Confession Time

It's all gone ever so slightly wrong I fear on the purchases front.....  I seem to have got to the point where people get to in a diet.  It was all going so well and then, well, you sort of have a bit of a binge.  And then you think, well in for a penny, in for a pound, if I'm going to binge, I'm going to binge large.  

I fear I may have blown the doors off binge. 

So the plan was for three items of clothing a month, one accessory and one pair of shoes.  If you were replacing something billy basic and could legitimately throw one away then that was allowed.  This is where you can all get creative and decide what constitutes a billy basic for you (and I would go so far as to say a new coat doesn't fit the criteria - I'd probably look the other way for a pair of jeans if they are the same style as the ones you've got rid of.   Thinking more along the lines of white tees and plain, ridiculously plain, round or v neck jumpers.....she says, knowing her navy one is on its last legs and needs to be consigned to the dog basket)

I'm thinking about having a dry August.  Actually, no I have to have a dry August.  By rights, I should have half a dry September as well but let's tackle August first and review in September.  

So I've finally tackled my demons and written down how we went for the past couple of months.  It's bad.  But actually it's not "as" bad as I had perhaps feared.  However the possibility of me having forgotten to add something is quite high.  Very high.  

May 

Dress - DVF
Sweatshirt - JCrew
Tee - Zoe Karssen

Black sliders - Zara

Straw Hat 

June 

Print top - Zara
Tee - Zoe Karssen
Violet Dress - Acne

White sliders - River Island

Handbag - Prada

July 

Dress - Sportmax 
Navy and white coat - Hobbs
Linen dress - Next

Studded boots - Zara

And there you - not going too badly at all, eh?  Except that I sort of have to carry on........ Pretending it's August......

August 

Khaki paint splattered jeans - Zara
Leather skirt - Whistles 
Navy and white shirt - Zara

Ash Jalouse 

And I wish I could stop there.  But alas there are TWO more purchases that will have to slip into September's tally......

Extras 

Linen peasant top - Massimo Dutti
Leopard print ponyskin shoes - Zara

On the upside (glass half full me) I am actually down on purchases for the accessories.  Oh the irony - do you think I could swap a pair of shoes or a top for an accessory purchase? 

What I can do though is have a dry August.  Yup, you read that correctly, I am going to buy nada next month.  Squat, zip, diddly, nothing.  I will however, be planning on with my Wish List at a rate of knots, have no fear. 

Actually there may be method to my self imposed madness.  I shall sit back and watch the madness of the pre fall collections unfold and let the panic buying of the first A/W gems commence.  I say "sit back", I shall be biting my fingernails to the quick, rocking in a corner at what I'm missing out on, truth be told.

But, needs must.  And today, I've started thinking about what I've bought this year and last year and what really has worked for me as investment.  Also thinking about packing for hols next week and top of my list of must haves are my sweatshirts. 

Funny thing is, last year when we went to Suffolk on holiday I had just got my first sweatshirt from Zara and it was an absolute experiment.  A year and a couple of months on (we went early last year!), they are main pieces of my wardrobe and are the perfect year round pieces (she says sat here typing in one as we speak) 

So whilst I can't buy any - a) I already have 6 and b) I'm not allowed (although we do still have two days of July left but let's be frank, that will just make September even more of a challenge so let's not go there) 

Starting with the not so dreggy dregs of the sale (apparently dreggy is actually a word according to my spell check - go figure) 

This Lilac sweatshirt would work perfectly now with white and denim but I've come to love lilac with navy and tan as well - ideal for a winter wardrobe. 

Stargirl Tech Sweatshirt from Rika at Matches was £145 now £43

Little bit of Markus Lupfer for only £66 was £165. It's only rock & roll sweatshirt.  What's not to love here?



Love this plain grey version - so so so versatile.  French Terry cotton sweatshirt from T by Alexander Wang was £163 now £81


Now I wouldn't wear this as an outfit with the trousers as well but on its own with black jeans or trousers, white shirt underneath, over a leather skirt or even culottes or plain old jeans (add trainers, wedge trainers, boots, sliders or stilettos), this works on every single level. 

Polka Dot Cotton sweatshirt from Elizabeth and James was £205 now £82



Now I am actually quite tempted to buy this as an heirloom for my rather sartorial 5 year old who I think may well find this the coolest thing on the planet in a couple of years (the little boy who insists on me finding "skinny" school trousers, wears pink nail varnish on his toes all year round, is adorned with pink and pastel loom bracelets that he refuses to take off and whose favourite song is Let it Go. I adore that child who's not even 6!) 

I Heart Marc Jacobs Sweatshirt - was £185 now £92



Now maybe it's because my daughter is obsessed with all things vintage Disney at the moment (her dearest wish in life is to become a cartoonist) and so I have Mickey et al on the brain but I actually think this, with an outfit of black and white, Francophile style could look uber chic. 

Mango Mickey Mouse Sweatshirt was £27.99 now £19.99



This is another Mango one in grey which is ideal for the party season coming up but right now, perfect with faded denim to dress down or over white.  Ideal for taking in holiday and for throwing on in the evening over a little black or white dress.  Or even shorts. 

Mango Metallic Sweatshirt in grey was £34.99 now £19.99



On a grey roll here with this bargain from ASOS. 

ASOS Burnout waffle sweatshirt was £22 now £16.50



And in a red version - this would look great with greys and whites. 

ASOS Burnout Waffle sweatshirt in red now £16.50 was £22



Ok I am officially in a grey note again, can you see I'm rather obsessed with this shade?  Just so so so versatile. 

Zoe Karssen L&ve is everything print £67 from ASOS



New season khaki at Mango in Camo-print £19.99



And I'm sure there will be loads more (undoubtedly there will be loads more but I have my stack that will get me through August at least)  To be revisited.... Are you a Sweatshirt covert like me?  Or are you totally a no thank you kinda gal?

Finishing with outfits from yesterday and today.  Kids all at clubs although we went swimming late yesterday afternoon.  Today I have been unpacking the kitchen, packing the playroom up and painting stools.  Oh the glamour.... 



Bandeau Jumpsuit - By Malene Birger
Black glitter flipflops - Primark 
Straw hat - Fat Face 
Black Faridah bag - Marc by Marc Jacobs



Grey jewelled arm sweatshirt - Zara
Saxby boyfriend jeans - ASOS 
Black sliders - Zara 

So The Husband is out tonight and I am being bombarded with new season emails.... or I could finish painting my stools.... which was do you think I'm going to jump?