Category Archives: shopping

Black ‘n Bright

03rd November 2014
I promised an outfit post featuring my brand new boots from the DUO event and here it is. They arrived almost two weeks ago now, so in true Laura style I am behind with my blogging but that gives more weight behind the declaration that these boots are awesome! The perfect fit and oh so comfortable they have barely left my feet. Even better is the fact they are water resistant, keeping my feet snug and dry on the increasingly damp walks to work.

Jumper: H&M | Skirt: Marks and Spencer | Boots c/o Duo

The Somerset boots just so happen to be the perfect partner to this skirt from M&S, a bargain at £25 (yeah, I was amazed by the price too!). I was drawn to the bright yellow/green colour which no longer seems to be available online and there is something quite 1960s about it. This has made a welcome addition to my work wear, and judging by the reaction of my colleagues it’s various colours might become our office uniform. I kept the top half of my outfit simple with a slouchy cropped knit from H&M, another bargain at £7.99 although I am on the lookout for a fine knitted polo neck to complete the retro vibes.
I can’t believe we’re now in to November, there is no denying the fact that Christmas is looming and things are going to be getting a lot colder…

what have you been adding to your work wardrobe lately? I also picked up a gorgeous dress in M&S the other week, one that I had been eyeing for a little while and I then found in the sale…watch out for that featuring on the blog soon. I can’t believe I so often overlook good old marks and sparks, they have some brilliant pieces at the moment, not least this epic Christmas jumper!

end

Posted in life, life stuff, M&S, outfits, shopping

Permalink 9 Comments

A playdate with Joy Bristol

04th September 2014
It might have escaped your notice (I don’t know how unless this is your first time here) but I am in the midst of a re-ignite love affair with Joy at the moment, not least because of their sensational drops of Autumn/Winter clothing. Recently Joy opened the doors of a new store, near Cabot Circus in Bristol and the ever so lovely manager Emili invited me down to play dress up with some of my favourite pieces.
The store itself is a delight. I had popped in prior to this visit just to have a browse and both times the girls working there have been so sweet and helpful. Everything is laid out in a light and spacious way so you can have a proper browse and the store looks immaculate. I stupidly didn’t capture any photos of the shop floor, I was a bit too excited and distracted by everything to think of that, but there will be many a return visit so I might be able to sneak my camera in again…I HAVE to share some of the amazing home-ware with you guys, it’s amazing.
Mum came along with me last Saturday to play photographer (and calm my nerves) and we turned the day in to a proper girly shopping and gossip session, on a high after such a lovely morning. I picked out quite a lot of pieces from the latest arrivals and fell in love with each and every one of them- the quality and cut of Joy clothes is impeccable and I find the lengths of the skirts and dresses are perfect on me, despite being tall. I treated myself to a couple of bits and have plans to go back for more as soon as I have some money for clothes again.
Not everything I tried on is available online- and not everything online is in store, but I’ll pop in links to what is available on both just incase anyone feels tempted- I know I do!

These pink trousers are so far out of my comfort zone and yet I was drawn to trying them on, and I loved them! They are so comfortable and easy to wear, especially with the digital rose sweatshirt for a sporty chic kind of look. Just add converse.

I’m am oddly obsessed with mustard yellow right now so was pulled straight toward this jumper which happens to be the perfect fit (I am so going back for this). I paired it with this skirt as the colours worked beautifully together and I loved the almost sixties vibe.

This dress has already featured on a wish list and having tried it on I want it even more! It’s such a nice cut and fit, perfect to wear with some thick tights and and heeled ankle boots.

(sorry photos are the most amazing quality, I’m yet to work out all the settings etc on my camera so the lighting is a bit off!)

The co-ord set was probably my favourite outfit of the day, I can’t find it online (yes I can! top and bottom) but the pieces were around £30 each and both really versatile to wear with other things too. Another favourite was this mustard yellow swing dress which I have earmarked as my next purchase as it’s everything I want from an Autumn/Winter piece and perfect for layering up with chunky scarves and tall boots. The coat isn’t online yet but expect to see a LOT more of this as it was one of the items I purchased…love and first sight, and my fatal error was trying it on as I didn’t exactly need a new coat! C’est la vie, sometimes you have to live a little, right?

The dress in the last photos also doesn’t seem to be online at the moment, but again managed to find it’s way home with me. I’m loving swing dresses at the moment and can’t resist a collar so it was pretty much a given the second I set eyes on it.

Everything I’ve shown in this post is from Joy’s own range, Louche and if you spend over £75 (which I totally did!) you get a really nice free jumper too, winner!

A huge thank you to Emili and her awesome team for letting me come and play, it was so much fun and I’ll be back again very soon!

