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Whistles had their 20% off promotion the other week and I knew I was going for this lovely star blouse which I'd been coveting since I first saw it on My_fashionforecast. It got it's first outing on a date out with some mums for afternoon tea. The lovely thing about this blouse is that it is quite versatile as a dress up and dress down item. Just change the shoes, it's as easy as that.

I tried the M&S Velvet blazer the other day and it's a goody. It's very similar to one I already have which I picked up last year and which I throw on with jeans and trainers and just lifts a daytime school run outfit a little. And a little red bag just to pick out the colour on the blouse? We all like a little matchy matchy don't we?

Friday Five (1 of 5) Gold

Those gold pumps up there? I've bought them three times in total. I bought them originally early in the year when they were full price. Then I returned them as I thought I would probably be living in my sandals before long and they wouldn't get worn. Then there was a discount offer so I ordered them again and when they arrived I suddenly developed heel pain so I ended up returning them again. They kept dropping in price and now I've bought them for the third time and I'm not returning them. There I said it and I know you're going to say, it's nearly winter and you won't get the wear out of them but you know what - I'm going to take my chances. I have some similar silver ones and I've worn them lot recently so I think I'll be okay with the gold. For the record, I bought them a size up and I'm popping my fleecy insoles in. 

Friday Five (2 of 5) Winter Jeans

Those Topshop Dree jeans I bought last week? I said I was working them out. Well I've worked them out. They're not for me. They fitted but believe it or not, they were actually too short on little old me of all people. So back I went to the online surfing board and I ended up with some petite jeans from M&S and I can't believe they actually do them in short and extra short length. Just out of curiosity, I ordered them both. I kept the extra short, they just worked better on me - I'm long of body and short of leg. The normal short length should work well on regular petites (about 5ft 3). I've worn them today and they've kept their shape well and they even go with the ASOS Ruben boots which fit neatly underneath. I would say they are a straightish leg jean.




Oh yes, the Ruben boots, I was working them out as well last week wasn't I? They're a lovely soft leather and a very comfortable height but my only reservation about the boots is that I might not get the wear out of them - I'm not going to lie - I live in my pair of Ugg Glens for the school run in the winter. 

Friday Five (3 of 5) Bring

Anyone use this mobile app? I've had it for a while - it was one of those things that the hubs found which he thought would enrich our physical wellbeing. It's basically a shopping list app for your phone. You enter all the things you need for when you go shopping and you tap each item off as you put them in the trolley. So far so boring. I didn't really get on board with it and favoured a piece of paper and a pen but I've found myself sort of warming to it recently and it's quite useful as you and your other half can have access to the same list which you can both add to and the listing updates accordingly. So when he finishes the orange juice and he says "we need orange juice", I tell him to put it on Bring. Don't tell him I quite like the app. I don't want to hear the "I told you so".

Friday Five (4 of 5) Furry




Yes we've had a bit of an Indian summer this week but I've bought myself a little fur stole thingy for my neck. It's one of those infinity styles where it's made in a loop and you just pop it on over your head. I already have a rather nice striped tan and black one from a few years back but this one is a little smaller and neater to wear. I actually bought this for wearing at home when you want something around your neck but you don't want a scarf wafting around you getting in the way whilst you're busy doing what you do during the day. So no more scarf ends in the dishwasher when you bend over! There's method in my madness. And it was £4 in Primark I think.

Friday Five (5 of 5) No Spend October

#nospendoctober is the challenge of shopping your own wardrobe and not buying anything new for  the month of October. I really do want to join in and it should be no biggie because I do actually wear a lot of the same clothes over and over (you will find me in my grey Gap cashmere crew neck and a pair of black jeans for the  next five months), so why am I so hesitant to join in? Because I would be setting myself up for a big fat fail. I do love a browse round the shops and the thrill of finding a little gem in the most unexpected places and to take that away from me ... I would be sad. And if you tell me not to do something, that puts the little devil on my shoulder. Anyway, if you want to join in with a bunch of ladies who are going in for this challenge, have a look here at this IG post from Rachelthehat. 

Wacoal Lace Affair Bra in Rose Dust

I have to say the Wacoal Lace Affair Bralettes are amongst the comfiest and prettiest soft bras I own. Yes you can buy lots of bralettes everywhere these days but I have to say, these are just lovely. Treat yourself

What do you think? A bit rocking aren't they? Really really cool. And even though they look to be mega high, I managed about 5 metres on the shop floor in them without too much trouble. Put it this way, there were no sharp flashes of pain which usually happens when I try a heel this high. Infact I've tried some heeled shoes lower than this and buckled immediately. But imagine these with a Hades jumper or a Bella Freud and some cool jeans. Perfect!

