Denim obsession continues.....also, spending diary for my thrift finds and outfit post

Hi everyone!! Well this June was officially declared as the wettest and dullest since records began and I do so hope that July will not be following the same pattern. Today has been a mix of sun and showers yet again and the wind is getting my washing dry at the moment!!

Back to all things fashion related and my favourite denim find of the month is this H&M chambray denim gilet from the Cancer Research charity shop for £3.99.  I really like it as it's not pure denim so will be able to go with all jeans and summer skirts and it's super light and cosy for the current in-between weather:

The skirt was a find last week from the Salvation Army and is by Gap-it has a fine small red check print, pleated and has pockets and an ideal everyday summer skirt-only £2.99:

My tee is by Ralph Lauren from their Ashford outlet store and the sandals are from Topshop a few years ago. I'm also wearing blue hoop earrings from Primark which I bought last year.

I bought a diary at the beginning of June as a couple of years ago I used to do a spending diary for thrift finds and found it really gave me a good insight in to what I bought, what I gave away and what I spent. So far this month I have bought 3 summer skirts, 1 gilet, 1 jacket, 3 bags, 2 pairs of boots, 1 pair of shoes, 1 grey Tommy Hilfiger hoody, 1 grey Whistles tee and 1 Topshop embroidered blouse, 1 bangle and 1 scarf.

Out of all of these there are 2 bags which I didn't really need/want, but got them for the 'bargain' aspect. I have earmarked 8 items to the charity shop bag too. My favourite finds this month would be the summer skirts as they will definitely be worn, as will the gilet, the hoody, the boots, the tee and the blouse. I really try to only buy items that I will wear, as opposed to 'prettying the wardrobe'-ie-the wardrobe sees it more than what I do!!

Do you keep a budget/spending diary on what you buy and what you get rid of? It is certainly an eye opener, especially for repeat buys. I try to do a 'one in, one out' philosophy, but it doesn't always work.

I am hoping this months buys will feature 3 of these items on my thrift wishlist: a maxi sun dress, a blue denim skirt for everyday wear and a summer coloured small handbag or clutch-not black!!

Do you still have anything on a summer wishlist??

Recent thrift finds from the boot sales

Hi everyone!! No boot sales today, the morning started rainy so it's a day in for me, catching up on housework and blogging!!

I thought I would show some of my recent thrift finds. Last Sunday's boot sale was where I found these leather Wrangler cowboy boots, battered and worn, but with lots of life still to go in them:

Wrangler leather cowboy boots, £2

I also found these Gianni Versace navy suede loafers, worn but still in quite good nick!

Gianni Versace Versus navy suede loafers, £3

My favourite find of the month was at the same booty but 2 weeks ago, these Zara maroon flat chelsea boots for £2:

Yesterdays boot sale was where I found this jacket by St Martins- I love the floral styling for summer, plus the back detailing makes it rather unique looking too: 

St Martins jacket, £2.50

I have been after one of these Panther bracelets for soo long now-the lady wanted £5, but I paid £4 for it-I think its an 80s one as it is quite heavy and the diamante is all still intact too:

As I started this post, it was sunny and as I am finishing it it is torrential rain-typical British weather and not one of the better days!! Never mind, I hope you all have a good week ahead, sunny or not!

Trends I'm loving this summer-neon at Bottica

A trend for this summer that I am really feeling is neon, especially yellow-it reminds me of how much I loved it in the mid 80s and back then I was daring enough to wear it in clothing-now fast forward 25 years I find that accessories work so much better to buy into this fab summer style!!

Over at Boticca.com I came across a really cool designer from Dubai called Poupee Couture-their name is so unique, as is their backround story-''Poupee Couture began as a bit of a parody of how the Arab woman's behaviour is controlled by societal expectations. How she always wants to say, do and show more but always ends up holding back in fear of what the community might think. This concept materialised into bags that had a rigid perfectly calculated geometric form on the exterior but then on a closer look, contained vertical slits revealing brilliant colour from within. Colour always shone through, either by a material layering, perforated Arabesque metal, or in the form of frills peaking out from the bag’s interior''

This aesthetic is really a style choice I can relate to and admire and certainly their pieces are already formed on a wishlist of mine!!

