So the shopping trip for a Spring 2014 wardrobe update begins. Saturday definitely felt like the morning after the night before – I think we overdid the pre and post show drinks a bit in our excitement at being away. Anyhow, after raising my blood sugar a bit at the hotel breakfast buffet, I was a woman with a mission. I’d decided that I needed to focus on some core wardrobe essentials. On the list was a jacket, at least one top to wear that evening, a new cross body bag, possibly some new jeans and some skater shoes.
First stop House of Fraser (purely because it was the nearest to the hotel) and I struck gold – Warehouse were just reducing 6 rails of clothes by 50%. I’d had my eye on their floral sweatshirt for a while, tried it and liked it, unfortunately it wasn’t reduced – although now I see that it is , from £35 to £20 here grrrrrr!
The next thing I picked up, with work in mind, was a floral sweater. I know it seems a bit like the sweatshirt but it’s a totally different cut and I was seduced by it being reduced from £42 to £25.
Then I happened upon a quilted jersey bomber jacket. I’d actually been dithering about getting a biker jacket but the day before I’d noticed that everyone I passed seemed to be wearing one which really put me off. So I tried the Warehouse bomber jacket and LOVED it – something about it just screamed new season / spring / warm weather and holidays. It was reduced from £48 to £20 and now I see that it’s £15! I know it’s supposed to be the jacket of the season and certainly every shop window from Lacoste to Harvey Nichols to Reiss to Zara had bomber jackets in the window at full price. It’s really good quality and very like this Jigsaw one below that I’d been planning to buy for £69.
Here’s the jacket on me – I put it on straight away, much easier for shopping in than the warm coat I’d been wearing.
(I’m also wearing a Gap denim shirt; Boden cashmere jumper; Next relaxed skinny jeans; Boden Boho boots; Boden bag; Accessorize necklace)
I still had a blazer in mind for work though and so, still in House of Fraser, I went to have a look at the Whistles Lena that I’ve seen featured in lots of the glossies. It’s a fitted textured jersey style fabric which I really like for blazers – it gives that hint of Chanel. For £95 I decided to think about it a bit and see what more damage I did.
Next stop Gap – another sale and I’d already bought the denim shirt that I wore for Miranda the night before. I was keen to try the cuffed ‘always skinny’ jeans because other bloggers rave about them so much but they didn’t work on me – I find Gap jeans always make my hips look huge. Great jeans though if Gap suits you.
Zara next, and it really was time to devote a little attention to Mr MC who luckily had one of those days when everything in Zara fit him and looked great. I did just slip a necklace into the basket (not taking advantage of his good mood – honestly). It was a limited edition so doesn’t seem to be available online. I like it because it’s really simple but has a slight sparkle that catches the light.
We popped into Jigsaw because my feet were really starting to hurt and I wanted to try their skater shoes. I’m not wholly convinced about skaters yet, but I’d seen these online and thought they might be a good way to ease into the look having a slight nautical feeling about them. Sadly they were out of stock so it wasn’t to be but here they are – you can order them online, £59.
Time for a coffee so we went to Urbis which, much to my arty, rugby playing family’s disgust has changed from being a really cool art gallery to the National Museum of Football – sacrilege on every front!!!!! It’s still the best place in central Manchester for coffee and a cake though.
Revived we hit M&S which on a Saturday with a 50% sale wasn’t pretty. However I was really lucky to get hold of this Autograph bag that I’ve had my eye on for a while reduced from £70 to £35:
I also bought a pair of their leopard skin insole courts – just the £17.50 cheap ones because Mr MC is so far very unconvinced by the whole leopardskin look and felt, being in Manchester, I was having a Bet Lynch moment and taking leave of my senses – I’ll have to ease him into this one slowly.
After M&S, I lost my shopping mojo (via Oasis, Top Shop and Primark which was an experience I’m not going to repeat!), although I must make a special mention of French Connection – lots of really nice things in there this season, great colours and really good quality.
We spent the rest of the afternoon in a very nice tapas bar in the Northern Quarter before dinner in the hotel and then back to the NQ for some great wine bars.
For our night out I wore M&S coated jeggings, the Warehouse floral sweatshirt, the Zara necklace, the M&S leopard shoes (hurrah), Selfridges snakeskin clutch and a Whistles blazer – an old one, not the Lena! We’d had a bit too much wine and forgot to take a photo but I’ve recreated it here.
And finally another morning after shot, wow I look rough, but the observant amongst you may notice a small Whistles bag. Yes I did go back through the wind and rain with a stinking hangover to get the Lena blazer!
(wearing jeans, boots & bag as yesterday, another Boden cashmere jumper, M&S winter 2013 coat, Cath Kidston umbrella, Scarf from my latest order from the lovely Avril at SchoolGateStyle – more about these soon).
Enough shopping for a while (must now) work lots to pay for it all – expect to see lots of pics of the new clothes in the next few posts. I won’t be buying any more this month (apart from the Audrey dress with a 14 week delay that I ordered last week and which Boden have just told me is on its way – don’t you both love it and hate it when they do that)!
Have you done a spring 2014 wardrobe update yet – I’ve used navy as a core colour but I think I now need to break it up a bit – what are the key colours you’re going for? Do get in touch and let me know what you’re thinking, I’d love some inspiration for some accents.