16/09/2013 edition - Monki

So summer is over and I'm back to blogging - welcome back to this blog!

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This week's spotlight is on...Monki!  

Link: http://www.monki.com/

What is it? I don't read newspapers much but I was bored recently and picked up a copy of The Guardian. One of their models in the fashion section wore something by Monki and it was relatively fair priced so I checked this place out. Its a Swedish retailer; their styles combine Urban Outfitters, American Apparel and Zara into one for a portion of the price. Their stores are few and far between in the UK but if you do happen to walk by Monki, stop what you're doing and go inside the store. I promise you you won't have seen anything else like it! 

Best Bits 

As usual, I've picked a few of my favourite pieces from their AW collection but try the outlet for realllly cheap prices! This scarf is so cute - and only £5. 

Autumn print dress 

Price: £20

Size: XS - L

The cut isn't too interesting but the print really brings the dress to life. The great thing about this dress is that not only will it look right on season, but you can wear it with just about any other item or any colour of clothing, be it brown boots or a red cardigan. 

Green jewelled jumper

Price: £35

Size: XS - L

Dark green is a great colour for an AW wardrobe. The jewels on the jumper do all the talking!

Monki hoodie

Price: £20

Size: XS - L

No one can resist a cute hoodie and the little fella on the left is 'Monki' himself...

Holiday Time

Hey readers,

I am currently on holiday for the next two weeks with limited access to technology and internet. I will try to find some time to blog though! 

06/08/2013 edition - The Outnet

This week's spotlight is on...The Outnet!

Link: http://www.theoutnet.com/

What is it? We all have days where we simply want to splurge and splash out. Now, why not splurge on something good from The Outnet? You can find all the designer and boutique labels A-Z from Agent Provocateur to Zac Posen and everything in between for a fraction of the price. In case you're worried about fake goods on the internet, I would say this is not a worry for The Outnet. The site is pretty established and legitimate (now in it's 8th ish year of operation) given that it is the sister website of  well-known 'net-a-porter'. I've picked out some pieces I particularly like from more boutique brands: 

Best Bits 

Diane von Furstenberg dog-tooth effect coat 

Price: £247 (RRP £494)

Sizes: US sizes 2-12, UK equivalent of 6-16

The mix of colours on this jacket are not so easily to find on the high street which is why I love this piece. Pair with jeans/other uni-coloured trousers and boots to give your whole outfit some attitude. 

Kain Viveka LBD

Price: £62.35 (RRP £145)       

Sizes: XS-L

Every girl needs a little black dress and I've found the perfect one here. The flared skirt creates a cute look and jazzes up what would be a plain dress. The crew neck will suit any upper body shape and also any necklaces.

Chinti and Parker star printed shirt 

Price: £57 (RRP £115)

Sizes: XS-L

Shirts aren't to every girl's taste but I personally swear by them. They are chic and will smarten up any outfit. I love this shirt as it has cute star prints all over! As it is navy, you can team this piece up with any bottoms under the sun!







If you prefer to shop for other items aside from clothes, you can also find underwear, shoes, bags, jewellery and many other accessories under their wide ranges.

Enjoy the splurge!

30/07/2013 edition - Girl Meets Dress

This week's spotlight is on...Girl Meets Dress!

Link: http://www.girlmeetsdress.com/

What is it? First things first. I have to say that Girl Meets Dress is not strictly a shop. It is primarily a designer formal dress/gown rental service (although for some dresses, you can purchase at a reduced price if you don't mind it's been worn by others). I've chosen to blog about Girl Meets Dress as I came across my high school prom dress recently whilst tidying. Although I really like the dress, looking back now, it was a total waste of my (my Dad's to be accurate) £200 as I probably won't wear it again. Had I known about something like Girl Meets Dress back in the day, I would have turned to this and saved myself the stress of dress hunting!

How does it work? It's pretty simple and very like online buying: add to basket, pay for item with card and await delivery. The difference is that you need to select your event date and you have 2 or 7 days to return the dress. The longer you keep it, the more you pay (around £10 difference). They charge a high delivery cost of £9.95 for the standard UK price although returns will be free. The dress is delivered to you at least 1 day before your event. 

And why should you hire over buy? There are advantages and disadvantages of both which will be unique to yourself. A real advantage I can see with hiring is that if you want to wear real designer and do not want to shell out £2000+ for a gown, Girl Meets Dress is your friend. They have many many designer brands from Anna Sui to Chloe to Miu Miu to Temperly. There are other more boutique brands which you can see here. Generally, the more 'designer' the brand, the more the retail price will be and consequently the higher price of rental. 


