Fishing and Shopping. And AllSaints.

Saturday 26 January 2013


I found over the Christmas period when I didn't go shopping, I didn't buy as much. I say I didn't buy as much (I bought a couple of bits online) but I can honestly say, I think I would have been tempted by more if I'd been out and about "playing" in the shops. So there's a lesson for you - if you want to stop shopping, don't go in shops. Rocket science it is not.

I went out to "play" on Tuesday morning which seems to be my time slot for going in to Leeds under the premise of going to the fish market to buy some lovely fresh fish for the Grumps - this is the fishing bit. And to also do a reccy on what has hit the shops this week - this is the .... shopping bit!

So I shopped my wardrobe and dragged out an old jumper from Jigsaw. This is actually one of those jumpers which is supposed to have a bedraggled scrunched up finish to it. After you've washed it, you're supposed to twist it and knot it to make it retain the wrinkles (yes really). I'd actually assigned this to the bed pile to be worn on a chilly night but then I put it on the other chilly evening and I thought - hey this isn't so bad - we'll move it back to a daytime slot and see how we get on. And the verdict ... it's going back in the bed pile after a wash.

Jigsaw jumper (old)
Primark vest (old)
New Look jeggings (old)
Pied a Terre boots (guess what? old!)

Rare thing on my clothes - a bow.

So here I am with the jumper on and my Primark thermal vest top. Quite a pretty vest top for me and it even has a bow on it which is a bit of a rare thing for me. I let the bow stay on because (1) it was actually quite a neat bow and (2) it wasn't sewn on wonky and (3) it does me good to give in to my inner girl every now and then. I have a morbid fear of being deemed girly so have this irrational habit of chopping tiny bows of clothes.

And bearing in mind there is still some snow on the ground outside and I don't want to catch a cold (arghgh - I've turned in to my mother!!!), I stuck on the obligatory scarf. This camouflage Zara one seems to be my current favourite and has appeared previously along with some other outfits.


Just as rare - skinny things on my legs!

The old Pied a Terre boots were pulled on but once I put a foot out of the door and went flying I swapped them for my Ugg Kensingtons which have much better grip. My old Primark parka was also dragged out of the coat wardrobe (yes there is a wardrobe wholly dedicated to outerwear) and given its first outing of 2013. So lots of old stuff coming out of the wardrobe today which I am telling myself is a good thing. It also means that the styling has stood the test of time and I chose wisely. Or it means my tastes haven't changed. Or I don't give two hoots if it's fashionable - I like it so I will wear what I like regardless. 

It's grungey but I like it!
 (to the tune of LMFAO's I'm sexy and I like it)

So not an ideal outfit if you want to try things on but I had no intentions of trying anything on today except for a pair of boots. I have an absolute love affair with boots. It's only come about in the last few years as before that, I was a pretty shoes girl but since becoming a mum, I just wear boots. And my latest boot obsession is this pair from All Saints.


Okay - not very exciting but just really nice and simple. And classic? What did you expect? To be honest, you don't read my blog for me to tell you the latest trends because I have no idea what they are. I'm just telling you what I like and these boots are the kind of thing I wear! And when I buy boots like this, I find that I wear them for years and years and years and it's an investment buy to me. These are in a lovely dark dark charcoal grey. I can not tell you how long I have been searching for the perfect grey boots. I just never told you guys about it - a girl has to have some secrets! I had a look at the Kir Royale boots from Whistles and they were beautiful but too smart for my everyday look but these Allsaints ones are just perfect. I wish I could show you some lovely detailing on them, some studs or just some kind of detail but these don't have anything and that's why I like them because that way they blend beautifully in to any outfit. The toe is long enough to be elegant because there is nothing I dislike more than when you get a boot which is so blunt at the front, it makes your foot look stunted - I find this happens a lot with boots which are high but the front of the boot has not been aligned and proportioned well. If you want a really good read on the search for the perfect ankle boots (in this case the perfect black ankle boots) have a look at this post from Defne from Nomadic D. This girl did her research and some. There's a girl after my own heart in the quest for the perfect boots and understands that if the boot fits, you buy it. Errr ... I mean, you just know!

