Crochet Lace Dress from Apricot in aid of Ovarian Cancer Charity Ovacome

March is ovarian cancer month and, to support this, Apricot has teamed up with ovarian cancer charity, Ovacome and are selling a fabulous dress in the charity's colour of teal.

The dress is lined and structured, to give an amazing fit.  The pattern detail, with circular crochet lace and pleats is divine.  And the colour is gorgeous.  It can be worn to the office with a blazer and courts or dressed up with accessories and killer heels for an evening out.  It's £35 and comes in sizes 8 to 16 and, with all profits from sales of this dress going to Ovacome, it is so worth it.

There is also a canvas tote bag available for just £2, again, with all profits going to the charity.  So do think about supporting this cause and gaining a fab dress and bag!  It's win/win for everyone!

Everyday Leather Shopper Bag from Boden

I'm still loving that candy pink that's on trend this season and I've found some gorgeous ways to embrace this style subtlety on the Boden website - with a discount!  The code U008 will work to get 20% off selected items, plus free delivery and returns.

First, there's this everyday leather shopper bag.  It's a perfect size, a perfect colour and with neat compartments to store all one's bits and pieces.  Originally £110, it's currently £88 and an easy way to wear pink with style.

And why not team it with this card holder? Originally £15, it's just £12 and a perfect way to store one's cards and passes.

Both items also come in green, blue and silver.

Alexander McQueen Satin Knuckleduster Box Clutch from Covetique

I've just found UK online store Covetique which buys and sells pre-owned designer clothes and accessories.  Customers can sell their items - and they collect free of charge - or buy them at a discount from the site.  Brands featured include Chanel, Christian Louboutin, Hermès, Jimmy Choo and Burberry, with up to 90% off.  Being preowned, items won't be necessarily perfect but the site make the condition of the product very clear.

Being pre-owned, items will be one-offs and specific sizes, but it's definitely worth having a look at the gorgeous items available.  I love this Alexander McQueen box clutch with its knuckleduster ring detail.  On first impression, it's quite subtle but then one spots the jewelled skull detail and delicate Swarovski crystals to give extra edge and elegance.

The original RRP for this is £1,165 but is £550 from Covetique.

Preppy Colourblock Work Bag from Accessorize

Goodness me!  I have just realised that I haven't featured a bag since October, so I guess it's about time to do so once again.  And where better to focus than the Accessorize sale?  Of course, there are loads of fab bags there - clutches, totes, wallets and satchels - but I've chosen this colourblock work bag, mainly as I went back to work this week!

Smart and structured with a definite 60's vibe, it will be perfect for all those office bits.  The zipped compartments help to contain those additional non-work bits too!  The shoulder strap means it can be carried easily and comfortably to meetings and about town, putting it down with the carry handles.  Perfect!  And even better, it's reduced from £35 to £27 in the sale.

Beautiful Bag: Spot Weekend Bag from Cath Kidston

One of my favourite sale events is the Cath Kidston sale.  They always have a great variety of items at a discount and it's easy to stock up on 'essentials' without going too overboard with spending.

This green spotty weekender bag has caught my eye in the latest sale.  The colour is vibrant and gorgeous and the spots are fun.  The size (48 x 33 x 15 cm) is perfect for a weekend away, not too big but not too small.  The handles are long enough to put over the shoulder, so easy to carry and it's oilcloth that can be wiped clean, so easy to keep looking (hoho, no pun intended) spotless!  Originally £60, it's been reduced by a third to £40, which is great value for a bag like this.

Satchel Bag from Groupon

Groupon is one of my favourite online retailers.  Customers can sign up to newsletter of their choice - I have signed up to two local ones based on my nearest towns - usually meals out and pampering packages, but I've been told the London one often does theatre shows - and a goods one, which has great deals on products and courses.  Each deal has a significant discount - there's a wedding planner course today offering a 91% discount and a telescope with a 78% discount.  So it's definitely well worth signing up; I've found a couple of bargains which I had been looking for elsewhere at much higher prices and have struck lucky with Groupon.  Customers make a purchase through the Groupon site and are sent a 'Groupon' - essentially a voucher which needs to be redeemed within a certain date, so if it's a good/product that's been purchased, this can be done immediately but a local appointment needs to be booked within the date range.

Today they've got some fab, on-trend, colourful, cross body satchels on offer with a 54% discount, making therm, £22.99 rather than £49, and with free delivery.  They aren't leather, but at that price, one wouldn't expect them to be really.  My favourite is this pink one:

But they've got so many other colours too:  navy blue and tan brown:

Teal and bright neon green:

Coral blue, black and bright purple:

And an emerald green.

The colours are so fab and such a bargain, that it's worth getting a couple to match any outfit!  And they are practical and pretty at the same time - who could want more from a bag?!

