New: January

I'm not usually a big in-person January sales shopper (are they still called January sales when they begin before Christmas, as they seem to now?), given how averse to huge crowds of  bargain-hungry people I am. However, online sales are fine by me and I'm actually pretty pleased with the things I managed to snag this year. I refuse to call this a "haul" post, given how much I hate that term but I guess it actually is one. Thrifty January (February and March) has now commenced though, so there won't be any new purchases for a while.

Hi Tops, brooch and cross print leggings (now sold out but similar here) - Topshop

Red boots - Office

Leggings - River Island

Shirt - Paisie via Pretaportobello

Tights - Topshop, Pamela Mann and Gipsy

Black heels - Jeffrey Campbell

Did you manage to grab any bargains?

New: September

Now that I'm ever so slightly better off than I was, money-wise, I'm actually allowing myself a few treats every month. I'm still well on course to be out of debt by February and, sometimes, life is too short to go without treats. So I thought I'd start a new monthly feature and show you what I bought in the month previously and what I'm currently loving. So these are September's newbies. The necklace above is from Zara and was a little payday splurge last Friday. I'm utterly in love with it.

Shoes - ASOS

Jumper & T-shirt - JW Anderson x Topshop

Dress - c/o Next

Jumper - Olivia Rubin

Nail varnish - OPI's Alpine Snow and Essie's Mademoiselle & Ballet Slippers

The detail picture of the dress above is the same dress that I was wearing in this post. Next isn't generally a shop that I gravitate towards. I love their homeware section but I just never seem to make it up to the womenswear. I was very kindly offered a voucher for a purchase so I decided to revisit Next and see what I could find. There were actually a fair few pieces that I would happily have taken home with me but this dress just won out. It's beautifully detailed and I think it'll be perfect for both winter, with a pair of thick tights and a cosy cardigan, and summer, with bare legs and sandals. I can't actually find it on Next's website but I only bought it a couple of weeks ago, so it should definitely still be in store!

I spent my final weekend in September with some of my favourite people. There was a night out with old work colleagues on Friday, a cocktail masterclass at Harvey Nichols on Saturday morning, a visit to the Manchester Food and Drink Festival for a cheeky pint of cider on Saturday afternoon and then, on Monday, I spent the day with my lovely friend B and her little girl. When I wasn't galivanting around the North West I was at home, catching up on recorded TV, sleeping and even finding the time to try out blinkbox and watch movies online. The long weekend (thanks to Jewish holidays) was magnificent. Bring on the next one! 

Disclosure: I was provided with a voucher code for three films at blinkbox. I can definitely recommend it though.

I ♥ Sunglasses

Seriously, I think I have a problem.


Sunglasses are taking over my life. I own about ten pairs but I still spend far more time than I should browsing websites like SmartBuyGlasses and wondering which glasses won't make my face look larger than it already is. For those of you who aren't aware, I am entirely convinced that I have one of the largest faces/head circumferences in all of the land. So, somewhere that sells a large variety of brands, including Ray-Bans, Chloe, Tom Ford and Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, is perfect for me, as there's bound to be something that will have face-reducing properties.

The photos above were taken earlier this year on holiday in Lanzarote with Sammy, who I blame solely for my obsession. She is the queen of sunglasses. The minx. So, although I'm in a very thrifty frame of mind at the moment and am trying to squirrel away as much money as possible for THE FUTURE (dun dun dun), there's no harm in looking is there?

I have wanted a pair of Carrera sunglasses for longer than I'd care to admit and these little beauties in particular have caught my eye...

But, I'm also absolutely in love with these gorgeous leopard print sunglasses from Bolle. There are few things better in life than hidden leopard print. One of which is obviously in-your-face leopard print. But still...

So, IF I was to buy a new pair of delicious eyewear, which should I go for?


This is a sponsored post but I really do LOVE sunglasses an obscene amount

Glitter & Velvet

1. Deena & Ozzy boots

2. OPI 'Fresh Frog of Bel Air'

3. Topshop 'Adornment' with OPI/Sephora 'Only Gold For Me' topcoat

4. OPI 'Rainbow Connection'

5. The ultimate party dress from Topshop

6. THAT dress that every blogger seems to have

7. My beloved boots once more

Hello, lover

Sigh. I think I'm in love.

Ring - YSL Arty

This just in...

1) I cannot get enough texture in my life at the moment. Velvet, fake fur, sheer, soft wool, sequins. I love it all. All from Topshop. Oops.
2) Paul & Joe lipstick. Shaped like a cat. CATSTICK.
3) Eyeko Fat Balms. I love them. And they taste ridiculously good.
4) Black Milk Tiger Spartans. Coming to an outfit post near you, soon.


I've had the most stressful Monday ever. It probably wasn't helped by too much boozing over the weekend and not enough sleep. So pictures of pretty things are all I can manage today. Posts coming this week: birthday shenanigans, house news and.... a giveaway! I finally managed to hit 100 followers (Lauren was number 100, thanks doll!) so I thought I'd put together a little package of joy for one of you. I'm super excited to show you what I've put together! It'll only be open to followers so be sure to click click click on that follow button over there to the left.

