Thrift Inspiration......New Look Knit, Isabel Marant Style!

Hi everyone! I hope your week is going well, it's a half term week in our household and it's great not to have any early morning starts for my youngest, who relishes his late nights and late lie ins- having got his interim report just before he broke up and achieving a B grade in every subject- he has his GCSE's in eighteen months time, I'm really pleased with his progress to date and at how he is just enjoying relaxing and recharging his batteries from all the sports and academic stuff that has been on his timetable lately!  Anyhow, I am being kept busy with general household duties, my volunteering work, blogging and of course little thrift trips here and there and this suits me just fine!

Since the impending Isabel Marant/H&M collaboration was announced, I must admit to have been quite impressed with how her pieces work so effortlessly well with each other-to me, this is casual chic dressing most stylish and I really love the red/black/white pieces that add texture and a lovely pop of colour to different outfits. My favourite items from the collection are below, the longline cardi jacket, the tasseled scarf and the multi colour sweatshirt:

 I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to get an item from the collection, the scarf would be number one on my list as I'm sure it would be an excellent layering piece with all the winter coats and jackets I have, but I would like to see what the quality is like before I made it an addition to my wardrobe.

Last weeks thrifting trip was to two towns on the bus- I found nothing at all in the first town's five shops that I visited so was hoping I would do better at the next town's six shops. Well at the eleventh and last shop was where I did find a couple of items and thankfully they weren't impulse buys from frustration!!

I first found a pair of boyfriend style straight leg light wash Levi's jeans which were just the colour I've been after for a while. Just as I was approaching the till to pay I saw this New Look knit which I had to wait to try on-I nearly didn't bother as I really had enough and just wanted to get the bus home. I was pleased I waited though as it fitted perfectly and once the items were paid for I was straight on the bus homeward bound.

As you can see it's a tweed style open knit in a red/black/white colourway (sorry for the photo quality which makes the top look purply-which it isn't!) and has a scallop front:

I was drawn to the colour and it's an 'inbetween' weight-not thick and not thin, so ideal for those days where I don't need to layer up. 

Have you been inspired by the Isabel Marant/H&M collaboration and if so, what pieces are taking your interest? Will you be buying a piece or looking to adopt a similar style to what they have on offer?

Wishing you all a good week ahead-the sun is shining today and it's not too windy either- a perfect Autumnal day to enjoy-hope you do too!!

High Winds at the Coast in my new Zara cap

 Hi everyone! I hope all of you in the UK are coping with the high winds we are currently experiencing, thankfully we did not incur any damage but I have seen a tree uprooted today-hopefully they are beginning to die down in a lot of areas, it really is quite frightening at how gusty it has been!

Yesterday we decided to take a drive to the coast so it was definitely a day for wrapping up against the wildly windy and occasionally wet weather.  I decided to debut my new Zara cap that I purchased on my Covent Garden trip a few weeks ago which is also available online here. I am also wearing my thrifted grey tweed jacket, a sweater bought in the Marks and Spencer's sale a couple of weeks ago; my River Island green camo/leopardprint jeans bought in their sale last month; my Dune biker boots and my Primark skull embossed clutch:

It was really really windy and I'm surprised and pleased that my cap stayed on for the whole duration of our visit!! There were quite a lot of people out and about- the beach is a perfect Autumn destination for a brisk walk, sea air and of course a decadently tasty typical seaside late lunch !!

These shots show how windy it was!!

We had such a lovely stroll and even went on the beach too-then it was destination chip shop for some fresh fat chips and then on the return leg stopping off for our delicious desert of whipped ice cream with butter pecan sauce and a freshly baked hot donut- definitely the order of the day!!

I felt so thoroughly windswept but deliciously full by this last photo and it was time to get in the car for a leisurely cruise home!

I am linking this post to the lovely Claire Justine for Creative Monday. I hope you all have a good week ahead- it's half term for me so no early morning starts of ironing uniforms and getting the little 'un up and out- hurrah!!

Thrift Inspiration......One Scarf In, One Jacket Out

Hi everyone!! Like a lot of style and fashion bloggers I have been reorganising and sorting out my wardrobe for Autumn and Winter over the past few weeks. I recently sold my Kate Moss for Topshop Liberty print jacket on ebay as it was too small (alas I have gained some weight which I should address by regular exercise but am still slow to gain any inspiration for this)-anyhow the jacket was too small and surplus to requirements and it gave me some ammunition and funds to put towards a new seasonal purchase.

