Time in words

The watch says it all - literally...

 

Say hello to the World's first written watch from Biegert & Funk - Available from Autumn 2012, approx. 550 Euros. 

 

Ideal gift for the watch-fanatic, otherwise known as my boyfriend!

Prints - I'm slightly in love...

This season is all about prints - Aztec, Floral, Gatsby, Monochrome - you name it, it's bound to have a print on it. I absolutely adore the pyjama print look a la Stella McCartney, but completely agree with the many reports out there, it's perhaps not for everyone or everywhere, no matter how comfortable it is, after all imagine rocking up to a meeting with the boss in your pjs! 

I thought I'd start slow so I've dipped my toe into the print waters with this little lovely from H&M...

At just £7.99 you really can't start any better but it's got me hooked, there are now several items on my Prints wishlist and, unfortunately for me, it hasn't just stopped with fashion - oh no, now I'm obsessed with prints for the home too! You literally can surround yourself completely in as many contrasting-clashing-yet-wierdly-working-together prints as your heart desires. Here's my pick of the best I've seen so far...

Columbia Road Mustard wallpaper - £198 by Custhom at Moska.co.uk

Pineapple Crop Top - £40, Oasis

Aztec Placement Print Shorts - £14, River Island

Floral Duvet Cover - £70, Urban Outfitters

Printed Trouser - £39.99, Zara

I'm hot-footing it to Zara as soon as I hit 'Send' - might have to wait until payday for the beautiful wallpaper though...only 2 days away!

Dress Dilemmas

As we all know, in less than 2 weeks it's Mothering Sunday; this also happens to be the day of my nephew's Christening. I wouldn't usually be worried about what to wear, a pretty dress of some description or perhaps a shirt/top combo, this time however I'm going to be one of the Godparents - suddenly a mere dress from my existing wardrobe just doesn't seem to cut it!

I have been searching high and low on both the high street and online and I really haven't seen anything that takes my fancy quite like a very gorgeous and, annoyingly, very out of my price range Joseph dress from mywardrobe.com - just look at the beautiful simplicity and deliciousness of it all...

Joseph Powder Crepe A Line Shift Dress - £285 from mywardrobe.com

Unfortunately, I don't have a £300 to spare at the moment (see Project Bathroom!) so I'm looking for alternatives. Here are a couple on the shortlist but, although all of them are absolutely lovely and extremely perfect for the occasion, they're just not the Joseph dress above and  I'm still far from convinced on any... *sigh*

Ali Dress in Pink - £149, Damsel in a Dress

Love Bird print dress - £45, Warehouse

Lace Dress - £55, Oasis

SWOON Scallop Dress - £78, Three Floor

As you can see, all amazing - decisions decisions (ahem * Joseph dress* cough)

PayDay Treat!

It's payday! It's also the end of the first month of Satchels and Soap! 

For those that have been following the blog you will know that the general aim for S&S is to document our journey to saving for a deposit for a flat; you will also know that so far I am failing miserably at actually curbing my spending but, alas, it's payday...everyone needs a treat on payday.

I'm heading to the Cotswolds soon for a romantic weekend away for Mr. S&S's birthday so what better to treat myself to that a beautiful weekend holdall? This is by far the best one I've found (that isn't extortionately priced, I am saving a little bit after all!) and it's possibly too cute for words so you'll just have to enjoy the picture instead...

Anorak Seagulls Weekend Holdall - £150, Anorak Online

Leghila Neoprene Bags

The point of this blog was to help save money and document my spending habits and saving tips while working towards a deposit for a flat - how am I meant to do this with so many must-have products crossing my path every which way I turn - that question is directed at you Leghila!

Italian brand Leghila is the creator behind the first Neoprene washable bags. All exclusively made in Italy the bags are beauties and, with designs and styles for all occasions, from hitting the shops to heading up a board room, there really is no excuse for not looking chic and dapper with the right arm candy at all times.

B Bag 782 by Leghila - €450

B Bag by Leghila - from €195

PC Case by Leghila - from €110

BIZ Bag by Leghila - €150

With dozens of colour combinations to choose from for each design you can have one for each outfit!

Cufflinking Cool

This morning I posted one for the girls, this afternoon Pinterest has inspired me to do one for the boys. 

Mr. S&S, I think it's fair to say, is slightly obsessed with cufflinks; he wears them to work everyday so who can blame him for wanting to look good - surely it's just the male work-alternative to shoes and handbags? I spotted on Pinterest a whole page of very cool cufflinks but, annoyingly, it didn't say where any of them can be bought so I've trawled (read 'done a quick search') for some lovely alternatives that are available online right now, hope you like...

Bicycle Cufflinks - £19.50 Chapel Cards at Not On The High Street

Moustache Cufflinks - £30 Tatty Devine

White Stag cufflinks - £29.95 Tyler & Tyler at KJ Beckett

Sugary sweet gear for the feet

Ice cream shades are everywhere at the moment and what a perfect way to cheer up a dull February day or bask in the sunshine (on the rare occasion that the sun actually makes an appearance in the UK, excluding yesterday) than wrapping yourself in the pretty pastels á la Mulberry and Louis Vuitton, even homewares are getting in on the act, courtesy of Good Homes' April issue:

If the all-over sugary-sweet look isn't for you then perhaps an accessory or hint of colour here and there is the way forward - this has led me to hunt down some of the prettiest on the high street at the moment - here are my picks...

