Girl Power...

Last night I was whiling away a very lazy hour or so on the sofa, cemented firmly in place thanks to a gluttonous couple of days.  I feel pretty disgusting if truth be told.  I adore food, it's my favourite thing but right now, I am ready to sign up to a detox programme. A programme that keeps me firmly away from the fridge and any manner of wine. The gorging is over, let the salads prevail.

There was nothing on the TV (of course, there never is at Christmas) and so I was flicking through other vintage blogs on the net and occasionally dipping in and out of another love......Etsy.  Somehow however,  my surfing led me to a picture of Charlie's Angels from the 1970's. And there is was, staring me in the face in gorgeous triplicate...I am a child of the 70's and that is my true fashion self.

It was like an epiphany. I had always believed that I was from another era (in terms of dress) but in my mind that era was 1940's/1950's. Don't get me wrong, a full circle skirt or beautiful prom dress will always tempt but it wasn't until I properly thought about it that I realised Bosly's girls below, are my true style icons and always have been. I loved the show as a little girl and begged my dad to let me stay up late and watch it (no iplayer or 4OD back then!). I dreamt of growing up just like them, sassy, cool and with hair that bounced and shone as if it were styled by the gods. I still dream of hair like that now as I have never been able to recreate the 'Angel Wave' but I excel at the 'bed-head disappointment'.

The picture above, for me, epitomises their style and I love every inch of their look;

• Tight fitting polo neck jumpers, a staple of the sexy secretary wardrobe as well as beautiful crime trios 
• Pussy bow blouses in super sexy ever-so slightly see through fabrics 
• Wrap dresses  - we thank you goddess Von Furstenburg 
• Belted skirts that were floaty enough to skim the hips and the knee but still flattering enough to show a little of the female form 
• Strappy sandals and high heeled pumps  

Then there's the flip side below..... Androgynous suits with collars fit for Virgin airlines cabin crew
and waistcoats covering the modesty of the low buttoned shirt underneath. I went through a phase in my early 20's of wearing a suit and tie when I went out. I loved it, it was navy blue and double
breasted. I would change the tie colour often and despite it not being the most practical of choices for the dance floor, I wore it with pride to Mr B's nightclub. Strangely, it was a real talking point as men would often come up and comment on it or ask curiously why I am dressed like that. I always found that a little odd as they would bypass my best friend who did everything she could to put herself 'out there' with how she dressed in order to ensnare a catch for the Saturday night slowies at 2am. The memory will always stay in my mind as I never wore it in the hope it would attract anyone, I just loved wearing it for me, craving to be different from everyone else. But it always got more attention than anything else I ever wore but I do believe that fashion can be an amazing conversation starter and that in itself is a very powerful tool. 

I think our leading ladies look very alluring in their suits. Sexiness isn't always about what you can see, but the very strong suggestion of what you can't and that is the trick. 

And then there is the disco wardrobe. Think lurex, sequins, satin leggings, the polar opposite of the men's suit. A look that screams sex and leaves the victim powerless to resist. Again, not all the outfits are tight. A lot of Halstons designs that were a mainstay at Studio 54 in its heyday were long flowing pieces that used meters of silky fabric and yet he will always be remembered for his iconic disco wear and celebrity followers like Lisa Manelli, Bianca Jagger et al. 

Jacqueline Smith is so beautiful, don't you think? 

So this child of the 70's is off to embrace her true self and rifle through her  dressing room for some Angel Apparel worthy of Charlie himself...

All white on the night...

Christmas parties are a very British tradition. I remember when I lived in France, my work colleagues  were fascinated by the idea that pretty much every workplace has one and that it is such a big deal on our social calender. The outfit, the theme, the question of with or without partners, do you drink in front of the boss and many other dilemmas. A particularly memorable one for me was when I worked at the Bank of Ireland many moons ago. It was a Moulin Rouge themed night and we went all out. Corsets, fishnets, top hats, it was great fun preparing for it let alone enjoying the night itself. That said, it was right up there for scandal also........a fight broke out between two 'ladies' and they fell into and destroyed the enormous chocolate fountain, somebody seemed to forget where the toilets were and decided to relieve himself over the Christmas tree which then promptly shorted the lights, there was a 'romantic' interlude in the toilets (which probably started the chocolate fountain incident) and last but not least, I managed to slip and break my wrist walking in to the event. Walking out would have been explainable after two many grape juices but walking in? That was a first even for me.  After a few of the aforementioned grape juices however the pain subsided and it wasn't until the next day that it properly hit me and a trip to A&E ensued and being plastered (in a cast) for Christmas.

