Easter Holiday Outfits

I sneaked away for a few days over Easter to a place where there's no wifi and no phone reception. I can highly recommend it although I did have to pay a visit to a local coffee shop a couple of times to read emails and update shop orders! What an amazing week weather-wise...so great to be able to enjoy the Easter holidays with the kids in the big outdoors. But it's back to the routine again from today and I've spent the morning posting out a ton of orders and updating the shop with lots of lovely new jewellery...do check out the new range for summer and let me know what you think. As always, if there's a particular colour way you're looking for, do let me know and I'll do my best to source something for you.

So I've pulled together some photos of what I wore on our week off - another tight capsule wardrobe as my suitcase was largely filled with clothes for the kids and I have to admit that I didn't quite get it right this time with my capsule..so I had no option but to pay a visit to H&M while in Derry! (any excuse, some people would say....)
First up - the visit to Portstewart Strand on arrival...just to blow the cobwebs away..



Rainy Day Mac - c/o Boden
Breton Top - Boden
Jeans - Gap Outlet (similar)
Waterproof Boots - c/o Sorel
Scarf - Neon Squares from my shop
On Easter Sunday, we took a walk down by the coastal path and the kids had great fun collecting shells and throwing stones into the sea..


Gilet - North Face
Jeans - as before
Scarf - New Look (old)
Putty Coloured Jersey Top - Gap (Bowery - not showing online in this colour)
Cross Body - Boden (SS13 - similar)
Trainers - H&M (not showing online)
On Easter Monday, we went on an Easter Egg hunt in Downhill Forest. A great morning organised by the Causeway Coast Vineyard Church. The kids had a ball and it was great to see the forest as we'd driven past it a few times but hadn't stopped before.


On an aside, are your kids doing these loom bracelets too??! Kept my three well entertained all over the holidays. My son had 47 up both arms by the end of the 2 weeks off! This was one he made me to match my outfit.

Coat, Cross Body, Trainers - as before
Jeans - Gok for TU @ Sainsburys (AW12)
Modern Breton - Boden (SS13)
Easter Tuesday and it was a trip to Derry/Londonderry/Stroke City/Maiden City/Legenderry....it's a difficult city to name! And some photos on the famous walls that run around the city centre. It's really a beautiful place - hugely underrated with so much history.
Today saw the debut of my Hush harem pants which I've done a full 360 turn on. LOVE them...they are so comfy and the perfect on-trend alternative to jeans. I will do a full post on them as lots of people asked about how to wear them when I put this photo on Facebook and Instagram. Key for me is the footwear....you've got to get it right or they look dreadful. Post coming up soon!


Loving the Maybelline quick drying nail polish I got in the pound shop in Coleraine! Bargain!!

Harem Trousers - c/o Hush
Denim Jacket - M&S (SS12)
White Top - Dunnes (AW13)
Grey Leopard Scarf - eBay (AW11)
Black Patent Sandals - LK Bennett Outlet (SS13)
Cross Body Bag - as before
Then on Wednesday, we had a visit from Granny so hubby and I were able to escape on our own for a walk in the sunshine. Harems again but this time with a bright coral t-shirt I bought in H&M in Derry the day before. One of my favourite colours and it really lifts the black nicely. You can hopefully see what I mean about harems and footwear...the trainers don't really work as well as sandals..but this was more of a functional outfit as we went for a 2 hour walk!



Harem Trousers, Bag, Denim Jacket, Trainers - as before
Coral Pink T-Shirt - H&M (can't find online)
And I seem to have omitted photographing a couple of days at the end of the break...I think the capsule had worn itself out...just more breton stripes and green coat and denim jacket...you get the gist! So maybe on reflection, the capsule did work ok?
Hope you had a great Easter whatever you got up to!
Ax

Breton, Neon & Leopard

It's the weekend and it's my sister's birthday too - Happy Birthday Siobhan....the leopard shoes are for you!
So on paper, the combination of Breton, Neon & Leopard doesn't sound like it would work so well but when I put this outfit together the other day, it was sublime...love at first sight. And I won't apologise for wearing it lots over the coming weeks and months.

