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?

Season Basic-A Black Skirt

Well, this isn't really so much a season basic, more a wardrobe basic, but funnily enough before I bought this, I didn't have a black skirt in my wardrobe (only a work one-that doesn't count!!)

So, I spied this black pencil skirt which judging by the style, you would not think is by good old Marks & Spencer. It has a great stretch to it, giving it a good fit, but it was the zipper detailing that really sold it to me. This was from the British Heart Foundation charity shop for £3.99.

I'm sure this will be a very versatile piece in my wardrobe and I'll wear it this winter with opaques, heeled boots, a woollen jumper and one of my biker jackets.

Thrifting, Vintage and Style-Labels to look out for!!

Following on from my previous thrifting post last month, many of you may well be chomping at the bit to go and find a designer bargain-but do you know your labels?

Well to get you started, here is a fairly comprehensive list of past and present International designers you should be looking out for!!

Haute Couture labels, past and present, include:

Balmain, Balenciaga, Chanel, Christian Lacroix, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Feraud, Nina Ricci, Thierry Mugler, Valentino, Worth and Yves Saint Laurent.

Worldwide Labels include:

Alaia, Alexander McQueen, Bill Blass, Chloe, Claude Montana, Diane Von Furstenberg, Dolce & Gabbana, Emilio Pucci, Escada, Fendi, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Helmut Lang, Hermes, Herve Leger, Isaac Mizrahi, Issey Miyake, Jil Sander, John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, Lanvin, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, Marni, Missoni, Michael Kors, Miu Miu, Moschino, Oscar de la Renta, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavalli, Roland Mouret, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sonia Rykiel, Stella McCartney, Versace, Viktor & Rolf

UK Labels include:

Aquascutum, Betty Jackson, Bruce Oldfield, Burberry, Christopher Kane, Jaeger, Jasper Conran, Jean Muir, John Rocha, Joseph, Julien MacDonald, Katherine Hamnett, Luella, Margaret Howell, Matthew Williamson, Mulberry, Nicole Farhi, Temperley, Vivienne Westwood, Zandra Rhodes, Terry De Havilland

Older Labels include:

Annacat, Biba, Bill Gibb, Body Map, Bus Stop, Gerald McCann, Gina Fratini, Hardy Amies, Janice Wainwright, Jean Varon aka John Bates, Laura Ashley, Marion Donaldson, Mary Quant, Norman Hartnell, Ossie Clark, Pam Hogg, Quad, Quorum, Radley, Patrick Kelly, Stephen Sprouse

USA Labels include:

Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Norma Kamali, Todd Oldham, Tommy Hilfiger, Vera Wang, Zac Posen, Zang Toi

Other International Labels of note include:

Alice McCall, Ann Demeulemeester, Cerruti, Christian Francis Roth, Dries Van Noten, Georges Rech, Leonard, Paganne, Martin Margiela, Cacharel, Hugo Boss, Marc Cain, Strenesse, Alessandro Dell'Acqua, Giambattista Valli

Feel free to print this off and take out with you when you thrift and hurrah for any of you who have successfully thrifted any of these labels-definitely worth keeping hold of these beauties!!

R&R for the weekend!!

The last boot sale I went to in October was a great success for clothes and accessories, so its a shame that they are now winding down for winter where I live.

As well as my clothes and bags, I also hunted down some favourite DVDs for the weekends, now the weather is getting chillier, there is nothing nicer than settling down and watching a DVD or two.

You can see my favourites, they are Zoolander-a very fashion filled, funny fabulous film, Oceans Twelve, all my favourite people in this one! The Talented Mr Ripley is another firm favourite, I love Gwyneths wardrobe in it too!! Three Kings-I'm beginning to notice a George Clooney theme here, LOL and lastly an 80s fave, Beverly Hills Cop 2. DVDs were all only £1 each and these are all films that I'll watch over and over again too.

Here's to a good Rest & Relaxation weekend for all of you, whatever you get upto!!

Chloe Find & My Wardrobe Philosophy-How I View It

I've been really inspired by two of my favourite bloggers latest posts-the lovely Make Do Style posted here about 'Thought of the Week-Clothing Allowance or Budget' and the gorgeous Wendy B posted a link to her fab post about 'Why Does Buyers Guilt Focus on Fashion'. They were both such interesting reads and although I don't really budget as such, I've finally learnt my Wardrobe Philosophy, which is to buy quality items that are either wardrobe basics or have the 'Wow factor'.

The reason I don't have a clothing budget is that I generally do 95% of my shopping in the Charity shops or Boot sales and as I am so selective in my purchases, its usual for me to spend from £1 to £5 on an item and its rare that one piece will be £10 to £20.

I'm always looking in my very local charity shop, if not once a day on the way to or from work, then every other day.

The first picture is a gorgeous Chloe blouse from Matches Fashion for £701. Its lovely, but I certainly couldn't spend that sort of money-even if I could afford to-on a blouse.

So you can imagine how please I was to snap up this lovely one earlier this week from my local Sue Ryder Care for only £4.95!! Pricewise, its on par with a new blouse from Primark, but I know which I would rather!!

Its the perfect summer blouse-I'll team it with jeans most probably and its certainly an investment piece in my wardrobe. Its a typical Chloe style, with the ruffles and pintucking, a quintessential summer blouse that is timeless in style.

I culled some of my wardrobe last week and next to wardrobe basics, have these plus items which to me have the 'wow factor'. To me quality beats quantity every time.

Funnily enough, I don't have a 'Signature Style' but I tend to buy what I like-preferably vintage pieces and designer if I can find it. Its good to open your wardrobe and have stylish timeless, good quality pieces that will work for you year after year and season after season. We are all guilty of buying on impulse or ending up with items that are on trend but just don't suit us-note to self, no more shiny snakeskin leggings, LOL! I've learnt that I can actually like pieces but appreciate that its not necessarily right for me.

Having items in my wardrobe that are from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and noughties give such a variation in style and moods and as long as you care properly for your items, even a small wardrobe can last years and pay dividends.

There you go, thats my Wardrobe Philosophy, hope it inspires you too, in looking for quality over quantity wherever you shop-be it in the charity shops, boot sales, Ebay, T K Maxx, The Outnet or Net-A-Porter.
Happy Shopping and don't forget 'Shop Your Own Wardrobe' before you step out the house or browse the 'net, you may well save yourself some money or re evaluate what you actually need or want!!