It's a conspiracy

I am officially having the worst sales purchasing nightmare in the history of shopping. 

So yesterday I managed to track down the only things I'd really seen in the sale that I'd thought - yup, I can justify them.  I need them, I want to wear them immediately, I can think of 10 outfits they will improve, I will still be wearing them into the Spring - I'm talking about the snakeskin black lace up sneakers from Mango that were in the sale (the faux leather ones which I was slightly meh about the faux bit but more on that in a mo) 

They only had a 6 on the sale rack which felt like someone had my foot trapped in a vice so I asked if they, by any chance, had a 7 and what do you know - ONE pair in the stock room and it was my size.  I was giddy, posting my darling sales purchase all over instagram, whoop whoop, overjoyed. 

Except I didn't try them on.  I am normally a 6, 6.5 or a 7 depending.  So if the 6 was too small then the 7 would be fine. 

Or not. 

(TMI warning) I have a glorious small friend on my second toe in on my left foot, which goes by the name of corn or bunion.  And it clearly didn't like the size 7 as when I tried them on this morning (with the outfit I'd chosen to go with them) it made itself known.  The. Agony.  With them not being leather, they of course won't stretch so back they are going.

I'm bereft.  Not only did I end up with the most foolish things known to man from Zara in the "Mystery of the Drunken Shopping" escapade, the ONE other thing I had really wanted in the sale, that I couldn't get hold of, then could, doesn't fit.  (actually the other things that I do really really want I've now decided are the Stuart Weitzman Lowland boots which are unsurprisingly not in the sale)

And I was due today to go to Bluewater (yes again..) as the 8yr old's Kindle Fire has broken and the 6yr old's Lego watch which Santa got him has never worked - both of which I can replace thanks to the wonder peeps at John Lewis.  So I thought I could do us all a favour and have a last reccy of the sales and see if there any bargains to be had, seeing as I have purchased zilch.  (this is a first by the way - I was incredibly abstemious pre Christmas with all the offers - not even for want of trying and don't think I've never not bought anything in the sales)

Cue phonecall from school this morning, saying the 6yr old has thrown up and could I go and get him.  

Therefore I am now sat with an on and off snoozing poorly chap, watching Spiderman. (to be fair there are much much worse ways to have spent the day, especially as my Wifi appears to have given up the ghost and even my 4G keeps cutting out.  Middle class problems for sure)

However.... 

Now I'm not entirely sure that not being able to get what you wanted in the sales or sporadic internet connection is *exactly* what this quote alludes to but hey ho, it has inspired me. 

Navy is the new black.  This is my new theory.

One of my best friends wears nothing but navy.  Well she does, but she doesn't wear black.  Ever.  Navy is her black.  She swears that it's more flattering for older skin and she is absolutely right.  

Don't get me wrong, I can't give up the black, oh I really couldn't.  That and wine.  Two things which I can cut back on but there is no way I could go cold turkey permanently with either of them. 

However my new plan which coincides very nicely with my NY Resolution of not buying something when I already have an item in my wardrobe can do the same job, is to Go Navy. 

Ok, so theoretically, if we're going to pick holes in my cunning plan, I could always wear black instead of navy but, if we're going in a navy direction, then this doesn't work.  It also means that, with the purchase of a few key navy things, I can totally change the look of so many outfits. 

Now I appreciate that to some this may sound like a huge bunch of trollop but I think if I am able to divide my wardrobe into black options and navy options - it will (literally) double the amount of outfits I can create.  From the addition of very little.   Of course I can mix and match as well, thereby increasing my options further. 

I clearly have gone slightly loopy (not helped by my truly pathetic attempt at only having three small coffees a day, no alcohol during the week and no processed foods - let's say two out of three ain't bad and I haven't had a glass of wine - *gazes forlornly at empty coffee cup number 5 and the empty plate of leftover pizza that had been there from the kids' tea) but I am really excited about this. 

Let the navy frenzy begin. 

Well obviously the first thing I did was order these. 

Whistles Daria Leather trainers - were £135 now £81  I get so much wear out of my white ones, I'm on the verge of wearing them out.  Which was the reason I wanted the black ones so much... however these are an excellent substitute and the seed for my new plan...






