Essential Autumn Basics, Sweaters from H&M

Hi everyone! Firstly I need to hold my hands up to being a very absent blogger, I'm dealing with a lot of personal issues at the moment but I'm trying my hardest to get my mojo back and get back to my favourite hobbies of thrifting and blogging. Of late I do prefer to read blogs rather than publish posts which is how I'm spending a lot of my free time. Thank you to all of you who continue to read my blog and leave comments-it's always so nice to see them and knowing that a lot of you do read my blog and may not comment too means a lot, so a big thanks to you all!

Yesterday was an opportunity to have a quick trip out and indulge in some retail therapy on the high street-in fact just one shop in particular, H&M. I know it's a real favourite for a lot of bloggers lately, not only are their pieces stylish and trend led but the majority of their items are really reasonably priced combined with being good quality for the money.

I was in Regents Street briefly and knew I wanted to go in H&M and have a browse and I was definitely tempted by a few items. I was won over though as soon as I hit the mens section as the sweaters there really were worth a second look. I picked up first this merino wool one in a dark slate grey- in a size small it's perfectly long in the body and sleeves without looking too big and it will go well with skirts and jeans already in my wardrobe. It's an ideal knit too, more fine than thick but it would still look great with a shirt underneath too if I want to layer up. At £19.99 it was a must buy for me:

My second pick was this wool blend berry and navy crew neck sweater for just- wait for it- £9.99!! I was very surprised at the price as it's brilliant value for money and I love how the stripes all match up perfectly around the shoulders and front and back. A nice texture and knit -not too fine and not thick. The sweater also comes in a grey and navy colourway but I went for the berry colourway as I've jeans in this colour I can pair it with this season:

My other find was from the womens section and is a short sleeve fine viscose knit sweater in a light grey colour. For just £7.99 it's ideal for Autumn as an alternative to a grey tee and will be perfect under a blazer or smart jacket too:

I've a lot of bottoms in the way of jeans and although I don't own lots of trousers and skirts I have enough for the wear I get out of them and if I'm after anything else it will be some more blue jeans to add to the growing collection!!

What items are on your style basics wishlist this Autumn? Have you already succumbed to those must have pieces or are you waiting to find the right ones, do let me know!!

Wishing you all a really good week and roll on the anticipated heatwave we're due this weekend- I won't hold my breath though!!

Outfit Post and A Couple of Thrifted & Gifted Autumn/Winter Investment Pieces

Hi everyone! How has your week been going? I'm in the middle of a working week but am trying to multi task like every other blogger mum with housework and food shopping duties, as well as making sure my family's summer break to the South Coast is all booked up and paid for! I had a great weekend of socialising with good friends and family and due to limited funds this coming weekend will be a much more relaxed and low key affair! 

My outfit choice earlier this week featured my thrifted River Island boho jacket that I featured a couple of posts back- I teamed it with a new Primark peach vest tee and my trusty Gap boyfriend cut offs which are proving to be a definite too regular go to for easy casual dressing lately!

 I'm wearing my tan leather satchel bag from the swap party I went to a couple of months ago and my black leather gladiator sandals which were thrifted a couple of years ago:

I had a removable canvas strap from a bag that has since gone on to the charity shop and decided it would work really well on the tan bag, as I'm not overkeen on carrying bags much, I prefer a cross body bag or shoulder bag for versatility. I've been pleased with it as I can wear light colour summer clothes and not have a dark colour strap across me.

A few months ago my eldest son who works in mens fashion pr attended the Clarks press day for Autumn/Winter 2014 and for my birthday present he gave me the voucher for a free pair of any of their new range footwear from the new season collection. I've been wanting a pair of flat lace up mid length black boots for a long while now and when I saw the Minster Lance boots on their website I knew they would be perfect for Autumn/Winter as I can wear them with all my skinny jeans and winter jackets:

Another item that I wasn't looking out for but found on a recent trip to a local towns Scope charity shop was this H&M black leather biker jacket, which I really liked for it's unusually longer style length and collarless feature:

It's a true matt black and will be the perfect pairing with my new boots, so that's me off to a flying start for the next season ahead-although I'm certainly not wishing it to come too quickly, lol!!

I thank you all as always for your kind and lovely comments- I love reading your thoughts and I am trying my best to come back to you whenever I get the chance. Wishing you a lovely week and a great weekend to come!!

