Oh La La!

 

I feel very French today.

But it is very bargain basement chic.

The trousers were picked up for £7 in the sale at Tesco and the top was £3 from Primark.

I added a little sparkle with my £3 necklace (reduced from £15 in Wallis).

I think my shoes cost more than my entire outfit put together.

I do love a bargain.

 

 

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Trousers - Florence & Fred

Top - Primark

Necklace - Wallis

Going To The Max

I have been keeping this brown maxi skirt in my wardrobe ever since I picked it up in the Gap sale with 70% off.

I thought it would be perfect for the autumn and decided that as the weather is so awful autumn has come early.

My very unscientific poll from yesterday's blog reveals autumn or Fall (which I prefer to call it but would be considered a bit of a wally if I used it in the UK) comes out as tops.

When I consider it more carefully I suppose I do like autumn clothes best whilst not being too keen on the actual days.

I know we can get some lovely weather in autumn but it is the loss of light and the impending winter which crushes my spirits.

Although I have to say my spirits begin to rise again around December 21st when the nights and mornings get marginally lighter and Christmas is on the way.

By January I feel we are in the home stretch to spring and February is my wedding anniversary, birthday and Valentine's Day.

 

I wore:

Boots - Clarks

Skirt - Gap

Top - George

Necklace - Wallis

To belt or not to belt - that is the question.

I loved this post which I found on Pinterest about wearing Maxis and am now desperate to find a navy one in the same style as this with a strpaless bandeau bust.

But I can't decide: to belt or not to belt?

What do you think?

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks

Dress- Miss Selfridge

Vest - Next

Necklace - Wallis

New Hair Day

This first picture was taken after my trip to the hairdressers, while the second was taken before.

It is the hairstyle I aspire to achieve but usually fail miserably at.

Why does my hairdresser make it look so easy?

I made sure I went straight to Tesco's afterwards to get my new passport shots taken - I may as well get some value for money out of my hairdo!

This skirt has been in my wardrobe for ages but it doesn't seem to have been the right weather to wear it.

I wanted a warm dull day when I wasn't running around cleaning and tidying.

Today was a catch up day and I loved the way the wind whipped up the skirt.

It is a wraparound skirt with a tie waistband.

I remember my mum wearing one she had made like than in the 1970s.

I wore:

Shoes - Boden

Skirt - People Tree

Vest - Gap

Necklace - Wallis

Scarf Experiments

Not long to go to my holidays and I am having fun trying to create a minimalist capsule.

We are away for 11 nights and I plan to take a carry-on case only.

I want to keep my clothing as simple as possible.

Today I experimented with the H and M scarf I wore on July 18th.

I wore it under a denim shirt but I think it would look great with my denim skirt and flip flops in the evening.

I got the idea from Terri who is doing amazing things with her 6 item wardrobe.

If you are feeling brave with a scarf you could have a go at turning it into a skirt.

Have you got any tips for using scarves in imaginative ways?


I wore:
Black Leggings -Primark (6)

Top - Scarf

Denim Shirt - Barcelona boutique (21)

Shoes - Clarks (31)

Necklace - Wallis

Cup Cakes And Tea

Yesterday I said I couldn't wait to wear this skirt as a dress and I wasn't lying.

I couldn't wait so decided to wear it again today. I went to see my friend and former colleague Jenn who has just moved into a new house.

We sat outside in the sunshine and enjoyed cup cakes and tea. I couldn't believe how fast two years had gone since we'd last had lunch together.

I met Jenn in 2007 when I started work as a writer in residence at a men's prison.

Jenn was the prison librarian and was also a keen writer.

Her first novel, "A Kind Of Intimacy" was published during that first year by which time she was already hard at work on her second novel, "Cold Light" which was published earlier this year.

One of the hardest-working and most talented writers I have ever come across, Jenn left the prison to pursue her writing career and now works as a lecturer in Creative Writing at Lancaster University.

If you ever get the chance to read Jenn's novels you won't be disappointed.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks (31)

Dress/Skirt - TK Maxx (20)

Vest - Gap (7)

Necklace - Wallis

The Wild Card

I had left one item off the challenge list until today.

