Preloved Topshop & Jigsaw Bargains

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year.  I hope the festive season was good to you and you are all relaxed and ready to face 2016!  I have had a busy few weeks as we have lots of Birthdays after Christmas so I haven't had a proper good sales shop.  I have however used the sales to really look at investment pieces, only purchasing a few cheap vests but saving my Christmas and Birthday spends for bigger, heavily reduced items.  That being said, there's still time for me to make some silly purchases yet.....

Pre Christmas I always find it hard as the sales do start early but I don't ever want to buy too much and peak too soon.  I had seen the Topshop Magnificent boots in a pre-loved shop.  I hesitated as at £60 (£79 full price) even though they had been worn once and weren't scuffed, I didn't feel the discount was good enough.  When I went back to collect some of my unsold items they had gone down to £45 - no brainer!  With £30 towards them after I had sold on some pieces in the shop I felt the £15 was a very good deal.  I also grabbed this leather Jigsaw bag for £20.  I have had my eye on rucksacks for a while but didn't want to spend a lot in case the style doesn't work for me.  I love this soft gold leather one and can't wait to start using it properly.  

Boots; Topshop
Rucksack; Jigsaw

Even though I am a serial returner (I do like the comfort of my own home and wardrobe to make decisions, coupled with the fact I usually have a 3 year old in tow who limits my time) there is something to be said for a no returns policy.  It makes me think, quickly.  There's no time for said items to sit there in my room waiting to be used.  The boots were testament to that and were worn the next day then pretty much stayed on my feet for a few weeks. 

Coat; Zara (before you ask, it's very old, about 5 years and from the Brussels store.  I adore it even now and still get asked about it!) 

Merino jumper; Boden
Jeans & Boots; Topshop

They do have a block heel, which is higher than the heel of the Ash boots I'm used to for day wear.  I did over wear them and have sore feet so I gave them a break.  However it hasn't stopped me since and they have been worn on the school run too.  I have actually enjoyed a higher heel, it always makes me stand better and being short, I love feeling tall even if it is fake!

These boots do soften quickly.  The leather is very supple but they are also fairly tight to start as they are called a sock boot.  I haven't worn them with a skirt yet, only with jeans turned up, sitting just over the top of the boot.  The soft point at the front if also very flattering on the foot.  

Jacket; Zara
Sweater; Uniqlo
Jeans & Boots; Topshop
Bag; Prada

Topshop have reduced the cream and navy to £55.  The brown I have are still £79 but they've also added some suede ones to the collection - damn, my absolute favourite material for shoes!  If I hadn't have got the above at such a silly price, I do believe I may be parting with my cash for these ones below, utterly gorgeous.

Boots; Topshop

The Sales Have Started!

I've said it before and I'll say it again, bricks really do strange things to a woman.....I'm moving house in the new year (fingers all crossed it goes through) and what with Christmas and too many birthdays in December and January to mention, we are watching our pennies.  I popped to Bicester Village as I had a spare 2.5 child free hours and thought as I was so close, after the school run and some work I may as well for party dress purposes.  Never one to disappoint and true to form, I homed in on some amazing bargains - none of the party dress variety - update on that in the next post.  It appears the sales have come early as there really were some great deals to be had.   These little leather bags from Coccinelle were starting at £49 when they were well over £100 originally.  

I loved the snake effect style more than the suede!

Next up this Anya Hindmarch bag really tested me.  It was £594 down to £145 and a great size - bigger than the Coccinelle above.  I fell for this one and went back later on just to see it again.  I nearly parted with my cash and probably my birthday spends but was swiftly reminded by my husband that my sister, Mum and I are heading to London over night after Christmas - wouldn't it be wise to save my pennies for that.  Well, um, no because now I blatantly won't find anything. So dear family, if you are reading this, there was a new one ready and waiting for me back right of the shop......chop chop!

I've been after a new cosmetic case for my handbag for over a year now.  I have an old Gucci one which has seen better days.  It just holds random things like plasters, nurofen, lozenges, hair grips, ointment - general Mummy emergency bits, nothing glam.   I do however like to house them in something special.  I saw a gold Anya Hindmarch one in the sales last Christmas but Santa must have missed the boat on that one as it didn't arrive in my stocking.  This Fendi was over £100 down to £45. I must admit, leather accessories in handbags don't seem to look good after a short amount of time. My Miu Miu purse looks tatty yet my canvas Gucci cosmetic case (has some leather trims like the below) has lasted years and years before it looked worn.  I'm therefore swaying to the below. This is blatantly a post for my husband and families benefit.  As my birthday is only 10 days after Christmas I am helping them out really. 

Oh and this lovely leather bracelet from Mulberry - £50!  Yes, honestly, all leather with a bow and the Mulberry tree on it, I really didn't think this was a bad price at all.  They had other colours in but I loved the red.

