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November 2014
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..how does a bit of lace grab you?
This is thorny territory for sure. There is a fine line between ethereal class and Helena Bonham Carter dressed up as the Bride of Frankenstein but if you get it right, it can be the perfect piece of clothing to take you from Christmas into nights out in Spring and Summer. I also think it's easy to wear during the day as well with a more casual outfit.
Admittedly there are some dresses which are are purely Party (I've saved them till the end) but there are definitely other lace options which you can dress down.
Starting with one of my favourite shops this season - Warehouse. I have been so so impressed with their offering, especially their website. It's amazing how decent styling and photography can give a brand a whole new lease of life.
Black Layered Cami Dress £45 from Warehouse 25% off still using the code CYBER25
A dress which could easily be worn for dressy occasions (I'd add appropriate shoes and earrings) but with opaques and ankle boots could be fantastic for during the day - as below.
And my favourite coloured grey top (which I still own NADA in), edged in lace. Team with a leather pencil skirt, or even leather A line skirt for a night out. Throw on with jeans for during the day.
Grey Layered V Neck Jumper £42 pre discount
I also saw some really gorgeous lace pieces in Topshop last week when I was bonkers coat shopping.
Lace Yolk Tee from Topshop £38
Ditto at DP's.
Ivory Lace Plisse Top from Dorothy Perkins - now on offer at £16.20 They also do this in a black and a red but I can't get back online as they seem to be so busy!
It will come as no surprise to anyone that Mango have jumped on the Black Friday bandwagon (I believe it ends this evening) BUT they now do free returns so I am planning on doing a whole stack of ordering before I go to bed. 30% off and the code is 5BLACK4
Blond Lace Blouse from Mango £39.99 before discount
Another top that would look great with a black tux jacket over it (and I would put on distressed skinny jeans) it this from Wishbone. Or a smarter look with black cigarette trousers (I'm not even going to mention pleather ones...)
Wishbone Lotty Lace Top was £75 now £45
It was in fact this skirt that I saw in Topshop that did make me rethink the lace for all options. The pics here don't do it justice. This is absolutely fabulous. I love the idea of wearing it with a black polo neck for Parisian chic (this works in my head....)
Soft Lace Pencil skirt £42 from Topshop
Moving onto dresses which frankly you can't wear during the day - these are occasion early but they do make a great alternative to a classic black number for dinners and parties.
Ted Baker Lace Top Fitted Dress 20% off at the mo so £135.20 Love this shade of blue with the black.
A bigger print lace dress at French Connection, again with 20% off today - £140
Now I love this shape but being tall, it's quite hard to wear it without looking like I've raided the 10year old's wardrobe. But if you are more diminutive of stature, then I think this is gorgeous.
& Other Stories Lace Dress £95
Slightly less dark and so this one would be more likely to carry you through to the Spring months.
Phase Eight Louanna Lace Dress in Black and Nude was £150 now £75
It doesn't all have to be black though - a lovely dark shade of green from Damsel in a Dress, on offer with 30% off at the moment.
Damsel in a Dress Clifton in Green now £90.20 till 2.12
Or in a festive Plum colour
Finishing with a totally off piste number. Straight from The Nutcracker. I absolutely adore it. Still 20% off everything at ASOS with the code CYBERWKND20.
Chi Chi London Metallic Lace Prom Dress with Bardot Neck from ASOS £75
And here I am looking absolutely cream crackered after two hours in the freezing cold this morning at Rugby with my two boys. (funnily enough, not a lot of lace going on in this pic) The Husband with his broken collarbone who usually coaches is still in agony and standing up for two hours on the touchlines in the cold, isn't an option, so I stepped into the breach. Polishing my halo as we speak (hence my Mango order this evening....)
Thankfully I wasn't cold at all although my face was starting to get slightly numb towards the end. My Ilse Jacobsen down jacket worked a dream along with the fleece socks and wellies. There is a blog coming on these later on this week.
