Lean times lead to "re-cycling" mania and freebie fun!

It is lean times in this recessionista’s household, especially after my weekend / shopping expedition in London recently. To be honest it was getting me down a little – I was so broke at one point I couldn’t afford to go window shopping, even the bus fare was beyond my wallet’s reach that week!!
“Hmphh!!” I thought to myself one particularly grim Saturday morning “what am I going to do with myself now?!” as I lay on my bed (gosh, I really could do with a lovely new duvet cover, it occurred to me, pink….or purple…..or maybe, no, back to reality!!!) The ever-more bulging doors of my wardrobes loomed over me threateningly. I had been planning a clean out for months now but that is the thing with me – I am an excellent planner but not such a good “do-er”. I have the best of intentions, don’t get me wrong, it is just the executing of them that I fall down on! But bizarrely on that gloomy Saturday morning I was suddenly not merely a woman on a mission to clear out the clutter but more like a woman possessed! Once I started I couldn’t stop!! Every last item was dragged out and laid on the bed. I happily put aside everything that was now too big for me (Hallelujah!!) or was no longer my taste but that was merely the start. The discoveries, oh the discoveries! Dresses I had forgotten about (or, to be quite honest, don’t actually remember ever buying, let alone wearing, ooops!!), trousers which hadn’t fit for years but now snugly skim my hips rather than tightly bulging over them (woohoo!!), long forgotten skirts and I won’t even start on the shoes and handbags or we’ll be here all week!! I was effectively getting a partially new wardrobe for nothing; I couldn’t believe I hadn’t done this before. It was like shopping for free! When I had put everything I was giving to charity into bags I re-hung everything I was keeping, organised by style, then colour (where had this person come from?!?) Gosh, hard work had never been this much fun before. I was having a fabulous time. I even found long forgotten size 12, black skinny jeans - previously dumped, depressingly in the bottom of the wardrobe for being too small - which are now the perfect fit and length! They will be a great match with the green wrap-over cardi I got for an unbelievable €8 in the Clery’s Oasis sale and the £4 Matalan silk t-shirts I got in London earlier in the summer…….and oooh, there is a great M&S Limited Collection grey, ‘go-with-anything’ t-shirt which no longer makes me resemble a pot-bellied pig when I put it on….and then there are the Levi’s Trousers I have never fitted into since I got them as a gift from New York in 2005. I love smart, indigo jeans and these really fit the bill – and it helps that I can now breathe when I wear them. Why did no one ever tell me it was this much fun tidying up?!
So I discovered, quite by accident, that “recycling” old clothes can be lots of fun. I really am very eco-friendly after all, a practical green machine. My tip to you would be to combine your discoveries with more recent purchases and different accessories to look fresh and up-to-date and you will feel like new – I know I do!
As regular readers will be aware I am not only a fashion-lover but a beauty product addict as well. I’ve made some excellent value (sounds better than cheap, girls!) discoveries recently but what is better than getting something for free? September’s “In Style” magazine is giving away two free Body Shop Eye Definer pencils worth over €15! (www.thebodyshop.co.uk) Each copy of the magazine comes with a black eye definer and either a turquoise, green or metallic silver highlighter. They are super soft kohl so they don’t drag on your skin and you get them for the price of a magazine. (www.instyle.co.uk) I personally think too many of us play it safe with make-up, sticking to the one routine regardless of night or day, outfit or occasion. Where is the fun in that, girls? Play with colour – be it that of your eyes or your dress and make the most of yourself. Stand out from the crowd and look glam and gorgeous. Even the teeniest of budgets can indulge in some colour – Barry M Dazzle Dust eye colours come in a rainbow of colours to suit every taste and with excellent pigments are excellent value for just €6.99 a pop. (www.barrym.co.uk) Or for an even tighter budget 2True (available at Superdrug www.superdrug.com) will get you three similar products for just €7.50 or €2.99 each (by the way, their foundation is my new obsession, I love it!). The colour selection isn’t as wide but is still pretty good so you should find something you like.
Back to the freebies though! The current edition of Marie Claire is giving away a 100ml sample of James Brown’s new “Intensive Mask for Hair”. It smells delicious, covers your hair easily and leaves it super soft and silky smooth. I loved it – and more so cos it was free!! And by the way, we are not talking about James Brown of “Sex Machine” fame but rather Kate Mosses stylist and best friend so your hair will be in the best, most fashionable company if you get your hands on this freebie! (www.jamesbrownlondon.com / www.marieclaire.co.uk)
So ladies, if you love fashion and beauty but your credit card isn’t quite as flexible a friend as it used be, fret not. Be creative, re-cycle and keep your eyes peeled for freebies. You will be surprised at the sense of achievement you feel when you do and what little cash you do have can go on a night out in one of your “re-cycled” outfits and with super-glossy hair “styled by Kate Mosses best mate, don’t you know!”

