Orla Kiely Love Heart Purse from House of Fraser

Mother's Day this year is 30th March and House of Fraser are currently running a promotion whereby customers can get 20% off selected gifts.  These include bags and purses from Radley, Biba, Dickins & Jones and Ted Baker amongst others, smellies, clothing and homeware.  It's a great opportunity to get something gorgeous at a discount!

My favourite (no hints, of course!) is this Orla Kiely love heart purse.  I think the love hearts are really sweet but the colour combination stops it from being cutesy and twee.  It's also got plenty of room and compartments for all one's needs - cards, coins and notes - which is what one wants from a purse!  As it's Orla Kiely, it's still not cheap - with the discount it's £55.20 - but it's gorgeous, it's quality and it will last.

Knee High Heeled Boots from Castaluna

A good pair of knee high boots is an autumn/winter essential.  They look good with skinny jeans tucked into them, but equally could be paired with dresses and skirts.  However, a problem I've had with them in the past is that they are too tight on my calves - if I can even get them zipped up in the first place - so I was really pleased to find these wide calf boots from Castaluna.  Castaluna is a plus-size online clothing store and they've got some really good clothing and footwear in sizes 14 to 36 and it's great that they have some boots that I can do up!

I like these boots also for their classic style - they will never go out of fashion.  They are simple but elegant and the heel height of 8cm isn't too high to be impractical, but high enough to give legs definition.  They are also versatile in that they could be worn casually or for work.  They come in sizes 3 to 8 and in brown (pictured), black or burgundy.

These boots are £89 but there are several different discount codes for Castaluna that can be used, so have a look at my voucher page to see which one works best!

Fantastic Footwear: Groove Cognac Force Boots from Hot Topic

Hot Topic is an American website that stocks current, music-inspired trends.  They are really good for rock and band merchandise, but they also stock items relating to comics, cult films and cartoons, so it's easy to find something fun and unique.  They are currently offering 25% off everything so it's definitely worth a look at what they've got!

I've always been partial to a pair of military style boots and I love these lace up Groove Cognac ones. One can style military boots in so many ways - pair with a floaty dress to add an edge to a feminine look or simply wear with jeans.  The nineties grunge look is still going strong, so these would be perfect for recreating that era!  Originally $46.50, with the discount they are only $34.88 (about £22) and come in US sizes 5 to 10 - so UK 2 1/2 to 7 1/2 ish.

The only problem is that shipping isn't cheap - around £35 from what I can tell, but if one is buying a lot, it may be worth it for cool items that can't be found elsewhere!

Great Jeans: Hilfiger Denim Sophie Skinny Jeans from Isme

There's still time to take advantage of sales; another one I have spotted is from online catalogue company Isme.  They are offering up to 60% off their branded fashion products and 70% off other items too.

I think these Hilfiger Denim Sophie zip hem skinny jeans are great for the transition into autumn.  The floral pattern is delicate and feminine, but not too much so that it is twee.  I also like the fact that the ankle hems have a zip - makes life that much easier I feel!  They'd work well for summer with light coloured pumps and a vest top or team with ankle boots and a jacket when it starts getting cooler.  They're available in sizes 8 to 16 and are £48 to £52.50 depending on size (reduced from £80).

Over the Top: Animal Jacquard Biker Jacket from Mint Velvet

A classic biker jacket is a great wardrobe staple. It can be teamed with almost anything - with jeans and heeled boots for a casual look or with a tea dress for a pretty but edgy look.  It also works well for those times - and there are many - when the weather doesn't seem to know what it's doing!  In addition, they featured quite heavily in various AW13 collections, so it's worth looking to see if any are available in the sales now.

Mint Velvet are currently having their sale and I've found this jacquard version of the biker jacket, reduced from £119 to £79.  It's available in two neutral colours, nude (shown) and chalk (white) in sizes 8 to 18.  I think the pale colours mean that they will work well with brighter outfits as well as neutral shades.  A fabulous outfit would be a bright, bodycon dress (maybe a royal blue?), belt and high court heels - the epitome of foxy glamour, I think!

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.