Black polo neck - Zara (as old as my 6yr old)
Black Triple zip jeans - Mint Velvet
Black down jacket - Ilse Jacobsen
Socks - Ilse Jacobsen
Wellies - Ilse Jacobsen
Cream cashmere beanie - Hush
Beige snakeskin scarf - By Malene Birger
Grey wrist warmers - Toast
Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang
Hope everyone had a great weekend. We hunkered down this afternoon with Dominos and the new Godzilla movie - perfect way to end a Sunday.
Oh. Dear. God.
Please make it stop. I swear my email is about to break from the deluge of utter tripe that has been bombarding it since Thursday.
Because I am a weak, pathetic individual who does believe the hype and can feel the panic rising as the weekend goes on.
And I know I'm not the only one. I have had friends texting and emailing saying WHAT SHOULD WE BUY? The pressure of missing out on a bargain.
Has it really come to this? Yes it has.
So....... let's all take a deep breath and hold hands. Hide the credit card for half an hour.....
Ok maybe that's slightly drastic. How about we take the approach "You can always return it".
That's it. That's what I'm going for. My new moto shall be "You can always return it". In fact, I'm going to have tee-shirts made with it on (which will be non returnable by the way)
I reckon the trick is NOT to get sucked in to trying something new. The key to successful Black Friday shopping (which does seem to have taken on a whole new life form this year, no? Talk about growing legs, it seems to have grown a herd of legs. And arms and some heads as well) is to think of it like any normal sales shopping exercise.
Stick to the list. Except this has sort of caught me a bit by surprise and I haven't actually made a Sales list yet. I know, I know but we haven't had Christmas yet.
I can't be the only one? So I need another game plan.
I am not being swayed by random sites that I never shop at, enticing me with their 50% off goodies. I am going to methodically (there is nothing methodical going on behind the scenes by the way - I am tapping on this laptop with nails bitten down to the quick at the PURE TERROR of maybe missing out on the bargain of the century but you don't need to know that) work my way through my favourite sites and see if those things I had my eye on have gone under the Black Friday spotlight.
Thinking logically and starting with things I've bought recently and have yet to wear so they could be returned and rebought. (alternatively I could have worn them and just take the new purchases back with the old receipt. Everyone does this, right?)
My Topshop coat. Which went down like the proverbial lead balloon. To be fair there were a few admirers but I'm still loving it. However it's not in the sale and neither is the navy scarf from the other day that I had also wanted.
Great start.
But let's remain positive and move on to Warehouse. 25% off with the code CYBER25
In the spirit of Black Friday, I'm sticking with black. And whilst I was, in fact, looking for things I'd already seen, I got rather sucked in with their new stock. (not sticking to my plan from the outset. Needless to say I don't live in a glasshouse and I don't normally throw stones)
Black Satin Skirted dress £45 This is the ideal every day black dress and you can either stay elegantly plain or add the required amount of bling. Or leopard print. Or fur. You can go crazy with this one.
Black Suede Thigh High Boots £120 Don't laugh. I have wanted a pair of over the knee boots forever but they are always either too short (daddy long legs R Us) and sort of an unattractive on the knee or they're super weird around the ankle. (as you can see, I am not REMOTELY following my own advice - this blog is taking on a life of its own)
But these? Ooooohhhhhhhhh With skirts and dresses, super skinny jeans. I'm not finalising my list of must haves till tomorrow but these have just made their way straight to the top.
What I actually went to look for was this jumper which I didn't order last time but I do keep thinking - I really really wish I'd bought it. (nicely back on track here - polish halo)
Noir Jumper £40 It's not the best quality but there is a sparkle to the Noir (what's not to love?) and I reckon at 25% off, it's the right price. It's definitely a jumper and there really isn't that much out there like it (I've looked)
Now I'm going for the big guns. The other day in Covent Garden with the 10yr old, I dragged her into the Sandro shop for an itsy bitsy look. Absolutely fell in love with this dress. Alas Sandro being French, clearly turn their elegant noses up at the rather ugly concept of Black Friday, but good old Selfridges are happy to get in on the act and offer 20% off this weekend. Code SELF14
Sandro Graphic Print Crepe Dress in navy £239 (before discount)
And this bag. Which is one of the most stunning black bags I've seen.
