Save for the item and set a budget of how much you are willing to spend on that item
Avoid store cards, from experience they can run up a lot of debt and so if I don’t have the money I don’t buy it, and points/loyalty cards are better
If you have clothes that no longer fit that are in good condition then why not sell items or pay for them to be repaired
Wait for sales, a lot of retailers start to change their fashion certain parts of the year like as soon as it begins to get nearer September they will have a sale on summer items and start setting up items for Autumn
Invest in clothes that can be worn all year around, this why I set up this blog because I like to invest in clothes that last a long time and be worn all year round
Create wish lists and I keep things, when shopping online in the basket and see if I can get the same item on the high street for less and if I can’t find the items, I will check online and save for when I can invest on that particular list
Go through what you want in your wardrobe and go through items you want to let go of and build a capsule wardrobe. I know many people give this tip, but for me I buy what will go with what I already have and have plenty of outfits that go together
It is all about being happy about what you wear and how it makes you feel when you put it on, and so taking time to invest in a good wardrobe is how you can save and budget and nothing goes to waste.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
Typical London Gal
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Yes H&M have their Autumn and Winter fashion out, not sure and seen some good pieces, like long sleeved tailored shirts, knitted wear and I was hoping they were having a sale on some of the fashion from summer, but I am going to keep checking.
This sweatshirt is great item and I love these types, because they can last a long time and never go out of style. I invested in a few of their fleeces and jumpers, because they are good quality and for the price is totally worth it. This one above is currently £12.99, just bare in mind the prices can change. I am not sponsored, I just really love their fashion.
Here is another jumper that i’d like to invest in, because it looks good quality and I love the collar and can be worn with many things, such as leggings and a high knee boots, jeans and a pair of smart black trousers. I love hoops and this one is £24.99, and will last a long time.
Here is a pair of Boots that I have discovered and be brilliant with the sweatshirt and jumper above and smartens the outfit up. Casual/Smart.
I love these types of Boots because they are brilliant for all weathers and a good long lasting piece and I need some new boots and so I will checking out their footwear. These currently £34.99.
Then there are these Boots and are a bit more money compared to the ones above but again a pair worth investing as they can last a lifetime, just remember to get them mended, and use boots holders to help them stay in shape. They are £99.99.
Then there is this short cardigans and my go to item in the winter. I like to have a few cardigans because they are so easy to wear and will be buying a new one and this one again good for the whole year and will last a lot of Autumn’s and Winters.
This is £17.99.
So they do have a lot of good pieces and I will visit again and try and do a new shop with me. I will let you know if I do.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
Typical London Gal
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Hello and welcome! In this blog I talk about bags, because like my obsession with notebooks, clothes and shoes, and Youtube, etc etc, I love a bag.
For me they are essential item, as I do carry bits with me that are important like my house keys, phone, a notebook and so need a bag that is deep and structured with pockets or just deep enough to carry a lot.
So where to buy?
Well today I looked in TK Maxx and they do a load of bags that I could live in the store and have so many different styles. They are pricey but from experience are good quality.
This one is priced at £49.99, but this price can change. I am not sponsored by any of the retailers I mentioned. The stores I choose is of personal choice.
I love Amazon, they have so many retailers to buy from and have a grey Rucksack from them and love it to bits and bought it about 4 years ago and still good quality.
This is the exact one I have and not surprised it is still available, as it is so worth it. Currently this is priced at £20.39. It has so many inside pockets and use it when I take my son on trips to London and if I manage to get away this summer this rucksack i have will come with me.
I have two rucksacks like this and would be a place I’d go to when buying a bag and know they are of good quality, and not had any issues so far, and the relationship with Amazon, which they don’t know about it for 20 years, can’t really remember, but love it and is the go to place if you can’t find what you want on the high street.
The other place is Avon. I have not bought a bag for while but I will checking them out because I would always buy a bag from them and do plan to do a haul very soon. Then their is Wish, they are platform that have many bags and other products and had to take off their APP, because I became obsessed but do have some really good designs and different kinds.
