Holiday Snaps

I promise this is the last I will bang on about my holiday in the sunshine whilst it was Autumn here....(!) Despite loving clothes I do find on holiday I tend to not be so bothered about dressing up, mainly because it's too hot but also because I try my best to fully relax and forget about routines, work, lifestyle etc.  However there were a few decent outfits I wanted to share before I finally put the sunshine to bed so here goes.  

First up, probably my favourite TK Maxx find this year, my Moschino skirt.  It is so comfortable to wear and not too short.  I teamed it with my Cos silk and cotton blend t-shirt as it's a fairly smart due to the fibre composition.  I popped on my Topshop necklace (although I'm not a large jewellery fan on hot holidays - too much fuss, but I felt I needed something more for that night's meal out).  I ran out of time to put my black sandals on as their required some doing up so had to slip on my old Carvela gold ones, not ideal but I wasn't bothered - holiday mode!

I purchased this navy sun dress about 6 years ago from Topshop.  It has been dragged out every holiday since, despite me thinking it was a little too dark for holidays when I bought it.  The bonus about the colour is that no matter how much sun lotion or food/drinks/sweat it has on it, it still looks pretty good.

At the start of the holiday...

By the end - a little more crumpled! 

We had a day trip out to Bridgetown for a browse one morning so I popped on my version of a denim short (a proper jeans short will remain on my wish list).  These Tommy Hilfiger shorts are made of a lightweight denim/cotton.

Top; Zara
Shorts; Tommy Hilfiger
Bag; River Island
Sandals; Carvela

Everything always looks better in the sunshine, colours, diamonds.....I didn't purchase but I was very tempted!

A beautiful fabric shop in Bridgetown

Checking out the local bling

I've already mentioned about my Topshop Joni jeans and how comfy they were to travel in so they were worn on the way back as well.  I kept it simple with a loose breton t-shirt (I slipped on a vest  underneath mid flight!) and my Nike's again (but wore my flips flips to the airport).  I had a large animal print bag for my carry on as the girls and myself never travel light.  I hadn't planned on a monochrome theme it just happened like this!

T-shirt & Jeans; Topshop
Flipflops; Haviana's
Bag; TK Maxi

Next to Wes Hall (legendary cricketer) - the cardboard version, however he actually married my cousin!

Finished off with a little Duty Free purchase on the plane.  My Mother in Law and me decided to go halves as we couldn't afford the whole set then I was kindly told my half was an early Christmas present!  Lovely little treat thank you MIL x

Au revoir holiday, until next year! 

Love From The Carlisle's

The One About The Boots

So after my last post on my purchases in August, I promised to share some pictures of the new items in action.  It has turned into a post pretty much about the boots though!  There I was deliberating over which colour to keep for at least a week, then once I decided, there was no stopping me wearing them!  

Top; J Crew
Skirt; Moschino
Boots; Topshop
Bag; Prada

Worn for the first time was my Moschino skirt from this blog post.  I was thrilled when I found it in the Bath TK Maxx but hadn't worn it yet.  I was starting to think it was a bad purchase as I couldn't get it to work for me, then the boots arrived in my life and the fate of it was decided!  Due to the tie being at the side, it had to be worn with a top tucked in. 

Photo bombed after an exciting party day (then poor Great Nan was about to get a headache of a visit!)

I love the frill around the front and yes, those are trainer socks you can see (from this angle only!)

The first outing for them actually came with my bargain Zara top and my very old and pretty faded black Topshop jeans, with a big turn up (I am rather partial to a turn up!).

Top; Zara
Jeans; Topshop - Baxter's (they don't make 'em like they used to...)
Boots; Topshop

Lastly and probably my least favourite outfit with them was teamed with my Gap jeans and new silk Whistles top.  Not 100% sure on looking back if I like this combination but I was in a hurry, it was way to early on a Sunday morning so it had to do. 

Top; Whistles
Jeans; Gap
Boots; Topshop
Bag; Balenciaga

What originally made me keep this colour boot was that I'd tried them on with a dark blue jean and loved them together.  However my favourite look so far is with the skirt, I love them with the polka dot.  I think the black would only have extenuated my short legs by having a dark blob on the end of them.  The nude colour works perfectly.

The June Shopping List - Published & Updated In August!

I had this idea to have a monthly shopping list, purely for my own benefit as I get so led by a bargain I forget what I actually need in my wardrobe.  I wrote this list in June but I got carried away in the sales and forgot all about it!  To be fair to myself, I have purchased from it however I have also added a few new items and put some on the back burner. 

I firstly wrote; No more breton stripes (for a while at least, I appreciate this is a classic) nor cardigans.  Failed on both BUT this top from the Gap outlet was £4.90 and the cashmere and cotton cardigan from Costco £12.99.  So I'm letting myself off based on the fact that I spent less than £20 on my failures.  

So the 'needs' looked like this;

• Black skinny/fitted jeans (my old faithful Topshop Baxters are now grey).  Not urgent right now
• Beige small heeled ankle boots suitable for walking.  I purchased these from Jones Bootmaker. I sat them on the box in my bedroom for a few weeks and every time I went to wear them something stopped me.  I talked myself out of them so they went back. Maybe it's the weather and that I'm in open shoes (although out of season buying is usually a favourite of mine) either way, they just didn't make the cut

• Casual skirts/dresses - I purchased the Zara one from this blog below and the Moschino skirt seen in this blog so there's a tick here!
• Trophy jacket - this is now on hold partly based on the weather but also I tried on a fair old few and none worked on me so I got a little deflated and stopped looking
• Denim shorts - NEED the most.  I have a good selection of smarter shorts now but am really struggling finding a denim pair that fits properly.  I am tempted by these from Esprit

Stretch denim shorts £29

• Shirts/blouses - smarter styled tops
• Skater Shoes - finally found some that fitted from Next.  I wanted something that sat in-between a trainer and a ballet pump and these do the job nicely (even more so for £9 and leather!)

