Tag Archives: Zara

Happy 2014!

I hope you all had a lovely New Years Eve and celebrated well – or like us had a lovely quiet evening in with family, music and good food.  Yesterday we went to friends for a fabulous day of celebrating and over indulgence, so today I’m starting my detox.  Yes I’m afraid I am one of those  January bores, planning a month of paleo eating and no alcohol.  I’m setting myself up by sharing this with you – but hey ho maybe if some of you out there are trying to do the same we can motivate each other!

Also it’s now January 2nd and I’ve now achieved 2 days of no online orders – pretty good methinks – **polish halo**;-)  Prior to that, however, I discovered one of the best sales around at AllSaints – one of my favorite stores – discounts up to 50% are on offer.  Here are my top picks – see if you can guess which I’ve ordered.

The gorgeous Bonny Cuban boot which can be worn with jeans, casual dresses or shorts.

bonny

The leather biker jeans are lush in this taupe color and just $210!

leathertrousers

I LOVE this classic AllSaints oxblood jacket – half price with several sizes left!

Oxblood

The Riviera dress has been a favorite of mine all year.

riviera

The Rubie dress is classic AllSaints draping.

rubie

You’ve seen me wear this several times and it’s been one of my favorite AW2013 pieces.

sweatshirt

This tee dress is gorgeous – I love the suede paneling on it.

tee dress

The Verna gilet is a steal now and such a classic.  A great addition for a simple jeans and tee outfit.

Verna

It really is one of the best sales I’ve seen around – great reductions for classic wardrobe staples.  and I always love AllSaints quality too.

Check out ASOS as well  – right now they have 70% off certain items including some new stock!  The oversize shift I’m wearing below is now only $19!  My Husband loved it and it is the perfect day dress – I was super comfortable in it all day yesterday and it was perfect for overindulging:)

DSC_0008 DSC_0012

Dress – ASOS // Tights – Marks and Spencer (nope you can’t beat them – I order several pairs each winter) // Boots – Steve Madden (old) // Coat – Zara

Off to drink my Kombucha and eat steak and cauliflower mash for supper!  Day one paleo done!

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

My picks of the sales.

So the sales have started and boy it’s a mixed bag – but as ever, after browsing the sites a couple of times, lots caught my eye.  Let’s just get on with it shall we?  Here are my picks of the sales so far!

First good old Marks and Spencer have 30% off women’s wear.  There are some fabulous coats on sale starting with my checked biker jacket reduced to £97.30.  I love this coat.

Checked coat

Another favorite of mine that I’ve resisted to date is this coat from the Best of British collection – now on sale – this will sell out fast now it has been reduced I assure you.

Cocoon coat

This coat is a similar style to the checked coat I have – but for those of you that love leopard.  If I didn’t already have a leopard coat from M&S bought a couple of years ago I would buy this.

leopard coat

Now for Mango – who I always think have some of the best sale prices.  I have just bought the following dress and skirt.  I think they are very Marant-ish and much more reasonably priced than any of the H&M collection.

This dress is just gorgeous worn in the winter with boots or with flats in the warmer weather.  It’s half price at $49.99.

mango dress

I actually ordered this skirt in a couple of different color ways.  It is so reminiscent of the ra-ra skirts I wore in the 80’s – I had a yellow one I adored:)  Again this is a skirt that can be worn in all seasons.

Mango skirt

I love shorts all year round, and these will be great with over-the-knee boots and black tights.

Mango shorts

Now for Zara.  Some of the reductions are pretty disappointing but I did manage to grab the ballet flats I’ve been drooling over – reduced from $99.99 to $59.99.  They’ll be perfect with the Mango skirts.  I was really disappointed to see Zara have started charging shipping here on orders less than $50, which just means I’ll have to throw some extra items – and return them obviously!

black flats Nude flats

Lastly from Zara – here’s one that no doubt most of you will hate but I LOVE this.  The denim boiler suit reduced from $119 to $59.

denim jumpsuit

Finally ASOS – I just can’t stay away from their site – there are so many great reductions!  This dress is perfect for NYE.

Baroque dress

Another gorgeous party dress is this oriental print dress.

Oriental print dress

I love the rose print on this midi-dress – really striking.

ASOS rose dress

I’ve ordered the next couple to wear with either my Golden Goose or my over the knee boots – they are great prices.

This oversized shift is just $31.

shift dress

This dress may not be to everyones taste but I love the layered sleeve look.  Again now just $31.

tshirt sleeves

Finally a t-shirt dress for the spring – yes I’m already starting to think sunshine.  No one would notice if it fell in your cart at just $22.

