Following on from yesterday's 4 investment items, today is all about those non-essentials that are great to have in your wardrobe - just in case. It also includes items that are particularly on trend and not worth buying full price (in my opinion).
Starting with faux fur coats, gorgeous to wear around Christmas time and on nights out but I'm unsure if they work all winter long so I'm not convinced it's worth investing in an expensive one. However, faux fur comes in varying qualities so you don't want to be buying a cheap one if you can avoid it.
I tried this one on in M&S Sprucefield a couple of weeks ago and I'm gutted to have missed out on it in the sale. However, I've not been in-store yet in M&S so remain hopeful. It's way nicer in real life and looks amazing with jeans as well as with a dress.
Leopard fur was a huge trend this AW17 but some of the prices were eye watering for what is a very distinctive print. This ASOS one is a more palatable one at £60 in the sale..
More on the teddy style, this pink one has featured on lots of press over the past few months and is now reduced by a third.
Finishing with the one I think would work hardest for me. With jeans and a knit in daytime but equally over a formal dress or over a simple all black ensemble for ultimate night time drama. What a colour!
Next item to look out for in the sales is a Sequin Dress. You won't get much wear out of it this side of summer but trust me when I say you'll be glad you have it in your wardrobe to pull on for an array of nights out. With sky high heels and bare legs for the ultimate glamour or just like I did for my mums night out recently - with ankle boots and opaque tights.
I have two short sequin dresses and they are my fall back for nights out when I can't decide what to wear. They're still pricy in the sales I'll warn you but French Connection seem to have the best selection on this link, this being my favourite:
Or how about this Monsoon option with 3/4 sleeves....again, don't worry about the length. For one thing, it's shorter on the model and opaques would work really well with it too.
Here's another lovely option from Monsoon, this time with a velvet base and fewer sequins. A little longer than the ones above so it's going to work better with bare legs or skin colour tights:
Finishing with the ultimate sequin dress from House of Fraser which I tried on in my formal dress post back in November. It's simply bling-tastic...not hugely reduced so perhaps worth watching in case of a further price cut post new years?
Next category of non-essentials is the coloured handbag. I love a brightly coloured bag and the sales are the perfect opportunity to find yourself a good quality leather option at a decent price - because realistically, you're not going to use it as much as a black or navy. An orange bag is calling to me this season for some reason...possibly after seeing this one yesterday:
and I'm loving this cute red leather option from Yoshi (which has an amazing sale on at the moment)
It's definitely got some Anya vibes going on...
A completely luxurious option next - sorry...indulge me because isn't this Bayswater simply gorgeous? Just one left last time I looked. 30% off too...
But back to reality with this bright pink/red option in leather also, from Ted Baker, which comes with a removable pouch for make up and coins. The strap is removable also, making it a great night time option too:
My 4th non essential is a slogan knit and we're going right down the price levels here because as lovely and all as some of the slogan jumpers are right now, I'd advise against paying big bucks for one as the trend will pass. My favourite brand for a stylish slogan knit is Sugarhill Boutique where this jumper is calling to me:
also available in black:
Size down in this knits - my Twinkle Twinkle one (same style - now £35) is an 8.
Along similar lines, there are a couple of good ones in the sale section on the Next website (and presumably in-store also). I can't link direct but this is the link to jumpers and if you scroll through the pages, you'll find these ones on page 4 and 5 respectively. Small sizes only though.
On the less expensive end of the scale, this New Look one is lovely
And if you don't want to wait until the Hush sale starts, they've got a pre-sale 20% off at the moment, making their famous 'Love' jumper a little more affordable. It's worth noting that it's 55% Merino wool so the quality of the knit is much better than the summer (cotton/viscose) equivalent I bought earlier in the year. Some reviewers having issue with the threads unravelling in the slogan....I might play cat and mouse with this one in the hope that it's reduced further when their actual sale starts in January.
If you've any energy left, my 5th non essential item, which I can always turn into something I simply *HAVE* to have, are fabulous sparkly/embellished/impractical shoes and boots. And this year they all over the high street, starting with these designer inspired Marks & Spencer ones that have been ALL over Instagram. Only the pink is left in good sizes online though you might have better luck in-store.
Also M&S, I have the yellow version of these slingback and they're fab. Perfect with jeans, neutral colour, not too high but on trend with tons of sparkle...what's not to love?
More velvet and another kind of practical pair in that they're flat...from River Island now and limited sizes left:
I also think it's a great time to try out the embellished/embroidered ankle boot trend and these ones from local shoe shop AQ Shoes in Magherafelt are an amazing bargain at the moment as they're half price - just £27.50. Limited sizes and you have to phone Aine to order - no online ordering during the sale. I am hoping to get up to see the shop in person myself in the next week or two
(Phone (028) 7932 8050 from UK & use (048) from Ireland)
Also, these floral sock boots from M&S are only £19 now though only in big sizes online:
And finishing with sparkles galore....even if you never wore them, they're just wonderful to look at. I should confess now to having a pair of unworn gorgeous sparkly shoes in my wardrobe and I won't apologise for it. They're stunning and I have 2 daughters. All the justification I need...and who knows I might just wear them some time?
I could go on and on of course...but I won't. I'm broke!
Hope you enjoy and do share any frivolous purchases you make in the sales this Christmas.
Back soon with an outfit update...lots to catch up on.
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