Hope your Mondays were significantly better than mine, my loves x

NYC: There Will Be Shops

I know this is a little late but, finally, let me present to you my New York purchases. At the time I felt like I'd gone a little crazy with the spending but, now I look at the photos, I wish I'd bought more! Warning: This post may get LONG.

I am a sucker for pretty packaging. An absolute sucker. Give me a fancy little bag with some brightly coloured tissue paper peeping out of the top and I don't really care what's inside! Thankfully the contents of these two little treasure troves were even prettier than the exterior. First up... my dream purse! Found in the Betsey Johnson store in Soho. I saw this a couple of days into our trip, talked myself out of buying it and then, predictably, went back on our last afternoon and bought it. But leather, ruffles, hearts, studs and leopard print all in one purse was too good to pass up!

Next? My Sephora purchases. I went a little crazy initially and grabbed armfuls of lotions and potions but came to my senses and eventually settled on a fairly modest selection. Kind of. I'd been coveting the glitter nail varnish for ages after seeing it on various blogs and I'd had the Smashbox mascara recommended to me. Also, the Stila lip glazes were an absolute bargain. So basically everything I bought was completely essential, right?

I've already blogged about one of my Madewell purchases, but what I didn't mention in that post was that I bought two t-shirts, not just the bat one! Naughty Helen. I know there's been quite a lot of criticism of some of the Alexa Chung collection, due to the pricy nature of the t-shirts, in particular. They weren't cheap, I'll give you that but, with the exchange rate, they cost barely more than the price of a top from Topshop. The quality is lovely and the material is so so soft that I could basically live in them. Oh, and the reason I bought the skull top? Because of the phrase on it. It's one of mine and my friends' most overused phrases and I couldn't not buy it.

Finally, a few bits and pieces I picked up along the way...

1) Mirror and ring from the Marc Jacobs special items store on Bleecker. My one shopping disappointment of the trip. Most of the stuff just seemed.... a bit rubbish!
2) Nail varnish and my bling ring from Forever 21
3) Cheap Fashion's Night Out t-shirt and Blair Waldorf-esque earmuffs from Century 21. Cannot wait to wear these bad boys!
4) BEST. PURCHASE. EVER. Piggy Steamer! Bought at the MOMA Design Store
5) Gabby Sidibe on the cover of Elle. Legendary. Bought for hangover Sunday in Central Park
6) Mug and milk glass from Anthropologie. I can't stop buying house things!


I also bought an incredible Reese's ice cream bowl and some more OPI. I honestly don't understand how I didn't have excess baggage on the way home!

What a difference a day makes

This week has been pretty rotten so far.

Remember the house? Yeah, didn't get it. I duly put my (very reasonable) offer in on the Monday morning. Over two weeks later I finally got word that the vendors have withdrawn it from the market. Word to the wise: never try and buy a house from a couple who've split up. The man got cold feet, then got stubborn and then decided to buy the lady out of the house. To say I was gutted yesterday would be an understatement. Full on sobbing, panda eyes, the works. Strange though, as I think I'd forgotten what it feels like to really cry. Not since me and C went our separate ways have I cried so much. A sign of how happy I've been this year I guess.

Work's been mega mega stressful and busy too, which is never great. Plus, I've only got four more days in the office before my New York adventure, so I'm frantically trying to tie up loose ends, get everything done and put plans in place to ensure that things don't turn chaotic in my absence.

Today though, I'm back on form. I bounce back a hell of a lot quicker these days and, thinking about it, there's not really much that can get me down for more than about an hour. The power of positivity envelops me. Rarr!

A pretty package from Upper 5th may have also helped to bring the cheer. I am easily pleased.

I got the Alexa cardigan and the Icicles dress for the bargainous price of £35 for both. I do love a good sale.

Things that are also bringing a smile to my face this week...

• Fresh plums. My parents' garden continues to produce amazing fruit. Love it.
• New York. Obviously. Eight days in my favourite city in the whole world (bar Manchester, obvs). Cannot wait. 
• This photo of me wearing the jeans I wore in New York last year, which barely fitted me then. Woop. 4 stone, 3.5 pounds and counting. 
• These green glitter Bordello shoes. Want. Need.
• Lots of plans for lots of Warehouse Project visits. So excited.
• Topshop Dessert lipstick, my new faux fur leopard print coat (so excited for winter), bright sunshine and crisp mornings, making playlists for New York, finding another house to view (the dream continues!) and... smiling. Smiling makes the world a better place. Fact.

What's making your faces happy this week? Any exciting plans for the weekend?

Objects of Desire: Payday Wishlist

All Topshop apart from New Look velvet blazer

Yes, it's finally that elusive, much awaited day of the month! (well, it will be in three and a half hours anyway)

Floral, velvet, leather, shearling, chiffon. I want all these in my life. Now. Plus clogs, tassels, animal hats, leopard print, buckles and those delicious blue brogues from Office. See also the lumberjack brooch from my beloved Tatty Devine. Want. Need.

Bags, purse, belt - Topshop; Hats - River Island; Shoes - Jeffrey Campbell & Office

Alas, as I'm off to New York in 22 days (hold me), most of these items will have to remain firmly in the realms of wishing. Forever 21 is calling my name and I'm seriously considering taking a half empty case with me in order to do the shopping justice. And to bring back my body weight in Reese's Pieces obviously.

What items are you lusting after for the new season?