4 days and counting...

I must spend 3 weeks every month, browsing ASOS, ebay and various online stores looking at all the pretty dresses, shoes, bags etc I can't afford but vow to get once I've been paid.  Then the highly anticipated day arrives and do I get everything I've been hankering after?  Hell no...  I'd have to be a highly paid executive to fund my shopping habit.  I end up getting a few pieces that ultimately do not excite me.  What is up with that?! 

Here are the bags I've been oohing and ahhing over this evening (and no I don't work for Dorothy Perkins!):


This sunny ochre chain cross body purse - I also have strong urges to buy it in all the other colours: berry red, green, and camel!  18 pounds is a bit of a steal but maybe not when you multiply it by four!




Coral Twist Lock Bag (also with a chain to be worn across the body)


Cream & Coral Twist Lock Bag


Blue Croc Twist Lock Bag (again, with a chain to be worn across the body - sense a theme??)

Ok, a different style:

Coral Tab Corner Clutch Bag - this is oversize and I'm a big fan of oversize bags and clutches as I read a while ago that the bigger the bag, the smaller you look.  I need all the help I can get, especially when I go out with my super slim friends!  I do see some logic in it though, with the proportions - I can hide my belly behind a large clutch and a tiny wrist purse is only going to make me look larger.  I have a couple of Dorothy Perkins oversize clutches and I love them so I think this will be number three in my collection.  Adore the coral colour and suspect it will be used often in the summertime!

Hoping for the Jimmy Choo perfume for Valentine's Day

Tamara Mellon, co-founder and president of stiletto mecca Jimmy Choo, is now bringing us another fabulous accessory: perfume.


This latest accessory, following handbags, sunglasses and scarves, has been on the cards since a 12 year worldwide license agreement was signed with Inter Parfums, who also distribute Burberry and Paul Smith perfumes.  Tamara features in the ad herself and describes the scent as "feminine and empowering, with a lot of sensuality to it".




The new stylish scent is described as a fruity fusion of green top notes, exotic tiger orchid and orange blossom, with a touch of toffee to add a twist.  Sounds gorgeous!

The textured bottle, inspired by Murano glass, is tres pretty but simple and I would even resent throwing away the purple snakeskin box!  I'd like the large bottle that she's clutching in the ad please!  Unless The Hubby decides to treat me to a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes (unlikely!), I would be very happy with this instead!  Much more affordable since prices start from £38.50.

Rumour has it, Tamara is also intending to expand into jewellery, watches and men's "choo's".  This woman has serious ambition!  Her shoe and handbag empire is already worth £500 million, has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (whatever that means!) and an ambassador for UK business.

BTW, loving the Jimmy Choo Uggs:







(pics taken from Jimmy Choo website)

Way out of my price range - maybe I'll just experiment with a few embellishments on my cheapo ones instead... ;-)

So Hubby - if you're reading this: you have no excuses for not knowing what to get me for Valentine's Day!

Forever 21 UK and general clothes haul!

At the beginning of the year, my fiance-now-husband and I flew to New York for 5 days, fully expecting to spend a fortune in supposedly THE fashion capital of the world.  After 3 days of flicking through rail after rail of dull-as-dishwater middle-aged or market stall quality clothes, and eagerly peeking round each block corner hoping to find a store that excited me, I found Forever 21.  The only decent high street shop I could find, other than the usual H&M, Gap etc that I could find at home.  It was fab!  And affordable!  My suitcase could finally be filled!

So I was thrilled to discover that Forever 21 was opening a store in Birmingham, UK on my birthday weekend, when I had already planned a shopping trip to that very city! 

Once I had navigated my way out of Selfridges, after a getting momentarily distracted and pausing at the Mac counter, I raced excitedly to the new store location in the Bullring.  Oooooooh so pretty!

Adorned with chandeliers, this light and airy shop is HUGE!  3 floors of lovely tops, dresses, jumpers, leggings, shoes, bags, scarves, jewellery...  Luckily they were handing out large shopping bags so that us girlies could comfortably toss in the many items that would weigh us down!