Tshirt dress

So go on share – what have you slipped in your closet from the sales while you’re finishing up the Christmas shopping?  Tell me I’m not the only one!

This week has been a party week for me.  It’s been fabulous catching up with some girlfriends that I haven’t seen for a LONG time.  Here’s what I wore Thursday night for a fun night out with some great girls that I’ve known since I moved to Atlanta nearly 14 years ago!

plaid

Boots – Isabel Marant pour H&M (eBay) // Jeans – Zara // Sweater – AllSaints (old – their sale is on too here) // Jacket – Zara (old)

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

A haircut for date night.

It was time for a color refresh yesterday and even though I am growing my hair it had got to the stage where I needed more shape.  The bob was getting a bit heavy so I had lots of layers added to blend it and make it easier to keep growing – it’s almost over my collar at the back now!

hair

 

Thanks as always to the gorgeous Lauren at Plum Salon who got me out of there in time for my Brazilian appointment – Christmas takes some preparation!  In fact after reading MommyEnnui.com‘s latest post top of my wish list for Santa this year is painless, permanent, immediate removal of all my unwanted body hair!

My outfit for the day was rather festive – red and sparkles!

red jacket 2 red jacket1

 

Sneakers – Golden Goose (old similar here and here) // Jeans – Zara // Sweater – Uniqlo men’s cashmere crewneck // Jacket – Zara (old similar here and here on sale!) // Sunglasses – Ray Ban Aviators

Last night we went out for dinner – a bit of romance before the Christmas mayhem begins.  I broke all the rules and wore my new Stuart Weitzman Highland boots with a short, tight, printed dress.  I felt quite boho though with my H&M gilet.  The boots are incredibly comfy and easy to wear – they made me feel pretty fabulous.  I think they are true to size – I’m wearing a US 8.5.  I have a pretty wide foot too and, contrary to many reviews, I don’t find them narrow at all.

Highland boots 2 Highland boots

Boots – Stuart Weitzman Highland // Tights – Marks and Spencers Merino rich tights (LOVE these) // Dress – Zara (this is a medium and dangerously short) // Gilet – H&M (similar here) // Clutch – Boden Canonbury clutch (just $44 in the sale!)

It is miserable weather here today so I am going to curl up on the sofa with a box of Belgian chocolates and watch It’s a Wonderful Life again!  What is your favorite Xmas movie?

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

‘Tis brass out there.

I LOVE winter.  At 7.30am this morning, even though I knew I wanted to go straight back to bed after getting the kids to school, I dressed in my warmest running gear and ran like a banshee in the freezing cold and glorious sunshine – it was exhilarating.  The whole of the US (bar Florida of course) is shivering in Arctic conditions.  I love it – I get to wear hats, big coats and boots.

GG3 GG2 GG 1

 

Sneakers – Golden Goose (old – similar here) // Hat – Nordstrom // Jacket – J.Crew (old – similar here) // Jeans – Diesel Fayza // Sweater – Boden Off Duty Jumper

 

AS1 AS3

 

Boots – Rag & Bone Newbury Charcoal suede // Trousers – Zara pleather leggings // Tank – H&M (old) // Sweater – AllSaints (old – similar here) // Coat – Zara // Bag – Anya Hindmarch from TheOutnet.com

Shop this post

Enhanced by Zemanta

How one ‘need’ can lead to another ‘need’ in a matter of moments.

I’m still debating with myself about the over the knee boots.  It’s now moved on from ‘should I get some?’ to ‘which do I get?’.  It’s a tricky one.  The choice rests between two Stuart Weitzman styles – the Stuart Weitzman Highland or the Stuart Weitzman 50/50.  Both over the knee but VERY different.  I actually could make an argument for both – which is the problem – because now I want both.  The Highland is long, sleek, heeled and sexy – definitely a going out boot, and the 50/50 is a low heeled boot, more practical looking, but still a gorgeous riding boot that could be worn during the day too.  My heart says the Highland, my head says the 50/50.

Black Topo

If I go for the 50/50 another multitude of decisions needs to be made – suede or leather, print or plain, and then what color? I love both the black suede and the topo suede.

5050

5050

Then look what arrived on the Bloomingdale’s site the other day!  This nubuck pair is divine – imagine them with bare, tanned legs and a dress.

nubuck

 

So that’s what I did – imagined myself with OTK boots and a dress.  Fatal.  That vivid imagination of mine led me straight to the ASOS site.  ASOS are killing me.  They are my new go to site when I am on the hunt for something.

