Summer Dreaming Wishlist-Item number one

Now it is 2011, I am officially allowing myself to think of future purchases for the forthcoming Summer. Inspired by offerings on Net-A-Porter and The OutNet, I really want to get a pair of gold sandals, preferably flat ones, but it depends on how much I fall in love with them!!

I've been checking my wardrobe for what I feel I need, or should I rephrase that to want?? As I don't have any gold shoes or sandals, I think it will be a justified purchase and they will go with so much in my wardrobe already.

Alaia, £651

Guiseppe Zanotti, £735

Vanessa Bruno, £164

Lanvin, £178

Have you a Summer Wishlist yet?

These boots were made for.........crappy weather!!

Well my first purchase of 2011 was a retail purchase, in the sale and was much needed.......... a pair of wellington boots. I bought them at Freeport in Braintree from the Soled Out outlet and they were reduced from £29.99 to £20.99, 30% off. They are JuJu Wellies and can be seen online here too

I'm coveting a pair of UGGs, but I will now wait until next winter as I did get some flat winter boots in November that can see me through along with these wellingtons.

What will be one of your first purchases of 2011?

My 2010 and a Happy New Year for 2011

Of course we are at the end of another year, personally 2010 has been quite a rollercoaster ride, with many ups and downs in my personal life. Thankfully it is ending on a happy note, as is the financial side of life-2010 will be seen going out with NO credit card debt and NO consumer or personal loans-I've never been out of debt all my adult life and now I only have mortgage debt to contend with, I feel like its a massive achievement and a millstone gone to finally see the back of financial borrowings.

I can't say that I won't ever borrow in the future, but it will be planned and necessary borrowing if I do and may well involve sprucing up my little house which could do with some TLC in all areas. Personally, I also need to invest in some new specs, my ones are like looking through a permanent haze of fog, but I'll save for these.

I've achieved my debt free status mainly through a frugal lifestyle of thrifting and my love of style and fashion has seen me through these lean years. I am very fortunate to say that I have a fabulous wardrobe of designer clothes, handbags and accessories which have either been mainly from charity shops, boot sales, ebaying or from family.

After another wardrobe reorganisation yesterday with a few pieces going to my local charity shop, I can honestly say that I do have a very covetable wardrobe that I have been proud to build up without incurring any long lasting financial burdens as well.

I will cherish and respect what I have and continue to thrift, not out of necessity, but out of enjoyment-it really is a favourite hobby now.

I'm not sure what 2011 will bring for me in the way of goals and plans-I have a part time job which gives me excellent working hours, all the school holidays and a truly wonderful family of fellow workmates, so I would need any future career change to meet or exceed these things I already have-I'm not money motivated, I just want to be happy in my chosen plans for the future, whatever it brings.

With this in mind, I sincerely wish all my followers, readers and fellow blogger friends a Very Happy and Peaceful New Year and a Successful 2011.

Thrift Inspiration, Vogue Style-The Skinny Belt

I was lucky to find this Mulberry tan skinny belt a few weeks ago in the Haven Hospice charity shop:

Skinny belts are still very much in trend and the most popular way of wearing them this season is over a winter coat, as you can see here by Chloe for their Winter collection:

Check out this article by Vogue on their take on wearing skinny belts, very inspirational for how the Designers are working this look this season.

I will definitely be wearing this belt with my cashmere camel coat and also my brown shearling jacket. Will you be wearing a skinny belt with your next outfit?

Thrift Inspiration, Halston Style

I finally watched Sex and the City 2 on DVD one evening last week and I just adored all the Halston Heritage dresses, here is their cocktail pleated dress:

Farfetch.com, £259

Of course, Carries purple one is just lovely and an ideal summer dress:

I was pleased to find this vintage Radley pleated cocktail dress, which is very similar to the Halston Heritage version above, my one is a midi length and has a gold rose detail to the hemline.

It was only £7 in the RSPCA charity shop and if I don't get much wear from it over the Christmas and New Year season, I will wear it a lot as a summer evening dress next year, so a very versatile buy and another piece of vintage, very Studio 54 inspired.

What style of dresses are inspiring you for Summer 2011?