Just mental really.

Forget Mary Portas, for ladies i am the true retail genius. Not in the sense that i love working in retail, as no human should be objected to that chore, but in the sense i can spot a sale twenty miles off, get my elbow out and shove you off so i can whip that size 10 out of your paws. I've closely watched the pattern of the Topshop sale, call me a mental, but honestly i just want to nab a bargain. I even stumbled on the Net-A-Porter sale by accident the night before it launched, causing a twitter frenzy. I even was joking with Yinka about having a 'gut feeling' that even though the main Topshop sale would be going live on Christmas eve, that something would happen today. I woke up randomly at 5am, fuzzy eyes on the iPhone.. a mini preview sale?? Ten minutes later bleary eyed i bought two items i had been lusting at over for weeks (at a more friendlier price!) 

 Geometric Tuni Dress - Topshop (from £65 to £30)

Ever since trying this dress on in Westfield many moons ago, the mothership has been borderline harassing me to purchase this dress. It may not look all that appealing in its product shot, but on its another story. It would look amazing in Spring with tan brogues and black tights. (Spring? what the hell.)

Lace Full Skirt - Topshop (£38 reduced to £20)

Another purchase i had been ummming and ahhing over for achingly long time, its so classic and timeless. I will have to have to find a beautiful black silk blouse to wear with!

Pearl Knit Jumper - H&M (was £14.99 reduced to £7.49)

So whilst i was browsing online at this insane hour of the morning i stopped by H&M to grab some sale bargains that just cam back in stock. I love that H&M do that, they are probably the only store to restock their sale - yes you'll probably receive the order in July sometime but what the heck. This metallic jumper is an absolute bargain, mainly err because it is from the children's section (age 14+) . Yup, guilty as charged. I first saw gazed my eyes upon it with the H&M catalog sent to me, as soon as i saw it i needed it, but age 14, are you kidding me? Why don't make adult sizes? Zara are churning out the same design (albeit slightly bigger) for fifty quid! After trying one on instore (really embarrassing) and finding to my delight it fits in a warped way, and seeing it on a lady at the Mulberry sample sale (i asked her, she look mortified but agreed it twas the same jumper), i feel i have justified its existence in my wardrobe. 

Pleated skirt - H&M (reduced from £14.99 to £7.49)

Basic simple pleated skirt, staple for any wardrobe. Love the shape.

Fine knit scarf - H&M (reduced from £9.99 to £4.99)

I had been in need of a white/cream scarf forever, they are classic and simply go with every coat i own - i literally just keep forgetting to pick on up. 

So there you have it, a very metal blog post at 6.39am. I have a feeling i will read this in a few hours after going back to sleep and realise how bizarre i am, bizarre or not that lace skirt is perfection! Here are some sale start dates for your viewing pleasure (and add some no-nonsense to this post):

Topshop - sale preview now, but main sale starts tomorrow online & instore

Miss Selfridge - same as above

River Island - started online already

Boots - Christmas Day

French Connection - on sale now

Mullberry - Christmas eve online

Net-A-Porter - on sale now

Harvey Nicks -Boxing Day

John Lewis/Liberty/Selfridges/Harrods - 27th Dec

Care to share any others? Also when ever i type the word 'mental' i think of Ronald Weasly, no just me?

Through the wire.

Okay, i may have stooped to all time low - and may have to delete this post after you've had a good read. Please do not judge me on the following, it's simply here to help you. Cringe. 

This post came about after i tweeted about spying on the Topshop item's i wanted to buy in the sale, and Lucy asked how i knew what price's they were going to be reduced to. I work in retail, nothing flash, in-fact my main customers are old ladies - i have acquired several thousand adopted grandmothers during my time working there. Anyway, in the run up to sale, we identify the items that will be going down in the sale prior to it starting, so on the start date we can just gun and ticket. If your really sneaky, you can suss out what items are due to be reduced by looking on the back of the ticket. Not all stores do this mind you, but it's worth knowing. 

Each stores have different ways for writing a discreet code, but most of the time its pretty bloody obvious. Note, i bought this top from Topshop yet, i wrote the code on as an example: reduced to £20.

