AWOL

It's been 27 whole days since my last entry - and no I haven't been in prison for clothes shopping without permission!

I've been shopping for something completely different!

A flat - not the perfect pair of ballet pumps but a proper actual flat to call my own and live in and decorate to my hearts desire!

I've found my flat, and now it's in the £125 per hour hands of the legal people (ouch!). I must wait patiently for searches to be done and secret wheeling and dealing...

It's obviously taken my mind off the challenge somewhat! Instead of trawling Vogue, it has gone untouched on the floor and replaced with Living Etc and various other home decor magazines. It's exciting looking at interior design, but scary too - a sofa is for life, not just for a season, so many many sofas need to be tried on before they're coming home with me! And then there is the colour scheme! No seasonal changes - it needs to be timeless and classic, so I will not tire easily from it - A change of accessory maybe to alter the mood, but that will be all.... I predict many hours to be spent trying out sofas!

Back to fashion, and these last few days have brought about a change in the weather - the smell of a season change and the throwing off of the wool scarves and leather gloves. I will need to search out the interim winter/spring garments from the underbed storage and see what will fit in with the upcoming seasons styles...

Glossybox

As you know, i'm a lover of not only fashion but of beauty products!

For my birthday last year, my very good friend Rach bought me a year's subscription to Glossybox.

Every month you receive 5 cosmetic samples in a glossybox. There is always one full size product - the brands vary and so far i've been please with the goodies I've received!

It's a lovely treat at this horridly cold time of year - much better than going round the shops -you get to try different products, and there are discount codes so if you want to buy a full size version, you can do, at a reduced price.

Here is this months..

ready to unwrap...

Yay goodies!!

Fab isn't it!

check it out - www.glossybox.co.uk

Mareridt

Tragedy occurred on Saturday

I carelessly put a 100% merino black By Malene Birger boyfriend cardigan in the washing machine. On a 40 degree wash.

I felt physically sick as I pulled a boiled wool miniature version of the cardigan out of the machine.

Nooooooooooooo - was literally what I said. I chose not to swear. I googled 'how to stretch shrunken wool' obviously  - I soaked the poor little thing in a bowl of water mixed with hair conditioner, but sadly, it will be passed on to my niece. Her first piece of Danish designer wear. 

How very apt for a poppet conceived in Copenhagen and named after the Danish queen!!!

She won't appreciate it - it will have jam all over it within 5 minutes.

The saddest thing about this 'Mareridt' (Danish for nightmare!), is that I can't even replace it because of this challenge....

Change of subject

Winter is the time of year when the beauty corner in my bathroom gets a shake up.

The harsh cold air, warm heating and then air con kill my skin in winter. Every year it's the same: i spend loads of money on assorted beauty products to try and keep my skin hydrated whilst still trying to push back time and make use of the anti ageing technology out there.

The beauty industry spends millions advertising and promoting their products, promising eternal youth and transformed skin in women's magazines. How many of us have bought something on the basis of an advert or a celebrity endorsement? I certainly have! 

But... along with my clothing embargo, I've recently reined in the beauty purchasing! Ok, when I get a bit fed up I am easily seduced by luxury packaging and buy 2 products get this bag of stuff you will never ever use again free!

I am a product whore. There is no other word to describe my addiction to finding the ultimate beauty routine. We're not talking about make up here -just the foundations before the make up is even applied. There is nothing worse than having washed your face and afterwards it feels as tight as....

I've spent the last couple of months chopping and changing my products and have come back to some old favourites and a couple of newbies, that I will be sticking with until the weather eases off and my face isn't as dry and flaky!

So here are some of my winter skincare essentials!

Elemental Herbology Cell food - a hydrating serum full of goodness!!

Decleor Hydra Floral moisturiser - seriously THE best hydrating moisturiser - it really works!

Jo Malone Body Creme in Pomegranate Noir - a bit of a luxe body moisturiser - instantly cheers me up

Palmers Cocoa butter with shea butter - extra nourishing for dry winter skin  -  sinks in with no stickiness and is cheap as chips!

Off to moisturise...

Weekend

This weekend I had an epiphany...

It was my first weekend off of the new year and I went for a mooch around the shops. But, when you're not shopping for clothes, pray tell me, what is there to do??

I briefly forgot for a few minutes that I wasn't allowed to shop - I was being tempted by the 'further reductions, extra 25% off' signs displayed in the windows. I could have done with some new Gap basics...

I wandered past the shops, just peeking in to see what was on show. I was tempted to go in and have a look, purely as research, but then 'i just couldn't be arsed!'

What was the point. I'd read about it for the last couple of weeks. Did I really want to see how Dior, Chanel, Kors et al had been diffused onto the high street, with less than luxe fabrics?

No

'The Vogue Edit'

I didn't buy Grazia this week...