Which pieces have caught your eye?

end

Posted in outfits, shopping, wish list

Permalink 15 Comments

Transition

01st September 2014
It may only just be September (seriously time?!) but there has been a distinct Autumnal feel to the air of late and despite hating myself for it, I’m ready to ditch the Summer clothes (once again with many unworn) in favour of tights, boots and layers that come with the change in season. I always find myself willing to spend a bit more on my Autumn/Winter wardrobe as I tend to wear everything several times over. Summer clothes seem a bit of waste when it’s only really hot enough for some of them for such a brief period of time, cost per wear they seem quite poor value. I’m trying hard not to buy too much this year, with savings for my move and driving lessons very much needed. Thankfully thanks to the hours I’m putting in with two jobs I will still be able to get some new basics (or indeed, some basics as really I have none) and the search begins in earnest.

Dress: New Look | Boots: New Look (from last year’s Autumn collection)

Far from being a basic, I still couldn’t resist this dress when I popped in to my local New Look before work one lunch time. I never usually buy bodycon dresses as I just know I won’t get the wear out of them, but I couldn’t leave this tile print behind and actually, I feel pretty ok in this dress (some of the time, upon first seeing these photos I wasn’t so sure!). At £14.99 minus a 20% off voucher I found in my purse I didn’t see any harm in taking the plunge and I’ll be wearing this long in to the winter months with a chunky cardigan or cropped jumper over the top. Sometimes it pays to take a risk, and we all need a little treat every now and again don’t we?
I say this, and then a day later I happened to be in store again and managed to leave with this beauty of a coat in my possession. I clearly need to work on my self control, but as transitional and staple pieces go I could do worse.
Where do you shop for your wardrobe essentials? I’m thinking well cut trousers, sleek tees and high quality knits for mixing and matching on a work and out of work rotation. Dresses wouldn’t go amiss either…just don’t show me any shoes, please!
Are you looking forward to the impending Autumn days? It’s such a pretty time of year, even if it has arrived far too fast.

end

Posted in outfits, shopping

Permalink 8 Comments

Spread some Joy

19th July 2014
There are some shops that will always stick in my memory. When I was at college (back in the day) I used to trek all the way up Park Street just to visit Joy and torture myself with the most gorgeous products that I just couldn’t afford. I used to live for their sales when I could perhaps indulge in one dress or a couple of trinkets for my bedroom and even now it’s a place I associate with luxurious browsing rather than serious shopping.
Joy have just launched a collection of 20 new season online exclusive pieces to give us a taste of what’s to come for next season from their in-house brand Louche. There are some seriously amazing garments among this collection and I’ve popped together a list of my favourites below.
Gatley Trousers, £42
Angel Top, £36
Bayo Dress, £55
Havie Blouse, £42
Lysandra Dress, £49
Vanda Top, £32
To get details and prices of any of the pieces just hover over the photos. My absolute favourites from this selection have to be the sixties inspired Benecia Dress and the beautifully detailed pink Angel Top (just check out that detailed back). I can’t wait to see what else lands in store/online for the season ahead, I know I’ll be saving pennies hard to treat myself to a piece or two…
You can view the whole collection online, do let me know what you’ve got your eye on!
I couldn’t resist a browse in the gifts section whilst checking out the new collection. I’ve found myself really rather taken with this salt and pepper shaker set too, although that kind of thing has to wait until Ben and I get a place of our own (and he doesn’t get a say in whether we have these or not!)

end

Posted in shopping, wish list

Permalink 2 Comments

Pink Lady

16th July 2014
This is another outfit post involving part of my recent and somewhat epic clothing haul, I got a bit carried away in the sales on the Saturday before last and bought so much stuff without spending much money at all- just the way it should be!
Sorry the photos are somewhat bland, the weather was against us when we took these and it was a real case of dodging the showers. Oh British Summertime, how I adore you.

Dress: Primark | Tights: Boots | Shoes: Primark

Primark had so many dresses I’d eyed up previously reduced to just five pounds…I know Primark is hardly expensive to start with but I do begrudge paying out £13 for a dress that a few years ago would have been only £8. Still, hang on long enough and most things end up around a fiver and my luck was in on this particular trip. The shoes were also a purchase from that weekend, they were £6 I think and very much needed for work. I’m super fussy when it comes to ballet flats and oddly Primark is one of the only places that make them to suit my feet. Should have bought a spare really, I am hard on my flat shoes.
I’ve really slipped on the tights front over the last year or so, sticking to the most boring pairs possible. This pair was lurking at the bottom of one of my drawers still in their packaging. They were only £1.50 in Boots’ reduced section and given that they’ve barely lasted one wear I’m glad I didn’t pay more!
I don’t know how it’s suddenly mid-July…I’m baffled as to where my year is going and starting to get restless as I don’t have a Summer holiday booked. My next time off work isn’t until the last week of September and I might try and book a last minute trip somewhere (assuming my passport renewal is through by then!). Where would you recommend for some late Summer sun on a budget?

end

Posted in life, outfits, shopping, tights

Permalink 6 Comments