The Buyer's Archive: February

A year ago I joined in with Elise's monthly Buyer's Archive project, recording all my spending on clothes, shoes and accessories. The idea was that by keeping a record of what I bought, I'd more easily be able to identify what were good buys and what I don't wear, therefore reducing my spending in the long-term. Well, that was the plan...

Last February, I spent £169 on ten items. Looking back on those buys, it's clear that I made some silly mistakes. A smart jacket (I literally have never worn a jacket in my life, because boobs), not one but two pink jumpers despite not liking pink, a pair of Converse which were slightly too big for me... not clever purchases. The only items from 12 months ago that get regular wear are the scalloped collar top from La Redoute, which I wear at least once a week, and a pair of slim-leg work trousers from H&M, which I wear for school. Of the rest, three things - the navy dress, the striped Boden jumper, and the Converse - have been sold on eBay, one - the grey t-shirt - has been sent to a charity shop, and the remaining items languish in my wardrobe.

So, not a good start to Buyer's Archive last year. But how did I do this February? A lot better, I reckon.

Heart print skater skirt, Primark via charity shop £2.99
This serves as a reminder to always look carefully at clothes in charity shops - this skirt is a size 12 so should be miles too small. However, I loved the print so took some time to examine it more closely and found that the stretchy waistband meant it'd fit me pretty well. I've been wearing it with a black t-shirt and mustard cardigan; it makes for a quick and comfortable work outfit on the days I'm not in school.

Black polka dot top, La Redoute £11 (with 50% discount code)
One thing I've learned through Buyer's Archive is that I love a discount; 30% of my purchases over the past year involved a discount code. Equally, it's hardly the news of the century that I like polka dots. Back in December I found a white polka dot blouse, which I love, in a charity shop so I was thrilled to see this top - basically a black version of the one I have - on the La Redoute website. It's already been worn multiple times, teamed with black skinny jeans and a cardigan, and is well on its way to becoming a wardrobe favourite.

Polka dot dress, Closet via House of Fraser £25 (not online)
I know what you're thinking, "Another blue polka dot dress Janet? Really?" But hear me out... I'm going to Cape Town next week for my cousin's wedding and, despite planning on wearing the navy blue Closet dress I bought in July for my brother's wedding, needed a second smart dress as we're having a somewhat fancy family meal the night before the actual wedding. And I also needed the second dress to be suitable for South African summer temperatures and it needed to go with the one pair of navy blue heels I'll be taking. So when I found a single size 16 polka dot dress in the sale at my local House of Fraser, and it fit like a glove, I sort of had to buy it. Right?

Striped dress, Dorothy Perkins via clothes swap £0
I wasn't sure whether to include something which was free in Buyer's Archive but hey, here it is anyway. I met up with Rebs and Bettie a couple of weeks ago to go to a plus size clothes swap in Loughborough and, although there wasn't tons of stuff in my size to choose from, I lucked out with this lovely summer dress. Stripes and navy blue? Janet heaven.

My total spend for February this year was therefore a far more manageable £38.99, enabling me to save some pennies for my trip to Cape Town, hooray!

This month, as well as Elise, Hazel, Donna and Lucy have all taken part in Buyer's Archive.

The Buyer's Archive: September

Earlier this year Elise started a series called The Buyer's Archive as a way to track her purchases from year to year and figure out which items had been worth it, and which had already found their way to the charity bag (Donna and Steff are also now taking part in the series). As reducing my spending is always a goal, I decided to give it a go too, and this is what I've spent my cash on this month...

Seasalt raincoat £79.95 (after £10 off code)
I bought a yellow mac from M&S just before our holiday this summer but wasn't ever totally happy with the lining on it. So it developing a faulty zip was a happy accident, enabling me to return it and buy the real object of my affections: this spectacular Seasalt raincoat with (what else?) stripy lining.

Dorothy Perkins skirt £19.20 (after 20% off code applied)
I've been ordering, trying on and returning 70s-style button-front skirts for the past eight months (I only wish I was exaggerating) and hadn't found one that a) fit and b) looked ok. So I was dead chuffed to find this one in Dorothy Perkins during one of their seemingly-permanent discount offers. I've chopped the bottom off (because I'm tiny, and I prefer short skirts) and it should now be a good autumn staple with tights, chunky Mary Janes and tucked-in tops.

