Afternoon at Somerset House for London Fashion Week in Chanel and Leopardprint

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a lovely weekend! As you all may be aware, it's London Fashion Week until tomorrow and although I don't have any shows to go to, I have been living the 'experience' of it through my uber stylish and talented son who not only works full time in men's fashion pr, but is a freelance photographer. He has been fortunate to attend over nine different designer's shows to shoot backstage and some front of house-his highlights being Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith for Hunger Magazine.

Being such a proud mum, I will do a round up post of his wonderful pictures later this week when he has actually finished. Anyhow, it's been great to hear and see firsthand from him the backstage adventures and front of house antics from the view of a photographer and has made my experience of London fashion Week all the more enjoyable even though I did not participate!

As the sun was shining yesterday morning, I thought I would take him for a coffee at Somerset House before he set off to do his shows and we arrived early afternoon:

My intention was for us to have a coffee, him set off and for me to have a wander around Somerset House, take some photos and then do some people watching.  I just got to the people watching after making myself comfortable when it decided to rain-hard! Still, I managed to get some photos before the weather turned:

My lovely son, who was pretending he didn't want his photo taken, hehe!!

A view of the Embankment and the London Eye

Such a hub bub of passer by's, photographers and fashionistas in the business!!

My outfit of choice yesterday was my thrifted Chanel jacket, some new to me thrifted PRPS boyfriend jeans, black wool pashmina, a new Primark tee, thrifted Clarks black peep toe shoes and my leather leopardprint tote by Autograph at Marks & Spencer. I was so pleased I'd worn my scarf, I even had a hat in my bag which went on when the rain came down!! 

The shops at Somerset House had some gorgeous items-my favourite's were the Bella Freud and Markus Lupfer jumpers which I could easily have bought all of them if money were no object and also the wonderful bookshop, where I fell in love with nearly all the bookshelves and their contents. If you're after any designer or vintage book then this must be your first port of call:

As you can see, i was very windswept, but it was a nice way to spend the afternoon-especially when I had a sneaky McDonalds before getting the bus back to Liverpool Street for the train home!!

Have you been keeping up with London Fashion Week at all? I like seeing what the designers have to show, but I am not at the point where I watch live streams or apply for tickets for shows. I'm more than happy to take a backseat and view it through my son's camerea lens, hehe!!

Wishing you all a really good week ahead!!

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!

Sharonrosepixie.blogspot.co.uk NOW Thriftmystyle.com and debut of the Mulberry scarf

As you may already see, my blog has been edited to add it's new name of Thriftmystyle.com as well as the URL of sharonrosepixie.blogspot.co.uk so any existing and new readers can access my blog from either one, no changes are required as it should automatically redirect you to thriftmystyle! Please do let me know if you have problems with reaching my site!

Onto a more stylish note, I debut my new Mulberry scarf yesterday that I purchased in the Liberty sales in London last week. It is gloriously long, wide and warm-being a mix of 80% wool and 20% cashmere ensures it is stylish as well as cosy. Here it is in the 'Sycamore' colourway on sale at Mulberry.com:

Mulberry Sycamore Leopard and Tiger print wrap, was £295, now £177

Liberty's discount was a further £30 on top so I got my one for half price, but only in store.

I am wearing my blue version of the scarf with my thrifted black leather Primark biker jacket and my Marks and Spencer black faux fur bolero on top of it; thrifted black skinny jeans by River Island; black Chanel handbag; black thrifted Versace boots and grey baker boy style hat:

I am also wearing a thrift find from last week-the grey tee you can just see, it's by H! by Henry Holland for Debenhams and was from the Sense charity shop for £3. The jeans were also from the charity shop a couple of weeks ago for just £2.69. 

I have become rather a scarf addict this winter and will be doing a post soon of my other scarves that I purchased and were gifts last month. As well as bags and shoes, scarves are a wonderful accessory investment-not only do they last for years, but they don't succumb to 'size' issues and can really add that bit extra to an outfit- as well as keeping you cosy of course!!

Scarves are definitely one of my guilty repeat buys-I can't seem to get enough of them, regardless of style, fabric or make-it can be Primark or Missoni, if it suits my chosen outfit then I'm hooked!!

Are you guilty of repeat buying of certain items-are you getting the most out of them?

Thrift Inspiration........TheLittleBlackJacket.chanel.com-plus MyStyle by the decade

Firstly, a big HIYA to all my readers and followers!! I have been very noticeably absent for a number of life consuming reasons, but I seem to be back on an even keel and I'd like to resume blogging life if possible!!

I was suitably inspired by Karl Lagerfeld's and Carine Roitfeld's exhibition which has taken place already in Tokyo and is due to open in New York on 8 June: The Little Black Jacket, with the book to follow later this year. There were109 fashion and famous personalities taking part by wearing the iconic Chanel little black jacket in their own way, with Karl and Carine taking the photos in his Paris photographic studio within six days with the results being shown in the forthcoming exhibitions and the lavish coffee table book:

The exhibition will be visiting London later this year with the book coming out on sale too-I will definitely make my way to see this, cannot wait!!

