Archive for October 2012

Home Archive for October 2012

.... is that all you therefore see are gems of deliciousness which simply have to be yours. Now the sensible thing would, obviously, be to steer clear of all shops. How hard can that be?

Pass.

Ok so in my defence, as I've mentioned, it's half term this week and so I'd rather poke forks in my eyes than take my three anywhere near a shop (the supermarket is a necessary evil as a) I can get a coffee and b) it takes an hour and can be classed as an "activity". It's all fun and games chez moi)

Therefore a quick trip to Bluewater was par for the course last week and I have to say, I impressed myself by steering clear of all the higher end shops. But a quick nip into H&M for "research" purposes wasn't going to hurt anyone was it? Well no, apart from my wallet. Fail.

To be fair I didn't go mad. And I am so pleased with my purchases (that's an absolutely pathetic defence, isn't it? Am almost embarrassed to write it.)

But sod it, here they are - one of which you've already seen. The tartan scarf. Look away now if you don't like anything that's acrylic. This is 100% of the hideous man made fibre. But. But but but. Honestly it's not that bad. I did have to look at the label to see what fabric it was as it's not that vile, don't stand near a naked flame, scratchy acrylic. (well not to me it's not anyway)

Can't find it online but they did have quite a few instore with another scarf in a similar colourway. Yesterday there was a photo of me wearing it but here it is close up. (let's ignore the exceptionally unironed bed linen it's on.)

And secondly, for me, a real gem of a find. An A/W alternative to the Zara linen t shirts that I live in a lot of the year round. Zara do them in a longer sleeve style but they've never quite worked for me. So I was over the moon to find this one in H&M. I had assumed it would be online but no - hissyfit - can't find it on there at all. Which is a bummer as I'd really hoped to order a lighter cream one that they didn't have in my size instore.

It also means this is a terrible photo as I papped it very swiftly so I could get on with the blog (and yanked it out of the laundry bin - clearly proving my prowess as a domestic goddess today.)

£14.99 from H&M. I've worn it recently with a long sleeved Baukjen longline tee underneath and I was over the moon with it. I've really struggled this year with tops that will go under blazers and coats that are casual enough to wear daily, go in the washing machine and hide my muffin. Oh and that don't cost £50 each. This one is the perfect layering top. I'm beyond pleased with it. Expect to see it a lot.

Another small purchase which I again, am very pleased with is this scarf from a clothes party I went to on Thursday night. Another Taylor Stephens party (email me on doesmybumlook40@gmail.com if you'd be interested in hosting a party. I've mentioned it a ton of times but they really are a great night out. As I always say - wine and shopping, what's not to love? Actually having said that, I'm hosting another party in Dec but am having it during the day. There will be cake (of the mince pie variety). Which is obviously the next best thing to wine.)

So here's my £9 purchase. Taupe scarf (actually a shawl but I wear it as a scarf) edged in gold pyramid studs. I think it's a pretty good bargain. It was not hard to persuade me to part with my credit card. I've already worn it twice and see it being a staple in the months to come.

Finishing with my outfit from Sunday. Total dress down day for me, just being a glorified taxi driver dropping the children and the husband off at various sporting events and then family over for the afternoon. Not a lot of make up going on.

Khaki skinny rib longline vest - Joseph
Khaki and bone oversized jersey tee - Next
Stone skinnies - Dorothy Perkins
Tan knee high suede & leather boots - La Redoute
Olive star scarf - Scarf Envy

There are no photos of yesterday and today as they're of me in - wait for it...... - a dress or a skirt . Determined to finally do my bit for the FrOctober cause. My final day tomorrow in another dress. I'm not going to lie - I've struggled. More on that very shortly. On the upside, I haven't been shopping...... *polish halo*.........

No sorry, it's not the dress thread that I promised - although I do recall mentioning that it may be gazumped by a more pressing piece of news that was delivered today.

Have you ever kissed your delivery man? Because today, for the first time in as long as I can remember (can't say first time ever as I do fear I may have been tempted before but am happy to report it's never "actually" happened... she says......) I had to hold my self back from jumping on him as I was so beyond giddy at what he was delivering.

I had finally caved to ordering the Ash Beas in the prune, taupe and black. The ones that I had talked myself into and then out of again (x a gazillion), that I first saw a month or so ago on the Ash website.

Now obviously they didn't sell them on the Ash website (why would they? Duh.) Some lovely lady commented on here that she had found them for me on the Harvey Nichols site and I managed to also track them down at a great looking boutique called The Dressing Room in St Albans. But I still procrastinated.....

However following my super TK Maxx trip and deciding that I didn't need a new jacket purchase after all (till next month obviously. Ok maybe I can eek it out till Dec. hmmmm) - the purchase of new plum coatigan and stripey jumper doing the job instead, I decided definitively that there was a new Ash wedge trainer hole in my wardrobe.

Of course by the time I had adequately farted about with my fickle decision making process (I am truly truly woeful, of that we are all aware), were they available in my size anywhere? Were they heck.

Cue manic calling around of everywhere that I knew had ever stocked Ash, including head office, the two Ash shops in London and about a dozen boutiques & dept stores that I was aware sold them. Nada. Zilch. "Oh the ones that she has slung over her shoulder in the ad? Yeah we get loads of phone calls about them. Can't get hold of them for love nor money". Oh just great. (my language was slightly more fruity in the comfort of my own home, I will admit)

I could get hold of them in the Bowies in the same colourway but not the Beas. Now as an Ash obsessive (slash saddo) the Bowies are not what I wanted. They are slightly (to my mind a lot - to a normal sane human being, every so marginally) beefier, for want of a better expression. They're much more solid (as clearly the Beas are unbelievably delicate. Not.) But hell they were just not what I wanted.

Sob.

I was gutted (as well as fickle and woeful, we can also add melodramatic to my list of attributes).

But all hail the Google machine. Oh how I luffs ya. I came across, on about page 3, a random site (that maybe everyone knows apart from me) called Spartoo who sell a full array of Ash shoes, including my holy grail Beas. Whilst I was worshipping at the altar that is Google - in for a penny, in for a pound - I also managed to find a discount code for 20% off (enter AUTUMN20 till Oct 31). I know, I know, I need a life, but honestly I skipped around like I'd won the lottery (for about half an hour. Ok maybe more....)

And here the are in all their glory (for some people to hurl at - I appreciate they're not everyone's cup of tea) They don't actually look that bright in real life (which is a shame actually as I quite like them like that - they're more muted which is probably far more useful)

And here I am wearing them today (obviously - and with the new jumper that inspired the purchase. Breaking every single one of my sacred shopping rules there. What's that about rules being made to be broken?)

Blush longline ribbed vest - Miss Selfridge
Striped jumper - QED London (TK Maxx)
Charcoal Baxters - Topshop
Grey lace knit scarf - Plumo
Stone maxi zip satchel - Anya Hindmarch
Sunglasses - Tom Ford
Bea wedge trainers - Ash

Tomorrow is definitely D day (that's for dress - nothing else more exciting unfortunately).

Hope this has been of use to anyone who's after some Ash and either hasn't been able to track them down in their size or who has been waiting for a discount code!