The wonderful thing about the UK and general online shopping is the fab returns policy. I like the fact that we actually have changing rooms and you can do your own thing in them in privacy i.e. shake your hair like a shampoo model, pout like a member of the Jagger family, pose like a hot model and admire yourself in your chosen garment before you choose to buy. I like the fact that even if I've tried something on in the changing room and I buy it, I can still change my mind when I get home. Absolutely wonderbar! 

I also like 365 day return policies (they do exist) and 28 day ones. I can live with 14 day ones and though not happy, I'll take the 7 days return which is still better than nothing. Because I am the Queen of Returns.

In January I bought and returned :


Manebi Fluorescent Pink Espadrilles.

Because that's what all sane people buy in January when it's hailing and there are thunderstorms lashing outside.

Basically I developed an obsession for pink shoes after seeing this pic on Pinterest.

So simple an outfit- so demented a pair of shoes. I loved the whole outfit and it set me off looking for Marc Jacobs pink mouse pumps because yes I truly am that susceptible. In the end I decided I didn't really want to wear mice on my feet but I wouldn't mind a pair of pink shoes. Which is how I ended up ordering a pair of fluorescent pink espadrilles from the Matches website when they had an extra 20% off their sale. They said they came up small so I thought the size 5 should be fine. They came, I opened the box, I moved aside the tissue paper, gasped and slammed down the box lid. They were the most truly terrifying shade of pink EVER. That pic above of the espadrilles are not a true representation of the colour - that's at about 50% luminosity. I eventually got them back out of the box and tried them on. Absolutely humongous! Boats! Cruise boats! Luminous cruise boats. They went back.

Dodo Le Parisienne Ballet Pumps

And then I put my sensible head back on and ordered some burgundy Dodo Le Parisenne ballet pumps because I thought they looked a pretty good dupe of the damson Porselli ballet pumps which I had been hankering after so long but couldn't bring myself to buy. They came, they fitted, they went back. The  pump was a bit too structured, the leather a touch too shiny and the colour was a soupçon too red - basically they were not the damson Porsellis. And the daftest thing? I haven't even seen a pair of Porsellis in real life (!) to compare them to but I have this mental image of what they will be like and they will be the softest squidgiest leather ever in the most perfect yummy scrummy deep fabulous damson shade. I guess, this might be one of those pairs of shoes where it's the original or nothing. Ho hum. Better get saving.




Manebi Pink Espadrilles.

Errr .... at the same time that I ordered the Dodo Le Parisienne ballet pumps, I ordered another pair of  pink Manebi espadrilles because I never learn and I was still on a pink shoe bender. This time in a much softer shade. And in the right size. I had high hopes for these and I thought they were the most lovely stonewashed pink. I opened the box and unwrapped the tissue paper and I smiled. And then I took them out and my happy expression turned to one of puzzlement as I tried to figure out which shoe was the left and which was the right. Yup, it's a pair of those unifeet type shoes. Hmmph. It took me a while but I got there - the giveaway was the embroidered logo on the outer part of the shoe. I never even noticed this funny little trait with the previous pair as they were so big, my feet never touched the sides. Anyway, I did my round the rug strut in them and found myself flip flopping my way out of them. Huge again! So who's the clever eejit (I've been hanging around too many Irish ladies) who wrote that these came up small? They need to go back to school to learn their big from small. Anyway, the espadrilles went back.

Yes I extolled the virtues of this dress and I still stand by the fact that this is a fab little dress but there was the tiniest niggle - the length. And yes yes I know I said I didn't care anymore about how short my skirt lengths were but it turns out I do.



I think the dress cut off at an unflattering point on the legs for me.  I'm classing this as a return as I didn't keep it but it did go to to a good home - to Michelle who has better legs. I errm bought another denim dress to placate my loss. But that's a story for another day. Moving on quickly .....

H&M Denim Dress

What's this? Not another denim dress? No sooner had I got rid of one and bought another, I spotted this one.



