My Classics List & Buying Designers

This year has seen me shopping more savvy. Buying less but curating a wardrobe of classics that i love and want to wear now, but can envisage me wanting to wear in years to come.
So my frivolous spending hundreds of pounds on silly, not great quality pieces, that i end up wearing once and are then chucked in to the abyss until i find it on a clear out and it ends up in the charity bag, has come to an end.
I am actually really happy about it.
It does feel strange, as sometimes i wonder if an outfit is 'blog-worthy' as perhaps it isn't the loudest/brightest/most on-trend outfit. But then i give my self a slap and reminder that I now love my wardrobe more than ever, and by buying classic pieces that i love it is an investment in to me and also really saving a lot of waste in the long run.
So the thought of investment pieces got me thinking.
If you could buy anything...

What would your invest pieces be?

Hardly Ever Worn It  stocks some gorgeous designer bags, and at a cut of the cost it really makes designer goods more attainable. Its perfect for picking up those classic designer pieces at a fraction of the cost, which for my clothing budget really, really helps. 
Also hints to the hubby also help..

Its renowned in the celebrity world as the place to go for finding that hard to get designer piece. 
But for me its the reductions. The prices are designer attainable.

I have spent years building up a little wishlist of all the designer items i would want to get.

Much thought has gone in to the classic items that will stay with me for years, and hopefully pass on to my step daughter/grand kids. 

Designer price tag aside, the idea of adding/mixing a little luxury in to an already high street outfit is a great way of adding that little je ne sais quoi to your outfit, or in-fact your wardrobe.

So.. with much thought my items would be:

1. A classic Chanel bag

Starting with the epitome of luxe. Chanel exudes class. The brand is one I greatly admire and i know i would cherish a chanel bag like it were my child.

This would go with everything and is at the very top of my lust list.

2. The classic trench coat

Never ages, never goes out of style, the classic trench is the perfect coat. I always have one in my coat armour, but in all honesty mine has seen better days. 

And lets face it no one does a trench coat quite as well as Burberry.

The plaid lining, the perfect neutral shade and classic cut.  

A must on my Classics list.

3 & 4
A Diane Von Furstenburg Dress and Classic Black heels.

When i first started this blog 4 years ago i had a list similar to this actually. It was on my 'about me' page and after a general ramble about myself i made a list of my lust items. It included a kate spade bag and a DVF dress as two items i would love to acquire. Since then i've had a Kate Spade bag, and also sold a Kate Spade bag (was too small after Neo came along, wish i'd kept it now mind), but the elusive DVF wrap dress is yet to be mine. One day it will be i'm sure.

I find them again, timeless, and perfect for any occasion. Loving this one because i have always loved a good star print, again classic in my eyes.

And to go with the dress, a great pair of heels. Louboutins or Choo's would probably be my shoe weapon of choice here as the classic black pump would be the all time perfect shoe.

5 & 6
A GREAT red bag and a mulberry purse

I don't think i could go through life without a red bag. It just magically brings an outfit together and is perfect with all neutrals for bringing a pop of colour to the party. The one above is a pretty fabulous Mulburry that would effortlessly transform any look.
A mulberry purse would also be a rather lovely addition. I have friends who each have them. The thing I really like about them is how they improve with age. A purse so often gets chucked in and out of our bags that they take quite the beating. The Mulberry purses i have seen age beautifully. The leather softening and wrinkles charmingly adding character and personality to its façade.


My list is quite structured now and has been the same for the past couple of years. I hope to start crossing things off my list as i acquire them (ahem husband, ahem Christmas and birthday fast approaching)

What classics would you buy? 

Do you think i'm missing anything, let me know in the comments if you think there's anything i should add to my Classics list.

Flaunt Your Haunt -Cardiff, you so lovely!

Is there a place where you live that you really love?
As some of you may know i live in the Welsh hills. I'm close to countryside, sea and city which is the perfect spot for exploring. A quick 20 minute drive from my little old home gets me to the Welsh Capital of Cardiff where the shopping is plentiful, the food is varied and there are plenty of nice hotels
There is cultural museums and castles, there's brand new shopping malls and there's a plethora of parks.
So when Travelodge launched the 'Flaunt your Haunt' campaign i was a bit bewildered as to where i would choose. Cardiff is a lovely little growing city with lots going for it, so choosing my favourite was tricky.
But after a lovely day out recently i have a new favourite.
I love to combine days out with places i can take Cassy my puppy. So nice brisk walk with hot drinks, a bit of lunch where pooches are welcome and then a nice walk back is perfect for me.

My haunt starts in Penarth Marina at the barrage, just on the outskirts of the city centre. There is a beautiful fish restaurant here, Custom house, that is stunning, if you're local and looking for nice food i highly recommend it.
Starting at the barrage,which incidentally is one of the largest civil engineering projects in Europe (if that kind of thing impresses you) you wait for it to lower and then you can start your walk across from Penarth Marina to Cardiff Bay.

