I love searching in Charity shops and I do keep a mental list of items I want to find and it is a great way to shop and giving to charity at the same time.
There was a time I felt it was weird wearing an item of clothing that somebody else had worn, now I love it because it has saved me money and love the pieces I have purchased. When I did the Great North Run, a lot of runners said they bought gear second hand, because if they wanted to dump it on route, they can as it didn’t cost them a lot of money and a great hack if you are going to run a marathon or half, doing a running or walking event, buy secondhand fleeces and jackets.
I look at winter jumpers or cardigans, jackets and shoes.
I no longer go overboard but like to buy one item that I know I am going to wear a lot of and yes I still shop on high street stores too, but if I can get the same item in a charity shop rather than high street stores like TKMaxx than I will and don’t underestimate the fashion in Charity Shops because you can find some real gems. Like I have a black Cardigan and bought for St Raphael’s Charity shop in Morden and still a go to piece and worn through the year when it has been cold and windy.
I can come away with nothing and being someone who was in debt, have struggled with and felt I needed to a lot of clothes to have a happy life, but I know longer feel that way, but what I wear and how I wear something is what matters for me, not necessarily of where it has come from.
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Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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So yesterday I checked out Newlook because I found a pair of trousers they had as I want to have a change my style to stop wearing leggins all of the time, as I am getting a bit bored with this look now. They had them online and looked in the store in Colliers Wood and as I was trying them on (a 14 and 18) the trousers got dirty as the changing room floor was covered in dust so didn’t buy.
I have filmed a vlog including me trying them on (this will be go up soon) I created a new vision/mood board with them on but I checked out ones in TU Sainsburys and were better in price and better style, but couldn’t try on as their fitting rooms were blocked and so didn’t buy these either.
This is the style I am looking at:
Yes they are cropped at the bottom but being petite (5ft2inches) will be long for me and would possibly need taking up but I like the colour and £20.00 so will go back and if they are there I will be buy them. At the moment had pairs of jeans on sale, if you after a pair as I am after another pair too but been working on my wardrobe and if they will go with what I have already got.
The other item is for a blue and white stripped shirt and seen many woman wearing and I think I will go really well with those trousers.
This is from Peacocks. Part of Louise Redknapp Edit and is £20 and would like to team this up with a white cardigan and a Orange one I have seen in Oliver Bonas.
It is good to see if you can mix and match your clothes and just now put on a pair of socks on which match my with a Garfield t-shirt from TKMaxx and no I didn’t need it but I love their t-shirts and was a size 8, but that was it and I will be changing my style as said, but go through my clothes to see if items still fit me and going to plan my wardrobe and going to go through what I have to create a new Capsule Wardrobe by giving it a make over, and what I have in my suitcases to see what I haven’t worn, that I packed as travel from Wimbledon to Epsom a lot and so it is good to go through them, and have a sort out.
This style can be for the winter with some ankle boots and trainers, or with a jumper with a shirt and that is the idea for me.
New look did have some nice jumpers and yes the shops have begun put out the Autumn pieces and so yes if you want any more summer clothes, then do make it quick because that will be gone and also means that stores will have a sale, so look out for those.
It is good to have a good versatile wardrobe and never stuck with what to wear.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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As a kid I was super girly girly and loved skirts and dresses, and then it changed. In the 90’s I got really into football, going to rugby matches and would go to dancing school and my image changed. I had a MC Hammer styled like suit, with wallabies, as they were called and owned a pair of kickers.
Then I got into rock music and would wear Jodhpurs with a rock T-Shirt and became a bit of a Tom Boy. I would wear waistcoats with a pair of jeans and had my own style, and now looking back I loved my style back when I felt like I was ugly and wow I like gym wear, like fitness pants, joggers and own a pair of wide leg jeans and have one pair of black trousers and going to go through my wardrobe to see what has not been worn and if it suits me and if like Kon Marie, gives me joy them it stays.
It is good to have a detox of my clothes and go through what works for me and this week I have gone through T-Shirts and they are a bit short for me and I look square when wearing leggins but look okay with trousers and my wide leg jeans I have from Shein and going to start making my own that cover up my lumps and bumps and look better with longer T-Shirts with leggins and love my vest tops.
