've liked due to the fluff factor.  However due to recent media coverage on how a rabbit is actually skinned to get the fur, it's further secured the fact it won't be present in my wardrobe.  I took it off immediately (it had literally been 10 minutes), sorry Santa!

Jeans; Topshop Baxter
Black short sleeved cashmere top: Joseph
Cardi: Jack Wills
Boots: Topshop Adios 

What's been your favourite gifts this Christmas?

PS I also got the lush River Island gem necklace from this post, 3 out of 6 from that post, not bad at all Santa!

PPS I'm off to spend a voucher in the Boden sale, it finished tonight in case you didn't know! 

Surviving A School Trip!

It was a loooong day!  But I did it, 25 x 6/7 year old's, a gaggle of Mum volunteers, a sore throat by the end of it (tonsillitis none the less) but a very pleased daughter that her Mummy was there.  We spent the day at Claydon House and I am ashamed to admit, I've never been before and it is so close (Waddesdon Manor is even closer I'm afraid).  What absolutely stunning views and grounds.  I will definitely be going back with the family and a large picnic when the weather warms up next year.  So what did I wear, well probably should have swapped around what I wore today for it but never mind, on disrupted sleep, a poorly baby and getting out the house by 8.30am this is what it ended up being.

Cardi - Jack Wills (Bicester Village)
Top - H&M
Satchel - The Cambridge Satchel Company
Jeans - Topshop
Pumps - French Sole

Apologies about the colour on these shots, they were rushed whilst the children were acting out the Crimean War and we had a minute to ourselves, somehow a filter was applied!  I am loving wearing my bargain £15 Topshop Baxter jeans that were made for short people (the 28" leg ones), it's great not to have to turn them up, although I do like a turn up.  I have had my orange H&M breton for a while now, it hasn't lost it's shape but I must admit I prefer the Zara organic cotton ones, they don't tend to ride up.  The Jack Wills cardi is getting a lot of wear, I love it.  My French Sole ballet pumps are breaking in nicely, they have loosened up so I may need an innersole for my smaller foot (yep, odd feet, a whole size).  

I think I managed to take in some information about Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War whilst I was there, well definitely the story about loosing her cat on the train anyway!  No testing me on my knowledge though please, just use Google.....

I Couldn't not share some of the views, stunning English countryside.

The Converse, well I have worn them twice already!  Yes, a little pinching on the big toe but so needed an in between shoe from a ballet pumps with no socks to a hardcore Winter boot, these fit the bill perfectly.  A bit of an animal over load today, but it's fun to play with prints sometimes.

Tee - Juicy Couture
Cardi - Gap (merino wool one)
Jeans - Black (kind of grey now) Topshop Baxter
Shoes - Converse

Anyone else been experimenting with double prints recently?