My little rays of Primark sunshine

Kat 4/23/2012 8 Comments Edit

I'm going to say this only once as I'm boring myself by even thinking it.

I am So Over This Rain.

Ok so that's probably a humungous lie as no doubt, I'll want to repeat it tomorrow and every day till it stops. And it has to. It definitely has to as I'm not sure I'll want to be held responsible for my rain fuelled actions otherwise. I'm positive I have the wet weather equivalent of SAD. As immensely pathetic as it sounds (all the more so as I'm fully aware I have banged on about it numerous times) I absolutely detest the rain. Someone once said to me "there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing........" "input not so polite swear word." Put it this way, when it rains and my children moan, I can't put my washing out to dry, my kids can't play out in the garden, it's nearly May and I've had my heating on all day, that is absolutely bugger all to do with inappropriate clothing. That's bad weather and it puts me in a really Really bad mood. Rant over.

On to sunnier things, Friday was a lovely day and, as promised, here is my haul from the wonderland that is Primark. I've had a love/hate relationship with Primark over the years. I've worked out though, that where I used to go wrong is where most people (and I in the past - hell I've been a sinner too) go wrong with sales shopping. We all love a bargain and so buy it as it's cheap. Who give a monkey's if we never get round to wearing it - it was such a steal! Error.

So my mantra in more recent times has been, imagine it triple the cost. Would you still want to buy it? Clothes wise, I stuck by my rule and came away with the sum total of four vests. Two black and two white. I would have loved some nude/blush ones but alas, it being the summer of colour, neutral vests were not on the agenda. I can confirm that they are still as good as they were. Long (even on me, bum length), a good cotton/elastane balance, adjustable straps and best of all, £2. Having tried vests on pretty much everywhere, these, I can say, are the best strappy vests on the market bar none. Much better than the Marks and Spencer ones that I ordered. Do size up though. I got a 12 and they're fine. Tight fitting but not super clingy.

And now on to slightly more exciting purchases. I've never actually looked at Primark jewellery in much detail, but was beyond impressed with the two - huge - sets of earrings that I picked up. It's certainly a case of trawling through the jewellery section, the majority of which is a clear tribute to TOWIE (she says hypocritically having bought earrings that would suffice as actual light fittings) but I was most impressed with the two pairs I picked up. (one of which I've already worn - the sign of a winning purchase)

Blush chandelier earrings and off white chandelier earrings - £4 a pair.

The following purchases are all in the bracket of Confession Time. And deep breath. I hate buying underwear. Up there with practical trainers (closely followed by gym gear) these top my list of "Things I have to buy but begrudge wasting good Handbag/Shoe funds on". It is that time of year again (ok so if I'm honest I should probably admit that it's not so much 'year', but maybe that time of decade. Oops.) to replace my smalls. It doesn't help, that as much as I don't like buying them, I am super fussy when it comes to what I wear. Go figure. Nothing can remotely dig in - there can be no element of muffin, there can be no element of actually feeling the garment on. (please bear in mind there is no rhyme or reason to my weirdness when it comes to undercrackers). Imagine my joy at finding these fantastic numbers at Primark for (and the utterly best bit) £1 a pair. They are the most comfortable pair of knick-knacks I have had on in years. I only bought two pairs (one large and one larger, like I said I don't like anything remotely digging in but in fact, I only need the large) but I am going back tomorrow with Rugrat Three in tow (oh what a lovely day out for him - I've promised him he can also have new underwear - Pants shopping with Mummy. Slightly concerned he may be scarred for life...)

So here they are in their full (unworn, I hasten to point out) glory. In the flesh they are a much nicer nude colour than the dodgy 80's bridesmaid shade of peach they are here.

Confession number two is that I now also always always buy my swimwear from Primark. In the past I have succumbed to more expensive brands and shopped further up the High Street food chain. Those were the days though when I actually went on proper long holidays in the sunshine where one was able to actually "sunbathe", people bought you drinks on the sun lounger and we could eat in proper restaurants at lunchtime - not ones that sold something with chips. Since those days (for the moment) are long gone and my opportunities for needing to wear luxury swimsear are few and far between, my annual hauls from Primark, are perfectly appropriate. It's also one of the occasions where I can thank my lucky stars for boobage like bee stings as there is no need for any expensive scaffolding - Primark's finest do the trick perfectly well.

