My Wedding Outfit In The Sun!

The big day came and went in a flash and thank goodness the rain held off until the meal and we were all under canopies.  It was my first ever beach wedding and it was amazingly beautiful.  Being by the sea is one of my favourite things to do so to have it as the back drop whilst watching my cousin get married was a very surreal experience.  I was so pleased with my bargain £20 dress from Topshop, it was comfortable and cool to wear and my sandals were perfect - after all that indecisiveness!  I accessorised with items I already had, I love it when an outfit comes together like that.  The clutch was a gift from my Sister many Christmas's ago from Faith.  I spied it as it was all suede (which I love).  My necklace was from Matalan and as it was fairly large I kept my rings and earrings simple and just added a pearl bracelet by Thomas Sabo.

The one thing I had completely over looked was my hair - and that heat, oh that heat!  Think Monica from that episode in Friends a few hours later.  No amount of hair and sea salt spray was going to sort it so I pinned a few bits back and forgot about it.

I couldn't let this post go live without sharing a few snaps of the stunning wedding party.  I know as a Mummy we are all bias but my little angels looked so grown up and scattered those rose petals with such pride they made me a very proud Mum.  Their dresses were found in the Summer sale at Debenhams half price at £24.50 and were by John Rocha. 

(PS their Doodles did come off for the ceremony....)

The Maid of Honour looked gorgeous in her peach gown.  It looked even better in the flesh and I thought it was a designer, something from Temperley I asked?  Um no, Asos - WOW!  Great job Asos, really really well designed and made, it looked a million dollars. 

And finally, the 'piece de resistance', my beautiful cousin.  Flawless H, utterly flawless.

The necklace was hand made especially for her by a relative, how gorgeous is it cascading down her back

Back to the UK with a bang; loads of washing, work, cold weather and a toddler that is struggling with jet lag and the time adjustment.  But hell, it was worth it!

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 Converse Have Arrived!

Decisions decisions!  So, all you Converse lovers out there, do they loosen up?  The grey are a 3.5 which is my normal size but my toe is pinching at the end.  The 4 currently feel more comfortable.  That aside, grey or animal?  Going with my 6 year old (who got the Timberland wedge shoes right from this post and they were returned), it's the animal ones all the way.  Her exact opinion; "Mummy I love them, you must keep them".  Are they to much?  In the flesh I was thinking I preferred the grey but looking back at these photos, I actually think the muted animal print aren't as loud as I thought.  

It's going to take some time to get used to thinking my feet look a little like flippers/clowns shoes!

Mmmmmm

Boring?

(excuse Lizzie the cat lurking in the background)

I am nearly there on the animal so long as they don't loosen up to much and become large, so please let me know how your's have worn!  Apart from my fab Converse find (these were £25 at office!) and a suede pair for my sister, not much else to report this week.  We thought we were done with the sickness bugs in this household but it appears not so it's been a dull week here.  I hope to get out more next week!  Oh saying that I did manage to see the pink Topshop coat in the flesh from my pink coat blog, it's not all it's cracked up to be.  Felt a little cheap and no warmth.  I wouldn't advise buying that one!

Converse + Sale = Ordered!

Well I did say in this post that I was reluctant to pay full price for them (and most things I might add) and a few weeks later?  They are now £25!  I couldn't remember what size I tried on and was dashing out of the house for school pick up when I saw they were reduced so it was left to fate.  By the time I came home there was only a 4 in the animal and 3.5 in the grey.  I decided against the blue as I wear a lot of blue denim jeans and I want them a different colour.   Check out Office as that is where I found them in the sale.  Will update once they've arrived and I've decided which pair.  Excited, my first pair of Converse!

I also managed to try on the Topshop Gwenda shoes I was raving about in this post.  Mmmmm.  Strangely the navy size 4 felt big yet the pink 4 were small and I did not like the toe cleavage.  So glad I managed to try them on as now I can knock them off my wish list.  I actually preferred the navy though, even when I seem to have a pink thing going on at the moment!

For anyone already considering the Christmas party frock (well done!) give French Connection's Ebay outlet a try here.  They have some amazing discounts.  I've ordered and returned things to them before and it's been no trouble.  There are some silk tops I am so tempted by but Converse were more important for my day to day living than a fancy silk top, so head over ruled heart today (I won't make this a habit).

French Connection Ebay Outlet £87 down to £25

And I will end with a little tip off, Grazia are having a sample sale from 11-13 October.  If you are in London and enjoy a designer bargain on two, pop along.  More information here.  I think I might just have to attend as I've never been to one of theirs before so in the name of research for you my lovely readers.......
PS I want that top above now even more, damn.