ZARA TRF

When will Zara cotton on to the value of e-commerce in Australia? Because buying from the website and having packages sent to my Mum to send on to me, is a little time consuming...yet completely necessary when it comes to owning yet another dungarees. Thanks Mum.


Short Jumper by Zara
 
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MOST WANTED

NEED.



From http://www.fillesapapa.com

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TORTOISESHELL

It mas a whopping 29 degrees in Sydney yesterday - the warmest August day in 17 years! So it got me thinking about Summer and sunglasses and then Mr Porter sent their newsletter and lead me to these beauties.

They're men's but who's checking?

Tortoiseshell frames by Botega Veneta from Mr Porter



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DESPERATELY SEEKING....

....suitable secondhand rug in order to recreate this look and thus avoid hefty customs charges.



Paisley Fringe Poncho from Nasty Gal

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WATERCOLOUR

Reason #98345622 to live in Australia. Being able to take advantage of the amazing markdowns in the UK Summer sales. Thank you ASOS for this beauty - a snip at £16.



Shirt with Bright Watercolour Print from ASOS.com

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CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Christmas in July is a thing here. Apparently because it's so cold in July "it could be Christmas". (Except cold here is 18 degrees). No I don't get it either, but when in Rome...
When I was invited to my first Christmas in July party I was wondering where on earth I would find a Christmassy outfit in July (sad to say my "dressing up box" did not come with me to Oz). Luckily a scour on ASOS yielded this reindeer knitted skirt for a mere £12!



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LONGING FOR SUMMER

Hey Nasty Gal why do you do this to me?. Now I want need this in both colours.




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MOST WANTED

NEED these. In navy preferably. But no online shopping now until I am of fixed abode! Leaving in less than 48 hours, excited doesn't even come close...





Mermaid Sequin Pants from Free People

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HOUSE OF SCARLET

I am supposed to be turning my laptop off for the rest of the weekend, but I just had to share this!! My very talented and hardworking assistant, Natasha Scarlet has just launched her beautiful collection of handmade jewellery and capes on ASOS Marketplace!

SOMETHING ELSE

Do you ever get that feeling like, "my life will only be complete if I have this one item in my possession?". Well I've been so good with the shopping lately, but really wanting one or both of these in my life right now.





Both by Something Else @ ASOS.com

SAVED FOR LATER

My colleagues tease me about my 'saved for later' list on ASOS.com which contains well over a hundred items (not including things which are in there twice in difference sizes/colours). There are definitely more than a few things in there I'll never afford, but I like to keep them in there just in case I win the lottery or something. Plus it's a nice visual reminder of the look I'm feeling for, for the season. Here is a selection of my current picks:

YMC Perforated Stripe Crew Neck Knit As if I need anything else striped in my life right now, but I love the perforated detail.

Pendleton Drifter Leather Holdall I dream of owning a gorgeous holdall like this so I can swan off on weekends away with my capsule wardrobe enclosed. (Currently I stagger off away with a pull along case with a broken zip and numerous extra bags full of 'things I couldn't fit in the case but definitely maybe might need').
Sonia by Sonia Rykiel Striped Wool Dress with Sheer Panel More stripes? I don't know if it obvious from my blog how many breton stripes I own/wear, might have to do a post on the subject soon.

ASOS String Waisted Midi Dress I love this dress, but I need to be wearing it with sandals and socks. We have sun, now we just need heat...

Opening Ceremony Suede Lace Up Clogg Shoes The perfect mid heel summer shoe
Low Luv x Erin Wasson 14ct Gold Plated Triple Bar Crystal Cocktail Ring In Paris I lost my favourite ring I bought in India. It was unique and irreplaceable, but this would help me get over it.
Peter Jensen Rabbit Eye Shirt Even though no one would know they were rabbit eyes, I WOULD KNOW.

YMC Button Up Smock Dress This is the sort of thing I would live in all summer. And would be perfect with the aforementioned Opening Cermony clog shoes and Emma Nissim socks from my previous post!

Pendleton Shopper with Check Design Love the check. Love the chocolate leather. Love Pendleton.
ASOS WHITE Leather Culottes These are 20% off right now, but I cannot buy ANYTHING until pay day when they will probably go back up in price. Such is life.

ASOS Leather Portfolio Clutch My boss has this and assures me it is completely practical despite not having a handle because "you can even carry magazines in it".
ASOS Wide Brim Fedora Hat Buying things in two colours is the ultimate in materialism, but the tan colourway I already have doesn't go with everything!
Mardi Jeudi Drapey Cotton Shirt Tunic With Silk Collar and Sleeves French Korean brand Mardi Jeudi were sent with YMC to tempt me into buying clothes I don't need.
Opening Ceremony Pony Lace Up Clogg Ankle Boots Hmm definitely don't need these, they're like a hybrid of at least another three pairs of shoes I already own, but they would fit into my wardrobe SO WELL.