Best Bits

I have chosen a few bold dresses with designs that you cannot buy so easily on the high street:  

 Alice and Olivia Black Peplum Lace Dress 

Size: 8-12

Hire price: £59-69 (RRP £340)

This dress is a real East-meets-West/femme fatale look. It is extremely feminine, pretty, yet oozing with sophistication. Anyone who wears this will no doubt be at the centre of attention all day and night!


Let the dress do the talking and go easy on shoes and accessories.

Aurelio Costarella Corsage Effect Gown

Size: 8 only

Hire Price: £79-89 (RRP £800)


This is another killer dress. While the colour is a bit meh, I chose this dress for the eye-catching shoulder detail. 

You can glam it up with a colourful bolero or keep it all subtle with more neutral/pastel accessories. 

Herve Leger Asymmetric Effect Bandeau Dress

Size: 8-10

Hire Price: £99-109 (RRP £1633)


A classic Herve Leger bandeau dress with a twist.
Pair sky-high heels up with this figure-hugging dress for an ultra-killer look. 













If you're looking for a designer bag, hat or jewellery, you can also rent from Girl Meets Dress and the rental works in the same way as the dresses! 

23/07/2013 edition - Summer Sale 2013 (Part II)

Seeing that the most popular post (by hits) on my blog seems to be 'Summer Sale 2013' from about a month ago, I thought it would be a good idea to list some more places to hunt for sale bargains, especially that items will now be further reduced as summer is (sadly) drawing to a close. 



You can try these relatively unknown fashion houses:

✤Apricot Sale (Sort 'price low-high' and you can find some seriously good sale stuff here).

✤Banana Republic Sale (A little more pricey but Banana Republic is great for basics/if you're looking for an understated look).

✤Bershka Sale (Rather edgy looks at really low prices). 

✤Desigual Sale (More expensive compared to the other shops in this list but a must-visit if you want to wow!)

✤French Connection Sale (This one is well known but I have included French Connection here as you can save really a lot here as many items are heavily reduced). 

✤Gilly Hicks Sale (Gilly Hicks is owned by A+F who also owns Hollister. I'm not a fan of the A+F style clothing but I find Gilly Hicks okay...Maybe because Gilly Hicks is so much cheaper than A+F and Hollister).

✤ Intimissimi Sale (For all your underwear and basics clothing needs).

✤Pull and Bear Sale (This shop has an adorable name and also has very classy and chic fashion pieces at very cheap prices that could give the likes of Zara and Mango a serious run for their money). 

✤The White Stuff Sale (If you want pretty and girly prints, this is the place to visit). 

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If you're an O2 customer, you can get *FREE* shoes from Office on O2 Priority at the moment. Ok, it's only a £10 espadrille but you really can't say no. I got these the other day (for free, of course). 

16/07/2013 edition - Select

This week's spotlight is on...Select! 

Link: Select (Online store)

What is it? I first heard of Select through seeing their adverts at bus stops and other random places a few years back. It used to really give off a really tacky and cheap image that definitely made Select a no-go zone! However, they've recently re-vamped themselves into something more trendy, competing with the likes of Mango and New Look by re-creating high fashion looks for the high street. While their image has certainly changed, their prices certainly haven't been touched. So, Select's cheap image may be long gone but their prices have stayed and are yet to stay. Well...somethings never change!

Best Bits 

Aztec Bodycon Dress

Size: 6-18 (UK)

Colour: A bit of everything!

Price: (Only) £10

I saw two people this week wearing these funky Aztec printed dresses and I've been keeping my eye out for one ever since! I love the colours of this dress - the soft colours give the dress an understated look while the crazy patterns and the bodycon style will really bring it to life once it's on you.

Wear with some gold jewellery or strappy sandals to be the bold one among the crowd!

Alternatively, try this mini-vest top (£5) and bodycon skirt (£5) with the same Aztec pattern. 

Playsuit with spotted collar 

Size: 8-18

Colour: Black

Price: £14

This playsuit caught my eye because its uber cute with the Peter Pan collar and also uber smart too! The cut is quite streamlined and along with the belt, it will really flatter your figure, whatever your figure may be like.

Wear this for a smart/formal occasion or for everyday wear. 

Team up with bright flat shoes to add a splash of colour and for an adorable look. 

