Splurge Or Steal: Bows

Good news – I now have a gap year job! I'm going to be working as an intern in the Maths department of an academy in Sheffield, and I am so excited! The plan is to reapply to start a Maths undergrad course at uni in 2011; I think I might try for Oxford, but we'll see how brave I'm feeling when October comes around ....

Anyway, on to today's post, inspired by the lovely Blair Waldorf:

BOWS! As a firm fan of the late Luella label (RIP), I just can't resist the quirky, countryside charm they have. They're definitely an easy way to add a girlish touch to an outfit that might be too dressed up or serious otherwise, and I've been wearing them a lot lately. My measly collection is as follows:

Black hairband: British Heart Foundation; Plaid hairclip: The Clothes Show; Spotted hairclips: H&M

I've had my eye on a couple of bows on the high street though, so if you like me are looking to expand your collection, look no further! I've divided up my discoveries into two categories: splurge and steal.

STEAL (under £10)

Cameo aliceband: £3.75, Dorothy Perkins

Purse: £3.99, New Look

Skinny belt: £4, ASOS

Tights: £4, New Look

Lace kirby grips: £6.50, Topshop

SPLURGE (£10 and over)

Chain ring: £10, Topshop

Tweed brooch: £14, Topshop

Bandeau dress: £18, ASOS

Mesh jumpsuit: £34.99, New Look

Black gloves: £38, Mango

Personally, I'm already in love with the tweed brooch! I picked it up in Topshop Sheffield on Thursday, put it down before I got to the till, and regretted it the moment I got back to Norwich ... I think I'll be making a trip to the high street fairly soon. ;)

xxx

OOTD: Knitwear In Summer?!

Took a quick trip down to John Lewis today with the parents, wearing this:

Stupid poses and no make-up! That's just how I roll ... ;)

Top: £9.90, Mango
Skirt: £15, Dorothy Perkins
Belt: $19 = about £11, New York
Shoes: €15 = about £10, Barcelona
Hair slide & ring: £1.50 each, The Clothes Show


Knitwear in summer may seem a bit excessive, but I found this grey jumper in the summer sales and it is so light! Perfect for layering – finding all these great new season buys makes me so impatient for Autumn ... sigh.

I haven't worn these espadrilles for a while, but for the last few summers they have been my absolute favourite shoes. I picked them up on a family holiday to Barcelona (one of the most amazing cities in the world, if you love fashion or you just love life, then you need to go!) – they were handmade, and some of the stitching is a little loose because I've worn them into the ground. When they finally give up the ghost, I'm going to be on a plane or train straight back to get a new pair; they're just too versatile to lose!

I haven't had a haircut in an absolute age (next appointment is August 18th: you'll be the first to know what I think!) and I just can't be bothered to deal with it in the summer, so it's either pulled back with a big hair grip or in a ponytail usually. But today I found the September 2009 issue of ELLE which was full of big, messy plaits, so I thought I'd have a go ...

Let me know if you think it works!

Love Sanchia xxx