hungry like a wolf

After a major wardrobe throw out in November, i seriously needed a revamp. Queue saving my wages and waiting for the sales, i now actually own most of Topshop. I'm really not kidding here. I finally went sale shopping today with Sarah, but tbh most stuff left is just naff; so i ended up picking a few non-sale bits in Topshop, as i had an exchange and a treasured giftcard from my birthday. I then came home to find two Topshop packages and the biggest Boots parcel everr. My dad was speechless, bless him.

Luckily i managed to bag all the sale buys online real early before work! 

Lace Jumper (was £35.00 now £18.00)

Feather Fan Blouse (was £38.00 now £16.20)

Chain Necklace Tee ( was £35.00 now £18.00)

Classic Waist Shift dress (was £45.00 now £18.00)

Drape Print Skirt (was £32.00 now £16.20)

Then i decided i would return this top, basically i love it, but i just couldn't work it and didn't feel comfortable. When i bought the top it was reduced by mistake to £18, and as i lost the receipt, the lovely girl in-store kindly let me exchange it up to the value it was scanning at.. £38.00. Score! I picked up the following blouses with student discount and a gift card, meaning i only paid £12!

Peter Pan Blouse (£38.00)

Silk Flower Blouse (£35.00)

I am seriously all shopped out. Phew. I'm still yet to receive a John Lewis order and i will save that and my Boots goodies for another post. I really wasn't kidding when i was a tad sale obsessed. With student discount stated in the prices, i saved a large amount of money though!

Did you find anything in the sales?

rockin' around the christmas tree

..has to be one of my all time favourite Christmas songs, mainly because it reminds me of Home Alone, which is basically the best Christmas film ever. My Christmas was slightly mad, i went to visit family in Worthing for the day, then the boy came down and we drove home and spent the evening together at home. Sadly i don't have any photos, as i completely fail at remembering. My family have just arrived home, so we will be having our normal Boxing day feast tonight, accompanied by Bedknobs and Broomsticks!

Here are a few presents i received from my lovely family and friends.

The boy bought me a very large (massive!) bottle of Chanel Chance, which is amazing because a) i could literally bath in it and b) he bought me tiny bottle for me when i was sixteen, so five years later i think i deserve the biggest ;) And a Clarin's lip gloss that smells like toffee, yum.

My lovely little brother gave me a Nars eyeshadow duo and a very, very cute bird hook for my room.

My lovely parents bought me the Mac mini brush sets, i'm blown away how good they are already. And those three tartan hideous cases are being hidden away somewhere, until i can find some use for them.

Audrey Hepburn is a big style influence on me, her classic and rather french style is exactly how i aspire to be. My lovely friend Sarah, who is actually amazing at giving gifts, gave me this book full of photos of her, and even includes a print which no doubt will be framed on the asap.

My lovely boy also bought me these, Linda La Plant is possible one if my favourite thriller authors. Mary Poppins is my all time favourite film, and Christmas really isn't Christmas without Bedknobs and Broomsticks! 

With my Christmas money i snapped up these Vivienne Westwood pumps from My Wardrobe for £35.00 steal! Much to the amusement of my boy's friend they smell of sweets too, how odd! 

I also received some money from my parents as my main present, which was lovely of them, but i really cannot decide when to spend it on! Paired with my birthday money, i could buy an Alexa (gigantic grin) but i'm so indecisive it's untrue. Currently on my wish list is a Mui Mui, but we will see. 

Whilst i didn't make it out shopping today, i have one large Boot's order, TWO Topshop orders and a sneaky John Lewis order to arrive! I somewhat managed to get onto all sales early in the morning before work on Christmas Eve, and snapped up all the best bits! 

Have you been sale shopping? The in-store Topshop one was pants! 

Through the wire.

Okay, i may have stooped to all time low - and may have to delete this post after you've had a good read. Please do not judge me on the following, it's simply here to help you. Cringe. 

This post came about after i tweeted about spying on the Topshop item's i wanted to buy in the sale, and Lucy asked how i knew what price's they were going to be reduced to. I work in retail, nothing flash, in-fact my main customers are old ladies - i have acquired several thousand adopted grandmothers during my time working there. Anyway, in the run up to sale, we identify the items that will be going down in the sale prior to it starting, so on the start date we can just gun and ticket. If your really sneaky, you can suss out what items are due to be reduced by looking on the back of the ticket. Not all stores do this mind you, but it's worth knowing. 