London's Calling…..and I’ve Had The Time of My Life!!

It was with anticipation, great excitement and a tighter than usual budget that I set off for London last weekend with my friend and fellow super-shopper Lynn. We were intent on having three days of fun, fashion and food – not to mention endless analysis of our love lives. All that would be more than enough to keep us going for three days….

We hit the ground running with a trip round the greatly improved ‘duty free’ area in Dublin airport. There is an excellent range of goods on offer there and I was very proud of my will power when, despite the presence of a full Benefit Cosmetics counter amongst others, I restricted myself to a single purchase of Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner in the gorgeous, bright Fuchsia with the added bonus of SPF15 for just €14.80. That was the sum total of my shopping on Friday as we were delayed in Dublin and then caught in the air for almost two hours when we missed our landing slot at Heathrow. Relieved to finally land we rushed to the Tube station where our first mishap awaited. As we queued for Lynn’s ticket the man in front asked the station guard how much a ticket for his child would be – and the guard pointed to me and asked was I the child!! Now at 33 I am happy to look a little younger than my years but the age limit for kids tickets is 12 so I think that is taking it a bit far!!

On Saturday we hit Oxford and Regent Streets for a few hours. Uniqlo is a great Japanese chain which I believe has yet to reach the Irish shores. It sells excellent basics, particularly in jersey and denim. I got two jersey skirts – a red one for £14.99 and a purple one for £9.99 - along with a cosy purple hoodie for a tenner. As you will probably know by now, I am a big fan of colour and Uniqlo steals my heart on this one – most items come in a great range of vibrant colours so you have loads to choose from (my sister has already picked up a pink version on the hoodie for me since I love it so much!)

Next stop was the fashion mecca that is Topshop Oxford Circus. If you have not been there, then all I can say is - go! It is huge with an entire floor dedicated solely to accessories. I was very good and, despite my urge to have a supermarket sweep style clearout of the store, only bought some great Barry M make-up (a gorgeous silver dazzle dust for my eyes and neon pink nail polish to match the outfit I was wearing that evening!) and a lovely purple Fair Trade necklace for a fiver. I was trying so hard to be good and only buy things I really, really loved. With such limited funds I was determined not to waste a penny. The necklace seemed like such a bargain I couldn’t resist it but sadly the reason for its knock-down price became apparent the next day when it turned my neck and chest bright purple when the paint wore off it and on to me. Not a good look at all!

As we were meeting my old flatmates on Saturday afternoon we cut our shopping spree short and headed to the pub. It was such a lovely day – 13 years had gone by since we lived together but it felt like yesterday as we chatted about old crushes, drunken nights and dodgy fashions of the nineties. Lynn and I followed that by getting glammed up and going to “Dirty Dancing the Musical” in the Aldwych Theatre – a perfect girlie night out. Lynn, a virgin to musical theatre, saw a new side to me and I think she was stunned as I screamed and sang my way through the whole show, even leading a few rounds of applause along the way.

