Primark car print blouse

This week, I finally got my hands on Primark's car-print blouse, "inspired by"* Prada's spring-summer 2012 collection.

I rushed down to Marble Arch on Tuesday night, expecting huge queues outside and crowds of marauding fashionistas inside, fighting over the last size 10. Instead I found several racks full of the blouse, largely ignored by the hordes of Primark bargain-hunters.

In my state of frenzied excitement, I grabbed the top in both pale blue and lemon and headed to the till.

I can confirm that the blouse, with its 50s Americana print, is nearly identical to the real thing. What it lacks in quality, it makes up for in its sheer bargainousness (is that a word?).

*shamelessy ripped-off from

Blouse - Primark

Cardigan - Primark

Skirt - ASOS

Belt - ASOS

Necklace - Monki

Shoes - ASOS

Leather pouch - American Apparel

Nail polish - Barry M "Peach Melba"

Lipstick - Topshop "Confession"

Stocking fillers

Coat - Monki

Blouse - Monki

Necklace - Monki

Skirt - ASOS

Bag - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Tights - ASOS

Shoes - Topshop

I was lucky enough to receive some of the things I'm wearing here as stocking fillers from my lovely boyfriend. I gave him a pretty big hint ("anything from Monki") and this is what he came up with: a yellow blouse and cute apple necklace. This man knows my taste.

Christmas Day

This is the perfect outfit for Christmas Day. A dress which allows you to eat half a turkey and a whole box of After Eights, and a pair of shoes which you can't walk or stand up in.

Dress - ASOS

Shoes - Primark

Bracelet - Christmas gift

Earrings - Accessorize

Lipstick - Revlon Fire and Ice

Nails - Rimmel Midnight Blue and Revlon Galaxy

Country Life

Coat - Monki, Jumper - Marc by Marc Jacobs, T-Shirt - American Apparel, 

Trousers - ASOS, Necklace - Urban Outfitters, Shoes - Topshop, Green bag - Forever 21, 

Shopper - Marc by Marc Jacobs

We spent yesterday visiting my boyfriend's uncle in Rutland. He lives in a lovely old house in very pretty grounds. The perfect place for wearing my favourite autumnal colours.

Berkeley

Hanging out near Shattuck Avenue.

 Jacket - Sonia by Sonia Rykiel, T-shirt - Marc by Marc Jacobs, skirt - ASOS, bag - Urban Outfitters, shoes - H&M, sunglasses - Forever 21, bracelet - gift

San Francisco's calling us

I recently returned to my beloved California, spending time in San Francisco, Berkeley, Yosemite, Big Sur and Santa Cruz. Here are some shots from San Francisco.

Dress - Forever 21, jacket - Topshop, necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs, bag - Urban Outfitters, shoes - H&M

 Outside Marc Jacobs

Jacket - Topshop, T-shirt - H&M, skirt - ASOS, shoes - ASOS, tights - ASOS, sunglasses - Primark

 Marc by Marc Jacobs

 Banksy in North Beach?

  Amoeba Music on Haight Street

 Street car in the Castro

 Motel in the Castro

Sculpture at SF MOMA

In a chemical world

Cardigan - Urban Outfitters

Top - Topshop

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Skirt - ASOS

Shoes - H&M

Bag - Primark

Nails - Barry M "Blueberry Ice Cream"

Stopped off to take some shots near our flat, on our way to dinner with some friends in Belsize Park.

When we'll fly away for good

Sunglasses - Primark
Dress - Primark

Bag - Urban Outfitters

Shoes - Primark

Another dress from my Primark spree. This one's the darker, cooler twin of the yellow one I posted last week.

The highlight of this week was going to see Suede perform their eponymous first album at Brixton Academy. Suede are one of my favourite bands of all time, and it was particularly amazing to see them play B-sides like "My Insatiable One" and "To The Birds".

Cravings

Dress - Primark

Belt - Primark

Bag - Urban Outfitters

Sandals - NW3 by Hobbs

I'm going on holiday to California in less than a month, so I have banned myself from buying any clothes or other treats until I get there. I've got a huge shopping list of things to buy from American Apparel, Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Victoria's Secret, MAC etc. I also can't wait to go to all the amazing vintage stores in San Francisco.

However, I'm not very good at not shopping for clothes, which is why I ended up making a trip to Primark recently. I allowed myself a limit of £50 and got lots of things: two dresses, a satchel, two pairs of shoes and some nice jewellery bits. My craving was satisfied.

My best purchase was this dress, which was a ridiculously cheap £9. I've also got it in a black Hawaiwan style print. Might have to buy the green version too.

Yellow

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Dress - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Bag - Primark

Sandals - NW3 by Hobbs

Slightly obsessed with yellow at the moment. You can't tell, but I'm wearing the Barry M version of the Chanel Mimosa nail polish, called Lemon Ice Cream. Only £2.99 and it goes on (and stays on) like a dream.

Blue and camel

Hat - Primark

Scarf - gift

Necklace - Marc by Marc Jacobs

Top - Topshop

Blazer - Topshop

Skirt - ASOS

Shoes - ASOS

Bag - Urban Outfitters

Lucy in Disguise

Hat, sunglasses and dress - Primark, bag - Urban Outfitters, sandals - Hobbs NW3

 Lucy in Disguise shop in Covent Garden

Betsey Johnson shop in Covent Garden

Today I went shopping in Covent Garden. It was another beautiful day so I wore a sundress and my straw hat. 

I was excited to visit Lily Allen's shop, Lucy in Disguise, for the first time. Overall, I was impressed.  If you'watched the Channel 4 documentary about Lily and her sister setting up the store, you might expect it to be slightly shambolic, and completely frivolous. In fact, the stock is well chosen, and although tending towards being pricey, there were some more affordable pieces. It was also nice to get a warm welcome from the shop assistant.

I also stopped at Betsey Johnson, which is another great shop to spend time in, looking at pretty (but expensive) things.
 

Easter

Hat - Primark, dress - secondhand from New York, sandals - Hobbs NW3