By the way - has anyone popped in to Allsaints recently? I would never have dreamt of looking in there for a pair of boots until Beth from Style Guile blog showed some boots from All Saints which she picked up. So I popped along to the website to have a look and was pleasantly surprised by what I found along with the discovery of the boots. I have this preconceived idea of them only making the distressed lace up military/army type boots from a few years back which were so popular and the fact that all their clothes look a bit post apocalyptic. Yes a lot of what they do still fits that mould but there are some also some lovely looking pieces in their collection which you wouldn't think of as being Allsaints depending on how you pair them. What I did see in there were some black jeans in the perfect faded wash, some beautiful printed tops and some lovely boots. Although the decor of the shops may seem a little intimidating for some people, again a bit grungey and dark, don't let it stop you from going in and having a look. There are some very wearable and covetable pieces in there ... I picked out a few here in my first Polyvore set. I spent a traumatic hour or so on Polyvore (I'm a bit behind the times but thought it was about time I went there trying to pull this together but I got there. 

Post apocalyptic? I don't think so.


Allsaints Dark


Anybody made some surprise shopping discoveries like I did recently? Any new shops uncovered?


29 comments

  1. Totally WANT that jumper. Amazeballs as all the kids would say :) x

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    1. I love the peony print that they are focused on this year and especially in this blue hue rather than the usual pinky red shades. Like you say - amazeballs!

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  2. Wow, thanks for the great shoutout! So glad my boot review is helpful. I aim to serve! :) On to more serious topics: You look great in skinnies, it should hardly be a rare thing for you. Your parka is amazing and I love it. Those boots look like they would indeed be wonderful staples and a good investment. The tote bag is extremely awesome as well. And, last but no least, you did so well in switching into your Uggs the other day, because I went out in my Durango harness boots (which I always think of as tough and sort of all-terrain), and promptly sipped and fell on my butt. Fell so hard I think I gave myself a mild concussion! (Have you heard the saying that dancers are the clumsiest people? True.) Moral of the story: wear weather-appropriate footwear!

    www.nomadicd.com

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    1. Pleasure to give you a shoutout - your boots post was awesome - I just get it when you have something in mind and it has to be just perfect. I can be a bit like that sometimes but I just have to stay within a budget. I didn't even think that it was going to be icy until I nearly broke my neck. The last time I did that and did land on my butt - I was actually pregnant but George is here to prove the story had a happy ending. Does explain why he's a bit crazy and mental unlike the rest of the clan. And no - I've never heard the saying that dancers are the clumsiest people. Is that a bit like never marry a decorator if you want your house decorated?

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  3. Hi there! Those All Saint boots are totally timeless in style and would be a good boot investment. I also like the Lucon jumper and Jackson tote bag too! Have a nice weekend xx

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    1. I think that's it - they're timeless. I will spend a little more if I think something will stand the test of time. The print is lovely - peonies are my favourite flowers so it was a winner with me straight away. Have a good weekend too!

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  4. Hmmm one of my favorite brands...I adore their knitwear and bags. I have the Bonny Cuban fringed ankle boots from them and they are fabulous quality - I must get them out again from the depths of my boot collection:)

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    1. They had some lovely stuff in there. I'm going to give their jeans a try on at some point because I liked their finishes on them - probably look a bugaloo but hey you don't know till you try. I looked at the Bonny Cuban ankle boots - the leather on them was lovely. I'd love a pair but the grey suit me more. I should have guessed you would have a pair!

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    2. Lol - indeed, we should have guessed Joanna would have a pair of AS boots! I SO want to spend a week in her shoe wardrobe, trying on! x

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  5. Those boots from AllSaints are gorgeous!
    My newest revelation came when I realised I desperately needed a couple of inexpensive pullovers and another pair of jeans for a reporting trip I am taking soon. I don't usually wear jeans on a daily basis, but they are very useful when I travel for work. So, I added a third pair of jeans to my closet - from Levi's - and I ventured into a big Indian store, Wills Lifestyle, which I have never been inside, and picked up two wool pullovers (size small, from the menswear section). It's good to own a few things which are good value for money and durable enough for my work trips. As much as I love my bespoke designer dresses and accessories, I don't want to be defined by them.

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    1. I like how understated the boots are as I've always gone for that quietly, quietly does it approach to dressing. And it's good to have some cheap and cheerful stuff for travelling. I always worry that things get destroyed when going through customs so I never take or wear anything precious. I tend to go for cheap supermarket cashmere or Uniqlo for everyday wear - that way I can indulge my love of wearing cashmere but not fret too much about treating it as an everyday throw it around piece. And I think it's great that you like your designer clothes but not adverse to trying out something a little different. I personally love menswear and often think they have the best knitwear and shoes - shame my feet are too small to fit in to men's brogues and loafers.