Beautiful summer colour and cut in a buffet style i.e. eat all you like style. And huge jam your hands in pockets. I loved it on sight. I took it home and threw it on and it was sooooo comfeeeee. And an inch too long. An inch doesn't sound like much but it really can be make or break on a dress for me. That one inch can land me in frumpy dumpy territory. There was also a little part of me which said "Come on now Sue, another denim dress ... really, seriously?" Yes really and seriously. Anyway, to cut a long story short, it's a lovely dress but I returned it. A girl can only have so many denim dresses you know!

Zara Sweatshirts

I ordered them in both colourways and kept neither. I liked the designs and disliked the material - a little bit too synthetic on the eye and to the touch. Such a shame as the cut was good and if it had been predominantly cotton, it could have been a whole different story.


I actually had high hopes for the minty green one - I am going through a serious trying every colour under the rainbow phase but alas it was not meant to be. Ah well. Besides, more sweatshirts have passed through my front door since then.


Zara White Ankle Strap Sandals

The thing with me is once I've get a bee in my bonnet about something, it buzzes till I finally splat it to death. I wanted white sandals last year and I found a lovely leather pair in Zara but there was a strap part at the back which gaped.


The gap bugged me enough to return them. I almost wish I hadn't as I haven't found a pair I like as much since. I still have this thing for the perfect white sandals and then these came along.



I loved the style, the heel was workable and the only hiccup I could see was that they were synthetic rather than real leather. And they appeared on the website for two days and then poooof! Gone. Oh! This is where I lose my mind again and then realise it's not me - it's them - they've sold out. But hey, I found them lurking in the corner of my local Zara! I brought them home, examined them thoroughly and declared the patent finish too plasticy. And they didn't fit me properly at the back again. So back they went. And do you know what? I already know I don't get on with Zara shoes and I never have (save for one pair of leather espadrilles) and I don't know why I still keep trying but I do. One day ... one day!



Moving on to February I bought and returned :

Zara Black Wax Coated Chinos.

I love chinos - a shape and style which works on me. I have 5 operational pairs (yes, sometimes I take a break from jeans but not often) so I think I can vouch for them. The Zara chinos I'd spotted online and then the Allwornout girls extolled their virtues and I thought this might be the answer to my wax coated prayers.


They came, they looked lovely from the front and were incredibly flattering and looked dire round the back. It wasnt the chinos fault, it was something more to do with my backside. Usually I don't look too closely but for some strange reason I was compelled to with these. There was a part of me that was thinking, what the eye doesn't see, we won't fuss about too much but I'm afraid the memory of my bum was lodged in there and it wasn't good. It really wasn't good. They went.

Zara Ivory Sweatshirt.

This came along at the same time as the lilac jumper and the black wax coated chinos.



There is nothing wrong with this sweatshirt whatsoever. It's 100% cotton, has a touch of the Marant about it, looks great with blue jeans and yet I was strangely aloof to the said item. I don't know if I'm tiring a little of looking at the whole boho Marant thing but there's a part of me which thinks maybe its  days are numbered. I still like what she puts out but I prefer the simpler lines and less flamboyant pieces. That's my thought for February - come March, I will be running round in rara skirts and will have probably bought this sweatshirt again. Oh yes, I bought this in a size small as opposed to the medium which I would normally have taken. Just incase anybody out there likes it.


Cos Graphic Print Jumper.

Hello? Are you still with me? Or were you just nodding off - this post is getting a bit long isn't it? I started it off thinking there wasn't that much but lo and behold this is an eye opener. Anyway, now that you're back in the room, did you know that Cos have some amazing sales? I got a bit trigger happy with the old buy button when they reached the end of their sales when some of their tops and blouses were going for somewhere between £15 to £18 each instead of their usual £45 - £60 bracket. I ordered 4 things (in for a penny, in for a pound) and the one I returned was this weird fitting little jumper. I liked the print, I knew what the cotton was going to be like - I just hadn't bargained on the fit. Short in the body and a bit off everywhere else. I bidded it bye bye!