Costella adele Miami Handbag from Bottica

I suspect this is more of a clutch than a handbag, but how fabulous is this adele Miami bag by Costella?  The neon colours are amazing, and it will look great with almost any outfit, day or night.  It's superior quality, being handmade in Los Angeles from lambskin with a waterproof lining.  It's also limited edition - there's only three left!  Totally an investment piece at £104 - although you could make an offer.  It's available from online site Bottica, and new customers can sign up to get £30 off their first order, so even better!  Gorgeous.

Beautiful Bag: Jayne Colour Block Clutch Bag from Boohoo.com

One can never have too many bags and there's a great selection at great prices on the Boohoo.com website.

I really like these Jayne colour block clutch bags.  They are a good size for a clutch, being large enough to carry all of one's essentials, but without being too massive.  They come in a fab range of colours - I really love the bright yellow pictured below, but there's also pink, black and white.  The bright ones will look great with a neutral or black outfit for that burst of colour and the monochrome ones will look sophisticated with any outfit.  Just £16 normally, customers can get an extra 10% off at Boohoo.com till tomorrow with the code 10UK.

Awesome Accessories: Lowie Cloche Hat & Tote Handbag from Rock My Vintage

In my opinion, vintage-inspired fashion will never go out of style which is why buying such items will always be a canny and savvy way to shop!  They can be mixed and matched easily - so one can go for the full retro vibe to channel whichever era one wants, or pick a few key pieces to add a vintage twist to a modern look!

Online store Rock my Vintage specialises in both original and inspired vintage dresses and accessories. The boutique offers a great selection of dresses, handbags, jewellery, belts, scarves and headwear.  There are loads of items in their sale right now, including some amazing dresses, but I'm focusing on the accessories today.

I love this hand-knitted Lowie cloche hat which is perfect for autumn and winter, when the weather starts to cool.  It takes me back to the Twenties - very Gatsby, I feel!  The ribbon is very cute and adds an element of interest, to prevent this from just being a simple woolen hat.  It comes in cream (pictured), red and cobalt blue and has been reduced from £40 to just £16.

I have also found this wonderful nude tote handbag which I think would work well with the 1920's, retro look - although it's also got a 1960's feel about it!  Mix and match of eras?  This would work well for all daytime occasions; the site suggests weddings and the races - August Bank Holiday at Goodwood anyone?  It's a great, versatile handbag and has been reduced from £75 to £45.

As these are sale items, voucher codes shouldn't apply but it's worth noting that Rock My Vintage do have an ongoing code (till the end of the year) for 8% off if customers fancy any of their full-priced items!

Divine Collaboration: Issa for Banana Republic

Banana Republic have just launched a fab collaboration with Issa, a designer label best known for developing gorgeous jersey wrap dresses worn by fashionistas such as Kate Middleton and Nicole Richie.  In keeping with Banana Republic heritage, the designs are inspired by safari - so think leopard print, zebra print and tropical colours.  Launched just yesterday, its popularity means that the range is selling out fast - so do have a look!

My favourite pieces are the dresses and this zebra print, ponte dress is excellent.  The fit and flare style is flattering and elegant, and the style and pattern means it's perfect for any occasion in the summer.  The neutral colours mean that it can be paired with a colourful bag and sandal wedges and look gorgeous!  It's £85 and is still available in sizes 4, 6 and 12 to 18.

I also love this tan and brown leather envelope clutch bag - which would also go with the dress and be perfect for the office!  It's £79.50 but the quality is amazing, the style is classic and it will last season after season.

As ever, new customers can get 15% off purchases just by signing up to the email mailing list, so do take advantage.

Beautiful Bag: Patent Clutch from Banana Republic

I love Banana Republic for its great value, quality wardrobe staples, its amazing collaborations with some fab designers and also the fact that they frequently offer discounts, so it's often easy to pick up a good deal.

They are also having a sale at the moment and I've found this bargaintastic mint green patent clutch, which has been reduced from £49.50 to just £14.99.  Perfect for day or night, it's simple and and sophisticated and will go with almost any outfit!  It's also available in an orange 'autumn leaf' colour.

The Look for Less: House of Fraser Sale

The House of Fraser sale is still on, with lots of lovely bargains on gorgeous designer fashion and accessories. I have put together an outfit inspired by a number of things and, just for fun, can you guess how I've been influenced to create this look?  I've based it on my favourite following factors:

• A city
• An era
• A television show
• A person

I love this look as it is classic, feminine and elegant.  The dress is voluptuous and will flatter the figure and highlight a woman's best bits, with the draped fabric concealing any bumps.  The person who I've based the look on is bold and sassy, and I think this look epitomises that.  This look would certainly work in the office for a brave woman, and then take her nicely into the evening for cocktail hour!

All items are on sale as shown below.

