Christmas Sales Shopping

Today is the day I finally emerged from my cocoon, fought my way through traffic and crowds with my best friend Rose, and searched for bargains!

I'm not a big sale shopper in all, but I had some lovely vouchers (and a few last-min additions to get) and I figured - why not?   My mother always advises that you shouldn't buy something in a sale you haven't considered at least 3 times before, that you should NEVER buy something that isn't your size just because you're in love/will consume your way into it/will diet your way into it/your friend loved it, and that 'YOLO' is not an acceptable term when planning your wardrobe.

We parked next to the Lace Market, so naturally our two first stops were the Wills family.  I've been lusting after a grey fox jumper in Aubin & Wills for ages - it's sold out online - but unfortunately they only had it in tan in the store, too!  Our trip to Jack Wills was far more fruitful, and myself & Rose emerged hands-full of goodies:

Let me introduce you to the Keynsham Dress, and the Campbell Knit hoodie.  This dress will be perfect for NYE - Jack Wills release a similar dress to this (differing prints, and features such as bows etc.) every season and I absolutely adore them.  I ordered the hoodie before the sale as a Christmas present to someone I won't be seeing until January, but I think I love it even more in real life than on the website and I might have to wear it myself...

We also tried on their fuzz-lined hoodies and furry headbands, and Rose left with a few of those. We were both really happy with our new purchases, excitedly planning social events to show them off when it occurred to us that we had no shoes!

"Off to House of Fraser!", we said

I'm a big believer in putting several outfits together with one piece, so naturally I had to buy a pair for day and a pair for parties..  I've loved the selection of black peep-toe pumps Dune has for years - I have their 'WAIVER' pair for winter, and was looking for something a little sleeker for summer - so there was really only one choice for me.

I'm not much of a shoe person, but I don't believe you can go wrong with a pair of simple, flattering, black suede peep-toe pumps.  Boring, I know, but there's really no room for improvement there!  Fortunately, Rose is super-exciting when it comes to heels, and she brightened up our shopping list with these pewter babies from Moda in Pelle!

It's a bit cheeky pretending I purchased my last pair today - really, I ordered them online on Saturday. They're navy, patent, super-cute, and you can either purchase them directly from Paul Smith or from Sarah Coggles in York (which is where I got mine from).

What have you bought from the sales so far?

xx

2013

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are planning an exciting NYE!

Number one on my list is to stay faithful here, as well as sticking to my other blogging commitments!

Trust me, it didn't look like this for long..

Let me know if you have plans, I'm sure I'll be blogging about mine! :)

xx

The Big Shave!

Cancer is something that affects everyone; 1 in 3 are likely to receive treatment for a cancerous illness at some point during their lives, and almost everyone can recall a close friend or relative who has suffered.

I like to aid cancer charities such as Cancer Research and CLIC Sargeant by attending sponsored events, and buying from charity shops, however one of my close friends is going one step further this coming year. Gemma is shaving off her hair in aid of awareness and patient support, and wants to raise £1000 for CR via the website 'justgiving.co.uk'.

She had this to say:

"The past few days I have been sat reflecting on life, as the year of 2012 draws to an end and the start of a new year approaches.  Thinking about how lucky I am to be here, healthy, happy and alive. Some are not so lucky, Cancer has taken the lives of so many, who had so much to give. That is why I am taking a stand.

On Monday 28th January 2013 I will be shaving all of my hair off in order to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

I'm asking you, my friends, family and work colleagues to support my cause. Any small donation that you could make would make a big difference and help raise awareness.

This is my way of fighting back, a chance to help those who really need it.

Information and updates will be regularly posted on how you can support me through this cause.

Thank you for you time and support."

You can donate HERE:  www.justgiving.com/TeamGemmaBaker  

It only takes one person to make a difference. 

SUPERDRY STUDENT LOCK-IN: 16/10/2012

Students of York (and across the UK), there's a fashion event at Superdry tonight at their store in town! With 20% off and goodie-bags for a lucky few, what's not to love? You might even win one of the popular £49.99 ‘Entry’ hoodies for gracing them with your presence; but if not, go ahead and take a look at my favourite discounted picks.

