It's Christmas!

I can never decide if posts with Christmas (or Birthday) presents in them are crude but, in the absence of strong feeling either way, I decided to share some of mine. As well as my Christmas day outfit. My ideal Christmas Day would be spent in pyjamas. When I was a kid, I was never fussed for getting dressed at Christmas and did so begrudgingly. Now that I am old and spend Christmas visiting family and whatnot, pyjamas won't cut it. Yup, I am firmly in the 'pyjamas should only be worn in the house' camp. The only excusable exception to this are:

• Nipping to the corner shop for milk (etc) and, even then you should add trainers and a sufficiently outdoor appropriate hoodie or similar.
• Unexpectedly having to pick someone up from somewhere in the car - see rule above for making said pyjama wearing acceptable.
• Emergency shit like fire alarms or ambulance travel.
• Being aged 5 or under - embrace it small ones!

Now, my Christmas day wear needs to be:

• Comfortable with plenty room for a food baby.
• Still look 'me'
• Have some sparkle. Well, it is Christmas after all.

Here's what I went with:

Dress: vintage from Godiva in Edinburgh, Cardi: Primark, Belt: Accessorize, Glitter ankle boots: schuh, necklace: Plastique.

How weird does my nose look? It looks like I've had an odd extension to it. I haven't. 

This outfit basically ticks all the Christmas boxes for me: the dress is pretty but also comfy (elasticated waist) and demure enough for a day with in-laws and the belt's a bit loose so plenty room for Chrimbo munching. Those and the cardi are lurex threaded so there's your sparkle. And, there's extra sparkle in the glittery boots. Which also have a heel that's low enough for any Christmas Day walks that get chucked in. My gorgeous mirrored Plastique necklace adds a final statement. What did you wear? If you say pyjamas, I'll be sick with jealousy!

And so to the potentially tasteless gift flashing. I got some lovely gift from some awesome people, including gift cards (NEVER impersonal  - don't believe anyone who says otherwise!), rum, Grasmere gingerbread, nice smellies, useful notecards and note books and, (casual as you like), a pair of Charlotte Olympia Priscilla in glitter. Oh my days. I can't WAIT to wear them. Mind you, I did wear them about the house while I tidied up Christmas stuff last night...

I hope you all had an ace Christmas! Here's to a happy New Year next...

The best jumper dress EVER! And some naughty spending.

I started this year yapping about how I needed to cut back on spending. I am not doing a very good job of it. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm a slave to store or credit cards (I'm no-one's fool and I won't be paying interest to some giant corporation when I could be spending that money on more shoes. That's just bad maths!), it's just that, sometimes if I see something nice, I can't resist! Sometimes I am sensible. Case in point, this dress:

Dress: H&M £29.99

It's a wee H&M number and pictures can't do justice to how pretty it looks on. It's boned in the top and whittles my waist to a tiny nothing then kicks over my hips and thighs. It's like the ultimate disguise - who needs fugly shapewear, right? Amazing flattery in an item is one of my sure fire deal makers when it comes to buying things I shouldn't. Plus, the sweetheart neckline is so very 50's lady on holiday at some chic seaside resort - I can't help wanting to wear very bright lipstick, big shades and, perhaps, a glamorous head scarf or neckerchief when I put it on. 

Anyway, to the spending. I tried the dress on and it fit beautifully etc but I decided that I couldn't afford it and put it back, intending to come back for her on payday. Now, truth be told, I didn't quite make it to payday. The reason I jumped in early and drained the bottom of my bank account was because I got a cheeky wee email with a 25% off code, so it seemed rude not to go for it. Shopping sucker or chiconomics?

Today I found myself in H&M (yet again - I'm such an H&M freak. It's kind of embarrassing.). In my defence, it was on a shopping trip initiated by Mr Scribbler. So, technically, I was just along for the ride. And, yet I got sucked into sly shopping again. Using bills money if you're paying it back next week's OK, right? This time, it was two over sized and slightly garish shirts. One in a black and white leopard print (we know how I feel about leopard print) and one in a pastel-y floral. I'm thinking Miami Vice meets Morrissey, meets girl with these babies. I'm also still deciding whether they're keepers or whether I should head back to the shop, tail  (I actually have a tail - like the dude in Shallow Hal. I don't really.) between legs to return them. Miami Vice meets Morrissey, meets girl is just so darn appealing though...