La Redoute top £9 (with 50% discount code)
This top was so close to being completely perfect but alas, it's just a bit too short on me (and bearing in mind I'm only 5'2", that's quite an achievement). As a result, it gives me quite a significant VBO (visible belly outline), which is one body acceptance goal I haven't reached yet. If it hadn't been a mere £9 I'd probably have returned it, and considering black dye ran into the collar the first time I washed it, I still might, but... collar!

H&M ankle boots, £24.99 

Every winter I bemoan the fact that I don't own a pair of boots and every winter, I fail to find a pair I can tolerate. I like these because they give me a much-needed couple of inches in height, while still being pretty comfortable. They'll look good with my many print dresses and if, just perhaps, I'm too old for them (I really think I might be) then sod that, I'll wear them anyway.

I'm getting to the point where I won't buy something unless I have a discount code. That, combined with some tricksy shopping mathematics (I'm deducting the £60 I was refunded by M&S from this month's total, because if I hadn't got that, I wouldn't have bought the Seasalt coat) gives me a grand total of £73.14 for September. Considering I usually go shopping crazy when the new season stuff hits the shops, that's not too bad.

What I Wore: Vintage 80s Style

Although the sun has deigned to show its face today, overall the summer's been pretty rubbish, weather-wise. However, here's evidence that we did have some nice weather this summer. I wore this outfit in the school holidays for a sunny Saturday bike ride followed by a picnic. I can't say a pair of wood-heeled sandals were ideal bike-riding attire, especially considering we returned home via the pub (where I had one too many ciders), but they look pretty so *shrugs*.

There's a story behind my purchase of this vintage madras-check skirt, though. When I was a kid, my family was friends with a couple called David and Sue and I basically idolised Sue. She was our piano teacher, and the leader of the choir at church in which I sang, and they lived in the most beautiful cottage with a huge garden, while we lived in a standard semi-detached on an estate. Sue wore fashionable clothes, things that had clearly been bought brand new, while ours - my mum's included - were cobbled together from jumble sale finds and hand-me-downs (of course, now I know that jumble sale finds are the best thing ever, but when you're 10 it's hard to understand that line of thinking). And I very clearly remember Sue wearing a madras check skirt exactly like this one, and thinking she was the coolest person ever.

So of course, when I was browsing in a vintage store a few months ago, it was a given that the madras check midi skirt would be coming home with me. My attempt at shortening it perhaps took a tad too much off - I don't think the new length is exactly right on my proportions - but it's otherwise really comfortable and fun to wear. And look, pockets!

* Skirt: Vintage * T-shirt: H&M * Tote bag: Ella Masters Studio *

* Belt: Peacocks (old) * Clog sandals: TK Maxx *

The Buyer's Archive: August

Earlier this year Elise started a series called The Buyer's Archive as a way to track her purchases from year to year and figure out which items had been worth it, and which had already found their way to the charity bag (Donna and Steff are also now taking part in the series). As reducing my spending is always a goal, I decided to give it a go too. But let's not mention the fact that I don't seem to have reduced my spending at all since I started and move onto the purchases....

Salt Water sandals, Office £41.25 with 25% off voucher
I've wanted a pair of these since last summer and finally decided to take the plunge after finding a 25% off code. Of course, since I bought them the weather's been shocking, but fingers crossed I'll get plenty of wear out of them next summer if not this.

Flower necklace, Layla Amber via Hawksbys £19.50
Because how on earth could I not buy such a beautiful piece?!

Striped chambray dress, Gap £22.99
This purchase was entirely the fault of Jo (of Oh Hello Jo), who featured it in a post. Yep, entirely her fault, not my decision at all. I've already worn it quite a lot (in the brief moments when the weather hasn't been freezing, anyway) so I reckon it will turn out to be a good investment.

