Check, Check... Check

Crazy coat lady has officially returned... please allow me to introduce you to new A/W coat 2 of 5 (so far). Well, you wait years for an affordable midi cover-up and then 2 come along at once, what's a girl to do, eh? This boyfriend-style houndstooth crombie looks and feels so high-end - it's an absolute steal at £35... Luckily enough for me, this was actually a surprise birthday present, but, if it hadn't been, it would still have gone straight into my basket on my next Primark dash! Since, as you may have noticed, I can never resist an opportunity to double, or, if at all possible, triple check, I had to try it out with my new gingham dirndl skirt for starters...

Coat: Primark, Top: H&M, Skirt: Missguided, Socks: Forever 21, Shoes: Boohoo

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Pinafore Print Clash

In terms of cost-per-wear, this 10-week-old dress is already working out at just 20p an outing (see the full story and a few more transitional monochrome looks here), so I decided to make it work even harder by turning it into this season's must have - the pinafore. I was about to dig out a trusty old black number to slip over my spotty shirt, when my new favourite staple jumped out yet again, begging to get its (hounds)teeth into my dalmatian look!

Dress, Shirt, Belt, Shoes and Jacket: All Primark (Past Season), Backpack: Peacocks (Past Season)

Have you embraced the pinafore yet?

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Transitional Monochrome - How to Wear Come Sun or Snow

By now I think we're all aware that monochrome is "in", no? I'm not sure it's ever been "out", and it's certainly always been one of my failsafe looks, but this season's mono-mania has inspired me to get a bit more creative, and, in the absence of any weather bearing the slightest resemblance to spring, popping a black and white ensemble together is the easiest way to channel a new season vibe, even if we can't pack our woollies away just yet.

Hounds vs. Stripes

Dress, Belt, Blazer and Boots: All Primark, Hair Band: New Look (I think! Past Season)

If I hadn't bought this dress and blazer at the same time, I probably wouldn't have thought to put them together, but clashing monochrome patterns is one of the safest, but most impactful, ways to combine contrasting prints. I nabbed both in the Primark sale - the blazer for £7, and the dress for... £1! It was the last of its kind, marked £7 but missing its belt, so the manager agreed to reduce it to £5, but on scanning it found it had already been reduced to £2, so, short of giving it away, there was nothing for it but to give me a 50% reduction!! I always think monochrome goes hand in hand with a '60s look, so the belt, boots and beehive polish it off perfectly for me.

Hounds vs. Hearts

(or Paddington Bear vs. the Everlasting Winter of 2013)

Dress (As Above), Coat and Shoes: All Primark, Hairband: Accessorize

And this is how I'm working the monochrome print clash whilst actually leaving the house in any of my other ensembles would encourage stalactites to form on my eyelashes...

Velvet vs. Wool

Top: Missguided, Skirt: Marks & Spencer (Past Season), Boots: Boohoo (Available Here), Headband: River Island, Rucksack: Peacocks (Past Season)

Another '60s inspired look... velvet and woollen fabrics add a cosy-luxe feel, whilst a flash of tummy takes the look into the new season (addition of substantial coat clearly necessary if actually venturing out in the current climate though!). This age 12 M&S kids' skirt has been one of my staples for years now - I've never seen such a cute dogtooth skater designed for adults!

Sheer Abandon

Skirt: Primark, Boots: Boohoo (Available Here), Jumper: Morgan (Past Season!)

Another texture clash combining winter and spring; snuggle and glamour/goosebumps.

Sharpening My Pencil

Skirt: River Island (Past Season), Top: Forever 21 (Past Season), Shoes: Primark (Current)

Another of my most satisfyingly good value houndstooth sales purchases of all time (a River Island skirt for £10 = RESULT), this pencil skirt has served me faithfully for a year - equally perfect with a jumper and opaques, classic shirt or crop top, depending on meteorological conditions - a true monochromatic hero buy!

