Well I don't often do this. Photograph things I spot out and about on my travels - I always feel a bit of a berk taking pics of myself prancing in front of a mirror - it's okay in the privacy of your own home but a bit weird in a shop especially on the shop floor. In addition, I also worry that the shop assistants mistake me for a retail spy or something and arrest me or turf me out of a store and that just wouldn't do would it now? Embarrasing. With a capital E.
But whilst in Matalan yesterday, I was feeling a little braver. I went there for a specific purpose. To pick up a coat which I had my eye on and which is to be a Chrissy present from a friend and also to check out a few bits which I'd seen online. So this is a bit random but whilst in store, I spotted this ....
Fake Fur (not online)
I picked this faux fur up out of curiosity and partly because I have this thing about having to try on every fur coat I see on my travels. And it was a lot nicer than I thought. It's usually the case, when you set your expectations criminally low - the opposite always happens. And of course it's totally sold out online so I can't give you any links - I know because I've seen it online previously but it's not there now. Soddus Lawus. I put this pic out on Instagram earlier and I had quite a positive response to it. It's really quite pimp'tastic isn't it? There were quite a few in store though ... I could be tempted to do a return trip despite the Grumps exclaiming "what on earth have you got on?" when he saw the pic. Hmmm. And it must be quite eye catching ... I noticed people giving me the look up and down as they walked past me trying it on.
I did see a few handbags which looked interesting. This one makes quite a statement and is around the £20 mark from memory. And not online off course!
Leopard Bag (not online)
.... although I'm more likely to pick up one of these little clutches which are not online either. Perfect to lift those little black outfits which so many of us will be donning over the festive period.
Suedette Clutches (not online)
However, these envelope clutches are online but not in store (!) which I would like to have had a closer look at especially at the special offer price of £8. Both colours look good and I'm quite taken with the silver which seems to also have a hint of bronze mixed in.
And when I win the lottery, I will have an Anya Hindmarch Valorie glitter clutch but until then ... maybe this black glitter lock clutch will do? It's always good to have something like this .... you know, just incase! Again, not found in my store but they are online. Hoorah!
And does anybody need party shoes? I wanted to see what these caged sandals were like in real life but guess what? They weren't in store! I'm also starting to see a pattern here - if it's online, it's not in store and if it's in store, it's not online. I prefer the metallic version here - there's something about the Christmas season which brings out the shiny shiny in me but there is a classic black (but doesn't look as good) too for the princely sum of £22.
And I have bought this jumper previously though I don't have any pics of me in it ....
This was going to be my Christmas jumper but I returned it on the eve of the 28 day return policy :o) I eventually passed this up for another Christmas jumper instead. Fickle me, fickle me. I do have to say it is really lovely and soft and very warm. You won't be displeased with it should you get one.
And if you manage to pick up one of these boucle boyfriend coats - they're very good for £30 and they're not dissimilar to my Topshop one which I recently bought. The teal is the standout colour out of the three colours they have (black, pale blue and teal) and is quite striking. The stock photo looks more navy, but the colour in real life is more teal. I forgot to take a photo to get a better picture and besides my phone was starting to make that annoying low battery beep to tell me it's about to conk out!
Oh and then there were the Christmas decorations whilst I was at the tills. I liked the look of these feather wrapped baubles ...
Very au naturel and muted! And see the feather glass droplet bauble below? It's £3 but there is a similar one retailing at £8 in Anthropologie currently. Spot the difference!
Oh and the one below might just be my favourite .... which I spotted online but not in store.
The Christmas stag decoration is a little more off the cuff and just that little bit more interesting than most decorations I've seen around. At £3 - it's not unreasonable when you think how much more costly it would be if it wasn't in Matalan and in a high end store. Again, I think it has a touch of Anthropologie styling about it. And if you're one of those persons who buys maybe one new decoration each year to add to a collection - this one would be a fab addition.
Anyway, I was in a bit of a rush as I really was only popping in for the Chrissy pressie. Want to know what I was getting? This little number!
Okay - not as exciting as the faux fur jacket but probably a little more me. And no it doesn't go with the jumper I have on today but you get the idea. I tried this in store a few weeks back and a lady walked by and stopped and watched me for a moment or two before saying "that looks really nice on you love". It's the kind of thing I do when I see someone trying on something and I think it looks good on them. Little things, little things but things which make a person's day or helps them make a decision.
Anyway, this was probably the most useless post ever - links to things which I didn't find in store and no links for the things which I did see in store. Random stuff like Christmas bubbles and not a whiff of a Christmas dress or outfit in sight.
I promise to do better next time! And to charge up my phone in advance.
Not a useless post at all! We have just had a family discussion on where to spend Christmas Day and I needed to sit in front of my computer and be completely distracted.(My mother in law gets her way again!) So thank you. Also - on the subject of surprisingly nice fake fur, h&M have great black gilets. I wear mine in size 16 over a size small Uniqlo ultra etc black jacket.
