The Wish List (Take Two)

Honestly, I feel like someone was trying to tell me something about blogging recently!  Internet crashing, Blogger not posting posts then loosing saved ones, I'm a technophobe at the best of times but this did test me to my limit.  So in an attempt to remember what I was talking about, here goes.  Still not impressed with what's out there at the moment, but I have a few things I'm after.  I had a plain grey sweater on my wish list from a while ago but then saw the one below from The Outnet earlier on in the year and it just looked a lot more appealing.  I had a old Gap camouflage one that had just gone to Heaven so I gave this a whirl.  It is by Zoe Karssen who makes very good sweaters (I know as I have one already by her) however be warned, this comes up short so it went back. 

Then the lovely Michelle linked to this one below from Uniqlo. At £14.90 it's a really good price without spending a ridiculous amount on casual wear. This may be popped onto my Christmas list actually (or Birthday as it's not far after!).

I also homed straight in on the one below from G-Star Raw at their press day the other week. The quality was outstanding, a really good thick sweater but it's not out yet. I will be keeping a watch for it when it does though.

I then spotted these Topshop boots in a local pre-loved shop. They are £79 full price but were £60 and in my size, new. They aren't my usual style as they are slightly higher up the leg - they are called a sock boot on the website. I feel like I wore something similar about 20 years ago in my teens - that block heel, that ankle length height - anyone else with me here?!?! That did stop me in my tracks slightly (as well as the bored 3 year old who wouldn't even allow me time to photo them). I'm not 100% convinced, nor in the market for 'more boot's' as my husband reminds me but I loved the soft brown leather and they looked great tucked into my skinny jeans. Maybe if they go down some more I will take a risk on them.

Topshop Magnificent Boot 

And lastly, I need a party outfit! I am so late on this one, I usually try and pick something up earlier on in the year so that there's even less chance of someone rocking up in the same outfit as mine. Not quite sure where this year has gone and I now have less than two weeks until a Christmas party - oops! I have a very old pre second child sequinned skirt from New Look when they did their Limited Edition range. I'm going to dig that out as a back up and see what I can rustle up. Anyone else sorted their part frock out and been super organised? 

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 Gap & Red Event & Some Sparkly Shoes

After waiting a whole extra month (thank you London transport for striking at the wrong time) I finally made it to Red magazines evening with Gap.  Gap has a new creative director Rebekka Bay, previously from Cos and this was her first collection since joining. 

So first up, what to wear.  Yep, it was a last minute job with a few unexpected extra's thrown in to really make me work hard to get there but thanks to a great mate who happens to also be fab with my kids, my childcare dilemma's were sorted swiftly.  I am definitely very much a dresser based on mood, I need to feel it at that moment in time.  I had wanted to wear something bright but I just couldn't so after lining up some of my favourite tops, The Kooples on the right won.  It's navy with black lace, comfortable, forgiving in the tummy area and stylish.  

The below however is what my husband came home to find.  SORRY!  He knew it was no mean feet to get there so he tidied it all up for me and made no comment.  I am grateful for his patience with me at times like this!

With half an hour to spare before it started, I dragged my friend to Selfridges to have a play.  She was mortified that I try on expensive handbags and shoes then walk away.  What's wrong with that?! In my dreams one day I would love to walk in and pay full price for high end items, until then though, I am content with trying them on and dreaming, then finding them cheaper elsewhere (best ever charity shop find post coming soon).  

I give you, Mr Christian Louboutin.  Just to sparkly for words and the camera!

The best outfit shot you will get from that night, I was to distracted!
Jeans; Gap
Top; The Kooples
Leather jacket; Miss Selfridge
Ballet Pumps; French Sole (changed into my Bally Switzerland courts for the event!)
Bag; Balenciaga

More sparkles over at Gina.  My only regret on my wedding day was not splashing out on the silver Gina sling back shoes I had fallen in love with.  I couldn't justify the price at the time.  8.5 years later and I still think about them and how many more wears I would have had out of them.

Over at Gap we were suitably welcomed with Champagne and canapés whilst we awaited the talks to start.

Fiona Collins from Gap started off the evening (check out her amazing heels, I should have zoomed in!) followed on by Red's fashion & shopping editor Laura Fantacci.  Laura put together some great staple looks, my favourite featuring the denim shirt.

Probably the shoe of the moment right now, the skater shoe.  Move over bright colourful trainer, the skater is in town.

I was pretty slack on the photo front, I was to busy rummaging around and playing dress up.  Luckily that day Gap's 30% off had arrived so armed with my voucher I decided to not get carried away and only buy what I needed.  I loved this print below, £24.95.  It made a nice change from Gap's staple stripe prints even though I am still a fan of their stripes, if it ain't broke and all that.  However I feel I have bought a few sweaters recently so I wasn't really in need of any more.

So I ended up with some jeans.  Those who know me, know they are my favourite bottoms to wear, I am a jeans girl and a 'skinny jeans' style girl at that.  I have tried on various other styles but the fit never seems to work. Until that day in Gap. Emily Gegg from Gap had on an amazing pair and after we chatted about how she also had been into skinnies but these made her change, I tried on their 'straight leg' style.  I wanted a lighter pair for Summer and these were perfect.  I paid £31.46 and have worn them so much already.  They have lightened up my wardrobe, although the sun has helped as well!  They are not a boyfriend fit but are looser than a skinny, the perfect in-between style.  They do come up large so you may need to go down a inch in the waist.   

worn with my Converse and Zoe Karssen sweater

So the moral of the story is, for all the ladies who I work with and those on email, even when you do think you've found the perfect style jean, it's always worth trying another style again.  You never know what you may find, even I have moved into a new jean era!