It’s all about what you want to get out of it, and how it serves you.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
Typical London Gal.
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Hello! So to kick off I am going to begin with H&M I bought a new pair of Animal print pumps and been wanting a pair and in browsing in the store, this is the one in Centrecourt Wimbledon, and had to buy them and were £17.99. So soft and comfortable that I fear wearing because they have a nice trim on them and feel so good on your feet.
They also had a white sleeveless button shirts. I always invest because they can be worn all year round, and my go to because they are just a staple piece I love to have, because they just easy to wear and great investment. They can worn with a Cami top underneath with the shirt open, you can tie them up at the front and then in the winter a cardigan with a vest top underneath, and I just my favourite type of clothing.
They also had a some lovely animal print shirts that I was a bit weary of wearing as them big quiet shirt but since thinking about it, I could make it work and is a versatile piece.
Online this top is on sale for £10 originally £17.99 but run out of stock so very popular the great thing is I can save it in my wish list and have selected them to notify me when they are back in stock. Just remember this could be different in the stores, and so going to see if they are still there on sale in my local H&M and am planning to go up in Oxford Street as they may have more items, and different pieces if I do I will let you know.
I have been in search of a new bag and checked Oliver Bonas in Wimbledon and they have some really nice bags. They are quite high in price, but worth investing and I love treating myself in store because their dresses and accessories are lovely and love my Scarf and T-Shirt I bought from them and lovely material.
I love colour and is priced £49.50, which is high but I don’t mind if it is good quality.
They also had some nice dresses and they do maxi style which I’d love to buy but end up being too long, but they do short dresses too and love the colours of their clothes and would love to treat myself to one of the their dresses.
This is a lovely style and looks like it is made with light material. It is £69.50 but again can be a item you wear in the colder months, with a pair of skin colour tights, with a pair of ballet style shoes and in the summer sandals or even with a white or pink trainer.
I love wearing colourful clothes including dresses. Just bear in mind that the items in store aren’t always the same in the stores. If you see it invest because of how quickly they change their stock around.
So let me know what you have found on the high street then leave a comment below of what are your staple items you like you wear, that can be worn all year round, as I love recommendations. I am due to go to TKMaxx as I love their skincare items aswell as their fashion and using some at the minute, which I have shared on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUDFIqjVKLy7NhtcR6Hy0Tg and notebooks, because they do nice bags too and have a good range, so going to see which one I will buy from Oliver Bonas or TKMaxx and will update you.
If you’d like to be kept up to date with this blogs then remember to follow and you will be alerted everytime new blog is posted.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Today i paid a visit to New Look and bought a pair of shoes and having a style this I have had before they will be super comfortable. I don’t shop often in New Look, when I lived in Bognor Regis, where there was a new look too, I’d be in there everyday.
Now being someone who loves a T-Shirt they did have a deal where you could by two t-shirts for £16, but I prefer H&M, as I like the material better. I also bought a T-Shirt which I did plan to get in Oliver Bonas and it so lovely and was a bit pricey but being someone who doesn’t buy a lot of items in that store because of the price of their clothes, it was a nice treat. Stores will be getting ready for the Autumn again, and so they will be having sales soon on their summer products.
It is good to keep on monitoring the stores you love because I always check their sales and if it is worth it. I do budget, and write a list a of items I would like to have and I will save my money in doing so. I am notice the price of items going up and so it is getting in whilst it a low for that store.
H&M have a membership scheme which I been saying no too, and thought I had already done that but I hadn’t but it is worth it if you shop in there often. Yet I don’t want to make it an excuse to keep going in there. Yet if it saves more money in doing the membership it could be worth it. I will report back.
With Newlook I did have a store card but no longer because it got me in debt, and got tempted everytime I would pass the store. You do have to be careful with store cards because it becomes too tempting, and not needed. Now I don’t have one and will not own one again, I do feel a sense of relief.
Price doesn’t always match quality and so do your maths and how long and often will you will wear it. I haven’t checked out TU Sainsbury’s so I will check them out probably next week, and take a look.
