BICESTER VILLAGE WONDERFULNESS

On the way back from our amaaaazing weekend away in the Cotswolds, I was allowed a slight detour to Bicester Village. I say allowed, because I tried to wangle a visit on the way to the Cotswolds but was negotiated down to a visit on the way back (due in no small part I'm sure to the steely silence I inflicted on my boyfriend until he gave in). Truth be told, it was the right decision to go on a Monday rather than a Saturday - I'm sure it would have been heaving! 

I knew before I set to work that I was strictly after things I could squirrel away ready for spring/summer: ideally a clutch, swimwear/printed cover ups and a beautiful dress for holiday evenings. I failed on the swimwear and dress front, but did find a beautiful gold Anya Hindmarch woven clutch for £97 - perfect for summer evenings (and summer days too come to think of it!). Before making my purchase I visited the clutch a total of 3 times (I rarely make rash purchases these days) and nearly had a heart attack when the friendly sales person told me someone else had almost bought it (needless to say I snapped it up immediately).The reductions at Anya Hindmarch were the best I came across in the Village - bags which were originally over £1,000 were reduced to just over £200. Those perennially perfect glitter Valorie clutches were reduced to just £70.

After Anya Hindmarch, Sandro was my favourite store. This was so in spite of the heinous fact that the dressing rooms are mirror-less. Meaning you have to come out of your cubicle, not knowing what on earth you look like, and examine yourself alongside everyone else in a communal mirror. Very french apparently. Hideous. Nevertheless, I came away with the most BEAUTIFUL gold sequin jacket for £87. I've been on the lookout for the right embellished jacket for ages. They're the perfect thing to be worn with jeans or leather leggings when you're not sure how dressy an evening will be. Having a jacket like this in your wardrobe ensures you're never over or under dressed in such a situation. I'm going to keep it wrapped up until spring/summer, when it'll come out for evenings in Morocco and Canada. I can't wait! 

Last but not least - after trying on a few printed dresses in DVF (and not quite finding what I was after) I settled for a little piece of DVF print via a new iPhone cover, to replace my long-suffering one. A snip at £10. 

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NEW IN: ZARA SUNGLASSES

 As soon as I saw these sunglasses on the Zara website I knew I had to make them mine. So much so, I put myself on the waiting list so the minute they came into stock I could complete the purchase. I've started to get rather into sunglasses. I used to think I only needed one pair (granted we do only need one pair), but they are up there with my favourite accessories and so one day I just stopped in my tracks and thought "why on earth am I limiting myself to just one pair??" The rest is history, and I am working on amassing quite the collection. 
Next on my list? A pair with reflective blue lenses for spring/summer. 

I'm wearing: gold fleck sunglasses, £19.99 from Zara and Gap boyfriend cable sweater (in the sale now)

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LIFE: MOODY BEACH DAY

 

A few photos from a visit to the Saunton beach in Devon at the weekend. I've always been very in favour of going out for a brisk walk regardless of the weather. If you've got a good coat and can bundle up warm, then off we go! The weather on the coast was rather extreme this weekend, but it calmed down enough during the day on Sunday to go for a walk - there were even a few surfers and kite surfers surprisingly!

I borrowed my boyfriend's North Face puffer jacket which is the ultimate warm outdoors jacket (I just can't bring myself to buy myself one when there are much prettier things I could spend my dollar on). The Hunters are mine though, as is the Warehouse grey knit hat with fur bobble. 

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WHAT I WORE: J.CREW OXFORDS

Yes I've got them out again. Can you tell they're my favourite new things? Here I am on the weekend at my parents' house in Devon. I wore this to a casual evening out at a local restaurant. I'm wearing: Topshop Jamie jeans, Whistles sculptured blouse, Reiss Fontaine cardigan, J.Crew silver oxfords and J.Crew earrings. 

A word on the cardigan - it is rather divine and in the sale now. Beautifully soft, cosy and fluffy (without the fluff getting on everything in sight), yet still smart and chic. A true winner. 

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SPOILS OF THE FESTIVE SEASON

I'll admit that I could have been a little more prompt with my Christmas/Birthday present post, but when the norovirus is one of your Christmas presents, things tend to get a bit delayed! Boxing day morning onwards was rather sadly wiped out - my planned birthday tea at Sketch had to be called off and our trip to The Pig in the New Forest too. But I'm sure we'll find another day to go so I can't be too blue about it all!

And anyway, how blue could I be with lots of beautiful presents to stare at from my sickbed. I've picked out a few of my favourites: J.Crew silver brogues, new coffee table books for my little book stack, Jo Malone cologne (Orange Blossom this time!), an array of candles from Christian Tortu, Diptyque and Space NK and beautiful J.Crew costume jewellery:

 

I hope you had a lovely Christmas and New Year! Here's to 2014!

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