Whistles Outlet

Paying just £40 for dresses originally costing £280? Luckily for my bank balance that isn't too good to be true! One of my most recent online shopping discoveries is the Outlet section on the Whistles website. I am not sure why it took me so long to purchase from it, as I have found some of my favourite pieces (eg. my Whistles 'Tessa' dress) in the sales in my local Whistles concessions. I think that these will be really versatile, as they can be worn casually with flat leather sandals, or dressed up with a pair of heels. It might have taken me a while to find it, but now that I have, I will definitely be paying the Whistles Outlet a return visit! At the moment it has accessories starting at only £8, so it is definitely worth checking out.

Tia Silk dress - Was £130, now £20

Pandora Silk Print Dress - Was £150, now £20

Isabella Oliver Classic Wrap Dress

Until very recently, 'Isabella Oliver' was a name that I associated with maternity clothing. However after reading a post on the fantastic Liberty London Girl blog about some of her favourite items of clothing, which included a gorgeous 'Isabella Oliver' sequin cocktail dress, I decided to check out the brand's womenswear offering, 'Isabella Oliver 365' . Here is what the label has to say about itself:

"Isabella Oliver 365 is for the modern woman who wants easy style and comfort from well-cut clothes in fabulous fabrics. Our passion is to offer great design and fantastic quality through enduring classics that have a modern twist. Clothes that you know you'll always look and feel great in because they were designed with an acute eye for detail and fit. 

Each season we launch a new collection of must-have pieces in amazing fabrics, while continuing to provide easy style solutions and effortless basics in our signature Isabella Oliver jersey. Whether you're searching for a statement piece or updating your wardrobe essentials, these are the clothes that offer style, quality and luxury, day after day, season after season."

The label recently ran a special three day promotion, where first time customers could get 50% off their first order. I saw this as the perfect opportunity to try what the label has to offer. After a lot of deliberation, I decided to go for one of the label's signature pieces, the classic wrap dress. Whenever I see a wrap dress on other people, it always looks great. However I have struggled to find one that felt right on me. Either it was too revealing, or the fabric felt too flimsy.

I do quite a bit of my clothes shopping online, and am always interested to see how companies approach their packaging. Some companies simply put the item in a plastic bag, pop it in an envelope and that's it. However, some brands have cottoned on to the fact that for many, unwrapping your order is part of the experience of making a new purchase. 'Isabella Oliver' certainly didn't disappoint in this respect. My order came wrapped in white tissue paper and tied with orange ribbon. This had been placed inside an 'Isabella Oliver' bag.

As soon as I tried this dress on, I felt fantastic. The cut is great and it feels fabulous on. The fabric is of a really high quality. The dress was figure hugging, but not too clingy, and the drape of the fabric was great for disguising any lumps and bumps, of which I have a few! I can see me getting a lot of wear out of this piece. It will be great for work, or I can dress it up with some statement accessories to liven it up a bit. On a cost-per-wear basis, I think this is going to be a winner! 

Guest post: The Perfect Collection

Today's guest blogger is one of my fellow 'Cardiff Blogs' team members, the lovely Liz. Everyone I know who knows Liz always comments on her sense of style (in a very good way!), so she seemed the perfect choice to write a post for my blog while I am away. Although I am slightly disappointed that she didn't respond to my challenge to work her future husband a.k.a Prince Harry, into the post. The cocktails are on you Liz!:

Have you ever found a clothing range that you just absolutely love?  No, more than love. Adore?  A range that seems to encompass your very style, where every item of clothing is:
a) exactly what you’re looking for

b) beautiful

c) practical (by practical I mean you can justify it’s purchase

d) practically perfectly fitting in every way. 

Well, I’ve found it.  And my bank account hates me for it.

I discovered the Closet range at Dorothy Perkins (which stocks the range both online and in store). More recently I found it stocked on Fashion Union too. It's almost as if someone has come along and said, "What would Liz like?", and then proceeded to create every single flattering style of dress that I could ever imagine (you know, that thing you do where you create the perfect outfit in your head...or is that just me?)

Unfortunately (for my cash flow), there is nothing I don't like in this collection. Fortunately for you, however, I won't go into detail about every single item currently available, but I have highlighted a few that I particularly love, just to tempt you....