Zara Pleated Skirt

Yes it's a skirt. I'm branching out in to stuff I don't normally wear. And once I realised that, I had to send it back.


But it is a lovely colour and print. So sharp and vibrant for those who want to do colour but not a smack in the face colour as it can be toned down with a navy v-neck and dark accessories. I don't have a navy v-neck and for once I had my sensible head on because having this skirt would have meant additional purchases to make this wearable. Polish halo. But I still like it. Though it does little for my hips.


Chinti & Parker Dusky Pink Shirt

Guess what? I don't just shop and return at Zara you know and I do purchase from other places. This is a lovely cotton voile shirt. I had my fingers crossed for this and it might have been the reason why other purchases went back so I could have something nicer.



The thing with me is I can't resist a nice soft cotton voile and especially when it's a lovely soft dusky shade like this. It has a timelessness about it and I love clothes like this which stay in your wardrobe year after year. Timeless and effortless. However, lovely as it was, it didn't fit. The armholes were cut very low which meant the sleeves pulled and were restrictive when you moved your arms. Gutted. Really gutted. I notice that this is now back at full price. Pfft!


Jigsaw Bayswater Pumps

Remember these? I put them on my Black Friday post last year and didn't buy them. They came up reduced at John Lewis just recently and I nabbed a pair.





They don't fit :o(




So now that I've gone through that exercise, my conclusion is :

• I've not had much luck shoe shopping these last two months. You don't say?

• I've  bought and returned a lot to Zara. Somewhere along the way, they will finally get some money out of me.

• I like denim dresses. No kidding?

• I'm really susceptible and impressionable. Pink mouse pumps. Hmmm.

• When I say I like something, I mean it. Hence the fact I'm still chasing my tail over things I coveted last year.

• I guess I like to be really sure about what I want in my wardrobe. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

• I've well and truly earned my title as the Queen of Returns. Well and truly.

Confession time peeps. I'm still on the fence with my bright pink shell top. I wince and squint at myself in the mirror whenever I put it on. However, I am sticking with the ivory one because I feel good and comfortable in that one. I know I will get my wear out of it and it doesn't make me break out in a cold sweat every time I look at it. I am a little colour coward. 

But I still want to introduce colour in to the wardrobe and I thought it might be better if I went a bit softer. How about a little bit of lilac?

Gap Jumper (old)

• Size up. Well I had to - doesn't mean you have to but I had to.

• For all those people who struggle with wearing a casual white tee - this is a good alternative!

• Take a look at Trea's post on shell tops where she has done a great roundup of the ones out there currently and look at how she's wearing hers for more inspiration.

• Update : 08/02/14 - the link to the top keeps moving so for reference - the product code for the top is bb411193. It is the brighter pink of the two pink shell tops which they currently have on the website. 

First month of 2014 down already and I 've only just got this post out. I started it a little while back and in between I went off and did stuff and then found it again and thought ... hmmm... let's pick up again and let's try and finish this time.

Anyway, I thought it might be an idea to do a little round up of some of the good AND bad things which landed in my wardrobe last/this year. It's good to include the mistakes - they always say, it's how you learn.

Good Wardrobe Items

• Zara denim shirt. I tried on innumerable denim shirts but really struggled to find the perfect one. If the fit was right, the finish and distressing would be just a little too manufactured and too obvious on many of them.  So I bought one which didn't have this kind of finish on them. Problem solved. I have to say I have enjoyed this item more than I thought I would and it has proved more versatile than I first imagined. I even found myself doing double denim with this shirt as it contrasts significantly with all the other denim bottoms I have in my wardrobe. And it must be a goodie - I bought it last spring/summer and they continued it through autumn/winter and Zara have just brought it out again. It's one of those little under the radar numbers.

