Payday Purchase

Have you ever seen a movie with a product that no matter how far and wide you search, you can just never find? Having seen The Holiday the night before I left for Australia, I found myself with this pain in the arse problem. You know the scene I'm sure, where Cameron Diaz' character is in the car checking her itinerary and has that to die for pale blue travel wallet? Well apart from spending £500 in Smythson the options for a decent travel wallet are few and far between. In the UK anyway.

Enter Kikki K. Honestly, I love a good stationary shop and I can spend a lot of time in Paperchase choosing a new diary or pen, this Swedish brand however, put Paperchase on a level with 'Clintons' or 'Birthday' (is that even still a brand?).  Anyway, I digress. After spending a while in the store I finally found the travel wallet I had been looking for, whilst it wasn't pale blue there were a number of colour options and different styles.  I finally settled on the black - I'm way to messy to have gone for the pink even though it was beautiful! 

Payday Purchase

For a lot of things a girl can wear, she can get on the high street. I mean realistically, unless you have the disposable income of an a lister sometimes it's just not worth investing your money in designer pieces because the turn around time for wearing them is gone by the time you have saved enough, or at least that's my view. For some things however there is an exception to this rule - bags, shoes and my personal favourite, sunglasses. 

When I moved to Australia I literally only bought my Ray Bans, not wanting to risk bringing anything else that I might risk losing and then having to claim through insurance.  Now that I'm settled however I've realised that the Ray bans can only be worn with certain outfits and that I'm in serious need of a new pair. I've got the Prada minimal baroque in black at home so was initially thinking of a new pair of Chanel's, having seen this new line from Prada however and I was easily swayed. 

The minimal baroque Sunglasses are not too in your face as you get with the likes of Dior and D&G but they are just stylish enough that they stand out to those in the know. The two tone tortoiseshell and black also make them versatile enough to wear with any outfit.  What's not to love about this style? 

Payday Purchase

I'm not usually one for market shopping, choosing instead to stick to brands that I know and trust. When in Rome however, (or Sydney in this case) one must step out of ones comfort zone and for once I'm glad I did. 

Stepping inside Paddy's market you can find an Aladdins cave of products, from knock off Prada purses to fluro wigs. Dig amongst the stalls and stalls of randomness however, and there are plenty of great pieces to be had - such as my favourite Australian purchase so far, my bag. 

Obviously we can see that it is styled after the Hermes Birkin, however - and this is important, it's not a knock off, unlike many other pieces at the market. With change from $50 it was cheaper than going to an average high street store and the best part is that I know that I am not going to walk down the street and bump into ten people with the same bag. Needless to say I'll no longer be shying away from markets when I get back to London!

Payday Purchase

So I've recently moved to Australia to help my company in opening in new locations. Anyone who has ever worked in this environment will tell you that the attire for such an occasion is most definitely not dresses and nice shoes. Having relocated half way round the world however made it difficult for me to bring, shall we say, more functional pieces from my wardrobe. Sure I bought a pair of gym trainers but having to put these with an outfit for work isn't ideal. 

Traipsing round an unfamiliar high street with brands you've never heard of was never going to be an easy thing to do. Luckily one of the girls had already done a walk round and informed me of a particular store 'Cotton On' that had exactly what I was looking for - slogan tee's. Between the four of us we managed to pretty much buy a sample of each available tee, with 2 for $30 (or £15 if you're like me) it's a bargain not to be missed! 

I'll admit I was over slogan tees until I saw the Britney version (left) but now I seem to have rediscovered my love of them. 

Payday Purchase

As you can see from my last post, I've become a sneaker convert. I've been practically living in my new Nike's when not at work and it's become a necessity for me to buy a new pair. I was going to treat myself to a new colour of the Air Max Thea's (if you like something buy it in bulk right?) when I noticed and entire Converse wall in Foot Asylum.

It's been a while since I bought a pair of Converse. I did the whole Converse/Skinnies/Blazer look to death in Uni and as a result put myself off of them. This style however, are the perfect pair to get me back into them.  With a snakeskin texture, leather effect laces and metallic toe cap these are certainly more feminine and stylish than your average Nikes. 

