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 

Tower London Breakfast

I spent a lovely Sunday morning the other week in North London with the crew at Tower London checking out there shoes.  What other way is there to spend a morning right?!?  Here's my round up of their latest offering with a great selection of brands.

Calvin Klein

The marmite Ugg!  Personally I still think there's a place for them, they are too comfy not to be in my wardrobe

If only my girls were with me!

Just a few Converse!

I LOVE Timberland boots, such a well made, sturdy, comfy shoe

Tommy Hilfiger, probably my favourite boot of the day

The French Connection suede and studded slipper were just as good in the flesh, honest

No collection would be complete without the Ash boot

For all the Birkenstock fans out there (I am a fan but they just don't work on my feet!)

My favourite colour was this green

Vivienne Westwood for Mel (for some reason, it's the baby powder smell that wins me over with these shoes!)

My error of the day were these Mel sandals.  Reduced to £21 - they would have gone perfectly with my dress for the beach wedding later this month, arrrrrgh!  Why wasn't my thinking cap on properly that day?  Back up to full price £33.99 and no small sizes left.  Booo!

I'm now a little obsessed with finding some Mel sandals - has anyone ever bought some?  Do they rub?  I am thinking in heat they may not be ideal but I really like them.....!

Dorothy Perkins has this one for £14, very tempted but I will await any reviews on them from you guys first!

(PS Just read that they are a Vegan friendly brand and the bride is a Vegan, I am thinking I should order them, are you seeing my logic here?!?!)

And now I'm just getting carried away - the Vegan bride needs these!

Some Ugg Love At Bicester Village

Don't read the title and stop there, it's not of the boot variety!  I do love my Ugg's, despite the fact they look ugly on my feet.  There is a place for throwing them on and feeling snug in my life but they aren't anything nice to look at in my opinion (I did used to believe they were back in the day when they were originally released).  Comfort though.  Now that's a different story altogether.  Following on from my last post about my daily vests (this is a style/fashion/shopping blog, honest) and how I'm always cold, my feet are no exception.  I wear bed socks pretty much throughout the whole year.

My sister was visiting last week so dragged me along to Bicester Village for a mooch.  It was hard going.  For anyone in a similar situation to me on the cold and comfort front, have a look at these.  All sheepskin lined and so so comfortable.  Had I not spent my pennies elsewhere, these I would have invested in. 

£110 down to £88

A slipper inside a shoe!

£90 down to £63

As these aren't suede they look a little less slipper like

I want the gold!

£95 down to £64

The animal print (above, right) is probably my favourite of them all.  More of a shoe than a ballet pump, I think these would look great with a rolled up jean.  Has anyone branched from an Ugg boot to a shoe, are they as comfy or is it purely that the boot encases your whole foot of fluffy warmth that's the magic?  

A Bit Of A Shoe Thing Going On

I am known for being a little obsessive with things.  If I see something that's out of stock, I go on a mission to locate it.  If I buy something, I usually continue buying along the same lines, my current two obsessions being shoes and red clothing!  I like items to inspire me.  Shoes are doing that at the moment.  Especially suede ones!  London Fashion Week didn't do anything to dampen my mood, there were so many.  Some I loved, some were just outright mad but I still loved them!  So much so I felt they deserved their own special post.

Shoes do seem to be like buses for me, I don't see any for ages (that I like), then I go months of seeing them all!  I'm trying hard to be rational, I have two new pairs (for regular readers, the Zara and LK Bennett ones) not worn as there hasn't been the occasion.  So I feel I really need to justify future purchases.  That being said, I LOVE suede shoes and there are so many colourful courts around.  But where would I wear them?  I think I will just have to try the Topshop ones on, pray they don't fit (usually the case when I lust after something for a while) but if they do, run away!

My affordable favourites at the moment, Topshop's 'Gwenda' £58

I love all the colours! 

LK Bennett at Bicester Village, £250 down to £165

Not suede I know but loved these from Ugg, again Bicester Village, £225 down to £110

Ending on a Summer note, I do like to buy out of season.  I've harped on about Timberland's Earthkeeper range before, the comfort is amazing.  Now, are these a step to far?  Granny or not?  I can't decide!  Originally £90, down to £44.99 now £19.99, bargain yes but only if they are worn!  Mmmm....

Shop Window Inspiration

A little round up from my week off, here are some of my favourite window displays from our capital.  On route to Hamleys of course (if not once, twice, several times, I was reminded it was not ''Mummy's'' day out - special trip minus the baby sister) so I had to get my small fix of fashion from the shops windows as I was dragged past (sigh).  Don't forget window displays, they really do give you a brief insight into what styles are now and to come.  That aside, they also give you some fresh ideas on styling your own wardrobe.  They are a trick not to be missed people!

Anthropologie - Love this 'Carrie Bradshaw's bedroom' blue!  So bright & cheerful

Zara - it's all about black this party season!

H&M - this pink jumper is 'this weeks most wanted' on their website £12.99

H&M - printed trousers are still very much 'in'

Liberty - Alexander McQueen, say no more

Coast - black party season ahead again!

Dune - I love animal print!

Reiss - great colour pallet 

Mango - great staple,black leather jacket

Mango - who doesn't need a pair of silver heels?

Ugg - I need me some of their pumps!

Ugg - lots of colour!

H&M - sorry, had to throw this one in, Mr Beckham cheering up busy shoppers!