New Look Leather Bag

An animal print pony haired leather lovely from New Look (try saying that quickly). A goodly size but still usable as a clutch bag if need be as the strap is detachable. A veritable multi-tasker which makes it a hardworking winner. And I must like it because I've snipped the labels off and been out and about with it already!

Matalan Fur Coat - old (This one I've tried on is similar here), 

H&M Shirt old (I like this one here too), 

H&M Distressed Jeans, Nike Roshe Run, New Look Bag

Now if you're paying attention, what you will notice is that the bag online is a different animal print to the one I've got. Why that is exactly I don't know as I've only seen the cheetah print ones in two stores and they seem to be showing leopard print ones online. Yes I know the difference (see here).

Brown Leather Leopard bag

However the wallet is showing the cheetah print on my bag. Go figure! 

Brown Leather Leopard Purse

Anyway, I like my cheetah print one :)

Maison Scotch peacoat (old but similar here), Jigsaw duffle bag (a/w2014 but similar here),

  H&M cashmere jumper, Jack Wills jeans, Zara espadrilles

When I do colour, I can do full on colour but in general, I err on the safe side with the usual grungey tones, especially in the winter months. But a little injection like this deep hued burgundy can make quite a nice difference to the usual outfit and make it a little more interesting.

My Maison Scotch coat has been going a few years now - a quite heavy wool mix number and is actually a design sample. And though I put on the Nike Roshe this morning, I wasn't feeling the love for them and went back to the animal print espadrilles I picked up in the summer and which I still haven't got round to putting away for the winter. Which led me on to thinking that I might possibly need a winter version of these animal print shoes in a grey/monochrome tone. Right?

M&S Altered Coat, H&M Jumper, H&M Pleather Leggings (similar here), Next Skate Pumps (similar here)

Normally I take a while to wear something new. Like a few months and in some cases, it has been known to be a year or so. I like to give myself time to think just incase I should go off something, find there's something wrong with it or find that I actually have no need for it whatsoever and it was a on the spur of the moment purchase. So I surprised myself by pulling the tags off this grey jumper a couple of days after I got it and actually wearing it out.

It's the pale grey version of the natural white H&M one I featured in this post here. I spotted that they did it in a pale grey version too and took it upon myself to bring that home with me so I could "quality check" it at home. The one I have on, passed the test.

So being from H&M, mine's a cheap and cheerful and the 20% off Glamour magazine discount code on top made it that bit sweeter. Now this is one of those jumpers which is actually dah dah dah ... wool free. It's an acrylic cotton mix and very soft. This is great for those people where wool garments prove to be more foe than friend. I don't have any particular allegiance to wool or acrylic - both can be wonderful and both can be terrible. I have had £70 wool jumpers in the past which pilled on me on the first wear. Did I weep. Oh yes.

Anyway, time will tell how this number wears and fares. But for today - it held it's shape well, it's lovely and soft and it's a nice little high street bargain. The neckline is perfect for me who wants the look of something a little higher but without the strangulation factor. 

I'm happy.

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The jumper comes in natural white  and dark grey :

Natural White Polo Neck Jumper

Dark Grey Marl Polo Neck Jumper

And pale grey which is the colour I'm wearing and which is obviously not online as that would be too easy! But there seemed to be plenty in store.

But if you are looking for a luxe looking and feeling jumper in a similar vein, I popped in to Jigsaw today and this one is lovely but there were none in my size to try on  :o(   This is a nice dense knit, very gorgeous and going on my Christmas list!

Jigsaw Grey Soft Stretch Polo Neck Jumper

And it also comes in the most delicious biscuity camel colour too :

Jigsaw Camel Soft Stretch Polo Neck Jumper 

I'm actually torn between the two colours!

Maje Guillaume Sweatshirt, Zara Jeans (old), Adidas Stan Smiths, Uniqlo Fleece Jacket (old)

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Last Note :

American Vintage Patherson Jacket, American Vintage Jacksonville Long Sleeve Tee, Jack Wills Jeans, Office Boots, H&M Scarf

A friend saw me at the school gates and said "Nice Jacket" and had a feel of it. "It's lovely - is it new?" "Newish" I replied in that I've had it a few months though it was the first time I'd worn it, so I guess that's kind of truthful :o)

And for moseying around shopping, I swapped out the boots for the Next felt skate pumps from last year. They're fleece lined too #bliss

As above but Next Skate Pumps (old) and Mulberry Bag (old)

And I have to say this has been one of my favourite outfits for a while. Shame I left it so late and the weather is too cold now to wear this ongoing. Brrr.