I usually rely on John's company for a great Christmas night out as up till now, partners were always invited. This year we weren't unfortunately so I was really disappointed. Luckily I managed to get a last minute ticket to my works party (being the new girl) which only gave me two days to think about an outfit. The event was a carnival theme but not having a massive stash of Carmen Miranda-esque costumes, I opted for this dress instead. I posted about it recently, it was an amazing find from a shop on Gloucester Road in Bristol. I had never been in before and I sadly can't remember the name. It was a quirky shop full of incense burners and Bob Marley memorabilia but they had an amazing vintage rail at the back of the shop.  Once again, I fell in love and had to buy it. When you wear it, it makes you feel like a cross between Joan Collins and a cupcake. There are so many layers of satin, the picture doesn't really show them to their full effect. White is a brave decision for me. It's not something I lean towards if truth be told. It's not traditionally a colour favoured by the curvy but in the absence of a choice of colours, white it was. Cobalt blue would have been the dream.

And it held up its end of the bargain and saw me (and my outlandish) dance moves well into the wee hours. And even while snoring and cradling a bottle of bubbly in the car on the way home, it returned home as good as new (as good as second-hand at least). Needless to say, I had a great night. I danced for hours and it's been a while since I've  done that anywhere.

A quick note about the cage shoes, which aren't second-hand (don't report me) BUT... they rank very highly on my bargain finds list. Originally £95 which is a ridiculous sum for shoes even for me - an addict, they were eventually reduced down to £15 and I snapped them up. My last true bargain before I left Wallis. They are so comfy. And the bag.....another Maggie bag from St Peter's Hospice Nailsea shop for £4.50. I am racking up quite a collection in homage to Dame Thatcher. Quite apt as a lot of the items from her collection went on sale this week. The necklace which you can't quite see is a a amazing twisted snake - £2.99 from a charity shop. I shall post a better picture soon.....

So there you have it. I survived my first Christmas party with a new company and no broken bones to report or scandals to hide from. Apart from my dance moves. Not sure they were ready for those. Not sure if anyone ever will be.....

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!....

Goodwood Revival...

I am unsure as to how my all things vintage radar has never picked up on this event - The Goodwood Revival.

Once a year a group of like minded individuals come together to bond over their love of vintage motor sport and clothing (circa 1940-1960) and looking at the photos from previous events, it is right up my retro alley. Last Sunday was an extremely lazy day glued to the sofa while I trawled the internet for information and images of the best dressed attendees, gazing on in awe as wave upon wave of outfits  presented themselves. Poor John was informed almost instantly that next September we will be attending and that we (emphasis on he), shall be dressing up accordingly. After several sighs and a lowering of the head he nodded as though he knew putting up a fight would be pointless. The thought of him dressing up as an old RAF officer or any other period uniform gentleman (note the use of the word Gentleman), is so exciting. I haven't seen him dressed smart since our wedding and if he could have got married in shorts and flip flops, he would have.

So now that this is firmly on the Merchant-Locke calendar, so too is the search for the dress. THE dress. The one and only, totally unique, genuine vintage piece that will knock his socks off (and mine).  I would never really call myself competitive, it's never been something that drives me (compared to others), but for some reason, as soon as I saw that there is a best dressed competition each day of the festival, that was it. The gauntlet has been well and truly laid down, grabbed and held high.

A thousand ideas are going through my already very crammed mind such as where can I procure such a piece? Do I design it myself and have it made (although that does somewhat go against the whole vintage concept). Do I keep scouring charity shops in the hope that I will find that little gem that nobody else has noticed? Do I up my game at vintage fairs and pay a little bit more for that totally unique piece? Or do I wear something I already have (John's favourite option) and be happy with it. I do have a couple of genuinely lovely things I could wear but neither would be 'winners', when comparing them to what some of the ladies seem to sport. Here are a few pictures to help put you in the picture!

The lady here in the hat won the Best Dressed title in 2013. 

Men in uniform......no comment required. 

And here are some of the dresses that I love and that will be my inspiration when out there hunting around second-hand emporiums...

The ultimate. Absolutely beautiful. Strangely, this very picture is featured in one of my many vintage

 books but sadly it  doesn't give me any history about it which is a shame as it obviously has a 

wonderful story to tell. 

I would give anything  to find a dress such as this. What a conversation starter. 

Another hooded number. 