It would take more than a few extra quid for that little lot, so here are a couple of better things you or I could do with the cash.......

Donate to the Japan Tsunami Relief Appeal

Donate to Comic Relief

LADIES CLOTHES CAVERN

I helped out on my Auntie's stall at Greenwich Market a few weeks ago for the first of many times over the summer I expect. Ladies Clothes Cavern sells clothes and accessories handmade using vintage fabrics and recycled denim and also provides a bespoke service.

Aside from the very early Saturday morning start working on the stall was great fun though I did have to hold myself back from shouting "roll up roll up!" (not quite the image we were going for!). It was quite amazing to see how from literally a framework you can turn your pitch into a real shop. We even had a changing room complete with full length mirror and a hook to hang your coat! A guy who was pitched opposite us arrives every Saturday at a time I can only describe as 'still dark, go back to sleep' to begin the 4 hour set up of his stall.
At the end of the day everything is broken down back to a shell and you wouldn't believe what a hive of activity the place had once been.

Ladies Clothes Cavern is at Greenwich Market every Saturday and they also provide sewing classes on Wednesday nights if you're in the area. Check out the details on sewingtime.co.uk

H&M + Sustainable Fabrics

I booked a trip to India (Mumbai and Goa) for May - little over 5 weeks away!! I've basically promised myself no shopping because I still have a HEAP of clothes from last Summer I wore once in Jamaica and didn't get to wear back in England where Summer was shortlived and pretty much over by August when I got home. However I've just seen H&M's Garden Collection, made from recycled polyester, organic cotton and other sustainable materials and I feel I may need to treat myself to one or two of these gorgeous pieces, in the name of doing my bit for the environment of course.



More at hm.com

SALES

Online shopping is already my downfall but this Christmas I discovered the joy of online shopping on my iphone. Bus journeys will never be the same again. This beaut is on its way to me now, I don't know why TS thought they could sell C.Kane at such ridic prices in the first place..

LOVE these!

Anna Wintourmouse and Karl Lagermouse briliant



Images from Tratutti.com

MONKI

The animations on the Monki site freak me out a little bit. I'm not sure if they're scary or amazing.

NASTY GAL

I have another Winter wedding (reception) to plan an outfit for this weekend. It's a shame that none of the things I want to buy at the moment are are suitable for weddings. Or for winter for that matter.



Elise Watercolour Dress, $58 Concave Stud Ring, $18
Night Owl Tie Dye Caftan, $68 Natalie Encarnita Bustier Tee Dress, $132
Hypnotic Leopard Ring $16 Something Else Cosmic Woven Tee Dress, $138

All images from Nasty Gal

HEAVEN AND EARTH

I have to admit to being sick of the 'credit crunch' talk but to be honest it is mostly doing me favours at the moment. It's like the high street is throwing at us, discounts, promotions and other incentives to buy (free breakfast on Oxford St tomorrow morning if you go 'early bird' shopping at 7.30am. I must admit it is tempting, not least to avoid the Christmas crowds). And for those of us without such worries as mortgage rates or rising petrol prices, this means we can buy what we were going to buy anyway, for less. Christmas shopping has never been this easy or this cheap.
I must look at these Heaven & Earth dresses on Asos.com at least once a day and today they are magically down to £95 from £140. I bought the second one. The belt in that image is also tormenting me, it's used in so many shoots but never appears on the site to buy!



The only downside to all this mark down is spotting clothes you own, 30% cheaper than you paid for them. Bah humbug to that.

TOPSHOPPER

The credit crunch really must be affecting footfall this Christmas because Topshop are giving away all manner of freebies and discounts on their website. The retail giant isn't usually one to give away discount codes and they've really gone to town with the presentation. All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning (and everyone is guaranteed a prize apparently) is to play their enchanting winter fairytale game at www.topshopchristmasfairytale.com. I won a 10% voucher which puts me one step closer to that Markus Lupfer Jumper that I have been obsessing about.

HONOURABLE MENTION

Steph told me this was going to happen long before I saw it however when I saw it in print in black and white, I still could not stop the smile from spreading across my face. It was all I could do to stop myself from tapping the person next to me in Borders saying "Hey look at this, that's my best mate's website mentionned by The Ting Tings! In Elle Magazine!"



If you haven't logged on to NEET Magazine yet, then seriously, where have you been? NEET is all about grassroots creativity, it's full of stylish people, great photography and links to some brilliant independent designers. All stylishly pulled together by the fabulous Stephanie J. In fact it's thanks to the September issue that I found this fab etsy seller of vinyl wall art. I have saved a space for the the cuckoo clock on my bedroom wall.



Click now!