With a Bow on Top

Dress and Shoes: Both Primark, Hair Bow: Peacocks

Teaming my first "illusion" panelled dress with my first faux-hair bow for a ladylike-but-fun look!

All Tied Up

Top: New Look (Past Season), Skirt, Socks and Trainers: All Primark

And here is my first attempt to tie my own hair in a bow! It makes me feel a little Harajuku Girl, especially combined with the socks! This is a peplum top which I've already featured a couple of times, cunningly disguised as a humble striped tee!

Riviera vs. Disco

Top: Quiz (Available Here), Disco Pants: Daisy Street (Available Here), Shoes: Dorothy Perkins (Past Season), Sunglasses: Accessorize (Past Season)

I've craved a pair of high-waisted capri pants for years, if not decades, so, this time, I decided to go DIY - turn my disco pant hems up - et voila! The sunglasses may be rather optimistic, but call it a rehearsal for summer...

Are you seeing everything in black and white this season?

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Fashion Union Wishlist, 20% off Party Clothes and 20 Other Great Weekend Offers

Fashion Union have some pretty incredible stuff in this season, and this weekend they're offering 20% off party clothes with code PARTY20 (plus free delivery), so I thought it was a great time to share a taster of my top picks with you (some are classed as party wear, some aren't, but all are definitely Christmas-list worthy - prices given are before discount). Scroll down for your fix of this weekend's other top fashion and beauty discounts too...

1. Black Metallic Hi Lo Hem Dress, £22

2. Navy Disco Pants, £20

3. Silver Disco Pants, £20

4. Berry Peplum Dress, £22

5. Dogtooth Peplum Jacket, £30

6. Silver Peplum Jacket, £30

7. Black Jacquard Skirt, £20

8. Silver Skirt, £16

9. Black Lace Print Crop Top, £8

10. Black "Samba" Party Tights, £6

 This Weekend's Other Top Offers

A|Wear: 25% off party wear and faux fur (limited time)

Ann Summers: 20% off selected lingerie, toys and Christmas stuff, plus free delivery (ends midnight Monday)

Anthopologie: 30% off selected party styles with code DRESSTOTHENINES (ends midnight Sunday)

Bliss: Amazing bumper gift worth £112 when you spend £100 with code BUMPER (ends Monday)

Boohoo: 15% off dresses and footwear with code PARTY15 (ends Sunday)

Dune: 20% off selected styles (ends midnight Sunday)

Elemis: Free gift worth £90 when you spend £70 - use code XMAS BLUE for calming retreat goodies, or XMASRED for a touch of exotic indulgence (ends midnight Sunday)

F&F at Tesco: 20% off with code XMAS CRACKER (ends Monday)

Forever 21: Buy One Get One Free on selected items (ends Monday)

Jane Norman: 25% off full price styles (limited time)

Karen Millen: 20% off selected coats with code COATPROMO1 (ends Sunday)

Max C London: Christmas Sale - most items £10 (ends midnight Sunday)

Miss Selfridge: Free Bourjois mascara when you spend £60, plus free UK delivery with code HAPPYSHOPPING (ends midnight Monday)

Monsoon and Accessorize: 20% off instore and online until midnight Sunday when you sign up for a free Monsoon Reward Card

Puma: 30% off a new item (one male and one female) every day from 1-10 December

Republic: 20% off casual gear and 50% off selected footwear (ends midnight Sunday)

Superdry: 20% off a new item (one male and one female) each day during December

The Body Shop: 50% off selected 200ml body butters with code BUTTER, £20 off a £40 spend with code WISE1, 40% off (excluding gifts) with code WISE2 or 30% off pre-packaged gifts with code WISE3 (ends 11pm Sunday)

Uniqlo: Free delivery and up to £20 off cashmere (ends midnight Sunday)

Wallis: Up to 30% off everything and free delivery on orders over £30 with code GIFT30 (ends midnight Saturday); extra 10% off sale items with code SALE10



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