Clothing Haul | A/W Monochrome Purchases

My mum and sister came to visit me at my new flat in Manchester recently and it was only natural that we went and did a spot of shopping in the city centre. I'm still trying to work out where everything is between working full time and blogging so it was nice to get out and explore the shops for the afternoon! I'm pretty skint at the moment and homeware/getting things in order at my new place have been my main priority but I couldn't resist a couple of things and my mum very kindly bought my sister and I to some bits too! As you can probably guess from the title of this post, there's a definite monochrome theme going on - I do love a bit of black, grey and white in the A/w months!

New Look Dotty Shell Top

I went shopping with the intention to buy a top I could wear with my new leather mini skirt (more on that in another post) and a black blazer for The Saturdays concert I recently attended. I spotted this cute monochrome high-neck top in New Look and really loved the print. Its kind of zig-zag stripes which I thought was quite unusual and I love that it has a cool sixties vibe! If you follow me on Instagram (@kayleighjcouture), you'll have probably seen a photo of me wearing this!

H&M Fluffy Cardigan

My boyfriend laughed when I tried this fluffy cardigan on and said I looked like a penguin but penguin esque or not, its so damn warm and cosy. When the cold weather rolls around, having fluffy jumpers or cosy cardigans on standby is essential. Plus, penguins are cute right? I'm sure I can make it work!

Topshop Ripped Leigh Jeans

I normally find Topshop jeans so small that I just don't bother buying them. Having to go up a size because their jeans don't cater for girls like me with hips and a butt makes me feel self conscious and that's the last thing I want to feel when out buying new clothes! However, my younger sister is a bit Topshop mad at the moment so she dragged me in with her. I've been wanting to get some new black skinny jeans ready for the A/W months for a while now so when I spotted these ripped Leigh jeans, I decided to try them on, regardless of the annoying sizing! When I tried them on I was pleasantly surprised to find that they were a perfect fit, in my usual size. They looked so great that I had to buy them there and then, despite being pretty skint at the moment!

H&M Knitted Cardigan

Most items of clothing that are totally boring and uninteresting are the ones we wear the most. Take vest tops, jeans or plain t shirts for example. None of them are particularly exciting items but wardrobe staples all the same. That's how I feel about this black over sized cardigan from H&M. Its nothing to look at but its one of those pieces that finishes an outfit off perfectly. Another A/W staple, check!

H&M Checked Shirt

Tartan is set to be big again this A/W so when I spotted this cute black, grey and white checked shirt in H&M, it had to be mine. I've already worn the hell out of this - its been worn twice this week alone! I absolutely love wearing it open over a vest top and pair of skinny jeans and its definitely going to be an A/W favourite!

Have you been stocking up on A/W essentials lately? Are you a fan of monochrome?

Lots of love,

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Fashion Haul // New Look, Topshop, Zara & More ...

Hi everyone! So if you hadn't already guessed by the title of this post, I did it again, I went shopping. Admittedly I didn't buy this lot all at once but I still bought it all none-the-less, how naughty of me. The worst part is - this isn't everything. I've got another couple of hauls coming up in the next couple of weeks too. I sure as heck hope you like haul posts! Anyway, before I start feeling guilty about my uncontrollable spending habits, let me tell you how pretty all of these things are and why I bought them, because that justifies it, right?

Necklace - New Look // Bangle - Primark

I was browsing around New Look recently when I noticed they had a buy one get one free offer on ALL of their jewellery. Not one to turn down a bargain like this, I decided to buy myself another chunky necklace that I didn't really need. Seriously, I dread to think what I'll do when this whole chunky neck wear trend comes to an end, I don't own any other necklaces. Anyway, I decided this grecian style one would be lovely in the Summer and jazz up a plain outfit nicely. That my friends was reason enough for me to part with some cash. I also got a pack of four rings  for free (I couldn't find those to photograph) so it was definitely a bargain. Who doesn't love a good BOGOF?

Blue T-Shirt with Mesh Panel - H&M

I spotted this t-shirt whilst browsing around H&M and immediately had to have it. I love the bright colbat blue shade and the fact it has a mesh panel around the neckline. It adds an interesting twist to a bog standard t-shirt and its definitely something I'll get lots of wear out of all year round. I've already worn it a countless number of times as its perfect for dress down Fridays at work when I need to throw on something comfy and casual.

Lime Green Shirt - H&M

I didn't really know what to call this little number - is it a shirt, a blouse, a t-shirt with buttons? Who the hell knows. Regardless of its official name, I like it. Another H&M bargain and another  casual top that I know I'll wear over and over again. The colour is a little bit 'out there' but its great for Summer and I think it'll look great tucked into a pair of denim shorts on my holibobs! I'm actually wearing it right now, just incase you wanted to know ;).