It is officially the summer and time to go through our summer clothes if you haven’t already, and have a good sort out. I rotate my clothes and wear everything I own.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Going into shopping mail near to my home, I checked out H&M and they have more pieces of clothing that caught my eye, and plan to go back to.
This blog is not sponsored!
So T-Shirts, and I am wearing a t-shirt from H&M now from the Women’s department and found this one that I hope I can go back for. Their prices like many stores, have gone up, but because they are great the wear and all year round, they are for me worth the investment. Price is currently £12.99, but they may change the price, and so best to check the prices in store and online. Often the price online can be different.
As it is Summer they did have a lot of shorts in different colours, and I need a new pair of denim shorts, because my current pair are too big for me now so going to invest in a new pair. They just great to have, as in the winter I can still wear them indoors.
The ones the picture above are £12.99, again I did notice the price with online compared to the store and seems cheaper to buy online, but then their delivery, so I wouldn’t order online and buy in store, should they have my size. I now fit a medium, and so will be going back and they had like silk shorts too, if you like clothes in that kind of material. So worth having a good look around if you need any shorts, for the summer.
They did have a really nice knitted short sleeve dress, like this one below and again I want to go back and try on. These are great for all seasons, the only thing is washing them, sometimes in my experience, they can go out of shape, if not washed properly via the clothing label, so do check do a 30 degrees wash if it says to, and see how it washes.
The one I found in store, was felt very light, as often they can be heavy but not the one I saw, so think it is a definite one to try on before I buy.
They did have some animal print shirts and dresses. I love Animal print and great for all year round.
H&M are brilliant for having long-lasting pieces and the often do sales and so check online if not in store.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Hello and welcome! It is no understatement that I love fashion and looking at what people (mainly women) are wearing and see if what they’re wearing will suit me.
I at this very moment wearing fitness bottoms/leggins with a pink polar neck and these are the clothes I love and being casual. Jubilee was great and I did film in Day in a life video to document what I was wearing, and will be uploaded soon.
Here is a pair I have posted before and wanted to talk about them again and I love them. So comfortable and love the colour and as I have dropped a dress size, yippy, are a size 14 and obsessed with them.
I have a few pairs, hanging in a closet in my home, and live in them. I am not being sponsored, but if Sainsbury’s read this blog or find it, then I would love to. Hint Hint.
Then there is Shein and their T-Shirts and along with TK Maxx, again not sponsored, just are great and I have to hold myself back, because they have so many. Amazon are always my go to for fashion, and there is a lot, and can become addictive. Again I have to rein myself in, but great for many things, like leggins and t-shirts.
I feel this is relevant as we did have the Platinum Jubilee, and one I have put into my basket not to buy right away, but to store for a future purchase.
This is an example of the T-Shirts available on amazon.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Yes I know! Sorry if I a talking a lot about the Jubilee, but I am really excited about it and already picked up my clothes for this week and so if you want to celebrate but feel you have nothing to wear then check these clothes out, that I have put together from the High Street and online.
This is from #lightinabox at £29.50, and similar to the dress I will be wearing and can be worn at a lovely summer wedding too, and could also be good for a summer holiday, day time or as evening wear.
This dress is from Debenhams and I love #polkadots and is priced at £17.50, this is the online, and can be worn with skin colour or black or navy blue tights, for when it gets colder, and a summer dress too. I picture a basket bag and nude shoes.
I love a patterned top and I have a black top just like that, and great for all year round as if you work in a office, and summer and also for the festive season. This is from Lightinabox again at £19.79
This is from #newlook and a store I love to look into, in store and bought many clothes from them that I have loved wearing. I love putting my money into the retailer/fashion industry, and invest in clothes that make me love, and on a budget. I did have a store card, but I like reward cards rather than a bank card. I really wish that Newlook did one. This top is £18.00. This is the online price, so bear that in mind, as some prices can differ when purchased in store.
Now lets talking about shoes and accessories. I have seen these boots and very stylish and makes fashion fun.