For me the critical features that a dress must have to be worn stylishly with OTK boots are:

1. Slightly loose or flowy – nothing tight – way too hoochy mama with boots – think Pretty Woman.

2. Not too dressy – for the same reasons as above – let the boots do the talking.

3. Don’t show too much skin up top – no boobs or cleavage for Pete’s sake.  We’re looking at the legs not the tits.

4. Slightly shorter than the top of the boots – let at least an inch of flesh show between the boots and dress, either bare legs or opaque tights.  If you wear tights – make sure they are a slightly lower denier or color from the boots – you want people to see where the boots end – they are thigh highs and supposed to be a little sexy! (again just not Pretty Woman style)

Okay those are the rules – fairly easy to follow and easy to apply.  All I did was search for ASOS brand black or grey dresses and here are the all the dresses that I now cannot live without.  Especially once I have my OTK boots – whichever pair I end up with.  If I procrastinate any longer they will be sold out.  These first few dresses are lovely casual dresses that contrast brilliantly with the decadence of thigh highs.

I love this dress – I’ve seen a few sweatshirts with similar print.  This would be perfect with suede Highlands.

animal sweat dress

I’ve just ordered this sweatshirt dress – again perfect for wearing with a dressy heeled boot – I love the juxtaposition of the two together.

ASOS tunic dress

This jersey nepi dress is the PERFECT shape as far as I am concerned for thigh highs.  Nothing too OTT about the dress – it’s all about the boots.

Nepi swing dress

I love this skater dress for the same reasons.

simple skater dress

Remember what I said about no flesh up top.  This dress takes it to the extreme – gorgeous with short hair or long hair in a high pony tail, with the boots of course.

polo swing dress

Now this one bends the rules slightly – but there’s always one isn’t there?  With the flat 50/50s this would be perfect – here the top of the dress compensates for the lack of heel on the boots.

lace insert dress

This crack print dress fell in the mix purely because I adore the print – very Mint Velvet.  A perfect party dress with high or low heeled OTK boots.

crack print dress

Finally a drop waisted dress.  Pretty, flirtatious and no hoochy mama in sight.

dropped waist dress

So now the conundrum – which boots is it to be?  Choosing the dress will be easy then no?

As I head off to dream about thigh high boots here’s what I’ve been wearing the past couple of days.

I bought these Steve Madden boots so long ago that at the time it completely escaped me what fabulous Marant tributes they are!

Mango coat

Boots – Steve Madden Carlsen (old) // Trousers – Zara (old) // Sweater – Off Duty sweater Boden // Coat – Mango

IM collage

 

Jeans – H&M (old) // Tank – H&M (old) // Sweater – Zara // Boots – Isabel Marant pour H&M via eBay // Scarf – H&M (old) // Jacket – Zara

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

It’s starting to feel a lot like Christmas!

After a wild, fun night on Thursday, that ended later than expected at 3am, I headed out of the house on Friday to get the tree, again later than expected…The kids were eager to decorate and for the first time ever I let them at it – all except the stringing of the lights that my OCD just couldn’t bear to let go of, not just yet anyway…I have to say they did a mighty fine job.  Even our daredevil elf, Maximus, was suitably impressed.

IMG_4964 IMG_4968 IMG_4970

 

While we were waiting for the tree to be delivered I asked the children to write their lists for Santa.  As you can see Poppy was less than impressed for some reason, though Hugh had a blast writing his – I must teach him to do ditto marks next time poor lad!

Lists for Santa

Hat – Nordstrom // T-shirt – Zara (old) // Cardigan – AllSaints // Jeans – Zara coated jeans (similar here) // Boots – Frye Jane Tall boots

The house feels and smells so festive now – I love having the trees up – but it’s hard to believe it really is almost Xmas!!  I haven’t sent cards yet or transferred the kids’ lists into my Amazon cart – thank goodness I had the foresight to photograph them before they were handed over to Santa!

Today I had a good run with Tennyson in the drizzle – the boy is a trouper – 4 miles in the wet and cold was not was not what he was expecting as he bounded out of the door!  I then enjoyed a good old family day watching football and Christmas movies while indulging with peppermint bark and hot chocolate…I think a run will be required most days in this run up to the 25th!

Zara sweater

 Sneakers – Golden Goose // Jeans – Diesel Fayza Jogg Jeans // Tank – Gap // Sweater – Zara

 

Enhanced by Zemanta

My boot obsession.

You’ve all heard about it before – I love boots.  Can’t get enough boots as far as I am concerned, which is a shame given the climate I live in.  I can only really wear them for 4 months of the year – that was until I discovered my summer boots – the Newbury canvas boot.