Feel proud too of what you are wearing and really extends your personality, gives you a boost and have fun too, and restyle your clothes, which I really love to do.
Give yourself time to rest from sorting out your wardrobe and have items are a may keep and go back to it, along with buying new clothes and clothes not worn. What I will put items in my wish lists on sites and wait to see if the price will drop, or if you can get it secondhand.
It is all about what makes you tick and what doesn’t.
So I am really trying to shop my wardrobe and if I want to add to my wardrobe will have a list of essentials and that will last me a long time. I am after a pair of Denim Shorts, a pair of jeans and khaki shorts and a few more t-shirts.
I have seen some jeans in one of the Charity shops in Epsom and so will be buying them from there if they fit. I find when it comes to jeans hard to find the correct size and shape. I love my wide leg ones I bought from Shein (see picture above) and so after a straight cut pair and I love having pair of Denim shorts as they can be worn all year round for indoors and outside.
I did check out ASDA and they had some pairs but today I have to go to H&M for gift card and so will see if they have any pairs of denim shorts and will pick some if they fit of course and have my size.
At the moment I am really into to stores like Mountain Warehouse, Blacks and Trespass and seen that they have a sale on at the moment and so going check the ones in Epsom when Henry goes back to school next week and looking for another pair of shoes too as I want to get rid of my pink shoes as they are beginning to hurt me and looking for more comfort and what I know I will wear, and use for walking in and just slide my foot into and a pair for when I use the treadmill I have in Epsom.
I like practical clothing along with stylish and believe that you should build your wardrobe that matches your lifestyle and what you gonna get the most out of when playing sports, going for walks and makes your skin be free and non restrictive.
When it comes to styling I like to look on amazon as there are some new fashion items I have seen on there that have caught my eye, but look to see what I can find on the high street first and Pinterest.
Check out my different Fashion boards I have created:
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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So took a trip to Sainsbury’s in Colliers Wood as I like this store and looking at their pieces for the summer and that can be worn in the winter, and they had some lovely tops:
This caught my eye as soon as I walked in. It is very light material and love the neck line. These can be worn with a tailored cardigan and with a skirt or trousers and with jeans and a lovely pair of ankle boots for the winter but also with flipflops and sandals for the summer.
This is priced at the moment £14.
Surprisingly some of the clothes have gone up in price, like their dresses, but love their tops and I have items that have lasted a long time and they do have some good quality t-shirts, along with trousers noticed online that they are selling clothes from Fat Face, Sosandar and French Connection.
H&M are great for your basics like this top which are my go to all year round as you can wear as an underneath layer for the autumn and winter but in the summer with a black skirt, with a pair of shoes and denim skirt and over your swimming costume and then in the evening with nice jewelry and today looking in the H&M they had nice simple over the should bags. The top above is priced at £9.99.
Here a nice piece of Jewelry which would go with the above top and dress it up,
This is £3.99 and with a pair of hoops to match would help dress the black top and again for the autumn and winter too.
Then you have this bag, which would really match the top and Jewelry and be perfect for all seasons and for going out and just really alter it so it not just a casual piece but as a really statement item. This is: £19.99
H&M did have a sale on some items and I they had tailored clothing and still had some warmer clothes still and the one in Wimbledon is my favourite store. They always have a huge range and love checking it out.
I am after a white shirt and they did have some in there and sports bra.
It is good to find essentials along with TU Sainsbury’s and will be checking again next month to see what else they will be bringing into the stores.
I will be doing another blog sharing items I have purchased from amazon that you may be interested in.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Its been a while since blogging on this channel. I was catching up on things that needed completing and building my Youtube channels, Typical London Gal and My way of living, but I am back and seen some really good pieces that caught my eye and would like to own.
So lets begin with Marks and Spencers. I have my eye on this.
Could be Versatile as it can be worn by layering and with a vest top underneath and is £55.00. A bit pricey but a long lasting staple and I love the colour.
Then I keep seeing this in George at ASDA and is £18 but can be worn all year because if it gets cold in the evenings or in the winter, you can wear a polo neck underneath, and a piece that will never go out of fashion.
I love these pieces as they can be worn with so many things like jeans, trousers, shorts and a casual long black skirt with black ankle socks and black socks.