GELDOF - £220 Kurt Geiger

Court Show with metal toe-cap - £69.99 Zara

MAGICIAN Suede lace-up brogue - £32 Topshop

Basic leather ballerina shoe - £28

Nike Air Royalty High - £70 Nike

So whether you want to make a statement and go high, be smart with a court, or fancy rocking some flats or super-casual trainers there's a perfect pastel for every occasion...I'm starting with the brogues!

Roll Up, Roll Up

Every morning I walk from Victoria station to Carnaby Street, where I work; not only do I love a daily dose of fresh air and a stroll through Green Park but it's also lovely to walk along New Bond Street in the almost deserted early hours. Each morning I join the flower stall set up crew, window cleaners and postmen on what is undoubtably one of the lovely retail streets in London. This, of course, also gives me ample opportunity to check out all of the stunningly beautiful clothes that I oh-so-want in all of the store windows, if only it wasn't for this darn saving malarky (because that's why I can't buy them, yeah right!!).

Yesterday showed blacked out Louis Vuitton windows; this morning these gorgeous displays were revealed...

The windows are replicas of the fantasy-like SS12 show from way back in October last year - you can watch the full show and see Kate Moss show us how to do perfect pastels by clicking below.

Louis Vuitton SS12 Show

Wild Swimwear

Being the savvy shopper that I am (or at least attempting to be) i thought it was a brilliant idea to partake in a spot of lunchtime sales shopping in search of a bikini for my holiday, albeit 7 months away! My theory was that i could find a beauty of a bargain in the Sales thus not only being terribly prepared but also saving a bit of money at the same time - sounds genius right? Wrong! 

Yes I'm sure there are many a lovely enough bikini or swimsuit out there discounted and ready for the taking but how can anything possibly compare when one of the first options i come across is this swimsuit of superiority?!

Palomino Pony One Piece - £129

Wildfox Couture is the proud brand behind the Palomino Pony One-piece. Not only is this fun swimwear option not in the sale but it's also above high street average at £129...I still think it's worth it! I'm going to toy with the idea for a day or two, work myself out of the spenders-guilt zone and, let's face it, we all know I'm going to make it mine! Fail.

For more swimsuit and bikini heaven check out the website - be warned, you will not be able to leave empty handed! 

http://www.wildfoxcouture.co.uk/store/

We Heart Zatchels!

You may have noticed we have a bit of a thing for satchels, which is why we love Zatchels! I've only just had the pleasure to come across this brand and it's only serving to fuel my obsession of a perfectly made, buckled-up leather of loveliness satchels; and here's why...

Sassy Snakeprint:

Cracked Snakeskin Print Leather Satchel - From £104

Pretty Pastels:

Pastel Pink Leather Satchel - from £76

Magical Metallics:

Metallic Copper Leather Satchel - From £99

Fabulous Fluoros:

Fluoro Green Barrel Bag - from £45

And for the boys:

Brown Twin Pocket Executive Satchel -  from £185

The majority of the bag styles have handy detachable straps so you have a clutch and shoulder bag in one adding versatility and even more opportunities to use the Zatchels; and with all of the beautiful bags being made in the UK you can also rest assured that you're not totting up even more air-miles - environmentally friendly and drop dead gorgeous in one!

Padded Pleasures

It's come to my attention that my selection of jackets and coats, vast as it may be, is completely useless when it comes to the cold. Luxurious leather jackets, swanky coats with no buttons (?!), waterproofs as thin as tissue, the list goes on and they're all completely useless when it comes to actually keeping warm - the main point of a coat in the first place.

I've been putting it off with the excuse that I've left it too late but I've had enough, i have to get a warm coat, end of. Luckily enough though I've found a couple of steals still in the sales - here are the four warmest-yet-still-yummy coats i can find...

Andrew Marc at House of Fraser - £90 (was £150)

ASOS Flannel Padded Jacket - £40 (was £95)

Uniqlo Premium Down Ultra light - £79.90

Warehouse Faux Fur Trim Quilted Parker - £40 (was £80)

What A Difference A Day Makes!

Yesterday Mr S&S and I enjoyed a 2 hour walk with the pooches, Alsatian Diesel and Shihtzu Ralph. It was crisp, the sun was shining, we were wrapped up warm and the dogs had a blast. 

 

Less than 24 hours later and the scene is considerably brighter, or whiter to be more exact - SNOW!!!!!

Luckily my trusty Dubarry boots are perfect for all weather and extremely comfortable to boot (no pun intended!)

Dubarry Boots a.k.a lifesavers!

High Fashion

Last night saw fashion taken to new heights with trade bible Fashion Monitor's AW12 party at Altitude360. Set high above the Thames and boasting panoramic views every which way across London the venue certainly was breathtaking. Delicious canapes curtesy of NOMAD Food & Design and the cocktails and wine flowing ensured a brilliant time was had by all. 

A particular highlight of mine was meeting the lovely PR girls behind new brand Three Floor - fashion that is most definitely leading the way for SS12 - the pink and yellow dress will be mine! and the green one. oh and maybe everything else they have too!

Three Floor

I can't finish this post without a snap of a 'celebrity' at the party last night - that's right, Kitty Brucknell showed up. Now i'm all for a bit of a fashion statement but, when it's on the bank of the Thames in sub-zero temperates I just don't think this is appropriate, or at least not weather appropriate anyway...

She did look impressive though.