Thrifty Finds: Chanel, Valentino, Vintage Celine, Burberry and DVF-My Charity Shop Haul!!

Hi everyone!! Well what an amazing few days I've had!! On my way home from volunteering on Wednesday afternoon, I had a few things to do and my last port of call was the local Salvation Army charity shop. I was going in there to see if I could track down a black wool polo neck or turtle neck-which I actually did, even though I've not shown it here. It's a Marks & Spencer lambswool turtle neck which was £2.99, so am now sorted on that for Autumn and Winter. Well I first saw a couple of Ralph Lauren blazers which I picked up to try on, but they were left in the end as they were too short in the sleeves. Then I picked up a paisley dress (which didn't even get a try on due to the forthcoming excitement and also the shop was due to close, so it was hurry hurry hurry!).

THEN I PICKED UP MY NEXT ITEM-LOOKED IN AWE AND SHOCK AT IT AND MADE A BEELINE STRAIGHT FOR THE CHANGING ROOMS.........

Yes, a Chanel cardigan jacket AND in my size too!! This is from the Autumn collection in 2005, you can see the date code on the label 05 (year) A (Autumn) 42 UK 12

 Of course the detailing is just wonderful, there are cute little pockets, ribbon threaded throughout with boucle knit trimming, a double C zip pull and 3/4 length sleeves:

It's a wool, cashmere and angora blend-so soft and warm

The main detailing which I didn't see until I get home is the silver chain around the bottom of the jacket to weight it down.

The price? As you could see in the first picture- an unbelievable £4.99!!! I'm sure the staff must have thought it was a fake to have sold it for so cheap. Having already my 90's Chanel jacket, I could compare the two and the labeling and the quality are just top notch and 100% genuine:

This is definitely a keeper- I've regretted selling finds in the past and this is up with my Ossie Clark find which was in 2006 and got sold a couple of years later to help pay for bills. I'll always have bills, but I won't always find Chanel jackets in the charity shops!!

The interior of the jacket does not show any of the ribbon stitching which just goes to show what exquisite quality Chanel pieces really are:

My photos are not good quality though, so please excuse how some of them have come out! I could not believe my luck and that wasn't all, I also found this gorgeous dark green olive leather gilet by Valentino which I bought and was my 2nd bargain of the evening- also priced at £4.99 and a perfect fit too!!

The gold chain detailing is totally gorgeous and I can't wait to start wearing this!!

 So as I had found these treasures just before the shop closed I was itching to check it out again first thing yesterday morning and did I came up trumps yet again- a vintage Celine wool skirt suit, in my size for £9.99:

THE perfect colour for this coming Autumn and Winter and I'll enjoy wearing them more as separates

The tailoring and attention to detail is superb, the buckle on the skirt band has the double C and is also engraved with Celine

I pulled this bucket hat out of the £1 basket-it's a fully reversible Burberry one which is plain beige on the other side:

Here is the Diane Von Furstenberg dress which I snaffled too, it's in tissue paper fine silk and unfortunately when I washed it, it caught on something else and  there is a little rip in it, but I should be able to mend it. Another summer dress for a wonderful £4.99:

So it really looks like someone had the job of sorting out their own or someone else's designer wardrobe and thankfully it came to me via the charity shop.  It just goes to show that there are things to be found if you're prepared to be patient and look hard enough too. I really love my finds and very thankful I am for them!!

I hope you've enjoy viewing them and that it also gives you real inspiration to seek and find your next designer bargain-you never know what you will find so be sure never to miss out on giving your local charity shop a visit!

My favourite scarves of 2012

Hi everyone!! I thought I would do a 'show and tell' of my favourite scarves that were either bought, thrifted or given as gifts to me in 2012. As you may already know I am a denim addict-more of that is on my dedicated style blog Live To Love Denim but my other current style addiction is scarves. I love them in all colours, designs and materials and no matter if they are high street or designer they all add that something extra to outfits and stand the test of sizing issues and trends.

This first scarf was a pre Christmas buy by myself from H&M instore. It had been reduced to £4 and I love how it can be worn not only as a scarf but as a shawl/cape too. It is currently still on sale online here for £5:

My second scarf was from early 2012 and is a striped grey, baby pink and brown one by Hobbs, which I thrifted from my local Sue Ryder charity shop for just under £4. I wore it earlier with my brown Per Una down puffa coat and brown Pavers boots and it is the perfect neckwear of choice now the weather has dipped:

My next scarf was a Christmas present from my lovely mum when we spied it in the men's section of Marks & Spencer just before Christmas. It is available in a different colourway on line and what I love about it is that it is red tartan check, pure lambswool and was made in Great Britain. I wore it solidly over Christmas and New Year but am now giving it a little rest! The men's style to me worked out better quality than the ladies alternative-there was an orange and pink check scarf which was also lambswool, made in Great Britain but was actually smaller in length and width and was £25, so dearer than this one which was £19.50.

My next one is a blue leopardprint and star print scarf by Guess and was a present from my lovely son which he received in a goody bag from Guess at their Spring/Summer 2013 press day. I love the mix of the 2 prints  and is a great year round scarf:

This scarf was a present mid 2012 from a lovely friend and is actually by Burberry. It is a wool mix and has a gold thread running through it-it is very long and again is perfect as a year round scarf, definitely one of my firm favourites:

Of course my other favourite scarves from last year are my Mulberry scarf from Liberty's and my Liberty wool wrap scarf that I got in October.

I need to now enjoy wearing all of these and put them on a strict rotation! Have you got any favourite scarves that you purchased or was given as a present? Are scarves a passion for you?

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, apparently we have snow on the way but at least I am ready for it!!

Thrift Inspiration, doing it Alexander Wang Style!

So, the Alexander Wang post yesterday really inspired me as one of my favourite looks was pastels, particularly the blazer outfit. I think a blazer is a fabulous addition to your wardrobe and such a classic piece to own too-a decent quality one will last for years to come.

I was lucky to get this pastel pink Burberry blazer at Mrs Stings Designer Sale. What I love about it is the colour and the cropped sleeves and length, it is ideal to wear with jeans and also a summer dress too.

I wore my black camisole underneath, which has a sheer lace panel, again inspired by the Wang summer collection, my Sass & Bide jeans and my cream high heel peep toes by Next from the boot sale for £1.

A blazer can really pull an outfit together and I know I'll be making use of this one a lot this summer. My next post is also Alexander Wang inspired, but a more dressed down look-watch this space!!