Unveiling another NY Resolution that I can just break

but like I said yesterday - if you don't even attempt to have a goal then you can't achieve anything.  And honestly, I would get bored of anything if I had to do it for an entire year and I'm sure that would include spending ad nauseum (mind you - I'd love to give the latter a go...even if to only prove myself wrong!) 

However it's surely worth starting the year with good intentions and trying to remind yourself of them if you fall off the wagon.  I will admit that all the wheels fell off my own wagon towards the end of the year, although I did manage a month I think without spending which again - if I hadn't had my resolution, I may not have bothered with.  

Plus it's all a bit of good fun and if nothing else it helps focus the mind when it comes to shopping.  Which, let's be frank, is the ultimate name of the game.

So last year my resolution was to only buy three things a month.  I started off very well and there were of course some tweaks needed to the resolution throughout the year (basics were added as an extra as were a pair of shoes a month and an accessory)

It helped in that it really did make me think about what I was buying and whether I really needed it.  

But this time, I'm taking it in a slightly different direction.  I am going to attempt to live this year following the rule:-

"I will only buy an item if I don't have something else in my wardrobe that can do the same job"

The idea of this is twofold.  Firstly, it will hopefully stop me buying more of the same thing and encourage me to perhaps branch out of my comfort zone.  Secondly, I aim to start using more of my wardrobe. I shall be disabusing the notion of keeping things for best. 

For example - do I need a new Breton top...?  Do I need a new navy polo neck when I have three black ones that would do the job perfectly well.  Is there an outfit that I can think of where only a navy polo neck would do...?  As opposed to just using one of the black ones I have?  Would it make that much difference to an outfit?  Do I need a new black oversized jumper when I have a navy one and a black ones which, albeit old, does the trick very well?   No alas, I don't.  However I don't, for example, have a cream oversized jumper.  I don't actually have any cream jumpers at all and there is nothing light coloured in my wardrobe that could I wear instead.  So any more dark jumpers are a big fat no but a light coloured jumper - come on down....... Clear as mud?!

Fingers crossed I'll be saving money and adding things to my wardrobe that are new and interesting as opposed to replicating what I already have, whilst discovering some old favourites lurking in the back that I *keep for good* ie never wear.  The black Reiss oversized jumper is a prime example.  I have had this for ages and I love it so much (and it was hideously expensive) that I tend not to wear it too often as I'm worried I'll wear it out.  Well that's ludicrous surely?  It's more likely to either go out of fashion or get eaten by moths at the back of the cupboard.  So I should wear it and wear it a lot as I love love love it.  See?!

What I plan to do this year on the blog is therefore explore the things that I have and the things that I hanker after that I will wear again and again.  Things that are wardrobe staples, that pull together a whole load of old favourites that you have and transform them into wearable outfits that you feel great in.  (an oversized black jumper being a prime example - I have this and a new navy one and have absolutely no justification for a new one in any other dark shade.  But what I do need to do is wear these ones often as before too long, we're going to be in much lighter knitwear)

Some of these things I will already have (see jumpers above!) and some I will need (now you see where Over the Knee boots fit in... I am going to try the R&B ones on Monday.  For research purposes only......I am holding everything crossed that there is a decent Kurt Geiger code very very shortly and my mind shall then be made up.)  

My first item that is one of my Must Haves for Spring (or for any time of the year to be honest) and one that I aim to make much more use of, is the Blazer.  Must be plain.  Can be navy or black, can even be grey or camel (I too have a pale pink one which is much more versatile that I ever thought it would be).  I don't have a pale blue one but - and here is where the Resolution comes in... do I need one?  Is there an occasion, thinking about wearing the blue one, where my black, navy or pink ones wouldn't be appropriate? 

To be honest, until I get my head around what sort of direction I'm going to going in come the Spring, I shall be sitting on the fence with my credit card firmly in my pocket.

However a black one in particular, if I didn't have one, would be top of my list of purchases this year and there are a couple of great options in the sales. 

The one I have and has been my life saver on many occasions this Autumn and Winter and I can't wait to wear it into the Spring as well - is the Hush one.  There is 20% off at Hush at the moment until Tuesday morning and I have had a sneak preview of what's going into the sale on Tuesday and this isn't.  I adore this jacket - it's not a fitted blazer, it's the perfect loose Tuxedo style, the most fabulous non creasing fabric and that perfect combination of smart yet casual.  There is nothing worse than a blazer that looks like it's part of a work suit (when you don't want it to..!)  And I have tended to keep this for best as I think it's *too good* to waste on the school run.  Why?  It's hardly going to wear out, I don't have tiny children with sticky fingers and I don't spend my time crawling round on my hands and knees anymore.  So I aim to wear this a lot as I can make a whole host of fab outfits with it, also using other things I have in my wardrobe that I tend to not want to *wear out*.

Tuxedo Jacket from Hush was £99 now £79.20  (I take a size 10 in this - perfectly true to size)  Look how fab it looks with a thin knit underneath it (coming up shortly... a big plan of mine for S/S)

A very similar easy to wear style at Jigsaw but this time in navy. 

Blue Luxe Tailoring Boyfriend Jacket was £189 now £79



More boyfriend styling at Isabel Marant but this time in charcoal grey. 

Karly wool blend blazer was £269 now £159




Contrast Flap Blazer from Mango was £59.99 now £39.99



Navy Essential Blazer was £44.99 now £24.99 again at Mango



Same blazer in black for £24.99  again at Mango



Slightly more expensive now at Reiss but this is really where it makes sense to shop in the sales.  Free delivery and free returns means that it's very easy to try them on and make your mind up in the comfort of your own home and with different outfits, to see that it has the versatility that you need. 

Charlize Black Sharply Tailored Blazer was £195 now £95



In navy, this one is perfect for me. 

Parlo Midnight Supply Tailored Blazer was £189 now £79



If you are looking for something slightly looser then this drape front one from ASOS is a bargain. 

ASOS Drape Blazer was £40 now £12



Another loose style, this time in navy from Mango at ASOS. 

Mango Soft Tailored Blazer was £44.99 now £14



Now I haven't gone through a host of outfits that I would wear mine with - watch this space and just trust me that they are one of the most useful items of clothing.  I could wear mine pretty much any day.  That and another shaped coat which I have fallen in love with in the last couple of years and I am set for the S/S.  Definitely worth investing. 

So what do we think of the new resolution?  I think it's hopefully one that will be achievable and help me use more of what I have and venture into some pastures new.  One thing about the pastures new of course, as with any purchase I make, I have to be able to make at least two outfits from it with existing things I own, thus ensuring that I don't skip off into crazy land... (42 in a matter of weeks though - I hear strange things can happen the older you get......) 

Finishing with my outfit from today - meh - not happy with it.  I love all the pieces individually, don't like them together.  The top I don't like particularly with the jeans, I would have been miles better off wearing either my navy Boden cashmere jumper or the new H&M fairisle one.  The top looks much better with a camel coat.  I have to be honest, it's a top I never feel great in.... but I do love the colours.  But I don't think it's long for my wardrobe..... I just can't make it work.  Doesn't happen often but boy does it irritate the bejeesus out of me when it does happen.  Please tell me someone else knows what I'm yacking on about?!

To be fair, this was only to fling to the supermarket and then I've been cooking as we've got a dinner party this evening which I am very much looking forward to.  And please note, I never made any claims to detox.... I will say I haven't had so much as a sniff of alcohol since NYE and I am going to try and cut down and eat more healthily (less kettle chips and wine for dinner would be a start) but that's as extravagant as my detox plans are.