The Inspired and the Mundane

Sometimes you have those days when you feel really inspired and fancy wearing something you haven't thrown together before. Like that jacket with the dress below - oh, and the necklace was new. And sometimes you need to have a fail safe have-worn-it-a-million-times-before combo. Like that black mini with the woolly jumper. The latter days happen more often but they make those other days even more enjoyable. 

(And can I just add that even on new-outfit-days getting dressed has to happen in 5 minutes top.)

Bit of a weird pose: makes me look like I have no waist... Anyway, I love the print on this dress and I'm debuting my new Stella & Dot necklace!

Dress: Topshop

Jacket: Warehouse

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Best pic out of a bad bunch. On the others it looked like I only had one arm. 

(I do like that jumper though, kept me snuggly warm in the drafty office yesterday.) 

Jumper: LaRedoute

Skirt: All Saints

Another mini skirt/warm jumper combo!

Jumper: Boden

Skirt: Topshop

Necklace: Oliver Bonas

7 Rules for Selling on Mulberry Facebook Groups

Hi guys,

Right, I'm way too tired and so behind on this, so I'm gonna make it short and snappy:

If you know my blog, you are probably a member of at least one of the Mulberry selling groups on Facebook - or maybe, like me, of all of them? I love them all, they all have their own personality and style and provide different points of views.

After having been a member of Mulberry Buy and Sell for around a year, Esme (who founded the page) and Victoria asked me to join their admin team. I've now been part of that team for few weeks, the group has grown to over 10,000 members and I thought I'd talk to not just our members but any members of a buying/selling page.

My plan is in the next few weeks to give more guidance around these rules but for now (because of the late- and tiredness) I will leave you with these:

1. Read the Pinned Post.
Make sure you're familiar with the rules around buying, selling and generally using the page. You ask why?! Find out here!

2. Take good pictures.
Whilst you need to make sure you show and declare all your bag's flaws, you want to sell it - so make it look good! Some top tips here!

3. Research price.
Price it too high and it simply won't sell; too low and you will lose out. Some pointers here.

4. Include all charges.
Check in the pinned post you you should show the price. Usually it's an 'all in' price, so make sure you include Paypal fees and postal charges. A quick guide on how to calculate here.

5. Have your Paypal ready.
Paypal is usually the only acceptable payment method on these pages - so if you want to buy or sell: have your account ready.

6. Be around after you post.
Try to be around when your post gets approved as people might comment - and be happy to answer questions.

7. Be nice to admin.
Pretty easy. They want a simple life. Follow the rules, be friendly and patient (yes, that includes, no constant "why hasn't my post been approved yet" messages) and you will find they will help you where ever they can. Annoy them at your own peril.

Are you a member of any of the groups? 

Pattern Party

Another week with patterns... A newish favourite, an older one - and a first timer!

Oh, and little M, who is trying to distract me...

"Mama... Come on and play!" I usually take my pics at the end of the day when I get in, just before I get changed. 

I usually only have a minute or so to do them...

Dress: Boden

Jacket: Warehouse

Boots: Zara

This skirt must be the best "cost per wear" item in my wardrobe! And the shirt isn't doing too bad either... Yep, and the necklace.

Denim Shirt: LaRedoute

Skirt: Boden

Necklace: Marni for H&M

 

Just a few random posts last week but no ootd - yes, I was on holiday. Getting back into the groove now with this new dress. Think it works well with the jacket worn over but I wanted to show that it's sleeveless.

Dress: Oliver Bonas

Top worn underneath: H&M

Jacket: Warehouse

Necklace: Stella & Dot

Mulberry Bicester Stock Check November

A visit to the in-law's house in Oxford usually means a quick hop over to Bicester. And I literally mean hop. The good people of the Mulberry Outlet at Bicester village were watching me with a mix of bewilderment, smiles and raised eyebrows as I whizzed through the store taking pics and notes. 

Tempted: Metallic Mushroom Flats - oh, and the Mini Cara in Oak...
Surprised: Oversized Roxette - Huge!
Bargain: Small Metallic Mirror Pouch £50

The fact that my car broke down as we were leaving is really just another story but from me to you: Make sure you have breakdown cover. Green Flag were fab: Turned up within 72 minutes of calling, fully fixed and on my way home within another hour. Oh, and had they not been able to fix it, I could have had a courtesy car with mine delivered to me within a few days. Thanks to Adam from Greenflag!

Back to the bags and stuff... prices at the bottom of the blog post. 
(Apologies for the total random order - otherwise this is gonna be days before it gets to you!)

 

Jamie
Small Regal Blue, Black, Oxblood, Oak £525
Small Ostrich £825
Regular Regal Blue, Oxblood, Oak £695

Pembridge
Black & Mushroom £695

Cara
Mini Blue Camo £695
Mini Oak (sub) Oxblood (sub) £695
Mini Black £675
Mini Quilted Black, Quilted Steel Blue £695
Mini Rivet Oxblood £1050
Regular Oak, Black, Oxblood £795
Large Black (sub) £840

Alice
Small (all subs) Oxblood, Mushroom, Black £635
Regular £?

