The Mighty Headscarf

Day: 139

Outfit: 141

Outfit No 141
 Dress - Primark (2008)
Leather Belt (knotted)  - Topshop (2010)
Headscarf - New Look (2012)
Pumps - Office (2013)

Today I am wearing a 1940s style red button down shirt dress.  This is its first outing since The Challenge began and I don't really know why because I love it dearly. It is only a cheapy Primark number (yes, I'm guilty again) but I don't think it looks it at all. In fact I originally bought it to wear to my undergrad graduation, back when I was on a shoestring budget and wanted something sophisticated and not too dressy that would be suitable for the ceremony.  

Today, I have styled it up much more casually, with pumps, a belt and a headscarf. I like to knot my waist belts rather than buckle them.  Weird, I know, but I think it adds interest and also means I don't have to worry about the extra length flopping about!

I have been wearing headscarves A LOT recently.  There are a number of reasons for this:

1. They are a fab way of jazzing up the dullest of outfits.  

2. I am currently growing out my hair and wearing a headscarf makes the in-between length a little easier to bear (I am SO close to giving up and chopping it all off again!).  

3. They protect my red locks from the sun's glare, which has been particularly fierce of late.

4.  They help make me feel girlie on the days I find myself pining for my long blonde curls... 

I have spent the last week or so moving into and decorating my first studio base for my freelance voice coaching business. It's been a very exciting and busy time (I'll tell you more about it soon) but a lot my outfits have been rather dull, practical, box lugging, painting and man-with-a-van friendly.  The headscarf has been my saviour, enabling me to add a bit of colour, fun, frivolity and a touch of vintage charm. 

Outfit No 140
Headscarf - New Look (2012)
Top - TK Maax (2013)
Shorts - Primark (2013)
Leggings - New Look (2013)
Pumps - Office (2013)
Jacket - Manchester Northern Quarter Boutique (2009)
Brooch -Greenwich Market (2011)

Outfit No 133
Neon Tee - Primark (2013)
White Vest (just seen) - Primark 2013
Skinny Jeans - Primark
Headscarf - New Look (2012)
Sandals - Topshop (2009)

Outfit No 134
Headscarf - My lovely flatmate, Emma's
T-Shirt - Pull & Bear (2013)

Outfit No 138
Headscarf - New Look (2012)
Top - Primark (2013)
Pleather Skirt - Miss Selfridge (2013)
Phone Cover - Cath Kidston (2012)

Outfit No 126
Headscarf - Charity Shop (2008ish)
Dress - Topshop (2013)
Necklace - Primark

Outfit No 122
Headscarf - Charity Shop
Maxi Dress - H&M (2011)
Black Top - Primark (2013)
Sandals - Office (2009)

Here are some other examples of times I have worn headscarves throughout The Challenge.  I love how many different ways you can wear them! 

Outfit No 120

Outfit No 118

Outfit No 117

Outfit No 91
Headscarf - New Look (2012)
Blouse - eBay (2013)
Skirt - Primar (2013)
Leggings - H&M (2013)

Outfit No 69Headscarf - My friend, Emily's.
Shirt - Topshop (2009)
 

Outfit No 67
Headscarf - New Look
Dress - Dunnes Stores (2009)
Sunglasses - Primark (2009)

Outfit No 47
Headscarf - Charity Shop (2008)
Dress - Topshop (2009)
Sandals - Topshop (2013)

Here's some 'Headscarfspiration': 

 

They really are timeless. No wonder they have become a wardrobe staple for me. I do wish I had more in my collection though...  Perhaps I can make some new ones from off cuts of fabric I have in my stash...hhhhmmm.... watch this space...

Over & Out 

M x

P.S Donations of silk scarves welcome.

The (very stressful) Preparatory Shop Part II (with a side of fur)

I've nearly completed Day Five!  

There have, of course, been a few hairy moments (I'll tell you about those next time).  However, I am very proud to say that I have not purchased any clothes or accessories since The Challenge began on Monday.

Now, I know many of you are thinking, "Bloody Hell, Woman,  it is only Thursday?!" 

But I have been on holiday this week and there is little I love to do more whilst on holiday than shop. And being in the company of my mother does NOT help! Shopping time is bonding time for mother and me (there is a REASON I am the way I am).

Anyway, I have been really good and  haven't bought an item since the weekend when I finished up The Preparatory Shop by ticking my way through the rest of the list:

An evening on eBay (I am going to miss it so much...) had enabled me to tick off numbers 13 (white shirt...I got one with a twist...), 14 (black winter coat) and 15 (plain cardigans) and I had earmarked Saturday for a trip to the High Street to find the rest, as I would be in Belfast having gone to the Biffy Clyro gig at the Odyssey the night before: 

The Gorgeous Simon Neil at said gig (which was pretty amazing).