Anyway we’re a long way from summer right now and it is wet, wet, wet here in Atlanta – all be it heading up to 70 degrees this afternoon – totally random weather.  Regardless ’tis definitely boot wearing weather, and though most people here drag out their ‘rain boots’ i.e. wellies when it rains I prefer to stick to ankle boots.  For me my wellies will only ever be worn when trampling across muddy fields, avoiding sheep shit, which rarely happens to me these days outside of Lancashire.

Thankfully at this time of year sales are bountiful – especially now retailers are gearing up to clear all their boot inventory ready for sandals hitting the stores in February!  One of my favorite brands is Sam Edelman.  I have a couple of pairs of his Petty boots which I love, plus a pair of Louie boots – I’m a sucker when it comes to a fringe.

Petty boots:

Petty

Louie boots:

Louie

p.s. for you Moms with gorgeous daughters out there Sam Edelman have a range of kids boots that I have never noticed before – I LOVE these for Poppy – also currently on sale!

kids louie

LOTS of his dressier boots are currently in the sale and here are my top picks pop pickers…

The Kenley boot – great buckle detail:

Kenley

The Mila boot – 50% off and very Isabel Marant – perfect with coated skinnies:

Mila

The Princeton boot – slightly lower but still a rocking boot with the laced back:

Princeton

I am OBSESSED with the fringe detail on the Mariel boot!  They are available in a gorgeous cream too.

Mariel

Here is another pair that my heart races for – the Martina boot – I adore the corset back of these – 33% off and still plenty of sizes available at Nordstrom.  I might order these just to try…

Martina

And here are my outfits this week – it’s been packed with work, tinsel buying and school projects – oh the glamor.  At least I got to wear an early Xmas present on Monday.

Per Una fur coat

Coat – Per Una Marks & Spencer // Jumper – Uniqlo men’s cashmere dark grey // Scarf – Uniqlo cashmere // Jeans – Zara Camo jeans (old similar here) // Boots – Black leather Rag & Bone Newbury boot // Glasses – Oliver Peoples Wacks

Tuesday was definitely a day where comfort came first:

Gap shirt

Shirt – The Gap // Scarf – Primark (old) // Jeans – Zara // Boots – Zara (old)

Now off to run more errands while it rains!

Enhanced by Zemanta

The big Thanksgiving catchup.

I’m back…after a brilliant week.  I intentionally tried to avoid the laptop as I was determined not to be sucked in by random Black Friday deals – especially knowing that most brands offer far deeper discounts at other times of the year.  Yes we have been conditioned to go mental on Black Friday but don’t!  You’ll be better off waiting for other big sales – most retailers know we want to spend now but hold out if you can.

The week started with some fun appointments.  Poppy had a layer of pink in her hair – so you can just see it when she has a pony tail.  Less permanent at this age than piercings – and after mine I didn’t want to be too much of a hypocrite when it comes to exploring new looks and self expression.  Lauren at Plum Salon once again looked after us – she is fabulous and I highly recommend her if you are in the Atlanta area.

IMG_4895 IMG_4897 IMG_4899

 

It was freezing on Tuesday and it called for some big coat and scarf action.

Unknown1 Zara coat

 

Jeans – coated jeans Dorothy Perkins (25% off everything with Holiday25) // Boots – Dorothy Perkins // Sweater – Boden Westbourne sweater // Scarf – Zara (old) // Coat – Zara

On Wednesday the kids had dental appointments.  Don’t ask me why I scheduled them the day before Thanksgiving.  We had a power cut that morning, due to all the rain and wind we’d had, and I had to go without a shower.  While messaging Fiona and Avril from the waiting room I assured them I didn’t look too skanky with this selfie – no full length photo that day – I’ve enjoyed a break from the mirror:)

IMG_4902

Sweater – Boden Off Duty jumper (last year’s but similar here) // Coat – Mango // Hat – Nordstrom (100% cashmere for less than $30!)

That evening was spent pretending to be a domestic goddess – I chugged a bottle of sparkling while making cranberry sauce, sausage stuffing and then brining the bird.  It was a really fun family night listening to music with the odd random game of chess thrown in.  Chess is our new obsession – I’m still being thrashed by my 5 year old.

IMG_4903 IMG_4904 IMG_4911

On Thanksgiving Day we had our fabulous friends from Bulgaria over, so we could enjoy an international Thanksgiving.  Neither of us have family here so it was absolutely fantastic to share the day with fun friends.  We talked Communism, music and literature while drinking and eating LOTS.  The best Thanksgiving ever, and I have to say the food was pretty darn good too:)

IMG_4915

The aftermath:

DSC_0051

Yesterday we headed out for a blast of fresh air.  We went to the Georgia Dome to watch the Georgia State Panthers play – a fun day with some tailgating thrown in for good measure.