Here's my treasure trove of swimwear for this year.

Nude and black Missoni style mix and match (padded obviously) bikini - £6 (for both)

Navy and off white stripe bikini (this I probably wouldn't have bought on it's own but couldn't resist with the matching bandeau midi dress below) £5 for top, £3 for bottoms.

Matching bandeau midi dress £8

Charcoal midi bandeau dress (this has the loveliest shearing at the waist). Goes really well with Missoni style set. £8

Red and white beach dress - £10. Will be perfect with black bikinis I have from last year.

Kicking myself I didn't pick up some jewelled toe post sandals as well, so will be hunting those down tomorrow. Ditto a pair of tan leopard print jeans (I know, I know) that they didn't have in my size. My middle names are Stuck Record, just in case no-one knew.

And here's a round up of what I've been wearing the last couple of days. To be fair, the weather hasn't been "that" bad and we've been able to dodge the showers (today has been a completely wipe out mind you, hence I'm looking more Crystal Tips by the hour.)

Saturday - a day of taxi driving the family around. Gymastics, followed by dropping off at a party, picking up boys for Rugby lunch, picking up from party, picking up from Rugby lunch and finally being able to come home for shower and bath and some more fake tan (it's the weather - I need colour. When I start looking like ET when Elliot found him down by the stream, fake tan becomes as vital as oxygen)

Blush silky tee - H&M

Grey and beige blazer - Zara

Grey baxter jeans - Topshop

Apricot and beige tassel scarf - Mint Velvet (first outing for this - very pleased with it)

Tan Cypress ankle boots - Acne

Brushed gold chunky link bracelet - Made

Tan shopper - Zara

And out on Saturday night with friends for dinner. Fabulous evening, great food and wonderful company.

Black and gold lurex top - Zara
Cream and gold jacket - Zara
Black coated skinny ankle zip trousers - Cos
Brushed gold chunky link bracelet - Made
Black suede stilettos - Zara
Off white and gold chandelier earrings - Primark (with an idea of how humungous they are)
Tan De Manta clutch - Alexander McQueen

Sunday was a complete family day. Spent the morning watching The Voice and then went out for lunch. Rain started coming down monsoon stylee and so we retreated home to have early baths and a family movie (Shrek Forever After, surprisingly enjoyable).

White tee - Isabella Oliver
Indigo straight legs turned up to 7/8ths - Jigsaw
Camel knitted blazer - Whistles
Navy and white scarf edged in red - Zara
Gold bee necklace - Alex Monroe
Navy low Converse
Chestnut battered cross body bag - Campomaggi from Plumo

Monday. Breakfast with school mums which was a lovely catch up and then back home for the obligatory tidy up after the carnage that somehow happens over the weekend. Only my kids who have zero concept of "putting things away?" And a lovely bit of me time blogging till the triple school run began.

Dark tobacco long sleeved t-shirt maxi (midi on me) dress - All Saints
Light tobacco ribbed over the knee socks - Topshop
Chocolate leather biker jacket - All Saints
Leopard print scarf - Louis Vuitton
Tan wide hipster belt - Fever London
Tan rivet and leather cuff - Mulberry
Dark brown leather cuff with chain detail - Hultquist
Dark tan suede and leather pirate boots - Asos
Chestnut battered cross body bag - Campomaggi from Plumo

Close up of the boots - definitely beyond their sell by date now. Will look to replace them come the A/W (or perhaps sooner if this freaking weather continues) with some Keira boots from H by Hudson I think. Of course I should have bought them in the sale but if I had done you could guarantee that I would have gone off them and they would have been a Breadmaker purchase. Now that I haven't bought them, it's sod's law they will be my must have item come September and I will either have to shell out full price for them or they'll be sold out and I'll spend the entire A/W trying to find a replacement. And I wonder why The Husband doesn't understand me......

The wonderful Keira boots from H by Hudson