Embellishments and corsages.....I can never have enough. 

So there you have it. A somewhat large challenge but definitely achievable. What john doesn't know however is that if we stay overnight and go for two days then I think I may even have to find two outfits. Thank god I have 9 months.  

Isn't she lovely...

How elegant does this lady look?

I was lucky enough to be in one of my St Peters Hospice shops the other day (my shops.......I'm so lucky to be able to say that), and this very demure lady walked in. The epitome of old Hollywood glamour, I couldn't stop staring and I had to ask her for a photograph. Not only that, but I was soon to find out that she actually volunteers for us. How lucky are we. I think I am going to have to raise my game if I am to visit that shop when she's around. She agreed that people don't dress up as much as they should, I think that people forget that fashion should and can be so much fun. Why not make a silent statement about who you are, without even opening your mouth. 

My statement would say "I love Audrey Hepburn" or "Thank you Miss Carrie Bradshaw", both of them having played such a significant part in who I have become (my wardrobe 'self' anyway).  I have a library of books on Miss Hepburn. I adore her. Her style, attitude, her zest for life and also her charity work that became so important towards the end of her amazing life. As for the now Mrs Big, Carrie Bradshaw, she of the tutu and vest wearing fame shaped who I was in my early thirties. I have always loved fashion but she inspired me to challenge the norm and to not be afraid to go against the grain and have some fun. Fake fur coat and heels to a lunch? Why not. Tutu and cashmere cardigan for my first date with John? Hell yeah.  She transformed my love of fashion into actual memorable moments that I look back on very fondly. Some good and some bad but I can at least say that I truly played around with my identity through my clothes. I hope I will always continue in that vain, to never lose sight of that fun expressionist inside me. And now working in the charity shop sector myself, I am surrounded by inspirations every day. This wonderful lady being one of them. 

What would your silent statement be? 

Adornments...

I love accessories. 

They can help turn an otherwise nondescript outfit into something more playful and expressive. Something that says a little je ne sais quoi about you to the onlooking world. An unusual brooch, a statement bag, some bright leather gloves to add a splash of colour or even perhaps to suggest a little naughtiness...

Hats  and headwear I love in particular (although I don't wear them as much as I should, no one does sadly). I also love brooches, big old costume jewellery brooches, that scream Dallas and Dynasty. The more sparkle, the better. I am finding that I am morphing more into my Nan each day. 

Below are a few photos of my most recent purchases, all from St Peters Hospice  charity shops and not one piece over £4. 

Quite a few embellishments but all at amazing charity shop prices so the guilt factor is minimised. 

Nan would be proud. 

Vintage memories...

Hello fellow foragers, I hope you've had an amazing week. 

Mine has been a real mixture of emotions and situations. Second week in my new job and it already feels like I've been there for ages. A good sign me thinks. Things are slowly starting to slot into place and the million pieces of new information are finally taking root in my head. I was also lucky enough to see a very dear friend that was home on a rare trip from Australia. There were lots of smiles and tears as we talked over some incredible memories and shared new stories of how life is now. We first met almost 25 years ago when the only thing that seemed to matter was a Saturday night at Mr B's nightclub in sunny Weston-super-Mare. And thanks to meeting up again, all those filed away memories are now pouring back out, making me smile once more. For several years our little 'gang' held tight as we drank Mad Dog 20 20 (can you even buy that anymore?), we danced till dawn then reviewed the evenings shenanigans over the obligatory chicken burger and chips at the taxi rank. Great, great times.  It's fascinating how life changes so much over time. I always think your late teens are such a precious time. A time of new love (and of new love anxiety as you wait by the phone hoping he will call), a time of infinite possibilities as you merge into adulthood (sometimes unwillingly), trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be. Further studies? Baby plans? Career decisions? It's a time when so many new emotions and situations have to be addressed and massive life lessons are learnt. I would love to wave a magic wand and be transported back once more to one of those Saturday nights. I would certainly have a sharp word with myself over some of my then fashion choices......my androgynous suit and tie phase, my orange psychedelic see-through blouse  that my friend Kirsty aptly named the 'cat sick' blouse and then there's the hot pants. Or ice pants as my friend Ted used to call them. Not my finest moment. But I would just take it all in again, the laughter, the excitement, that feeling of friendships and of first loves. That feeling that for one night at least, nothing can ruin our moment, our time. That feeling like you could live forever. I am lucky to have such wonderful memories to call upon. 

