Wednesday Beauty buys

Superdrug's Bargains!

I do like to give a small gift to my children's teachers at the end of term, but it can get expensive if you are not careful. See my post on Teacher's Gifts here. I popped into Superdrug to look for a hot water bottle to replace the one that leaked all over my bed, but ended up with these instead!

I thought they had a touch of the Orla Kiely about them and I know when I was a teacher I would have really appreciated a simple gift like this. They are tubes of grapefruit,lemon and cassis hand cream in a pretty box. 

The best news was they were only £1.99 each and on a 3 for the price of 2 offer. This was one occasion when I was happy with the multibuy and got 3 teachers gifts for £3.98. 

Ideal.

Outfits

That didn't cost the Earth

As promised when I did my Charity Shop post a while back, here are a few of the items I have had most wear out of, in some outfit pictures.

 I still feel slightly sheepish about putting photos up of myself, but I know I love seeing what  normal, everyday women wear so I'm hoping you feel the same.

 I don't see very tall, vey slim  people walking along the street with flawless, wrinkle free skin and the most perfect hair....ever. I like to see the things I am considering buying on real women with different beautiful looks! I love finding new items of clothes and beauty products modelled by stunning real women. I got the coated jeggings after seeing them on Kat at Does My Bum Look 40 in This and  the L'oreal Hair Oil that has changed my life as recommended by Jenny at Beauty and the Biryani . I am hankering after the Boots from Gap that Susie So So wears so perfectly and I love the way The Small Fabric of My Life puts capsules together . These are my fashion and beauty idols.... check them out!

 I also have no idea how to pose...actually it's the same in each picture and I've realised what I think is a smile is actually a silly smirk. No wonder I get the wrong reaction from people sometimes. I am practising smiling without looking gormless. Oh and I am debuting my new darker hair colour - a caramel brown, albeit very windswept! I'm no model I know - I've earned my wrinkles though years of laughter and pain and I'm kind of fond of them because of it. However many tummy crunches I do, that last bit of jelly belly will not disappear, but it reminds me of those wonderful pregnancy years and the great kids I have been blessed with. Does it really matter? I can still fit in my wedding dress. Thats an achievement I'm proud of after 3 kids!!!

Some of these items are thrifted from Charity stores, some were gifts and some were purchases in sales or with money off somehow. I have realised that I rarely buy anything full price! I love all the codes and vouchers you can find. Never order anything without checking for them first . Style at Any Age does regular posts with them all listed - superb! See my previous post here on my Charity bargains.

H and M skirt (Thrifted)

Toast Skirt (Thrifted)

Russel and Bromley Tan Boots

Fly Wedges 2010

Faith Boots (Thrifted) 

River Island Leather Belt (Thrifted)

Primark scarf

Just back from the school run!

Tucked in!

,

Love these boots - Xmas pressie 2010

I think one of my favourite items of clothing this winter is this little grey skirt from H&M. I got this from the local Hospicare for £4.00 . Such a bargain! It goes with anything, can be smart or casual. I've even worn it over leggings. It is so well made and is lined so hangs beautifully. Best £4.00 I've spent this year! 

What item do you have in your winter wardrobe that you couldn't do without?

Linking up with Not Dead Yet Style.

High End Designers on the High Street

Orla Kiely at Uniqlo.

What are your thoughts on the way we are seeing more of designers such as Orla Kiely bringing a line out in the High Street that is within the price range of the every day shopper? Debenhams have their usual collection of names, plus a few more. Marks and Spencer have enlisted Betty Jackson, Orla Kiely and Sonja Nuttall for their Autograph collection this season and Sophia Kokosalaki  who was really big at London fashion week is collaborating with Top shop.

There are many, many more , I could go on! However, on my recent visit to London I popped into the Uniqlo store on Oxford Street and picked up these two tops from Orla Kiely at Uniqlo....she is obviously spreading her net a little wider than M and S.

A part of me loves to be able to get my hands on a few items such as these for prices under £20 . The dress was £19.99 and the top £14.99, but the cynic in me thinks why do they then feel they can still charge such extortionate rates for similar products that aren't being produced on mass. Is it just exclusivity? An interesting thought. 

We don't have a store locally so I don't think I'll be bumping into someone wearing these in every colourway in the school playground unless online has taken a battering too and all us mums will be standing in line like an Orla Kiely rainbow......