House Of Fraser AW15 Press Day Roundup

I had a lovely time browsing what House of Fraser have to offer this coming Winter a few weeks ago. Despite it being sunny outside, it is always nice to think ahead to the cozy/snuggly months - especially when sequins are involved (Christmas count down anyone?!?).  As always, they didn't disappoint and even surpassed expectations - keep reading, I've saved the best until last!  Here's whats coming up from them.

Animal print just continues season after season, it's a great way to add some character to an outfit.  A little belt is the perfect way to start if you're a bit print phobic!  Biba had a brilliant selection.

Exclusive collection from their Biba range - how fabulous are those sequins and stripes are always a winner.

Maison Scotch, Linea (classic camel coat alert) and Hunter - a perfect selection of glitz, classic and practical from their coat range.

My favourite - the handbags!  Oxblood red coming your way as well as some more dusky pink (you can still bring out your pink wool coat if you bought one last season!)

Fringing looks like it's here to stay for the foreseeable future (good job as I love it).  The leather on these bags were amazing.  

Winter isn't Winter without a little faux fur.  This bag (£95) by Helen Moore had a tough leather strap making it a sturdy every day bag with that touch of difference due to the fur.  Stole by Helen Moore, Coat by Pied a Terre (£189).

Can you just see the eyes an lips on the Lulu Guinness far left - how cute!  The pink Radley also caught my eye - how sleek does that one look!

Vivienne Westwood, DKNY and Lulu Guinness again.  The backpack was a gorgeous soft leather, I loved the studs on it. 

Knitwear needed for Winter, naturally!  Label Lab offered a little light embellishment (£89), whilst Barbour went for the classic thick heavy knit leaving Dickins & Jones to a cute bow back style

Leather really is in, these skirts again, were the softest leather.  The classic cut on the left was juxtaposed to the bias cut one on the right, something for everyone!  Both by Biba.

McQueen anyone?  Serious handbag lust going on here.  From L to R; £360, £295, £390.

I'm yet to add some tied courts to my shoe collection, these were a classic black suede with the delicate tie at the front.  Both shoes by Carvela.

Finishing with my favourite - Victoria Beckham, yes, a little selection from her jean line will now be available from House of Fraser making her more accessible to us all!  Cute, classic and classy, gosh she is good!

So come on then, who's getting excited about Christmas and who has started or is going to start their Christmas shopping in the July sales?!?  My hands are up!

The Victoria Beckham Store

A happy New Year to you all!  I hope you had a great festive period and hopefully some time off together as a family.  Mine was lovely but very busy with too many birthdays straight after Christmas, mine included.  By the time mine came last Sunday, I contemplated purchasing my first onesie and staying in it all day - I have never had a pj day!  However my sister was over and with the chance of some childcare my hubby & I popped into London for some quiet Sunday shopping.  More on my very few purchases in another post, this one is dedicated to the Victoria Beckham shop.  I have been a long standing fan for decades now and was desperate to visit her shop.  Wow.  It really is something else as far as design goes but the clothes and staff were also pretty damn good too! 

Really sleek, minimal pieces, not over fussy but different enough to know they are designer

Praise the Lord - 100% wool!  I couldn't help but have a peek at what this sweater was made of

A real statement piece 

All the clothes were suspended from these chains that moved along with ease, so unique 

Minimal contemporary furniture complemented the store

Probably my favourite item.  I love the pleats mixed with the tiered ruffles and then contrasted with the chain waist, mixing up tough and soft materials

Scarf - Costco (honestly - and 100% cashmere!)
Coat; Mulberry
Jeans; Topshop
Boots; Ash
Bag; Victoria Beckham - on my wish list!

The ceiling!

The stairs were adorned with a few handbags and the amazing scent of Diptyque candles (I was lucky enough to get a Diptyque candle for my birthday so was happy to see Victoria approves of them too!)

I admit I was like a kid in a candy shop, my husband was highly embarrassed taking this photo of me outside and even more so when I talked to the staff about the amazing store and what a great job Victoria had done with it (and been told by the staff it was a 'privilege to work here'). He doesn't get it, nor need he.  I was nervous at first (yes, random I know) however the staff were so friendly and also not in your face, they offered help and then left you to it.  They all smiled and were polite - even the security guard on the door.  10 minutes later we were in two very well known shops near Regent Street.  One was a tip and the staff in the changing rooms couldn't look me in the eye and grumbled at me, the other seemed like it was far too much to ask for a price on an item that had lost it's tag.  Both stores weren't on the cheap side either.  Customer service goes a long way with me.  So my pennies are being saved, what seems like her only slim line cross body bag this season needs to be mine!

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?

The Victoria Beckham Top

I mentioned a few posts ago that my lovely sister had found me a Victoria Beckham top in her local TK Maxx in Dublin.  It made it's way to me, then back to her unfortunately.  It just wasn't me.  I know it isn't meant to be worn with a torn jeans (!) but that aside, it was very long in the body and the colour washed me out.  It did feel luxurious though, and at approximately £50 for a VB piece, if I had loved it on, it would have stayed.  Also it was very well made, I wouldn't expect anything less!

I have always been a Mrs Beckham fan, even in the Spice Girls.  I love how immaculate she is, that she really makes an effort.  I know she isn't a lot of peoples cup of tea but she is mine and on my wish list is a piece from her collections.  When I was in Harrods last week I saw the below by VB.  Just the right balance between soft and hard leather for everyday wear.  A great, functional, versatile design and colour way, with a long strap and option to use as a clutch.  I am saving! 