I also treated my nephew to a pair for his Christmas present whilst we were there. Whilst the star print would look more than a bit Chavvy on larger feet, they don't half look cute on his little size 12's. 

Payday Purchase

Wow, it's been a while since I wrote one of these. I feel like every time I write a post I have to justify why I've not written in so long, more to myself than anything if I'm honest. A sign of my own laziness I'm sure! 

Stepping aside from the procrastination and onto the matter at hand, my latest purchase. 

I've never been a fan of trainers, I've always had this thing in my head that certain things are for men only - pints, football and trainers. Weird I know, but lately the influx of trainers worn for fashion as opposed to function has become hard to ignore and who am I to avoid such a blatant trend. Well I've ignored it for the past year but at least I'm finally latching on. 

After going from a trainer hater to someone in desperate need of a pair in the space of a day I enlisted the help of the only person I could trust with such a decision regarding my footwear. Together we went to Westfields and after visiting numerous shops and heated debates over what I should get (he greatly favours Huaraches whilst I was partial to a pair of Flyknits) we both decided we liked the Air Max Thea (above). Surprise surprise not a single shop in Shepards Bush nor my local high street had my size, luckily however a planned trip to Manchester that weekend worked in my favour.

As mentioned, there was a two day lapse in picking my trainers and actually purchasing them, in the mean time I realised my usual attire of 50's style skirts and skater dresses would hardly work with this new choice of footwear. Therefore I spent the next two days shopping determinedly, buying my new jeans for the first time in years and even a new coat especially to wear with my trainers.  Any excuse!

Payday Purchase

I've never been a big fan of trainers. The last pair I bought were a pair of black and pink Lacoste trainers about 8 years ago (they were fashionable then, I swear), I threw them away earlier this year when I discovered them in their box, never worn.  Minus the odd pair of converse of Superga - which in my eyes don't count as trainers, more of a comfort shoe- I've steered clear of any kind of footwear which I could see my brothers wearing.  I've never even been a frequent enough gym goer that I would require anything other than the battered old new balance my sister gave me when I first moved up north (five years ago).

Step foot into Foot Asylum earlier this week however, and I'm in love.  Not only did I end up leaving with a pair of New Balance for day to day wear but I also spotted these beauties out of the corner of my eye.  Trying them on, they're honestly some of the most comfortable things I've ever put on my feet, they don't feel heavy like I remember trainers from back when I was younger and you can feel the weightlessness when you walk.  If, like me, you're going to the gym to help you get into that Christmas party dress, then do it in style with the Nike Free 5.0 Print Trainer, also available in pink.

Payday Purchase

Every year we have an 'IT' coat and unsurprisingly this years comes by way of Spanish retailer Zara. Gracing the pages of Vogue, Elle and every other fashion glossy, the powder pink coat is the must have item on all of our winter shopping lists right? Well, not mine.

I love pink, don't get me wrong, but there is something this shade of a coat that doesn't sit right with me. I found this khaki number in H&M for only £35, a muc better colour, style and, lets face it, price. 

The canvas and leather fabric contrast is a bit repetitive of last years Zara number, but the quilted style of the sleeves offers a fashionable update and the canvas fabric as opposed to wool makes it a better option for the in between months of Autumn and Winter. The best part? Khaki coats will repeat a lot more than a powder pink!

Payday Purchase: Cheeky Pants!!

I visited my sister today and was welcomed by a belated birthday card that felt a little thicker, and dare I say squidgier (is that even a word? who cares, it feels right!) than one would expect.  What do I find inside?  These beauties, a present from my gorgeous cousin in London.  The perfect gift, I loved them!!

After showing my sister, she pointed out that she had seen some similar knickers in Topshop but with a 'Toy Story' print on, something which obviously prompted me to have a little look online.  What a treat met my eyes then.