For the first time in years, it did cross my mind that it's lucky that I'm not a slender size 10 - as I probably would have wanted to buy the entire shop, I have no self control - I see, I like, I want!  Here's what I picked up from the regular section:



Forever 21 Wooly Leggings with Silver Flecks- £20.80






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Forever 21 Long Length Jumper with Gold Sequinned Cap Sleeves - £22.80

 

Forever 21 Adore Vest Top - £14.80

Forever 21 Black Sparkly Drape Cardigan - £27.80



Forever 21 Charcoal Grey Maxi Skirt - £22.80






   
 Elsewhere I also bought:

Vero Moda - £7

H&M Gold Jumper - £24.99





H&M Silky Shorts - £14.99



I'm planning to wear the H&M gold jumper with the above shorts and these boots:

Priceless Shoes Nude Lace Up Boots - £25

And if you were starting to think: This girl has no colour in her wardrobe!

Jane Norman Grecian Dress - £30

H&M Green T-Shirt - £7.99

I love bright colours but don't tend to wear them together, it's usually 1 vibrant item mixed with black/grey, hence the mainly dark items!

In Forever 21, I also picked up a couple of hairbands and a string of dusky pink pearls that will match my favourite earrings at the moment - gold & dusky pink pearl dangly ones.  I plan to wear these with my gold H&M jumper, silky shorts & nude boots.

I have to admit, it wasn't all great.  Unfortunately the corner of Plus Size at Forever 21 wasn't "all that"; Hubby didn't seem all that inspired by the men's section and I was disappointed to learn that there was no Home section as I'd seen some pretty cake stands and home items filled with sparkling accessories.  But hey, you can't have everything!

Did any of you girlies do any shopping today?  Have you visited a Forever 21 shop?  If so, what did you think?

My style icon's new book!

Ooooh!  I'm so excited!  I've just spotted this on Amazon - I didn't even know she'd done this book! 

I loooove Lauren's style!  She wears gorgeous clothes that I can only dream about (due to my small amount of change forever in my purse and my large waistline!) and seems to suit everything!  I am a big Hills fan and this is "right up my street!" (to quote Cheryl Cole in her Geordie accent!).  I  frequently make a passing comment about a top or dress that I see whilst shopping with The Hubby that it's similar to something Lauren has worn (usually French Connection as she does wear that brand often, but sometimes Kookai and the other day H&M).  And the biggest compliment I think I've actually accepted from him is that I "look very Lauren today"!

She seems to favour block colours, especially mid-dark blue.  Personally I thought she looked awesome when she stepped out of her comfort zone both on the episode when the Hills posse threw her a birthday party on a boat and the 2009 MTV Movie Awards and she rocked a darker look complete with red lippy:

I've never bought anything from Lauren's line though.  If they were more widely available over here, I would probably succumb but even without the extortionate shipping fees, they seem a tad overpriced for basic jersey dresses.  What do you think?  Am I wrong?

Favourite Lauren Conrad dress:

Love the shape and fit of the dress, love the mustard yellow shade, love how she's teamed it with a simple tan belt and tan heels (not seen), love the simple gold jewellery, love the tan, love the hair... Love, love, LOVE IT ALL!

Anyway, back to the book...

I was originally going to look at the reviews of her second novel, Sweet Little Lies.  I read her first one, LA Candy, earlier in the year and wasn't very impressed, to be honest.  And you may have gathered from the above that I am a big Lauren fan so that confession was hard to admit!  But I am entirely aware that it is very likely that she didn't actually write the book, that some unnamed person actually penned it, basing it largely on the early Hills storylines and that Lauren just had to pout for the cover photo and do the PR for it!

In addition to the Style book, I also discovered that there is even a third novel, Sugar and Spice.  "Lauren" has been busy!  Hmmm...

But, who am I kidding, I'm probably going to buy them all anyway!

Can't wait to get this Style book!  Apparently, Lauren "offers tips on exactly how to create your own beautiful, unique look – ensuring you look your gorgeous best for every occasion, without breaking the bank.".  I will be savouring each word and picture!  If I can absorb just a teeny ounce of Lauren's style from the pages of this book, I will be happy!  I've even bought a second one for my best friend as she's a big Hills fan as well.

(obsessed much?!)

Will keep you posted!