Blue Tab Gathered Dress, £40

This classic dress is a slightly updated version of one I own, which incidentally was the very first purchase I made from the Closet collection.  It’s simple, classic, a beautiful colour and it’s ideal for pretty much every occasion (I know this from my own extensive research). I’ve worn it to work, on a date, to a picnic, on a girls' night out and pretty much everything else in between. How you dress it for each occasion is up to you.  If you’re looking for an all rounder, you’ve found it.

Coral Pleated Crossover Dress, £48

My perfect cocktail dress a la ‘Sex and the City’.  Flattering in all the right places (for me anyway) and a great length to rock those heels and hit the dance floor.  The pleated skirt really makes this dress stand out; I don’t think it would have the same impact if it was anything other.  It comes with a cute waist clinching gold belt and the colour is gorgeous and although slightly summery, could take you into Autumn quite nicely.  Fabulous.

Green Cowl Neck Dress, £40

This is very much on my ‘want’ list.  Or to put it correctly, ‘want right now’.  A beautiful colour ready for the Autumn months, and once again, a perfect dress for work occasions, dates or if you just want to look distinctly glamourous on a Saturday shopping trip (and let’s face it, who doesn’t?) Feminine and cut just above the knee, I think this is a style to suit most shapes.  One of those magic dresses which effortlessly enhances existing curves, yet somehow gives the appearance of that hourglass shape to those looking for a boost.  It is also very Mad Men-esque, which is, shall we say, in vogue right now.

Grey Contrast Dress, £50

This is a fun, flirty little dress, available in blue, white and burgundy as well as some patterned print versions too.  The grey and yellow contrast has to be my favourite though.  When Autumn/Winter rolls in, I like nothing more than to wear bright colours; no head to toe in black for me just because the sun has stopped shining! 

The length is a little shorter than I would usually go for, which limits its use, however, teamed with black tights, or knitted tights when the temperatures starts to drop, it can be made wearable for work.  A perfect example of a dress that is striking enough to wear alone, yet simple enough to accessorise to your heart’s content.

I know what you’re thinking.  How have you not discovered this collection before?  Ladies, you’re welcome.

****************************************************************************
LouLou says: Thanks Liz. Some lovely choices there which I think will be making their way into my closet very soon!

Whistles while I work - Part I

This season I have tried to buy fewer clothes, but where I have given into temptation I have tried to make sure I have gone for quality items that I love and that have also been discounted:

Reduced price + Designer Loveliness = What's not to love?!

I have picked up some great items in The Outnet and Cocosa clearance sales, but this post is about my love for all things Whistles-related. Whistles has long been on my fashion radar, but it was only last year that I purchased my first Whistles item - a black blazer - in their Bath store. It's been really useful and has definitely earned its £35 price tag, especially given that it was originally £150.

The first item that sparked my Whistles lust this year, was the Carrie skirt which came in a variety of highlighter pen shades, and was one of the biggest style hits of the season, and inspired dozens of imitations. However at £110, it was 'slightly' out of my budget.

Just when I thought my wardrobe this season was going to be devoid of any new Whistles accquisitions, I read Elle magazine's 'What Elle Wears' blog, which I always look at for styling ideas. Susie Wong, the Deputy Chief Sub-Editor a.k.a Bargainista Fashionista (one of my favourite style blogs) was wearing a gorgeous coral-orange dress that grabbed my attention immediately. Later that week she wrote a post on her own blog about my dress crush, giving more details, including the fact that it was in the sale for £60. I was still debating whether to buy it or not, when she wrote another post, which said that the dress was sold out everywhere, but that it was also available in other colours (lilac and navy). I decided to pay a visit to my local Whistles concession in House of Fraser, just to 'take a look' of course! 

Thankfully when I got there, they still had a couple of the dresses left. Luckily I had some Recognition Vouchers so I only had to pay £30. I think this dress is really versatile and can be worn for work or play, with flat sandals in the Summer, whilst still being perfect in the Winter with some opaque tights and heels. I really like the chunky zip detail on the back. If I was in any doubt about  my purchase, this was quickly swept away the first time I wore it. I don't think I've ever had as many compliments about a dress! This has already become a 'go-to' piece for me.

I also purchased a few other items in the sale, and I'll be posting about those soon, together with some of the new season items that are on my wishlist.