A late (and somewhat disastrous) dinner and drinks til 3am were never going to stop us shopping again on Sunday and we were in Covent Garden by midday. This was the day I really found my shopping groove and got some fabulous bargains which I was thrilled with. We started in the market where I picked up some lovely silver jewellery and nice little gifts. After that we moved onto the shops and in Oasis I discovered a lovely – and utterly me – candy pink handbag. I loved it on sight since it was large enough to carry the enormous amount of bits and pieces I carry everywhere but isn’t so huge it either looks ridiculous or drags on the ground (one of the perils of barely scraping five feet tall!!) At £35 (€49) it was more than I wanted pay but I was in luck – it was reduced to £25 with a further 20% off that day bringing it to just £20. Then I spotted neon pink bangles for just under a fiver as I left the shop so I got them too! I left Oasis feeling it was my lucky shopping day and was right. I walked straight into Marks and Spencer and the very first thing I saw as I came up the escalator to womenswear was a strawberry, halter neck jersey dress I have been eyeing up for ages in Dublin. At €59 and being something I would only wear to an occasion I couldn’t justify that much for it but being on sale that day for a mere £15 meant I didn’t need to justify it at all!! I grabbed it into my greedy little mitts and ran for the till with great glee quicker than Linford Christie could have at his peak. I was thrilled with my purchases and just couldn’t believe when my fabulous sister approached me with a super-shiny red-patent tote-bag in her hand. Actually, she had two in her hand, one for each of us. We had both been admiring them for weeks but again, they were over-budget. Once more my luck was in as they were also reduced to £15. Back up to the till I went before anyone could point out that I am not exactly short of red handbags (they just aren’t as lovely and shiny and gorgeous as this one though I would have explained if they had tried!)

My next port of call was Gap. I wanted a good pair of trousers which I could dress up or down and got the perfect pair. Slim cut, dark green chinos they are a perfect fit and incredibly flattering if I do say so myself! I find it hard to get trousers that flatter me since I am an odd shape (who isn’t? we ask ourselves!) so I was doubly delighted to get these and more than happy to pay £29.50 for them. That is expensive for me but they are worth every penny as you can really see they are cut well.

“Sale” has always been one of my favourite words and I really felt the benefit of it on this trip. Virtually every shop had major reductions across a wide range of stock (not just old tat like in some sales). That was a major bonus on top of London being one of my favourite cities. The melting pot of cultures, the freedom to be whoever and however you want to be, the fashion, the food, the family and friends. For me it is a pure recipe for fun, fun, fun! This visit, going with a fellow shopper, staying in a fabulous, central hotel (Charing Cross Hotel / http://www.laterooms.com/) and combining family, friends, fashion and culture made for a truly memorable weekend – one which I will treasure in my memory for years to come and think of often as I strut down the street, candy pink bag over my arm humming to myself “I’ve Had The Time Of My Life!”

Budget-conscious bargains and the perfect lippie!

Times have been tough for this fashionista of late and but that doesn’t mean life has been no fun or a totally shopping-free zone! I’ve been having lots of budget-conscious fun (a contradiction of terms I would have once said, but no more!) Sadly, though, I have been remiss in keeping you up-to-date with my purse-friendly purchases while I have been in the midst of all this fun. Sorry girls but I’ll just have to focus the mind on blogging as much as I do shopping from now on, promise!! (It costs nothing after all, which is a major bonus!)

I have realised that no matter how broke I am a) I can’t live happily without the thrill of the till (shallow, I know, but true nonetheless!) and b) there are always fabulous bargains available to suit the teeniest of budgets.

I was in London a couple of months ago and found some fantastic bargains at knock-down prices. Matalan is a European high street chain which, as far I know, is yet to reach the Irish shores, but they have a sale shop in Wood Green, North London, near where my sister lives and I found some fabulous tops there at unbelievable prices. I got two beautiful ruched neck satin tops, one black and one lavender, for £4 each and a super, and very now, blue, grey and white graphic print sleeveless top for just a fiver. They are all good quality and go brilliantly with skinny jeans or denim skirts. I feel stylish and cool in them and just need to throw on a little jacket and some wedges (neither of which are is short supply in my bulging wardrobe!) and I am good to go for lunch with the girls or a few drinks in the pub. I love the simplicity of outfits like that which you can just throw on and forget about.