It features my H&M jacket from this post, a new Breton top from Boden (thanks Johnnie for the £15 voucher in my catalogue the other week!), new (to me) Next leopard pumps from my visit to the Deja Vu consignment store and a gorgeous new neon necklace from the shop.

Though I think this outfit would work with any kind of statement necklace - and if you see my new stock in the shop at the moment, I took all the photos with this Breton top on and flip me - everyone needs one in their wardrobe. It literally goes with EVERYTHING!
And my Maison Scotch jeans are back out after a winter rest. I bought them last year in the sale in local boutique Harrison (also online) and they remain my most favourite jeans for fit, shape and denim quality. I can't find the same ones online anymore but you can pick up darker wash fabulous ones in Feather & Stitch here or more distressed like mine but only size 27 (tiny) left in Atterley Road here.

The handbag is one I featured on this post and which I went on a mad race back to M&S the day after I posted about it because I realised I had to have it in my life...lol. It's the most gorgeous leather and big enough for my camera and all the assorted 'stuff' that I find myself carrying around the whole time. A total bargain at less than £40. Sold out online sadly. 

Have a great day! 

Ax

Deja Vu - Consignment Challenge

The style challenge is going a little better this month as I've already visited two local consignment stores and I'm heading to Dublin in a few days to visit another two! First up, it's the turn of Deja Vu on the Lisburn Road in Belfast, where I had the most amazing try on last week. Photo heavy post coming up...I just had to...there was simply tons to try on with lots of amazing labels. Check out their Facebook page to see the latest items coming in and you can contact the girls in the shop via this page also.
First up, I spotted these leopard pumps as soon as I went through the door - with a small heel and virtually unworn, they simply had to be mine and I'll show them off in my next blog post..

I then lusted over this virtually unused Fendi bag...which had just sold via Facebook an hour previously...

It was into the changing room then with a ton of gorgeous things to try on and the owner, Ruth, kept adding to it with bits she thought would suit me. She really knows her stock and is great at knowing what suits your figure.
This Malene Birger jacket was love at first sight - just so beautiful, not a mark on it and at a third of its RRP at £100.

The top I was wearing underneath is also a great item for both day and night - it's by Nicole Fahri and is £36

Next up, this Jigsaw top won me over. It has a boucle detail on the front and a pale pink silk back. It was £38.

I can't remember the brand of this jacket but it's a perfect casual navy tweed style jacket. It was just a bit too big for me on the shoulders.

and this chambray coloured jacket is brand new - Ruth gets in quite a bit of new stock...we're all guilty of items in the wardrobe with labels still attached it would appear..

The top I was wearing underneath is another silk Nicole Fahri number - with navy and neon in it. Gorgeous fit.

Another love item now - this white cotton lace top by Raoule - with a yellow lining and the labels attached. Had to be mine!

This top is fabulous - talk about an optical illusion!

And finally, a couple of occasion dresses. Consignment shops are fantastic for formal occasions and these two dresses would look great at lots of different events. The pink was a little neat and short on me and the green (with labels attached) was a little big but at only £40, it would be worth buying and altering - Ruth knows a great local tailor.


So what came home with me? The Leopard shoes and the Raoul & Jigsaw tops. The Malene Birger jacket was a reluctant no. It's a bit dressy for my day to day and I've vowed to only buy stuff I can wear during the day for the next few months. I've tons of going out clothes!
Impressive first consignment trip I reckon...I really was pleasantly surprised at the quality, labels and prices. Now to see if the other stores I visited can live up to it. Do let me know if you've been consignment shopping too and if you've blogged about it, add the link to your comment!
Ax

The Statement Coat

It's not often I get into Zara but last week I had a meeting in town so I took the opportunity to nip in for a look. I have found Zara a bit hit and miss in recent seasons but there is so much in there at the moment - seriously tempting.
One trend that was noticeable all over the store was the statement coat...and I do love a nice bright statement coat!

