Style Saver.

First and foremost.

So we've made it.

2013.

The world didn't end, I managed to avoid putting on 16 stone in mulled wine weight and my festive period was just the right mix of relaxing and party filled. All in all I've had a pretty satisfactory start to the year of my lucky number. No, not 2013 - that's a bit obscure - 13 is my lucky number so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for bigger and better things coming my way.

I'm still on the job hunt and have now entered the last month of my inner city living. Having lived in the centre of Manchester almost constantly since I was 18 the extended move back home will feel a little suburban at first I'm sure but with access to a car I'm sure I'll not be away from it long.

And so we've come to that time of year again - the sales. Not one to ever bow out of such tantalising flurries of discounts I immediately looked at my favourite brands; and then teased myself with some others knowing full well that with my next wage slip out of reach I couldn't go anywhere near some things even at their sale prices!

I'm not one to brave the crowds, partly because I can think of nothing worse that trying to snatch the last scarf from under someones nose and partly because I enjoy the time with my family too much to give it up to angry shoppers and frustrating queues. So it's online for me!

First it was Zara:

I've needed a good pair of riding style boots for ages but never found quite the right pair for me. Well, it turns out if you chuck a load of studs at some leather that'll pretty much float my boat and as they were down to a jaw-dropping £40.00 it was a no-brainer really. I mean £40.00 for leather boots? C'mon!
(They're sold out now...sorry!)

I'd really like to be able to style these a little something like the lovely Annette Tang from The Versastyle (above) and not always plump for the safe ensemble of jeans, jersey top, statement necklace and parka so maybe a post on how many outfits I can pair them with will be up soon.

Then it was Vero Moda (via House of Fraser.)

I have a friend who every time I see her looks great. And every time I ask where that dress/shirt/jumper/skirt was from as I'd love a similar one/pair/seven the answer is almost always Vero Moda. How this brilliant gem of a brand has stayed off my radar for so long only serves to make me feel a little ashamed of myself for not giving it it's dues sooner.

But I have taken the plunge and made my first purchase - a beautiful silk-feel top with animal print sequin detailing on the sleeves. It's a great piece as it gives a day time outfit a glam punch or popped on tucked into a skater skirt and some killer heels and you've got a great bar outfit too.
It was £28.00 and is now a mere £14.00 but with limited stock you'd better snap yours up quickly! Here.

Then it was my-wardrobe.com.

Like the boots I have needed a good pair of black jeans...well, forever. I only own blue denim pairs which I love and wear religiously but it seemed time for a black pair to enter the fray and Michael Kors has sorted me out.

I love the zip detailing at the ankles and that all the metal work is gold. I'm much more a 'gold' person than a 'silver' one so these are just my dream pair. They fit like a glove, are the perfect length for flats or heels and, so far, have received a compliment from nearly everyone I've worn them in front of. Not bad for a week old pair of trousers.

They were £110.00 which is what you'd expect from premium brand jeans but they were down to £77.00 and with an extra 10% off on the particular day of purchase. These are now sold out too I'm afraid but my-wardrobe.com has a ton of similar pairs and today's an extra 25% off so get clicking.

Those are my three main joys this year but here are the others I've been taunting myself with. Enter Zara (again,) Michael Kors (again,) and Mulberry.

As you can tell I'm quite the animal print fan.

The boots were £79.99 and are now £49.99. The jumpsuit was £215.00 and is now £86.00 (but, thankfully, is no longer available in my size.) And those shoes...oh, those shoes...were £425.00 and are now a snip (ha!) at £255.00.

I've been after the Mulberry shoes for months now and am praying they are discounted again as, at the moment, all sizes are still in stock so they appear to be a bit of a niche item.

Here's hoping anyway!

Spiked Revelation

Apologies for the absence.

A myriad of issues has had me away from my blog for just over a week (laptop broke, launched another new label at work, been away working etc. etc.) but I'm starting to get a clearer view and should be up to full capacity again in no time.


Happily the fog has lifted somewhat (from my head) to allow me a small amount of browsing time. And thank goodness it did because LOOK what I stumbled across on the Zara New Collection section.

At only £49.99 I'm hoping and praying these stick around until pay day because I have a MILLION outfits they'd finish off perfectly.


Keep everything crossed for me!

Bejewelled

When I saw the press shots on these H&M beauties I knew I had to make them mine and, happily, they hit stores this weekend.

