Faux Fur Mark 2!!

As the big freeze sets in, I thought I'd wish you all a snug and warm weekend and I'm so pleased I kept hold of my camel faux fur, as it's only just 1 degree outside, brr!!

I kept warm when I went out today by wearing it with my faux fur leopard print beanie from H&M and my brown suede boots with faux fur trim:

Having it belted kept the cold at bay and now I'm indoors I'm just going to chill out today listening to music, watching TV and inevitably catching up on X Factor and I'm a Celebrity later on!!

We're in for a cold week, take care to you all and enjoy the snow, lol!!

'Making Do' in faux fur and Blog Christmas Break comes early!!

I do love how bloggers can constantly inspire and learn from each other. The lovely Kate over at Make Do Style is doing a Make Do Life Laundry week and her first post, touches on the adage of 'Making Do' with what you have, appreciating it and not necessarily coveting the next 'must have' item to fill that emotional void.

I had this Minquilla faux fur in my pile for the charity shop a couple of weeks ago, but have since decided-why? Well, I had initially thought of replacing it with another fur, maybe a different texture, style and colour, but why?

I've decided to keep it, its back in the wardrobe and I will reassess my wardrobe to see other outfits I can wear with it. With it being so close to Christmas, my available money does truly need to be channelled in other directions, such as keeping up with the bills and saving for Christmas, especially with two sons who have different items appearing on their Christmas list every day, lol!!

With this in mind, I'm starting my Christmas break very early where blogging is concerned-I most probably won't be posting much now this side of Christmas, but I will try my very best to visit you as much as I can!!

Blog Inspiration, Wendy Brandes style

It was a wonderful surprise to wake up this morning to the post that the gorgeous Wendy B had done about me, following on from her fabulous post yesterday about her stunning vintage feather dress, which first had its debut with Wendy back in 1994 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute Gala and then again this Tuesday at the Weeksville Heritage Center!

She continued to say that quite rightly, designer and vintage pieces should be cherished and not subjected to constant wardrobe culls, which I've adopted as my mantra too, please check out her wise words immediately!!

I met Wendy in July 2008 and it was such an exceptionally wonderful day, check out the full story here of our fabulous finds and how the day went. Here are some pictures of our fabulous day:

Wendy in her stunning Ossie Clark blouse

Wendy looking gorgeous in Alexander McQueen

Of course, meeting Wendy only led to one thing-the purchase of my beautiful Diana ring, seen below and which can be purchased from Wendys fine jewelry line

Wendy was my first reader of my blog and its such a privilege to know her and learn from her wise words on style-and everything else come to that!!

Check out Wendys blog if you haven't already, she sure knows what she's talking about!!

Winter Inspiration outfit

I came across this picture of the gorgeous Rosie Huntington Whitely via Google last week and as well as always looking so stylish and cool, she is also the current other half of the ultra gorgeous Jason Statham-wow, I have serious girl envy, lol!!

I love this look for winter, pairing a faux fur gilet over a black biker leather jacket, leather leggings and knee high boots-great layering and a simple stylish way of keeping snug too.

What outfits are inspiring you to keep warm this winter?

Loving leather at Net-A-Porter

Thankfully I got my leather fixes at the boot sales and charity shops in the last couple of months, with a new vintage leather jacket, brown leather cropped trousers and 2 black leather skirts-one full circle style and one pencil above the knee.

I do love leather for the winter season and here are my favourite picks from Net-A-Porter, available online now:

Christopher Kane Jenny dress, £2225

Isabel Marant Katell mini skirt, £1100

L'Wren Scott pencil skirt, £1180

Theory dress, £555

Just love the Christopher Kane dress, mixing lace, embroidery and leather into one look for this season. The Theory dress is very inspirational too and can easily be adapted on a lower budget with a nice black wool jumper and leather mini skirt to recreate virtually the same look.

Will you be in leather this season?

Me in the Kate Moss Dress!!

I thought I would try on the Kate Moss dress that I posted about earlier, with the weather being so wet and cold I did photos from indoors!!

I think you can get a good idea of what the dress is like, what I do like about it is it will need minimal accessories and dressing up, just as well as I was without any make up, jewellery or shoes in these pictures!!

In wardrobe culls, I got rid of a sequin jacket and waistcoat last year, so this dress is a welcome addition for sequins to my wardrobe.

Will you be in sequins this Christmas season?

Kate Moss Xmas 2009 for Xmas 2010

Kate Moss launched her last ever collection for Topshop a few days ago and I had been mulling over getting a piece. The only piece to catch my eye was her limited edition fringed jacket and although I love it, I really don't need or want another jacket, especially at full retail price.

So, on a rainy wet cold Monday afternoon, it was a real pleasure to find a sparkly bargain at the NCH charity shop-this gorgeous limited edition ice blue sequin mini dress from her Xmas 2009 collection:

I will definitely try to wear it over the holidays and I now don't need to go out looking for that elusive Xmas dress!! What will you be sparkling in this festive season?

Thrift Inspiration, Aran Style

Chunky knits are perfect for winter and Aran knits have always been in style, Topshop have this one available now for £48

I was lucky enough to thrift my Aran cardigan in the Salavation Army charity shop back in September, I laundered it and put it away, knowing it would come out in the colder weather:

Its been quite mild this week, so I've not needed a coat and layered my vintage Levis shirt and LBD with the cardigan and my black over the knee boots

My cardigan was only £2.99 and it washed up well with no shrinkage either, so I'm sure it will be a keeper in the wardrobe for a while.

What knit will you be investing in this winter?

Kenneth Jay Lane and Vintage faux fur for winter

In an October edition of the weekly 'Look' magazine, there was an article on retro accessories and the brooches section particularly was of interest to me:

A couple of years ago I bought via Ebay, a Kenneth Jay Lane for Avon brooch, which I've rarely worn.

So when I went to the Frock Me! vintage fashion fair this Sunday gone, I wore the brooch with my white faux fur cropped vintage jacket which was my mums and that she wore on her own wedding day in the mid seventies to my stepfather:

Here is the jacket too, it was my first time of wearing and it was incredibly warm and fitted like a glove-I love the crop style and even now is a perfect addition for my winter wardrobe

What accessories will you be wearing this season?

Frock Me!!

Yesterday saw a trip to the Kings Road, Chelsea for the Frock Me! Vintage Fashion Fair where I met the wonderful Cecile from Elegancemaison

She has a wonderful vintage stall selling many gorgeous pieces regularly at Frock Me!, one of my favourites being a black and red YSL jacket, which sold whilst I was still there!!

It was fabulous to meet up with her and I even received a parting gift of a lovely 50s chiffon pink floral scarf which I will wear very soon-thank you so much Cecile!!

I couldn't go empty handed and picked up this Vivienne Westwood top to go with my other leather skirt thrifted a couple of weeks ago.

It was a lovely day, Frock Me is certainly a great venue if you love vintage and designer fashion from all decades and want to pick up a unique piece of style history!