There’s an easy way to do cut-out if you’re not ready to bear the flesh; use a loose off-the-shoulder knit or sweater to attract attention this term. Wear with thick straps, no straps, on the shoulder, one shoulder or no shoulders for the ultimate in D-I-Y style. Huge comfy knits and boyfriend fits are the easiest way to look great and feel good, and you can’t beat a pair of coloured jeans with your favourite trainers - and don't forget to be super-cute in these cosy accessories in fleece-lined, cable-knitted bobbly goodness.

Knits this season are both chunky and slim-line; keep it fitted but choose thick styles, patterns and duffel togs to stay on-trend.  Contrast your skinny silhouette with the biggest coat you can find; hooded, woolly and super warm.

In terms of Superdry’s famous loungewear then cash in – every student (especially freshers) needs a few comfy casuals to get them through those early morning seminars. Pick up a shirt in this season’s festive check, a classic hood, or a fleece-lined gilet for ultimate chill-out.


I'll be at the welcome talk & elections for my newspaper (weep!) but I'd love to know what you buy :) x 

You look lovely today

I've been feeling a little down today, so I've done a little damage to my bank account to improve my mood. As some of you lovely readers may know, I'm off to Parliament in November and I need a fancy suit in order to fit in - I found the one I want, and I headed off into York this morning to buy it.

"Raffy" Suit Jacket & "Esther" Slim-Straight Pants

This is the "Raffy/Esther" suit from Reiss - a slim, black, wool number that's sure to last me a few years, never mind until the end of my placment! I've loved it for a while, so it was a BIG sense of satisfaction to walk away with my huge bag this afternoon.

After my big serious purchase, I headed to firm favourite Sarah Coggles to do a bit of comfort hunting. I'm absolutely desperate for a varsity jacket - but I hate varsity jackets, so I'm determined to buy something that looks the part but remains fairly fashion-neutral. Abercrombie & Fitch do a cute jumper, but the thought of going in there makes me sick - I'd seen a super girly back-button jumper with a big, sequinned 'A' on the front and I decided that was the piece for me.

Lucky for me, it was in the sale!

What's even better is that the label says "You look lovely today" - INSTANT cheer up!

What did you get up to on this rainy Friday?

:)

Bora Aksu SS13 @ LFW

I was super excited for the Bora Aksu show this SS13 - I'd never heard of him before and by the time I'd researched him I was desperate for a ticket to the show. I was lucky enough to be granted a front-row seat, so I can confirm the show was an absolutely incredible experience (and I have the photos to prove it!)

I had an amazing time looking at all the outfits - inspired by Queen Marie of Romania - and the way they were accessorised; with patterned tights, regal sashes, crowns and plain pumps. The show was accompanied by a string quartet playing slow, slightly ominous music. 

My goodie bag was equally incredible; a liquid pen eyeliner (that I have used religiously since), some face masks, a Louboutin luggage tag and - get this - CHOCOLATE CRACKLE SKINNY POPCORN.

If you know where I can buy it, give me a call. Otherwise - enjoy the photographs. 

X

Caroline Charles SS13 @ LFW

Managed to wangle front-row at the Caroline Charles show (thanks guys!) and here are a few of my favourite pics, courtesy of my Blackberry PlayBook.

This show was incredible - I'm a huge fan of CC's sharp, feminine tailoring and there was no disappointment here. Simple, European tailoring was jazzed up by the patterns and festival colours of New Orleans (get it - jazzed?) and two-piece cotton dresses were a main feature during the second half of the show. My favourite piece (first pic, finale model) was a long white dress inspired by the Old South, accessorised with a large hat and plenty of red lipstick.

Crucifixes were utilised as belts, and some of the floor-length couture featured hats and face covers - the tailoring on these pieces was incredibly modest, with skirts taking inspiration from the robes worn by members of the Church.

The goodie bag was equally great - unfortunately I don't have a photo (I'll take one later) but I'm the proud owner of a Shu Uemura lippie and a gorgeous Kiehls clay face wash.