Anyhow, it inspired me to show off some of my collection of Little Black Jackets- I had a count up and have 10 in total!! Here are my favourites which span the decades, from the 1970s right upto the 2010s-you can never have too many, no??

This first one is my most recent and current in style purchase-by COS, I purchased it from the British Heart Foundation on Sunday for only £6.99 and I love the flared 3/4 sleeves and zipper detail-a very minimalist and deconstructed style:

2010s-COS jacket

This next jacket is a boot sale find from last year, bought for only £3 and it is one of my absolute favourites-none other than Valentino, with the trademark lace detail around the lapels and neckline in a classic tuxedo style:



00s Valentino

Next, another favourite is this Thierry Mugler sculptured little black jacket, so tailored and form fitted, bought from my local Sue Ryder charity shop a couple of years ago now for £12:

                                            

90s Mugler

This next jacket was a special find a few years ago now in my local Salvation Army for only £2.50, a gorgeously cut fluid wool jacket by Issey Miyake from his Plantation line-classic 80s styling with batwing sleeves:

                                                                

 80s Issey Miyake

Lastly another favourite find is this wonderful unlabelled Janice Wainwright 70s jacket, with her distinctive applique and art deco styling in black wool crepe:

70s Janice Wainwright

So you can see I have a weakness for Little Black Jackets (as well as denim, but thats another blog post story!!)

What is your fashion weakness, I'd love to know what your indulgences are!!!

PS-Although I have not been commenting I have still been enjoying reading your blogs and will hopefully be over to leave a comment or two! Wishing you all a great week ahead!!

Chanel outfit post-pastels, then and now-1997 and 2012

Hi everyone!! Spring is in the air and now its getting milder, I have been suitably inspired by this season's trend of pastels to shop my wardrobe for the lovely weather we are having.

Sorbet pastels were featured in Chanels Resort 2012 and Spring/Summer 2012 collections as seen below- I'm really loving lemon, its a very fresh and stylish take on this trend:

Chanel Resort 2012

Chanel Summer RTW 2012

Some of you may remember my 'perfect day' back in 2008. when I not only met the gorgeous Wendy B, I also bagged some gorgeous designer goodies from Trudie Styler, do read my post of my most wonderful day here 

I have featured my statement Chanel boucle jacket a few times in my blog, but I have not done an outfit post until now. The jacket is from the 1997 collection and is a gorgeous mix of lemon and lime sorbet, so perfect for this coming season.

I am wearing with it a pale lemon pashmina, grey skinny jeans which are River Island and thrifted from the Sue Ryder charity shop last month for £6. My tan leather boots are by Faith and were a boot sale find a few years back for only 50p:

The cut and style of the lemon sorbet Chanel Resort 2012 is so very similar to my jacket of 1997, which just goes to show a classic Chanel never goes out of fashion or style. Take a tour of my Chanel jacket purchase here

Are you incorporating pastels into your Spring wardrobe yet?

Chanel Bag-My latest purchase

During the Easter holidays, I had a good evaluation of my wardrobe and took the decision to sell some dresses that although I liked, I knew in my heart wasn't for me anymore and this would give me the opportunity for something else in my wardrobe instead.

I thought it would take some time to find, but I was lucky indeed to buy this gorgeous black flapover 90s Chanel Bag.

I've researched Chanel bags enough to know that this bag, which has a 5 series serial number dates it to the 1990s. Its in a fabulous condition and although a 2.55 is out of my league pricewise, this is for me a fantastic alternative!

This is my 2nd Chanel bag and a most welcome addition to my wardrobe. I've wanted one for a long while now, especially after I'd sold one a few years ago to pay off some debts. The other one was much bigger and not really an everyday bag. I would say the style of this one is very classic and can be worn for any occasion, making it a very versatile piece in my wardrobe.

Inside a Chanel 2.55

Ever wanted to know how the iconic Chanel 2.55 bag is made?

Check out this fabulous article from the Telegraph, which explains how the bag is made and the secrets that lie within it-a most definite must read for any avid Chanel lovers!!

Taking a tour of the Chanel jacket

Well you can imagine how ecstatic I was to purchase this jacket on Friday at Mrs Stings designer sale. Considering brand new boucle tweed Chanel jackets retail at around £2500 and that I purchased mine for £100, it was the bargain of the century-plus it was nice to know that proceeds of the sale are going to UNICEF, so in effect it was a high end charity purchase!!

I have never seen a Chanel jacket that close to inspect or try on, so I have been poring over it very studiously. They are made with the finest details, pure wool boucle tweed, silk lining and mother of pearl buttons.
The jacket was made in France and according to the date code on the label 97P, I believe this to be from the 1997 Spring collection. The jacket is immaculate and may not have been worn as it is in an 'as new' condition.
All Chanel jackets are weighted with a gold chain so they hang properly against your figure.

This jacket is not yet vintage, nearly there!!! I will treasure this as its most certain I would not buy one at full retail price and jackets of these nature are like gold dust to buy second hand.

Thanks to Red Carpet Fashion Awards for sharing the sale and for WendyB-without her spot we would never have gone there in the first place-it was certainly meant to be, thats for sure!!