One thing I desperately need a couple of, is a couple of new bras and ASDA and M&S do a good collection so going to invest next month, along with long wide black trousers I have seen in Marks and Spencers.
I like to invest in casual clothes and tailored. I am after a leather jackets with fake fur inside and so will be keeping my eye open and look around and if you know of a affordable shop that has one please leave a comment below. Honestly you are truly welcome, in this community.
So will be talking about the clothes I already have as I do like to shop my wardrobe and check out pins on Pinterest:
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Clothes that say a lot about me and are essential but can also be overwhelming and fixing clothes, because at the moment the pair of leggins I have on have holes in and so going to see if I can sow them up, but if not will dispose, and do have other pairs, so going for minimal new clothes this year and get my monies worth, of what I have already got. I want a functional wardrobe, and one that I look forward to looking through.
This style I love, and do love wearing black, with colour too, but that is crisp and casual, with a bit of a tailored look. I live in leggings, but would like some tailored book cut trousers. I don’t need them right away, but going to save so I can purchase them, and add them to my functional wardrobe, to create a uniform for myself.
I would like to purchase some more different kind of fitness leggins and sets, as I love to workout and do a lot of walking and exercise, and doing some fundraising and long walks, and having a set that I can mix and match and are fun, will help me make sure I do my walks and workouts. I also want to go through my shoes again, as they starting to clutter my room space and really be tough on myself and make the crucial decision to prevent the clutter, of what I am actually going to wear, and not maybe I will, at some point, and get of excuses of why I shoes I know I am not going to wear.
Also set a budget, and how much I want to spend on each item. For me it has to be realistic and not having 10 pair of the same style of jeans, think about where, if I want some new clothes, going to be worn, and is it machine washable.
I also like fashion that doesn’t have awkward zips and buttons, that doesn’t go all bubbly and good material that lasts for a lifetime. Hence why this blog is called Versatile Fashion, because I want them to suit and be worn in all seasons.
So, lets raise a glass to a better wardrobe with clothes I love and know they will get worn.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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I love a bit of TU Sainsbury’s fashion, it gives me so much joy, and seen some bits that caught my eye.
First of all I like this Cardigan. I love a Cardigans and great staple for all year long, and saw this and it instantly caught my eye. It is £22 but can last a long time and fit with skirts, trousers or even a dress.
Then there is this lovely Star Jumper. I love a jumper and this one has personality and I have talked on my Youtube channel of not buying a top, with a fancy logo, on My way of living, but it is okay, just don’t need everything with a print or pattern.
This one is £22 and again a yearly piece and their clothes do wash well and not experienced any, bobbling.
Then whilst I was in store saw this Sweatshirt, and was going to buy and going to go back to buy. I love a Sweatshirt and can be worn as lounge wear, with a set of joggers, jeans, leggins and shorts.
This is £18, and really good value and definitely a long term investment. I love comfortability, and casual style clothing, and so feel that this Sweatshirt ticks those boxes.
Then there is their sportswear. I have bought a few and great for a busy mum, and I do wear them a lot as I do walk a lot for exercise and do indoor workouts, and play sports with my son, and enjoy wearing sports clothes. I came across these for £8 and real good value.
The trainers you see in the above image, I owned a pair and wore them religiously and not expensive and will be buying a new pair, because they were so good to wear and easy to put on.
You have to be fast in getting Lilac fitness leggins, because they have almost sold out.
So, I will be going back and pick up a few bits I have seen, and there will be more blogs coming. If you’d like to be updated, everytime I post a blog and then click follow and you will be alerted when I have posted.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Yes not long to go, and I have begun Christmas shopping and this year I have been looking at Pjamas, along with jumpers and scarves.
I love giving Scarves, because they can last a long time and you can get blanket scarves and often buy my mum a scarf, and will always be in fashion. Check Amazon, Moosoon, TK Maxx and supermarket stores.
Shopping trips can be a gift, in its self and going for a bite to eat, along with cash and vouchers.
Gift cards are okay, but many stores like House of Fraser, Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins have closed their stores on the high street, even though you can still buy clothes from Debenhams and Dorothy Perkins, online, but could be risky, but I often when my mum wanted to buy me a new coat for example, she will take me to the store for me to try on, and as a kid would buy a new outfit for it, and that can be a good present if you children like to dress up for the day.