Speaking of wedges I bought a lovely and super-comfy pair in Marks & Spencer a few weeks back. At €27 they were at the expensive end of my shopping budget these days and a real treat but so worth it. I have lived in them for weeks now. The thing is Marks and Spencers shoes come in a 35½ which is a perfect fit for me so each summer I invest in a pair of their sandals and then inevitably live in them for the whole season. No change this year then! The sandals are silver with a strap across the ankle and 2 inch wedges. Totally gorgeous and metallics are so ideal for going with loads of colours that I have got endless wear out of them – something that is more and more important when I have less and less money to spend these days!! (On a final M&S note, I noticed with pleasure that they have improved their sterling to euro exchange rate too which was another bonus.)

I got a great surprise a few days after buying the shoes when I was passing time in Penneys before meeting a friend and found a silvery grey scarf on sale for a euro. Apart from the fact that it picks up the colour of the shoes, it is ideal for keeping me cosy on those ‘summer’ nights which suddenly turn chilly!

Speaking of Penneys, special mention has to go to a gorgeous petrol / turquoise dress I got for just €15 about six weeks ago. It is simple jersey to the knee with just a scoop neck and incredibly flattering. I paired it with a wide red belt, t-bar, round toe red shoes (I call them my Minnie Mouse shoes!) and a pile of red bangles. I wore it out one night when I really wanted to feel good and it succeeded in making me feel fantastic.

So you can see over the last few months, despite my financial woes, I have managed to squeeze in a few shopping sprees but in really lean times the budget just won’t stretch to clothes or, particularly, shoes sometimes. I have written before about the joy of cosmetics purchases in times of financial strain. A little lippie can go a long way towards making a girl feel better and it costs relatively little. I recently discovered a great new range by Revlon called ColorStay Ultimate Lipcolour. I have been on the search for my perfect red lipstick for what seems like forever and saw an ad in a magazine featuring the actress Jennifer Connelly wearing the shade Top Tomato. She has similar colouring to me so I decided to try it out and fell in love. The perfect texture and the perfect colour. Hey, who needs a man when you have the perfect lippie? Mind you, with this product I could kiss a man all night and still have perfect lippie afterwards so it seems a shame I don’t have someone to kiss! Anyway, it goes on like a gloss but dries to a moisturising lipstick and lasts for hours. At €13.05 it isn’t the cheapest brand on the market but you won’t need to re-apply it every time you nip to the loo when you’re at dinner or in the pub – it genuinely does survive eating and drinking – and I think it is worth every cent. There is a good range of colours too. I have the lovely ‘Premium Pink’ which brings a ‘pop’ of colour to my face in the day time and the aforementioned ‘Top Tomato’ which is a great night shade (or for when I am feeling brave in the day time!)

Some things never change of course. However much I tell myself I a now a recessionista and am just fine living on a budget and (ahem!) am enjoying the challenge of it even, the truth is there is still part of me that longs for the high life. Thankfully, I have a wonderful sister who can facilitate that wonderfully. My gorgeous sister Nici got me a Burberry Prorsum bag as a present and gave it to me on my recent visit to London. It is beyond lovely. Mushroom-coloured leather with a cross-body strap and two short handles it is the softest leather I have ever touched. Roomy enough to hold the ridiculous amount of stuff I carry with me but compact enough that I don’t look like I am carrying the kitchen sink everywhere I go it is my perfect bag. My fabulous sister hits a style home run yet again. Thanks sis!

A welcome mini-break from the recessionista life!

That infamous bad girl, Mae West, once said ‘Good girls keep a diary bad girls don’t have the time.’ Well, that’s my excuse for not blogging recently – I have been too busy being a bold girl and shopping when I shouldn’t be! Ah, not really, thanks to my fabulous friend Lynn I have managed to enjoy a mini-break from being a recessionista and indulge my love of shopping just a wee bit.

