Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fashion. Show all posts

Friday, 16 August 2013

Stylish Dressing For Back To School & The School Run From F&F




 I'm really excited to have collaborated with  F&F at Tesco again, and where we are given the opportunity to review items from their Back to School  range. We have thus far been super impressed with the school wear range from Tesco and again the quality and value for money is second to none. With Miss. Poppins growing at quite some rate, it can be challenging to find suitable sizes for her, though Tesco offered items in sizes that fit her really well. We always buy a 'spare' pair of shoes for the new school year in case of any eventuality and she absolutely loved a F&F pair of school shoes so we couldn't help but try them out. At only £10 they offer real value for money too, with a fashionable wedge heel great for her, and also very practical looking for me.


As well as the shoes, which I have a feeling shall become the 'main' pair, we opted to try out a pair of cotton rich navy cycling shorts. These come in a 2 pack, and are perfect for P.E. at school. She said they felt super soft on, and of a very high quality. She also tried out the girls jersey zip through hoodie. As Miss Poppins is hoping to join many sporty groups at school - this really is a perfect buy. Even I had a little try on and it really is super comfy.
Next it was Master Poppins' turn and for him we chose some staple items - two sweatshirts, including one from their basics range and which I have to say for £2 is not bad at all. The two pack sets of shirts, the long sleeve set and short sleeve set are indeed as it says on the label, easy to iron, good quality and very smart!


The 2 pack school shorts have special dirt defence, adjustable waists which are very handy for my skinny minny  - I think he looks very preppy!


His school trousers, with Teflon fabric protector at just £3.50 are a great value choice, and the 5pk of fresh feel ankle socks I think are just the cutest!

We have all been very impressed and shall certainly be going back to Tesco for any other back to school items needed.
 Prices: (can be dependent on sizes)
1x Basic Sweatshirt - £2
1x Unixsex School Sweatshirt - £4
1x School Trousers - £3.50
1x 2pk School Shorts - £5.50 (Sale)
1x 5pk Ankle Socks - £4
1x 5pk Sports Socks - £1.50
1x 2pk S/S School Shirts - £4
1x 2pk L/S School Shirts - £4.50
1x School Hoodie - £6
1x 2pk Cycle Shorts - £5
1x School Shoes - £10

So eleven pieces of school wear items for the grand total of £50. I think Tesco offer great value for money in their back to school range, and they really are quality items too.
The team at F&F also very kindly offered an outfit for myself to test out and wear on the school run. Being the fashion loving shopaholic I am, I couldn't wait to get browsing! Being somewhat of a thrifty shopper I headed straight over to their sale and found some lovely items I thought perfect for drop off. Early September can still be warm (here's hoping) so I couldn't resist the little jazzy denim skirt! The pretty pink crochet detail cardigan is so me and the camisole a perfect staple to go with many outfits. With some simple canvas pumps I think a cute little outfit to maybe head off and grab a coffee with one of the school mums. 


Skirt - £8 (Sale)
Cardigan - £8 (Sale)
Camisole - £3    
Again, great value for money and when the items arrived I was really impressed with the quality. Well I couldn't leave it there could I, so I popped these in the basket too - again two items from the sale being the jeggins and shirt. I thought a lovely outfit to wear on cooler days. I love the slogan snood and a perfect scarf for between the seasons.   


Jeggins - £5 (Sale)
Polka Dot Shirt - £7 (Sale)  
Snood - £5
On my more comfy days I loved these on trend aztec pants - they really are so comfy and having a hint of pink right up my street. A pretty lacy waistcoat creats a very relaxed feel and they go perfectly with the camisole too.

Aztec Pants - £6 (Sale) 
Camisole - £3 (As Before)
Waistcoat - £7 (Sale)
So some great items there, 8 items, and 3 outfits for just less than £50 - probably more than 3 outfits in fact as you could mix and match. F&F I occasionally find tend to be quite a generous fitting so a couple of these items had to be returned and different sizes purchased, and I have to say the customer service was ace!
As I was in a spending mood and have this 'big' birthday in less days than I care to think about, I thought I'd treat myself to something to wear on the day. Again I headed to the sales and fell in love with an outfit that cost me less than £20! I thought I could also perhaps incorporate the camisole.


Oh I just love it and it fits perfectly - I was thinking I could wear tights if a cold day and go bare legged with some vintage style sandals if a little warmer. The waterfall jacket is just lovely and I think shall go with many items. Of course I couldn't resist a little try on ;) The cute sunshine bag is also a F&F item and was a gift from the children for Mother's Day.
  
Stripe Jacket - £10 (Sale)
Stripe Shorts - £7 (Sale)
Camisole - £3 (As Before)
 So there we, are a very Tesco-tastic post, some super items from F&F and I can't wait to see what new ranges they bring out. Whats so great about ordering is as I have discovered, if you don't want to wait in, with click and collect you can pick up your order from your chosen store for free! And, if you order before 3pm, you could collect it the next day! So a really good service too :) As for me, I have to be careful I don't get to click happy - as I could spend a small fortune - at least for now, my wardrobe is looking much prettier :) 

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Disclosure: F&F at Tesco contacted me to be involved in their 'back to school' campaign. We were provided with vouchers for schoolwear and a school run outfit for the purposes of this review post. Some items I purchased myself. All words and opinions my own.