Ok, so let's talk addiction. My name is Janet and I have a problem: I cannot stop buying navy blue clothes. And if the item in question has polka dots or stripes (or perhaps a twee print)? No chance I can resist. Seriously, take a look at my last few buyer's archive posts: navy blue after navy blue, with the occasional pop of black (can one have a 'pop' of black?). I'm willing to admit that I have a real wardrobe obsession.

Bird print skirt, H&M £10 (not online) and Striped jersey dress, Gap £25 (both bought in Canada)
I was a little bored of my clothes when we were in Montreal so picked this skirt up to wear while sight-seeing. The dress was an impulse purchase on our last day in Toronto, as I wanted something comfortable to travel in. This fit the bill nicely and should get lots of wear with tights this autumn.

Emily & Fin cloud print dress, via eBay £30
I'd been stalking this dress for ages on various websites but could never convince myself to splash out the £70 price tag. So I was thrilled to find this brand new for a fraction of that price on eBay.

Striped tee, Gap £10 (with 20% off) and black linen tee, Gap £9.99 in the sale
I ended up having to return the striped top I featured in last month's archive, as it had a hole in it, so this striped t-shirt makes a decent replacement. Meanwhile, I was in need of a good quality, oversized black t-shirt to team with skinny jeans, so I was pleased to find this one in the sale while I was picking up the striped top.

Polka dot dress, Florence & Fred via a charity shop £2.25
Bargain of the month goes to this dress, which hits all three of my obsessions: Peter Pan collars, navy blue, and polka dots. It needs a good wash and I'll probably shorten it, but I reckon this will become a regular feature of my autumn wardrobe.

Burgundy cardigan, H&M £8.99 with 10% discount code
Finally - something that's not blue or black! I've been looking for a short burgundy cardi since last winter so when this new colour was introduced to H&M's Basics range, I pounced.

Striped top, H&M £11.79 with 10% discount code
I wasn't sure whether to include this here, as I'm still umming and ahhing about whether to keep it. Do I need another striped long-sleeved top? No. Do I want this one? Yes.

Polka dot jumper, H&M £14.99 (not pictured)
I needed new jumpers because my house is colder than the grave in autumn and winter. And can you believe that I didn't actually own a polka dot jumper until now? I know, weird right.

And so my total spend for August is £206.75 for twelve items, which is a stupid amount of money but, for the amount I got, perhaps not too bad. I also made full use of discount codes this month, with very little being bought for full price. That being said, I'm definitely not proud of the fact that my spending seems to be getting worse, not better, since I started this series! I really, truly am going to stop buying so many clothes this month. Honest guv.

What I Wore: That 70s Show

This is an outfit I put together last summer after finding my dream button-down chambray skirt in a charity shop. Imagine my delight, then, when at the beginning of spring 2015 the 1970s revival was being touted by fashion pages up and down the land? Finally, I was ahead of the curve!

This outfit is something I wore a lot in Copenhagen last August, and it came into its own again in Canada. It's such a cool (literally cool, as in not-hot: I don't have notions above my station about my metaphorical coolness!) outfit to wear when sightseeing in a city. The t-shirt is a very thin cotton that's a joy to wear on hot days, and the skirt - once teamed with cycling shorts underneath to combat chub rub - is comfortable to wear when pounding the pavements.

This is, though, a sucky outfit post in that you can't buy anything from it: charity shop finds, past seasons stock, and a ring from my travels in South Africa. Oh yeah, and I cut my head off the lead photo because my hair and face were so bad in it!

By the by, if anyone knows where I can get a similar pair of sandals to these old Dune ones please tell me! I absolutely love them but after two summers wear they're starting to break and I need them in my life.

* Striped t-shirt: Zara (not online) * Skirt: Charity shop * Belt: Charity shop * 

* Sandals: Dune (old) * Ring: Shop in Cape Town *

The Buyer's Archive: July

Earlier this year Elise started a series called The Buyer's Archive as a way to track her purchases from year to year and figure out which items had been worth it, and which had already found their way to the charity bag. As reducing my spending is always a goal, I decided to give it a go too.

July has followed my usual pattern of very little spending until the end of the month, when I suddenly buy all the clothes - before this weekend, all I'd spent was £30. But preparing for our trip to Iceland and Canada led to a shopping spree yesterday, when I picked up stacks of items... some I needed, some I didn't.