• Silver leather Zara espadrilles.  I got these at a brilliant price when I thought all chances of nabbing them had gone out of the sale window. These (along with my other two pairs of River Island espadrilles) were my go to footwear during the hot weather. Not as stifling as a pair of Converse and lighter and comfier to be honest. They also hold your foot so much better than ballet pumps or flip flops. No toe gripping required. I like the pairs which have a rubber sole on the bottom rather than the rope soles. If you get caught in the rain, the rope soles absorb like sponges. Squelch squelch. I'm obviously speaking from experience. But they do dry out. Phew!

• Medwinds Black Ankle Boots. I got rid of my Topshop Ambush boots earlier this year and thought nothing of it till I got to the winter months and found I had no daytime footwear to wear with a dress. But somehow, these ankle boots manage to magically do the job. And they work well with jeans too. I have Marlene to thank for putting me on the right track for getting a pair of boots like this. My first instinct would be to go for a more casual boot only to wear with jeans but these smarter ones have a touch more class and elegance. Maybe I'm growing up finally .... maybe.

• H&M Low (not very) Skinny Jeans. I switched allegiance from New Look jeans to H&M jeans this year. I used to buy jeans from New Look because they had the perfect leg lengths for me and they still do but I haven't got on with their washes, cuts or finishes for the last couple of years. I found this pair of H&M Low (not very) Skinny jeans earlier this year and they proved to be the perfect jeans for wearing without turnups. I think they might best be described as the perfect "skinny straight" jean. For the record, I'm not wearing them much at the moment, they are erm .. snug and they don't have much give - I still haven't lost those Christmas pounds and I have to say, I'm not trying very hard or rather I have no will power. But they will be back in action soon or I'll change my name to Big Fib.

• Uniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket. I have a love hate relationship with this little number. I love it because it provides extra warmth on those cold cold evenings when I'm hanging around watching U8 football training. I layer up and then pop this jacket on before I head out of the door. I feel naked if I go out without it. I think part of this is all in my mind that is supposed to keep me toasty and so I believe it to do that. I think it does it ... but not as well as I would have liked. Infact, I think what I really need is this one which I think is the slightly warmer version of the one I've got. And the hate part of this jacket? I hate it because I should have bought a size bigger and I kind of look like I'm doing a Superman mid change thing with my undone poppers AND the neckline is a little irritating as it's a little "sharp" around the edges. It can be remedied with a well placed scarf but if I was doing it again, I'd buy the one with a higher neck. Anyway, I've got my jacket, I'm not getting another, let's make the most of it and I have to say, I have worn it for every training session since we started. It's been nothing if not useful. Oh yes - it also packs away to diddly squat so I quite often take it away with me when I'm going anywhere where I think I might be cold.

• Zara Parka. You've seen me extolling it's virtues here and I have to say, it's my go to coat of the season simply because it's a damned toasty coat and I can't get enough of those fleece lined pockets. It's big and I can fit layers underneath it. It's had a thorough 1 hour pouring rain waterproof testing and it passed with flying colours. The bad points are the zips on the pockets (yeah yeah Helen), the sleeves are a touch long and when I'm standing outside on a cold evening, I wish it was another 10 inches longer to cover my knees but only when I'm standing outside on a cold evening. Other than that, I like it's styling and it's actually a good length without swamping me. Oh yes! You're also liable to get knocked down crossing the road in this if you've got the hood up. It's one of those hoods that stays facing forwards even when you've turned your head. You have to do a whole body turn to see which way cars are coming when you are crossing the road. But it's not the end of the world. Unless you don't do a full body turn ... :o(

• Sorel Caribou Boots. Yep, I've only had them less than a month but I think these boots make my outside world a much better place. I like the feeling of being almost invincible in them because they do look like they could do some serious damage along with keeping your feet warm. Imagine being in the Canadian Wilderness with a pair of these on your feet. A big bear looms up behind you - a few karate kicks (Hi-Yah!!) with these on your feet and it's off! Want some more Mr Bear? No? Didn't think so. But to all intents and purposes, they keep my feet warm and that's why I bought them.