No one loves a sale more than I do. I'm pretty sure that 98 % of the things I own were either bought in a sale or second hand. This is something I'm proud of and I love to save money whenever I can. However, I do believe that sale shopping is a kind of art, a skill that takes time to refine. It's very easy to think that you're getting an amazing deal. It's very easy to get over-excited when you see the markdown sticker and buy a lot of things that some time in the future you realise you will never actually wear and actually looked better on a hanger than you. And what's the point in saving a lot of money on stuff you don't actually like that you're only going to have to replace?
Topshop has always been one of my favourite shops on the high street and there is no denying that the sales they have are vast and varied. Although I try to avoid high street shops as much as possible, purely for the reason stated above, I can't resist taking a look every once in a while at what's on offer. I was pleasantly surprised this time round with the exciting fabrics and prints that were available and bought three new things for my wardrobe which I'm pretty damn excited about and thought I would show you!
Sheer Spotty Crop Top, £15
The first thing I fell in love with is this gorgeous spotty top which I saw on a random rail of odd leftovers. I often find that these sorts of rails are the best for unique items and super cheap discounts as they mainly hold old stock that needs selling quickly. I just loved the semi-sheer material and the combination of lace and polka - dot which is the print of this summer. I thought it was a super versatile item as it can be dressed up or down and the puffball sleeves are really beautiful. I knew I had to have it at only £15!
I decided to style it with a suede leather skirt by New Look to keep with the light, summer colours and exiting textures of the outfit. I have to say it was a ridiculously hot day (35, I repeat, 35 degrees in London!) when I went out to shoot these pictures so was trying my hardest to stay as cool as possible. I thought I would wear my Superga trainers for all the looks to show some unity and finished off the look with these badass sunglasses by House of Holland. I love them because they are the Lennon style round glasses with a twist. I wouldn't recommend the suede for a super hot day but all round this is a lovely casual outfit with a nod to a slight western theme.
Embroidered Skirt, £15
My favourite purchase of the day was this absolutely gorgeous faux - leather skirt. Again, it was the last one I could see on the rail and as soon as I saw it I was drawn to it. I don't own many skirts and the ones I seem to own are mini and faux-leather textured so some might argue I didn't really need to buy this one. On the other hand, it's pink and the embroidery makes it so unique, I couldn't leave it behind! I would also say that if you buy something similar to an item you already have it is actually a benefit as you know the cut works for your body and you are likely to wear it.
There was no sale sticker on the skirt so I took it to the till to ask. When in doubt, ask, because more often than not you will be pleasantly surprised by the price. I make a limit in my head of how much I would spend and if it's lower than this then I'll buy it. I think this skirt looks a lot more expensive than it was which is always a good thing and it has pockets too. I can just imagine layering it in the winter with a thick knit, turtle neck jumper and I can't wait!
For the hot summer day I decided to style it with a simple, airy white shirt by & Other Stories (similar here). I think the skirt is a stand out item on it's own so wanted to keep the rest of the outfit simple so the focus was on how lovely it is. Wearing the shirt tucked in and open added to the casual feel and I still felt classy and elegant too. The rounded, oversized glasses matched the colour of the skirt perfectly and immediately made me feel cool although I do share some resemblance to a fly. I love how versatile this skirt is and this outfit would be perfect for a day - to - night occasion.
Velvet Off - Shoulder Crop Top, £3
So, finally, we have the real bargain of the day. I picked up this beautiful off the shoulder top because I was drawn to the black velvet and frill detail and was gobsmacked when I saw a sale sticker announcing it's absurdly cheap price of £3! I thought it must have been some sort of mistake and even the sales assistant was shocked at how cheap it was. I was wearing a different off the shoulder top whilst I was shopping and had just decided I would like more because I like having my shoulders out. Then I laid my eyes on this and it was the last one and in my size so I would say that if you look up the word "fate" in the dictionary you would see a picture of this transaction. The gold detailing is a lovely addition and I think it will become a statement piece for when I go on a night out.
I decided to try and challenge myself to style it in a casual way and surprisingly, maybe, this became my favourite look of the day. I teamed the top with these perfect linen trousers also by Topshop (alternative here) because, let's face it, they are the only sort of trousers that are acceptable to wear in 35 degree heat. The mom cut works perfectly with the off the shoulder and when added to a look with the trainers and Ray bans it equals a wonderful, effortless, and in my opinion, cool look.
I was super happy with all my purchases even though I had originally gone in to buy cropped jeans and a summer dress... I don't think you can plan sale shopping though, the best part is finding the random items that are unexpected but that you love. If I had to narrow it down, my top tips to being a pro at sale shopping would be:
Try everything on - I took a lot more items to the changing rooms and ended up leaving with just these three. It's easy to get excited by a cheap style in the sale but if it doesn't suit your frame or if the colour isn't quite right don't just buy it for the sake of it. The dressing room will clarify this.
Look for the rails with the odd items on and not the ones with about 100 of the same top. Chances are this is older stock so will be even cheaper, plus you'll be getting a more unique item (who wants to be dressed in a mass produced item and look the same as everyone else?)
If you don't love it and can't imagine it with at least 3 of the items you already own, don't buy it!
I'd love to know if any of you have any sale hints or tricks and what some of your best buys are this season. Happy shopping!