Tan Cork Hells - M&S

The last place I ever expected to buy a pair of shoes from is Marks and Sparks. My Nanna shops there for goodness sake. Yes they have a great range for the 'mature' women but for a 22 year old, it isn't exactly the most hip place on the high-street. However, whilst venturing in to buy some prawns from the food section (I bet you really wanted to know that) these cork heels caught my eye. They were exactly what I'd been looking for - tan, not too high, summery and perfect for an array of ocassions. I was even more thrilled when I saw they were only £29.50 too - brucey bargain! As soon as I tried them on, I was sold. I've not had much chance to wear them yet thanks to the UK's crappy weather but I can't wait to venture out in them when the sun is shining!

Mint Green Peter Pan Collar Vest - New Look

Whilst buying the BOGOF jewellery in New Look, the lovely gentleman serving me gave me a 25% off voucher. Now although I probably wouldn't have bought any clothes from New Look at full price, I clearly couldn't miss out on some discounted bargains. Does anyone else do this? Think your getting a really good bargain but really your just spending money you wouldn't of in the first place? I really need to learn about will powder and saying no, oops! Anyway, I spotted this super cute peter pan collar top and thought it would be great for day to day wear with jeans or tucked into a skirt. I've worn it quite a lot since buying it (so it wasn't a waste after all) and it looks lovely. Thanks for encouraging me to spend money New Look you pesky swines. 

Skater Skirts - New Look

I wasn't going to leave New Look only buying one thing with my 25% off voucher was I? Oh no, two skater skirts managed to worm their way into my hands too. Damn it. However, I have to say I do love skater skirts so these denim and cream ones are nice additions to my wardrobe and great for Summer. They're so flattering, easy to wear and definitely a staple in my wardrobe. This justifies buying two right? 

Orange Handbag - Zara

As soon as I saw this beautiful Orange bag on Sophia's Instagram, I had to have it. Zara have come up trumps again in the handbag department and have released a range of affordable 'mini shopper' bags in a selection of different colours. They only cost £22.99 which is very reasonable compared to some of Zara's other bags so I knew I had to have it. I chose the Orange one purely because its perfect for Summer but its also available in black, white and green, as far as I'm aware. The colour is a lot more vibrant in reality than it looks on this picture and I absolutely love it. I think its the perfect bag to take on a shopping trip, for a meal or even for drinks at the pub. I LOVE it!

T-Shirt Skater Dress - Primark

I spotted this dress the other day whilst killing some time in Primark and I couldn't leave without it. I know its not the most Summery piece of clothing but I love casual dresses like this as they're so effortless to throw on whilst still looking stylish. I particuarly love the colour-block sleeves on this one and I've already worn it a number of times. It looks great paired with some black tights and a black waist belt for work. Even better, it cost less than a tenner.

Set of 4 Rings & Necklace - Primark

One thing I never buy (well, until now) is silver jewellery. I've always been a gold/rose gold kind of gal and always bypass the silver jewellery when I'm out shopping. However, when I was in Primark, this silver and turquoise necklace and set of rings really caught my eye. I love the fact they aren't a shiny tacky silver but instead more antique looking and I think the hint of turquoise gives them a lovely Summery feel. These will be coming on my holiday with me next week and I think they'll look lovely with my black maxi dress.

Shorts - Both from Matalan

I bought two pairs of shorts from Matalan recently as I thought they'd be great for my holiday.  The aztec print pair will be great for thowing on during the daytime over my bikini and I particularly like the Navy ones as I can imagine them looking fab with a loose fitting blouse tucked in, a tan waist belt and my tan wedges. I also thought they were something Mollie King would like and as she's my style icon, I couldn't say no.

Orange Dress - Topshop

I bought this dress from Topshop for a recent night out but never got around to wearing it, boo. Its been sat in my wardrobe for a good few weeks now and I've still not worn it - bad times. However, I'm sure I'll get my wear out of it at some point over the Summer months as the bright Orange shade is very summery and fun. I also love that its made from a light jersey material as I'll be able to wear it dressed up or down.

When I saw the lovely Hannah post about these beauties on her Instagram, I had to have them. They were being sold on treds (a website I'd never heard of until buying these shoes) for only £4.99. No you didn't read that wrong, I couldn't believe it either. I didn't really need them but for that price, I thought why the hell not? I didn't have high hopes that they'd be the best quality shoes I've ever owned but much to my surprise, they're great quality and I really love them. I love the platform style with the chunky wooden heel and I'm pretty sure they're a copy of designer Jeffery Campbell shoes. A complete bargain if I do say so myself!