£1.95 towards something more useful i thought....like this month's Vogue magazine, with it's special supplement entitled 'The Collections Spring/Summer 2012 - The Vogue Edit'

Could there be anything more enticing on the shelf?? Of course not - I have to know what I'm up against: should I throw the towel in now and just splurge on SS2012 or is there the vague chance that my wardrobe will hold out and there can be some serious 'upcycling'...?

I've skimmed really really quickly through it and i'm already scared! Just like Bazaar magazine, there are numerous trends that could possibly be worked from the 'existing collection', but OMG, the colours! It's like waking up after laser eye surgery and realising life isn't grey. This SS2012 is all about colour. The pastels palette comes straight from Laduree macarons, whilst the florals are adorable and properly wearable, rather than frumpy Laura Ashley or twee Cath Kidston!! 

The Twenties come in straight from an F Scott Fitzgerald novel and are glitzy, dreamy and perfect for summer evening dates (if i ever get one!), especially with a bit of a tan.

The sewing machine will be out in force to add bits of glitz and glamour to tops and jackets, and multiple accessories (even homemade ones), will be the main player in updating outfits...

I will settle down later and fully explore the glossy pages of Vogue and plan my fashion mission!!

In other news, a colleague of mine (a proper shopaholic) thought that my rules should be slightly modified..things that I've bought before the new year, and am returning can be exchanged for other things - as it's last years money... Does that count? Can I do that? I have posted off quite a few bits recently - Maybe I can ONLY spend the money in the same shop/website and not use any extra cash...mmm,  I will think on....?!

A lovely treat on monday - I took delivery of a new bag. Before anyone quotes the rules of my challenge back at me, It was a bag I bought on the internet in November 2011, but due to shipping rules, I had to have it sent to a friend in the US, and his mum brought it back for me..

Well..  I Love It!

It's a Kate Spade Bow Bridge Kennedy in black leather.

What do you think? It's very ladylike with the top handle, and then super practical with the cross body strap. It will even fit my Canon DSLR inside! Perfect - useful and stylish!

(and it was $199 reduced from $445 - it was £445 in the UK!!)

Back to Vogue...

Temptation

Ok, so we're 2 weeks in. Up until today i've been ok with the whole idea of this challenge. I read the new magazines last weekend without any sudden pangs for shopping.On Monday I returned a sale handbag (bought Dec 2011) to Anya Hindmarch without any regret and then spent an hour in John Lewis, where, for the first time ever I felt lost.
I was returning an eye cream, that instead of making me look younger and more hydrated, had disagreed with my skin and temporarily aged me another 10 years and given me flaky red scratchy under eye skin - always a mood enhancer! £25 better off, I should have been excited and gone in search of something new, but I was all outta love for my fave store. The mojo had gone. This weeks Grazia magazine was dull, because the fashion didn't interest me.
Gradually, i've been sending the fashion oriented emails to the spam folder and not been tempted by last ditch attempts to make me sale shop. Until today.
The Guardian online and Jess Cartner-Morley to be precise. Her video on coloured denim. I've wanted some coloured jeans for ages. I have various shades of blue and black but no pops of primary or pastel colours. The video was like the first time i went into the Herve Chapelier shop in Paris, looking for bags. Beautiful colours everywhere - like a crayola collection for adults. I could feel myself frowning and memorising my favourite brands and colours. I was imagining myself in a cherry denim or teal. They'd look fab with numerous (unworn) shoes from my wardrobe...
So what can i do about this? Can i bleach some old denim and re-colour it? Is there any hope for me? will i make it til the end of January?
Will i get the ketchup stain out of my long sleeved essential white t-shirt?

Wardrobe winners

There are things in my wardrobe that I could not live without. 

Those purchases that have paid for themselves over and over again. 

I love the 'cost per wear' motto. I always think about that when making an investment or considered purchase - i.e paying more for something than I would usually do. But sometimes there are real bargains inside my wardrobe.

When I think about the clothes I own I can count on my hands the clothes that I 'can't live without'. The clothes that i turn to what ever the occasion there will always be a failsafe smart/casual/going out outfit hidden somewhere behind the 80 percenters.

I thought i'd share some of my fave ever purchases... and then later I will dare to show you things I've never worn...oops....
Here are 3 classics...

Earnest Sewn Harlan Cigarette Jeans in Black
Sexy, comfy, casual or smart. The perfect skinny jean.

Belstaff Roadmaster Ladies Wax Jacket in Black
Classic - no more to say

Christian Louboutin Night Cage Sandals in Silver leather
OMAG!!

THEY ARE A-MAZING! 

E-Tox..

I can stop myself from going in to town and shopping, especially when it's cold and raining. However, i'd forgotten about the electronic and postal invasion of daily distractions. 