Each stores have different ways for writing a discreet code, but most of the time its pretty bloody obvious. Note, i bought this top from Topshop yet, i wrote the code on as an example: reduced to £20.

Have fun ;)

all we hear is radio gaga.

Demonstrating my two new loves:

Arran Cardigan - ASOS (free)

Mac Lipstick - Hue (£12.50)

I'm never normally that lucky, but i when i ordered this cardigan from ASOS it was during the heavy, heavy snow. Needless to say after fifty thousand frantic emails and automated replies (what's up with this? never heard of a dog and bone?) i harassed their facebook team. I received a speedy reply to find out it had been lost in transit, queue a refund back into my account and this little present on my door step that very morning.

Gutted.

we drink champagne, and it tastes like cherry cola

I adore this dress!
It is of course the perfect spring transitional piece, yes i can say that will a foot of snow in my garden.

Apricot Double Truffle Tunic - Topshop (£50.00)

it's a little bit funny, this feeling inside.

Sale shopping can be one hell of an experience, angry, frustrating yet some how fabulous. With the January sales in mind, i thought i write a post. I love a good sale, as many of you are aware. The boxing day sales are amazing, with brands slashing prices completely, with prices making your eyes water thinking, dear god, thank god i didn't buy that before christmas! 

There's also the issue of going way overboard, in terms of price and buying stuff that is completely useless, i once bough a hot pink patent Mulberry bayswater in the sale that was promptly returned the following week realising i hated it and it didn't go with anything i owned (still to this day i do not know what possessed me!). So i thought i would post my thoughts...

• Set a limit of how much you want to spend, it's pointless wasting money you haven't got - what a poor way to start the year!

• Stock up on classic or basic items you know you will wear next season, it's pointless buying a aviator jacket now, a decent classic trench coat will last you forever, as will a pair of winter boots! Good time to stock upon nice knickers and bras too.

• Yet, do experiment and branch out to other styles, in the Topshop sale i often find things i would have never of looked at twice at full price, but knock £10 off and i'll try it on, wham! it could look amazing.

• Now's the time to invest in designer, heels, bags, purses where prices are slashed completely! Although you must have sheer determination to get your mitts on them fast, i saved £500 on my Luella bag, CRAZY. 

The places i eye up in the sale are:

Boots - With all gifts made to half price, it's so hard to resist! Stocking up on bubble bath, hair care and general bits and bobs are amazing. I love the Elle Macpherson range, and it's such as bargain after Christmas. Their sales go live online on Christmas day and in-store Boxing day normally. Of course, it would more sensible to stock up on presents for other people next year, but shish, where's the fun in that? ;)

Topshop - Of course! Sickening, but so, so worth it. This starts in-store on Christmas eve, this i plan to raid with a equally obsessed friend in the morning before work! Dedication.

Net-A-Porter have bloody brilliant sales, stress free. There's no need to elbow that woman for the last pair of size 5's, perfect. However, i must say i've never bitten the bullet to actually buy something, due to the lack of funds, one day. However, there's nothing like heading in-store to Selfridges or Harvey Nicks for the mayhem.

Department Stores - With concessions like Clinique, Benefit and Dior, their seasonal beauty gift sets get quite heavily discounted, perfect opportunity to stock up on the fabulous skin care sets for a reduced price.

Most designers and department stores sales go live on the 26th, see Elle for more dates. 

Sale Wishes

Clinique Moisture Surge Kit

Mulberry Lilly

Elle Macpherson Set

Mui Mui Grey Vitello 

Topshop Embellish V-back blouse, lace jumper, cream strappy crepe dress

Am i the only sale obsessed person? My Topshop is pretty quiet, so it would be rude not to have a little look, especially when i have to work on Christmas eve afternoon! What's your best sale buy and any tips i can steal? I hope i haven't jinxed myself writing this post!

NYE

I always say i'll have an amazing New Years Eve, it never happens, ever. Not like in the movies, any how. But there's nothing as fun as choosing that disgustingly fabulous outfit, because there's no such thing as too much sparkle on nye!