So there we have it, some of my recent purchases, emphasis on the word some. I've gone a little bit crazy with shoes lately so I'm thinking of doing a 'shoe haul' and I'm also hoping to share some holiday clothes I've been buying with you all too. Wow, being a blogger and writing about my purchases makes me realise I spend far too much money. Oh well, I'm sure I won't feel so bar about it when I'm wearing all of my lovely new things.

What have you been buying lately? Do you like anything I got?

Lots of Love,

Recent Clothing Purchases // Primark Haul

Oh Primark, why do you draw me in with your wonderful bargains? My bank balance hates you. Yes ladies, I did it again  - a couple of trips to ‘have a browse’ around Primark resulted in lots ‘ooh-ing and ahh-ing’ over their latest offerings, lots of ‘I need it’ moments and of course, lots of spending. I really should be saving my money instead of spending it like its going out of fashion but hey, we only live once right? Another plus point to my uncontrollable spending habits is that I can now share everything I’ve been buying with you lovely lot. Primark hauls are one of my favourite blog posts/videos to read or watch as I love seeing what’s currently in stock and if anything takes my fancy. Lets say us bloggers and vloggers are like Primark’s online website – we give everyone a little insight into the latest fashion bargains up for grabs.

So without further ado, here’s what I’ve been buying from Primark recently. Prepare yourselves for a long and picture-heavy post. In fact, grab yourselves a cup of tea.

Monchrome Bodycon Dress (£13)

As soon as I spotted this dress, I loved it. Not only does it look like something you'd find in Topshop but it appears to be great quality for the super cheap £13 price tag. I was slightly concerned it would be one of those 'looks great on the hanger, looks rubbish on' items but it actually looked even better on. I love the lace detailing down the front panel, the little cut-outs and the Monochrome colour scheme. I'm planning on wearing it tomorrow night for my friends birthday as I think it will look super glam with some heels, a clutch bag and a bold statement lip.

Aztec Print Skirt (£4)

One thing I don't own a great deal of is bottom halves. By this I mean skirts, shorts and trousers. I mainly wear skinny jeans, leggings or dresses on a day to day basis but I want to start buying a few different bits and pieces so I have some alternatives. My first purchase in my quest to re-vamp my 'bottom half' wardrobe is this super cute aztec print skirt. For only £4 you really can't go wrong and I think it will look great in the summer with a floaty vest top tucked in. Its very versatile too and I already have a few ideas on how I could dress it up or down.

Coral Lace Crop Top (£5)

These lace crop-tops are very 'in' at the moment but I've never been drawn to them until I spotted this one in Primark. The bright blood orange shade screamed summer to me and I think it will look beautiful on holiday with a tan and a high-waisted maxi skirt. It only cost £5 too which is a total bargain!

Clutch Bag (£8)

This is my kind of clutch bag - humongous! I'm the kind of girl that takes everything but the kitchen sink on a night out with her so when I spotted this white clutch bag with a very summery yellow and gold envelope clasp, I was sold. It will add a nice pop of summer colour to my bag collection and I'm planning on pairing it with the Monochrome dress I mentioned above tomorrow night. I always feel the need to add a bit of colour to my outfits at this time of year so bright bags or accessories are great if my outfit is lacking in colour!

Mint Green Lace Dress (£12)

Okay, I'm naming this the 'blogger dress'. I don't know about you but every tom, dick and harry who has posted a Primark Haul recently seems to have bought this dress. I spotted it a few weeks ago whilst having a browse and immediately knew I had to have it. I love a good skater dress and this one is just perfect for the summer. I think it will look great paired with some sandals, a tan waist belt and a blazer. Again, I'm already visioning myself wearing it.

Playsuit (£5)

When summer rolls around, I love wearing playsuits. I find them so convenient to throw on and love that they can be dressed up or down too. They're great for holidays to put on over bikinis and are generally a handy little item to have in my wardrobe. So, as you can imagine, when I saw this little beauty for only £5, it had to be mine. I have a blazer that matches the taupe colour perfectly too so I know when paired together they will make a lovely little outfit.

Mint Green Aztec Print Bodycon Dress (£10)

I actually spotted this dress a few weeks ago but much to my disappointment, they didn't have my size. I could tell it'd been a popular choice as there wasn't many sizes left but they clearly recognised the high demand and when I returned for another browse a couple of weeks later, they'd re-stocked and had my size available. Yay! Don't you just love it when that happens? I really love the simple bodycon style of this dress and the aztec print and mint green shade are perfect for this time of year. I think this could be dressed up or down and I can't wait to wear it on my holidays.