Thud - post on the doormat and it's my monthly magazine subscriptions. Bazaar magazine is glaring at me through its clear plastic cover ' SPRING COLLECTIONS SPECIAL'. I flick quickly through the numerous pages at the beginning of glossy designer adverts - you know the ones, with the stick insect airbrushed models, and faux lash pop princesses drawing us in to buy yet more stuff. I could just flick past all the fashion pages and head straight to beauty (thought did cross my mind), but I do need to know what's fashionable as I don't want this challenge to make me look like a frumpy fashion-fauxpas clothes horse. I do need to know the 'trends'. I ignore straight away 'sahara', 'global traveller' and 'hyper prints'. I can do 'pure white'. There are white items in the wardrobe - no lace dress nor white jeans (Liz Hurley bought them all), but plenty of nice white cotton tops of varying styles that can be accessorised and brought up to date.

I can also do 'florals', 'sugar and spice' and 'luxe utility'. Amazing how these trends are so cyclical - i definitely have some nice pastels from a few seasons ago, tons of florals and a nice silk DVF utility shirt dress bought in a sale last year.

I pick up Red and Easy Living magazines and similar trends are displayed there, albeit with different names. There are items that I would like to buy but nothing that jumps out and says 'buy me' like a Konditor & Cook brownie. Strange isn't it? Am I already in the mindset or are the post Christmas blues interfering with my shopping mojo? 

I don't have a need for anything new for my wardrobe  at the moment (apart from a flat, but that's a whole other story!). 

So that's magazines dealt with for now.  Emails are another entity! 

My daily email invasions are from numerous sources - Livingsocial, Groupon, NHSjobs.com and various fashion outlets.

Yesterday scared me with the arrival of '70% off now at Style-Passport.com'.  I immediately went to the site. I loaded all sale items and studied them carefully. There they were... things i'd had my eye on at full price now with 50-70% off. How cruel? I seriously did consider just buying a few things because they were 'staples' for the wardrobe, that I would get lots of wear from and I wanted them anyway at full price. No one would know if I bought them, it would be just a secret between me and the laptop. But, as my friends and family know - I'm no Lady Gaga - a poker face I do not have and cannot pull off.  The inside of my mouth would be haemorrhaging as I bit my lips and inside cheeks pretending 'this old thing, no I've had this top for-evah', as someone would comment on my top...

The clothes are still there today on the site, so they are clearly not that desirable. Pat on the back to me.

Then there are the 'what's new today' emails from Net-a-porter, theoutnet, my-wardrobe etc. Teasing you with the latest items to arrive..

 "Buy it now and you can have it today if you live in London. Tonight you could be wearing that ridiculously overpriced top that no one will complement you on, but at least you will know only you and 300 others people have one"

I have been known to order from theoutnet whilst in low mood and then 2 hours later cancel the order because the good angel on my shoulder had reasoned with me and assured me that a girl only needs one snakeskin clutch bag. 

So as the emails now arrive they will be redirected to the spam folder and eventually be forgotten about. Instead of browsing fashion websites and reading 'fashslagmags', I will find more important and interesting things to do. I will not be influenced by who's wearing what and who was seen with what/who! I may have to give up Grazia...

And so it begins

I've always liked to shop for clothes. 

I am not however, a shopaholic...

This all started one evening after reading an article in The Times by a journalist who had decided to stop clothes shopping for a whole year. It was an interesting read. It wasn't one I could immediately identify with. I didn't have 12 LBD's hanging in my wardrobe and lots of designer label clothes stored in the attic, but I did have a wardrobe with clothes in that still had price tags on and others that had never been worn.

After a invasion of clothes moths in the summer, i cleaned out the wardrobe and to my utter horror discovered clothes that I had bought several years ago and still not worn. Not crappy t shirts or tops, but really really nice dresses from LK Bennett, Diane Von Furstenburg and Whistles.  And yes, they still haven't been worn 4 months on. 

In general, women only wear 20% of the clothes in their wardrobe.  So what happens to the other 80%?

Is it like Toy Story? When we're out and the wardrobe doors are closed, do they all talk to each other. Are the "twenty percenters" mean to the poor forgotten clothes that never get an airing? That beaded cardigan that was a bargain in the Jigsaw sale that really thought she would be worn over the party season,  now needs Prozac to get her through to the next potential outing. Never mind the numerous pairs of jeans that were bought in NYC in the skinnier days of moi-meme.. sad sad denim

So i decided to take the challenge...i said it nonchalantly at work, and then reality kicked in. I'd said it so

I am going to do it.

The Rules

• I cannot buy any new clothes until the end of October 2012 ( and then I can buy my 'pre-Cabo holiday wardrobe' )
• I cannot buy any new handbags either (pulls sad face)
• I can accept gifts of clothes but cannot ask for them as gifts
• I can accept 'cast-offs' from friends
• I can alter clothes and make clothes from existing material in my flat, or material given to me
• I have a £25 Oasis gift voucher which I can use -but that is it!

Scary eh? 

Every time I see something that I would generally have wanted to buy I will photograph it and post it along with the price so I can see how much money I have potentially saved..and I will try and wear everything (that fits!) in my wardrobe. No more mean twenty percenters...get yer hanger off you others...you've pulled!

Let the torture commence