Saturday, 14 July 2012

Dress for Less

I love shopping we all know that, but mostly it is house-y type shops that you shall find me in, or funky children's wear stores picking up clothes for my little Poppins etc. Clothes shopping for myself can often take a back seat and it seems so long ago when my Saturday's were spent shopping with the girly friends, then getting ready that evening trying on our newly bought clothes, having a glass of wine whilst watching Blind Date ( those were the days ) The online world has taken off, much can be bought online, and however much I like shopping in shops and trying stuff on, I just never seem to get the time or inclination to clothes shop these days....

Anyway this weekend there was an opportunity to grab an hour to do a little browsing in the fashion shops so I thought I would take it. I saw a pretty little Miss. Selfridge floral dress in the sales which caught my eye. Seeing 'much younger than me' girls trying the same dress on didn't put me off and in the changing room it came. 

Here I am taking a little snapshot of me trying it on....

      
It fitted really nicely and comes with a little pink leather bow belt that nips in the waist. After a little twirl I decided yes it was a cutie and I would have it. Then I saw some shoes. Oh I love shoe shopping, shoes have always been my thing and if I won the lottery I would be spending some pennies on a pair of these As it is I shall probably have to make do with doing this with my cheapo ones ;) I loved these five inch Dotty P numbers. I had a little practice walk and soon got the hang of it so these came home with me too....



I just love the spotty heels and as it is quite a block effect heel, I find them easier to walk in than many of my lower height heels, they feel more stable somehow and are actually quite comfortable....


I also like bags, not the ones that seem to frequent under my eyes but pretty ones that a girl can put all her stuff in. I saw this metallic snakeskin effect clutch bag whist I was queuing to pay for the dress and shoes. It is really shimmery and in the sales too. Yes, I shall have it....



I was more than happy with my little haul and what bargains I found too....

Miss. Selfridge Dress: Original Price £39.99 Sale Price £10.00
Dorothy Perkins Shoes: Original Price £40.00 Sale Price £12.00 
Top Shop Bag: Original Price £20.00 Sale Price £7.00 

So I saved myself a total of £70.99. So you really can dress for less and being the penny saving shopper I am, I always like to hunt out bargains in the sales. I heard the Next sale was on today and with many people I know getting to the store for 5am. I like a bargain it is true, and for little ones Next sales are fabulouso, but it has to be said I like my bed much much more. Having worked for Next many years ago, I don't always remember my time working there during the sales with fondness ;) It was hot, people were barging into one other, and I couldn't wait for my shift to end. Ha ha things are hopefully a lot calmer these days. 

Did you go?
   
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Friday, 28 January 2011

Can You Be Too Old For Florals....

Thank you for all the owl comments in my last post, those eyes are still watching me ;0)

So, this post has a floral theme, and I am wondering, should there be an age limit on wearing florals. My favourite buy from the sales ( I think was £7.00) and which I love to wear is this pretty and very CK esque little cardigan, I wear it with skinny jeans, with not so skinny jeans, with skirts and tights, and as the sun is out today *YIPPEE* soon hopefully I shall be wearing it with my little shabby denim summer skirts and flip flops, wishful thinking perhaps....

Anyway here she is....



I rather like it don't you. Anyway the florals straight away jumped out and me and I promptly went over to the desk and handed my money over. Roll on a week or so, and whilst have a lazy Sunday morning stumbled upon Hollyoaks on the television. Hollyoaks always takes me back, as I remember going for an audition to be in it when it first came out all those years ago, anyway am digressing. Whilst kind of watching ( yes I am embarrassed ) one of the characters, a character age of maybe 17/18 was wearing this exact same cardigan. It looked very nice on her, and then got me thinking.

Am I told old to be wearing florals, should there be an upper age limit, like the wearing of skirts above ones knee, is the wearing of florals a little, how can I put it, kind of childish. Only suitable for those age 5 and under. Can I ever be taken seriously wearing such pretty floral prints.

Well I am in love with them and I would say every single day somehow, somewhere,  I wear some form of floral, whether it be my earrings....




Or even my shoes....





There is always a floral in there. Interiors wise I think you can get away with florals, though again can it be overdone ? I am so inspired by Alice Whately's lovely book In Bloom....helps you get it just right with the floral decor.





Make do and mend....





Simple chic....




Feminine florals....



New romantic....



Pretty prints....



But when it comes to actually gracing ourselves with florals, well is it a bit too much. For me, enough is never enough and until I am told otherwise, I shall keep bringing those floral frocks out of the wardrobe ( yes, even at my age ) I would so love this little number to be pulled out of it one day....




Or is that taking it a bit too far at my age....

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