Velvet Goldmine

I don't want to jinx it but I THINK I've found my Christmas Party Dress. As I posted a couple of weeks ago I'm really wanting a velvet devore or sequined number this year. It's harder than you'd think to find something that isn't really tight fitting & tarty but not too expensive. I've been trawling around for a while now & coming up with nothing. I was in love with the Balmain show last year when they showed all the jewel coloured burnouts but obviously this is more than a little out of my reach. I even had a couple of boards on the go for inspiration--

So this morning I had a promotional email from boohoo. I've bought a few things from there in the past & I do like a browse every so often but I'd written them off for fancy partywear. You can never be sure of the quality & they're usually primed for the more 'bodycon' customer, especially over the Christmas period. However, I'm prepared to eat my words if this dress arrives & it looks as good in the flesh as it does here. So excited!! I've been after a green dress for ages, this ticks so many boxes & it was only £25!!! Boohoo, how wrong I was to ever doubt you!

All images via pinterest. I do not own any, expect for the last dress, this is soon to be all mine!!

Nailed it

Morning all, another quick one just to add a few extras I forgot about from the weekend mini haul. I've been looking round for a decent base coat for a while that doesn't cost a fortune, seems like a bit of a rip off to pay extortionate prices for something you don't even see! So I was very pleased with myself for spotting this twin pack base & top coat for £4!!!! Bargain. Ladies, get yourselves to Boots pronto!!!

I also picked up these beautiful drop stud earrings. I think they're the perfect balance between classy & blingy. I love the rich midnight blue tone matched with the sparklier gems. I'm wearing them today & they're so comfortable, I always worry a little with cheap jewellery but these have been absolutely fine so far today, really comfortable. Plus they were £2.50, I feel a return trip is on the cards this week : )

Recent Swag

Currently sat waiting for hair dye to sink in, I always manage to get it half way down my forehead, there's just not a glamorous way to diy hair dyeing is there?! Yesterday I nipped out early to Wood Green to pick up a few bits & bobs, inevitably I ended up spending a while wandering round Primark. It's almost impossible to come home without making a few purchases there, it's huge!! I picked out a couple of blazer/jackets, which were not only bargains (£7 & £10 respectively) but they're both my prints! I think these look far more expensive than they actually are-they're surprisingly well made & fit really well, aswell as the prints being pretty snazzy-if I do say so myself! The novelty of finding my prints in store, seeing people in them & of course wearing them myself still hasn't worn off, even after 3 years. These silky pajama paisley trews are mine too, think they're a bit too much for me to pull off though...

I also found these fabulous bejewelled clutches, couldn't believe the £10 price tag for all that embellishment. I love clutches but usually hang back from buying them as I don't trust myself with something I have to remember to keep hold of. Luckily for me these little gems have straps : ) I stood for a while arguing internally over which one to buy & trying to convince myself I didn't need both of them, but I just couldn't choose. Well for that price it would have been rude not to get both right?!

It wasn't until I got home I realised the blazers & the clutches coordinated pretty perfectly..

Also, I don't think I've mentioned the cushions you can just make out in these pics. They're another Istanbul bazaar purchase, hand woven kilim patched together, beautiful!! I had a pile I wanted to bring back, but Vural being the boring sensible one managed to somehow convince me I only needed 2. Definitely shouldn't have listened to him!

November Wishlist & Northern Love

It's been a manic few days, always is when I go home for the weekend. There's always too much to do, too many people to see & then before I know it, I need to get back to London again! It was a lovely trip though, always good to spend time with your family & I think Manchester is a great place to be around Christmas time. The markets have arrived, I swiftly made my way to the city centre for a hot choc & baileys- ridiculously good there, I look forward to it every year! Vural came too & was able to drive my mum & sister back with us on Monday. Hannah's been flat hunting which, if you're a Londonite, you'll feel her pain!

Here's a snippet of my weekend in photos as promised, beautiful sunset on the long drive home, fireworks, markets, city scapes, SANTA!...all a bit much for someone...

On to more fashionable matters, How amazing is the knitted sweat/floral blouse combo from Zara? This is actually a genius idea, I pop knitwear over my summer tops & dresses a la Keira & Sienna in the Edge of Love to get extra wear over the Winter months & brighten up often drab AW outerwear!

I'm generally more of a dresses girl, if I'm in trousers it's usually jeans. However, this AW, & Im guessing it's partly due to the UK arrival of J Crew, Im into capri pants. The slouchy plaid asos pair are particularly wonderful. I'm also feeling those holographic heels & suede boots- I love knee & thigh lengths for boots, but often find the heel is way too pretty woman, the height on the Topshop pair is perfect. Slimleg trousers go beautifully with printed shirts, tucked in or out. This Zara embroidered beauty is really good value for money. I'm rather proud of this shirt from Urban Outfitters, it's one of my prints (from an UO vintage swatch) that took bloody ages to draw! I'd love to own anything from the hand of Emma Shipley, the colours in this scarf are stunning.

Best of the rest from left to right, bargain beanie (£8!!!), fun fur collar, gorgeous Marc Jacobs & Maiyet handbags, & of course J Crew trews. Cute woolly mitts, & this pretty cranberry bralet are perfect for the festive season.

Finally please let me draw your attention to something wonderful I've happened across on my internet travels...

On the left we have the lustworthy Phillip Lim embellished sweat, with the not so desirable pricetag of £625. On the right, French Connection's budget friendlier winner. Nuff said I reckon!