Del Rey
Regular Alligator Deer Briwn £7500

Bayswater Double Zip Tote
Small Black (sub) £960

Alexa
Mini Black (sub), Red (sub) £595
Regular Polished Buffalo Black £795

Willow
Small Mixed (eg printed & calf) from £810

Bayswater
Black (sub) £695
Black NVT (MF lined/special purchase) £665

Picadilly 
Oxblood £875
Navy Shrunken Calf £1015

Blossom
Tote from £229

Kensington 
Small £695 
Large £840

Tessie
Tote £415
Hobo £485
Satchel £415

Mitzy 
Tote Oak, Black £350
Messenger Oak, Black £295

Roxette
Small Deep Embossed £765
Small Grey Printed Nubuk £770
Oversized Calfskin & Suede Black £750

Lily
Regular Indigo Smooth Calf (?) (Special Purchase) £350
Regular Small Grain Steel Blue (?) (Special Purchase) £525
Medium Small Grain Steel Blue (?) £695

Daria
Hobo Black, Oak, Mushroom, Oxblood
Satchel Black, Mushroom, Oxblood, Oak

Somerset
Tote Chocolate £385

Jagger
£199

Bayswater Clutch
Various colours £395


Small Leather Goods
Credit card slips from £50
French Purses from £190
Continental Purses from £235
Small PVT Purses from £95
Small Make Up Bags Oak £135, Large £175
Large Flat Pouch Oak £155
Small Mirror Metallic Pouch £50
Small Blossom Zip Purse £112
Cara Rivet Pochette £260 

Scarves
Signature £95
Tamara £115
Aligator Print £125

Found anything you like?

My Mulberry Collection

I'm gonna jump right in: I am so behind on everything and didn't want today pass by without a post - so here is a quick look at my collection, which has been chopping and changing.

On this pic how it looked a few months ago...

...and here what I have now! Ahhh! And I just realised I forgot my Mini Alexa, because I hadn't tidied her away properly!

Enjoy - and let me know what's in your collection?

Three Of a Kind

Last week I promised you a comparison between Mulberry's Roxanne, Rosemary and Blenheim. Whilst the Roxanne is quite big and a bit heavy, the Blenheim is pretty small and does not not always fit all my bits and bobs. I found the Rosemary to be a perfect size for myself - but then I am usually very happy to sit in the middle...

Do you carry lots of stuff or just essentials? Do you mind carrying a heavy handbag or does that not bother you? Which one out of the three would be your favourite?

Accidental Trans-Seasonal Dressing

I just realised that last week was a bit of a "how to wear spring/summer items when it turns cold" week. The Boden skirt was from SS16 and it's a light material with light coloured lining - I was just about to pack it away with the rest of my spring/summer wardrobe. The Versace dress is also a SS item: a very fine knit, probably more designed for milder days and bare legs. And the black dress is actually a sleeveless piece, also SS16.

I have a seemingly endless supply of black long-sleeve tops and opaque tights, so it's really just a matter of layering them with whatever I fancy in the morning. What do you think: yay or nay?

I thought this skirt would have to go into hibernation as I wasn't sure it would go with black tights and winter jumpers, but I think it kinda works...

Top: LaRedoute

Skirt: Boden

Boots: Zara

Necklace: Marni for H&M

Remember how I said that I still have clothes on my wardrobe I don't ever wear? Well, I'm trying to force myself to either wear them or let them go and this dress is one of those items. I think I've had it since 2011 (so pre- little M) and only ever wore it once. Bit booby for the office, even with another top underneath but just about OK. Might be able to justify keeping it.

Dress: Versace

Not sure whether this dress doesn't need any accessories but I was running late and couldn't figure out what to put with it in a rush.

Dress: &OtherStories

The Bag That's Just Right

This one is too small. This one is too big. This one is... just right!

The Mulberry Rosemary sits between the Blenheim and the Roxanne and might be just the right size for my everyday running to work journey.

And not only that - isn't she beautiful?!

Autumn Gold

Autumn is well and truly here and I am digging into my wardrobe, finding some items I had forgotten throughout the summer months. Last weekend I moved my 'purely summer' items into a wardrobe in little M's room. Do you move your seasonal items around or do you have an 'all year round' wardrobe?

I like it when this happens: you pull out an item of clothing and try to find something that works with it - and come across another item that really makes the colour "shine": the rich blue of the skirt (sorry for the poor pic) picks out the floral print and harmonises nicely with the gold on the top. (Spot the wonky door frame next to me - that's what happens if you rush your outfit pic.)
Top: Florence & Fred at Tesco
Longsleeve top worn underneath: &OtherStories
Skirt: Boden
Boots: Zara

I'm sure you've seen this one before - am I running out of ideas..?
Well, the skirt is one of those items I pull out of my wardrobe, when I'm in a rush and I need to feel happy with what I'm wearing that day. How could you not smile with that print?!
Top: H&M
Skirt: Boden
Boots: Zara