Like buses three come along at once...

...yep I fell in Zara and Topshop and purchased a few things! The good point is two of the clothes I bought were spur of the moment. My new wonderful Helmut Lang trousers sent by Queen Marie excited me so much I felt inspired. So when I went out to get some food and necessary sundries I sort of popped into Zara...as you do and spied a great skirt which is very Celine like but falls outside of the leather homage going on everywhere.

It's a gorgeous colour and a great fit and length. Not too short and semi A-line which looks and feels super. I can carry it on for next season too. It was a good price as well at £39.99.

Then I thought oh well a quick look in Topshop - can't hurt. Not Oxford Circus so I had the joy of flicking through the 'get it before it goes/last chance' rail. And of course I found a wonderful top.


Peachy perfect. Great detail, a lovely blush colour with enough of a pink/apricot hue to make it current and look super stylish in a 1930s vintage way.

The back is the modern twist with the obvious gold zip detail. The left sleeve has a slight imperfection on the sleeve. The stitching on the zipper seam is bunch in one bit. Therefore I got 10% off. I won't pay full retail price if there is any imperfection. The top looks wonderful with skirts, trousers and jeans.

Then on Friday I was working and I got a jumpsuit which I'd decided was a necessary item for work from Topshop Oxford Circus. I was lucky as it was no longer an item on the shop floor and but there were a few in the store room. When I first spied it I was on the no fritter challenge so didn't buy. Also I got it as part of my work so technically it was free! I wore it for work on Saturday and it was wonderful. Often I need to be hands on and my jumpsuit was stylish but gave me freedom to move. I love it.


I definitely appreciate my purchases more for not having bought anything since November 2009. I'm more picky and the item has to add something great to my wardrobe. I feel these pieces will be worn and worn until they fall off me. I was too tired to pose and prance over the weekend what with work and gardening! Don't laugh I've got peas, beans, spinach, raspberries, potatoes and strawberries plus chilli's on the go. My toil ruined my Chanel nail varnish though.

Beret nice

The blue knitted beret is a purchase from blogger Oranges and Apples. She does have her own Etsy shop but I negotiated directly with the supplier! My poor head needs a hat on my bicycle and when those Siberian winds hit the South East and London. i was taken with the stiching and the navy colour of the beret. I can sew but I'm no knitter and I can appreciate such a skill. Truly, my beret is beret beret nice!

But the story doesn't end with the beret purchase. The clever Franca, Ms. Oranges and Apples came up with a creative concept that tickled me pink... a knitted coffee cup warmer. Beautifully crafted it will adorn my daily coffee cup purchase from Pret. I love Pret for coffee as they use organic milk and it comes from a dairy in Aberystwyth, West Wales. I have preferences for such things! Franca was very kind because she gave me a freebie of a plain knit one in a mustard colour.

Eleven items - two more looks

I'm persevering with the blackberry photo taking and instructions. As it was sunny on Saturday I managed to create a couple of looks with 5 of the items I bought. The Gap chinos make a reappearance because they truly are the best substitute for skinny jeans. I've rolled mine up on this photo.

Reiss 1971 sequin top (sorry no Wonder Woman twirl)
Gap skinny chinos
Manolo Blahnik silver shoes from Bergdorf Goodman 2007

Reiss black 1971 top
Reiss Gold belt
Reiss Blue silk skirt
Russell & Bromley shoes (last season)

Eleven items - one look

Now given the petit garcon broke my digital camera and Mr MDS is not known as Rankin in our house for good reasons, add in a little darkness and I've probably served you up the worst blog shots ever!

But I'm determined to share my purchases seeing as I've built it up so much....

Here are my new Gap skinny chinos (they are a very good fit) and a blue silk vest top from Reiss's 1971 range. It is super silky soft. I've done two looks with the same items teamed with my last years Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes. In the second pic I've put my hair up and added the bargain buy of the eleven purchases I made - a faux gold necklace for £12 from Dorothy Perkins.

Opps just noticed one of petit garcon's toy cars still on the floor!

Shopping is tiring.

It was a horrid murky today in London and I sort of went a bit mad in Reiss. In fact I loved the clothes in Reiss and everywhere else felt a bit flat afterwards, on my budget. What I have realised is how pricey everything has got - this is what happens when you almost don't buy anything for a year.
A pile of things ready to be hung up nicely which I did straight away. I'll introduce my items bit by bit as I'm too tired to even think about them now.

This is my lovely sequin top to go with skinny jeans - oh and I bought some skinny chinos from Gap but the boots I want won't be in until the 1st of October now. I bought two belts, one is gold and the other a midnight blue. The midnight blue was a bit expensive at £90 from LK Bennett but it is very luxurious and will look great! Zzzzzz