UK Fashion & Style Blog | We Shop Therefore We Are

Double floral

Sarah — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:58:18 +0000

Floral blazer worn with floral shirt = quite a brave choice for me. I’d seen a few other bloggers wearing this shirt, liked the print and was lucky enough to find it reduced to £12 in the sale. It’s size L but since Zara clothes size up pretty teeny that equates to a UK 10-12, which is about right on me:

Worn with the ubiquitous Gap straight leg trousers. These are much stretchier than my beloved Cheap Monday black jeans and are by far the comfiest thing in my wardrobe at the moment.

PS The neon pink satchel and I failed to bond so it was passed on to a very happy new owner, while I invested in the gold version in a size down (13 inches).

Love Moschino clutch

Sarah — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:05:06 +0000

Being part of the Sarenza brand ambassador programme is a real privilege as it means being given the opportunity to try out the brands they stock. Although Sarenza are known mainly for their extensive shoes collections, their handbags are well worth a look too.

This month I picked a pink Love Moschino clutch which comes with a detachable gold chain, making it very versatile. It’s really cute and girly – I love it!

Sarenza recently held a competition to recruit a new brand ambassador and I can’t wait to find out who it is. Someone’s going to be made very happy indeed!

Bag: Love Moschino c/o Sarenza / Cardi: American Retro / Trousers: Gap / Top: Zara / Shoes: Carvela / Necklace: Cos

New blouse

Sarah — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 12:51:05 +0000

Another day, another asymmetric item of clothing! I picked up this blouse in H&M on Friday for just £14.99. I really like the open neck and the pale pinky/beige colour:

For ages I’d banned myself from going into H&M because whenever I did I seemed to come out with something cheap and badly made that would be worn once then passed on to the charity shop – which didn’t feel like the best use of my hard earned cash.

However, I ventured back in on a recent shopping trip with my friend Heather and was quite impressed. Although the prices have crept up a bit overall, it seems the quality has improved and there’s more of a focus on trend-led pieces rather than just basics.

What do you think of H&M? Have you found anything good in there recently?

Blouse: H&M / Jeans: Cheap Monday @ Urban Outfitters / Boots: River Island / Necklace: Cos

Grey days

Sarah — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:38:53 +0000

I’m so glad that January’s almost over. It’s such a strange month. In some ways it goes by in a flash, but in others it seems to drag on forever. Even though February can often throw brutal weather at us, it feels like spring’s just around the corner so is generally a much more positive time – helped along by all those beautiful Valentine’s Day flowers, gifts etc (ahem, might be living on fantasy island with that one!).

This month has seen a lot of basic outfits in neutral colours, typified by this work outfit of cosy grey jumper over the Asos dress we were sent for the Company magazine LBD challenge:

As an outfit it’s not going to set the heather alight but it’s good enough for the month when you just want to hibernate.

Have a happy, un-grey weekend.

Jumper: Topshop / Dress: Asos / Ankle boots: River Island

For those about to rock

Sarah — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:47:56 +0000

Sixty years after it was first designed, the desert boot has been given an update in the form of the Clarks Originals Rock Royalty collection, which features four limited edition styles – each one inspired by a different type of music:

Although I like the black boots, my favourites are the red, black and gold Sergeant Pepper pair:

These are my dream boots – roll on payday!

Asymmetric blouse

Sarah — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 15:36:55 +0000

I bought this cream blouse in H&M last week and absolutely love it. I love the collarless neckline, the uncuffed sleeves, the asymmetric hem and the fact that it looks a lot like (and is as comfortable and easy to wear as) a silky pyjama top I used to have:

The only downside is that the fabric is highly static. Not quite electric shock levels but not far off!

Blouse: H&M / Trousers: Gap / Boots: River Island / Necklace: Cos

Take10: Zalando shoes

Sarah — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:41:50 +0000

For this month’s Take10 challenge Zalando invited each of us to pick a pair of shoes from the Zign range. Here’s what we chose:

I can’t get enough of ankle boots, particularly when they have a slight cowboy boot shape and a cuban heel, so the opportunity to acquire a pair in red suede was too good to resist.

Worn here with black skinny trousers, a sheer shirt that I’d forgotten all about until a rummage through the ironing pile last week, a red studded bracelet that I picked up in the White Stuff sale (reduced to £6) and my gold necklace:

The boots fit like a dream and I like how they look. The only annoying thing are the side buckles, which feel quite flimsy and keep coming undone when I’m walking. They don’t actually serve any functional purpose though so a spot of Super Glue will soon set them to rights. (If I don’t post for a while you’ll know it’s because I’ve managed to glue all my fingers together. Don’t try this at home, kids!).

To view the other girls’ 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, Sabine at Psynopsis, Susie at Take-Out In Couture and Harriet at Where Is Harriet?.

Thanks to Zalando for sponsoring the challenge and Jen for making the collage.

Shirt: Next / Trousers: Gap /Shoes: Zign c/o Zalando / Necklace: Cos / Bracelet: White Stuff

Folli Follie lips bag

Sarah — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:47:32 +0000

This clutch bag is another of the goodies on loan from Folli Follie. It came in very handy for nights out over the festive period.

I’ve got black evening bags of my own, but like the quirky black and white lips detail on the front of this one. Worn here with my sequinned jumper and asymmetric skirt:

I’ll be sorry to see this one go!

Jumper: Topshop / Skirt: Zara / Shoes: Carvela / Bag: on loan from Folli Follie

Simple things

Sarah — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:49:12 +0000

My current favourite things. A minimalist matt gold necklace from Cos (£25) which seems to go with everything and is really comfortable to wear. It’s very light so you don’t notice you’ve got it on – and this from someone who has a real issue with things (particularly hands!) round her neck:

And a super-soft grey jumper from Topshop with subtle neck and waist detailing (reduced from £36 to £18 in the sale):

Looking forward to a relaxed weekend at home. Have a good one!

Dotty shoes

Sarah — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:59:19 +0000

On Friday morning I left my flat with a weekend bag, ready to head to Edinburgh straight from work. The reason for the weekend away was my friend Vicky’s big birthday do at the amazing Prestonfield House.

I’d packed my lace dress and the only thing missing were my black heels, which I thought were under my desk at work. Unfortunately on arrival at the office I remembered that the shoes were actually lurking at the back of the hall cupboard – doh!

Cue a Saturday spent shopping for a substitute pair, which I found in Topshop in the form of these black and green dotty heels (reduced from £60 to £20 in the sale). Worn here with a more day-to-day outfit:

They’re very cute but I won’t pretend they’re comfortable. I had a great night wearing them though and managed to keep them on til 3am – until the opportunity for dancing in the whisky bar demanded that they were flung off!

Thanks to Vicky for a fabulous night and to Prestonfield House for not batting an eyelid at me running to the Ladies in my stocking soles!

Jacket: Zara / Vest: Gap / Trousers: Zara / Shoes: Topshop / Necklace: Cos