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Anyway, this is me having a play in the H&M changing rooms. Only a few pics but I think they had a drop of new stock this week.

H&M Embroidered Blouse

This is a brilliant little viscose blouse for the price of £12.99, with a nice embroidered trim. Not too fussy and a simple pop it on style. I'm wearing a size 8 here though I am normally a ten. You can size down in this. 

There were some new jumpers in .... first up is this black and white mix one. I quite liked the feel of this one as it is a cotton mix one which I find usually wash quite well. I'm wearing a size small in this and I think it's on the right side of slouchy. Its not the most exciting of jumpers but it will probably make a good wardrobe staple. It's the kind of jumper I reach for and I'm not precious about. Pop a black shirt underneath and some leather/pleather leggings to jazz it up a bit. Footwear - your choice.

H&M Knitted Jumper

And then there is the mohair mix looking one (£49.99), I didn't check the composition. I bought a very similar jumper last year in grey which had a mock shirt tail attached which sounds strange but looks better than you think. I didn't keep it as I thought it was too long for me. They brought it back out in a black this year but no pic available as the black didn't show up well. Anyway, this grey jumper is very similar except no mock shirt tail and with big dolman type sleeves. 

Mohair Type Jumper (Available in Store)

And I've already had a discussion about this one on Instagram with a few people. This jumper comes in three different colour ways, this natural white colour, pale grey and charcoal grey. All nice in their own way. I just looked online and this natural white colour seems to have just sold out online but the charcoal one is still available! It's very soft and an acrylic cotton mix (a bit cotton wool like in feel and texture). I really liked the neckline on this as it's not tight and therefore doesn't give me a double chin which most rollneck/poloneck jumpers tend to do if they are tight around the neck. 

H&M Polo Neck Jumper (charcoal one here)

One thing to note - check the side seams - one jumper which I picked up was very bad. However, the rest appeared to be okay. Just something to be aware of. 

#wonkybeyondbelief

And last but not least in H&M. I tried a hat. For the heck of it. I was tempted to buy it to park it with the other hats that I don't wear but thought better of it.

Me in my own get up and a pure new wool trilby (£19.99).

So a short and sweet try on. Nothing to break the bank or excite the fashion loins too much but a few little hardworking gems which might be worth a look at. 

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Last Note :

This roll neck jumper is a lovely soft cotton rather than an itchy wool. It's worth a look and you can take your pick from navy or pale grey. It fits true to size (size small was perfect on me) and is not too long in the body (no booty cover in this).

Grey Pattern Knit Jumper & Navy Pattern Knit Jumper

I particularly love the way they paired the navy one with grey trousers.

H&M Scarf, Uniqlo Breton (old), Jack Wills Jeans (old), Office Shoes (old), Primark Coat (in store)

It was very cold yesterday and I was a total scruffy moo. Today, I smartened up a little because (1) it was warmer and (2) sometimes that's what you have to do even if you don't feel like it and all you want to do is hibernate under a cocoon parka. It just makes you feel better. As does lip gloss ;o)

1. Petite Bateau Heavy Jersey Breton

Petite Bateau in Noir and Avalanche. Black and beige to you and me. Woohoo - Petite Bateau have finally launched a black stripe version of their iconic Breton. I think it's finally time for me to invest!

2. H&M Premium Wool Scarf

In teal but the grey which they also have is lush too. Just to lend a little colour into this monochromatic world we seem to live in. Huge and warm and can be used as a shawl too.

3. Topshop Jamie Jeans

Because it's winter and you need a pair of classic black skinny jeans.

4. Topshop Clean Leather Saddle Bag

It is what it says and I particularly like this clean simple understated design. Falls in line with the minimalist styles I like looking at so much.

5. Jigsaw Black Compact Coat

Mine's a cheap and cheerful but if I was still working, I would be looking at this coat. It has excellent reviews (I love reading reviews - more shops should have a section for reviews to help the customers) and can so easily be dressed up and down.

6. Topshop Kitsch Buckle Shoes

I was going to stick a pair of trainers on but thought there isn't much opportunity left to get a pair of shoes like this out now so let's go for it. My witchypoo shoes are from Office from last year but Topshop do a brilliant dupe this year.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!