Doing the List- Make Do Style, Of Course

The lovely Kate at Make Do Style recently composed a 'Quality v Quantity 2009 Top Ten List and with her other post, 'Tinsel & Champagne' which gave same great tips, really got me thinking about what I have on the list and what I don't have.

Here are some of my most covetable pieces, numbered to Kates list:

Ossie Clark for Radley dress, number 8

My Diana Ring, number 5

Chanel Jacket, number 6 (I went for a jacket, as my coats aren't statement enough!!)

Cacherel Scarf, number 3

Jasper Conran Wedge Courts, number 7

Black Pencil skirt, nearly on the list!


Chanel Bag, number 2

Here is her list in full:


1. A watch
2. A bag
3. A scarf
4. Pearl necklace
5. Beautiful jewellery
6. A beautiful or timeless coat
7. Great pair of shoes
8. A gorgeous dress
9. White shirt
10. Great pair of jeans

And the nearly there... a pair of black trousers, a pencil skirt, a Chanel suit and a cashmere sweater.

So armed with such useful information, I see that I am devoid of.........

1. A watch

I do have numbers 4, 9 and 10, but not pictured. So, my wishlist for 2010 is this so far........

1. A watch (maybe a Birthday present)
2. For Summer 2010-A pair of skinny cropped jeans
3. For Winter 2010- A black cashmere jumper (or merino wool will suffice)

After sorting out my wardrobe earlier, I have plenty dresses, jackets, blazers, blouses, tops, tees, cardigans and jumpers-well lucky me, not much to have to scour for next year-I may have a real chance of following Kates advice of trying to save, but with a teenage son who is beginning to acquire his style, I think my pounds and pennies could well be going in his direction, LOL!!

How about you doing the list-Make Do Style of course-it really helps to fill in the blanks of what is or isn't in the wardrobe!!

Net-A-Porter Coat Sale

Net-A-Porter have their sale on and there are plenty of lovely goodies up on offer.

If you've saved your pounds and pennies all year round or plan to give the credit card a bashing, then do check these out. These that I've shown are great investment pieces and will see you through for a good many seasons to come:

APC Trench, £228

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Coat, £326

Pucci wool cape, £248

Marc Jacobs coat, £262

Aquascutum Trench, £626

Christmas Day Outfit

Hi everyone!! Hope you all had a Wonderful Christmas!! For me, Christmas was spent with my family at home, a very nice, relaxing day, full of watching Christmas TV and eating far too much food, LOL!! I decided to wear a couple of newer items that I thrifted this month.

The leggings I have on are wool leggings and amazingly warm, plus they have an elasticated waist-very handy for all that eating!! They were only £3.99-my best winter buy so far!!
This week I found this Jane Norman chiffon paisley print top, which is an ideal layering piece and was £2.75 in the Sense charity shop. I've also got on my trusty OTK boots, which are so comfy.

I hope Christmas was indeed a special and enjoyable day for you all too!!

So, own up, who's off to the Sales today, LOL!!! My older son is off to the shopping mall with his friend who are both hoping for a bargain-I think I'll stick to my thrifting when the charity shops re-open next week!!

Happy sales shopping and if you do indulge-wear flats!!

Its Christmas Time-Happy Holidays To You All!!

A few lovely bloggers- Wildernesschic, Looking Fab in your Forties and Everybody Says Don't did this on their blogs and I fancied taking part too!!

Please also free to take part, it will be great if you do!! What you're supposed to do is to copy this entire post and paste into a new post on your blog. Change all the answers so that they apply to you.This is not a Meme or a Tag. You simply play along if you wish to. Or just read the answers!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper generally!!

2. Real tree or Artificial? Artificial.

3. When do you put up the tree? It can vary, no real set date, but no earlier than the start of December!!

4. When do you take the tree down? 12th Night.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes but I haven't had one for ages!

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A 9 carat gold chain when I was about 14, it was the style everyone was wearing so I was really pleased!

7. Hardest person to buy for? My mum, but I did well, as this year I bought her a fleece jacket from Marks & Spencer (which I've given to her already!) and she really likes it!!

8. Easiest person to buy for? My boys-its either a gadget or games, LOL!!

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? I haven't done either, just given in person!!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? An apron-but it was a joke pressie!!