The Ralph Lauren Bargain & Blogging Guests

I had another result in my local TK Maxx the other week with Ralph Lauren.  Last year I found some amazing chino style trousers that fitted perfectly and I have lived in them come the warmer months. This time round I found a skinny crop coloured jean for £22, yes, that's £22 for Ralph Lauren!  As with my pair last year, they fitted perfectly and finished just at the right point around my ankle.  I wore them the next day as the sun was shining!

On a very rare occasion I had a photographer to take the shots.  Within moments however, I was photo bombed by the sprogglets.  The out-takes!

Preparing myself....

Here comes the eldest.....

Trying to control the unruly child....

Oh heck, the youngest makes herself part of it too

One last ditched attempt of controlling the situation....

I give up!

So I sent them away and went back to taking the shots myself!  Don't say I don't share with you guys on here!

T-shirt - Superdry
Jeans - Ralph Lauren
Shoes - from a Spanish shop!

I was in such a hurry to wear them I wore them with the tags on, oops!

News just in - my sister who lives in Dublin has found me a Victoria Beckham top in her TK Maxx! Have I ever mentioned how much I love my sister?!?!  It best fit, excited, me, much?  Anyone else finding some gems there at the moment?

Re-visiting New Years Resolutions and Wild About Beauty

A little over half way through the year (where has it gone) and I've been thinking about the resolutions I set at the start of it.

• Drinking more water - well I've really tried and I have good days when I down glasses then bad days when I forget, but I've definitely drunk more that last year.
• Magazines - swiftly moving on to the next, epic fail, full stop.
• Bra's - work in progress.  Measured twice so far this year.  I'm varying between sizes, bra dependant so I need to buy majority of them on line.  I just need to do it and accept no amount of padding is going to give me what I had pre breast feeding.
• More beauty treatments - the hubby bought me a voucher for a massage for Valentines Day but apart from that, another fail, oops.
• Make-up - as below!

I still had a birthday voucher left for Debenhams (saved from January, I'm good I know) so when I was lucky enough to have a very patient 6 year old with me for a change, I had a browse round the make-up.  I have read a few reviews about some Wild About Beauty products, namely their multi-purpose tint.  It is a brand devised by Louise Redknapp and make-up artist Kim Jacob.  I decided to try a new lipstick and eyeshadow.  The sales assistant helpfully applied a few lip shades, a red one and a peach one.  I opted for peach and chickened out with the red.  Although the child was nagging me to get the red, it's just not a colour I wear on my lips regularly, I like subtle tones.  The main selling point for me though was what the products contained; 'packed with skin-nourishing, naturally active ingredients'.  The lipstick has Wild Mango Butter, Argan Oil (super moisturising) and SPF 15.  The eye shadow contains Vitamin C and E and Aloe Vera.  Maybe it's an age thing but I defintely care so much more about what I put on my skin now.  I loved the ethics behind this brand and so far, the products haven't disappointed.  The lipstick stayed put for hours and I didn't have to apply my lip balm after an hour (which is usually the case).  The eyeshadow goes on really well and was shown that if you apply with a moistened brush (she dipped hers in rose water) the colour intensifies.  I am yet to try this out.

Powder Shadow £13 in alana

Nutrilips Colour SPF 15 £15 in 03 betty

I will be heading back to try out the Lip Pencil Duo as anything with coconut in gets my vote (coconut oil is this case) and the Golden Beach Bronzer which is packed with vitamins.  Has anyone else discovered this brand?

I've also purchased a second lip colour recently (via Ebay, thank you Ebay) by Stila.  I had a lip glaze given to me a while back but never opened it, not really sure why.  I've definitely been missing out as it's a great gloss colour without being to sticky.  I then found out that none other than Mrs Beckham also shares the love with her favourite being the 'Mocha' colour, so I hit Ebay to found one!  It actually smells of coffee as well!  Another recommendation on the beauty front from me.  I'm off now to drink water and read a magazine in a bid to work on my other New Years resolutions, it's a hard life....

Old verses new; Mocha and Sugar Plum

My Week

I had a meeting in London yesterday so when I had finished I headed straight to the Clinique counter to try their new Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eyes.  For once minus the kids, I had some time on my hands so when the sales assistant offered to try the product out on me, I thought why not!  If possible it's always advisable to try before you buy so I took my seat.  I had my eye make-up removed and a cream applied before the sticks.  I picked out the Bountiful Beige as a lighter base colour then Whopping Willow (green) as the main shade.  I loved how the product went on, it felt nice on the eye and seemed to be easy to apply.  Deciding to leave it on for a bit then chose a colour, I walked away from the counter.  An hour later I took a look at my eyes and the colour had creased terribly.  Now I'm not sure if it's that it was applied straight after an oily cream or that it's more of a creamy base rather than a powder shadow.  Either way I left empty handed.  I will give it a go another time without removing my powder and report back then.  

Whilst in Milton Keynes last week, I grabbed some of the shop window images to share.  New Look's were both stylish and inspirational.  I love denim shirts at the moment, but fail to find the right one for me.  Monochrome was featured in all three windows, a major SS13 trend.  

New Look - I love how they've dressed this down with the shirt

New Look's monochrome

Great layering from New Look 

TopShop adding in cobalt blue to their monochrome

Miss Selfridge's breton and monochrome window

My wish list item this week, Victoria Beckham's two tone clutch.  I had my hands on this little baby and the black and cream version (which was my favourite) in Harrods.  The quality of the leather was outstanding, and it needed to be at this price.  I loved the simplicity of the design, it was sleek and sophisticated.  One day maybe!

£325 Small Zip Leather Clutch

On a slightly cheaper note, here is Gap's leather clutch.  Not as structured leather as Victoria's (love just calling her Victoria as though I know her....) but for the price, a fair alternative.  I am all for real leather and think this is a very well priced piece.  I arranged that little display for them!

Gap £24.99