Cassy and i set off and the walk over is about a mile, mile and a half. Its jogger/cycle/ child and dog friendly. Perfect for the family, nice and flat and long enough for rambunctious little puppies to burn off some energy. The views across the channel are superb and whilst you walk the sea air whips around you feeling fresh and crisp.
Half way through the walk there is a children's play area and a skate park for older adventurous kids.
There's also a lovely little refreshment hut selling hot drinks and food to feed a frenzied family.

Then you reach the lovely Cardiff Bay.
The Bay is filled with water boat rides, a delicious range of restaurants, bars serving cocktails and ice cream stands.
From here you have 'The Armadillo' Which is the Wales Millennium Centre with concerts and west end shows regularly performing, The Doctor Who experience for those Whovian fans, plus the Senedd that houses the National Assembly for Wales.

Top of my list was hot chocolates and waffles with icecream in Cadwaladers looking over the bay, which is perfect as its dog friendly too.

 After filling up on delicious welsh treats, you can then burn off those calories making the nice walk back.

I'm already planning my next day out there possibly this friday, fancy joining me? :)

What do you love where you live? 

Is there anywhere you would like to flaunt from your haunt?

Knitted Dresses (A girls best friend in winter)

Ladies, knit dresses are a girls best friend for winter. Well they're most certainly this girls best friend. But honestly, i can't recommend them enough.
So easy to wear and cosy and warm. like you've just rolled yourself in your duvet and called it an outfit.
I picked this khaki number up in Primark last week and its just the easiest thing to throw on and go.
Because of the length and its actually quite thick( for Primark)  i didn't wear tights, just some nice thick socks and my gorgeous new Steve Madden Biker Boots from Cloggs (which i looovvee by the way, be prepared to see them a whole lot, they're just perfect for going from dog walks to lunch to the school run!), meant i was toasty warm all day.
I was a little unsure about how clingy and figure hugging it would be on, which isn't really my thing- too many lumps and bumps need hiding.
If you're like me and like to hide a multitude of sins under your clothes (food babies, love handles, non-exercised limbs, you get the point) my advice regarding knit dresses is go for a chunky knit. The fine knit close fit dresses can be... well, clingy.
For me the chunkier knit the better the fit.

There are some fantastic options on the market this season, ranging in lengths and a plethora of gorgeous hues.  I'm in love with this one, colour, shape and length look fantastic.

I've been doing some knit dress research:
Take a gander at some of the most wonderful knitted dresses on the market:

I styled mine the simplest but most effective way i knew: Biker jacket, simple jewellery and a dash of leopard print! My favourite!

Speaking of leopard print, these Awesome leopard print bags are now on sale in the store here. I think i've found the perfect size leopard print bag. Plenty big enough for all my crap i carry around each day but can also be an oversized clutch too for a night out. 

Multifunctional bags are quite simply, the best. I have a real thing for nice handbags this year and this is going up there in my top 3!

Outfit Details:
Steve Madden Denmark Boots: c/o Cloggs
Knitted Dress: Primark (similar)
Biker Jacket: New look
The Leopard Print Bag: Yosa
Marble necklace & Earrings
Berry Lip colour

How do you feel about knit dresses? Have you tried one yet this season?

Girls that wear Glasses...

Did you know? 

I am as blind as a bat.

I am a constant contact lens wearer and have been for many years..

I have never enjoyed wearing my glasses, and therefore opted for contact lenses since the age of 18.

But this past week i have had super sore eyes. Sensitive, dry and generally a bit sad. 

Sad eyes indeed.

Probably tiredness related due to the delightful sleep snatcher that is insomnia (damn you insomnia!!) But its gotten to the point where my vanity has been cast aside, the contacts came out and the glasses went on.

Now i say vanity because for me i just feel weird in glasses, they feel almost alien on my face like they shouldn't be there, I put this down to my super old glasses possibly? They just don't sit nicely on my face, making me feel all kinds of awkward.

Which got met thinking...What better way to re-introduce my face to frames? 

Shopping for some nice new designer frames of course. 

Shopping obviously makes everything better.

So where to start? 

Inspiration is needed.

Images via

Taking inspiration from Pintrest  and i'm starting to like what i see. Ladies rocking glasses and looking so damn cool (not sure i'll ever look that cool.. with or without glasses for that matter)

I want to change my mindset of glasses from negative to positive, where i no longer feel like i don't want to wear them but that I will happily don my specs. 

And lets face it my eyes will most definitely thank me for it.

I love the look of these Givency frames, which i think would make wearing glasses more pleasurable for me.

This is where i ask you lovely glasses wearing readers, do you have any excellent glasses advice?

Love your four eyed friend ;)

Rachel xx