Striped top, H&M £12.99
Did I need this? No. But did I have a space in my wardrobe for a short-sleeved striped top? Certainly. I love stripes and this top has a lovely airy feel, perfect for summer (although not for the summer we're currently 'enjoying' in England, with torrential rain and chilly temperatures).

Floral skirt, charity shop £2.00
I've already featured this skirt in an outfit post and it's shaping up to be a favourite. Originally from Bon Marche, I found it in a local charity shop and was particularly drawn to the floral design and the buttons down the front.

Yellow raincoat, M&S £75
Eek. It actually makes me feel a bit sick to think about how much this cost. However, I'm notorious for not wearing weather-appropriate clothing if I don't feel it's cool enough (I know, I'm such a teenager) and with our visit to Iceland coming up I really needed a raincoat I'd be happy to wear. I know yellow raincoats have become something of a blogger cliche, but that didn't stop me snapping it up. It's cut really nicely, fits well, and the yellow is a darker mustard shade, which is a lot more flattering with my skin tone and hair colour. Plus, I figure a coat is the kind of item where it pays to, well, pay.

Black sandals, New Look £15.99
These sandals fill a gap in my wardrobe: I have plenty of tan sandals but no black ones. I saw someone wearing these on the train home from Bristol a few weeks ago and fell totally in love with them, so as soon as I got home I began an internet search. I was dead chuffed to discover they were not only still available, but also quite a bargain.

T-Bar shoes, Topshop £25.20 (with Thomas's student discount)
These shoes are definitely not something I needed, as they're almost identical to a pair I already own, but I loved the cute cut-out design and when I realised that they were almost sold out I decided to grab a pair.

Polka dot dress, H! By Henry Holland via eBay, £4.20
So much navy blue in this picture! I've come to accept that it's the signature colour of my wardrobe. This jersey and cotton skater dress is something I won on eBay and is yet another addition to my collection of summer dresses when what's really needed in this country is plenty of winter clothes.

Navy blue dress, Joy £24 (not online)
I found this in the sale at Joy in Bristol. Made of a lovely, heavy, lined viscose that falls beautifully, it's well cut and classic, and paired with a statement necklace and some heels, I think it will do very well for my brother's wedding this autumn.

My total for the month was therefore an eye-watering.... £159.38, with almost exactly half of that total being the raincoat.

What I Wore: A Date Night Outfit

I've always been a dress girl but last summer and this I've also started collecting skirts (not such a great departure, I know, but still...!). I found this one last week in a charity shop for the princely sum of £2; it's originally from mum-store Bon Marche but I really like it. Paired with a grey marl t-shirt, my beloved new clogs (seriously, these shoes are so comfortable and fun to wear, I adore them) and a statement necklace, it was the perfect outfit for date night.

We spent the evening in the The Orange Tree in Leicester, sampling their delicious vegan mac & cheese and a few ciders, before cycling home in the twilight. An outfit I love, great food, cold cider, a bike ride and my boy? Makes for a perfect date night.

* Skirt: Bon Marche via charity shop * T-shirt: H&M (old) * Belt: Peacocks (old) *

* Necklace: New Look (old) * 'J' tote bag: Alphabet Bags * Clog sandals: TK Maxx *

What I wore: A madeover midi skirt

You know when you look in the mirror and think, "Yep, looking good," and then see a photograph and cringe? Yeah, I have that with this outfit. The photo shoot involved a good amount of swearing and tears (mostly on on Thomas's part) and, after about 100 shots, I'm still not happy with how any of them look. But I wanted to use them regardless because I was outside! Wearing summer clothes! This is very very exciting to someone who has been pining for the sun since about January 3rd.

This outfit features my bargain midi skirt (£3 from a charity shop), which is evidence of my long-held belief that you need to ignore size labels, especially when vintage or thrift shopping. The skirt is a Primark size 12, a store in which I usually need a 16 or 18, but I'm pretty well able to size things up by looking at them and I guessed it would just fit. A couple of snips to the elastic waistband when I got home, a quick cut and hem to shorten it, and I have a very cheap and well-fitting midi skirt.

