The New Coat With An Old Dress

I think I may have mentioned a few times on my blog over the last year how I've been on the hunt for some sort of 'trophy' jacket.  My interpretation of this is something that adds to my wardrobe in the patterned department to enhance a simpler look or add contrast to an already lively one!  I've tried several, most of the cropped ones are just too short on me (the Mango one from this post being one of them) and nothing ticked the boxes.  Until I saw this one in Zara which I blogged about and decided to wait until I was in Spain to benefit from the current Euro exchange rate.  However, I then found the one below, exactly the same style just a different pattern (warmer I felt) and no fake pockets around the bust line which I wasn't keen on anyway.

It's £79.99 here but I paid in the £50's for it after the exchange rate - it was €69.99

It's perfect for this time of year, a lovely light weight cotton with 3/4 sleeves and it's fitted in very well with my current wardrobe.  So much so it's probably been one of the only jackets I've worn recently! I had a christening to go to last week-end and wore a very old Kate Moss/Topshop dress and the coat was the perfect addition to it.

It was a tad windy!

I decided to mix up the blues for this outfit

An oldie but I still love it, thank you Kate Moss!

The accessories were kept minimal with a few bracelets from Tiffany, Swarovski and Annie Haak.  Miu Miu clutch and a bright Essie polish (which picked out the red in my coat) and my little Chanel card holder for a few cards and notes!

First outing for my blue suede courts which were bought in the January sales from TK Maxx for around the £10 mark - last of the big spenders me! 

So there you have it, one of my purchases from my Spanish holiday - a few more to share but this is possibly my favourite so I had to share it first.  I am so pleased with how it's worked so quickly for me in my wardrobe, especially when it's made me wear an old dress lurking in the back.

The Birthday Spends

I always think I am a bit of a weird sales shopper.  I get all excited then loose the will to live in stores very quickly,  so I ignore them for a few weeks.  Then the sales pick up a bit more momentum and the discounts are upped and I get all excited again.  Only to ponder whether I'm really purchasing for the price or the actual need.  Mmmmm!   So I've put all my birthday money into my savings account and I'm pondering these items.

I saw the above Selected Femme boots in a little local boutique in November.  They were reduced from £115 to £69, I loved them but having recently purchased my Ash boots, I thought another pair was a little extravagant.  However I didn't stop thinking about them.  There is a little hole in my wardrobe for a dressier boot such as this to wear with skirts/dresses when I wear tights.  However I failed in one of my golden rules - always try on!  Two months later, I was there again today and they fitted perfectly.  They are leather lined too and still at £69.  I walked away again thinking I want them to be £50 - mad?  Yep, I think so too.

Then I felt I had another hole for a really thick school run coat.  I have a Nike down filled one that I impulse bought when I was pregnant with no 2 as was getting drenched on the school runs and it fitted over my bump.  It did the job but 3.5 yrs on after a failed washing attempt, it's not so thick anymore.  I saw the above in the Zara sale.  £109 down to £69.99.  It looks thick and is also down filled, I love the big hood (my Nike one has a big hood but it's so big it covers my eyes - don't random buy when pregnant is the moral of that story!).  Initially it was the price that put me off, just not reduced enough for my liking.  However as I sit here typing it's currently pouring with rain, the school run is in an hour and I'm now thinking the lack of 'waterproofness' may also be a big fat no no.

And here is the random, 'I just like it' purchase!  Do I need it, nope but this is birthday money talking here.  I've heard and seen a lot of this brand Chinti and Parker and I do love their cheeky/cute designs just not the price tag.  This was £90 down to £45 and is organic cotton.  Part of me wants to give it a try and see what all the hype is about, part of me says that's a silly price for a cotton top.  BUT you get what you pay for - in most cases anyway.  Even me, the shopaholic that I am, is still learning about what not and what to invest in brand wise.  It's hard, you get swayed by a price but then within a year it's bobbled, shrunk, fit for bed wear and you think is it actually worth spending more for it to sit in my wardrobe longer?  I'm not heavily into faddy fashions, I buy to last and my style is pretty simple with twists used in accessories.  

So conclusions.  I'm popping to Bicester Village tomorrow to do a pre-shop ready for a client so it would be rude to not have a little look around.  After writing this, I'm kind of thinking the boots and the top.  The coat I can make do with, I have a Barbour (with no hood - they so need to come as standard) and other warm coats.  I hate snow so if we get any, my large Nike puffa will do for the few paces I will walk in it.  The C&P top is a little treat, something I probably wouldn't buy normally - so what birthdays are about.  The boots, well them boots.  If they are meant to be mine, they will still be there when I go back!  Oh the life of a shopaholic!

