Golden Rules

So they're off.  Let the panic ensue.  I'm talking The Sales.  

Now, to be fair, there do seem to be sales every other week.  Mainly because there are a gazillion seasons a year now and therefore there are offers, discounts and sales every other week. 

And therefore these rules should apply all times. 

But I'm a traditional type of gal and still randomly love the hype of the two Big Sales twice a year - Winter and Summer.  I look forward to them ridiculously, I spend all season making my little wish lists of things that I shall wait to purchase in the sales.  The fact they're now normally sold out is a minor (freaking major) irritation but c'est la vie.  

So without further a do let's get this party started, remembering the following. 

1. Hindsight is a fantastic thing but make a list of things during the season that you want to buy in the sales (I appreciate this is bugger all use at this point if you haven't done this.  Note for next time)
2. The ideal things to benchmark are those which are out of your budget.  But are much more affordable when they're reduced. 
3. Only buy something if it goes with at least two other things in your wardrobe and you can think of at least one occasion when you're going to wear it.  
4. Point number 3, therefore only buy something if it fits well.
5. The best purchases are those which you can wear all year round. 
6. Following on from 4, think of cost per wear.  Whilst something might be still expensive, if you can wear it during the day, at night and all year, then it's a better buy than something you'll get more limited wear out of.
7. My personal favourite rule is "MACHINE WASH ONLY".  However there are always exceptions to this rule. 
8. Make sure you LOVE your purchase. 

A great Maison Scotch blouse. 

Maison Scotch Silky button up shirt 40% off now £50   Actually this one is machine washable. Yee ha. 







Then there are of course some bargains which are just a lovely little extra to have.  They weren't prohibitively expensive to begin with but now they're much more affordable. 

Phase Eight Payton Embroidered blouse in ivory. Was £59 now £29.50  This would look great now with gladiators and shorts or cut offs and in the Autumn with chestnut or tan boots and a leather jacket. 



Another Phase Eight blouse that would work with shorts as above but for the evening with a pair of cigarette capri pants and pointed stilettos, the perfect smart going out look. 

Phase Eight Montpellier Jill Blouse in dusky pink was £65 now £32.50



Fenn Wright Manson bargain - ideal with white skinnies now - team with indigo skinnies and black stilettos for the winter.  Just as fab during the day with black ankle boots and a grey or black blazer. 

Michelle Blouse in blue was £90 now £35
Another great buy from FWM.  Love this with black capri pants for the winter or an evening out now - would also love for during the day on cooler Summer days tucked in with distressed straight leg jeans turned up and black sliders.  Add a fitted black blazer - gorgeous.

Fenn Wright Manson Andrea Shirt in multi was £90 now £35



Super flattering mock wrap top at half price from FWM again.  Great with faded skinnies for the Summer - even during the day with them turned up and white sliders.  The ideal evening out top for both smart with capri pants or team with jeans for a dress down evening out look.  Dare I mention the party season months and months away - this would be a great top to drag out. 

Fenn Wright Manson Jennifer Top was £90 now £45




Plain blouses now, these are silk from FWM but handwashable.  And half price.  The ideal tops to put with statement jewellery, print trousers or a print jacket.   Or keep it simple with block colour.  This would be fantastic with black skinnies and silver stilettos.

Fenn Wright Manson Silk Aloise Shirt was £140 now £70


More plain machine washable silk at Jaeger.  These would be perfect with print trousers. 

Jaeger Box Pleat Silk Shirt in navy was £150 now £75



And in raspberry





Now this is Gerry Weber from John Lewis but to my mind it could easily be MSGM from Matches.  Except that it's under £40 (and washable) 

Gerry Weber Printed Gypsy Blouse was £75 now £37.50  Great with shorts - ditto for a casual evening out with straight distressed boyfriend jeans with a huge turned up hem and 70's style wedges.  Or speaking of 70's, would be perfect with kickflare jeans. 


Rest of the sales are due to start any day now so get making those lists girls.  Anything on yours already? 

Finishing as per usual with pics of outfits from the weekend.  Here I am yesterday.  After a fabulously busy Saturday - more First Holy Communion celebrations (first party started at 12.30pm and we got home from the second party at 11.30pm - shattered wasn't the word), I had to be on a coach at 8.45am with the 9yr old to go into London for her big stage show at Her Majesty's Theatre.  

They had a whole day of rehearsals as the show didn't start until 6.30pm.  Which meant that I had hours to wander the streets of London.  Now under normal circumstances that would be a dream come true. However when I am utterly exhausted and hungover to hell, it wasn't the best idea I'd ever had.  I also thought that the show started at 2.30 as opposed to four hours later.  Imagine my glee when I got on the coach at the crack of dawn only to be told we weren't being picked up from London until 9.45pm that night.  Joy wasn't quite my reaction.

Anyway, got a grip and some coffee and made the most of it (pounding Regent Street isn't that bad it turns out), met my mum at 4pm for some supper and then we went to see the show which was fantastic.  Didn't get home however till 11 so today has been slow going (plus it clearly all took its toll on the 9yr old as she had lost her voice and is really not well at all.  Has been in bed all day)

Lots to report from Anthropologie and JCrew - to be saved for another day.