Adel Medium leather shoulder bag in Black £450
And don't all hate me at once but they also do it in a grey in the Sandro store. Alas not at Selfridges so there isn't any 20% off. But I am going to be playing chicken with all the Sandro stuff. *rolls up sleeves and prepares for battle*.... Last year when I went for my Christmas lunch with The Husband, this is when I, after a tipple or two, ended up buying my leather dress. BUT it was with 30% off...... I reckon I've got a couple of weeks to hold out for it. We so know this is going to be sold out, don't we?
Moving on to 25% off everything at Whistles. I'm not going to lie - I haven't been that enamoured with their A/W collection. I don't think I've bought anything and I don't even think there's anything on my wishlist.
But navy bags are rare to come by and this one is a beaut.
Duffy Zip Satchel in navy was £260 now £195
Also love the shape of this and as much as I always pontificate how much I don't love this colour, I am starting to get slightly obsessed by it with camel. Or grey..... Or navy....
Crescent Foldover Bag was £275 now £206.25
ASOS has 20% off everything. Code - CYBERWKND20 And here is where all the wheels fall off. Brain can't compute at this point. When someone says money off EVERYTHING, queue rabbit in headlights. Where do you start? ASOS just sells too much stuff. You need to be looking for something specific to even stand a hope in hell of finding what you want. And you need to be in the right frame of mind. I have had a day of children as The Husband went to rugby so we went to see Paddington and then hoofed it to McDonalds.
Via Pets At Home, as the 10yr old won a goldfish last night at the turning on of our Christmas lights (this is the town Christmas lights may I please just point out and not our personal ones... although our new neighbours today had a crane putting their lights up on their roof. I kid you not. Slightly concerned at confusing overhead planes as we're really not that far from Heathrow....). Fish food purchased. The Husband is convinced we won't be able to keep it alive till the end of the weekend. (have to say he may be onto something there... it's not looking like the healthiest goldfish on the planet)
So I sort of can't be tarted right now with the monolithic site, BUT my next plan in world domination in leather is a looser pair of trousers. I've given up on the skinnies. Given. Up. However I have a cunning idea to go for a different style. I have some on the way in the post (pleather not leather) but I've seen these in a mag and with 20% off, I'm loving them.
Esprit Leather Pant £125
Cool as a cucumber here. I have bought ONE thing. More of my beloved Nuxe perfume sets from M&S with 20% off. This gift set is now £31.20 when the 50ml fragrance on it's one is around the £43 mark. And you get the candle as well. I love love love this fragrance. It's France in a bottle. Dear Husband, if you're reading this - this is an easy win for under the tree.....
And frankly now I'm bored of it all. Tomorrow I shan't be spraying and praying - we're back to proper focus. Last day of November and we need to put these Christmas outfits to bed. I have a cunning plan......
Finishing with photo from yesterday - taken by the 6yr old, god love him, who hasn't quite worked out that you need to stand still to take a photo. Details, schmetails.
Collingwood Jumper - Hush
Metallic jeans - 2nd Day
Black and white check coat - Zara vintage
Black buckle boots - Toga Pulla
And today with The Coat. Right, The Husband's comments "errr, you look like Jonny Beermats from Uni" Apparently said Jonny was a tramp who had a coat made from beermats. WHICH he then did acquiesce was quite cool... and he did say he quite liked my coat. At that point I moved the hammer away from his privates and we agreed to disagree. In all seriousness though, he did say it wasn't too bad and he thought I had worse (the mind boggles)
White vest - H&M
Beige thin knit jumper - H&M
Khaki zip jeans - By Malene Birger
Faux Fur patchwork coat - Topshop
White leather tennis shoes - Zara
Camel bag - Prada
Right, this blog has taken me an age to write (hence it's rather random - I'm blaming my brain disintegrating under the amount of emails I've received). My advice to anyone re Black FridayCyber Monkey weekend or what the hell it all is, DO NOT SHOP unless you are a) in the mood for it b) prepared to take it all back or c) have something specific you know you want to buy. I am turning the computer off, getting a(nother) glass of wine, settling down to watch the X Factor whilst The Husband cooks me steak and chips. Happy Days.
