The Zara Sale Countdown

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I am so excited I just had to print screen this image. 23 minutes encounting and I will be able to browse the jackets, blouses and jeans I have lusted after for the past few months-at the fraction of the price! YES.

Let me know if you have stayed up to get the best bargains before, or whether I am alone in this sale shopping addictiveness!

The Best of The Sales: Topshop

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Topshop is the Queen of the sales. They reduce their clothes enough to make your eyes pop when you see the new price tag, and always add their popular and coolest items to the sale rails. It always pays with Topshop to wait and see if your must-have item will appear in the sales- as normally it does! I have tried to remain calm this season, and gone for items that I have wanted for ages, or that I know are investments. Here are my top three: 

Roksanda Ilincic for Topshop, pumps and sweatshirt, all £15

When I saw this t-shirt hiding amongst the rails and rails of bargains I could not grab it fast enough. To celebrate 10 years of Topshop supporting British fashion, the retailer released a selection of t-shirts by designers for us to purchase. However at £30 they remained a 'wish-list' item! But, (thank you lucky fashion stars) I found this gorgeous, peter pan collar, quirky t-shirt designed by Roksanda Ilincic for a mere £15! Delighted does not cover it!

I have been hunting for the perfect pair of plain black pumps for a while now so when I saw these at the back of the shop I knew I had to buy them. As they are leather and have a thick sole they will be perfect for all my shopping excursions!

This sweatshirt was an item that I had nearly brought at full price, but thankfully decided that my loan could not handle another Topshop spree! At £15 I decided that it was fate, so snapped it up! I will be channelling my inner Jessie J when I wear this! 

Although I have had some really great purchases I suffered a massive disappointed today. For the first time in a while I did not follow my own advice about sale shopping. Taking a trip to the changing room is a necessity when you hit the sales as it is always best to consider that the items might be reduced because they have a dodgy fit. However, when I saw these beautiful printed trousers below I knew that I had to have them. There was only one pair! And in my size! 

So I brought them, hoping that they would be a perfect fit-they had to be, surely? I even grabbed this clutch bag on the way to the till because it matched the trousers. Unfortunately I had made a massive error as when I returned home I found them to be too tight. Devastation ensued, but I have learnt my lesson. No matter how lovely your sale items may be, always head to the changing room first. Less haste more trying on!

What have been your sale successes and disasters? Please share in the comment box below!

Best of the Sales: Urban Outfitters 1000s of new items added

Lace shorts NOW £40 

My next sale analysis comes from my favourite high street retailer. When I hear a sale has hit Urban Outfitters I get butterflies in my stomach with excitement and my bank balance quivers in dread. I am such a sucker for Urban, I could spend all day in their shop-what with their mix of cool music and quirky outfits. I remember my first ever outfit I brought there, I was about sixteen and remember looking in the mirror in their changing rooms (don't you just love how big they are?!) and thinking I had finally managed to look like the indie chick I had always wanted to be. Although I may have grown out of the band t-shirts and clashing skirts, Urban has just grown with me. 

So far I have managed to avoid the sale, I know it can't last much longer as they have just announced that new lines have been added. Here are my favourite picks from these new items!

High waist bikini, bottoms £13 and top £10

Ripped denim shorts was £40 NOW £20

Split midi skirt was £42 NOW £20

Maxi Aztec Skirt was £40 NOW £20 

This would be perfect for festivals and is a bargain at £20

This dress was £58 and NOW £30 

Hackney Weekend Festival Fashion

So this weekend I was extremely lucky as I attended Radio 1's Hackney Weekend on Saturday, where I danced to the likes of Nero, Maccabees and of course of the incredible Jay Z. It was such an amazing day and I kept my eye out for all the festival fashion! Denim shorts were the usual staple, but dip hem dresses and skirts made a new entry as ladies teamed them with their wellies. Florence and the Machine rocked this trend on the Sunday when she wore this beautiful dress below: 

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I also saw so many people in disco pants by American Apparel- I was incredibly envious as they looked as amazing as what the reviews say! They have risen even higher on my wish list now..One lady that I thought would have definitely donned some of these beautiful pants was Jessie J, as she always seems to be in them these days. For this gig however she wore some quirky black and white leggings and orange crop top. Not one of my favourite looks from this singer but glad to see the blunt fringe bob is back!

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My favourite outfit of the weekend though, which some may think is surprising, was from Rihanna. She wore a graphic t-shirt, tiny shorts, fish net cycling shorts and lots of gold bling. This may not sound like a fashionistas favourite attire, but I loved the fact she wore something fun and actually quite wearable for a festival. She did not wear sky high heels, and although most of us could never wear shorts THAT tiny, her outfit provided us all with a little inspiration for the coming festivals. I love the fact that it looked like she had put on what she felt comfortable in, even if it might not have been a favourite outfit for the fashion critics! I also need some of those sunglasses for future festivals! 

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A fellow cycling shorts lover was myself, as I decided to layer some H&M lace ones over tights. I added a bold print dress from Wallis, parka from New Look, rucksack from Urban Outfitters and chunky gold necklace from Dorothy Perkins. Not forgetting my Primark essentials, some sunglasses and white pumps that I customised with some studs. 

Sneak Peak at Primark AW12

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Although we are getting excited about the summer sales, the high street is (always) one step ahead and have released some pics of their next collections. I always use them as inspiration for the sales, so that I make sure I am buying items that will still be fashionable in the next season! 

I was just doing my usual high street browsing and found these pictures on Look, a great website for the high street and one that I read regularly. They had done a piece on Primark and I have to say, something that I usually never do, Primark has stepped up for the next season. I am lusting after their heavily printed blouses like the one below:

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But aside from their usual array of bright and bold blouses, Primark have all fashion areas covered with wedge trainers, chain print peplums and stud pumps. Blink and you would think it is Topshop...

See more of the collection in detail HERE.

Best of the Sales: Warehouse Dresses Under £20

The summer sales are in full swing, and although the weather remains dull luckily the high street have discounted their bright garments to add some cheer! Everyday I will select a shop and see what they have to offer. Today it's Warehouse, the luxe brand that issues clothes with great print in high quality fabrics. Normally the garments are highly priced so it is always best to wait for the sales to hit before indulging. This season is no different and Warehouse has put more than 50% off their clothes. 

I noticed they had some great printed dresses for under £20-the perfect outfit at a great price for (fingers crossed) some summery parties.

Animal Print Dress was £45 NOW £17

Placement Floral Dress was £55 NOW £17

Flower Print Dress was £45 NOW £17

Cherry Blossom Dress was £68 NOW £17

These dresses would look great with a light blazer, clutch and flatforms. Keep the look simplistic so the print can do all the hard work! 

I'm off to Bluewater to snap up some bargains so I will blog about my finds very soon. Let me know what items you have managed to find and how you are styling them!