first haul - matalan.co.uk

If you've never heard of Matalan, check out their website. My dad was obsessed with the shop when we were younger and he regularly took us there and spent £££'s. Growing up, I've rarely even thought about shopping there because I do think it's a bit over priced for what it is and because I'm used to spending no more than £10 on an item.
A few months back I bought a few bits in the sale, including some floral tailored trousers which I love! So I thought I'd check out there sale the other day and noticed that delivery was only £1 for the weekend (which always makes me want to purchase something even more!)
Oh my goodness, the sale is really good - well most things. Bargain tailored trousers and pencil skirts, with sequinned dresses for £11, floral jeans for £5 and underwear for £1, I could not resist buying some stuff. After many calculations to whether I could actually afford to buy anything, I realised I had £25 max to spend.

Trousers - £4 (reduced from £14)

Skirt - £7 (reduced from £14)

Vest - £3.50 (reduced from £7)

Clutch - £5 (reduced from £8)
I also got a top with a photograph of a pile of chips over the front for £3 (reduced from £10)

I am so excited to wear these and plan some exciting new outfits!

x

inspiration

I discovered Polyvore this evening & I don't know why I'd never thought to go on it before. It's amazing! These two outfits are what I put together in about 5 minutes as I've just been playing around with it tonight. I can tell that it's gonna be super helpful when trying to put together outfits. I absolutely love the bottom outfit; I would be perfect for when I go to Tenerife next month.

I'm also in the process of finding an outfit for my interview at DMU. I'm either thinking about a full floral trouser suit, or a midi bodycon floral skirt and plain tee maybe.. hmm decisions

TOPSHOP trousers

I have recently discovered a love for patterned trousers; any outfit can seem so much smarter with a pair of well fitted cigerette trousers. Paired with brogues and a plain tee with a statement necklace for a casual look or worn with steel-toe court heels and a matching blazer for a going out outfit, either look really lovely.

So far, my collection is minimal, having only currently purchased one pair of purple floral trousers but in the next month or so when my income is increased when I start working back at the cafe (aswell as working in my local newsagents and constantly selling clothes on eBay!) I'll be able to afford a few more pairs and hopefully a matching suit!

update

I'm annoyed at myself for not blogging all week, but I've had exams and a tonne of coursework to do. So I thought I'd just write a little update:

1. I've stuck (sort of) to my news years resolution of not buying anything for myself. I went charity shopping with my sister and came home with a faux leather jacket and a few other bits and bobs. I was gonna sell the leather jacket but my one is knackered so I think I might keep it for now. But everything I bought came to about £7/8 so I didn't break the bank! That's the only time I've spent money on clothes/shoes/makeup/accessories so I'm very happy with myself, seeing as it is sales season.
2. Last week, I made £70 on eBay which I'm super happy about & I've still got some more things to sell. The downside of my profits is that this is paying for my car tax which is £125 for 6 months!!! :(
3. Before Christmas I received 3 offers and 2 interviews for uni. I turned down one of the interviews just now as it was my final choice and I don't really want to do the course. Mu interview for De Montfort is on the 12th February which I'm a bit nervous for
4. I'm off to Tenerife in 5 weeks so I'm currently looking at the sales to buy some holiday clothes. Eeeeek, so excited!

X

3 pairs of heels for £6!

Just a quick post to show my amazing bargains!

I picked up all three for £6 in a local charity. They are all brand new H&M ex stock and in perfect condition.   This charity shop stocks lots of brand new H&M stuff with the labels cut out or black markered over and I always go there for bargains. I'm selling the court shoes on eBay as they are too small but the other two fit perfectly (even though I reallllyyy don't need any more shoes)

I also picked up some more H&M stuff including: a pack of 4 earrings, a black waist belt, some burgundy coloured gloves and a wooly scarf, which were all only 50p each. I love bargains.

ootd

Wool coat - £5 charity shop

Burgundy baggy tshirt - £5 internacionale

Belt - £1 primark 

Blue jeans - £11 primark

Heeled boots - £20 primark

Tartan scarf - £1 charity shop

Leather bag - £30 h&m

I've finally done an outfit post! Even though my brother took the photos so they're not as great as I'd hoped.

This a quick outfit I put together before doing a bit of shopping in town. The coat I bought last week which was reduced from £10 - such a bargain! It's so warm and lovely and I've ordered a burgundy fur collar which I'll sew onto when it arrives. The boots I've had a couple of months but haven't worn them much but they make an outfit more sophisticated I think so I'll definitely be wearing them more when I'm back at sixth form. And the bag, oh god I love it! It's the first proper handbag I've ever owned really because I've always had about 3 bags which I swop around depending on my outfit, but this is definitely going to be my everyday bag from now on.

2012 moving on

Christmas and New Year are over (sadly) and it's back to normality. I'm going to put down the chocolate box and the cheese board and go back to my usual diet (well I'll try too!). 2012 was a big year; a lot of things happened which changed how I view my life; I had a lot of tears and heartache over family things; and I also had the craziest and funniest times with my best friends.

During the spring/summer of 2012, my style was, well let's say, "indie" and "grunge". I hate defining what I used to wear into a category but basically that's how other people viewed it. I wore some strange outfits and clothing pieces which I do sort of cringe at now, but at the time I did like how I dressed. Most of my clothes cost under £4 from eBay or charity shops and so I ended up filling 2 wardrobes and a chest-of-drawers and my floor with items! Going back to sixth form in September after a summer of wearing denim shorts and t shirts I realised that I needed to change my style. After looking into studying Fashion Marketing at uni, I decided that I needed to dress more with trends and 'classier'. I ditched the bleach blonde hip length hair, for a chocolate brown shoulder length style (I cut and dyed it myself) and decided to invest into some more expensive high street labels. 3 months on: my hair is ombre and I am definitely dressing more like a woman and less like a boy!

New Years Resolutions:

01: DON'T BUY PRESENTS FOR MYSELF! 

After my driving test first time in July, I had no money worrys. The £250 a month I was spending on lessons was no longer needed and I took this as spending money whenever I wanted on whatever I wanted! Buying my own car at the end of November had killed my bank and I am currently living off next to nothing :( No more expensive JC's or other shoes for myself until I find a third job or make some serious money off eBay

02: STOP BUYING THINGS IN THE SALES!

I'm addicted to sales. The second I see "50% off", I'm there, at the checkout, with a basket or handful of things. I end up buying random items which I can't wear with anything other than a pair of jeans or things which are too big or too small. 

03: START DOING OUTFIT POSTS!

After a couple of months of reviving my wardrobe I now have plenty of new outfits. I've made a promise to myself that I'll do two outfits posts by the time I go back to 6th sixthform (which is in like 4/5 days!). So, watch this space..