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Would you believe I didn't buy anything after Christmas till last week. I mean I was busy and being kept out of online shopping trouble and disliking the January jumble sales really helps but all of a sudden, I got the twitch and did some browsing and boom, I bought ....

.... a sweatshirt. Which doesn't sound very exciting but I was quite excited as I've been stalking The Great sweatshirts since I came across them last year and then spotted the below one in the Net a Porter sale. And I have to say it's the most perfect sweatshirt - in my eyes though maybe not anyone elses. It's a full cotton one and has that lived in look like a proper throwback sweatshirt from the seventies which has gone through the wash a lorra lorra times.

Now you know me, I'm no style shaker or anything like that (nor do I want to be), I like my clothes simple and practical and you can probably guess how I'm wearing this already.

For now ....


The Zara jacket I also picked up in the sales last week (it's all coming out now) and it was there at the front of the store just on it's own in my size as I went in. I took it as a sign that it was meant to be. So I walked to the nearest mirror, tried it on, took it to the tills. Job done. Sometimes, you just know. And thank you to Caroline for alerting me to this - I didn't think it would fit me and that it would be too oversized but it is infact, just right.

For the spring summer months, I'll be in some variation of this  ....

1. Gap Girlfriend Jeans

2. Zara Beaded Bag

3. Next Weave Sandals

4. The Great Sweatshirt

5. Lucas & Stone Leather Bracelet

6. H&M Denim Shorts

7. Topshop Editor Jeans

8. Urban Outfitters Tote Bag

9. Vans Skate Pumps

I've been having a bit of a thing for my Gap girlfriend jeans these last few months - not skinny, not baggy but with just enough shape to make you look pulled together. I have two pairs of these, one in my regular size for when I want to eat and one in a size down to give that slimmer silhouette - best worn early in the day before too much food consumption. And those new on the block Topshop Editor jeans look good and worth a nosey at - nice wash/finish to them and a straighter leg which is perfect for leading in to the warmer months. I'll be checking those out!

Bags, bags - you know I love a good tote and I spotted that cute little cherry one for adding that throwback seventies summer vibe. And talking of seventies vibes, do you like the Zara wooden bead one? I do. It reminds me of a woven tote I picked up last year in Topshop - I like what I like after all. And the warmer months are when I start wearing a little arm candy and having been introduced to Lucas & Stone when my buddy Bean bought me one for a present, I'm now looking at their other leather bracelets - tan is always a good option for summer. Yes?

And footwear, depending on how warm, pick your poison. Slides, sandals, skate pumps and my personal fave - the white trainer - it all goes. Well at least in my eyes.

• I bought a couple of other sweatshirts recently but both have sold out so I can't link you to show you but I thought I'd leave you with these few which I thought were worthy a look. The Swilsden one is my favourite ;)

Friday Five (1 of 5) Early Bird Gets the .... Sandals

It's January and some new season bits have started trickling in. So where do I head? Primark. I like to get in there right at the start. And what did I spot? A couple of pairs of sandals which were worthy of a mention. One style (above) are reminiscent of a leather pair from Zara last year which I actually ordered but returned as I found them a little hard on my heels after dithering over them for some time (about three weeks and six days) so when I spotted the Primark ones, I homed in on them. The Primark ones are obviously not leather but are slightly more cushioned and they don't slap so hard on the old heels due to the "rubber" type sole underneath. I bought both the black and tan but there are some gold ones too for any magpies out there. The other style which people who are rather partial to a designer dupe might be interested in are those below which are very similar to the YSL Nu Pieds sandals. Very similar indeed ;)

Friday Five (2 of 5) H&M Take Care

Just out of curiosity, I clicked on H&M Take Care on the H&M online site. I had no idea what it was but it actually is a little area where there are little snippets of help on how to repair, remake and refresh what you have. This so totally appeals to me. 

Friday Five (3 of 5) Michelle's Hack

This is a hack I borrowed from Michelle. She mentioned previously that she would buy a pack of hair bands from somewhere like Primark and use them to help keep her sleeves from falling down. Did you spot the hairband above?