I popped in this lunch hour to grab them before they'd gone but accidentally bumped into something else - as well of course.

For those of you who don't know H&M are the only shop on the high street not to have a stockroom - everything they have you see. Which means if you see something you like don't be so sure it'll still be there in 3 days after you've been paid - as I have found out many a time this simply isn't likely.

Anyway - here they are.

The earrings are pretty self explanatory but it's the tee that really caught my eye for it's style.

The main body is a soft cotton but the sleeves change to a silk mix fabric with the large, gold diamantes stitched onto them.

This year I've made a sort of personal style decision - gone are my days of cheap basics; I think I have found that my boyish figure best suits classic, clean, tailored shapes and the sleeves on this tee lend the much needed structure element for me.

To say I'm not really one for 'bling' I appear to have outdone myself today but I think they're both great buys to see me through S/S 12 and beyond.

Tee | £24.99

Earrings | £5.99

Both H&M

It That Shall Not Be Named

***Some images updated***

We've all heard the name adaptations - Primani, Prucci, Primada and so on. But how often do people actually use its real name? Not often I'd wager. 

In fact other companies are actually making money out of people not wanting to utter the eponym. Last week I turned 26 and a card I received from a close friend was the below. When I laughed and looked a little ashamed at how apparent my snobbishness was she said, "We all do it, that's why it's so funny - you're hardly alone!"

 

But it got me thinking - most of us go in, and those who say they don't are either genuine millionaires who know nothing of the wonders inside or bare faced liars. Either way be wary of them.

In all honesty it has been some time since I last prowled the rails within. This is mainly because one of the perks of my job is on trend clothing fed to you on a near daily basis at massive discounts. Yes, I do love my job. No, I don't feel guilty for that.

Anyway, I digress.

Last Friday I was having a particularly stressful work day and decided a 20 minute browse of what the corporate monster had to offer might help disconnect my mind from the previous hours worth of tension. So off I strode, ear plugs firmly in - well, let's be honest, in there you're rarely ever more than 5ft from a screaming infant and that is not for me.

A 20 minute whizz round later and I was £73.00 lighter but infinitely happier. It seems disgusting that for that amount you can purchase two pairs of heels, a jacket, a dress and trousers. But you can. And I wanted them. So I did it.

And here is my haul:

Midi dress - plain grey marl jersey, £10. It looks nothing on a hanger and I'm actually disappointed at how my camera image has come out but it's late and I'm too tired to re-shoot but trust me, on it is a different story. Tight to the body up to the gathered waist and then skims the hips and thighs beautifully. I tried an extremely similar one from Topshop - £29 and a best seller for them - but I looked a sack of potatoes in it. This dress, for a fraction of the cost, looks at least twice the price of the Topshop offering. And it comes with the little belt, great on or off the dress.

Next to catch my eye was this boucle beauty. Not the cheapest at £25 but when you look in Zara and see nearly the identical item for £70 you know you're onto a winner. It isn't designed to fasten so sits nicely, tailored at the back, to the body.

The fabric is stunning and the quality feels good - nice and thick, hard-wearing if you will. I especially like the zip pocket detail that sort of punks it up and keeps it from leaning too far towards grandmas-knitting-group-chic.

Then these stunners. For many a post now I've waxed lyrical about this seasons brights and prints and finally I have found a pair of my own to cherish. They're a poly-mix but don't let this put you off - these are mine after a day in the office. They've maintained their shape and remained virtually crease free. For £14 they're an amazing buy. They have a small turn up cuff at the bottom and the peg leg shape is flattering to so many shapes and sizes. Although a word of warning. I am an average size 10 but I couldn't get the waistband done up in these and had to actually get a 12 - the low price would suggest they aren't paying their pattern cutters well.

The trousers have a label inside saying 'co-ordinates' as they also come in shorts and a blazer so if you're wanting the whole head to toe printed look get down there fast -these garms aren't about to hang about.

And last but by no means least my newest and most loved shoes. I had to get them in both colours. They are just so comfortable and for a stiletto heel that's saying something. I wore the black ones today with the printed trousers and a white chiffon shirt. I felt great.

And really that's all fashion is - putting together pieces that make you feel great.

To get all that in 20 minutes I was pleased. But don't think I'm a full convert yet...I had a reusable Celia Birtwell canvas tote stuffed into my handbag and used that as opposed to a billboard sized carrier from....Primark. There, I said it.