This is from the online shop, #vencano and I love the pattern and great for going to concerts, with a white dress, or a pair of white shorts. These are at the price off: £32.85. (These prices are what they were when this blog was written and so may change)
These are gorgeous, and are from Lightinabox at £25.82, and great pair to wear for the Jubilee and for a wedding, and again for the festive cheer. Not good if it’s rainy, but for good summer days and indoors, lovely pair. If well looked after can last a long time.
Then there are bags. I looked in TK Maxx today (when this blog was written) at their bags from Dune and they have lovely ones, that I am going to invest in. Here are some I found for the Queen’s Jubilee, and for other occasions too.
This is from Lightinabox at £14.07 and looks so stylish.
With light in a box, they do different type of items that you don’t get on the high street. Since my card was hacked though it has made me weary in buying on online, but I would love to buy some items from them, as if you like festival type clothes, or on holiday, then it is worth investing.
So, I hope you enjoy the Jubilee and hoping we can wear our dresses and I am going to make the effort for it and I will film what I am wearing, as Thursday I am going to put on a dress, and Friday and then Saturday. I am doing another week in a life video for my Youtube channel and so will show what I wear in that video.
Last Sunday I took a trip to M&S and TU Sainsbury’s, and found some really lovely pieces and bought a pair of fitness bottoms from Sainsbury’s, and there were more items I want to invest in.
These items have been selected because these items are going to last for many years and I like a good tie shirt, great for Spring and summer, and saw it in Sainsbury’s but was on the wrong rack, but still caught my eye, as I have a printed version, that I bought a few year ago, and still I wear it, and washes really well.
These clothes will never go out of fashion and still be current, like the jumper I have selected that has stripes and love the colour of the stripes with the Baige background and be great to wear through out the different seasons. This was from M&S, along with the black animal print tracksuit. I did find another jump, but couldn’t find it on their site.
That is the thing with some clothes you find, in store aren’t all available online, but I will do a shop with me, and see if I can find the one I wanted to share. The tracksuit is lovely, and would wear it, but the jumper I saw would have been a good option too.
The T-Shirt is TU Sainsbury’s and love it. I very rarely buy plain t-shirts, it just my person preference. The one thing I miss not doing, is going to a music festival, as it be a great item to wear, but worn though out the year too. I picture a nice pair of leggins, jeans and even black or denim shorts. In the winter why not invest in a leather jacket and Baige coloured boots.
The fitness bottoms I did purchase, because I just love Sainsbury’s fitness bottoms. They had gone up on price, as they other pairs I have purchased were £16, but these were £18.
Then, I found these Sandals on M&S and I love square heals, and what is good about M&S, is that they do half sizes still,, and I find that some Size 5’s are too big, as I am a 4 and half.
I like shoes that look nice but are comfortable and can wear them without the fear of falling on my face, when wearing them.
So, I hope that you like these items and has in some way inspired you.
I do write other blogs, and have Youtube channels too, along with books, that you can find on amazon.com, under the names, Carrie Challoner, Carrie Lee Holmes and Carrie Holmes.
I got this idea from watching Louise Pentland, and would post these types of images on Instagram, and decided that I want to see if I can buy matching outfits for me and my son.
Ok so the jumper isn’t a match, but were both in fitness clothes, brand Adidas, and wanted to use this to inspire other mothers, sons and daughters to do the same.
Sorry about the bare face I just don’t wear make up everyday to give my skin on my face a break from it. I wanted to have a bit of fun with styling me and Henry together and see some others on Pinterest (See below):
The store I bought our outfits from was from Sports Direct, and will look in H&M Kids and H&M adult clothes.
I know you can get Pyjamas that match, but like to do this for everyday fashion.
It doesn’t have to be expensive clothes and I still set a budget, and great way to get the most out of your clothes, and you can get others involved at all.
I remember when I was a secondary school, there were groups of girls, as I went to a girls school, would dress the same and so why not do this with you and your children.
If you already do this then I’d love to see photos and where your clothes are from. You can leave a comment below.
Many thanks for reading,
Carrie X
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Carries Versatile Fashion 