Shirts £7.99 H&M

So that's money in account wrung as tightly as it'll go because of a discount code and bills money pilfered to work a bad 80's/pop fopp look. My next fly shopping fuelling device is........Paypal. I sell a bit of this and that on eBay and then, because Paypal money isn't in my bank account, it doesn't feel like real money and, boom, before you know it, I'm getting spend happy! Again. This time Paypal came in handy for stocking up on Lush essentials online (normally I'd pop to their shops bit I needed some stuff from their retro section which is online only):

They even popped in a free pot of creamed almond and coconut smoothie. How nice!

So far, so 'stocking up on essentials' via Paypal. The, 'all thoughts of reason flying out the window' moment came when I saw this. The 'BEST JUMPER DRESS EVER' of 'title of this blog post' fame:

Dress: Tarquin and Petunia vintage, boots: Schuh, belt: French Connection.

If this was the 80s, I'd be the coolest kid at school, at the roller disco or down at the ice cream parlour, with my shiny, bejewelled, metallic, leopard adorned confection. No joke. This purchase was one of those "shit, if I don't buy this now, some other punk's gonna snap it up and I shall spend the next 3 week ruing what could have been". I came across it when awesome Grace of Britain's-Next-Top-Model-judging fame tweeted to say her new favourite online vintage shop was a joint called Tarquin and Petunia. Finding Grace to be awesome (though, frankly you should have got that from 'Awesome Grace'), I decided it was worth sticking my nose in, figuring it would probably be loaded with well expensive designer vintage and, thus thinking I DIDN'T EVEN STAND A CHANCE OF BEING ABLE TO SHOP. I am aware of my means and while I may idly browse gorgeous designer stuff from time to time, I know that my budget doesn't stretch there. However, this shop was not rammed with designer items or waaaaay over inflated 'vintage' tat you swear you saw recently in Primark. No, their prices were (whisper it) affordable. And their selection tiny but well formed and containing the above piece of leopard embellished joy. So, thank the baby J for Paypal money! And slap my wrist.

Going forward, I do intend to try to be more frugal and less consumerist. I really do. I may fail, but I really will try.

It's amazing!

I'm off to eat a crumpet and think frugal thoughts. Payday is Thursday. Wish me luck.

A vintage fair and some free stuff!

Today (it's Saturday right now though I probably won't post this til Monday or summat. Spreading them out, innit?) was the day Judy's affordable vintage fair came to town.

 

 Yay! The Affordable Vintage fair is a travelling, er, vintage fair that tours the land bringing affordable vintage (really, am I just stating the ever so obvious a lot here? Don't think I think you're stupid, please. I don't.) to towns and cities near YOU. (I don't know where you live). As a result, it'll probably appear on blogs-a-plenty over the next few weeks and, on account of forgetting my camera again AND on account of the fact that folk with far better cameras than mine will no doubt be bringing you it in glorious technicolour, I figured I'd just tell you a wee bit about it and show you my goodies. That is my wont.

The first dress I looked at was a beautiful full prom dress. Black with gold, almost paint, effect and little pink and blue flowers. However, a flip of the price tag revealed it to be £250. £250! Maybe if you're Posh Spice that counts as affordable but, in my little real world, that's 'buy nothing else ALL month and let the bills go unpaid' territory. Sheesh! Needless to say, I stepped the heck away from it.

And that's kind of how the fair goes - there's plenty that is affordable (sub £35ish - even then, a piece or two is my absolute max) and there are some out and out bargains, but there's also a reasonable amount that doesn't fall under affordable at all. The good thing is that there's SO much stuff and whatever your budget, you should be able to pick up some goodies. I was particularly pleased to see local vintage store (that I don't visit often enough!) Godiva in attendance (though I don't think the lovely girl was glad to see me as I bought a dress she had her eye on from the next stall!) and really happy to see From Vintage to Vogue there too. I picked up some lovely dresses from them last time (Lynda sells vintage as well as making vintage reproductions) but then couldn't remember the company name and couldn't find anything on Google either so I'm glad to be able credit her properly this time. Lynda told me she still doesn't have an online store but she does have a website and comments on her dresses have got her thinking about selling them online or to boutiques so keep your eyes peeled. Anyway, this time I picked up a wee 60's dress from her for a very reasonable £15.

