Thrift Find this week, some Jean Paul Gaultier for Winter

Yesterday I had a wander to my local Sue Ryder charity shop-it is the closest one to me, only ten minutes walk if that, but over the years I've found many a designer bargain in there-the main one being the Ossie Clark dress which is now sadly long gone.

Anyhow, I found this Jean Paul Gaultier dress which has a wintry pattern to it and not much hanger appeal-but on and belted with some thermal tights underneath, will be perfect for this coming season. It originally had a drawstring waist, but the previous owner must have taken it out. I do have a few dresses, but mainly summer ones, so this one will be a welcome addition to my wardrobe, rather than a 'repeat' buy.

It was £25.00, which is more than what I do generally pay, but when comparing what you spend in the high street it isn't at all, plus it is a nice amount going directly to my local charity shop, who I would be very sad to see go if rent increases mean they had to leave where they are now.

What is your best thrift find so far?

1980s, Elle and 25 Years of London Fashion Week

On my travels this weekend, I picked up this DVD of Back To The 1980s. Decade wise, this has to be my favourite era, as I have really great memories of films, fashion, holidays and general good living once leaving school at 16 in June 1985.

In my magazine collection, I have the very first Elle magazine, dated November 1985. In this issue, it celebrates the work of Katherine Hamnett and Azzedine Alaia and also London Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 1986.

Designers showing at London Fashion Week then included Wendy Dagworthy, Mark & Syrie, John Flett, Body Map, John Galliano and Rifat Ozbek.

With London Fashion Week just finishing for next summer, I thought I'd also show some pictures from Elle UK October 2009, which celebrated 25 years of London Fashion Week.

Past and present designers include Vivienne Westwood, Christopher Bailey, Gareth Pugh, Richard Nicoll, John Galliano, Paul Smith and Christopher Bailey.

Its amazing how the time flies and how trends have come full circle to be re celebrated every few season or years. My favourite trend from the 80s was definitely the bodycon look and I love how it is still in style now.

What is your favourite decade for style and fashion?

Thrift Inspiration, Brogue Way

This season, the mannish brogue is in trend.

Over at Net-A-Porter, they have a great selection, including some fabulous picks from Miu Miu, Maison Martin Margiela, Marc Jacobs to name a few. Here are a pick of my favourites there:

Churchs, £210

Marc by Marc Jacobs £290

At the boot sale on Saturday I picked up these Russell & Bromley brown leather brogues for only £10. They are very comfy and the weaved detail makes them a bit different from the usual style of brogue.

Will you be sporting brogues this season?

Thrift Inspiration, Burberry Shearling Style

After finding my black boots on Sunday, I had thought that would be my best find for the month-which from the boot sale it was. So when I decided to take a stroll down to my local Sue Ryder charity shop on Tuesday, I couldn't leave without my find in the last picture below.

I was greatly inspired by the gorgeous Burberry shearling jacket, which is available at Net-A-Porter for £2395, seen here:

Like my find, it is cropped, double breasted and deliciously snug!!

My one doesn't have the Burberry embellishments of shoulder epaulettes and arm details, but considering it was only £19.95, I can overlook that and it is a simplistic, minimalist style that will not date, so I'm sure I'll be wearing this for years to come.

So thats the winter coat sorted-my 2nd shearling in the wardrobe.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend, I hope the gloomy weather clears for a dry one for us in the UK!!

So Last Century Style

A slightly different look for this outfit post, reminiscent of a mix of 80s and 90s I think, with Madonna, snow wash jeans and Gianni Versace in the mix.

I'm wearing my recently thrifted Madonna Sticky and Sweet Tour tee, which I found in the British Heart Foundation last week for £1.99.

The jeans are modern snow washed denim skinnies by River Island, which were £4.99 at my local Sue Ryder charity shop. The hat is new, from Peacocks in their mens section for £6.99. It is a trapper style, so the ears come down!

My fabulous find of the week at the Boot Sale has to be these 90s Gianni Versace black boots. I was coveting some black ankle boots, flat or heeled for this winter, so was really pleased to bag them on Sunday for £10, rarely worn as the soles and heels still have the original tread on them and the famous Gianni Versace logo on the soles.

The pins on them look virtually identical to the oh so famous ones used in Liz Hurleys Versace black pin dress from 1994.

What items are you coveting for this winter?