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I'm a week late with my outfit post, mainly because I took so few photos in the last couple of weeks...and life's busy as always. There's something about the end of March - it takes an age to get here and then, bang, you're in April and suddenly every school concert, GB display and sports event hits. My social life is not my own until sometime in mid June.
Starting with a workwear outfit from last week which was a surprise hit on Instagram. I don't look at stats on Insta and have no strategy in terms of when or what I post yet some take off and others don't. My view on it is that you can't play Instagram and I reckon they reward randomness on the algorithm-just fire the pictures out whenever you get a chance. I should really run an Instagram course sometime....
Shirt - from a local boutique a few years ago
Black Boots - M&S AW18
And you'll identify a theme in my workwear with the next photo...this top was a fab sale bargain from a local boutique, The Dressing Room, Armagh. It's from the brand Anonyme and was down to £21 from over £70..
Top - as above
Shoes - Mango (current) - bought to match the blazer further below
Out of the workwear next. This photo was taken by the Blog husband Jeff on a run last week. As I slid off this wall, I split the back of my leggings open. It was not pretty and led to an awkwardly run 2 miles back to the car. Gutted as I love these leggings..
Leggings - Ilu Fitwear
Gilet - North Face
Trainers - Asics
Hat - Husband's
Next up, a casual Saturday outfit - I'm wearing my new Miu Miu sunglasses that I got in DejaVu - a total bargain because I was owed money by Ruth.
Coat - Jaeger
Jeans - Tesco
Sweatshirt - M&S
Trainers - New Balance (past season)
I've been asked a few times about these jeans since I shared them on Instagram stories a while back. You've been wondering if I prefer them to the M&S Holly jeans and I can confirm now after wearing both pairs a few times that I much prefer the Holly ones...the Tesco ones are a bit too tight in the leg for me. They're also incredibly hard to put on and take off. I'd accept that if they stayed up but they don't...cue constant hoiking up or a belt. Some people have messaged me to say that the Holly ones bag a bit at the knees on them so I'm guessing if that's your issue, you'll love the Tesco ones more than me.
And speaking of the Holly skinny jeans, as if by magic, here they are - along with the Holly trainers too. Completely love both of them. Definitely my buy of the SS19 range at M&S. Forgive me the lack of focus on this photo. Worth it for the action pose....
Bag - Hush (sample sale)
Harking back a couple of weeks to the Jude Law Boutique fashion show in Ballymena. Jude kindly invited me up to help her with the social media and I got to hang out back stage with the models. It was amazing to see the hard work that goes on behind the scenes - not for the faint hearted.
I bought this jacket in River Island after seeing Katherin Farries feature it. Love the nod to the SS19 stripe trend. There are matching trousers but I wasn't feeling brave enough.
Jeans - Tesco as before
Cream Top - Dorothy Perkins (old)
Another casual outfit now from a trip into Belfast last weekend..I featured these trousers on Instagram the other week. They're from Per Una and are amazing. So comfortable, elastic waist and can be dressed up or down. They come in 4 colours and you can see me model them over on my Instagram Story Highlights if you want to see more. They're only £25 and come up true to size - I'm wearing the 10.
Leather Jacket - Reiss via eBay (similar here from Mango)
Handbag as before
Finally, all old favourites for my last outfit. Hoping it's the last time I'll need a warm coat and a chunky knit this spring.
Boots - Alpe via a local boutique
Jeans - Tesco as before
Jumper - local boutique
(all past season apart from the jeans)
And there you go.....we're all caught up and ready for a new week. In other news, work and life are chugging along. My contract is coming to an end soon however so I'm likely to be looking around for work again come June. I'll be looking for more home based work though as the kids will be off from the end of June for 9 weeks <insert panic emoji here>
Blog wise, I've been enjoying attending a few local events but work has meant I'm doing fewer try-ons and reviews. M&S remain the most agreeable brand to work with from a flexibility and reasonableness point of view and I am aware that the blog is probably featuring more of them than other brands at the moment. The reality is that it's the shop where I spend most of my own money anyway and when you add that to the fact that they never demand to see my family featured, give me free rein on what I review, never ask to see content before it's published and are very relaxed in terms of deadlines, it's hard to look past them when life is busy (and believe it or not, I'm really trying to stay out of the shops...it's all too tempting)
Something I will be starting again in May are my local boutique visits so if you're a boutique owner and you would like me to visit and showcase your SS19 ranges, drop me an email to avril@alifetostyle.com. I've only a few slots available and would like to spread them around the province a little so if I can't get to you in this block, I'll add you to the autumn run.
And that's the update this Monday morning - I'm off for a run now (have I mentioned I'm doing a relay leg at the Belfast marathon - agh!). Have a great week and I'll be back soon with a beauty review I think you'll really enjoy...
Ax
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