Forget the Rules on Sale Buys

Every Style Editor I have read dispenses stern advice about buying in the Sales. They always counsel caution ,citing their own expensive mistakes and stipulate that one should only part with money for Classic purchases- cashmere jumpers, a taupe trench, black cigarette pants etc etc. I disagree. Perhaps I'm being unusually pugnacious ( or just usually pugnacious ) but I'd say they are are wrong!

Some of the best buys I've made have been on impulse , in the Sale. It's  an opportunity to take a risk, try a different style, get a colour you wouldn't usually countenance, be someone different . I wouldn't have paid full whack for my purple faux astrakhan, long length, waistcoat with the fur collar but I love it. I don't wear it all the time of course, but when I do I always get compliments and I feel a very different creature. That's just one example but I have loads of others. It's the "wild buys" that make your wardrobe interesting.I say, go for it.

My reason for talking the S word is that I'm in North Wales for a few days and I think style inspiration might be a little hard to come by - unless we are talking wooly jumpers and a fleece- so I'm bringing you my latest Sale buy from home. Reserve your judgement. The photographs don't do it justice and the model couldn't look less enchanted if she tried but, in the flesh, or the cloth, it looks fab. 

This coat is in the Sale at Monsoon. The style is Inga and is a snip at £35, down from £99. It is still available on line and they had most sizes in store in Leeds.

It is in a lovely jacquard material which gives it a structured appearance, holding it's shape but avoiding being stiff. The sleeves are bracelet length and it has oversized black buttons and a small collar and lapel which I think looked good turned up. It has a very 60s feel about it. You could easily mine that vibe, with cropped, black trousers and a plain T or polo neck and some flats.

Serving Suggestion !

Marks and Spencer Limited Collection Modal  T Shirt £15

Boden Bistro Crop Trousers £47 ( from 59 )

Marks and Spencer Limited Collection Resin Block Floral Necklace £25

Pretty Ballerina Cut Out Flowers Pointed Toe . Style Ella.  £169

Marks and Spencer Limited Collection faux leather geometric print cross body bag £35

Or.... adding vertiginous cage heels brings it crashing ( and in my case, probably hobbling ) into the now !

Office Parisian Lace Up Ghillie Sandal .Black Suede. £70

The Coat works equally well over a dress and would look stunning with Boden's Betty Ottoman Dress £53.40 from £89

The dresss looks perhaps a little long on the model in this picture. For the purposes of balance it needs to hit the knee. I think it's the angle of the shot which distorts it. Let's hope so , but you get my drift!

Mixing up the fashion eras , so to speak, I've teamed it with block heel sandals from Clarks.

Clarks Saskia Billy £65

Or the Office Cage pair above.

The Dress option

Hopefully you now feel free to disregard all warnings about Sale Buys and can now roam free and with confidence through the end of season rails. You would be surprised at how much of what is going to be in" during the following season appears reduced in this one. It's just that the market isn't quite ready for the new look- you can be though. Put it in the wardrobe... And wait!

 

Right, can it be real?? The sun is shining for the second day in a row, which has never happened to me in Wales before, so I'm going to get out and make the most of it. I know it's always sunny if you live here- my Father in Law swears to it- but for our Family trips, not so much! In fact I only know how to do Llandudno in the rain. What a treat today then. Doubly so as we have no teenager to insist on the 'slots' on the pier. Or do we just need her as an excuse to go ourselves? Getting excited- Punch and Judy and the Prom-brilliant! Have a lovely day.