Designer.

Alice + Olivia Roxanne leather and silk dress (£485.00)

Alexander McQueen Crepe blazer (£1,145.00)

Marc Jacobs Small single quilted bag (£425.00)

YSL Tribute (£550.00)

Dannijo Dean gold-plated cuff (£170.00)

Hight-street

Topshop Ivory blazer (£65.00)

Topshop Wire Quartz Ring (£6.50)

Asos Oversized clutch (£12.50)

Miss Selfridge Nude Beaded Shift (£150.00)

River Island Doubled bow heel (£64.99)

Well i'm not going to lie - i couldn't afford either! But nothing beats window shopping online. But i desperately hope to get my mitts on that Miss Selfridge dress in the sale! 

Do you have any plans for NY?

And the way you look tonight.

The say the happiest day in a girl's life is getting married, i'm not quite sure whether thats actually true - i would say my first piece Chanel would be mine, but let's roll with it. Half of my friends are practically dying to get hitched and the other half, well.. they're just hanging out for me to get married. Which i must state, will not happen for a very, very, very long time. 

And of course, with Miss Middleton about to walk to up the aisle next summer to (the uglier) prince, the question on everyone's is who is going to dress this one-day queen? Designers from left, right and centre have been queuing up to create the dress of the decade. Women pour over wedding magazines for hours, choosing their perfect dress, from sleek and sophisticated to downright ridiculous marshmallow monstrosities. Which both i find very, very boring.

I will be dressed by Jenny Packman. 

all of them please.

I adore this dress forever more:

Kate Hudson in Versace.

(her ex-husband clearly ruins the photo)

Have you thought about your wedding dress?

oh peter, oh peter!

Peter Pan tunic -Tesco's (£12.00)

I cannot cook, neither can my mother, thats just the way things roll.

Needless to say i have had food poisoning twice this year from her cooking alone, this weekend being one unfortunate disaster. She does try really hard though, bless her. Hence the ill, shoddy photos.

I bet your glad your not invited to mine for christmas lunch ;)

and that lovely lilac wrap cardigan, would be a present for my gran!


(oh and fyi, i've gone a tad batshit crazy for Tesco's clothing recently, basically because they have re-vamped my local store) 

VISAGE

One my third year projects was to create a sample spread for brand, including a written feature.

I chose Topshop (how predictable) but as Topshop already have a seasonal style customer magazine called 214, i decided to create a magazine that focused solely on their cosmetic line, Visage.

Visage would be a seasonal magazine and tie-in with the new latest collection, it would be given away with online orders and available to pick up in selected stores. This issue of Visage focuses on Topshop's latest A/W collection Heavy Duty.

Hopefully, the pages will enlarge so you can read the copy!

After spending eight hours on InDesign,i can finally say i finished. Only copious cups of tea got me through screen capping all those film caps and transferring them on to a vintage film strip - all worth it i hope! 

Would you read Visage if it was available in-store? ;)

Christmas Wish List

1) Mulberry Lilly Bag - never going to happen but i can wish!

2) Chanel Chance - in desperate need, i tell you.

3) Kerastace Lait Nutri Sculpt

4) Laura Mercier Eye Colour Sampler

5) Topshop Lemon Sequin Dress

6) Urban Outfitters Glass Pot

7) Accessorize Nail Varnish

8) Sex & the City Box Set

9) Miss Selfridge Studded Peep Heel Shoes

10) Cath Kidston Note Book

11) Anya Hindmarsh Magazine tote

12) Mary Poppins

13) Marc by Marc hair bobbles

14) Tiffany band ring

This is very much a *wish* list, i have been a good girl this year?

When i went shopping for my birthday, many a moon ago, my boyf pointed out the Anya Hindmarsh magazine tote and said how perfect it would be for me! I think he's right!

Beauty Favourite: 4

Make Up Forever - HD Blush in N.05 (23€)

This is another purchase i made in Sephora whilst on holiday, it was an umming and erring moment, when i thought sod it, i have some euros left and it's my birthday what the heck. 

Make Up Forever is an American French brand, and sadly us British are only able to get out mitts on it if we go overseas. Before i had gone away, i had seen this products on various blogs and decided i would definitely give it a whirl whilst there. After half an hour (no joke) of swatching each colour, i came to the conclusion i preferred n.5 a baby pink, and hell one pump distributes alot of product.