Ugg had also joined in on the sale act.  I liked these fringed boots initially but they came up small and wasn't so keen once they were on.  They were £50.

These gorgeous kids skirts from The White Company were £28 down to £11.20 however when I went back later they had gone up to £16?!?  They had some beautiful children's clothing in, so well made and reasonable prices.

I did manage to grab some lovey Christmas presents but absolutely nothing for myself.  I have a happy husband and better bank balance for it but I'm already feeling like I've missed the boat ever so slightly.  Now, what would you go back for if you had a spare 3 hours Friday and a mate just so happening to be popping there that I could meet up with?!?!?!  I wore the below ensemble to window shop that day!

Coat; Mulberry
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Ash
Bag; Prada

Jumper; & Other Stories 

Bringing Out The Legs!

Back to school runs this week - where on earth has the Summer holidays gone?  Christmas is just around the corner now!  I looked in my wardrobe and realised there were clothes I haven't had the chance to wear yet and now possibly won't until next Summer.  Ok, I may have a large 'ish' wardrobe but still, I don't feel like we've had the heat to wear half of it.  With that in mind, I made an effort to wear t-shirts I'd forgotten about with jeans (and a thermal vest!) and braved it, even giving my legs an airing!  I admit, I was a little cold but I was adamant I was not going to put on a coat - much to the bewilderment of my Mum and Sister.  

A quick changing room selfie as my sister didn't get a good one of me to use! 

Jumper; Sandro
Leather skirt; Mango
Boots; Topshop

My Lizzie cat loves to get in on my mirror action!

In between school runs and a few hours work I managed a quick dash around some shops as is obligatory when my sister comes to town.  Now for some reason, I was so controlled.  To the point of actually really not wanting to buy a thing - I have been a little bad of late so it was about time.  I even turned down a silk (yes silk, you know me and my good fibre composition obsession!) Sandro top heavily reduced to £30.  I talked myself out of it as I have a fair few white/cream tops plus it was reduced as marked and a button missing.  It didn't deserve my money.  I loved this Alice Temperly dress below but it was too long and the sleeves too frilly.  Apart from that - gorgeous!

Now on to some dreamy items which were never going to be purchased, but I 'papped' them just to share their beauty on my blog!

I love a cross body bag, these Gucci's were just as fabulous in the flesh.  Reduced to around the £600 mark

I didn't think this Givenchy was bad for £162, it was a fair size and I thought the print was a classic so would last you for years

Chloe pumps - amazing!  Too pricey to remember!

Anyone else feel they are holding back on the shopping front or is it just me?  I am holding out for a Indian Summer so not heavily purchasing for Autumn/Winter yet.  I am however making a little shopping list in preparation!

The Prada Skirt & The M&S Sandal

When ever my sister is home (she currently lives in Dublin) she insists on 'popping' to Bicester Village as it is local to us.  My sister is possibly more of a shopaholic than me......!  On strict instructions not to over spend - self imposed, I do have a wardrobe full of clothes and there is only 7 days in a week, I naturally had a browse.  Prada is one of my favourite stores there, I can always find things I like, from the jewellery to the handbags and wallets, shoes and clothes.  I have purchased the odd few clothing items before in the sales - nothing like the prices you would expect, you need to hunt people!  And hunt I did last month.  They had a mega sale on and this skirt was down to £50, yep, £50 for a Prada lovely.  

Now it's not my usual style, I am more of a shorter skirt kinda gal purely as I'm not blessed in the height department and don't like to feel swamped in clothes.  However, I really really do want to wear more skirts and dresses - it's an ongoing saga, I just love my jeans and they work for me in my life perfectly.  This skirt had pockets - I love a pocket in a skirt, was fully lined and semi worked with what I had on that day.  I couldn't leave it behind so it came home with me.

I'm yet to wear it.  Something has stopped me, 1. perhaps for fear of a cat or child ruining it, 2. because there hasn't seemed to be a time when I could.  This may indicate it was a bit of a mistake however, it's Prada, so I will forgive myself and find a way to incorporate it into my daily life.  Watch this space!

Finishing the post with the shoes that I was wearing when I tried said skirt on.  I saw them on Alex's blog a while ago and loved them.  They have had a marmite response in my household, it stopped me from wearing them for all of a few days but I since haven't got them off my feet.  They are from M&S and were reduced to £25 in the sale, leather of course (yes, you know me and my material obsession).  I love the bling, I love that they are a more structured sandal and I had no black in the sandal department.  I had been hankering after them but they sold out quickly when they went into sale.  I was shopping with a client and saw them on the shelf.  Ever the professional that I try to be, I hid them behind a few other pairs and prayed they would still be there when I finished.  Firm believer of fate and what's meant to be - they were still there!

Hope everyone is enjoying the much longed for sunshine.  Posts will be a bit sparse due to the young ones eating up more of me than normal and a few little vacations planned.  I have a back log of posts to share with you so they will be coming through in dribs and drabs!  

