Tote's Broke

This morning disaster struck.

On my way to work my gorgeous Zara tan leather tote broke! I mean totes gave up the ghost (can you tell I love a pun?).

Zara Leather Shopper

Now, I'm the first to admit I'm pretty sore on bags (and know that a few of you reading this would say I'm rather sore on my shoulders also... I did BUY that backpack but sometimes it just RUINS an outfit...) but I only bought this on the 16th of March!

Zara, as much as I love you you need to up your game. A £99 bag should not break after a few uses (incidentally, this was another of the three items contained with The Zara Bag of Shame, I'll let you see the third another time).

Anyway, this leaves me in a bit of a pickle. I've found the receipt (thank God or I really would have been totes broke) so should be able to return but do I really want the same bag again if it might just suffer the same fate?! In my heart I really do because it's so pretty... But my head is telling me to be sensible, return it and buy another from somewhere else (clearly listening to my head is something I struggle with).

What if don't find one I like as much before Monday? What if I get another replacement from Zara and then a month into The Challenge it breaks and I'm not allowed to buy an alternative?
So this has got me thinking, perhaps I need to insert another clause into The Rules that takes into consideration extreme circumstances. Should I be allowed to replace essential items if they become damaged, lost or broken? Or is that a cop out? What do you think?

Also, what if something awful happens, like someone voms on me on the tube (please let that never happen... but you never know with norovirus that is going round) or I get stranded somewhere for days and have nothing to wear and nothing to borrow, would I just have to go smelly and deal with it? I hope you all think not...
I've got a rough day ahead of me lugging this broken bag around London. Thanks, Zara.

Over and out.

M x

P.S. I went shopping on Monday and started tackling The List- will tell you all about it when I get a chance.

Kimono Tastic

Zara Japanese Print Kimono
H&M Breton Stripe Top
Topshop Necklace
Primark Taupe Vest (just seen)
Primark Ultra Soft Super Skinny Jeans
Office Nikita Boots

So the AMAZING kimono jacket that I am wearing today was one of three items that lay hidden inside the Zara Bag of Shame that was stashed behind my bed for days and was really the last straw that led me to The Challenge and thus this blog.. Now, don't get me wrong, I really love this jacket BUT I did NOT need it. 

When you have had a little more of a nosey into my treasure trove of a wardrobe you will discover that it has more than its fair share of kimono jackets.  I have such a thing for them, always have.  So now that they are on trend and in all the shops it is a bit annoying because everyone will be wearing them *sigh*  It is also, needless to say, absolute torture because I want them ALL!  They really are a really comfy, yet feminine way of glamming up any outfit.  You can make a real a feature of them by wearing over a solid base, which is great for a night out, or you can go a bit crazy and throw on over another pattern or a stripe for a more fun and laid back vibe, like I did today. I love the way the stripes make this look more casual. I really swear by these kimono bad boys for nights out as I don't really like to wear blazers when dressing up, they can be a bit too austere -I'm all about the floaty goodness!  And you really can wear them over anything. So, yeah, you get the picture: I love kimonos.When I finally get around to The Big Wardrobe Sort Out (oh,yes, that is coming) I will be able to let you know how many I actually have... 

Yes, Emily, I used your room for pics today.
It's a little less cluttered than mine...

A casual camouflage Sunday

Today was a much needed lovely lazy Sunday.  I don't get many of those (you will soon discover that I am a total workaholic as well as a shopaholic).  So I'll have to confess that little thought went into I wore, as I rather relished picking Friday's clothes off of the back of a chair and sticking them on.  But I still really like this outfit, it's casual, comfortable and understated but the little flashes of gold make it feel a bit cheerier and glam it up a bit...

Whoops!  Forgot to take off my specs

Am I ever going to get this photo taking thing? 

Ah, that's better! Just edit out the head...
Zara shirt
Beige sheer T-shirt 
(I got a zillion of these in different colours off ebay from China and they were about £4 each. Bargs. 
Oh, you can still get them! - here you go)
Topshop Necklace
Primark black jeggings
Nikita Boots - Office

I am really going to have to find a better set up for taking these pictures and try to remember to do it daylight. Here is a better picture of the Zara studded camouflage shirt I'm wearing:
  

Zara top (see more studded shirts)

I LOVE this shirt.  I bought it back  in September when I was stocking up for work and it is definitely a purchase I do not regret.  I'm not really a camouflage sort of girl, but I saw this and that thing where I instantly come up with about a thousand outfits happened.  It was £40 which I felt a bit sick about the time but I have got loads of wear out of it already. 

I got it a little big so that I can wear it as a "jacket" over jeans and a t-shirt, like I have done today.  It is equally great over dresses in the same jacket-y guise, especially when you want to dress them down a bit.  Or I can button it and wear it as a modern take on a button down with jeans or a skirt (tucked in, left out, sloppy tucked, sleeves rolled, etc, etc I could go on and on). The green is a neutral and the studs and gold accents make a regular casual-leaning shirt more interesting, modern and dressier so it would be fab with jeans and heels for a night out, although I've yet to actually do that, I must (watch this space)! It looks great against dark or light solids and is the perfect element for pattern mixing, and it's just right when you're travelling or don't know what to wear; you can just throw on and it basically makes an outfit instantly.  

I think you will be seeing A LOT of this baby!

Lots of chat about The Challenge today and also received loads of messages, and phone calls of encouragement so I'm feeling very positive and excited, as well as bloody petrified I won't pull it off because EVERYONE WILL KNOW...  

Spotted a gorgeous red dress in a shop window and DIDN'T EVEN GO IN.  Dead proud. It's ridiculous. Especially because technically I could have bought it because The Challenge doesn't officially start until the 1st. Smug, I am. 

And then, of course, I was linking the stuff above for you guys and  I found these and nearly caved. I mean they are £2.99!  and the yellow, blue and black would be the perfect things to get me through The Challenge over the summer *plans a gazillion worth of outfits in head*  Oh, God.  I feel sick.  I need to go to bed

It's nearly Monday now... *sigh* 

One week until The Challenge REALLY begins...