Frame Clutch $165, in gold, white crotchet and neon yellow

Woven Apart clutch $155, in silver and neon yellow

Boticca's website features a host of independent worldwide designers and really is worth checking out- I really like how you can 'travel' the site by individual countries to get that all important and authentic item that makes you feel you've been to select it from that country personally!! With unique jewellery, bags and accessories on offer there really is so much too choose from, be it for yourself or as a gift for someone special, so go on- take a look now!!



Outfit post for Thrift Inspiration-Yayoi Kusama style!!

Hi everyone!!! It is well documented that Louis Vuitton's latest artistic collaberation is with Yayoi Kusama who is an 82 year old Japanese artist obsessed with polka dots and has produced a really awesome collection including leather bags, shoes, accessories and jewellery.

Her exhibition is currently showing in New York:

I was suitably inspired to wear my H&M and Comme des Garcons collab shirt that I thrifted last year in my local Salvation Army. As we are having such in-between weather it's the perfect layering piece over vest tees when a jacket is not required:

I am also wearing my thrifted J Brand Earhart khaki crops which were just £2 from a neighbouring towns Sense charity shop. My navy and white floral pumps are from Primark, £4.

And for all of you who remember me with long hair, it's all now cropped off!!!

Whats your thoughts on polka dots-do you like the large or little variety-do you actually like them at all??

A Week of Fashion-Graduate Fashion Week with George and London Collections: Mens

Hi everyone!! Yet again it has been a very hectic week both for me and in the general world of fashion.

I am very fortunate to be celebrating both Graduate Fashion Week and London Collections Mens 2012 in different ways. Firstly, I was fortunate to receive an invitation from George at Asda to join in celebrating Graduate Fashion Week. You may well ask-What is Graduate Fashion Week?

"We have the most exceptional design talent coming out of our Colleges here in the UK and I salute their energy, their talent and their well earned and deserved global reputation." says Christopher Bailey, Burberry Creative Director. Created to provide a showcase of the year’s best new talent under one roof for potential employers, national and international media and industry, GFW is the largest graduate fashion event in the world. Designers, marketeers, new media experts, buyers, pattern cutters, stylists, journalist's, illustrators and visual merchandisers all participate in GFW and represent the future of British fashion.

From Stella McCartney, Giles Deacon, Matthew Williamson, Antonio Berardi and of course Christopher Bailey (who won the very first GFW Designer of the Year Award) to the unsung heroes who populate design studios, buying offices, publishing houses and creative agencies all over the world, GFW has introduced some of the industry’s brightest stars.

GFW is a charity and receives no support from the government, it was founded in 1991 by Jeff Banks CBE, Vanessa Denza MBE and John Walford, to unify the many British fashion colleges which at that point showed around the country with no synergy or focal point. GFW is entirely dependent on sponsorship and is very grateful to its title sponsors George at Asda which are supporting the event for the second year running.

As such, I was asked by George at Asda to pick a gorgeous summer style staple which I have shown in the last picture below. I was suitably inspired by the official tumblr pictures from Graduate Fashion Week for choosing my summer dress, as it is boldly patterned and has a gorgeously frilled assymetric hem and bandeau top to create a really unusual and lovely summer dress.

Here is my pick of my favourite pictures from the official GFW tumblr:

I had to choose a gorgeous LBD too!!

This is the dress I chose which will keep me cool and stylish this coming summer!! Plus I also received a gorgeous Rimmel goodie bag containing some eyeshadow, a Kate Moss lippy, a concealer and mascara!!

Secondly, my gorgeous son has been working for an online magazine for London Collections: Men 2012 this weekend and we have been involved with helping him get to and from different venues-picking him up from Harrods last night meant we got to see Thom Browne's collection which took place just outside Harrods on one of their traditional London buse's with live music and some Lolas cupcakes-very delicious and a great evening too! He has been working really hard these last 3 days photographing lots of designers and his favourite was Topman Design where he not only did the shoot but also managed to get some very cool shots of Alexa Chung, Reggie Yates and Ronnie Wood plus Tinie Tempah at Thom Brownes yesterday!! I am beyond proud and please do check out his work uploaded so far here on his facebook photography page and also here on his tumblr!!

So heres to a very successful week and weekend of fashion and I hope you've all had a great weekend too!!