Bun Ring (£2)

I spotted this bun ring whilst pursing the jewellery and accessories stand with my friend and both of us immediately had to have it. I already have one of these but it was nowhere near as big as this one so it didn't work well with my long hair. However, I've tried this one and it works a treat. Its a little bit 'essex' with it being so big but I'm sure I can make it classy when paired with the right outfit and makeup.

White Peter Pan Collar Playsuit (£20)

As soon as I saw this, I fell in love. It was among Primark's 'Limited Edition' range so it was a little pricer at £20 but let me tell you, its worth every penny. The picture doesn't do it any justice (its creased to the high heavens sorry) but the material is lovely and sturdy and the floral embellishment around the peter pan collar is just beautiful. I love the fact its white too as I can imagine it looking amazing with a summer tan, bright wedges and a matching bright clutch bag. I'm even tempted to save this for my birthday night out in July - thats how much I love it.

So there we go, my recent Primark purchases. As you can see, I've had a good splurge and I love everything I've bought. I already know I'll get so much wear out of each and every one of these items and they will all be coming on my hollibobs with me next month. I imagine I'll be heading back to Primark soon to stock up on more holiday clothes so do keep your eyes peeled for yet another Primark haul. I'm a woman obsessed let me tell you.

Have you been shopping in Primark recently? Do you like any of the things I've bought?

Lots of Love,

Oops I Did It Again! | Primark & H&M Haul

Hi Ladies! As you can see by the title of this post, 'Oops I did it again', I went shopping, AGAIN!! I must admit I went a little crazy when I got my first monthly wage since starting my new job but who doesn't want to treat themselves after landing a new job and working hard for a month? At least the things I've bought are from Primark and H&M so they were all relatively cheap and cheerful, yey! So without blabbering on for too much longer, here is what I bought...

Blue Slouchy Jumper - Primark

My mum actually bought this for my little sister but it was massive on her so she very kindly said I could have it. I'm very glad she did as I love the unusual colour and you really can't go wrong with a slouchy jumper at this time of year.

Black Playsuit with Leopard Print Trim - Primark

I wore this in a recent outfit post here and absolutely love it. It feels and looks much more expensive than Primark and can be worn casually or dressed up. I love owning clothes that are versatile so I can get lots of wear out of them.

White 'Guns N Roses' Vest Top - Primark

Now I'm not a massive Guns N Roses fan or anything, I just really loved this vest top. I own quite a lot of vest with graphics on the front like this one as they are so handy to throw on with leggings. I thought this one would look particularly nice with my leggings, ankle boots and a leather jacket.

Super Skinny Jeans - Primark

Oh my, these really are super skinny. I was becoming quite self conscious I'd gained weight whilst trying these on as my usual size tens looked like they'd been glued on. However, I tried the next size up and they were massive so I figured it was obviously just the style and after a couple of wears they would loosen up and fit perfectly. Does anyone else find skinny jeans are super duper tight at first but okay after a couple of wears?

Beige Slouchy Dipped Hem Jumper - H&M

The photograph below does this item no justice whatsoever. In reality it has the most gorgeous flecks of gold running through it, perfect for the Christmas season. As I said earlier, I'm a huge fan of slouchy jumpers at this time of year and think this one will look great if I want to look a bit smarter while still remaining warm and cosy. It also has a dipped hem back which is right on trend.

Sheer Fuchsia Blouse - H&M

As soon as I saw this blouse I just had to have it. I absolutely adore the bright pink shade and I have already worn it to work with a black pencil skirt and on a day out with my friend paired with skinny jeans, ankle boots and a spiked necklace.

Slipper Shoes

I'd lost one of my beloved Slipper Boots and with the weather being ridiculously cold, my poor little tooties were like icicles. I spotted these in Primark and loved the cute pattern and pom poms. By the way, there is two Pom Poms on each Slipper, one of them is just tucked inside the left one. They haven't left my feet since I got them, they are so cosy.

Skull Scarf - Primark

I'm a big fan of these Alexander Mcqueen style skull scarves so I couldn't resist this sheer black and grey version when I spotted it. It's perfect for throwing on over a plain top to spice up an outfit.

Black and White Bodycon Dress - H&M

I totally forgot to take a photo of this so I thought I'd include some photos of me wearing it at the weekend instead. If you follow me on Instagram (kayleighjcouture) or Twitter (@k_leexjx) you will have probably heard me gushing over how much I love this dress and how cheap it was. It only cost me £12.99 which I think is a complete bargain and I felt very ladylike and sophisticated whilst wearing it. I love the print, the shape, the length - EVERYTHING!!!

So there we have it, all the things I've (naughtily) been buying lately. I've almost blown all of my wages but I have bought lots of Christmas presents as well, so I'll let myself off. 

Have you been treating yourself lately?

Lots of Love,