C150 – Day 28 & 29

Day 28

Outfit:

T-shirt – American Vintage
Jeans – Paige c/o The Dressing Room
Sandals – Marni X H&M

Just a very casual outfit for a day with the kids involving a very futile search for a pair of work trousers (these have been sanctioned by the keeper of the purse as a necessary expense outside the ban). If anyone sees a slightly cropped, predominantly cotton, non-black pair please shout me!

Outfit:

Shirt – Uniqlo
Skirt – Vivienne Westwood Red Label
Shoes – Jemima Vine
Watch – Olivia Burton

I really like this outfit. Seeing it next to my more casual look, it makes me think that perhaps Mr TMT wasn’t just ‘being a man’ when he suggested I wore more form fitting clothes at the weekend!

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Introducing Challenge 150

Welcome to Day One of what I have lovingly named Challenge 150.

Background
My husband has very little faith in me when it comes to matters fiscal. We were having our monthly ‘chat’ heralding the arrival of the joint account statement, when I made a flippant remark that I could easily not spend anything for the rest of the year. The answering snort of derision was the nasal equivalent of a gauntlet being thrown down. So I am taking up the challenge – 150 days of no spending on clothes, shoes or accessories, ending on my birthday. I will then take what should hopefully be a tidy little sum and buy myself a very nice handbag, and Mr TMT a large slice of humble pie (do they sell that in Harvey Nics?)

The Rules
1. To keep things interesting for you guys, I’m going to wear (and take a photo of!) a different outfit everyday of the challenge. Obviously I will be able to repeat items, I’m not an Ecclestone, but outfits must look materially different.

2. No spending extends to all clothes, shoes and accessories. It does not include underwear, socks or tights.

3. I am allowed to accept gifts of clothing, shoes or accessories and wear them as part of the challenge.

4. I am allowed to spend vouchers generously gifted to me by retailers (I may have been saving these…)

5. Items ordered but not delivered before the start of the challenge are exempt (Boden A/W preview, I’m looking at you).

That about covers it, I think, though I may add to these as time goes on.

It’s going to be hard, isn’t it? All that tantalising A/W stock coming in and me not allowed to buy any of it. It’s a tragedy, but this is now a matter of personal honour!

So, here I am on Day One. This bright Cynthia Rowley number was a TK Maxx find just before I went back to work in September. It hasn’t had a lot of wear as the hem quickly unravelled, and it got abandoned to the pile of stuff awaiting repair/alteration in my daughter’s bedroom. I retrieved it last night, and with the help of a bit of Wundaweb, here we are – good as new!

Outfit:

Dress – Cynthia Rowley via TK Maxx
Shoes – Jemima Vine
Necklace – Next

What does a sweatshirt addict wear in warm weather?

Why, a short sleeved sweatshirt of course! I picked this Aubin & Wills number up in Selfridges in January. It was hugely reduced as, sadly, the brand were closing. I thought this was a real shame as they had some lovely designs, but as I understand it the parent company wanted to put all their focus into the younger arm of the brand, Jack Wills. Pity.

I’ve paired my sweatshirt with a pair of vintage wash J Brand 910s which are a size too big, so they work well as skinny boyfriends. On my feet I’m wearing my Jemima Vine Edie slippers which must be one of my best buys of the year. They look great with everything. A pair of neon pink Kate Spade earrings finish the look.

Not the most inventive outfit I’ve ever put on, but comfortable and stylish enough for Saturday mooching, don’t you think?

Hang out with your Wang out

One sad solitary outfit photo for you this working week. Yesterday I was too busy and today I woke 20 mins before I and two toddlers had to be out the door and on the bus. Let’s just say the results were not impressive! So I bring you Tuesday’s outfit:

I bought this T by Alexander Wang skirt last week. I had liked it for ages then, having seen a very glamourous friend wearing hers, was on the brink of paying full whack when up it popped on my favourite website EVER, The Outnet, at half price. Don’t mind if I do!

As it is rather longer on me than on the NAP model, I thought I’d be daring and try it for work. I kept the rest of the outfit quite prim with a white shirt and flats. I added a dash of colour with my new favourite bracelet:

Outfit:

Shirt – Gerard Darel
Skirt – T by Alexander Wang
Shoes – Jemima Vine
Bracelet – Boden
Earrings – MFP

Working for a living

So after swearing blind I was going to be better at blogging this week, I’ve been a bit crap really, haven’t I? Work has been mental and I really haven’t had a minute. Anyway, here a a couple of snaps of what I’ve been wearing:

Outfit:

Top – Whistles
Skirt – Vivienne Westwood Red Label via TK Maxx
Shoes – & Other Stories
Earrings – Kate Spade

Today, I didn’t even have time for a proper outfit shot – all you get is a quick Instagram from my desk:

But as you can probably tell I’m wearing the George skirt I bleated on about for so long. And does it live up to the promise? You betcha! Good thick fabric for smoothing out the old lumps and bumps and a great length. It is cut for a curvy figure I’d say, a teensy bit roomy on the hips but not so as you’d notice, a good fit on the waist though, so I don’t think I’d have got away with an 8. I’m wearing it with my beloved Jemima Vine python flats and pretending I’m in the jungle!

No work tomorrow though, yippee! And I’ve got an exciting blog post lined up for the weekend! And an Outnet order arriving! AND it’s Eurovision! Life isn’t so bad after all…

Working It

Now, I know you’ve all been wondering what has happened to the low-quality ‘view from the loo’ mirror shots. Well, fear not, they’re baaack! I’ve been taking them, but had no time to upload as I’ve been like, doing my job and shiz. I know.

Anyway, here’s what I’ve been wearing the past couple of days:

Outfit:

Cardigan – Gap
T-Shirt – Whistles
Trousers – Gap (£6.99 sale bargain here if you’re a size 8)
Shoes – Boden
Scarf – Alexander McQueen (similar here)
Bag – Raoul

Outfit:

Skirt – Charity shop (so we’ll call it vintage)
T-Shirt – Banana Republic
Cardigan – Whistles
Shoes – Jemima Vine
Necklace – Mulberry
Bag – Anya Hindmarch

And here’s a little close up of my foxy necklace, just because I like it:

I’ve got a couple of exciting posts coming up over the weekend and next week, so check in for those, plus I’m off on hols next week, so I’ll be attempting a capsule, UK-weather-appropriate holiday wardrobe post too. I bet you can’t wait!

Right, Mr TMT is out and there’s prosecco in the fridge needing drinking and shite on the TV needing watching… Over and out!

Tubular Belle

Funny that one of the cheapest items in my wardrobe should be one of the hardest working, but this Topshop tube skirt definitely is! It set me back a princely £20, and is regularly worn for work, casual days and nights out. The double layer jersey makes it smoothing and flattering, and the lovely burgundy colour seems to go with anything.

Today I’m wearing it as part of a simple colour-block look, with a cobalt silk Iris & Ink t-shirt. The rich jewel colours are probably better suited to winter, but hey, the weather doesn’t seem too concerned about complying with the season, so why should I?

Outfit:
Top – Iris & Ink
Skirt – Topshop (similar here)
Shoes – Jemima Vine
Ring – Saint Laurent