I've been inspired by a few style bloggers recently who like me have a scarf addiction and have been wearing the new berry tones in existing scarves they have or by their new purchases. I decided that I wanted to get a statement scarf such as the Mulberry one I got last Christmas. 

Requirements for the new one included pure wool content, cream and berry hues with black if possible and I really did want a heritage brand thrown in for good measure. My local T K Maxx is generally a walk-thru from one side of the town to the other, but yesterday as I was walking through I had the brainwave to check out the scarves and I'm so pleased I did. After searching through the racks I found the perfect one for me which ticked all the boxes:

This scarf is by Aquascutum and has the cream, black and berry colours I wanted, plus it's 100% wool. It's wider than a normal scarf but smaller than a shawl, so will provide perfect coverage for colder spells:

The price was spot on too- for a heritage brand such as Aquascutum I would have expected to pay at least double what I did, so when I saw the price tag at £24.99 I was really pleased and knew I would be taking it home with me. 

This was a perfect swap for me, I now have the scarf I wanted and the jacket has gone to a new home. Reassessing and selling what you don't want in your wardrobe is a great way to raise funds for potential new purchases-will you be doing this for Autumn and Winter, or have you done so already?

My Boys All Wrappz Up!

Hi everyone! Earlier this year I inherited my oldest son's I phone 4S and with it, a rubber case which certainly has done the job but has lost it's elasticity and grip and on my travels I have been trying to check out alternative cases to have.

As luck would have it, I was approached by Wrappz.com last week who asked if I would like to review one of their cases. I immediately replied and said yes, not only because I could personalise it but the actual case itself is made from the highest quality materials and are really lightweight and durable.

I decided to customise it with a photo of my beautiful two boys when they were young so I have a constant reminder of how cute and lovely they are, hehe!! The photo wraps right around the sides too so the overall look is really quite professional looking:

The case arrived at the weekend and I was really amazed at how it felt- light, hardwearing and considering how smooth it was, it really is good to grip hold of-it's not at all slippery and now the phone is in it, it really just feels part of the phone:

I can really recommend the case and Wrappz also do phone skins too- I'm sure they would make an ideal present or stocking filler now Christmas is approaching and can be personalised for your dearest family member or friend. 

I have three £5 gift vouchers available too so if you do decide to order a case, drop me an email first and I will send the first three people who contact me the gift voucher code!!

I hope you are all having a great week, the weather is really mild but on and off rainy and windy so Autumn has set in for sure now!!

Thrift Inspiration.....Stockpiling Leopard Print this Autumn

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a great weekend, my one was very low key due to not feeling that well but I was very well looked after and fed with favourite and healthy foods and drinks, and sweets and magazines were regularly topped up too.

For this coming season I have been having a mild obsession with leopardprint-it hasn't come full force so far as I've not bought and kept anything new or thrifted as yet this Autumn. In my mind I have a semi wishlist of what I would like- I'm holding out for 'traditional' leopardprint, rather than the coloured variations and just key pieces like the ones I have from last year, that will roll forward every Autumn and continue to be items that I look forward to use and wear.

These items are what I already have from last season and are beginning to make appearances. This Autograph by Marks & Spencer leather tote bag is already a perennial favourite that I love using at this time of the year and goes with a variety of different coats and jackets:

The gloves were also purchased last year, another Marks & Spencer item that will just always be an Autumnal favourite and hopefully not get lost!! I love the mix of red leather and leopardprint, it provides a perfect pop of colour against khaki, brown, camel or black:

The perfect accessories that go great with all my jeans are skinny and normal size belts and the bigger one is a real staple in my wardrobe- it was a thrift find from my local Sue Ryder charity shop and is real leather by Topshop. The skinny one was a bargain buy from Primark last year:

I have already an idea of newly thrifted items I would love to try and get, so watch this space as the leopardprint obsession becomes reality over the next few months!!

What style has really grabbed your attention this Autumn-will you be searching out new pieces or do you have them already in your wardrobe?

I am linking this post to the lovely Claire Justine for Creative Mondays, wishing you all a lovely week ahead!