(Thank you Kat for sharing yours on your blog)

• Newly added - a swimming costume.  They are everywhere at the moment and the hang ups that they are old school is long gone, move over bikini, the swimsuit is well and truly back.  This is probably my toughest quest as not only am I long in the body so the ones I've tried end up far too low, but not being blessed in the chest department I don't want to completely flatten what I have!  I am not holding out much hope
• Second newly added - wedding outfit for a beach wedding end of October.  It will be hot hot hot, sandy and my girls are flower girls so I will be dashing about after them all day.  I need sleeveless, not too pale to show up dirt (preferably a print), a good fabric that won't make me sweat and thick enough straps to cover my bra (comfort will be key and me & strapless bras don't get on).  So the hunt it well and truly on!

So there you have it.  It's written in black and white what I am missing.  Lets see how I do this month and will update you in September.  

The TK Maxx Finds

I always seem to find some amazing deals in TK Maxx.  Maybe it's because I give it that little bit more time than normal shops to hunt out those bargains or maybe I'm just lucky.  Either way, I do love the shop.  My local store had these gorgeous Birkenstocks in, I thought the patent red was gorgeous. They weren't my size (I need a 36 please anyone?) but they do seem to get drops of Birkenstock's in fairly regularly if anyone is in the market for a pair.  They were £24.99 (from memory.....apologies!).

Then I found this gorgeous shirt by Victoria Beckham.  My sister was with me and they had one in her size so she was very lucky that day.  I have looked online and in stores since and never seen it again.  I was a tad jealous to say the least, but at least someone benefitted from my find!  It had a waffle style print to it, subtle but more substantial than a plain white shirt and was £54.99.

I've just had a lovely few days away in Bath.  For some reason while I was there I looked up the local TK on my phone as had a feeling it might be a good one and I was so right.  It was small but the Gold Label (high end items) were brilliant.  I was so excited, I completely forgot to take any photo's, but there was a Victoria Beckham dungaree dress, pieces by Helmut Lang, Zoe Karssen to name but a few and the largest number of designer sunglasses I've seen in one of their stores.  I didn't walk away empty handed.  I am on a mission to only buy skirts/dresses at the moment as that's an area lacking in my wardrobe.  I found this Moschino polka dot one for £19.99 from £110.  The pictures of it on the hanger really don't do it justice, I will share it on one day soon.

I also grabbed this Marc Jacobs t-shirt for £24.99, RRP £90.  I love the frill detailing on it.

Any one else had some luck their recently and which towns were they from?

Next Bloggers Network Workshop

I had the pleasure of attending Next's first ever Blogger's Network Workshop last week.  I went completely blind as to what to expect.  Starting with my commute in.  I had planned on the trains but St Jude had started and trains were being cancelled left right and centre.  I decided to drive into London (probably about 50 miles from my house).  I love driving into London so it didn't bother me in the slightest, I just planned a little extra time and to drive slower.

London bound!

Pleeeeease let me make it to London!

The event was held at The Hoxton Hotel in Shoreditch (fab venue if you're near).  We were greeted by Gemma from Jam (who sends the friendliest of emails I want to add, lovely lady) and welcomed into the 'kitchen' for a cuppa.

The fully working kitchen and breakfast, yum!

We were then split into 3 groups for 3 different sessions.  I won't bore you with all the details (boring for you, not for me that is!) but needless to say the sessions were so informative for us Bloggers.  I am so thankful to Next for organising such an event, it was a great day full of hints and tips for us bloggers, with guest talkers from other very successful blogs.  Namely, Abisola from Abimarvel, Emily from Fashion Foie Gras, Kit from Style Slicker, Lily from Lilypebbles, Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup and the very blog design savvy Faye from FK Designs.  All of whom were so friendly and humble about their achievements.

Eyes open shot, I'm good to you I know.

I am honest enough to admit, I was having serious wardrobe malfunctions leading up to the event.  I wanted to be comfortable yet feel smart and confident therefore height would be needed with some heels.  Court shoes and skinny jeans it was.  Plus probably my favourite top by Pyrus, I really need to visit their store and buy some more.  It has silk in it (one of my favourite fabrics) and washes so well without loosing shape.  I love how it fits and feels.  Teamed with my Next chain statement necklace (£12) and my Moschino shoes (very very old TK Maxx buy) and voila.  (Obviously I drove in Uggs!). Oh and saving the best until last, my Chanel handbag which was a charity shop find, I know I am a lucky lady, someone was watching over me that day.

Some pictures from the day.

Hollie from Mummy, Wife and Chaos was just as pleased as me to see the sweetie station!

There were just a few outfits on show with a couple of rails to browse through.  I love the biker jacket with the elegant dress look, really adds some va va voom to it all! 

'Cheese'!  Hollie, me & Aimee-Jade from Bella La Moda

The lovely Monica from The Elgin Avenue's fab Next shoe boots

YUM!

Afternoon tea, we were well and truly looked after

Check out Sandra's jumper who blogs over at The Chicest, roar! 

Because they deserved a close up all of their very own.

Thank you Gemma from Spreading Jam agency!

The scariest part of my day?  The storm? Nope.  Driving my car into a lift to get into the car park.....

Thank you Next for a fabulous day.  I think you can safely say it was a success and has left me seriously impressed with the effort made by you to engage with your bloggers.  Now bare with me readers, after all that I've learnt, some changes will be taking place to make this a better read for you!