Let's stay with the shoe options and moving onto boots which a) we will still be wearing for at least a couple of months and b) you'll be one step ahead of the game for the Autumn.  Now I struggle with knee high boots as I've mentioned, being too tall and so they're never quite the right fit in the right place but I do know that they're hugely popular.   And unusual to find a leather pair in navy for such a great price. 

ALDO Nonela Flat Knee High Riding Boots in navy were £150 now £57



I had planned on doing a separate post on ankle boots in the next couple of days but whilst we're here, there are some amazing navy pairs at Dorothy Perkins.  They really are excelling in their shoe ranges at the moment. 

Navy pointed ankle boots £39 from DP's




Navy leather ponyhair boots from DP's £79




These are stunning in the flesh but yes, they are on the high side. 

Navy pointed ankle boots from DP's £45



I will say though my favourite are these which are now a bargain price of £19.50. 

Navy satin shoe boots were £39 now £19.50  These are honestly stunning.  I have tried them on numerous times and am going to try them on again on Friday (sick children permitting).  They would look fantastic with jeans, white tee and a little navy boucle jacket (all of which I have, ding ding) for a casual night out in the Spring.  Put a little cream blouse with above set instead of the tee and you have a perfect outfit for right now.  I am loving the idea of these with my black midi leather skirt and a tight fitting navy sweater.... They'd also look great, I've just realised, with my navy Sandro dress, which does work with my black M&S shoe boots but I would like to be able to keep them and black opaques for the black dresses I have.  So these with nude tights - BINGO.  They look so so more expensive, trust me.




Some serious serious sales bargains at Hush - these don't have the biggest discount (there are some fabulous 70% off beauties to be had online) but they're great. 

Chelsea Boots from Hush were £150 now £120




Bags are notoriously hard to master in navy.  

This one would be great for so so many occasions at less than £20 now. 

Pebbled Shopper Bag from Mango was £29.99 now £19.99



Similar version with an even bigger reduction. 

Pebbled Shopper bag was £34.99 now £19.99



The obvious navy choice, is of course a dark indigo denim and to complete your navy ensemble (let's go for gold here - well, navy at the very least), we need jeans.

So I thought I should see what I could sweep up in the almost final rounds (we're not in dregsland just yet...) of the Matches sale.

And I am loving these - very Audrey Hepburn in Paris (which I have as much chance of emulating as I do of flying to the moon and back but still.... if you don't try...) 

Le High Straight Leg Denim Jeans from Frame at Matches were £235 now £70





Ok so I'm stretching the navy bit of the idea here but these are such a bargain that I couldn't not include them. 

Frayed-hem high rise straight leg jeans by Maison Martin Margiela MM6 were £238 now £71




The other option is an actual pair of navy trousers.  These are ideal for work purposes but I love them worn with sneakers and a breton like featured here (throw on a trench for true Gallic charm).  I also love them with a skinny polo neck and a pea coat.  Ballet flats, loafers or any flats for that matter.  (I am also on the flats charm attack, you may have noticed)

Suit Trousers in navy were £29.99 now £14.99 These have a lovely side vent at the ankle which make for the perfect peg leg cropped trouser for Spring.



Moving onto jackets - oh I love a navy jacket.  I'll be honest.  I have a few.... 

One of my favourite coats though which isn't navy (the leopard print coat - great buy last year in the sale) is from Fenn Wright Manson and this navy tweed jacket is a fab bargain.  

Keisha jacket in navy was £225 now £65




I have a navy peacoat from Zara last year that I have just received back from being in storage and another reason I need to go shopping tomorrow is to get some bone/tortoiseshell coloured buttons to put on (I want to change them from the plain navy).  

Like I said, I do have one although it's not in the league of quality that this one would be.  An investment piece for sure and a good discount at almost 50% off. 

Jaeger Wool Pea coat was £350 now £199



But there may be an ulterior motive in my sudden love for all things navy.  I came across this last night when I had been watching my children do sport for three and a half hours and I am officially in love.  Alas, it's so similar to two others from Zara that I have, there is no way I can justify this.  Not even me. 

Venice Jacket from Sandro (new season) £369