Normal going-out outfit:

Abnormal going-out outfit:

How versatile a little black dress can be! Happy Halloween.

xx

Dress: Zara

The other day I came across a jumper from Topshop that I’d bought a few weeks back and not worn – never a good sign. It still had the tags on but I couldn’t find the receipt anywhere. I was half expecting to be told instore that it had been reduced to £5 in the sale, but luckily it was still full price and for an extra £2 I was able to exchange it for this cardigan:

I like the stripes, and the little bit of sparkle through them, the neckline and the open front. Worn to work yesterday with my leather mini:

I’m starting a new job in the marketing department of a bank in a few weeks time, so the leather skirt will probably be weekend-only wear from then on!

xx

Cardi: Topshop / Skirt: Urban Outfitters / Shoes: River Island 

Last week I ordered a coat online from Zara. Picked it up after work yesterday (one of the benefits of working my last week of notice is leaving bang on 5.30pm!) and rushed home to try it on.

Unfortunately it wasn’t quite right. Although size medium, it felt stiff and way too snug with just a blouse underneath, and the sleeves were an awkward length – somewhere between three quarter and full length. Definitely not worth spending £70 on.

I kind of knew this was going to happen because I was opting for the cut-price version of the Zara jacket I really love. But at £239 this is a serious purchase:

I made the mistake of touching it when I was in the shop and it was so deliciously soft that nothing else is going to come close. I haven’t dared try it on. Even the name of the colour – make up – is lovely.

This is something I think I’d wear and love for years, and I do still have birthday money to spend on something special. But it’s an awful lot of money to spend on a jacket that could easily get damaged. What do you think – worth the investment or not?

xx

Oasis describe this top as leopard print, although to me it looks a million miles from what I associate with that print:

Worn yesterday for lunch out in Glasgow (Sloan’s pub – v nice) with my parents and godmother.

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Hope you’ve had a good weekend.

xx

Top: Oasis / Shorts: New Look / Ankle boots: River Island

For this month’s Take10 challenge, Next sent each of us red coat to style. Here’s how we wore it:

I went for some colour clash by wearing it over a bright pink jumper, teamed with my leather mini and a gold handbag to add a bit of bling:

Unfortunately I found the coat quite uncomfortable to wear as it was slightly too small and I don’t like high collars. On a brighter note, I was able to exchange it for a couple of fab jumpers.

To view everyone’s pictures in more detail visit Jen at A Little Bird Told Me, MJ at Dreaming Spires and Old Car Tyres, Sherin at HiFashion , Vicki at Magpie Girl, Paula at PinkBow, Ellie at Pretty Much Penniless, Sabine at Psynopsis, Susie at Take-Out In Couture and Harriet at Where Is Harriet?.

Thanks to Next for sponsoring the challenge and Harriet for making the collage.

xx

Coat: c/o Next / Jumper: Topshop / Skirt: Urban Outfitters / Bag: c/o Sarenza / Shoes: River Island

Getting to work yesterday was a disaster. The weather was awful – the strong wind meant the rain was sweeping across in horizontal waves (umbrella quickly consigned to Argyll Street’s infamous brolly cemetery) and by the time I got to the office I was soaked through. A cab home and back (£15 down – grrrr) and I was at my desk more suitably dressed for winter.

This is my new favourite jumper, which I think I’ll be living in for the next 6 months. Bought at the weekend, reduced from £38 to £15 in the River Island sale. I like the colours and the ever-so-slightly swingy shape:

While in River Island I found a few other things to add to the wishlist. This grey jumper would be a good basic for wearing with black jeans or shorts:

On the subject of shorts, this tailored pair would come in useful as they’re slightly dressier than the ones I already have. These could be worn over different types of woolly, coloured and ribbed tights, which means I wouldn’t get bored with them:

I really want a pair of Chelsea boots and the heel on these would save my trousers from trailing on wet pavements. Yesterday I realised that I have too many suede/impractical boots and shoes, so buying these would be totally justified!

How do you cope with getting to work on horrible rainy days (or are you lucky enough to have a car – swoon!).

xx

I bought this orange jumper in H&M on Thursday night and, of course, had to wear it on Friday (if I don’t wear something new straightaway then it’s definitely not a keeper). It was way too mild on Friday for a thick jumper like this but, having forgotten to put a vest or tee on underneath, there was no way I could take it off so I was stuck with it!

It’s incredibly fluffy. Went for lunch with my friend Emma wearing it and had to stop myself from moving my hands about when talking, as both of our dishes were getting covered in a soft layer of orange angora!

It’s very cosy though and will help in my campaign to reduce my heating bill (£60 a month in a 1 bed flat – is this normal?) by chucking on an extra layer instead of having the radiators blasting.

Hope you’ve had a great weekend and a bit of autumn sunshine where you are.

xx