PS If the shipping was all free it would help, internet shops - #JustSaying ....

The Outfit Post

Just a little round up of some of the outfits that I actually remembered to take a photo of over the festive period!  Starting with my eldest's Christingle service.  It's always cold in the church so I opted for my large coat and a thick knit.  I bought this coat years ago (I am thinking about 4 years) in the Brussels Zara.  At the time I remember writing a blog post on it as I was desperate for the Topshop big animal fur one but I had too many people around me shouting loudly not to (and Bet Lynch!).  This seemed a more subtle coat and a compromise.  I am so glad I took the leap with it, I love the fit and years later, I still dig it out and feel good in it.  Done up or not, I just feel it falls really well. 

Coat; Zara
Jeans; Topshop Baxter
Boots; Ash Jalouse 

Jumper; Alice Temperley 

Boxing Day madness, my sister and I decided to head to Bicester Village and to be honest, it really wasn't that bad.  We were really lucky with a car space and from there on in, it all seemed to fall into place.  There were queues but they moved fast (apart from Ugg, we refused to wait in that line).  My Ash boots are becoming a firm favourite, the heel is really great for walking in.  They have broken in so well and I don't think I've worn a boot this much in a while.  Another Zara coat as well!  This was bought in the sale last year.

Hat; Vintage
Coat; Zara
Scarf; Moschino
Jeans; Topshop Joni
Boots; Ash

New Years Day saw me drive into London to take my sister shopping for her birthday.  We had a great day roaming around, it was fairly quite and again, the Ash boots served me well.  I forgot to get a full on shot but you get the gist of it!

Scarf; Dents - cashmere
Jeans; Topshop Joni
Leather Coat (just seen); Miss Selfridge
Bracelets; Tiffany, Valentino, Annie Haak
Bag; Chanel
Boots; Ash Jalouse

Lastly, my eldest's birthday a few days later and more shops - but this time the Disney Store!  I layer up when shopping as I hate getting hot and flustered (usually happens when the sales are on.....) so I can easily peel layers off.  I mixed up prints and dragged out an old sale purchase from Accessorize.

Scarf; Accessorize
T-Shirt; Topshop

I didn't get a shot of me on my birthday (besides the cheesy grin one outside VB's store in the last post!) but yes, you've guessed it, the Ash boots were worn again.  What did I wear before I had these?!?!

The Zara Jacket Review

I went into Zara the other week-end and saw the green coat feaured in this blog post so had to try it on.  It's gorgeous but I still wasn't convinced on the price.  It is unlined but then I guess you wouldn't need it lined for warmth as it's a lighter weight jacket for a reason, but it made it feel un-finished without one.  When it goes down in the sale I may invest although it will probably by Winter then!  I am a stickler for paying only what I believe it to be worth!

Zara Coat £89.99

I still loved this one below (as shown before in the same blog mentioned above) even more so when Look magazine recommended it (after me I hasten to add.....Look, you need me scouting the shops for you!).  It felt a little more worth the pennies in terms of fabric and quality however it is still a more formal style in my opinion.  Love them both, just not the price.

Featured in Look magazine

So instead.......I bought this one!  Recommended by Avril who tried it on and then Sue who pointed out it was £39.99 in Zara's 'Special Price' section.  I mulled it over for 24 hours then hit the checkout button.  It's on the cusp of being a little too warm (especially on the day it arrived) but my warmer knee length coats are too much and I'm not yet ready for a light weight mac.  It has 53% wool and the style is a lot less formal than the two above.  It's not as bright as it seems below by the way!  I still feel there is a place in my wardrobe for either the cream of green one but for now, I am happy with paying the £39.99 for this one. 

I am finally managing to crack a smile in some photos!

Just in case any one has not tried Zara out before for on-line shopping, I fully recommend them.  Free delivery over £50 and it pretty much arrives in 1-2 days.  Not only that, it's so well packed and looked after.  Boxed then wrapped in plastic with a carry handle (it's the small things with me....) then your clothes are all beautifully wrapped in tissue with a cute little sticker to seal them.  You can then arrange for a free home collection if you don't want to keep your items. Easy peasy.  Love them.

Sunshine yellow items used to top up my order for free delivery.  They didn't fit, phew!

Zara is one of my favourite stores.  I always feel inspired when I go in, they have a great mix of stylish classic items and more fashionable pieces.  Here are a few of my favourites right now.

Beaded tunic £59.99

What shops are inspiring you right now?  Gap is working well for me right now as well.