Thrift Inspiration, Louis Vuitton Oriental Style

A key look for this Summer is Oriental and Louis Vuitton have featured this trend in their Spring Summer Collection for 2011.

A visit to Barnados charity shop earlier today (I was good too, as my prime reason for going was to drop off a donation) sourced this Oriental jacket by Yushan. The all over pattern is actually embroidered, rather than a print and the jacket is lined and I'm sure it is silk.

Its a perfect little jacket for summer and although I do love the Oriental look, a dress would be a bit too much for my style of wearing this trend

Will you be going Oriental this Summer?

Shopping my boot sale wardrobe for 2011

January seems to be a rather anti climax month, after Christmas we are all skint and wishing for warmer weather-I'm also aware we are due for more snow very soon, so things won't change on this front for a while!!

I am missing my boot sales though, my favourite one only starts up around late March to April, so I will be driving around looking for alternative ones up to then, weather permitting.

Here are some of my previous favourite finds from my local booty over the last couple of years:

Leather pencil skirt, £6

Gucci Bag, £5

Thierry Mugler Top 50p and DKNY Pants, £1

Claude Montana Jacket, £2.50

Christian Dior Clutch, £5

Leather Trousers, £1

Oh well, it looks like I will be shopping my existing wardrobe for now and come boot sale season I'll be seeking to thrift good quality designer and vintage pieces that will work well with my existing wardrobe.

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.