After seeing the post for the Jumblist Massive jumble sale on Catwalk Queen last week, I got all excited at the prospect of finding new old clothes for the bargainous price of a £1! I started thinking of vintage dresses, possibly some nice shirts or maybe even a coat that I would unearth and wear whilst feeling smug that they cost me less than a day’s lunch.

Tiny problem with the plan though; I was just too lazy to leave my house.

It got me thinking - Carrie Bradshaw stylee complete with voice over - how much do I really love fashion? I proclaim to. I mean I read all the fashion mags, follow designer shows, love street style, and try to keep abreast of what’s new. I may not wear it, but I can appreciate it on others. However, I clearly do not love it enough to stand in line, even with prospect of finding jumble sale treasure as a reward.

That is why I admire people like Style Bubble and her dedication and true love for fashion. Even though she was ill, she was still able to make it down there and was rewarded with great finds for her perseverance.

And is not just this fashion event that I can’t be bothered for either… I missed out on the Viktor & Rolf for H&M - going an hour later in the vain hope that it would be ‘less busy’ (how naive). Well let me tell you it was less busy because other more dedicated followers of fashion had already been and gone, leaving me to admire empty rails and hangers. Same story with Roberto Cavalli. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not always going to buy stuff , it would be nice to just see it or touch it and the chance to form and opinion. I mean for goodness sake, it took me 3 days to write this post about it! I think that proves my point.

This fashion laziness makes me question my love for fashion. In fact it makes it seem more like a passing crush, or worse still a one night stand. Fashion is my booty-call. I only take an interest when I want it. Shame on me.

It’s been a long time coming, but today is the day I am going to tackle my wardrobe. I am going to separate the things I actually wear from the things that are just taking up space. Hopefully this should make trying to decide what to wear in the morning slightly easier.

I might even uncover some buried treasure, or inspiration on new ways to pair and wear things. Here’s hoping.

If I end up chucking most things, I can always use it as an excuse to buy more stuff!!

I decided to spend my lunch hour torturing myself with a trip around the shops.

As I have previously mentioned, I am trying not to buy anything, and so to avoid all temptation I have not gone into shops, nor have I been looking at the shops websites.

This can be the only reason why this dark denim dress from Miss Selfridge has almost snuck by me.

I could not find it in store, even though it was on the mannequin. I asked an assistant and no luck. They were waiting for a delivery. I left the store empty handed. However, I was not to be beaten. What am I? Some sort of shopping novice? Hells no!

So I thought I’d log on and see if it was available online and just order it from there. Job done.

NOOOooooooooooooooo! Sold out (in my size) Dagnamit.

It is now my mission to stalk Miss Selfridge until this dress comes back into stock.
This dress will be mine, oh yes it will be mine.

Damn it. I’ve got an itch to shop and it needs to be scratched.
Tiny problem though - no cash.

Then like a cartoon lightbulb going on over my head, I remembered I had a French Connection credit note waiting to be spent.
Tiny problem - can’t bleedin’ find it!!

Arrrrrrgggggh!

That’s it. It is officially splitsville for me and my favourite (read only) black pair of skinny jeans.
I am slightly annoyed because the thought of going out to buy another pair fills me with dread. I hate jeans shopping!
The thought of trying on pair after pair that will only pull up to around my calfs is slightly disheartening. Plus facing the unflattering light and confined space of fitting rooms is just too much to bear.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not getting rid of them because I no longer want them, but because the other evening I unceremoniously split them. Not with my lard ass either I’ll have you know.
I accidentally spilt some drink on the floor at home and obviously had to clean it up, so I went to kneel but couldn’t be bothered to get on both knees and well… I can’t explain exactly, but the point is they split.

After a short burst of expletives, I came to terms with the split and moved on.

Now my mission is to replace my black jeans; wish me luck.

Let me introduce you to my new best friend: Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation
Some would describe me as a make-up junkie. Some people like alcohol, some like crack and other drugs. Me? I like a bit of face cream and eyeliner. I cringe when I think how much cashola I may have spent on beauty products, only to throw them out for lack of use; but not this time!

I’d like to think after so many years of growing in my own skin I now know what suits me. Usually I am of the combination type of skin with an extremely oily t-zone and slightly dry cheeks. The dryness however is worse during the winter due to the cold and rain.
One day I looked in the mirror and realised my Studio Fix from MAC was just not doing my skin any favours. The powder was making me look dull and not helping the dry skin situation. (What a lovely pic I am painting of myself).

I took action. My cousin always looks like a flawless painting, as if her makeup has been airbrushed on. I asked her what foundation she used and lo-and behold it was: Giorgio Armani. I could not run to the beauty counter fast enough.

So I have been using it for a couple of weeks now and people have been very complimentary about it telling me I look healthy, glowy and tanned. Yippee. Even though it has made me question what a state I must have looked like prior to this change in foundation.

Working on oxford Street basically means money pours out of my pockets and into the tills of the many shops around me without even having to try.
However, these days it is a totally different story. It feels like 50 weeks since last pay day, with another 6 more to go till next pay day. It means shopping is well and truly off the (credit) cards.
It’s not helping that stores are slashing prices like it’s going out of fashion, but I’m also being tempted by all the lovely new things that are popping up in the window.

Oh how I wish I could run into a store and fill my arms with as much stuff I could carry, throw my debit card at the cashier, and beg for them to bag it all up!

So anyhoo.. I have been good and resisted all urges to shop; generally by not going out for a wander at lunch times and heading straight home after work. Yawn.

However, now that I can see pay day looming on the horizon I can feel my will weakening and the lure of the stores getting stronger. Eeek.

This is why there has been no Object of My Affection post as I cannot even begin to obsess over anything, or else it will end up in my wardrobe with the bank manager banging at my door.

After much excitement of my shoes arriving yesterday and making big plans to debut them today. The rain has come and put paid to my plan.

So now I have to go back to the drawing board and re-think my outfit. Damn you rain.

You may be thinking why don’t I just wear them, they are super shiny and patent so the rain will roll right off them. You are right, but I don’t want to. I want to christen my shoes, but not literally.

I’m not meant to be buying anything but last week I could not resist buying these : Paul & Joe Sister Wedge Brogues

At a £100 off the original price, how could I say no?
Knowing my luck they will probably go down further, but that’s an angry post for another time.
Colourful tights, shorts, skirts, pinafore dresses…. they’ll go with everything!

Now my feet are itching to wear these lovelies and am waiting for them to arrive. Oh the excitement.

EDIT (15:49) : They have just arrived. Whoopee.

Pauline Fowler may have met an untimely demise in ‘Stenders but let me tell you her wardrobe and style is alive and kicking, and I am wearing it today!

I don’t mean a tabard either.

Mornings are the worst for deciding what to wear. I’ve never been one of those people who is able to plan what to wear the night before, mainly for the following reasons:

1) My wardrobe is a scary cavern of creased and unfolded clothing.

2) Nothing is ever ironed.

Both of which make it very hard to find something to wear. It does not help with the fact that I am going through the I hate all my clothes phase
So this morning after much staring and heavy sighing I pulled out:

-The same Dorothy Perkins jeans as yesterday.
-White oversized man shirt from Stella McCartney’s collab with H&M (I forgot I had that) Not ironed but passable.
-Silk/Cashmere Oversize cardi from Zara (same as yesterday but brown).
-Finished with ugg-a-like boots from Just Sheepskin

Not bad. Neat and presentable enough for work. I am missing some color though and I feel a bit plain. Oh well. I’ll just have to wait and see what treasures/rags the wardrobe gives up tomorrow.