Crochet open knit jumper

Size: 8-12

Colour: Rose pink and grey

Price: £16

This jumper is just so pretty and versatile for all year round wear, which is why I would highly recommend this. Wear in summer with just a bikini top underneath or with a vest top in the cooler summer evenings. In A/W, add cotton layers to this cosy baggy top!

If you're lucky enough for be a festival go-er this summer, try the festival wear pieces, as Selected by them (sorry, bad joke). 

As always, try their SALE before it's all gone! 

08/07/2013 edition - Missguided

I've finally found some time to blog once again, which is great! As is this hot weather we're having. This post is coming out a day early (lucky you, readers!) as I'm doing a full day of volunteering tomorrow with no computer access. 

This week's spotlight is on...Missguided 

Link: Missguided (UK online homepage)
What is it? I actually haven't heard of Missguided until very recently. It's basically your online ASOS (own brands) meets New Look prices. As far as I know, they don't have any physical stores. Their style is pretty quirky and makes for great casual wear. However, if you want something pretty formal, then Missguided may just be a little OTT? 

Best Bits 

Like everywhere else, there's currently a SALE on. I've chosen a few eye-catching pieces from the non-sale items however:

Crochet Swing Dress

Size: 6-14 (UK)

Colour: White and Peach 

Price: £19.99

Every girl needs a white dress for this time of year. Why? It's classy, sassy, smart and effortless, keeping you cool on a hot summer's day. This dress also makes for a perfect day dress; wear plain or jazz up with a funky hat or sandals. 

For a smarter evening look, wrap a bright coloured cardigan or shawl to stand up. 

Light Blue Denim Leggings

Size: 6-14 (UK)

Colour: Light denim and darker denim

Price: £14.99

I wear a lot of leggings throughout the year as an alternative to tights and trousers. I've been looking for a colourful yet non-conspicuous pair of leggings for a while and I've found these! 

The heels in this picture aren't attractive at all, but I'd be wearing these leggings with a pair of high-tops or flat pumps with a baggy floaty top.

Who says Hawaiian shirts are for men only? 

Size: 8-14(UK)

Colour: Tropical!

Price: £19.99

Yeah, who say's Hawaiian shirts are for men only? I love the design and the front slit of this shirt. It looks great for keeping cool in!

You don't want to look like you've made an outfit with some tropical printed cloths though, so keep the bottom half of you plain!






















So, enjoy Missguided and the sun! 

04/07/2013 - Quick Update

Dear readers,

I've been really busy (and tired!) with graduation and other random stuff. I promise to blog about something very cool ASAP. Hang in there!

25/06/2013 edition - Summer Sale 2013

Hello all,

This week's blog will be a bit shorter than usual. Given that it's the start of summer sales and that most retailers have their sale in full swing, I thought it would be a good idea to blog about my favourite sales this year, rather than choose a specific shop for you to visit!

I've done a bit of online and in-store shopping, window shopping and browsing in pretty much the usual high-street shops like Zara, H&M, Topshop etc. 

But if you're looking for something outside of these fashion houses, you could try (among my favourites, at good prices):

✤ Joy Sale

✤Uniqlo Sale

✤American Apparel Sale

✤Espirit Sale

Enjoy! 

18/06/2013 edition - Forever 21

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This is a new weekly blog, dedicated to sharing and unearthing relatively unknown top (ladies) fashion steals at exceedingly low prices. Please feel free to comment, share, post suggestions and let me know if you've used this guide to purchase a top item at a top bargain!
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This week's spotlight is on...Forever 21! 

Link: Forever 21 (UK online store homepage)

What is it? The nearest price equivalent to Primark online, but with better quality fashion items, cuter/more chic designs and a better name that makes us feel oh-so-young! 

Started by a Korean couple in 1980s Los Angeles, Forever 21 now has a total of 7 stores in the UK and is fast expanding. Maybe it will come to a city near you soon!

Best bits

Forever 21 30% sale - They currently have a 30% off sale which is only a prelude to the summer sale. Ok, 30% is not all that much but you can still get loads and loads of amazingly pretty stuff for under £10. I particularly adore these:

Pleated Polka Dot Shorts

Size: L only in blue; S and XS in black 

Price: £8.40 (was £12.00)

The blue-lavender colour here I love, and the polka dots adds a touch of cuteness to any outfit. 