Pied a Terre asymmetrical cocktail dress
£89 

Juno Tote
£48.30

Jones Bootmaker Bindy Court Shoes
£45

Hobbs NW3 Clover Earrings
£8

Martine Wester Fable Pearl & Black Diamond Flower Ring
£7.50

Karen Millen Swarovski Teardrop Pendant
£30

Leather Day Bag and Competition from Warehouse

A smart leather bag is a must, especially for the office, and I have been coveting this brown one from Warehouse since I spotted it in the shop a month or two ago.  However, at £76, I felt that it was a bit of an extravagance when I already have a lovely leather handbag for work.

Lucky for me then, it's in the Warehouse sale!  It's been reduced to just £45, which I feel is amazing value for a quality leather bag.  The size is just right to fit all of one's essentials being 33cm x 24cm  - not too big and bulky, but not too small either.  The style is classic and so will last into next season and beyond and it should go, not only with smart office wear, but with casual day outfits also.

As well as the sale, Warehouse are running a fantastic competition called 'Style Me If You Can.'  The competition asks customers to enter to become the stylist for their forthcoming film and print campaign, so they can see their designs brought to life.  In addition, they can win an I-Escape trip for two to Paris, Milan or New York!  It's a great, unique competition for budding stylists, asking them to pick a city location and style an outfit that best suits the occasion. They will then create a style mood board and be able to share their creativity with friends through the custom-made built-in social media functions. 

The nine best outfits will appear in a film and print campaign credited to each winning stylist. The film itself will be made up of nine chapters, released every 90 minutes on a single day. It will be viewable on the Warehouse website, social media and customers' own mobile phones. When the entrant watches each chapter he or she will be able to see if his or her style has been picked. 

This is a really interesting, innovative and unique way of developing and sharing the new Warehouse collection and I'd love it if one - or more - of my readers won it!  It closes just before midnight on Thursday, so do have a look as soon as possible.  Best of luck!

Beautiful Bag: New Posy Business Bag from Cath Kidston

'What is a business bag?' I hear you say.  I wasn't sure either, but it looks like a really good purchase for the working woman who's into Cath Kidston - or any woman who has a laptop, iPad and some pens!

In terms of pattern and styling, this Posy business bag may be a little flowery for the office, depending on the workplace.  But I do think this could work with a sharp suit and heels, giving a feminine edge to power dressing if it's appropriate.  It's made from oilcloth, so it's going to be durable and waterproof - always a good thing!  It's padded too, so will protect that (up to 13 inch) laptop or iPad, especially during the commute.  Not only does it have the handles, but it also has a shoulder strap - again, helpful and handy.

I prefer the idea of a bag like this to a standard laptop case or bag, as it's more versatile and will hold more with all of the compartments and pockets; yes, it's more expensive but I'd suggest that you get more for your money.  There's a third off this bag at the moment, so instead of £75, it's £50.

Would you use this bag at work or is it too flowery for your office - let me know in the comments below!

Beautiful Bag: Pinkie Flamingo Holdall from Ollie & Nic

Ollie and Nic sell unique and amazing bags, jewellery and accessories and they have just come over with Flamingo Fever!  They have developed a gorgeous, exclusive flamingo print and have just released a couple of fabulous bags in the pattern.

I must confess that I received a sneak peek of this weekend holdall a little while ago, and have been coveting it ever since.  The flamingo print is totally on trend, with its tropical theme and the bag itself is stylish and practical.  Size-wise, it's perfect for a weekend break - country house hotel anyone? - and the choice of using the grab handles or shoulder straps means it will be easy to carry to one's destination.  

The bag itself is £65 but until 11th June, Ollie and Nic are offering 20% off full priced items with the code HTOLNC20, bringing it down to £52 - not bad for a great quality, beautiful, sturdy and long-lasting weekend bag!

Beautiful Bag: Rasia Opulent Bloom Tote Bag from Ted Baker

From today, until Friday 31st May, there's 20% off at Ted Baker which is a real treat - they rarely do these sort of deals, so it's a great time to take advantage of the discount!

As ever, it's hard to pick just one item on the site one which to focus as there is such a lovely selection.  I haven't done bags in a while, so I've selected this Rasia floral quilted tote handbag.  The floral pattern is delicate and neutral enough to go with anything - either for casual occasions, work or evening.  There are lots of compartments for everything to be nicely organised inside, it's sturdy and it's a good size.  Usually £159, with the discount code TED1HPRBQ8 it's £127.20.

Fantastic Footwear: Menbur Malubi Peep-toe Heels from Zalando

I can't believe I missed these pastel blue satin peep-toe heels when researching my Great Gatsby Glamour post yesterday!  The sky blue of the shoe adds an element of colour to the neutral shades of the dresses really well and I love the diamante decorative jewel effect on the heel which takes it into a whole new glamourous dimension.  Perfect for the whole 1920's look!

They're currently on sale at Zalando - reduced from £90 to £65 with free delivery.

Team with the matching blue satin clutch for ultimate loveliness!  Don't forget, there's £5 off £50 spends at Zalando till the end of the month too.