Friday Five (3 of 5) Jumpers

Well I know it's 20% off Whistles this week and I did pick up this lovely red jumper before deciding it wasn't the red jumper for me. I thought it was the brightness of the red but it was more to do with the high neckline which had major (double) chin enhancing properties. Such a shame as I loved the boxy shape. So, I ordered a plain red merino/cashmere mix crew neck from Woolovers. I put it on and I immediately felt happy in a way that I didn't in the Whistles one so I knew I was right about the neck. And do you know what? If you purchase two of the Woolover cashmere/merino crew neck jumpers currently, they retail at £55 for two instead of £39 each. They're good basics - I already have a grey one (seen here) which has worn and washed well. And this is not sponsored.

Friday Five (4 of 5) Currently Investigating




I say currently investigating as I was hoping to try a different shape of jean for the winter which I could wear with boots and which weren't skinny jeans. So I thought I'd try the Topshop Dree (in the petite) which I would say are a slim cut cropped jean with a small flare. To be worn with a pair of sock boots. But not the pointy satin stiletto style ones as they have no place on my school run. Instead I picked the ASOS Ruben Boots which come far enough up the leg and remind me of the Topshop  Magnificent boots from previous years which I had to negate on the grounds that they were too high. And I have to say so far, so good, both fit and do what I want. They only came today so I still need to play. Oh yes, for the record, I think the Topshop Drew jeans fit as I would imagine a pair of JBrand Selenas would.

Friday Five (5 of 5) Half a Stone




My jeans haven't fitted nicely for the last year and a half. It's my own fault - I've told you before about my penchant for double breakfasts and doughnuts. Anyway, I made a concerted effort at the end of July to shift the half stone extra I was carrying and today I hit target. And then had a doughnut.  Old habits die hard.

* Bralette c/o Wacoal

I don't know about you but I've not really worn scarves that much for the last four years or so. I used to be a bit of scarf/pashmina queen when I was working and I usually had a pashmina (it was the thing at the time) wrapped around my neck at work as I was sat under the air con. I probably had my coat on as well. Anyway, time moves on and I found myself moving away from the scarves. I think I averaged maybe three scarves a year for the last few years and if you go through my feed, you'll probably see the same ones on repeat. They fell out of favour with me big time. 

However, I spotted a lovely scarf online and was about to hit the button on it when I remembered I probably had something not to dissimilar which I could work with. So out came a little old Primark number which I threw and tied around my neck, just so. And then I got asked how I tied the scarf on IG so I did a little IG story as it really is the simplest technique ever and I'm sure a lot of people already know how to do this. 

But basically you need to be working with a square scarf. Mine is approx 100cm square. Fold it diagonally once so it's a triangle. Place the triangle part at the front and bring the two ends round the back and back to the front. Tie a knot. Faff in to place. Like in this diagram I found.

So no reinventing the wheel or anything - but just if you fancy something different from the usual big long scarf things, here are just a few other square offerings to whet your appetite. Nothing overly bold but a little bohemian (but not boho).




The Soeur Flower Scarf is the scarf I was after in the first place. Still hankering. Still hankering.

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My jumper is circa 2012 and was from one of the last Aubin & Wills Collections before they left our high street. I've created a 2017 version of my look and I've mixed and matched the accessories so they are interchangeable to get a daytime or evening look. I still like to be comfortable and look like me when I go out.

Hi! So I've not been around with one of these for a bit - but I'm back! For now.

Friday Five (1 of 5) Nice Smells

Ding! 

"Have you seen those Aldi room diffusers which look like the Jo Malone ones? my friend asked me. "It was in the Daily Mirror online!"

Err no. I don't read the Daily Mirror. But it was just the alert I needed to get on the case. And somehow I managed to get lucky and score the diffusers in the Lime Basil & Mandarin and the Pomegranate Noir. I found these on the regular household aisles rather than the Special Offer ones but if they've sold out or you just can't get hold of them this time, wait till the 19th when they are launching the Pear & Freesia room diffuser. I'll see you there.


Friday Five (2 of 5) Transition




It's time to do the wardrobe switchover and it's been a bit of a slog doing it as I'm one of those people who also has to do all the de-pilling of past season jumpers so they are pristine again. It's a fact of life that most knitwear will pill to some degree whether they be acrylic or wool or cashmere. Chloegraceb on IG recommended the Philips GC026 Fabric Shaver a while back and so I bought one because I love stuff like that. I tend to use a razor on most knitwear but every now and then, it's not suitable for some types of knits. I tried it on one of my bobbly old cardis from last year and it seems to be doing the job. Some cheap knitwear I can let go but some of them if I like the style enough, I will give them a bit of TLC to bring them back to life.