12. Favourite Christmas Movie? ELF!

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? About the 2nd week of December!!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes!!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? The usual Christmas turkey dinner with roast potatoes, brussels, etc- prawn cocktail for starters and Christmas pudding-so traditional!!

17. Favorite Christmas song? Christmas Carols.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Staying at home.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Only Rudolph and Blitzen-is it???

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? An Angel-can you see??

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? All the crowds of shoppers and the traffic getting into and out of town!!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color? My Angel and Robin, both on the tree.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner? Turkey.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? To have a fabulous, happy Day!!

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up? Going to Midnight Service at Church.

27. Favorite tradition now? Eating Dinner and then relaxing for the rest of the day!!

28. Favorite Christmas Memory? Seeing Christopher unwrapping all his pressies as a toddler, while I stayed on the sofa under a duvet as I had the flu, LOL!!

Wishing all my readers a Very Merry Christmas, wherever you are and whatever you do!!

Cosy Knit Cardi Thrift Find

Late October, I was on the search for a light coloured cardigan and was really pleased to find this wool knit oatmeal one. Its by River Island and what I love about it is the deconstructed style to it-its short at the back and has a longer asymmetric style to the front, a stylish alternative to a basic cardigan I think.

I found it at Oxfam for only £3.50 and I've been wearing it already, with jeans and a tee. Whats your favourite cosy knit so far for this winter?

Christopher Kane-LBDs for Christmas

Over at Topshop, I saw these gorgeous Little Black Dresses by Christopher Kane. Not only is he an innovative, up and coming British designer, these dresses are just perfect for Christmas and a real investment buy too-check out the range now!!

Lace dress, £50

Mirror strappy dress, £60

Thomas Burberry-Recent Thrift Find

Well, its mid December and I haven't thrifted anything so far this month, although I have had a mini sort out in the wardrobe to donate some things to charity.

I thought I'd show you one of last months finds. The Thomas Burberry brand was a diffusion line for Burberry but unfortunately the company took the decision to discontinue the line in January of this year.

I found this grey striped smock style dress in the Salvation Army for just £5.99. Its perfect for winter as I can wear a polo neck jumper and opaque tights and boots underneath.

I don't normally wear dresses in winter, but this is a perfect day dress for casual wear and it will be a versatile item come summer too!

Loving Leopardprint!!

I'm a real fan of leopardprint-I've a pair of leopardprint shoes, a faux fur vintage leopardprint coat and now, thanks to my boot sale find last month, I've now a leopardprint bag.

Its by River Island and is a lightweight slouchy number which I've already started using regularly! For only £3, It was certainly a bargain buy!

Will you be get the leopardprint buzz this season?

Knitted and Layered for winter, plus the values of thrifting

Whilst browsing the charity shops last month, I decided I wanted a chunky knit, in the way of a cardi, jumper or poncho or cape-these are much in trend this season and a great stylish cover up, advocated by the Telegraph-check out their article

So, I was really pleased to pick up this hand knitted, fitted style poncho, for a bargainous £2.50 in the Cancer Research charity shop. I loved it as soon as I saw it especially for the chunkiness and the hand made bobbles and fringing, plus it is super cosy over my Uniqlo heatech polo neck jersey.

I would say that ponchos or capes were not really number one choice on my radar, but when you are thrifting, you can really try different styles out, even if they turn out to be a one season wonder-just donate it over to the charity shops if it proves not to be a keeper.

I will even wear this with a chunky brown leather belt too-I think this would work well over a body con style dress.

Thrift Inspiration, Doing it Alexander Wang style!!

For a little while now, I've been after a black hobo style bag, which is not too big and can go over my shoulder. So in my local Sue Ryder Care charity shop a couple of weeks ago, I came across a black leather bag, by Designers at Debenhams. It's by John Richmond and was a must buy for only £5.99.

I thought it was fairly similiar to the 'Donna' bag, brought out by Alexander Wang last year, with the zipper pockets and slouchy, hobo style.

The Donna bag, by Alexander Wang


What I like about my one is the studded details on each side, which is totally on trend for this season.

Plus, its not too big and I can get all my things in it on a daily basis with no problems-the ideal everyday bag!!

What style of bag are you lusting over this season?