It does work and somehow during the time I've bought a packet of 20, I seem to only have 2 left (go figure - one black and one brown). If you find the bought ones a little tight, buy yourself some elastic and make your own. But don't make them too loose ... or your sleeves will come back down. Obvs.

Friday Five (4 of 5) New In At So So Towers

Friday Five (5 of 5) Oldest Mum In the Class

George came home and asked me how old I was. So I told him.

George : Oh I got it right. Do you know you're the oldest mum out of all the mums for my class? Everyone's mums are in their thirties.

Me : Are they really? (Goes and sobs quietly in the corner).

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Last Note :

Friday Five (1 of 5) Good Basics.

Well not strictly a Black Friday purchase, but I did utilise the recent 20% off M&S Family & Friends discount. I decided to go with a new black cashmere jumper and wanted a slouchy boyfriend fit so I sized up in one of the women's classic cashmere crew necks to a size 14 (I'm normally a 10). I wanted absolutely no cling to the old belly. The other purchase I made was a new pair of black skinny jeans. When it's winter, I prefer my jeans a bit neater and also never jet black. They have to have a slight fade to them and the M&S ones were perfect. I already have a Matalan check coat similar to the one above but thought I'd feature the M&S one as people often comment on mine and this looks a good dupe.  And I was thinking how I'd like to inject a little colour in to the sartorial proceedings by a jazzy blingy hat and an eye popping pink scarf. Because sometimes, just sometimes, I do take a walk on the pink side.

Friday Five (2 of 5) Portuguese Tarts.

I've got a thing for Portuguese tarts at the moment. I've had one a day for the past week. Sometimes I get them from Lidl (49p) and some times from the Co-op (about 80p) and there's not much between them apart from 30p. Are they good compared to the real thing? I don't know but for the time being, they're good enough for me.

Friday Five (3 of 5) Sezane Dupe

Remember last year, I bought the above jumper from Sezane? Well Primark have bought out their dupe this year.


I did a double take when I saw it and if I didn't already have one, I would have been delighted to nab this one. But because I have one, I can tell you what gives. On the Primark jumper, the fluffy finish is somewhat uneven (have a look on at the shoulders on the pic) but you might be able to be sort this out with a wool comb and for some reason, I really struggled with the fit on the shoulders - it didn't sit well on me. That aside - they really tried to do a good job for the price so if you want one and have time and patience - take a few of the same size in to the changing room to try to see which is the best one.

Friday Five (4 of 5) Second Time Around


I keep getting messages saying they missed that blooming ASOS leopard skirt as it sold out again. Well if you can't get the skirt, you could always go for the dress!

Friday Five (5 of 5) Black Boot Saga

I think the Office Armour boots are the ones. After trying 3385918757556 pairs of black boots and returning just about all of them, I think the Office ones are the ones ... for me. Not overly clompy and a little more refined and finished than some styles, they were also the most flattering on my leg. I actually bought them full price but have just packed them back up to return as I re-ordered them with the Black Friday discount. You can't blame me. You'd do the same.

Have a good weekend folks!

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Last Note :

If you've followed me a long time, you've probably got a good idea of what is me and what floats my boat big time. And what I do like when I'm not going for simple minimal styled pieces, is French girl style. I used to be all over the Marant stuff (2012/13) which I couldn't afford but that didn't matter as you could often replicate the look for less if you did your homework and I was pretty good at my homework. Usually A*on a good day. Lookalike Dicker Boots courtesy of Office Shoes and the big oversized jacket courtesy of Mango - I was there. A few choice Isabel Marant Etoile pieces in the Matches sales, I was there. And I still like the look - but it's been adapted along the way. Fashions change, there's no doubting that and so along the way have I. The boots have been replaced with trainers and the oversized jackets are now faux fur coats. But the underlying thing is, it's fundamentally a little "French".

And in the last five years, I have added a few pieces from various French brands, the Kooples, Sezane, Soeur, MktStudio and dabbled with Leon and Harper albeit unsuccessfully (the jumper was beautiful but the arms came to my knees) but now I have a new French brand to look at - Balzac Paris which I mentioned in my last blog post when I showed you my George shirt. A French pret-a-porter brand which is relatively new on the block. who basically showcase a few new pieces on a monthly basis (not a huge drop but enough to peak your interest) and keep you coming back to see what's new. Nothing to your liking in October - hold on for November. And as there were some new drops for November which came online today, I spotted this beauty.