It's hard to tell from the picture but it does have a very gently full skirt and nice waist. The square-ish neckline that I was dubious about is actually really flattering too!

And, if you look closely at this one, you can see the massive bow that's on the back! I LOVE the bold colorful floral print of this dress. I believe it shall be coming to my cousin's wedding with me at the end of the month.

My next find was this adorable little picture for £2. Bargain!

And look: there's a message on the back! The stall holder told me that Joanne is her friend. Sad that she got rid of the picture but I'm very happy to have it!

And this lot quite clearly isn't vintage! No, no! Lucky me got a package from the postie containing all this free goodness from Lush! Not one, not two, but NINE (I could've kept counting but we'd have been here a while and, what with my tendency to ramble, you'd have been asleep on your keyboard. If you aren't already. Hello!) perfumes! NINE! I'm sniffing Tuca Tuca (very violet-y) on my wrist just now. There was also some of the new Dirty range, including a shower gel, hair gel (used it this morning!), shaving cream and tooth tabs (??? I think they're basically mints but am a bit afraid to taste them!), PLUS a solid hand cream and a colour supplement for pale people. That'll be me then. I'm one of those nearly blue Scottish people.

If it's nice tomorrow (that being Sunday as I type), I think I'm going to get my bike out in preparation for my sponsored bike ride in September.

How was your weekend? Do tell!

Boom and Bust

Truth be told, I actually wore this outfit a few weeks back and have had the pics sitting in my drafts for a while. Right now, I wouldn't DARE venture out in a 3/4 sleeve or with naked feet. Nuh-uh, no way, no how, I value my extremities too much, thank you very much! However, please do note aforementioned naked feet, clad beautifully in monochrome Irregular Choice from schuh. Shoes # 40, if you will. 40!

And the 3/4 length sleeves. I love the slight "50s housewife with a modern twist" of this outfit. Gingham, nipped waist and ditsy floral = 50s housewife. Perspex name necklace and graphic monochrome shoe = modern twist. Non?

shoes: Irregular Choice @ schuh, dress: H&M, cardi and tee: Primark

And here beginneth a sad tale. I wore this outfit to the day job a few weeks ago. I have this exact dress in leopard print too and, weirdly, the leopard fits perfectly but this one's a bit nippy on the bust. However, it gives such a glorious shape that I tended just to breathe in and get on with it. Until last weekend...

necklace: Tatty Devine

Due to the very snug fit of the dress, an accomplice is usually required when it comes to the entering. i.e. Mr Scribbler needs to zip me up and fasten the button! So last Saturday, whilst getting dressed for the Xmas job (I'm a weekend girl at Lush. It's lush!), I duly had Mr S zip me in. We have to wear black and white at work and I actually quite enjoy coming up with suitable combos that fit within the rules. I like that there's a dress code but that it also allows for a degree of creativity (you can go crazy on accessories.) So anyway, dress zipped, shoes on, coats, scarf et al, out I went and, no sooner had I crossed the road, than I suddenly felt very comfortable. Yup, you guessed it, my boobs could be restrained no more and the zip on the dress gave up and burst! Oh the shame. Thankfully I was so close to home that running back and getting changed was still an option. Now I just need to actually make the time to sit down and see if the zip is salvageable...oh dear.

Anyway, when it came to the above outfit, I merrily wore the dress all day with not so much as a peep from it. Ah, happy days. I love the Irregular Choice shoes involved in the look for a few reasons.

1) I enjoy a bit of monochrome

2) The brogue detailing around the top line is very pretty and gives the shoes a bit more interest

3) Zig-zags!

4) Flat shoes are comfier. Usually. Fact.

5) They have a floopy bow at the ankle.

6) They have a weird lil creature near the heel area - you can see him in the last pic below...

And here's a flashed to be-jiggery pic of the necklace. I'm lucky enough to have had a very kind friend buy me some Tatty Devine for my birthday a few years back. As a kid, it was IMPOSSIBLE to get anything with my name on (although my mum did have an egg cup and a stool made for me - aww!), so the ability to get name things made willy nilly is quite exciting for a name freak like me!

 

Here's my lust have Tatty Devine piece. I totally felt for that witch when Dorothy nicked off with her shoes...