Savvy Sales Shopping

A Happy New Year to all my readers, I hope you are all well and truly rested after the festive break.  Or perhaps the break starts now the kids are back at school......!  We have lots of family birthdays around Christmas time (great planning I know) but it does always mean we hit the shops for various reasons quite a bit.  As we are midst renovations right now I'm being more selective than ever and currently have a nice little stash of birthday and Christmas money being saved away.  That being said, I have managed to grab a few bargains - but beware, the sales haven't reached their full potential yet, wait for better discounts if you dare!

I do love M&S cashmere, it wears well and only recently have I somehow managed to shrink a few pieces.  I loved this red crew neck which was £75 down to £50, then scanned at £40 and I had a £5 Sparks birthday voucher so £35 - happy me!  I've linked their cashmere here but I've found more selection and better prices in store right now.  

(Not as bright as it seems and paws to the left courtesy of Lizzie cat)

Gap is always a firm favourite of mine and as a few of my sweaters need replacing I grabbed this cotton one which was down to £14.99 (£24.99 online though I'm afraid).  Make sure you sign up to their emails, they are always sending offers and I had a further 25% off via a recent one making this £11.24 - bargain.

A blog post of mine wouldn't be a post without featuring Topshop would it!  When I was supposed to be running to grab a last minute child's present I saw the sale sign and couldn't help but duck in.  I had seen this shirt earlier in the year and loved it but at £12 I wasn't going to let it stay in the shop.  It is a size larger than I normally take but it fitted well and as it's cotton it allows for some shrinkage. I've not seen it online so check out stores if you're after one.  

Gorgeous back detail

On the same 'emergency' Christmas present shopping trip, I had to pop to H&M and saw this wool hat for £2.  Yes, you read that right, £2.  Needless to say that didn't remain in the shop either.

Now this is the one I need a little help with.  I love the Missoni print and this was down to £20 in TK Maxx.  I thought it was gorgeous but I'm not a huge scarf wearer to be honest and after it was joked I looked like a llama herdsman (I have the best mates) I've not worn it yet.  I don't want to be sucked in on price and just because it's designer, but it is still beautiful.  Being short of space at the mo I'm being very careful what makes it's way into my limited wardrobe.  

Lizzie cat again, yes! 

My Old Faithfuls

You know when you have a pair of jeans that are very old and up close they really do look it yet they are so comfy and from afar they don't look too bad (in my opinion anyway)?  Here's my Topshop Baxters which are so worn they have naturally faded around the knees (probably will become ripped soon!) however I just can't bear to part from them, they are like a second skin.  Cost Per Wear wise I don't even think they've cost me 1p.  Any new one's I've bought don't seem to fit like these hence I've started trying other styles by Topshop (rate their Joni and Leigh one's at the moment).

Jumper; M&S Cashmere
Belt; J Crew
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Ash

They were a much darker blue to start!

Do you have some golden oldies lurking in your wardrobe too?

The Ash Jalouse Boots

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had made a sneaky purchase at the Ash sample sale.  It wasn't planned, they weren't on my shopping list (bugger, forgot to do one for this month, oops!) and truth be told I didn't 100% need them BUT, I'm not sure what I was wearing before as they've lived on my feet since.  They are a great heel, not too high or short, I adore the suede and the distressed worn look and they are very comfortable.  The way the boot dips at the front really elongates the leg, especially when worn with skirts and dresses.  I actually changed into them as soon as I bought them in London and walked around the city in them for the rest of the day, which is really unlike me - I do tend to mull over a purchase for a little too long!

My PTA Christmas Fayre outfit - I stood on a stall for hours in them!
Jumper & Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Ash

My cashmere jumper I bought from M&S in the Summer months was worn today, it's so warm and snuggly.  I returned it as it went down again and ended up paying something like £32 for it from their Autograph section, it was £129 full price.  I know, I know, a proper bargain hunter that's me!

Jumper; M&S
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Ash
Tail; My cat Lizzie's - not mine!

A closer picture of the worn/aged look

I paid £75 for these from the sample sale but they retail at about £145.  They are true to size but can be a little tight getting on to start with.  There were also navy and grey ones but these fitted the best and I have some old black Topshop boots that 'needed' to be replaced (after I found these and justified them to myself of course!).

The M&S Sale - Be Quick!

I am supposed to be wrapping teacher's and anniversary presents not to mention packing for a few days away but I couldn't not share with you some amazing finds online at M&S.  Here is what I've bought.

Pure silk skirt for my eldest daughter (adjustable waist band as well).  £6.99 from £32.  Buy it here.

Mens suede belt, £25 down to £5.99.  This is for me!  I ordered the baby pink as well but it was marked so I returned that one but I love this coral colour more.  It is the perfect width, not too skinny or fat, result!  See it here.

Excuse the creased shorts, it was the end of a long day!

In keeping with the coral theme, this 100% cotton jumper was £35 down to £12.99 from their Limited collection.  It is fairly chunky so not for now but will be perfect when it starts cooling down.  Find it here.  (Size 18 left only at time of publishing this post!).

Another 100% cotton item, this Conran duvet set, £89 down to £28.99 (with pillow covers).  I was looking for something with more grey in it but still some white and the taupe stripe also breaks it up.  Yet to christen it but I don't doubt it's quality or style.  Find it here.

I always do bulk orders for M&S.  It's so easy to collect in store the next day and return to them too and I would rather do that and not miss out on sizes.  There were however some items that didn't make the  cut (bank was pleased, I was not so, especially on the cashmere front).  

Pure cashmere t-shirt £69 down to £24.99.  It just came up too large and boxy on me, but I adore this so urge someone to try it as I will be happy that I've at least given the amazing purchase to someone else!  Sizes 10-18's left, find it here.  I also ordered an apple green one for my Mum but her's didn't fit either (and is now completely out of stock).  