Kendi suggests having one wild card in your monthly remix challenge.

I decided to wear my new Clarks shoes.

As you know I am a big fan of Clarks.

After buying these shoes I am an even bigger fan.

They are the best shoes I have ever bought.

They are stylish, comfortable and so well made.

A few weeks ago I tried a similar pair on in LK Bennett.

Originally those shoes were £120 but reduced to £60-something in the sale.

I tried them on and they just didn't feel right.

The pattern was also irregular and each shoe was slightly different.

They looked odd.

These beauties were under £30.00

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks (31)

Trousers - Primark (14)

White Vest - Gap(5)

White Linen Shirt - Boden (4)

Necklace - Wallis

Picking Pockets

I loved this skirt when I first saw it in the Gap store in the Lowry Outlet Mall during a visit to Manchester.

It is the same shape as this one from Tesco which I had to recycle when the fabric tore.

The skirt is fully lined and was reduced to £6.99 from an original £24.99.

The bonus is that this navy one has pockets and I just love pockets.

If there were two skirts I couldn't decide  between and one had pockets I would pick the pockets every time.

I just knew this skirt would be perfect with the Gap Oxford shirt and the fabulous Wallis necklace which was reduced to £5 in one of their sales.

I wore:

Shoes - Clarks (26)

Skirt - Gap (16)

Shirt - Gap (9)

Necklace - Wallis

Mrs Grey

The weather was grey.

I was feeling a little grey which is why I went for this grey ensemble today.

My silver top blends in well with this grey Banana Republic skirt which enjoyed its first outing today.

I wanted to be smart as I was meeting my new students  for next year.

I introduced myself by announcing my real name but added , "I look a bit like Mrs Grey today" to a small bunch of students who asked if  my real name was Anastasia before dissolving into giggles.

Really?

Are 17-year-olds reading this stuff?

I don't know where you are on Fifty Shades of Grey but after reading the first book I was considerably underwhelmed.

That's all.

I wore:

Silver Top (1)

Grey Skirt (11)

White Jacket (22)

Grey and Tan Shoes (26)

Necklace: Wallis

Pinterest

Have you tried Pinterest yet? 

I love spending a few idle minutes browsing the pins on the Food and Women's Apparel boards. 

When I am struggling for ideas my boards give me some inspiration. You can check out my boards here but you will need to be a member. 

I have created several boards including "My Style"; "Summer 2012" and Autumn 2012.

 If you haven't given it a go yet, try it - you may be surprised. 

But beware - it is addictive!

If you use Pinterest, how do you use it?

 I wore: 

Shoes - Dorothy Perkins 

Trousers - Primark 

Top - Oasis

 Cardigan -Tesco 

Necklace - Walis

Tough Floral

When I bought these biker boots I knew they would be a good buy.
They are even better now as I have slipped the lining from my Ugg boos into them.
I bought this dress on eBay for a very small sum and have worn it a few times here and here.
It was also a staple in my 2008 Capsule Wardrobe Challenge.
I like it best with cardigans.
In fact Floral Dresses, Cardigans and Boots make up my winter favourites.
And I think I wil be topping up my cardigan collection with some of these.
I have toughened up the dress with the boots or softened the boots with the dress
Whatever way round you see it I think it works.

I wore:
Boots - Tesco
Dress - eBay
Cardigan - M & Co
Belt - Primark (£1!)

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge - Day Four

Today is a very good news day.
After battling for seven years my husband took his employers (a large public body) to an Employment Tribunal.
During that time my husband has suffered from severe bouts of depression, ill health and it has affected seven years of my children's family life.
His depression was so bad that on at least two occasions our marriage almost ended.
A three-day hearing took place in July.
And today he heard he had won.
I cannot express what relief I feel.
But as many of you have folllowed me during the darker days and left messages of support (even though I couldn't say what was happening) I wanted to share my joy with you.
And if anyone is fighting an uphill struggle against unjust employers then keep the faith.
Miracles can, and do happen.

Today I wore:
Tan boots - Dorothy Perkins
Stone skirt - Gap
Stone Bag - Wallis
T-shirt - Gap
Cardigan - Zara