The so called 'Cheeky Pants' from Topshop will win you no awards in the romance department, that's a given.  But with this unbearable heat, coupled with the fact that I have a flatmate makes them an ideal replacement for pyjama pants!  They come in several different designs, from 'The Moomins' to 'Superman'.  Even better, they're currently on offer of 3 for £10! See below for a few of my favourite designs.

Payday Purchase

Every girl needs a new dress for her birthday.  It's like part of the girl code, no?   Well, we all know that searching for the perfect dress can take time.  Looking for something that elegant, not too chavvy but that will let you stand out from the crowd, yes? 

I decided that instead of going for the fail safe LBD, I wanted something with a pop of colour that would match my hair colour but not require me to make too much of an effort with my hair and make up.

Enter this rouge number from H&M.  I saw it appear online first and immediately pictured Georgia May Jagger's look from the Serpentine Gallery Summer Party.  Obviously, I'm not exactly a model born from Rock Royalty, but the overall look turned out to be great anyway.

Payday Purchase

Whilst this isn't the most extravagant of purchases, we all know that basics carry us through most seasons.  This bag from the Zara Basics range is no exception.  Admittedly I bought this particular bag whilst on holiday at full price and came back to the UK to find it in the sale, however it's low price luckily doesn't make too much of a difference.

A clutch bag can be difficult to carry for day to day activities but a tote can sometimes be a bit much, this messenger bag makes a nice compromise between the two.  Its roll top makes it more casual, and easy to grip under the arm and although it reminds me of a brown lunch bag you would see in an american sitcom, I can see this bag being more than worth it's money.

Payday Purchase

 

So, the end of Uni means that one must treat oneself to and end of term pair of boots (like I need an excuse to shop). I've had my eye on the cut out boots for a while but have been holding out for the right pair. Lucky for me then that Topshop have bought in this pair of beauts.

Perfect for when one wants to wear a nice pair of boots, minus the horrid feeling you get from wearing boots in the hot weather, and even better in that you can accessorise with socks during colder weather and they would still look good. Also the ideal option to go with those little dresses/shorts/skirts, well actually, they're a pretty versatile option that you can wear with anything.

Buy here: topshop.com

 

Payday Purchase

Whilst stripes and neutral minimalism were undoubtedly the key trends on the SS13 runways, metallic hues made an appearance more than once, thanks to designers such as Viktor and Rolfe and Burberry. Whilst metallic colours normally denote futuristic trend, this isn’t the case for the upcoming season, and with Romeo Beckham fronting the Burberry SS13 advertising campaign, you’d of had to of been living under a rock to not of noticed the brand Quality Street-esque take on the colours.

If you have, in fact, been living under the aforementioned rock then lucky for you that the high street has been taking notes. If like me you find metallic colours a little intimidating to work into your everyday wardrobe, then this clutch from H&M may be the perfect option. Priced at only £14.99 it will hardly break the bank, and it’s compact size offers the ideal solution of trying the trend before committing to a bigger purchase.

Payday Purchase

It's a funny thing, I used to literally hate Topshop. Like seriously, my best friend Lauren always shopped in there and I used to refuse to go in because the place gave me such a headache, due to the fact that it appeared to me that girls walked in there with an individualistic style and walked out looking like clones. Obviously in the three years I ended up working there I changed my mind slightly and it could be said that I became one of the aforementioned clones. Since leaving I've reached some kind of happy medium where I can shop in their from time to time but still have my former opinion intact.

 

I used to have a similar opinion of H&M. Value retailers really were not my thing. Now I know how that sounds but I don't mean it in a snobby way, I meant it as in shopping is meant to be a fun activity, not something you do just to end up having to root through piles of clothes on the floor. I mean as a fashion student I respected both brands, but I never really shopped in them. Now, having worked at H&M for the last 7 months I love the place (yes I am one of those geeks who loves their jobs!) and in particular the Trend Range. Take this shirt for example (part of the range), at £29.99 it's a little pricier than the main line but, as with most things, you get what you pay for and this piece is both more on trend and of a better fabric.

