PracticalBeautiful: Beautiful Clothes: Summer to Autumn 2011 (what I've been wearing along with some inspiration)

Right, I'm going to start a new section on PracticalBeautiful to show what I have been wearing and what I want to wear/ideas I like - I hope you will find this little section useful. I'm going to try to update it about every month to 2 months. I take inspiration from the fashion mood boards, such as this one, featured by Nicole on Making it Lovely and also the tons of inspiration you can find on Pinterest (my style board linked here), I also have found a truly inspiring blog recently which I just love love love - Secondhand or Bare Bottomed (check it out - I'm sure you will fall for it too).

If I had to summaries my style I probably would use the following descriptions:

smart/casual
eclectic
mostly second hand/ vintage
bursts of colour
PracticalBeautiful (unsurprisingly)
Supermarket finds

OK, enough with the descriptions here's what, I've been wearing throughout the past couple of months... (with details of where everything is from)

JACKET - TESCOS,
FAIR-TRADE COTTON TURQUOISE TOP - TESCOS,
TUNIC DRESS - JOULES (THIS IS ONE OF
MY FAVOURITE ITEMS, AS YOU REALLY CAN
DRESS IT UP OR DOWN IN SO MANY DIFFERENT
WAYS),
LEGGINGS - NEXT
BOOTS - CLARKS (PRESENT FROM MY ADAM)
- IT IS SO WORTH WHILE INVESTING IN SOME GOOD
QUALITY LEATHER BOOTS WHICH CAN TAKE YOU INTO
WINTER FOR MANY YEARS IN A ROW AND ALLOW YOU
TO CARRY ON USING ALL YOUR SUMMER SKIRTS AND
DRESSES ALL YEAR ROUND.

WHITE SHIRT - GEORGE AT ASDA,
TANK TOP - ORIGINALLY
FROM NEXT BUT I BOUGHT IT FROM
LIDLINGTON CAR BOOT,
SKIRT - BOUTIQUE 73 & THEN I REPLACED
THE BUTTONS WITH ONES FROM MY GREAT
GRANDMA'S BUTTON BOX,
TIGHTS - PHARMACY,
BOOTS - CLARKS.

BLACK VEST TOP - TOPSHOP,
PINK TOP - PER UNA (FOUND IN
LOCAL CHARITY SHOP),
TROUSERS - M&S (BOUTIQUE 73)
SHOES - CLARKS

PEACH VEST TOP - TESCOS,
CREAM CARDIGAN - GEORGE AT ASDA,
SKIRT - CHARITY SHOP,
TIGHTS - TK MAXX
BOOTS - CLARKS

CORAL CARDIGAN - TESCOS
PATTERNED VEST - CLOTHESHOW LIVE
(SEVERAL YRS AGO),
TROUSERS - TOPSHOP
FAIRTRADE YELLOW PAPER ROLL NECKLACE -
CHARITY CONCERT I WENT TO RECENTLY

MUSTARD SWING JACKET - F&F @TESCOS
(THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF MY FAVOURITE JACKETS
AND IT GOES SO WELL WITH SO MANY THINGS),
CARDIGAN - MANGO (PRESENT FROM MY LOVELY
FRIEND MARIE)
FLORAL T-SHIRT - BOUTIQUE 73
TROUSERS - BOUTIQUE 73

SAME OUTFIT AS ABOVE WITHOUT JACKET
AND WITH CLARKS SHOES

CORAL CARDIGAN - TESCOS
BLACK VEST TOP - TOPSHOP
BLACK LONG-SLEEVED TOP - H&M
SKIRT - NEXT (2ND HAND ON EBAY)
TIGHTS - TESCOS
BOOTS - CLARKS

WHITE DRESS - BOUTIQUE 73,
CREAM CARDIGAN - GEORGE @ ASDA,
CORSET CREAM LEATHER BELT - EBAY
LEGGINGS - NEXT
BOOTS - CLARKS
NECKLACE - PRESENT FROM MY SISTER TESS

MUSTARD SWING JACKET - TESCOS
WHITE LONG SLEEVED TOP - TESCOS
TUNIC DRESS - JOULES
LEGGINGS - NEXT
BOOTS - CLARKS
NECKLACE - CHARITY CONCERT

SAME OUTFIT AS ABOVE WITHOUT JACKET

CORAL CARDIGAN - TESCOS
TOP - LAURA ASHLEY (BOUTIQUE 73)
BOX PLEAT SKIRT - F&F @ TESCOS
TIGHTS - PHARMACY
BOOTS - CLARKS

SCARF - PRESENT FROM MY FRIEND MARIE,
TUNIC DRESS - JOULES,
WHITE LONG SLEEVED TOP - TESCOS
LEGGINGS - NEXT
BOOTS - CLARKS
NECKLACE - CHARITY CONCERT

CARDIGAN - NEXT (BOUTIQUE 73)
BLACK VEST TOP - TOPSHOP
JEANS - MISS SELFRIDGE
TEAL BELT - H&M
TEAL PEEP TOE SHOES - CLARKS

DRESS - BOUTIQUE 73
LEGGINGS - EBAY
TEAL PEEP TOE SHOES - CLARKS

POLKA DOT DRESS - H&M (BOUTIQUE 73)
CREAM CARDIGAN - GEORGE @ASDA
NECKLACE - CHARITY CONCERT
LEGGINGS - EBAY

TROUSERS - NEW LOOK
SILK MIX TOP - MEXX
BLACK VEST - TOPSHOP
NECKLACE - PRESENT FROM MY SISTER TESS

I do, as you can see, try to where possible buy good quality stables which can be used time and time again and then make outfit different by adding in different jewellery and charity and eBay finds. I also keep these photos on my phone so that if I need some last minute inspiration in the morning and I'm too tired to think what to put with what (I'm not much of a morning person) I know already what does. I do need over the next couple of months to get some new office trousers, as the ones pictured here are about 5 years old now and feel it, jeans tend to survive better than work trousers in that sense, which is one of the many reasons why, given the choice, I'd rather wear them.

I have to admit I absolutely love a bargain! - I had in the back of my mind that I really did need a new winter coat, but when I was in TK Maxx the other day (actually trouser shopping, but never mind) I came across a coat, 5 minutes before the store closed, which fitted perfectly the moment I tried it on, beautiful detailing and a real military/ navy look with lovely brass buttons - then I saw the price and barely could believe my eyes - under £30.00! So I have my new formal winter coat - and it is yummy - and very warm too.

I also, with birthday money from Adam's grandparents, have finally treated myself to some Joules posh wellies, which I have been swooning over for months and some Hunter welly socks to go in them using birthday vouchers from my lovely friend Mary - yum!....

Finally here are a selection of the most swoon worthy outfits I have seen on Pinterest in the past couple of months: