NEW PURCHASES

I thought I'd share some of the bits I got for Christmas as well as some of the bits I've been buying in the sales. I haven't gone mad in the sales but its rude not too sometimes!

I was so happy I got these jumpers from my mum, they're both Zara although I think they maybe sold out now but its always worth having a look online. I'm already thinking how I can dress them both up and down while the cold weathers still here. The shoes are also from Zara and apart from the fact they gave me blisters the first time I wore them I love them. I will persevere and try try again with them. I wanted them because of how alike they are to the Stella McCartney ones and will be wearing them with dresses, jeans and anything else I can find that will go with them. They also come in a nude colour which I'm very tempted to get for when the weather warms up. 

I'm starting to think I should get a job in Zara, I seem to have a thing about this shop! I got both of these in the sales after Christmas. The first one I tried on ages ago and loved but the price of £29.99 put me off a little so when I saw it had gone down in the sale I couldn't say no. The same with the playsuit, I tried it on before and wasn't sure about it because of the very flowy shorts on it but when I picked it up this time I thought it had a little bit of the pyjama feel (previous post) to it so both came home with me. I don't ever feel guilty about spending money on bits like this because you can add tights and boots for this time of year but when the weather warms up I can stick on some shoes or sandals and I'm still good to go. 

The earrings here I got just before Christmas in the sales in Topshop. They were down to £3.25 so when my mum asked me if they were expensive ones, (thinking I'd got a cheeky present from my husband and hadn't told her) I was very happy! As you can see I had a little splurge on bags after Christmas, but without all the pennies being lost. The top one is from Marks and Spencer and was down to £17.00. Its deceptively big, I have used it and I managed to fit most of my bits and pieces in there. The rest as always goes in the baby bag. The second bag is from Zara, its a classic little black clutch/cross the body bag with a leather strap. I desperately needed one of these as my other black cross the body bag has a metal strap and pulls on tops of a delicate nature. The scarf is from Marks and Spencer and is such a perfect go with everything winter piece. Its so soft and there's a lot of it so is almost like a blanket scarf. I'm sure this will be popping up a lot in my instagram posts. 

My other sale find in Zara was this little beauty. Those of you who are familiar with Zara will know this is quite an old piece but I didn't manage to get hold of it the first time around and it was a little expensive at full price. So when I saw it in the sale for £29.99 I had to have it. Its something that I'll wear more when the weather warms up with a cami and some denim shorts, but I was chuffed that I found it and might slip a roll neck under it to make it practical to wear now. 

I'm still on the sale hunt and have vouchers burning a hole in my pocket for New Look so I'll keep you posted on what I get with those. Until then good luck on the bargain hunt!

CHRISTMAS DAY

I hope everyone had a fab Christmas! It was all about my daughter in our house she got spoilt rotten by everyone and spent most of the day tottering around in her new dress up shoes and princess dress. No idea where she gets that from!? 

On the day I wore black as I was helping with the cooking so I thought it would be the safest option. I found my top a couple of days before Christmas in the sale in Miss Selfridge and got it for a bargain, £15! 

Its such a pretty little top, the picture doesn't do the lace justice. I think it will be a keeper and will be one of those tops I pull out time and time again. I wore it with my new Jamie jeans from Topshop. I love these jeans, I got my first pair over a year ago and apart from some fading on the knees (from all the time I spend on the floor with my little girl) they are still perfect. Because of the slight high waist on them they keep your belly in but are still super comfy. I had my favourite heels on for most of the day, I always like Christmas to feel like an occasion so heels is my little way of doing this. 

If you fancy trying any of this look I thought I'd give all the details, unfortunately I can't find the top online anymore but this one is very similar and still from Miss Selfridge. The shoes are old Aldo favourites so again similar shown;

Jeans: Topshop MOTO Dark Ink Jamie Jeans £40.00

Top: Miss Selfridge Black Lace yolk blouse £15.00

Shoes: Aldo VIADEN Black £65.00

ALL HAIL THE SALE

So its still not quite Christmas but the sales have started!! I got an email through from Topshop to let me know there shoes had gone to sale and of course I had to have a look... 10 minutes later ended up with a basket full of shoes and boots! I could of very easily have gone through with it BUT I know I have at least 2 pairs of new shoes under the Christmas tree already so decided for now to back away from the basket. As I did this I got an email through from ASOS! So tempting, but I decided for now to save it all for later and do a quick post to show exactly what it is I have put in my basket. Don't too be surprised if they turn up in my posts after Christmas. 

Topshop:

(From left to right)

Bullet stud micro boots £39.00 down to £25.00

Rupa snake effect ghillie sandals £50.00 down to £25.00

Festive strap point shoes £29.00 down to £10.00

Betsy velvet boot £39.00 down to £22.00

Game fringe courts £68.00 down to £25.00

Finest pom pom velvet ghillie £29.00 down to £15.00

ASOS:

(From left to right)
ASOS Performer pointed high heels £55.00 down to £38.50
Park Lane love suede slipper shoes £50.00 down to £35.00
ASOS Pinpoint pointed heels £45.00 down to £27.00
Park Lane cut out suede ankle boots £60.00 down to £42.00
Lost Ink pewter lace up flat shoes £38.00 down to £22.50

Saying this I have bought one pair of boots, these were in TKmaxx and they had only one left in my size so I couldn't really say no, they were something like £70.00 new down to £39.99 and I got them in the sale for £30.00. The leather is so nice and they are really comfortable. Definitely my new 'Go to' boot!

Happy sale shopping people!!!

PYJAMAS ALL DAY EVERYDAY

We all wish we could stay in our pyjamas all day long, well I do. So this trend could be exactly what we've all been waiting for. Its not really anything new, in fact its been hot on the runway and the front row for a couple of years. Its hasn't ever properly transferred down to the high street though, until now. I was killing some time (surprising I know with a 1 year old), and ended up online (surprise) browsing at whats going to be hot in the new year. On Topshop Boutique I stumbled across the most glam collection of Pyjama style day wear and decided this is exactly what I want to be wearing. So I thought I'd take some of the Boutique collection as well as some bits from the rest of the high street that I found and give my take on pyjamas as a wearable trend. 

Dress: Zara  Jumpsuit: Topshop Boutique  Outfit:(centre) Topshop Boutique

 Shirt: Topshop  Outfit: (bottom right) Topshop Boutique

So the look (above centre) shows exactly how the a-listers of fashion have been sporting the trend. Full on Satin classic pyjama shirts and matching wide leg trousers. To really go designer you can even go for an eye catching patterned pyjama. I realise though some of us may not be ready to do toddler group sporting such a dramatic look. So I had a look on the high street for some bits for day and night to still give a nod to the trend whilst being completely wearable. The dress (top left) is perfect for a night out, the detail is beautiful with the lace and the cut I think would suit most body types. I would style it up with a good pair of black ankle boots and a simple clutch. To make this a daytime piece I would go with a grey roll neck underneath it. The 2 shirts (right) are both Topshop, the check top is definitely a way to wear the trend everyday with jeans or cigarette trousers. If your still not sure a good place to start with the trend could be the Jumpsuit (bottom left) it is slightly more structured and has a strong androgynous feel to it but still hints towards the pyjama trend, again with heels to dress up or some bright white trainers for a day time look. 

Shoes: ASOS  Outfit (left): Monki @ ASOS  Jumpsuit: Topshop Boutique

Outfit (right): C/Meo Collective @ ASOS

These co-ords from ASOS (left/right), I think are fab. I love the colour of the Monki one and think this would work throughout the seasons as seperates as well as looking amazing together. Same with the C/Meo Collective outfit, this one particulary will be perfect to take you through to the summer and will work with plain camis picking out all the different colours.

I would say the key to styling this look up is keep it simple, less is more. It's all about the flowing fabrics so to have too much going on, on top of that would make it all just too busy and far too complicated. I found some Mules on ASOS, which would be my go to shoe for the trend. These particular ones are on sale at the moment for an amazing £15! The jumpsuit (centre) is another Topshop Boutique find, which I would wear smart a few times to get my moneys worth then dress it down with some ballet pumps. I think it would be so comfortable for mummy duties. 

Shirt: Topshop Boutique  Trousers: Topshop Boutique

Jumpsuit: Topshop Boutique  Shirt: Dorothy Perkins  Skirt: Topshop Boutique

Here are just a few more examples of exactly how I will be styling up the trend. Cigarette pants (every girl needs a good pair) and leather skirts when I want to make it a little more hard wearing with more texture, but still keep it simple. The jumpsuit (centre image) is the final one I chose from the Topshop Boutique collection. As you can tell this is the place to go for pyjamas at the moment, its the best selection I found on the high street for an affordable price. Hopefully I've shown how this trend can be worn by everyone, day and night. Please let me know what you think. 

Embellishment

So for my first post I thought I'd stick with the season and take Christmas as my inspiration. At this time of year there are sparkles, sequins and jewels everywhere in anticipation of the party season. Personally, I've never really been a fan in the past, I don't like feeling like a walking disco ball! But this year I decided I'd be brave and have a look for an embellished jumper for Christmas. When I started looking I was pleasantly surprised at what I found and it seems I may have converted to the sparkly side. Here are some of my favourites from the high street. It's also worth saying a lot of shops have offers and sales on at the moment on these kind of bits so you can treat yourself and still have money for everyone's presents. 

Sequin Jacket: Topshop  Jumper: Boden  

Sequin Shorts: Topshop  Blouse:  French Connection (ASOS) Bag: Zara

I think when I wear my sparkles this year I'll dress them down a bit for everyday wear, again going back to my fear of the walking disco ball. But for nights out the more the better, sometimes you just have to stand out! The sequin jacket and shorts co-ord (above) from Topshop would be perfect buys to dress up or down. I was thinking the jacket with a basic outfit of jeans and a tee with some trainers for day to day wear and then to go from day to night, a cami and some luxe black heels would really dress it up. The Boden jumper (above) is my fave, its exactly what I was looking for when I began my quest. I will be wearing it with my leather trousers and the bag (above) from Zara will add enough sparkle for nights out. 

Dress: Topshop  Bag: ASOS

Top: Needle & Thread (ASOS)

This Topshop dress (above) has brushed sequins, these seem to be everywhere this year and in fact are great for some well placed brushing to camouflage the curves/mummy tummy. I love the colour detail on the bag, it would go perfectly with the dress for a New Years Eve outfit for maximum glamour. I love the simplicity of the black top (above), when I came across it I realised I had one just like it. In fact when I had a look in my wardrobe I actually have a few sparkly pieces, most of which have hardly ever been worn. So I thought as I have a new found respect for sequins and jewels I would style it up for a night out look although it could also be my Christmas day outfit...

Blouse: (old) Virgos Lounge  Leather Trousers: H&M  Boots: Marks & Spencers

My favourite place for embellishment is Virgos Lounge, Its where my black blouse (above) is from and is a couple of years old, still with all jewels attached so the quality is super impressive. They do amazing party pieces to turn heads for all year round. The black dress (below) is a Virgos lounge piece and would be a very glam excuse for a new LBD. If it's colour you're looking for the other dresses (below) that I have found I really love. I have also found (below) the perfect clutch and earrings combo to dress up an outfit, both from Zara who I feel do the best statement jewellery. I'm always lusting after something from there, no matter what season it is. The shoes (below) are fab and have a perfect heel height to go from day to night, I would style them up with an all black outfit to add a pop of colour or with a pair of jeans for daytime. 

Dress: ASOS  Earrings: Zara  Dress: ASOS

Bag: Zara  Dress: Virgos Lounge  Shoes: ASOS

Hope you like what I have chosen, please leave your feedback and most importantly enjoy the party season whether you choose to sparkle or not.