Have fun ;)

it's a little bit funny, this feeling inside.

Sale shopping can be one hell of an experience, angry, frustrating yet some how fabulous. With the January sales in mind, i thought i write a post. I love a good sale, as many of you are aware. The boxing day sales are amazing, with brands slashing prices completely, with prices making your eyes water thinking, dear god, thank god i didn't buy that before christmas! 

There's also the issue of going way overboard, in terms of price and buying stuff that is completely useless, i once bough a hot pink patent Mulberry bayswater in the sale that was promptly returned the following week realising i hated it and it didn't go with anything i owned (still to this day i do not know what possessed me!). So i thought i would post my thoughts...

• Set a limit of how much you want to spend, it's pointless wasting money you haven't got - what a poor way to start the year!

• Stock up on classic or basic items you know you will wear next season, it's pointless buying a aviator jacket now, a decent classic trench coat will last you forever, as will a pair of winter boots! Good time to stock upon nice knickers and bras too.

• Yet, do experiment and branch out to other styles, in the Topshop sale i often find things i would have never of looked at twice at full price, but knock £10 off and i'll try it on, wham! it could look amazing.

• Now's the time to invest in designer, heels, bags, purses where prices are slashed completely! Although you must have sheer determination to get your mitts on them fast, i saved £500 on my Luella bag, CRAZY. 

The places i eye up in the sale are:

Boots - With all gifts made to half price, it's so hard to resist! Stocking up on bubble bath, hair care and general bits and bobs are amazing. I love the Elle Macpherson range, and it's such as bargain after Christmas. Their sales go live online on Christmas day and in-store Boxing day normally. Of course, it would more sensible to stock up on presents for other people next year, but shish, where's the fun in that? ;)

Topshop - Of course! Sickening, but so, so worth it. This starts in-store on Christmas eve, this i plan to raid with a equally obsessed friend in the morning before work! Dedication.

Net-A-Porter have bloody brilliant sales, stress free. There's no need to elbow that woman for the last pair of size 5's, perfect. However, i must say i've never bitten the bullet to actually buy something, due to the lack of funds, one day. However, there's nothing like heading in-store to Selfridges or Harvey Nicks for the mayhem.

Department Stores - With concessions like Clinique, Benefit and Dior, their seasonal beauty gift sets get quite heavily discounted, perfect opportunity to stock up on the fabulous skin care sets for a reduced price.

Most designers and department stores sales go live on the 26th, see Elle for more dates. 

Sale Wishes

Clinique Moisture Surge Kit

Mulberry Lilly

Elle Macpherson Set

Mui Mui Grey Vitello 

Topshop Embellish V-back blouse, lace jumper, cream strappy crepe dress

Am i the only sale obsessed person? My Topshop is pretty quiet, so it would be rude not to have a little look, especially when i have to work on Christmas eve afternoon! What's your best sale buy and any tips i can steal? I hope i haven't jinxed myself writing this post!

i don't care what you do to them, just be good to me.

guilty little purchase.

Topshop (£18.00)

I actually started all my Christmas shopping in November, and bar the last few bits, i'm done and dusted. But aside from that, i have really been trying to save my left over pennies for the Christmas sales, i've seen many pretty dresses around, but hold back from buying - knowing that they will be reduced in literally a few weeks time. However, the lure of Topshop Saturday lunch break shopping finally got the better of me. I popped in today and noticed they had a few items on offer, hence the above purchase. I has spotted the nudey/pink sequin crop top before, but thirty eight quid, before Christmas, i think not! However roll the price down to £20, and give us 10% off cause i'm a student, thats a deal.

Its sparkly, but not in your face! so perfect for catching up Christmas drinks.

Are you as sale obsessed as i? A friend who i work with, we usually gatecrash the Topshop sale on Christmas Eve when it opens, quite embarrassing, but i've found some pretty amazing finds. Will you be hunting out anything particular in the sale? I've still got my birthday money saved (yeah, i don't know how either) so who knows?