The leopard print

I have been having a small crisis over the Primark leopard print skinny jeans.

• Can a 40 year old woman really wear this look without channelling Bet Lynch? And...
• The skinnies are not so skinny, (obvious really on my chubby little legs - but there's still surplus fabric there) and that's before any stretch.  I'd sized up as I assumed Primark (being cheap) would not be generous in the sizing - more likely the reverse. I have no idea if that's normally the case. Hmm what to do - change for normal size or abandon altogether....? Any advice here?

I can't decide if they are hideous on me or not. Hubby said they looked better on than he expected (what kind of a backhanded compliment is that?!)  Cardigan - old charcoal/ smoke coloured Jigsaw chiffon trim (fished out at random so the whole look is not quite 'there').  Bag is my lovely Mulberry Mitzy. (Outlet bargain!)

Best thing is the bag!

Earlier in the day I had been wearing my new black Primark capris (bought yesterday) with a nude Primark vest and an old Topshop blush / beige voile blouse with a ruffled front. I love blush / beige and wear a lot of it as it works well with my favourites navy, white, tan and black and (dare I claim it) forms the basis of a good 'capsule' collection for me. Shoes are trusty White Stuff beige suede wedges. 

Capris - Primark; Vest - Primark; Blouse - Topshop (old); Shoes - White Stuff (old)

(Sorry the photos are a bit dark and blurry, unsure why - but they are a lot better that the so called 'enhanced' version iphoto offered me!)

Trusty White Stuff wedges from last year

Also below is a close-up of my bargain Asos gold leather sandals from my post the other day - £7 in the sale and still available on the Asos website here although only in smaller sizes now, I see. They have them in other colours too - see here. (I am considering getting the orange version as well as I like them so much.) 

Asos Fearne Gold Sandals - £7 bargain :-)

  

I can have it all (sometimes)!

Inspired by the super stylish blogs I've been following recently, I was lured to Primark today.  Now, I had on occasion wandered inside a Primark store before today to see what all the fuss was about, so it was not entirely a new experience for me, but I had always wandered out again fairly sharply upon seeing what seemed to be a sea of mismatched polyester - (polyester tartan as I seem to recall last time - on Oxford Street? - but I digress).

Integrating my new Primark buys

In the picture above I am wearing:

• Primark jeggings in dark indigo (£7)
• Primark sheer cream henley style top (£5)
• Zara beige linen cardigan (on their website here)
• Russell and Bromley 'Tod's' style loafers 
• Navy Longchamp tote bag

So - in short, previous forays into Primark had not been fruitful. This time however, I had a more specific idea of what I was looking for. Maybe they just have good stuff in there at the moment, maybe I was more focussed and better informed, but there were some very nice basics.  And the prices - well, normally I wander around a shop thinking ooh that's nice, wander wander, ooh so's that - and so's that! etc - until I have about 9 items when I get to the fitting room or till and (a) credit card then takes a bashing and so does husband's blood pressure; (b) I weed out certain items, invariably choosing the wrong ones and usually having to return and perform complex exchanges; or (c) dissolve into a fit of indecision and end up with nothing. (Disclaimer: I am an indecisive person!)

Today, I did a quick mental tally while in the humungous post office style till queue (cashier no 33 please..) and worked out that each item was averaging about £6, incredible - especially for the trousers.

I bought the skinny leopard jeans (£11); some black capri pants (in middle of pic below - £9); some soft skinny jeans in navy (£11); some indigo 'jeggings' (worn above - £7); a handful of basic vests in navy, grey, white and nude (£2 each);  a pale cream sheer short sleeved 'henley' style tee shirt (worn above - £5), and a tan / navy striped very lightweight knit sheer-ish t-shirt / top (on the right in pic below - £5).

Some of today's buys: Zara star print top (15.99), black Primark capris (£9), navy / beige lightweight Primark top (£5)

I then went to Zara and got a lovely star print linen t-shirt (in pic above - £15.99 on website here) and a pale pink / blush coloured sleeveless top with a shirred waistline (pic below - £25 - on website here) which is very elegant on (I hope) and flattering on a mum tum.

Zara top

Oh, and I also bought a gold tone necklace in Primark for good measure (£4) which I think is very pretty. So all in all a good day and I'm very happy with my new purchases :-)

Primark necklace - £4

PS....... End of day reflective mental ramblings:
There was a pleather studded tote in Primark - (£12 I think) - which I am already thinking I need - er I mean want. I can hardly need another bag as my husband would point out - and I would have to accept his reasoning on this point - but still, maybe something cheaper would be good for our hols... something which I needn't be precious about, which I could get sand in and so on...? And studs - hmm - would they not add a soupçon of 'currentness' and 'edginess' (whatever that might mean, I fear I could just look ridiculous!) - but I don't know. I'll sleep on it.
(I told you I was indecisive.)

'Matchy matchy'?

Today I am wearing an LK Bennett silk shift dress with an old Monsoon bolero style cardigan (I like the shape as it shows the fitted shape of the dress), and some White Stuff beige suede wedge shoes from last year.

My handbag is also from LK Bennett - 'Gala' in taupe - a couple of seasons ago,  but I think they still have them in some of the outlet shops.

I do like the dress but on seeing the photos am unsure whether the criss cross pattern is flattering on a less than svelte figure :-0

Today's outfit is also maybe a bit too 'matchy-matchy' for my liking - it's amazing (but obvious I suppose!) how taking pictures can allow you to critique your look more effectively / objectively.

Not being 'worn' today..... but I also wanted to post my lovely new Anya Hindmarch 'Girly Stuff' pouch. I have an ancient polyeurethane (?) version which came free on a magazine yonks ago. I use it to ensure that all my 'must haves' travel stylishly from bag to bag when I change handbags (cards, other essentials, concealer, lip balm, pen etc..) The old freebie one is falling apart, so I've invested in a new 'proper job' as it proved so useful and looked so good.

It looks tomato red in the photo - but is in fact a dark metallic raspberry colour - not my first choice perhaps - but it was on sale at an outlet - so couldn't be too choosy. It normally costs £95 from the Anya Hindmarch website but I paid £50 at Bicester outlet :-)

Anya Hindmarch 'Girly Stuff' pouch

My journey into blogging starts.

And I am having trouble typing, good start!


I am a mum aged 40, and yes even at my time of life, I still need to work out what suits me, clothes wise.I've decided to keep a diary (ok, blog, better 'get with' the correct terminology!) to record my choices.


I can't claim to be stylish really, like so many of the other lovely fashion bloggers, but I do like nice things and have an eye for a bargain (and for an investment buy!)


Now, a somewhat inauspicious start - a rather wonky mirror perched precariously on top of some shoe boxes (oh the glamour I live in!) 

So - my efforts on day one are as above. I am wearing:

• White Stuff Lusine Top (sheer-ish collarless blouse) 
• White Company skinny denim crops (I am a short arse, so on me they look pretty much full length)
• (Just seen) - Gold Isabella Oliver skinny belt
• Red / pink / coral bird print NW3 scarf by Hobbs (Nightingale - from last year)
• Yellow bag by White Stuff (Zest shopper in Mimosa) 
• Finally ..... a great bargain - Fearne leather gold sandals by Asos - reduced to £7. (Having worn them all day I can confirm they are really comfortable, no rubbing.) 

A close up of the scarf

Comments welcome - that is, assuming anyone actually finds and reads this - which is (a) a mystery to me as I know not how these things work; and (b) fairly unlikely given the paucity of the content!


PS I will be honest, even if the finished choice looks pants - as that's the whole point of doing this - so please don't laugh (too much) ;-)