Thrift Inspiration....Singing The Blues in All Saints, Reiss and Vintage Yves Saint Laurent

Hi everyone! I hope you've all had a great week so far-my day today has been so up and down, I don't know if I've been coming or going! Firstly this morning saw me running late for work, completely run out of petrol on the way, problems parking which led to me being late and then on my return to the car park later a parking ticket! I was rather stressed by the time I got home early afternoon but it got better with a meet up with girlfriends for a meal and catch up at a local restaurant and with hubby cooking and washing up for himself and younger son I feel like I'm now fully calmed down, hehe!!

I was really chuffed to have been nominated for 'best thrifty blog' by The MAD Blog Awards for Mums and dads 2014 this weekend. I've displayed a 'Nominate Me' badge on my sidebar and would deeply appreciate it if you could take time out to nominate me please! IF I get through to the next stage then more voting is required and I could be in with a chance of attending a lovely finalist awards evening and winning an iPad Air, woo hoo! Anyhow, it's been lovely to have been nominated and any further nominations and votes will be much appreciated!!

Back to style matters in hand, I thought I would show you some fairly recent thrift finds that seem to be very much on a recurring theme-blue to be precise.

As you all may be aware I am very much a denim enthusiast-ok, addict might be a better word if 25+ pairs of jeans is slightly more than the norm! I'm thinking that it's not so much jeans I'm into but the colour more so? I pretty much love denim jackets, waistcoats, skirts shirts and jeans and all in different shades of blue but particularly this year faded blue has definitely been on my style radar a lot, very evident on my denim inspiration pinterest board if you fancy taking a look!

My latest thrift finds were from a couple of Saturdays ago- I found this fabulous vintage cheesecloth Yves Saint Laurent mens shirt in a neighbouring town's St Francis Hospice charity shop for just £2.50!!

It's such a great fit and is definitely my current favourite go to shirt for summer, to be paired with faded jeans, cut offs and white jeans (if I find a pair that I like):

My next find that day was in the afternoon at my own local Sue Ryder charity shop, which was a pair of Reiss high waisted skinny zip ankle jeans for a bargainous £1 in their sale!! In my size too and another pair of perfectly shaded blue jeans that I can't wait to start wearing!

The middle pair are some Gap boyfriend jeans that I thrifted in January for just £3.99-again the perfect distressed lighter shade of blue that will be perfect once ankles can be shown in warmer weather!!

The 3rd pair are some Levis demi curve straight leg jeans which if I can remember were also less than £2, thrifted last year in Autumn from a neighbouring towns Sue Ryder charity shop:

Left to Right: Reiss, Gap, Levis

The last picture features more shirts that I've thrifted and been gifted since Autumn last year:

From top to bottom: All Saints checked shirt, £2 from the St Francis Hospice,  River Island acid light wash shirt from the DEBRA charity shop for £3.99, my gifted degrade denim shirt from the swap shop party and dark wash thrifted H&M chambray shirt from the Sense charity shop for £3.50.

So you've seen a sneaky peek into my denim obsession and what sort of items are making their way and staying in my wardrobe.

What style and items are actually making their way into your wardrobe this season? Please share I'd love to know! 

Autumn Thrift Find-H&M Monochrome Cardigan

Hi everyone! On thrifting trips whether they are to boot sales or charity shops, my eyes are always open for different types of knitwear- whether it's a crew neck, v neck, polo neck or cardigan I'm always trying to get great quality pieces regardless of the time of year as I know once it reaches Autumn and Winter, they will come out of storage and start to be worn.

One find from the summer months was this waterfall wool mix cardigan from H&M which was from my local Sue Ryder charity shop for just £4.99. I have already wore it once instead of a jacket and being monochrome tweedy wool means it will go with so much that I have already have in my wardrobe: 

I wore it with skinny jeans and a tee but as the weather gets colder it will be perfect with a polo neck jumper underneath- it really is a soft cosy knit which was well worth the fiver spent on it!

Do you love knitwear? I know a lot of people prefer pure wool over synthetic knits and a lot of people just can't get on with cardigans or sweaters and prefer to layer up with thermals underneath lighter layers. I'd love to hear what camp you fall into!!

Wishing you all a really relaxing and lovely weekend ahead!!