Back tomorrow with Focus.
I've decided to don my Sensible cap and not let myself get swept away with temptation after this bonkers weekend of discount madness. What better way to do that can go down the Gift Route. This is win win on every level. Firstly, you can get some Christmas shopping done. It is now nearly the 1st Dec and there will be people out there who have finished this. Yes, there will be people who do in fact have everything already wrapped and labelled. They clearly live in an altered universe but I would put money on people having said presents already under a beautifully prepared tree.
*fist in mouth trying not to scream*
As you may have gathered, this isn't me. This is so far from me, it's frightening, however I do really need to start getting a grip and thinking about presents. So when Boden asked if I could have a look at their Christmas offerings and put together a Christmas list on their behalf, seeing as my shopping done is the sum total of zero, it seemed like a great opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. There is currently 30% off everything which makes it definitely worth a look.
Or..... we could put together a Christmas list for ourselves......... Which, let's face it, is half the shopping battle (ish. Stretching the definition of shopping battle here but.....)
So all year there are a gazillion things that you want that you think - ooh that would be fab to go on my Christmas list. Yet does anyone actually make a Christmas list? Hmm in reality I certainly don't. It's definitely a mythical list.
With hindsight however, it would be a great idea just to jot the idea down so that when (and it would be a miracle if it happened on the 1st Dec in my house, more likely to be the 23rd....) your loving other half asks you what you'd like for Christmas and.... Blank.
You can come up with nothing. Zilch. Nada. Now if you're me it's partly because you've bought most of the stuff you thought you might want to put on your list, or you've bought the cheaper equivalent...
In which case we should think luxury. We should start off with things that you wouldn't normally buy yourself and the top of the pile has to be cashmere.
To be able to spend Christmas morning (and at our house, Christmas Night as well watching movies with the kids when everyone's gone and you can't physically chew another chocolate) in these would be bliss.
Cashmere Lounge Jumper in grey melange and pineapple was £139 now £97.30
With the matching trousers you can either put together as a set (it's a virtual onesie without actually being a onesie.)
Cashmere Lounge Trousers were £149 now £104.30
The other thing that I am never seen without on an evening, curled up on the sofa (apart from being surgically attached to my iPhone - there's a New Year's Resolution right there) is a blanket. I love a blanket, my kids are unable to sit on the sofa without dragging a blanket from somewhere in the house, so how lovely would it be to have a new one for Christmas. The small 8 yr old with Asperger's is a chewer and so we do tend to go through blankets rather quickly - suffice to say this one would definitely be "Mummy's".
Highland Blanket were £149 now £104.30
Gloves are something I never spend money on. However how much would I love a pair of really good leather gloves? I've had the leopard print ones on the blog before but they're so gorgeous I don't mind flinging them on again. Plus Boden do them in different sizes which is really unusual to find on the high street. For someone who has fingers like Edward Scissorhands, this is excellent news.
Westminster Gloves in Leopard print were £69 now £48.30
Or, if you don't tend to wear lots of colour (or even if you do and want the matching look) then these I know are going to be very popular. I love this colour - I have an old Mulberry (this is version number 2 actually as I had one stolen years and years ago) that is the most amazing shade of fuchsia and always gets loads of comments when I bring it out. It's also the one bag that the 10 yr old eyes with the most envy ("Mummy when you die, can I have your pink bag?". That level of envy.)
Westminster Gloves in pink herringbone were £59 now £41.30
I also do know that I have the *need* for a black handbag. But can I make my mind up on which one? The ones that I really really want are ridiculously expensive and so they're not going to happen (it would have to be less Black Friday/Cyber Monday with 30% off and more Catastrophe Saturday with 90% off for it even to be on the table)
However another option which I definitely have my eye on is a metallic bag. I mention these every season. As well as being very festive they are perfect for the Summer as well. I've always struggled between them being too gold or too silver but this one seems to have the perfect combination of metallic without being one or t'other.
