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.

Maryna Kick Dress from Baukjen

Customers can now save up to 60% in the Baukjen sale where the focus is understated, everyday looks women can wear and still look chic and elegant.  The quality of the products is excellent, the styling is classic and each piece is easy to wear for most occasions.

I'm very taken with this Maryna kick dress in a fabulous ink blue, almost purple colour.  Made from a heavyweight jersey fabric with elastane, it will create a gorgeously flattering feminine silhouette with the full skirt balancing out the hips.  It can be worn simply as is or cinch in the waist with a thick leather belt for a lovely hourglass shape.  This colour has been reduced in the sale from £139 to £97; a black version is also available for £111.

Delightful Dress: Lace Shirt Collar Dress from Yumi

Yumi do the loveliest, cutest and unique dresses and those that are in the sale are no exception.

This black and burgundy contrasting lace dress is really different and interesting.  I think it would be great for work, with the collar creating a pop of colour and a slightly more formal style that would look great in the office.  The lace detail embellishes the front, making it really chic and elegant.  It's reduced from £30 to £21 and is still available in sizes 8 to 16.

Fantastic Footwear: Whistles Barbara Ballet Shoes from Atterley Road

I do love a quality ballerina pump and these black suede Whistles ones with an ankle strap are simply divine.  They are stylish and elegant, but will be comfortable and practical for wearing during the day - perfect for the office teamed with a smart skirt suit.  I think they could also be worn with ankle skimming jeans for a more casual, but still chic, look.  They are available from Atterley Road in sizes EU 36 to 40 for £110 and, until midnight on Monday, customers can get 25% off with code PAYDAY25, meaning they're £82.50.

Splendid Skirt: Light Weight Stripe Dobby Skirt from Adini

A floaty light, cotton skirt is an essential for summer and a versatile one which can be worn at home or in the office and on sale is even better!

Adini is a classic British boutique womenswear brand that is dedicated to making the woman of today feel and look beautiful.  I particularity like them as they specialise in using natural fabrics to create gorgeous English fashion with a hint of Eastern influences.  Their collections are distinctive and unique, but still on trend.

This cotton, lightweight Dobby skirt is a perfect example of this.  It comes in three different colours - cobalt blue, white and fossil (pictured).  It would look great for a casual look, paired with a simple vest top, but equally could be dressed up for the office.  It's fully lined and paneled for added flare and movement, so super quality too.  It's reduced to £41.48 with the discount and comes in sizes 10 to 20 - but it's selling out quickly!

Splendid Skirt: Rothko Striped Skirt from Great Plains

Great Plains provides modern and stylish fashion for women focusing on comfort, quality and wearability - so a brand that ticks all the boxes in my opinion!  There's clothing, jewellery and handbags and they are currently holding a end of season sale.

A pleated midi skirt is always stylish and versatile, and I love this striped one that's been reduced from £69 to just £24 in the sale.  It comes in the orange, grey and beige shown (or husky/rooster combo on the site) or royal blue, navy and grey (or veronica/aleutian combo).  It could be worn easily for work, paired with a white blouse and heeled courts or dressed down with a dark top, tights and boots.  Being pleated and a modest knee-length, it will skim the hips, and by tucking in one's top and adding a wide belt, it should be really flattering.

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!

Father's Day Gift Ideas: Men's Tex Stripe Short Sleeve Shirt from Jigsaw

I really enjoy buying clothing for men, especially as a gift!  T-shirts are always great, and I've already blogged about a fab Darth Vader Daddy one; I suspect I will be searching for a few more as gifts for Father's Day on the 16th.

However, sometimes a man needs something a bit more formal and that's why it's great that Jigsaw are currently running their men's summer clearance sale.  It's often quite difficult to find good quality, short-sleeved cotton work shirts for men, but there are several in the sale which is brilliant.  They are perfect for the office - as is, with a blazer, or smartened up even more with a tie and suit.  In addition, I think these ones are versatile enough that they can be worn with jeans as smart/casual attire.

The shirt comes in pink (shown) or a chambray blue and is reduced from £65 to just £29; sizes available are small to extra large.  There is also a lovely red and white gingham one - reduced from £75 to £29 - but it's only available in a small size.

What do you think?  Is this a good idea for a present for the father in your life?  Add your views in the comments below!

Summer Staple: Ted Baker Jaynesh Tuxedo Tailored Shorts from House of Fraser

House of Fraser are currently in the middle of their two-day brand event, both online and in-store, meaning there's up to 25% branded products until midnight on Friday 26th April.

I have had my eye on these mint coloured Ted Baker tuxedo shorts for a while to take me into the summer months but, at £109, the price was a little scary despite the quality.  However, with the 25% discount from House of Fraser, this is reduced to £87.20.  The tuxedo tailoring is classic and the front pleats should flatter the thighs.  They can be tailored with a simple t-shirt or blouse or made a little more edgy with a funky vest top.  These come in sizes 6 - 14.

And oh look!  There's a matching 'Jayne' jacket, also with 25% off, so they can be worn as an amazingly chic outfit to the office when the weather improves!  Stylish, savvy, canny and chic.  What more can you want?

The Look for Less: Savvy Office Chic

I've just discovered a site called Polyvore where I can find clothes, shoes and accessories online and put them together in a collage, to see how they work together.  Here is my first attempt:

As you would expect, it is a combination of sale and discounted items, so you can get the whole look for less.  In this collage I have included:

• French Connection Natsue jacket and shift dress - reduced in the House of Fraser two-day brand event where there's up to 25% off branded items (ends Friday).
• Episode Gratitude ankle strap wedge sandals - also in the House of Fraser event.
• J by Jasper Conran navy mini tote from Debenhams - currently with 20% off in the Blue Cross sale, plus there's an extra 10% off with the discount code HK73 (ends Sunday).
• Spike and flower necklace from Dorothy Perkins which has 30% off everything till Sunday.

I'm thinking that for the future, I can focus on specific gorgeous pieces as I have been, but every now and again do some outfits this way to give an idea to update one's wardrobe!  So I suppose my question is, is this the sort of thing that you would like to see?  Would it give you inspiration and ideas - as I hope!

Find me on Polyvore by clicking here!