Raffia Coat

Pique Coat

Drape Neck Coat

Structured Coat (deeper blue in real life)

And here's the one that I tried on and that about 60 of you urged me to buy when I shared the pictures on social media! I didn't buy at the time but my friend was in the next day and she bought it on my behalf when she saw my size was still there. I'm mulling over it and as my friend is away until after Easter, I don't have to decide just yet.

Coat with Pockets
(yes..that really is the inventive name the Zara team spent hours coming up with!)
Is a statement coat a wise buy for a busy mum's wardrobe? If I pay £100 for a coat, I want to get lots of wear from it but surely if I wear it more than 5 or 6 times on this blog, you're going to get bored of seeing it? And if I wear anything 5 times on the blog, I wear it at least twice as much in real life. Could it be a case of 'here comes Avril in her yellow coat AGAIN'?
But then again, it's one of those iconic Zara pieces that will always be an eBay favourite and I do have two daughters who will probably fight the bit to have a vintage coat like this in 30 years time (a dangerous justification for basically buying anything and everything!) Chrisabella has worn hers loads...just saying :)
So a decision will be made next week! In the meantime, let me know what you think...a beautiful statement piece or something I'll be bored of by September?

Ax

Wardrobe Essential - A Navy Jacket

Happy Easter!
Today's ensemble is all about the navy. So much easier to wear than black, a navy casual jacket will work hard in your wardrobe and this Next jersey one has featured many times on here since I got it last year. This is an outfit from last week (still catching up!) and I wore it to meet up with the lovely Samara from Tinylife - Northern Ireland's premature baby charity. Samara and I have a fabulous event in the early planning stages. All I can say is that if you're local, pencil the 23rd September into your diary. I will tell you more when it's all confirmed!

I wore my navy jacket with a favourite top I got last year in the Fenn Wright Manson sale. It's a mix of blush and navy with tiny yellow flecks in it.

I also wore my Replay distressed denim...though you can see how I chickened out of really distressing them too much. BUT but but...it's early days! There are actually quite a few distressed patches along the front of the legs and these are starting to become more obvious now they've been washed a couple of times. Ok - so you were expecting rips and tears I know...but I bet if you were faced with a gorgeous pair of Replay denim, you'd hesitate a little with your sanding drill too!
Finishing off with my Johnnie B glitter pumps and the Dune navy handbag I showed you on this post.

Jacket - ℅ Next (SS13)
Jeans - ℅ Replay
Top - Fenn Wright Manson (AW12)
Handbag - Dune @ TK Maxx (similar)
Glitter Pumps - Johnnie B @ Boden
A21 Pendant - details on this post

As my Next jacket is past season, I've done a bit of an edit of some current navy jackets that I'm liking the look of...

 Whistles  Boden Oasis Warehouse
Warehouse (total bargain - limited stock!), Linea@House of Fraser, M&S, Hobbs

Any favourites there? Or have you found a gorgeous one anywhere else? Do let me know in the comments. Hope you're having a great Easter weekend,
Ax

Easter Competition from Heatons!

My Easter competition comes courtesy of the team over at Heatons, a local business that I've featured on the blog a few times before.  I was up at their Newtownabbey store a couple of weeks ago and as always, was impressed with the selection.

I was given £50 to spend on a few key items from the spring/summer range and I can tell you, it goes a long way. I was immediately drawn to this lightweight trench which has a navy trim and buttons-to fit perfectly with my navy obsession!

Next, I was very impressed with these black ankle strap sandals. Reminiscent of the Zara ones that became such a hit and have been copied by many brands. What I love most is the chunkier heel. I'm not a fan of spindly heels as I feel so unstable in them. These sandals also have a padded section at the ball of the foot which makes them very easy to wear.


I also got this gorgeous top - which I've featured a couple of times already on the blog. It's a great shape and colour - perfect for spring!

If you like the look of all of that, how about winning £100 or €100 to spend in your local Heatons? Well, if you're based in Ireland, North or South, you could do just that in my Easter giveaway! Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter window below. I'll draw the winner on Sunday the 27th April - just in time for a summer wardrobe refresh. Please note, it's not an online voucher so only enter if you can get to a Heatons store or know someone who can do so on your behalf!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ax