AllSaints sweatshirt

Shoes – Isabel Marant Bobby sneakers // Jeans – Zara // Sweatshirt – AllSaints (20% off with THANKS) // Hat – Nordstrom // (the jacket below is Next from last year)

IMG_4925 IMG_4928

 

So today it is back to normality – I’m back to running and eating left over turkey:)

IMG_4920 IMG_4916

Here’s to my favorite Holiday of the year.  Now to start planning for Xmas – and Maximus the Elf rejoined the clan today so I better be good!

Enhanced by Zemanta

A night out with MommyEnnui.com

After a failed attempt to get out for lunch on Friday, we thankfully made it out on Saturday night.  We had a marvelous night at a local restaurant with MommyEnnui.com and her Husband.  We have known each other for a while but our friendship has blossomed recently, and they mean the world to me.  There are some people in life (few and far between unfortunately) who you know just love you for being you – warts and all; don’t judge – or if they do you debate it face-to-face; can laugh at themselves – and if they laugh at you you laugh right along too; and have true joie de vivre – but are happy to also admit it ain’t all perfect.  We live in a bubble here in Atlanta where the houses are perfect, moms and their perky pony tails work out daily, and the children are smocked and monogrammed – so spending time with ‘normal’ people is cherished.  We laughed all evening and I tried more vegetarian dishes than I ever thought possible:)  Here’s to next time.

Next blouse 2 Zara and Next blouse 1

Shoes – Nine West (old) // Jeans – Zara coated navy jeans // Blouse – Next (old) // Jacket – Zara tuxedo jacket (old) // Clutch – YSL Belle de jour

 Pointy Pumps

Tuxedo Jackets

 Leopard Print Blouses

Coated Jeans

Enhanced by Zemanta

Kids, who’d have ’em?

In previous years, when the children have been in daycare in the days running up to Thanksgiving, the Husband and I have taken advantage of the the child free time and headed out for some indulgent lunches.  Now both of them are out of school for the whole Thanksgiving week so we go out for a few family meals instead – just as much fun – but a different type of fun;)  Yesterday my Husband surprised me by planning a lovely posh lunch for him and I on the kids’ last day at school.  I was SO excited!  We were just about to head out of the door when the phone rang – I could see it was school.  Dilemma – run for it and pretend you didn’t see or hear it – or pick it up in case it was a life or death emergency.  As any parent would (though I did pause for a second) we picked up and Hugh was sick:(  Dang!  Lunch out postponed to collect a poor wee boy from school with an apparent ear infection.  Of course once at home he proceeded to run wildly around the house with no apparent illness, ache or pain, though he is on antibiotics now:(

So today marks the first day of our Thanksgiving Holiday and we’re off to choose bikes for them both.  Santa has sent Mum and Dad a letter telling us that we have to help Poppy and Hugh choose, as he is worried about space in his sleigh this year…:)  I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when we tell them where we are going!

In the meantime here is what Mom has been wearing this week.  Starting with yesterday – I was trying to channel Emmanuelle Alt by wearing a collar, and I originally had on a black tuxedo jacket for the lunch-that-didn’t-happen instead of this fabulous cardigan.  I will just harp on for a moment about these Mango jeans – I’ve had lots of compliments which surprised me as they are not for everyone, and they are super comfortable – lots of stretch in the denim and pleather.  In fact these blue denim ones fit a tad looser than the black denim ones I have.  These are a US 6 and I would say fit true to size.

Mango chaps

 

Boots – Isabel Marant Dickers // Jeans – Mango combi jeans // Shirt – J.Crew chambray popover (similar here on sale) // Cardigan – AllSaints

Thursday was spent snuggled in cashmere.

leopard hat

 

Hat – J.Crew // Scarf – Uniqlo cashmere // Sweater – Uniqlo men’s cashmere crewneck // Jeans – Gap Always skinny // Boots – AllSaints Bonny Cuban

And here was a major fail on Wednesday – not really sure what look I was trying to create – but I really did end up looking like a baby in a babygrow – I think the pink fluffy cardigan took it a step too far:)  Individually I love all the items but together they certainly did not create the fashion forward look I had envisioned in my head.  Ah well – we can laugh and try again:)

Jumpsuit

 

Jumpsuit – Zara (old – similar here) // Cardigan – Zara (similar here) // Boots – grey nubuck Newbury boots

It’s a grey, damp day here today so it maybe a day for the cashmere onesie again🙂

Enhanced by Zemanta