The New Chelsea Boots From Hotter

I was so lucky to have been offered a pair of boots from Hotter last month to review.  It didn't take me long to decide - the Chelsea boot is pretty much a firm favourite this season.  I also felt I had a slight hole in my boot wardrobe for a pair of everyday wear, flat ones that aren't suede and can withstand the rain and children stomping on my feet (my youngest is very clumsy!).  My only decision was the colour.  Did I take inspiration from Victoria Beckham and go black?

Hell no, that would be way to predictable.  I chose their mink coloured version (please note, this colour is listed as 'grey' on their website).  It did take me a few days to warm to them as although I could clearly see they were mink online, I was secretly hoping for a more grey tone.  However, one not so sunny school run morning it was raining cats and dogs and I grabbed them and ran, literally.  I then popped into town and whilst trying on some items I finally stopped to take a proper look at them.  They weren't half bad, especially considering it was a throw on and run day outfit wise.

Shirt; Hollister
Gilet; North Face
Bag; Prada
Jeans; Gap
Boots; c/o Hotter

Yesterday I was off to meet a friend for a few child free hours so I decided to give them a proper go and style my outfit around them.  They worked much better with my (very old) jeans, the denim is slightly darker than those above.  I popped my hat on as we were going to be wondering the lovely High Street of Berkhampsted and I knew the Heavens would open.  I really need to wear hats more often, it did a fab job of keeping my head warm and my hair semi dry as well as being in the same colour palette as my boots, I felt it finished off an easy, simple look.

Hat; Vintage
Top; Zara
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; c/o Hotter

I ran out of time but on closer inspection my turn ups needed a little adjusting to sit better above the boot but hey ho!

Looking at the camera with a bit of a smile - that blogger pose is coming after nearly 4 years.....

I managed to pop to the Hotter shop in Merry Hill (West Midlands) whilst visiting a friend the other week and took a photo of the other colours available.  All of them are pretty great to be honest. There was a moment in the week I started thinking I should have got the black, black goes with everything but with wear, the grey seems to be getting better and better.  This boot is called the Shawbury boot and are £85.00.

The same boot in tan and black

Comfort wise, they are amazing.  On a par with my Timberland Earthkeepers which I always go on about.  I have also rain tested them (super important for the country we live in) and after getting completely soaked, they dried out quickly and looked no different than before.  I am under no obligation to recommend products as this is my blog however I do genuinely think these are super comfy and easy to wear.

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.

Outfit Round-Up

This year is the year I moved on from my skinny jeans!  I am not totally without them of course, but the two pairs I bought from Gap that are their straight leg cut have had so much wear already. These were my bargain £12 ones teamed with a very old H&M t-shirt and Next animal sandals. Just a school run/about town look!

And then the skinnies came out for a girls night out!  These are also Gap, their wet look jeans.  I love the fit however the coating hasn't lasted as long as I had hoped.  Teamed with a blush pink lace Warehouse top and some very high heels (luckily we sat and caught up over cocktails and didn't have a dance!).

Clutch; sample from somewhere!
Shoes; Gucci
Ring; Dorothy Perkins
Earrings; Topshop
Bracelet; Valentino

Another day look - before the weather heated up of course.  Ralph Lauren ankle skimming jeans with a Cos top.  I've rolled the sleeves up a little as they finished just around my elbow and felt a little long.  I love the bright yellow hem, it really gives the top another dimension taking it from plain to having that little pop of colour.  

Im very pleased with my J.Crew purchases this year and this top has been no exception.  As I mentioned in my previous blog about it, I was a little dubious about the jewelled neckline but it has been in the machine, inside out on a hand wash cycle and no problems at all.  Gap jeans again and possibly my most worn shoes so far this year, my rose gold Primark sandals.  Don't get me wrong, they go with so much and are easy to throw on if I've not painted my toenails, but I know that won't be around next season as they have been well worn.  At £12, I didn't really expect them to last next season anyway.  

You get the idea - there's a theme to my casual looks - denim!  Flats were needed for the Robbie Williams concert and a cardi for when it got cooler.  I dug out this old Topshop cardi (and I'm talking 8+ years here) that has little peach flowers on it.  Somehow, it has stood the test of time and worked perfectly with my shoes and handbag.  The top is sleeveless, needed for the heat inside the O2.

Top; Zara
Cardi; Topshop
Watch; Tag
Bag; Italian - no idea, sorry!
Jeans; Gap
Shoes; Primark

It's been years since I saw Robbie solo (naturally I saw him when he reunited with Take That - HUGE fan!) and for some reason I didn't have any expectations, but he was amazing.  A true entertainer and the style of songs worked perfectly for him (his Swing Both Ways tour).  His Dad even came on to perform with him!  

Because.....it really is so true!

Bag; Prada
Pumps; French Sole
Jeans; Gap
Pouch; Lulu Guinness
T-shirt; Juicy Couture