March Purchases

March was mainly about online shopping rather than visiting the charity shops.  I was on what I like to call a 'PhD retreat' whilst my husband was away in America for a couple of weeks.  This involved sitting at my laptop in the kitchen, typing furiously for most of the day.  I was allowed breaks for food, walks, and household chores.  But no shopping breaks.  It did curb the shopping considerably, but not completely.

First up, a Laura Ashley archive dress.  This dress was brought out in 2011.  I know, because I blogged about it at the time.  It was £125, which I couldn't afford.  Years of stalking it on Ebay, and I eventually found one for the right price (£20).  I bought the blue colourway, they also did a pink one, and a lime green.  It's shorter than I would like (isn't every dress?!) but I could see myself wearing it on holiday.


I bought this Oscar by Oscar de la Renta skirt to wear to work.  You saw me wearing it in this post about visiting Pontypridd museum.  I can't remember the exact price, but it was no more than £2.



I then bought a pair of black and gold shoe laces (£3.50).  I always hated the shoelaces that came with a pair of boots I had, so these were a good replacement.

A Facebook purchase was next, this little dress from Timeslip vintage's sale (£12).  I find in Spring that I want to suddenly wear Spring things, but it's often not yet Spring weather.  So, there's a gap there for things in warm fabrics that are Spring coloured.  This fits that bill, it's a warm crimplene, but the colour is very Spring like.  This was a bit of a punt, but it is really lovely on.  A bit big at the waist so I have to take it in a bit before wearing it properly.



Seafolly bikini (£9).  After the woeful experience of bikini shopping last year (how many did I try?!) and with my holiday to Spain being very soon, I decided to try TK Maxx.  I like the Australian brand Seafolly, it is excellent quality and I've owned their bikinis in the past.  Last year I tried on a few styles that simply didn't suit me.  I've learned from that, and on the clearance rail I quickly sized up this 'Walk the Line' style for potential fit issues.  It looked as though it would be okay.  I bought it without trying it on in the shop (an awful experience with a bikini - take it home where you at least have better lighting!).  The result?  It's fabulous!  It makes me feel sporty, and I tested it in a hotel pool recently and found it to be suitable for 'serious swimming' rather than just splashing about in.

I was recently bemoaning the lack of a plain red cardigan, devoid of embroidery and other embellishments.  I came across this red wool '60s cardigan at Second Hand Rose, and snapped it up immediately.  I've not been wearing cardigans as much in general.  I stopped wearing them to work, in favour of smarter little jackets instead.  But I do wear that lovely coral colour '60s cardigan that I picked up in Torquay for casual days running errands, so it wouldn't hurt to have one in red too now would it?



My final purchase (that I'm keeping) was a Salvador Ferragamo shoe print scarf.  I have wanted one of these for ages, but the ones on Vestiare Collective were a bit pricey.  I found one on Ebay.  This comes with the warning 'always read the listing'.  I think I must have bid on it using my phone so I missed the part about the scarf being damaged around the edges.  I now have yet another sewing project to attend to, as the whole scarf needs re-edging.  Gah!  It was £14 though, so another bargain.  I'll share before and after photos once I've tackled the sewing.

Things I bought and sent back...

This was the most anticipated purchase of the month, a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo shoes. A pair has been on my wish list for years!  I have ummed and ahhhed over many a pair on Ebay and Etsy.  I took the plunge with a pair of navy flats  Then on arrival I realised the seller had made an error in the listing and that they were the wrong size.  What a disappointment!  Back they went...

That was it for March, folks.  April shopping has seen a few delights already, I look forward to sharing some photos with you!