The Holiday Purchases (And Mistake!)

My blog post on my Zara holiday purchases is finally here - sorry for the delay folks, time really does get the better of me.  So I hold my hands up, the prices and stock/variety really did suck me in when I hit Zara in Puerto Banus at end of May.  All rational seemed to go out of the window and I was like a kid in a candy shop.  Maybe it was the sunshine, the time alone to shop, the prices, or a combination but I really did buy without a care or reason in the world.  And so there is naturally a little error within my purchases, we all live and learn.

I lined everything up in my wardrobe when I got back to our villa, not quite realising I had purchased a little collection that I could mix and match together.  I'm a natural at shopping yes, that's exactly what I tell my dear Husband!

Starting with my ripped jeans, they are so comfy and the perfect amount of 'ripped' going on at the front.  This is my second pair of Zara jeans, my first being a khaki green cropped style which have been brilliant.  My only problem with these is that they have started to gape a bit around the waist, not to the point of making them unwearable but they definitely aren't like my other pair.  The bling sleeveless top is part of their TRF range.  It is a t-shirt cotton at the back, more structured at the front and was a blessing for dressing up jeans at a concert I went to recently.    

Lets get it over and done with - the error.  I grabbed this denim dress when racing to the till, tried it on over my thin clothes quickly and thought for £20 odd it was fab.  I then got home to the UK and with that excited holiday haze over, realised it was just too gapey at the back.  I tried it on again the other day just in case, as I really do like it but I think this is going to have to go on eBay.  Ok, I will give it a 3rd, last and final try.........

This shirt has a little silk in it and I have a bit of a white/cream top thing going on in my wardrobe.  Yet to be worn but it actually looked great tucked into the ripped jeans I bought it with the above coat thrown on over the top.  The coat needs no introduction and was something I did actually plan, albeit just a different print.  Pre our heatwave it was working for the pennies already and luckily for me, was still cheaper full price in Euros than in the sale here.

I did actually blog about the need for a new blazer so I guess this can also go down as a planned one - not as free-styling as I thought!  My friend had this in the black and I loved it.  The white looked so nice with the jeans.  This has yet to be worn, I've just not had the occasion yet, but there is a plan for possibly tomorrow!

 

Quite possibly my most worn item so far is this striped top above and below.  Not actually from Zara, this is a cotton one from Cos.  I can't recommend it enough.  At £17 it's not a bad price but worked out at £13 odd with the exchange rate.  It has 3/4 sleeves and a curved hem which is so flattering.  IT washes well like my other Cos tops and looks smart, it looked like a nice quality one which it most definitely is.  I don't live near a Cos and my sister is coming over from Dublin so I'm hoping she may nab me the grey version as with the Euro price you really can't go wrong!

Top; Cos
Jeans; Zara
Bag; Chanel

Pumps; French Sole

T-shirt; Topshop (yes, like many, I have a stripe problem too)

I so nearly bought the below handbag in the same shop I found my leather blue pumps above.  It worked out in the mid £50's but something stopped me.  I was even in the queue for it but I hadn't been to Zara at that point and just decided I needed some more clothes than handbags in my life right now.  Now that is a very rare and bold statement for me!

Who else goes a little mad on holiday when they hit the shops?  Something about holidays just makes everything seem so good doesn't it!

Discovering A Hole Of The Blazer Variety (and a little life lesson)

I'm late in posting this post due to my holiday so I am side stepping slightly on my Spanish shopping but I will get back to it, I promise!  So, completely starting off on a different note here (my blog, my rules and all that!).  I was on my way to London to meet a client the other week when a lady and her husband got on the train.  With only a few seats left they were forced to sit apart.  I offered to swap so they could be together, it's ok she told me, "we've been together 53 years, I think I could do with an hour to myself!"  An hour later we had put the world to rights, talked about death, marriage, raising children, being a working Mum and of course, when she found out what I did, a little bit of fashion added in there too.  I won't disclose her stories as I was honoured enough to have been told them and they are hers to tell.  But I urge you all to always be open to people, no matter where you are or who you're with.  It was a wonderful start to my day, she had some amazing stories to tell.  If we all listened and smiled just that little bit more, you just never know what you may discover.  Thank you Jennifer, the pleasure was truly all mine.x

So to back to the rest of that fateful day.  I always need to be comfortable when sorting through ladies wardrobes however as I'm representing myself, I need to feel smart and approachable too.  A usual start to outfit deciding for me - toys out of the pram, I have nothing to wear.  My Joni jeans from Topshop are still a firm (tummy hugger!) favourite of mine with no gaps at the back when I bend down.  So that was the bottom half decided.  It was going to be warm that day so I went sleeveless with a Zara top from a few years ago.  Then came the jacket.  My husband thought I was loosing the plot when I announced I had nothing appropriate.  I managed to dig out (sigh, yes it's a hard life) an oldie from pre kids (8+ years for those who want to know) from New Look of all places.  They don't make them like they used to!  However it has seen better days, shrunk a little and I'm left where I was last year when I'm sure I blogged about searching for that statement jacket.  That and another blazer please.   

Blazer; New Look
Top; Zara
Jeans; Topshop
Bag; Prada
Boots; Ash

I had to include this shot as my 8 year old took it and I filtered it on instagram and she was over the moon as it has been my most successful shot yet with over 100 likes - thank you all who liked it, you've made a little girl very happy that she is a better photographer than her Daddy! 

And this shot as the leotard clad 3 year old also wanted a piece of the action (crumpled top as it was now the end of the day!)

My friend bought this from Zara the other day, a blazer wasn't on my radar at the time so I didn't try it on.  It looked great on her, the perfect combination between relaxed and formal so now I'm contemplating it!  £59.99