Back to the here and completely hot pant free now, the picture above shows a couple of new editions to the behemoth that is my wardrobe. Cream soft leather cropped trousers and a cropped velvet jacket. Both second-hand of course and both loved very much already. The trousers were a real find. 

£16 from the incredible Ty Hafan Emporium in the Royal Arcade, Cardiff. I haven't yet done a blog 

post about this Aladdin's cave of all things vintage but it won't be long. I thought I'd died and goneto vintage heaven. It's a wonderful place if you like second-hand shopping in great surroundings. 

Being slightly challenged in the height department, cropped trousers are not usually my item of choice but these aren't too short and they are so comfortable. I thought that cream was also a really nice change. The jacket is vintage Alexon, not easy to see in the picture but the condition is perfect and I have worn it to death already and all for the princely sum of £4. 

So there you have it, a nice little pairing for tea down the pub. Again. 

I'm not quite sure what happened to Solo's eyes in this photo, very eerie especially as the picture was ironically taken on Halloween night. His evil side evidently coming out at the thought of us going out without him. We are such bad parents. 

Golden Oldie...

Now I know that this jacket isn't going to be everyone's cup of earl grey. I'm not even sure if it's my cup of tea either but there was something so very British about it that I just couldn't leave it behind.  And at £8 from the British Heart Foundation shop for a Jaeger classic, it seemed the right thing to do. It instantly conjured up visions of well to do equestrian sorts in their sexy jodhpurs brandishing a whip (can I say that??).

Anyway, not being of the 'horsey' set myself, in purchasing it, I have given myself something of a challenge and that is what to pair it with. Not only is it a slightly off-piste choice for me but it is also cropped. And for someone that lacks height but more than makes up for it in the chest department, cropped isn't usually a flattering choice. It must have been a fleeting moment of madness. Another one.  

Jeans, polo neck and  smart riding boots are an obvious everyday choice but I thought I'd have a play around with some other ideas and so I came up with the mood board below. 

I love the idea of a dark green velvet skirt.  You can't quite see it but the lapels are a dark green velvet not black so I think that would be a lovely pairing. Beautiful for a Sunday afternoon riding side saddle through the woods.  All I would need is a cascade of long red curls, an autumn haze as my backdrop and a handsome Mr Darcy clone to ride into sight.  I digress...

The same day I bought this jacket, I also treated myself to a bit of a rarity. Vogue magazine. I normally pass it by on the new stands, moaning to myself at the ridiculous cost of a glossy pamphlet of luxurious adverts (Anna Wintour is probably readying her army as we speak). I have bought a few copies in my time, don't get me wrong. I remember when I bought my little flat, I fell for that oh so pretentious idea of 'coffee table' books and magazines and I was only too proud (sadly) to display it as if it were the epicentre of the room. I love it in principle. The beauty and splendour of all the designer pieces I shall never own. The way that the women all look like rare china dolls without so much as a tiny imperfection. The way that fashion isn't just about clothing, it transcends Art. 

So this afternoon, I sat tea in hand, glossy pamphlet full of ads in the other. I read an article about Karl Lagerfeld,  I lusted after a couple (of hundred) pieces, tearing up at the small print prices and as nice a distraction as it was it got me to thinking about the differences between the way I shop (second-hand junkie) and the way that some of the true Vogue readers probably shop. One page displayed a velvet camisole beautifully, a mere snip at £485. And there are no doubt people out there that would pay that. I say again - £485. To me, that's a trip away, almost a car (our current little runabout was £650 after our wolf-mobile died suddenly), a new cooker.....the list goes on. So does it make it ok that the more you earn, the more you can and should spend? Of course I have no right to say how people should spend their money. No right at all. It just never ceases to amaze me when I flick through magazines like this, that those prices glare out as if it's the norm but then I suppose it is aimed at the rich and famous among us. I often say to John that if we ever won the lottery, I would 

still get just as much joy from rummaging around in charity shops and I don't think I would ever stop. 

I know it sounds silly but it's that excitement of never quite knowing what amazing finds you will come across. What totally individual pieces you will be lucky enough to gaze upon that no-one else is likely to have. 

And above all, every item donated to a charity shop holds a little bit of history.  A little bit of love or romance, a story - good or bad that is now able to help a bevy of worthwhile causes. 

 So what of my little jacket above? Well we will create a new story together. And if I ever do get in a pair of jodhpurs.......it may even be a Jilly Cooper-esque story. 

There's a naughty thought. 

To the Manor born...

Just a quick post today....