Lynn, God bless her, lost the gift vouchers she got for my birthday last year and only found them recently. A belated present is always fun because it is unexpected and personally I think it was meant to be – they proved the perfect pick-me-up at a tough time when I really needed a lift. And so it was with great glee that I set out on a shopping spree over the Easter weekend. I have recently discovered the joys of the Arnotts fashion department and wandered there for ages trying to decide which items took my fancy most. I am definitely feeling a girlie vibe for Summer so I knew I wanted either a skirt or dress. I fell in love at first sight with a Miss Selfridge skirt which was just fabulous. Blue is rapidly becoming my colour of the season and it was a beautiful sky blue shade with a green, pink and white floral pattern (florals are big for Summer) and a cute bow on the waist. I just loved it on sight. Unfortunately, while the mannequin had a tummy that was practically concave I most certainly do not and when I tried it on the bow only served to accentuate that fact. I ended up looking like I had eaten a whole white sliced pan of bread! I spend my life dressing to make my middle look smaller but my tummy looked twice its normal size in this skirt so I ruled that out quick sharp! Next on my wish-list was a gorgeous (also blue!) jersey dress from Mango. Mango’s range this season is fantastic and their dresses are just adorable. I want them all! I ruled out two strapless ones on the basis I wouldn’t get enough wear out of them (must be becoming more practical as I age!) and chose the blue one as my favourite. It is sleeveless with small frills on the shoulders running down into a v-neck and empire line. I loved it the second I put it on and just know I will live in it regardless of what our crazy weather may hold this Summer. I feel cute and girlie in it and, as is the case with many dresses that I love, I know I can just throw it on and feel fantastic on fat (very common) or thin (rather less common!) days. For 35 euros you can’t complain about that!

Strangely, despite its ability to make my stomach appear to swell to twice its actual size, the skirt with the bow really appealed to the girlie girl in me. So, when I saw another one in Awear with a bow I couldn’t resist it and even more so when I discovered it was reduced from 36 euros to 10! Material and the cut of clothes make all the difference and this one was a totally different story when I tried it on. The bow is cut so it falls the length of the skirt to the knee which makes it far more flattering for shorty like me and it is heavier material and is plain navy with just red piping on the bow which are both far more forgiving on my tummy. Hurrah, I loved it straight away. The first day I wore it I felt incredibly good in with just a white T and red shoes. Simple but cute, I thought to myself until I met my mate Laura whose reaction was ‘You look like a sailor!’ Hmm, the nautical look might be in but that wasn’t quite what I was aiming for!

It was so lovely having the vouchers and being able to shop guilt-free for once so a big thanks go to Lynn. She is a fashionista like me. Never have I known anyone to accessorise like she can. The girl has style oozing out of her. Thankfully, we have similar taste in lots of things and she can spot a mile off something that I will love. Just as well because, as you may remember from a few weeks ago, I was on the hunt for a bag to match my outfit for a wedding I was going to last week. On a recent trip to New York Lynn spotted a bag she knew I would adore and got it for me. It is a red, patent clutch with a little flower on it – so me and totally gorgeous. It was a perfect match for the outfit and just what I was searching for. I got lots of compliments at the wedding, which is always nice. That girl has some kind of inner homing device when it comes to stylish accessories, she can sense them at twenty paces and thankfully on this occasion I was the beneficiary!

Sadly, my break from being a recessionista is over now and I am back to being voucherless and broke. Still, I have some cute new things to see me through for the time being and far better than that, I have a stylish friend to have fun with and that costs nothing!

Eyes opened by little luxuries...

My name is Jules and I am a shopaholic. I admit it. I shop when I am happy and I shop when I am sad. I shop when I am doing ok money-wise (an ever-rarer occurence these days!) and I shop when I know I shouldn't but I just can't resist that gorgeous new pink handbag (even if it means just pasta for dinner five days in a row until pay day!) Nothing gives me a thrill like the ring of the till!! Sadly, in these tough times the good feeling is ever more quickly replaced by feelings of guilt and worry though. Fashion might be my passion but a girl has got to keep a roof over her head so the bills have to be paid. Mr. Mortgage comes knocking once a month and he really doesn't care how fabulous my new Mary Janes look with my skinny jeans. He's really very inconsiderate and has absolutely no fashion savvy!