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  6. Love those boots too! I am a bit of an ankle boot addict too :)

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    1. I think I've really switched on to ankle boots in the last couple of years and can't stop browsing them now. I just know they are something that really work in my wardrobe so if I'm going to wear them ... I should buy them :o) Bad logic I know.

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  7. I did find the shoescribe site and hope not to discover any other new shops at all this year! So happy you found your perfect ankle boots! I've been obsessed with them since my school days. I totally agree the plainer the better - I love the shape of both the shorter and taller ones here. As there's a lot of discussion about them, I've been trying to decide what would be best for me considering I wear dresses/skirts more than jeans/trousers and I've been lacking a good tan/camel pair for years as well as the required black pair but dark grey is a great alternative. And then there's the desire for brogues! This is my new lengthy-over-thinking-dithering phase!

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    1. I went across to the shoescribe site - lovely lovely shoes. Then I quickly left it again.

      Brogues - now that's a tricky one. I have just sent a pair back in that they do not suit me. I keep trying but no - I look bad in them. They make me look really short or should that be even shorter! I'm going with loafers for spring/summer. Hopefully they will be kinder on my legs.

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  8. Fan brown boots love em
    J
    http://lifelovesand.blogspot.ie

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    1. Brown, grey or tan. Love all colours of boots.

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  9. I would go look at the AS site but it appears two (I know TWO!) more pairs of sale ankle boots have arrived in the post for me..eek…need to stop! Loving those dark grey ones…oh, and your outfit is fab. I want a parka now! Avx

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    1. Avril - what are you like? Two more pairs of ankle boots! And I thought I was bad. You make me feel so much better.

      Oh yes - and go and send a pair of boots back and get a parka!

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  10. Great jumper - I love the colour. And anything that is meant to look like it's not been ironed is a winner in my books!!

    Best shopping find for me this week has been my daughter's new shoes. She really wanted some pink converse (good taste that girl) so when we found some shoes in H&M that look exactly like converse hi-tops for just £5.99 we snapped them up sharpish!

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    1. H&M are really good for those little kids Converse hi-tops and it's a cheap way to keep them in fashion. Little George has two pairs of Converse (one pair were a present and one pair were Ben's old ones) which he's not getting any wear out of because it's the wrong time of the year for fabric shoes. He will have grown out of them by the time the weather's warmed up. Oh well. But kids look so cool in Converse or hi-tops in general.

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  11. I have to say that when I don't look in the shops, I do not want a thing, but when I start looking, all of a sudden there are bits and pieces that I need to have. Such a vicious cycle!

    Loving those All Saints boots - I would try and get a pair for myself if I didn't already have 4 pairs of black boots haha.

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    1. I thought I'd turned over a new leaf and was feeling almost virtuous that I hadn't done much shopping and there wasn't much I wanted but all of a sudden, the shops are getting new stock in and I'm just going "I want that, I want that, I want everything". Can't teach an old dog new tricks as they say.

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  12. ooh the jodhpur boots are tops. liking the fact that they're not black though they will probably be after i wear them for three months. actually looking for some boots right now too, putting those down as an option though i really want a pair of acnes these are way more affordable option!

    steph / absolutely-fuzzy.com

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    1. You should get them because that will be two pairs for the price of one. Start off with grey boots and turn them black. Bargain! I take it you're after the Pistols?

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  13. I really love that you love what you love regardless of what is 'apparently' in fashion. It's so nice to see because it's a practical and authentic approach. I really love all of your layers. That coat and scarf look so comfortable!

    xx Mandi
    www.findmeamuse.com

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    1. Mandi - I'm trying to re-find myself at the moment. Having read so many blogs, you can't help being influenced and I'm trying to work out what really works for me and my lifestyle. Also - I'm trying to shop my own wardrobe more and work out why I don't wear some of the things I have which are perfectly good but don't understand why they've lost their appeal. I'm getting there ... slowly.

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  14. The bow made me laugh, reminded me of one of my daughters who since growing up is probably the most girly of all three of them but she used to make me cut the bows off her underwear and nightwear when she was a child! She went from Tomboy to Barbie aged about 15!
    I can't use polyvore on my laptop, it just won't let me, it blocks it which is so annoying, I use paint to put pictures like this together xx

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    1. I'm a bit of a tomboy at heart but I can't resist the odd girly thing every now and then. I'm only human and female.

      I used to use Paint until I broke the Grumps's PC and now I'm not allowed on it. I don't know what else to use so thought I'd have a go with Polyvore. It's weird.

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Susie So So