I am hiding from my kitchen builder duties. Between us there is so much dust, you would think it was Halloween today not yesterday. John even has a lovely white sprinkle of dust on his eyelashes. Very becoming. 

 It was my stepdaughter and her boyfriends 4th anniversary recently so we used that as a good excuse to take them out to the Celtic Manor which is (too conveniently) down the road from us. And this was the dress that I bought at Lou Lou's vintage fair last month so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to wear it. Some of the diamanté elements are missing but I had an idea of just painting the holes where they were once stuck with silver nail vanish and it seems to have done the trick (in lieu of finding exact replacement studs). 

I feel a bit guilty as I told Paige to dress up as the Celtic Manor is posh. It's not really 'posh', people still go into the restaurants in jeans but of course I like to dress up. So, she bought a beautiful dress in the sale and looked incredible but the minute we walked into the restaurant and realised (of course), that we were the most overdressed of all it's occupants......she was not happy. 

A great night was had nevertheless, even if Isaac and myself were both caught napping on their grand sofas in the lobby bar towards the end of the night. At least my excuse is age (coupled with too much food and wine). 

Not sure about Isaac. 

It's started already....

John's worst fear... that the dream job I am about to start will lead to an increase in second-hand purchases, ensuring our already bulging house is stretched to the max. And last Thursday I gave him fuel for the argument unfortunately.

I had a meeting with my new boss from St Peters Hospice and  I was also lucky enough to meet some of the people I will be working with. We have a few exciting projects coming up over the next few months so we met to discuss them and talk about my induction which officially starts on Monday next week.

Afterwards however, I thought it only wise to check out the local competition as there were several other charity shops in close proximity to ours. I justified it to John as making 'good business sense', knowing damn well he wouldn't fall for it. Anyway, sure enough, I not only scoped the competition fully, I felt like I'd been unfaithful as I made a few sneaky purchases.

Firstly, I did buy a bag from our shop (how could I not). A great fringed piece that is very on-trend and looks as good as new. Originally from H&M, a shop that I love for it's very reasonable prices and strong ethical stance, it was a steal at only £3.99.  I am over the moon with it. I've been lusting after a large fringed tote but I hadn't been lucky enough to find one in a charity shop until that day. It's quite small but ideal for a trip out or an evening down the pub (something we know only too well since we still don't have a kitchen as we are attempting all the work ourselves).

And so to the shoes......

Three pairs in one charity shop haul. Joy for me, woe for hubby. These two were from the PDSA charity shop, just down the road from ours. I always like to support them as I am a huge animal lover. I couldn't imagine my life without animals or pets. My beautiful dog makes every day better just by being there.

They were both £7.99 which was quite expensive as neither pair were new but I was happy to pay the price. The navy ones are my favourite, despite trying not to play favourites with my shoes. Originally from Faith which sadly don't have a shop presence on the British high street any more but they can be found on ASOS and are also still sold in Debenhams. The logo on the sole suggests that they are quite old. I can imagine them once worn the feet of a nervous bridesmaid due to the gorgeous detailing. I however, shall not be keeping them for special occasions. They are far too pretty to be kept for specific outings so I shall wear them any chance I get.

The second pair are from my beloved M&S and funnily (although not surprisingly) enough, I have already got a pair in taupe leather that I bought several years ago so they must be a design staple of theirs. I can't resist a bit of patent though. The 7 year old girl in me just can't pass them by.

Which leads me to my third pair. These were from the Oxfam shop. This shop is only small but I still managed to buy four things. Shoes first:

A gorgeous patent (again) evening pair with an elegant cut-out design. £3.99 in price and worth every penny. These were originally from Office so they would have been a much higher price when sold as new but for that's price and hardly a mark on them, their destiny was pre-determined when I walked in the shop.

I also found a statement vase for when my kitchen when it is eventually finished (cream and cobalt is the colour scheme), a reference book for my collection of 'loo books' so you can educate yourself while sat on the throne and a very pretty Alexon full circle skirt (pictures of them to come soon). Alexon is another distinguished british brand brand that is sadly no more so I feel privileged to have found it. It won't be worn for a while however, as a size 14 back in the day doesn't seem to accommodate a size 14 in my day.

All in all, some amazing purchases for amazing prices. A lovely day was had. I now have the challenge of homing all of them somewhere. Wish me luck......

'Run-a-way' success...

New York, London, Milan, Paris and now............Bristol.  Horfield to be exact. 