Yes, in these recessionary times my financial reality bites. I want to look and feel fashionable, fabulous and funky but on my new budget I have had to make major changes and have unwittingly become part of a new phenomenon known as the "lipstick factor". In tough times like now sales of small luxuries like lipsticks and nail polishes soar. People on limited budgets still want to treat themselves, still want to look good and, like me, still love the thrill of the till. But where once fabulous new shoes made us walk tall - literally and in spirit - now we are relying on a slick of new lippie or an at home manicure to boost our mood. Only in my worst of financial weeks could I feel guilty for spending seven euros on the Rimmel products I am so fond of. They are cheap and cheerful and I love the vast range of colours and products you can choose from. My sister calls me to queen of lotions and potions for my love of face and body products and Rimmel prices allow me indulge this passion even in my present capacity as a recessionista. The range of nail polishes is unbelievable and I love their new PRO selection. The style of brush means you need just one stroke per nail which means no clumping. I've treated myself to three colours already and the "Urban Purple" is a gorgeous raspberry which is ideal for this transitional time of year. They are little pick-me-ups that keep this shopaholic going!

When I first had to reign in my spending I thought my style would become restricted but in fact being strapped for cash has forced me to be more imaginative and opened my eyes to new possibilities. I have invested in new colour options in make up and ended up with a new found confidence. I love red lips now, something I never thought I would be brave enough to try but I took the risk and now love them! Also, since I can rarely afford my beloved shoes, bags or jeans these days I have discovered the joy of accessorising. A simple brightly coloured scarf - a fiver from Penneys - can lift a whole outfit out of the doldrums of being too plain and instantly add some funkiness to it.

I never thought I'd see the day but I am quite enjoying this challenge of looking good on a supertight budget. I really value what I do buy and I can relax (in my red lippie, polish and lovely scarves) knowing that when Mr. Mortgage comes knocking each month my bank account will be able to welcome him in!

Wedding worries bring on recession depression...but low budget doesn't mean no style!

I was thrilled recently to receive an invitation to my friends Jess and Dan’s wedding. After all, there is no better excuse to get glammed up than a glamorous wedding and trust me this will be one stylish affair. Unfortunately though, reality and a touch of the recession depressions hit almost immediately. Looking my best for a wedding has never come cheap in the past but times have changed - this fashionista’s wallet is a lot smaller these days and contains a much less ‘flexible friend’.

For anyone on tight budgets the most sensible (ooh how that word grates, but it makes sense in these times!) option is to bring out a previously worn (fabulous!) outfit and wear that. I feel people worry far too much about being seen in the same outfit twice. Firstly, if you look and feel fab in something, why not get lots of wear out of it?! Secondly and crucially though, with the right accessories you can effectively have endless outfits in one. Change the colour and / or style of accessories and you can go from classic and simple to fashion-forward and funky with an investment of just a few euros if spent the right way. People will be admiring your styling skills rather than sniping at you re-cycling an outfit!

Now, happily, I have lost quite a lot of weight recently which I am thrilled about. That meant however that none of my previous wedding outfits could be re-cycled. I worked out, to my horror, the maximum I could possibly stretch to for the entire wedding outfit was one hundred euro which I figured would be no mean feat by any stretch of the imagination. The first thing I decided was that the only way I could possibly manage this was to pick an outfit that could be worked around shoes I already had as they would eat far too much into such a little budget. Now shoes are not something I am short of – addiction is a word that springs to mind when it comes to footwear and this girl! – so I had plenty to choose from. I had a couple of favourites in mind that still look new, particularly a scarlet red pair of Mary Janes I love which have a diagonal strap and little bow on the clasp. Absolute beauties, I call them my Dorothy shoes. And so the search was on the find something complimentary. It turned out the search was easier than I expected. I went to Dundrum Town Centre, with its abundance of high street shops, and had a good look around. And suddenly there it was, right in front of me. It was love at first sight. It was a fabulous cornflower blue dress from Mango which has a V at the front and is gathered down the entire length of the front from there. Simple and stunning. My main concern was that, being unforgiving shiny jersey material might not do me any favours but that is where the magic of magic knickers et al comes in. Every fashionista who knows her stuff knows that when in doubt about wobbly bits, you enlist the help of your trusty ‘suck it all in til you can’t breathe’ undies!! They more than do the trick and I love the dress on and feel really comfortable in it, which is so important on a long day like a wedding.