This is also the first glance at my extended tattoo: I had more flowers added so that the whole piece now stretches from my elbow to my shoulder. So pretty!

And because I'm such a brilliant fashion blogger, I only realised when I saw the shots just how badly the sleeve of my t-shirt is stained with suncream from covering up my tattoo last summer. Oops. Off I trot to Zara to stock up on some more...

* Striped tee: Zara * Midi skirt (originally a maxi skirt): Primark via charity shop * 

* Sandals: Dune (old) * Tote bag: Ella Masters Studio * Belt: Peacocks (old) *
* Name necklace: Gift * Turquoise ring: Gift *

Thomas has just told me a really terrible joke, hence my look of pain here.

The Buyer's Archive: March

I did extremely well while thrifting this month, although arguably I could have been just a bit more adventurous with my finds: how many striped dresses and navy blue items does one wardrobe need? I was also very much dreaming of summer whilst shopping (ignoring the fact that it's still fucking freezing here in Leicester) so I actually haven't yet been able to wear a single one of my new acquisitions. But never mind, my wardrobe game is going to be so on point come warmer weather.

Striped jersey dress, New Look via charity shop £3
I was bemoaning my sucky charity shop luck when I stumbled upon this gem of a dress in the local Cancer Research shop. Navy blue? Stripes? In my size? I didn't even bother to try it on, just ran to the till to pay. Luckily, it fits perfectly and will be ace with a mustard cardigan.

Navy cardigan, Primark via charity shop £3
In the same charity shop as the stripey dress I found this cardigan, brand new with tags still attached. I already own this in cream so knew it'd be a great addition to my wardrobe: I love the openwork design, which is perfect for keeping me cool in summer when I still need to cover up my arms at work (scars + tattoos + teaching = not a good combination)

Vintage dress made into skirt, Sue Ryder Vintage £6
I had no need for another skirt in my summer wardrobe but I absolutely loved the print on this. Although it started life as an extremely unflattering 1980s dress, a few snips and a sewn up hem and waistband later, and it's now a super cute floral skirt.

Striped French Connection dresss, ASOS £33 (on special offer)
I'd never pay full whack for this, but at its sale price I pounced. It's got an interesting v-shaped back detail with exposed zip, which lifts it above standard Breton-striped-dress territory. It'll be perfect in summer with bare legs, tan sandals and sunglasses, and when I get bored of it in my main wardrobe it's also smart enough to wear for work.

Black t-shirt, H&M £3.99 (not pictured)
Because one can never have too many black tees, and I lacked one with a v-neck.

Black midi skirt, Primark via charity shop £3 (not pictured)
There's an Age UK shop in Leicester that is an absolute diamond for skirts. A black midi skirt has been on my 'need' list for ages, so when I found this I pounced. It was actually a maxi skirt, but half an hour with the sewing machine and it's the perfect length.

Overall, my total spend for March was £51.99, with 5 items coming to only £18.99 plus £33 for the French Connection dress at 40% off. Bargain hunter or what? This month has reignited my love for charity shops and given me faith that great wardrobe staples can be found therein. Now I just need some warm weather so I can get wearing...

What I wore: The last days of summer

Last month I visited my mum and step-mum and badgered them into taking me to my very favourite place on earth: Hebden Bridge. Hebden is amazing for so many reasons, but ace vintage shopping is pretty high up there. Hotcakes Vintage, just off the main A646 through the town, is one of my favourite vintage shops and I was delighted to find this 1980s-does-1950s midi skirt for a mere £12. I'd resigned myself to putting it away unworn for the winter when, last weekend, the sun made another appearance.

Paired with a trusty black tee and my bargain Swedish Hasbeens (£48 in the sale, thanks to Jen on Twitter for letting me know!), it was the perfect outfit for a lazy Sunday morning brunch at Phoenix Arts before an early afternoon showing of Guardians Of The Galaxy.  The only thing I think this outfit is missing is a kick-ass necklace or some other piece of jewellery, but I'm notoriously bad at accessorising so if anyone has any ideas on what to pair with this, I'm all ears.

* Skirt: Hotcakes Vintage * T-shirt: H&M * Sandals: Swedish Hasbeens *