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to attend the St Peters Hospice  inaugural fashion show, showcasing their Autumn/Winter beauties. Hopefully it will be the first of many as the Horfield team and volunteers really showed everyone how it's done.  

They turned their flagship store into a temporary catwalk for the night and delighted the audience with a potted history of fashion though the ages which was a great concept and kept us all guessing. The whole evening was so professional and not knowing what to expect, I was really surprised at the lack of nerves the models (staff, volunteers and friends) displayed. It takes a lot of guts to get up and put yourself  in the limelight. Most people shy away from anything in that arena, I cringe at my own husband taking photos of me for this blog let alone strutting my stuff in front of 100 strong audience.  But they genuinely appeared to be having a great time and really got into the spirit of things, showing off the pieces brilliantly. 

On a selfish note, it was lovely to spend an evening with some great people as l was lucky enough to bring a couple of friends, my sister-in-law and John. Poor long-suffering John. Even he said though that he enjoyed it and couldn't believe that it was their first ever show. 

The night was an amazing success and I (of course), bought several pieces as did my friends. I will write about them soon! I still cannot believe the bargain prices I paid to be honest. I went away grinning like a Cheshire Cat. Unlike the expression on John's face which was one of concern. Concern that yet more pieces are joining my dressing room (which is slowly encroaching on the rest of the house). Every piece was available to buy on the night so of course I was one of the first people to run up the stairs and stake my claim(s). I may have offended some of the models as they were still in a state of undress when I entered with Rhianna and Katie on my heels. 

Trivia alert.........did you know that the first designer fashion shows started in Paris (where else) over a century ago, although there are accounts of some being held many, many years ago in front of royal courts. The next of the big four - New York, started holding theirs after WW2 when they wanted to detract the focus away from Paris. London, surprisingly, is the most recent of the 'Big Four' to hold bi-annual fashion shows. Fashion weeks as we know them today are massively glamorous (and expensive) events where designers get to showcase their proud designs to the world (and some very picky front row celebrities). 

Anyway, I shall finish by letting you scroll through the pics below which will hopefully give you a feel for the evening. I (unfortunately) have definitely got the fashion show bug, St Peters being the number one choice but until their next show (which I hope is very soon), I suppose Chanel will do.  

Lady in red, reminiscent of 1940's glamour

Very risqué.  John perked up at this point!

 

I loved the structure of this cocktail dress, almost like a lampshade style bottom! 

Classic elegance

This lady totally rocked whatever she wore.  She looked incredible.

 Hippy Chic!

 A nice workwear ensemble.  I'm all for adding a splash of vibrant colour to an otherwise dull office outfit.   I am always encouraging our shoppers to go for a bright accent colour.  It is so easy to shop for workwear staples and stick to dull hues like navy, grey etc.  They need something to sharpen them up!

 This model looked so at ease throughout the whole evening.  She was amazing and so lovely to watch.  She really seemed to enjoy every minute and she brought her own style to each outfit. We were in awe of her.

A Jackie O' style shift and incredible matching boots.

The photo does neither justice unfortunately.

This one made me smile.  I am sure it was a Wallis dress. It's one of our classics that we do every year in various colours and is consistently a best seller for us.

I desperately wanted this dress but there is no way I could have done it justice (code for......there was no way it was going to fit).

There were lots of sparkly numbers on display, showcasing some lovely Christmas party options in-stores.

 Another lovely 40's style outfit complete with headpiece

 

I loved the styling of this outfit and again, desperately wanted this cardigan.  Alas, I was beaten to it by another keen forager!

My friend  Rhianna will confirm this, the minute I saw this fake fur jacket, I laid my claim. God forbid anyone get there before me.  Thankfully,  I was lucky enough to get it first and it is hanging proudly in my dressing room.  I cannot wait for a Christmas occasion to be able to show it off. 

 This dress reminded me of an Alexander McQueen dress that Kate Middleton wore to a film screening while in the States.  That dress was dove grey which is difficult colour to pull off but she looked beautiful and this one looked just as good.  One of my favourites of the evening without a doubt.

 The Christmas Jumper finale!  Brilliant way to end a really great show.

This dress may not have been the last one of the night but Valentino always finished his catwalk shows with a red dress and if it's good enough for Valentino.........

So there you have it.  Just a small selection of some of the best outfits. I would have loved to have shown them all really. Lord knows I bought enough of them.  It was an amazing evening though and I am really proud to say that in a couple of weeks I will be a part of this organisation.

I cannot wait to be involved in the next one.