Black and White Magic at Net-A-Porter

Want a black dress? Or a white one? Or maybe a mix-take a pick from Net-A-Porters range of gorgeous dresses new in:

Acne, £120

Alexander Wang, £535

Alexander Wang, £745

Just Cavalli, £375

Stella McCartney, £545

Winter in leopardprint and OTK boots

A couple of weeks ago, hubby kindly treated me to some over the knee boots, which are flat, faux leather patent and very comfy and rainproof. I decided to wear them for the first time this weekend for shopping in town and with the weather all rainy, windy and cold I wore my faux fur vintage leopardprint coat.

As you can see from the second picture, I had to add my snood.

Are you ready for winter?

Boots over at Dorothy Perkins

Dorothy Perkins has a great selection of boots available to suit all style tastes and prices. Here are my favourite picks:

Biker boots, £55

Lace panel boots, £42

Over the knee boots, £50

Stone suede boots, £65

HeatTech @Uniqlo

I've always been a fan of Uniqlo, I find their items really wash and wear well, are stylish and are very reasonably priced. A couple of weeks ago I decided to try their HeatTech range.

It has Seven Technologies, which are: Heat Generation, Heat Retention, Soft Texture, Odour Control, Stretchable Comfort, Anti-Static and Non Deforming.

Well I ordered a dark brown polo neck jersey and a royal blue scoop neck jersey and although I've only wore the royal blue one, it certainly kept me warm when I layered it with a bolero on top. It also washed up well and looks like it barely needs ironing.

The polo neck version is available in an array of different colours and is on sale price for £7.99

The scoop neck is also available in different colours for £9.99

There are also different styles available and I do recommend them from personal use-they are a stylish and warm way to layer up this winter!!

Cosy Knitwear @ Net-A-Porter

Net-A-Porter have some really gorgeous knitwear available at the moment, here are some of my favourites-I especially love the Bella Freud and Helmut Lang ones best!!

Bella Freud Jumper, £200

DKNY Sweater, £130

DKNY Cozy Cardi, £180

Helmut Lang Sweater, £185

Sonia Rykiel Sweater, £170

Weekend Outfit Post

Its been a little while since my last outfit post, so I thought I'd picture what I wore on Saturday for shopping in town. I'm wearing my Issey Miyake jacket, which I like wearing underdone, as it creates a waterfall effect. I've also got on as arm warmers (underneath) which are some leg warmers from H&M-they make a good layer if you're wearing a short sleeve top, which is what my poloneck body is.

I'm also wearing for the first time these high heel leather boots, which were bought at the boot sale in Spring. They are from Next and have a back lace up detail and were only £4.

Then I also have on my belt from Morocco, a favourite of mine. This weekends weather has been really horrid, torrential rain and winds, just as well I wasn't out for much of it, LOL!!

Designer buy @ The British Heart Foundation

I thought I'd go thrifting last week, more for a browse as I haven't been as regularly as I used to. In the Cancer Research shop, I passed up on some Paul & Joe Sister checked trousers as they were too small and some Joseph trousers had a slight tear in them by their previous owner. I then went on to the British Heart Foundation, where I found a pair of Marc Jacobs trousers. I tried these on, but they were made for a 6 foot model-very long, very wide and with a slight stain down the front, so these went back on the rail.

As a last look, I spied this shorts jumpsuit-according to the Guardian and also judging by Topshops range, they are still very much in trend.

And the label I found? Well, I was 80% certain, but McQ, was surely the 'L'Enfant Terrible's' Diffusion collection, wasn't it? I thought I'd try it on and if it fitted, I'd take a chance and buy it, well for £4.80 it was well worth it.

When I got home, I checked out Net-A-Porter and yes, indeed, it was Alexander McQueens Diffusion line, McQ!! I may try and wear it this winter with opaque tights and a cardi but it will definitely be worn in summer too.

So, if you are prepared to rummage, Designer goodies can be discovered at the Charity shops-please believe that it's not a myth!!

Christmas ideas from MyWardrobe

Is mum, dad, boyfriend or hubby finding it difficult to know what to get you this Christmas, especially if you are wanting them to stick to a budget but still want that Designer touch? Check out these lovelies available at MyWardrobe.com which are all under £75 and I'm sure would be a welcome addition under your Christmas tree!!

See By Chloe keyring, £35

Nicole Farhi Beanie, £50

See By Chloe keyring, £48

Sonia Rykiel gloves, £65

Sonia Rykiel beret, £34

I really love the Sonia Rykiel gloves and Nicole Farhi beanie-whats on your Christmas list?