Friday Five (3 of 5) Silver Boots

On IG, Bean does a #Fridayfeet each Friday and last week she had a lovely pair of silver/pewter coloured pair of boots which I knew she had picked up early in the year in the &Other Stories sale. I wasn't after a pair then so didn't think anything of it till last Friday when I suddenly decided I needed a pair of silver/pewter boots like hers. Oh the power of the Gram! Well ... I found a pair of silver/pewter boots in Primarni almost identical to the ones Bean has. That's put a smile on my face and a spring in my step.

Friday Five (4 of 5) Jumper'round

Jumper'round, jump up jump up jump down! (nice little earwig for you). So September arrived and along with it the order and purchase of a plethora of jumpers. I am currently shortlisting through these and even as I type this up I know which one of these hasn't made the cut. I'll keep you guessing.


From L to R.

Tesco F&F Embroidered Bishop Sleeve Jumper. I spotted this the other day whilst I was supposed to be doing a food shop. Obviously I couldn't resist a play and it was nicer than I thought and the sleeves were not too long. Quite an important thing if the sleeves are meant to be a feature otherwise it doesn't bother me too much as I shrug all my too long jumper sleeves up anyway. The wool is quite dense and very soft and it hangs really well. I looked better in an 8 than my regular size 10 and I think that's due to my lack of height more than anything. If you're taller, you can probably get away with your usual size.

H&M Green Alpaca Jumper. Yes I will look like the Jolly Green (mini) Giant in this big fluffy jumper but I don't care. I had my eye on it from the first time I saw it and eventually I hit the commit button. If you need me, I'll be the one roasting in the corner in the big green jumper.

Sainsburys Tu Cable Knit Jumper. Not the most exciting jumper on the block but you know what, those are the ones with some longevity. I tried this on and I grabbed a size 14 to get the slouch.




I asked the store to hold it for me and I'd be back for it a bit later and somehow they messed that up and let my jumper go. And it was the only size 14 in store. It's not a traditional Aran as it's actually a cotton blend so a little lighter and easier to look after - stick a heattech or heatgen vest on underneath and you're sorted for a little extra warmth. But for right now ... it's perfect.

Marks & Spencer Pearl Sleeve Jumper. Not my usual thing except it's grey. But for some strange reason I am extraordinarily drawn to the pearls and the balloon sleeves which have shape but not too much volume. All very wearable and the perfect evening going out jumper if that's your kind of thing. This is one to take in your regular size.

Friday Five (5 of 5) Navy Blue Furry Coat of Dreams




Anybody know when Whistles are doing their 20% discount code? I've just found my navy faux fur coat of dreams.

Have you been in Asda Home lately? Me neither till yesterday. But I've been in housey mode these last few weeks and having done a little bit of painting and tarting up the house, I thought I might need some new bits just to oomph things up a bit. I'm one of those people who live with the same things, day in day out and everything has it's place. I'm boring like that but having just painted the walls in the downstairs toilet, I thought it needed a little interest. Yes, the walls were clean but I was looking at the same thing. Yawn, yawn. So after scouring through H&M homewares (nothing quite right but nice cushion selection), I looked on the Asda homewares site because I hadn't been there for a while and I remembered that they had some nice home bits and pieces. This year, their cushions are pants (H&M win on the cushions front), but I was impressed with their other offerings. Enough to have a proper scout round see what else was of interest.



1. Skull in a Bell Jar
Not to everyone's tastes but there are some people out there who decorate on the dark side and like a little animal skull in a bell jar to sit on their side board or bookshelf. I think it looks like it's done very well - me, I should have gone for the white porcelain bunny in a bell jar which they had the other year. Very cute in a wrong kind of way.

2. Monochrome Knitted Throw
I looked through all their throws and this was the one I liked - it's monochrome and it's got tassels. Cool.

3. Marble Print Mini Cushion
It's a bit blingy in a good blingy kind of way. But it's only a 30cm square cushion so not too blingy big in your face.

So what did you think to Asda's home offerings? Worth a gander?


Last Note :

• A special mention goes to Mr Fox in a Bell Jar. I love him. He's the reason I went in to store as I had to see him for myself. I brought him home with me. The hubs will hate him.

After receiving quite a few enquiries about this jumper on Stories, I thought I'd leave you with the details on here.

The jumper is actually chenille - which seems to be making a huge resurgence this season. I took one look at the sizes available and grabbed a size Large as I was aiming for a slightly oversized look.  I'm normally a size Small or UK 10. Having said that, the size Large isn't actually drowning me too much but still has a little shape - it's not dragging if you know what I mean? It's not too heavy in weight if comparing to a wool jumper and not itchy but very soft. It's quite a dense knit - this one is going to keep you really warm as we head in to the colder months. And it gets better - it comes in four colours and is machine washable.

Don't say I'm not good to you, I sweated cobs trying this on today.