Tales from the Emerald Isle

Kat 9/05/2012 13 Comments Edit

Firstly huge apologies for not having been around for the past week when I so thought I would be able to. Apparently there is absolutely zero 3G signal in rural Ireland. None. Zilch. I had a phone signal but allegedly there is no need to use tinternet when you're out and about. Gah. I swear my poor mother in law thought I was insane as I'm valiantly trying to get higher or stand in a field (I was getting seriously desperate) in an attempt to encourage my (brand new fecking iphone 4) to connect with some wonderful signal somewhere to reach the outside world.

Nah.

Sporadically I could tweet (@doesmybumlook40 just in case anyone was interested in listening to my ramblings. Am v good at rambling to anyone by the way) and receive emails. But was completely unable to access Safari. Suffice to say the World Wide Web doesn't stretch to the width of the wonderful county of Tipperary.

I had such high hopes. But not a problem, I'll just have to get extra creative and busy this week. On the list of things to do are exploring the super exciting leather beauties that are out there (of a civilised clothing variety, I hasten to add.....), tan boots and some different coat options.

So whilst I wasn't able to do any online research (total cold turkey - didn't realise how much I did constantly window shop via laptop) I had the most fantastic time with the rugrats and the family. I survived the Ryanair flight there and back on my own with the three of them. (I may have had a very large glass of wine on the way out there, seeing as I arrived at Gatwick four and a half hours early, having severely underestimated how long it would take to get through non existent rush hour traffic and security. Fail. Thank the lord for the kids area at Frankie & Benny's showing Cars on DVD).

And seeing as The Husband had a weekend all to himself, I have, to look forward to, a trip to Bicester in a couple of weeks where I may well be "borrowing" his credit card. At the moment he's on a need to know basis. Ie he doesn't.

Now with three small children in tow, the prospect of exploring any retail treasures in Ireland was errr nil. But I did manage, thanks to the most fabulous mil who also loves shopping and clothes, to sneak a look in Dunnes & Penneys. (where the children could do the least damage and I could buy them the cheapest bribery, sorry, negotiation, options).

A subject which I mean to explore in more detail is how to break out of a comfort zone. A great way to start is by trying things on that catch your eye but you wouldn't normally wear. Hence I ended up trying on this dress from Dunnes. I absolutely adore the collar detail - in the flesh it's a very good quality heavy beading and the fabric of the shirt part is lovely. Unfortunately the skirt, whilst being a heavy jersey fabric and easy to wear (and non creasable - a huge plus), didn't sit well as well as the top, on me. However for 45Euro I could have lived with that, I definitely could. (just being super picky)

More importantly though, I couldn't think of one occasion when I would wear it. Just too formal for me. If I had an office job or I went out on a lot of work dinners with The Husband, then I would definitely have got use out of it, but for me, out for dinner with friends or to the pub? I just know I wouldn't have worn it. And whilst I did like the way it looked, I can guarantee that it would have sat in my wardrobe unworn. For ever. Believe me, I did try and find an occasion - Christmas? Too formal. Christening? I have other things to wear. Wedding? (I'm just going to throw it in that I do actually have another one in October.... oh ha ha) Nope. Not quite right. So after much deliberation, I put it back. And bought a nude t-shirt bra. Oh the excitement and glamour.

However onwards and upwards at Penneys. As I tweeted whilst I was away, I struck gold. Pure navy pleather shaped gold. (really selling it, aren't I?) Now with hindsight, it is slightly too big. (so we may be talking gold plated. Duh.) Which therefore resulted in my trecking round the M25 today with Rugrat 3 after his first morning at school, to see whether they had more at our not so near, nearest Primark. The answer being no. They've never had them in stock apparently. Hmmmm. There certainly wasn't even a stray one hanging around, so either they've sold out, they haven't had them and won't be getting them, or they're coming in later. So Irish ladies, get buying! As they're fab.

Here is the little beauty, which I've tried so hard (ok hardish) to photograph well but please believe me when I say it does look much better in the flesh. I ended up with the 12 as there was a 12 and a 6. Which was clearly age 6. However for 31Euro, I'm going to take and see if they can tweak it in at the sides as it's just marginally too big on the front part (darn my fried egg boobs). They also had it in a tan colour, which had I not had my eye on another tan leather jacket which I simply have to have, I would have caved and bought.

It genuinely looks like leather. Or I may well have been without higher end retail therapy for one day too many........ Nope, I will stand by the fact it looks like leather. I think also, as it's in navy it doesn't look as plasticy as some black pleather jackets can? If fake leather is good enough for Stella McCartney, it's good enough for me (I appreciate there may be some other ethical issues with a Primark jacket which won't have Stell legging it out to buy one but I'll - guiltily but finances must - gloss over those. You may find me burning in hell in a navy pleather Primark jacket)

Has anyone else seen them instore?

Now god forbid today should have been a wasted trip through the Dartford Tunnel. I still very much have a slipper shaped hole in my wardrobe and as the array on the High Street has, in the last month, become unbelievably overwhelming, I thought I'd go back to basics and am beyond chuffed with this velvet pair for £6! To be honest, the fact that they are literally 10 a penny in every shoe shop you set eyes on, does put me off slightly. I do still think I would like a leopard print pair but the sunshine is meaning that my days of sandals aren't over quite yet. Will be Scarlett O'Hara over the whole affair and think about it another day.

Fortunately the camera did work in Ireland and here is what I wore. Note. No rain. Sunglasses. No scarf. Twas a miracle. And a fantastic end to a fantastic summer holiday. The kids had a complete blast and RR3 sobbed at having to leave his Nanny Mary and asked why Daddy couldn't have come too and we could have lived there forever. Not without 3G or Wifi we can't my son.

White vest - Primark
Navy side ruched long sleeved jersey top - Jigsaw
Distressed paint splattered skinnies - Zara
Navy and olive boucle jacket - Zara
Gold bee - Alex Monroe
Gold serpent necklace - Stella & Dot
Tan rivet leather cuff - Mulberry
Black sunglasses - Dior
Cheetah print ponyskin bag - Zara
Clay Thelma wedges - Ash

Beige silky jersey top - H&M
Distressed straight leg jeans rolled up - Zara
Cream boucle jacket - Massimo Dutti
Cream stone and gold necklace - Anthropologie

Tan rivet leather cuff - Mulberry

Black sunglasses - Dior

Cheetah print ponyskin bag - Zara
Leopard print sandals - M&S