The dress set me back sixty euros, leaving forty for all accessories. I am a huge fan of colour and loved the idea of the red shoes with the blue dress. My gorgeously stylish mum is a bright ray of sunshine both in terms of personality and style. I grew up looking at her in beautifully co-ordinated brightly coloured but tasteful outfits and that has stayed with me and she continues to inspire me today. And so I decided to wear my Dorothy shoes and go for red accessories. The search was on! I turned to EBay in the hope of finding something unusual but inexpensive. I wanted a necklace that would sit in the V of the dress and ear-rings to match so I put in a search in the jewellery section under ‘sets’ for the colour red. I trawled through item after item and there were some gorgeous things that I loved but shipping costs from China or the US meant they would be too expensive. Eventually though I found exactly what I wanted from a seller in the UK. A fantastic silver and red necklace and ear-ring set with a very unusual, funky design that I think will lift the simplicity of the dress. Best of all it cost just 16.49 including delivery! Next on the list was a cover-up for inside the church and while we’ll be outside for photos etc. The wedding is in mid-April so I am hoping that the weather will be warmish and dry (for the bride’s sake far more than mine!!) On that basis I decided a simple pashmina was the way to go and was delighted to find one for just 14.84. I was worried what the quality would be given how cheap it was, but the seller had 99.98% approval rating from several thousand sales so I took a chance, and it was well worth it. I don’t know how but it is super-soft and gorgeous. I am thrilled! I have yet to find a bag but the hunt is in full swing and I am sure it is out there somewhere just waiting for me to dance around it all night at the wedding!!

There is no doubt weddings are an expensive business but they can be done on a budget and you can look just as fabulous as you would if you spent a fortune. I really think accessorising is key because when you buy from the high street you always run the risk of someone else at the wedding having the same dress. Accessorising will ensure you put your own mark on the outfit and set you apart from anyone else.

So my touch of the recession depressions have lifted and I am really happy with the outfit I have bought. I feel good in the dress because I think it makes the most of my size and shape and I won’t feel guilty wearing it, worrying how much it cost. Instead, I will happily be dancing the night away knowing I feel good and Mr. Visa is happy too.

Life as a recessionista isn't so bad at all!!

I have the heart and soul of a fashionista but the wallet of a recessionista. Depressing? A little maybe. It got to me for a while until I realised there is fabulous style and beauty out there to suit all budgets, you just need to open your eyes and know how to work it.

Shopping is my therapy, shopping is my cardio exercise, shopping is balm for my broken heart. Dresses, jeans, handbags, I just can’t get enough of them – and don’t even get me started on shoes! The thing is, these days, none of them have to be (or can be) expensive and I get as much of a kick out of buying them, wearing them and, most of all, getting complimented on them. You see that is the funny thing, I know many people who would be horrified to know the entire cost of my outfit today comes to barely seventy euros including gorgeous handbag but if they set foot in the shops I do they would know style can come at any cost. Some of the most comfortable, not to mention cutest, ballet flats I own cost a massive six euros – I ended up buying four pairs in different colours! I would say mix and match from different shops, it really makes a difference to making an outfit look more expensive and accessorise, accessorise, accessorise. Shopping in the main chain stores will mean others inevitably have the same clothes as you so accessorising is what will make you look individual and set you apart from the crowd as having your own personal style. You can pick up great stuff for bargain prices these days and it will make all the difference to your look.

Similarly with beauty, you don’t have to win the lotto to look good (although I am going to keep trying!) My sister calls me the queen of lotions and potions because I love trying new foundations, glosses, shadows, you name it. I couldn’t afford to do that with premium brands but joyfully do it with the more mainstream ones. This morning I was struggling to function normally before work and so had a “natural, matte, no effort, no maintenance” vibe going on. Roll on the long-lasting, 16 hour foundation, gorgeous chocolate flavoured lip-gloss and a teeny bit of pink blusher. Come Saturday though I’ll be glamming it up with the dewy foundation that somehow makes me look like I have slept for a week, the indispensable Barry M pigments that add endless options to my make-up box (yes, box, not bag!!) and the super-duper Masterpiece mascara that makes my eyes give Bambi a run for her money! Ah, the endless options, the endless looks - and all for a few quid.
Life as a recessionista isn’t so bad at all!