Block Striped Sweater

Size: M and L in coral; S, M and L in navy

Price £14.81 (was £18.75)

A very chic jumper; the bagginess gives some attitude. 

Ruffled All Purpose Dress


Price: £8.99 (£16.75)

Size: S only

Price aside, I love this because it is so versatile. During the day, smarten up with a navy or black suit jacket and some discrete silver jewellery. At cocktail hour, throw on some gem green heels. For a formal look, change those gem green heels for darker coloured shoes. Add some golden jewellery and wrap a light coloured shaw. 









Also, pssst!

If you need some lingerie essentials, please look here! (Yes, its a £5 and under bra/pants sale for real!) And....race against the clock  in what is known as the '21% off daily flash sale' here! 

Exciting stuff. 

JH

11/06/2013 edition - Mango Outlet

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This is a new weekly blog, dedicated to sharing and unearthing relatively unknown top (ladies) fashion steals at exceedingly low prices. Please feel free to comment, share, post suggestions and let me know if you've used this guide to purchase a top item at a top bargain!
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This week's spotlight is on...Mango Outlet. 

Link: Mango Outlet (Online)

What is it? A place selling mangoes. Mango is a 'middle end' Spanish ladies clothing retailer targeting ages 16-30. There are a few stores in the UK but more in mainland Europe. Mango sell more through department stores - think House of Fraser and John Lewis.

Mango Outlet is it's sister store, selling all jackets, tops, bottoms, dresses, skirts, bags, accessories and shoes at a heavy discount (up to 90% off). Free delivery here over £50 with free returns. 

Best bits

Mango Outlet MINI PRICES - Often stocks mini sizes so if you are lucky enough to be supermodel skinny, you can really find a great bargain you won't get anywhere else. For the rest of us, don't fret! There are still often sizes in 8+ or in S, M and L. 

There are about 50 items in stock this week (and some in different colours). Try this week...:

 MINI PRICES Double Breasted Coat

Price: £24.99 (was £149.90)
Size: XS
Colour: Black only 

Best bits (aside from price): 

• 80% wool, great for Autumn/Winter or for a cold summer's day! 
• Double breasted design to flatter any figure
• Black in colour; easy to wear with any outfit 
• Pockets 

MINI PRICES Capri Pants

Price: £1.99! (was £29.99)
Size: 4, 6
Colour: Black, Tan 

Best bits (aside from price): 

• Wear this summer 
• Versatile black in colour; easy to wear with any outfit 
• Pockets 

And if you're feeling bold, try these: 

MINI PRICES Gold Skinny Jeans
Price: £7.99 (was £54.99)
Size:  6
Colour: Gold(!), Red

Best bits (aside from price): 

• Wear to stand out from crowd...nuff said

MANGO OUTLET Promotions - This is a one-off promotion by Mango Outlet. It has been up for a few weeks but there are still hundreds of tops, bottoms, skirts, dresses (you name it) for sale! If you need a new summer wardrobe or looking for something in particular, its worth stopping off here first. 

Prices here are a bit more expensive than MINI PRICES, but still reallllly low. 

Try these summer pieces: 

PROMOTIONS Scarfs

Price: £4.49-6.99 (was £9.99 - £14.99)
Size: One size fits all
Colour: Multi 

Best bits (aside from price): 

• Wear this summer 
• Jazz up a plain dress or top
• Protect your hair from summer showers! 

 PROMOTIONS T-shirt

Price: £9.99 (was £24.99)
Size: S, M, L, XL
Colours: Yellow, Coral Red and Baby blue 

Best bits (aside from price): 

• Wear this summer 
• Chic
• Relaxed fit 

PROMOTIONS White Jeans

Price: £11.99 (was £34.99)
Size: All sizes 4-14
Colour: White only 


Best bits (aside from price): 

• Wear this summer 
• Summer alternative to dresses, skirts and shorts
• Jazz up white trousers with a colourful top or scarf as above! 

 PROMOTIONS Frilly dress

Price: £9.99 (was £22.99)
Size: All sizes depending on colour
Colours: Green, Baby Orange and Black


Best bits (aside from price): 

• Wear this summer 
• Elegant, chic look 
• Serves as cocktail dress, work-dress or day dress! 

If you are jetting off to somewhere hot and sunny, try the: 

Beachwear collection

I have purchased items from Mango Outlet twice and have no problems with delivery, payment of the quality of clothing! It's a great hidden gem not many people know about it but now that you know, make it your first stop shop.

JH