Slouchy Leather Bag in Metallic was £149 now £104.30
Whilst we're on the subject of bling, there are three things at Boden that sum up Christmas for me. These would be so super useful, to use all together to give a plain dress (be it old or new) a new lease of life and make it definitely Christmas day worthy. Or separate to wear every day. Again, all three are perfect for taking you into the Spring - these jewels need definitely not be just for under the tree and packed away with the rest of the baubles.
Bejewelled Cuff was £39 now £27.30
The Jewelled Pump was £129 now £90.30 in navy. A lovely friend of mine has these - in fact she bought two and has kept one pair and is giving the other to her mum (I'm still betting that she keeps both....)
Or in the gold.... Hmmm decisions decisions. which one would you go for?
Bags - The Embellished Clutch was £99 now £69.30
And in the matching navy
They also do it in the black - the matching shoes are sold out in this colour but this would go with any black, silver or pewter shoes.
However for me, it was a toss up between the relaxed Cashmere V Neck and the Off Duty Jumper. Boden very kindly asked what I would like for Christmas (the perks of staying up till midnight every night wading through websites and writing a stream of verbal unconsciousness! Being a blogger does sometimes have its benefits) and for me, it was definitely a luxury item that is a proper Christmas treat.
Relaxed Cashmere V neck jumper was £139 now £97.30 Love the shape of this. Yes there are lots of v neck jumpers around but there are very few out there which are an unstructured loose shape. This works so well over a layered top for a contrast colour (I can also see it working perfectly with a breton stripe) and skinny jeans. Or just worn on its own, slouched into the top of belted boyfriend or straight leg, slightly less fitting jeans.
Or this Silver Melange again £97.30 was £139. Still feeling the love for this colour this season (even though I still own nothing in it. Doh)
However I eventually decided on the Off Duty Cashmere Jumper was £199 now £139.90
This is it in the black.
Love it in the black but personally I've gone with the navy.
However I have wondered if maybe I should have gone with the Christmas theme and chosen the Champagne Sparkle. I have visions of teaming this with winter white skinnies and an oversized camel coat. Pure elegance (except that I'd probably get an After Eight or a melted Matchmaker stuck somewhere on said elegant outfit, so I went with the navy)
Very much looking forward to it arriving - I've gone for the Extra Large as I'm thinking it might be better oversized.
Oh and just to prove that I have given the rest of the family a thought, I know that my 10yr old would adore this cushion. Ok, truth be told, she's asked for a puppy for Christmas which unfortunately isn't going to happen but this might be a nod to appeasing her disappointment? (Am doing battle with The Husband over Dog-gate..... he's no, I'm yes. This will hopefully work as an IOU.....)
Knitted Cushion was £49 now £34.30
So there we have my Christmas Wish list from Boden - hopefully this will be of some use to you as I'm SURE you've spent all weekend, running around or with laptops overheating from the shopping that you've done for your nearest and dearest.
Finishing as usual with my outfit from yesterday. Day of hospital appointments with the 10yr old and then as a super treat whilst the boys were being picked up by a lovely friend, we went to Somerset House iceskating. Huge reward for her as well as we hopefully only have one more month of eye patching after FIVE years! The iceskating was so so so great. I was honestly dreading it but it really did exceed my expectations. Plus supper at Brasserie Blanc in Covent Garden (which is fab for Coeliacs if anyone is interested)
And also infinitely happier with my outfit yesterday. A lot of old favourites which make up my new favourite outfit.
Grey zip back jumper - Zara
Grey military coatigan - 3.1 Phillip Lim
Indigo Baxter jeans - Topshop
White leather tennis shoes - Zara
Charcoal cashmere scarf - Hush
Black Diego bag - Alexander Wang
Sincerely hope everyone else isn't too flummoxed by the whole charade that is Black Friday. Shop wisely my friends, shop wisely and use it to your advantage. I will be back tomorrow with my cream of the crop from elsewhere.
I also saw some really gorgeous lace pieces in Topshop last week when I was bonkers coat shopping.