 

The two tone of the shirt fits in perfectly with one of the main trends for the upcoming season and with the impetus of shirt wearers you can guarantee you'll look better than all your friends. What’s better? The trend range is only available in certain stores so you are a lot less likely to be looking like one of the Topshop clones! What's not to love!!

Look of the Week: Taylor Swift

What a week she’s had in the press, first her reported split from One Direction’s golden boy Harry Styles and now this. Is no secret that I have a MAJOR fashion crush of Taylor Swift right now (actually, it’s an all out girl crush but you know, potayto potahto), but this dress just takes my obsession with her to a new level! Striking a pose on the red carpet for the People’s Choice awards, Tay Tay opted for this plunging Ralph Lauren dress, emulating the White Out trend that was seen on runways from Calvin Klein to Alexander Wang this season.

Completing her look with some aqua Sultra earrings and a plaited updo, Taylor sure showed us that you actually can get along just fine without the current teen heart throb on your arm!

Payday Purchase

First week back and student loans have dropped, this can only mean one thing - a shopping spree in Zara. As you will all know the beginning of January is sale time, and believe me when I say that Zara have the biggest sale I have ever been to and unlike most sales it isn't simply rails of fragmented unsellable pieces. The Zara sale is actually perfectly organised and neatly lines the walls of the store - therefore no elbows to the head as you battle your way in between rails!

Anyhow, I digress. As you all probably know, every girl should have a leather jacket in their wardrobe; it is not only a great transeasonal piece, but it a real leather jacket will last you for years to come. For some reason, I never even owned a leather jacket - until now. I've invested in this great jacket from Zara, and at only £169, it's a fraction of the price of the jacket I was originally going to buy from Whistles.

Now that is what I call an investment piece!

Payday Purchase

Apologies for the lack of posts, but fear not, all coursework has finally been submitted and there is time to blog again!! What better way to celebrate than with a pair of new boots?

I realise that I'm a fashion student and I am one of those geeks that gets excited in my retail job when a customer asks for wardrobe advice because it gives me a chance to link everything back to catwalk trends and designer influences and some on. Somedays however I just look at myself in the mirror and wonder how the hell they let me on my course with the way I dress!

My footwear seems to be a major factor of this, I seem to own one pair of boots, some uggs and then copious amount of ballet pumps/slippers. Time for a serious footwear overhall then.

What better way to begin this upheaval than with these GORGEOUS 'Adonis2' Cutout boots from Topshop. Teamed with wooly socks, a grey cotton dress and a leather jacket (this one from H&M looks fab), it's a surefire way to ensure you get noticed!

Payday Purchase

I’m going to be spending a couple of hours travelling both this weekend and next due, so I’ve been looking for something comfortable to wear on the train, without looking like a slob.  Having outgrown my Converse I’ve been stuck between a rock and a hard place whilst trying to decide whether I want to go for a pair of Superga and Vans.  Until I saw these.

Exclusive to My-Wardrobe, these turquoise lace up plimsoles are perfect for the 5 hour train journey and I won’t have to worry about arriving at my destination bedraggled and looking like I just rolled out of bed.  Perfect!

Payday Purchase

Another printed dress this week, this time from Miss Selfridge.  Another store I am not usually a fan of considering that most of their pieces can be found at Topshop but of a better quality.  Having said that, the new range 'Designed By' features some of the most gorgeous digital prints much like Australian swimwear brand We Are Handsome, only on dresses!

This dress, complete with it's leather bodice with paneling is the perfect piece to make that spring'summer transition and stay a step ahead of the trend.

Payday Purchase

Anyone who knows me will know that I am partial to a digital print.  A digital print dress? My idea of heavan.

Despite having a best friend who works for Ted Baker, I've never been a huge fan of the brand, but whilst shopping in John Lewis this week my attention was immediately drawn to this XRIL Printed Dress by Ted Baker.

At £199 it's not exactly credit card friendly, but I'm a great believer that you get what you pay for and even though Ted Baker may not provide the most on trend pieces, the quality of garments certainly makes any piece you purchase from the brand worth the money.