My thoughts of this product are slightly biased, as i am rather miffed that i already own a Laura Mercier cream blush which is practically the same shade (gr!). However, on the plus side, it really does live to it's name. High Definition, is what you get. The pigmentation of this cream is unreal, unlike the Topshop cream blushers that fade after a few hours, this stays for a pretty long time. My only downside, as i've said the pump distributes some much product, you only really need half the amount - which is teeny tiny - although, atleast it will last me a long time!

I apply this by pumping half a pump out on the back of my hand and use my Sephora Mineral Brush to dab onto my cheek, building up the coverage is the key, as with all cream blushers. It really adds a healthy, pink glow.

It's a shame that Make Up Forever can only be bought overseas, and the nearest branch of Sephora is in Calais, slightly irritating; or online. I probably wouldn't have bought this product blind without trying first, have you tried any thing Make Up Forever?

happiness hit her like a train on a track

this my Christmas Jumper.

Tesco (£16.00)

Today i have eaten many peanut m&ms, filled up many online baskets, read and cut up my precious magazines for a godforsaken mood board, emptied the online baskets and drank copious amounts of tea.

baby give, baby give it up!

Oh my, how freeking boring is it being snowed in?

Yet there's nothing like wearing hot pink lipstick and listened to 80's music, whilst printing off the longest ever marketing report.

Enjoy.

Don't blame me when your singing this for the next week ;)

nananana!

This post is dedicated to Sarah, as you only turn 21 once, Emma, for just being so damn lovely!

i don't care what you do to them, just be good to me.

guilty little purchase.

Topshop (£18.00)

I actually started all my Christmas shopping in November, and bar the last few bits, i'm done and dusted. But aside from that, i have really been trying to save my left over pennies for the Christmas sales, i've seen many pretty dresses around, but hold back from buying - knowing that they will be reduced in literally a few weeks time. However, the lure of Topshop Saturday lunch break shopping finally got the better of me. I popped in today and noticed they had a few items on offer, hence the above purchase. I has spotted the nudey/pink sequin crop top before, but thirty eight quid, before Christmas, i think not! However roll the price down to £20, and give us 10% off cause i'm a student, thats a deal.

Its sparkly, but not in your face! so perfect for catching up Christmas drinks.

Are you as sale obsessed as i? A friend who i work with, we usually gatecrash the Topshop sale on Christmas Eve when it opens, quite embarrassing, but i've found some pretty amazing finds. Will you be hunting out anything particular in the sale? I've still got my birthday money saved (yeah, i don't know how either) so who knows?

the ASOS deal of the day - catch it literally while you can.

I have always admired the thick chunky aran cardigans from afar, they look so cosy and warm, but at fifty pound a pop in Topshop and Urban Outfitters, i have always given it a miss.

However.. due the disgustingly awful weather (i hate snow - ruins everything) and noticing an offer thats rather too tempting to miss i ordered one on the asap! ASOS sent a link on twitter announcing that the above cardigan was on offer for £24, so i hastily added one to my basket. With 20% discount they have on offer too, and super saver delivery, it bought the grand total to £19.20. Bargain!

But as i going to publish this post, i went to include the link to the deal of the day, ASOS have changed the offer to another cardigan and put the original price of the one i just bought back to normal. So although i'm glad i snapped that cardigan up pronto, i'm rather annoyed that they changed it so rapidly. The cardigan on offer now is the Fisher Man Ribbed Cardigan, for the discounted price at £24.00.

And while i'm on the subject of ASOS, i've never really gotten the 'hype.' I do think it's rather pricey and the quality isn't always up to scratch on some items, but never the less with added student discount and these amazing offers, its been hard to pass over. I also ordered this cream shift the other day:

Which i've just noticed that they have upped the price from £22 to £28, rather sneaky there.

Do you love asos? I'm still on the fence now i've just realised they upped the price so easily.

*Update*: see Asos's Nat's reply to say why it was changed, i guess it was pretty obvious that it was going to sell out pretty quickly, and Kudos to Nat for a speedy reply, thats definitely not something you see everyday, good customer service!