ReplyDeleteI keep popping in to the H&M's in Leeds and we seem to have surprisingly few faux fur items in the stores as there looks to be some good pieces on line but you can never tell what they are like till you see them in real life. Some can be really shiny synthetic horrors and some are the most gorgeous soft lushness you can imagine. But you're right, it's a great way to wear a fur gilet. I actually have an old Oasis black faux fur gilet and I wear mine over my little ULD jacket sometimes as well - it works perfectly.
DeleteI love Matalan! Never actually been in a shop...but at the press days they have such good stuff and I do some freelance styling for them and the pieces are SO good!! Love both the coats x
ReplyDeleteI don't think they have many Matalans' London way do they? The stores are not the most glamourous but they are easy to navigate around and I always think their clothes are made much better than Primark for the price - maybe not always as on trend but they do have some solid basics. And some nice homeware pieces too. Again, it's just picking through the pieces to see what they come up with. Their coats have been pretty good this season. I've now nabbed two!
DeleteLove that fur coat Sue & of course the hot pink clutch.
ReplyDeleteJane xx
My Midlife Fashion
You're all about the pink this season aren't you Jane? That little pink clutch would be fab especially at only £8!
DeleteThe shoes!!! May go on tomorrow after baby ballet, it's on the same retail park...... Xx
ReplyDeleteHa ha! A trip after baby ballet. That's what we mums are like! I think it might be easier to order them and pick them up in store - there are no guarantees that they will be there on the shop floor ... as I have proved!
DeleteGreat post as usual! Can you tell me what size you're wearing in the dogtooth coat please?
ReplyDeleteI'm wearing a size 8. I am normally a size 10 but I went straight for the 8 and its a good fit on the shoulders for me. I'm wearing a thin jumper but I wouldn't wear anything bulkier under the coat but that's fine for how I want to wear it. If I were to go for the 10, I think it would look a bit boxy as I'm only small (5ft 1.5) and the look wouldn't be as "trim". And I'm not sure if you can tell from the stock photo, but it has a tiny pleather trim on the pocket - quite discreet and quite neat. Hope that helps!
DeletePerfect Sue, thank you. I think we're a similar size, so I'm going to take a punt and order the 8 online. The lady was right, it does look really nice on you!
DeleteOh Sue what a great result on the coat front, I really liked the 'Snoop Dog' look alike one on you too! Helen xx
ReplyDeleteI like it but would I wear it? That's the question isn't it Helen!
DeleteWow! Matalan have some amazing goodies! Love that first fur coat, that looks so cool! I am very taken by the sparkly clutches and the sandals are ringers of the Next ones I love but cannot justify as I have the M&S caged sandals, mind you at half the price and a different colour, well.......maybe I can! The Dogstooth coat is fab and the oversize boyfriend coat is also brilliant for the price! I really need to get myself into Matalan more often! xx
ReplyDeleteThey do have some little goodies sometimes - you definitely can't tell online though. I'd bypass most stuff on their site but I do pop in from time to time just to make sure I haven't missed anything.
DeleteSome really great choices here! I'm a bit on the fence about fake fur coats still, but I can certainly appreciate it on others. I loooove the clutch bags and the shoes, and the Christmas ornaments are just darling. The houndstooth coat doesn't do it for me though, I kind of had an overdose of it in the 80's ;)
ReplyDeleteWell I never did the houndstooth thing back in the 80's so maybe my time is now. It's major selling point is the shape and the fit - I'm a real sucker for buying things just on the basis that they fit. I spent too many former years in really ill fitting clothes as they didn't do as many petite ranges in those days and I probably didn't know as much about clothes as I do now and what suits. Age is great for things like this ... but rubbish for wrinkles.
DeleteSo not a useless post, I love this, the fur looks really good on. I have been meaning to take a trip to Matalan as it did look like they had some gorgeous home pieces that were super reasonable. Love the Christmas decorations xx
ReplyDeleteI always like to look at Matalan's Christmas decorations - they have turned out some real gems at times and I still have some little wooden cutwork decorations which bought a few years back which I still bring out each year. But that stag decoration ... I might have to get a few!
DeleteLove the dogtooth coat on you, Sue. It is indeed very you! Perfect. I like a mooch around Matalan occasionally but I never find much in there :-( Lynne xx
ReplyDeleteIt's not everyone's cup of tea but I find that they do some really good kid's clothes. I used to pop in a bit more when I visited my mum as they had a store near her and I used to get the baby vests and pyjamas for the boys from there but not so much now. And the dogtooth coat is quite striking in its own way but I hope to tone it down and make it look less in your face when I wear it.
Deletedogtooth coat is awesome sue. i'm always surprised when i walk into a store how much stuff is not online. how beautiful and delicate are those feather baubles? <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeletesteph / absolutely-fuzzy.com
It's really annoying actually but sometimes it's only because they've sold out online and I'm probably a bit late to the game. If it had been September, I'm sure a lot of stock would have been available. The one that bugs me the most is H&M - the stores and the online stock never seem to correlate and nor do their promotions so what's half price online isn't on the shop floor - now that is really annoying!
DeleteAnd yes, I'm a sucker for a lovely bauble or two as well. I have some beautiful ivory ones which seem to have a snowscape printed on them - barren trees - a little bit haunting. They look much better than they sound!