Jacket - Zara
Fringed Top - Primark
(I have it in white too! :o/
They are just glorious, even tucked in without the fringe, and look super expensive.
I'll get you a better pic soon, I promise)
Bag - TKMaxx
Leggings - Primark

So last Saturday morning I still had the following items to tick off The List:

1. Underwear

3. Tights

4. Black Leggings

6. Slips

9. Some flat pumps

12. Tube tops 

16. Heeled Black Boots 

17. Denim skater skirt 

19. Leather trousers  

20. A couple of Statement Necklaces 

My plan was to head straight to Primark and get the REALLY boring basic things ticked off but, much to the consternation of many of my friends, family and pretty much every ex boyfriend, I have never been one to stick to a plan.  The gorgeous window display of the Cancer Research charity shop on Botanic Ave distracted me and resulted in the (very much non List) purchase of this amazing vintage faux fur coat: 

I know it was naughty but I have been looking for a nice one for so long and at only £20(!) I just couldn't resist.  I've hardly had it off my back since - at least it has given me one reason to be thankful for the ridiculously cold temperatures we have been getting! So pleased that I discovered it before Monday or it would have been a literal furry moment for The Challenge.

And look what I found in the pocket: 

A receipt for Boots Chemists dated 23rd March 1976! How wonderful! - I just love clothes with history.  I wonder who owned it before me, where it has been and what it has seen.  Just think of the stories it could tell! 

Now, this is a faux fur but I think I may well still have bought it had it been real. I know a lot of ladies who have inherited wonderful old genuine furs but never let them see the light of day for fear of being judged. I actually have a gorgeous genuine vintage mink coat that I never wear, but that is because it is far too big for me - I really must see about selling it or getting it altered. Although I would never dream of buying a new fur (those awful videos circulating the internet are more than enough to put me off and I am real animal lover), I really do think it is a sin to let those gorgeous old furs hiding in our attics go to waste. If some poor animal had to die for it once upon a time, we may as well put it to use! What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Anyway, after my slight detour back in time to 1976, I headed to Office to try to get number 9 (ballet pumps) ticked off. My big feet usually make finding flats that don't look like boats rather tricky, so I was expecting this to be a tough tick. However, I got lucky and found the perfect little Leather Phoenix Ballerinas, so picked them up in both nude and black.  These will be a spring/summer staple and I know I will wear them until they fall apart. 

Phoenix Ballerinas

Next up I hit Aldo to see if I could get a nice pair of black heeled boots.  I'm still very attached to my New Look Babies*, but, as I mentioned in my last post, they are nearing the end of their life, so really wanted to find a pair that weren't too dissimilar (with big feet it can be tricky to find a boot that isn't too clumpy but, at the same time, isn't too high or has too skinny a heel). I was really starting to feel the pressure by this point too because I only had about 30 hours to go, had found nothing suitable during my Oxford Street adventure and an extensive Internet search had also turned up nada.  

Aldo Fastrost

Anyway, I spied these beauties and fell for them instantly but they only had them in a size too big (I would have got them only my feet looked ridiculously massive).  I was pretty gutted to discover that I couldn't even order them as they were all sold out in my size. Panic started to set in- would I have to go without?! I really couldn't imagine my wardrobe working without a pair of nice black heeled boots but was determined not to purchase ANYTHING come midnight on the 31st March.... 

It was with that stressed, frustrated and deflated frame of mind that I entered Primark Royal Ave Belfast.

And what a mistake that was.

I hate Primark at the best of times. Now, don't get me wrong, I have plenty of stuff from there, but it can be total and utter mayhem and the low prices always get the better of me - I get carried away and end up standing in the mile long queue for the till, feeling guilty, clammy and laden...

I don't have a clue what made me think that going there on a Saturday afternoon would be anything other than torture. Everything was picked over and they had hardly any of The List items that I was searching for in my size.

I was still legging-less (no. 4), their selection of slips was pretty dire (no. 6) and there wasn't a tube top in sight (no. 12).  

Shopping with a list was nearly enough to put me off shopping for life... but not quite!

I did manage, however, to stock up on bras and knickers (no. 1), tights (no. 3) and got a few gorgeous statement necklaces:

The best discovery of all was this little denim skater skirt (no. 17) for just £10:

I had actually already bought this one in Miss Selfridge for treble the price, but wasn't that happy with the fit on me, as I was between sizes and really would have appreciated an elasticated waist (I do love the pockets though, maybe I'll try to add my own to the Primark number?) I will look forward to returning it. Go Primarni!

Anyway, because my Saturday shopping trip wasn't quite as fruitful as I'd hoped it might have been, I still needed to get my hands on some leggings, in both black and lighter colours (4), the elusive perfect pair of black heeled boots (16), tube tops (12) and, if I was lucky enough, the perfect pair of leather trousers (19) before Monday...and it was already Saturday evening! 

I also was going to need to find a replacement for my broken Zara tote, having finally decided, after much debate, that I had best return the faulty item in exchange for a refund rather than a replacement. 

Therefore, Saturday night was Internet Shopping Night. I clicked to buy some leggings and a gorgeous little faux leather sandy coloured Woven Lady Tote Bag  (at a fraction of the price of the Zara one) from Topshop, more leggings as well as a pair of leather look trousers from H&M (I hope they are The Ones because I'm all out of time if they're not...) and a couple of my staple black tube tops from New Look. 

Woven Lady Tote

Leather Look Trousers

Finally, after A LOT of scouring (and stressing), I managed to find a pair (the last one!) of those Aldo Boots in my size on the House of Fraser website! They are wonderful :)

So I made it! - managed to get pretty much everything off the list (didn't quite get the slip options that I wanted but no biggie). 

Here goes!


M x

* A few of you have professed your love for my New Look Boots. Although they are sold out online, I have seen a few pairs still floating about in the odd store (not in my size unfortunately) but I also came across this when I was doing links for you guys! Win!