I love a Christmas jumper and have a t-shirt I still haven’t worn yet, so going to make sure I do and a nice red jumper is good. I have one bought from TU Sainsbury’s and has sparkles but still good to wear for the rest of the year too, and is a long term investment.
Make you check the washing instructions and I always make sure they are machine washable. You don’t necessary have to go for red. Beige is really something I am loving at the moment and like light pink colours too.
I am thinking of wearing a top I bought from the Charity shop to wear on Christmas day as still to be worn, with a pair of leggins and head band. I think green is a good colour and great for pale skin.
Slippers is a good gift and shoes. For my birthday my mum bought me a pair of walking boots, from Mountain Warehouse and a pair of socks.
It is good to match gifts to someone’s personality and doesn’t have to be serioius. but a fun clothes, like onesies or matching PJ’smand fun earrings to match.
Hoodies and why not get a plain fleece and design it yourself, and handmade gifts like scarves and hats, can be so much more personal, than just any old jumper or fleece.
Be creative and imaginitive.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Check out H&M and Shein, along with charity shops, and amazon.
Looking in H&M yesterday I went round the store, because they update it quiet a lot and found some bits like tops which can be dressed up with a skirt or trousers and layering, and buy two for £15.00 and feel these are great value. I love basics like this, because they are so versatile and never go out, in my opinion, out of fashion.
They do then in different colours, such as Pink and Purple, Navy blue and striped, and Light Greige and Dark Greige.
This is a good piece a white Polo top, £25 and great for keeping warm and stylish. I had a coloured to like this, a long time ago and it was really flattering and wished I had kept it, as they can be great for on holiday abroad, when it is chily at night and teamed with a skirt, and jeans, trousers and I think I will be investing as it is a good basic and be worn with a polo neck underneath.
It comes in different colours. Black, Dark Brown and Green.
They were doing a sale on their jeans. I visited the one in Wimbledon, London shopping centre court. They were selling from like £9.99 and great investment.
I filmed on my Instagram of items I have found in Charity shops, check it out here:
The jumper again when it is cooler at night or on a plane when it gets cold and loved them together and the cardigan, was a brilliant Charity shop find, and if you’d like me to share all my secondhand items, please let me know by commenting below.
So now Shein. They do some great fashionable pieces. The Wide Leg jeans I bought have been brilliant and did a post talking about these, and youi can under layer, with tights for this time of the year and been worn with a nice flleece and for going out for walk on Christmas day, which I will be doing, and for the summer too, and inexpensive:
These are £18.49, and can be dressed with the tops from H&M or with Polo shirt , with a pair of boots or trainers, and still style it up with some lovely jewelry.
Check out these boots, on Shein and can be styled up and I love these type of boots. They can be a bit hard at first, so you do have to wear them with thick socks to soften, but once broken into, a long life purchase unless a teenager and still growing, but for older women great set of boots that can last and be styled with shorts and summer dresses. These are £16.
Check out Amazon. I love their fashion, and for this time of year like to browse. They have so much, and found this flleece which I will be putting on my wishlist, as I love colour and this can be great one that can stay in your wardrobel all year round, and maintained, last a long time, and really love colour, but also looks snuggly.
It comes in different sized, and colours, and priced at £8.99. and they also do off the shoulder tops that can be nice to wear, and have a grey one and love it. I wear it with leggins, jeans and trousers.
This is super stylish and one I want on my Wish list. I am trying to control my buying of clothes, but like to have a wish list to change it, as I grow and as my style changes, which now 45, has, but with a few items I love from a child to an adult.
You can’t beat the classics, like a pair of jeans, boots and like a bit of glamour still, when I go out, or for a special occasion.
It all about making wise choices and I like building my wardrobe by, shopping my wardrobe and trying different styles. Take risks and have fun too. If you enjoy dressing up then do so. Its all to do on how we feel and what is happening around us.
So I hope this has helped pick up some nice pieces and will be blogging more as we get nearer to Christmas and if you ideas of what you’d like me to share, then please let me know.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Carries Versatile Fashion 