The brand does have a very youthful vibe if you look on the site but there is something quite classic about the blouses and the knitwear if you look beyond the model. Mind you, looking like the models is no bad thing (dream, dream, dream). There are the whimsical blouses with the frills which adorn many a French lady but I am a more practical specimen which is where the simple styles like the George shirt come in to their own for me and it's one of those pieces I throw on with jeans for gadding about. Like this.

So. .... what was I saying about faux furs and trainers? #if_it_aint_broke

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Last Note :

• Following on from the fact that the Eudes sweater is made of 90% alpaca wool - alpaca wool is similar to sheep wool but warmer and less itchy. It also does not contain lanolin which makes it hypoallergenic and allows it to be processed without the need for high temperatures or harsh chemicals. Following on from the Stacey Dooley documentary, I thought it would be useful to mention this as the brand are trying hard with their "always more responsible" approach to minimise the impact on the environment in the way they manufacture and transport their clothing. It's all a step in the right direction if you are thinking about the inpact of your fashion choices.

• Interesting thing about alpacas - they can be housetrained as they like to do their business in a specific spot. You can always count on me to enlighten you with a little gem to brighten up your day.

Hello. I miss doing the Friday Fives but there's been no time for blogging lately but I've snuck a Monday Musings in today instead. Same thing but with a more relaxed deadline.

Monday Musings (1 of 5) Mind the Thigh Gap

I wish! Thigh gap! In my dreams! The last half year has seen me eating a whole load of toast. If there's one thing guaranteed to make your thighs meet, it's toast. My thighs and my tummy don't like toast. I eat toast and my stomach goes WOOOMPH! I could stop eating toast which would be the logical thing but instead I have resorted to buying buffet dresses. Because, sometimes you just want to eat the toast.

Monday Musings (2 of 5) Boots

I have spent the last four/five years in trainers even through the coldest months. I just bought fancy socks and got on with it. I don't actually have very many boots -  a pair of Uggs for dry cold days and a pair of cheapo pewter coloured Acne style ankle boots for wet days. Somehow these two got me through last winter.  The rest of my meagre collection of boots are neither here or there but I have concluded that I am missing a pair of black ankle boots to wear with the buffet dresses this winter. I have ordered and returned gazillions. Asos hates me. But I will get there. Lord, loves a trier and I am trying these next.

Monday Musings (3 of 5) Ooh La La.

I want to be one of those little chic petite French girls but in reality I am one of those Asian short legged little Chinese pear shaped things. And born in Yorkshire to boot. But hey, you've got to work with what you have and what you don't have, you can pretend a little by wearing what the French girls wear and sitting all posey like in front of the mirror. This beautiful little top is the George shirt from Balzac Paris. Did I choose it because it was called George after my cheeky second born? Well that may have swayed me a little but if ever there was a cute little blouse which summed me up, this is it. A dark background, a subtle gold weave thread to lift it a little and a small ditsy print which doesn't drown me. Even the hubs and the first born said it was "Very Me". when I asked them what they thought. 

Monday Musings (4 of 5) Fluffy Wuffy


It's getting colder and I'm pretty nesh. Is it wrong to like that fluffy warm co-ord above? If it is, I don't want to be right.

Friday Five (5 of 5) Three Funerals and No Wedding.

Been a tough few months and I guess that title above explains my on and off approach on here lately. It's my spoof take on the infamous Four Weddings and a Funeral but without the joy or the weddings.

• The M&S Floral dress is actually sold as a maxi dress. It's definitely maxi on me - I'm not sure whether I might get it altered a fraction shorter yet. I'm in a size 6 instead of my usual size 10 - one thing for sure - it's a buffet dress!

• I did a happy dance when I got the Balzac blouse. So me! I'm wearing a size small and it's a comfy relaxed fit on me.

• Yes the Nike Air Max Ones are the same trainers in different colours. And they're a good way to do fugly dad trainers without being full on fugly dad.

• Bless you Mike. Without you, there would have been no Susie So So.