These Italian made shoes (from the Made In Italy range) were £175 and finally went down to £26.39 but all out of stock.  They just didn't work on my feet but boy were they amazing.  Boxed with dust bags, the whole shoe was leather and so well made.  See here (just teasing you now, I'm sorry).

Now these weren't in the sale but at £19.50 for a leather slider I thought they were a bargain.  Better still, today they have 20% off so are £15.60.  I so wanted these to work as I have a black sandal style hole in my wardrobe but they came up deep.  Fully recommend though, another well made pair of shoes M&S.  Find them here. 

Moral of the story, hunt down those bargains when M&S go to 70% off!  I put in keywords such as silk, cashmere, leather to find items I love.  Happy shopping!

Marc Jacobs, Cath Kidston & Ugg at Bicester Village

If you are a Marc Jacobs fan then get yourself down to Bicester Village as they've just opened up a new shop there.  I am a huge fan of the village, not the least because it is also very close to me but also being the bargain hunter that I am, it does have some great finds.  You can't always guarantee  to find the bargains but I seem to have a nose for them!  It was a very colourful Sunday when I went a few weeks back, the whole place seemed to have that Spring feel.

The Marc Jacobs shop had a full range of products from handbags to accessories and a rail of clothes.  They had his diffusion line; Marc by Marc Jacobs as well as some pieces from his main line. 

My favourite top there, silk £117 from £195 (40% discount)

I wasn't on a mission for much that day, I just went with a friend to catch up and have a browse.  I purchased the below from Cath Kiddston to post to my sister as a little treat and the kind sales assistant gave me some cute paper bags and stickers to wrap them up in, how lovely!  Service like this always impresses me, it's all about that little bit of something extra to make your customers feel appreciated and satisfied. 

Completely not on the look out for a new handbag (but always keeping one eye firmly open) I popped into Ugg who seem to have a bargain bin out of late.  They have been selling off samples at hugely reduced prices.  Having worked in Buying for many years, I am used to samples and a lot are pretty much nearly the finished item, so it never really bothers me.  I spied the below at £35, they had others in the store at £60 but this was a sample.  That day they had 20% off handbags for Mothers Day so I cheekily asked if mine was included.  Yes it was!  £28 for this leather beauty.  My friend said I was mad to walk away but being the Capricorn I am, I do like a little ponder.  It was held for me whilst I wondered around the village.  After putting in a call to the husband and confirming he was in fact planning to go to Tesco that afternoon for my Mothers Day present (nooooo, I need no more aprons or tea-towels with I Love My Mum on) so I said not too, I had found a bargain.  Pennies saved from Tesco bits and invested here instead.  I was lucky enough to still receive some beautiful flowers and cards on the day also.  

I have already used my bag, proof for me it was meant to be if I use it within two weeks of owning.  The body of the bag is nice and light, it's the chain that carries the weight.  I didn't realise until using  it that the chain also clips off so you can thread it through and make it shorter to a little arm strap.  

Jumper; M&S kids cashmere
Jeans; Gap
Boots; Sam Edelman
Bag; Ugg
Lizzie the cat again!

The High Street Edit featuring H&M, Warehouse & Mint Velvet

I was working with a client last week on a shopping trip and as always, I get there a little earlier to have some time to browse around.  In 3 hours, we did 3 shops.  Yep, 3 shops only.  I like to do them well!  She did however spend her budget and came away very happy and eager to spend more.  We spent time in House of Fraser, New Look and H&M.  We fitted her in the most amazing pair of skinny jeans from New Look for £22.99.  Well done New Look, great cut, finish and the right amount of stretch.  They have a great selection so do take the time to have a look.

I then had to go back into town the next day to have a little trying on session for myself!  The main items that caught my eye to try were in H&M.  Sadly (but happily for my bank balance) they weren't right for me but might just be for you!

£24.99 bought, returned!  Wanted to replace a holed, much loved cream top I have.  I wanted to feel as fabulous in it as my other top (not a H&M one) but it didn't hit the mark for me.

Loved this on the hanger, so wanted to love it on.  Just not the right shape on me, but the print was great.

Had my eye on this denim number for a while.  Great, on trend shape but the fabric was so fine that you could see the pockets through it as below.  (yes, I was being lazy, jeans are still half on!)

Too many lumps & bumps going on, such a shame.

A great dress, just too long on me.  Nice light fabric for the warmer weather.

I have a thing about quilted bomber style jackets at the moment. Had they had my size, it probably would have been purchased (and quite possibly returned!)

I bought this dress in cream whilst I was working in London last year and they have now brought it out £10 cheaper (£29.99) in floral and a thinner material. I liked the thick fabric before but with this print they've done a good job.

Bikini shopping is right up there with my hated bra shopping.  However I fell in love with this print.  It's still sat in the bag upstairs awaiting a decision though!

Ending H&M on their most positive of collections.......

If you are looking for a fitted, slimming dress for work, give Warehouse a look.  I think this is a great classic with those slimming black side panels, defining/working in a waist.

£50

For more panelling Mint Velvet had this gorgeous top.  Probably one of my favourite pieces of their current collection.  The fabric felt weighty enough to show quality but still great for warmer weather.

£59

How gorgeous is this jacket, also from Mint Velvet (seen in House of Fraser).  Seriously in love with this.  I can see it working so well with any wardrobe staples such as jeans, skirts, over dresses.

£79

Over to what I wore that day.  I am at my most comfiest in jeans so my black wet look Gap's were worn, teamed with some colourful cashmere from M&S and jewels from New Look.  Boots by Sam Edelman.

Trusted Zara fur gilet thrown on for good measure!

Where have you been shopping on the High Street recently that's given you inspiration?