How to Wear... Triple Patent Leather

This week, I finally completed my eagerly-anticipated haul of crackle patent (p)leather separates from Primark's AW13 collection, with the purchase of this bralet, reduced from £10 to £5! It's no exaggeration to say that I've been waiting for 3 pieces like this for years now, so to nab them all with change from £30 was pretty darn exciting (the pencil skirt is £10 and the A-line midi £14, at full price). I know I have scoffed at the idea of even double leather in the past, and I did have to put some thought into my accessorising in order to bypass the dungeon mistress connotations, but of course I had to try them all out together... with some patent footwear thrown in for good measure!

Sports Luxe

Bralet, Skirt, Sweatshirt and Boots: All Primark (Current)

Yup, I also managed to nab the fishnet sweater from the AW13 lookbook, reduced from £6 to £3 *smugface* - perfect for toning down leather with an instant throw-on hit of sports luxe...

Grunge Luxe

Bralet, Skirt, Sweatshirt and Boots: All Primark (Current), Belt: New Look (from Shirt, Past Season)

Or indeed an instant throw-on hit of '90s grunge appeal - simply belt up and stud.

Lady Luxe

Bralet, Skirt, Cardigan and Belt: All Primark (Current), Shoes: Pied a Terre (Past Season)

OK, time to whip the sweatshirt off: just add whip and get cracking... no, no... how could I channel more lady and less, er, tramp?! Inspiration struck in the form of my newly acquired Chanel-a-like chain trim cardi - playing up the ladylike cut of the skirt whilst forming a pleasing textural contrast... belted (with co-ordinating waist-cincher, natch) over or under, depending on desired level of insulation/propriety - job done.

Are you going high shine this season?

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Watch It!

I was recently introduced to The Watch Gallery, a veritable treasure trove of designer wrist candy ranging from an investment-worthy £300 to an eye-watering £60,000. I know, I know - virtually nothing in my wardrobe cost me more than £50, but I have been known to have an eye for a designer watch, as the Gucci number I begged and pleaded for in the run-up to my 18th birthday will attest to. etailPR have challenged bloggers to create a post centred around their dream watch, for a chance to win a £250 or £150 Selfridges voucher, so I decided to explore just how far £250, or even £150, at Selfridges could take me in creating an outfit around my favourite timepiece... Of course, it's me, and I quickly realised that I couldn't settle for just one watch, but I did manage to narrow it down to four!

Outfit 1: Hermes Kelly

Watch: Hermes Kelly, £1,800 at The Watch Gallery

Dress: Warehouse at Selfridges, £42

Boots: Bertie at Selfridges, £89

Total: £131

Yep, there is an Hermes Kelly watch... and it's a little bit saucy as well as a lot gorgeous... my my, who knew? Whether or not you're lucky enough to own her sister bag, this would be equally fab for adding a bit of sass to a ladylike outfit, or, as in this case, vibing with an edgier, more casual look.

Outfit 2: 88 Rue Du Rhone 

Watch: 88 Rue Du Rhone 35mm Quartz, £595 at The Watch Gallery

Dress: Warehouse at Selfridges, £55

Belt: French Connection at Selfridges, £25

Perspex Clutch: Skinny Dip at Selfridges, £40

Shoes: Carvela at Selfridges, £29

Total: £149

Chunky gold "boyfriend" style watches are big news this season, in case you hadn't noticed... I've personally been lusting after my own version for some time now. The perfect partner for sports luxe, boyfriend jeans or an androgynous tailored ensemble, but even more fun paired with a sweet girly look to play up the contrast. I couldn't resist this Tiffany blue mesh-panelled shift, teamed with fun sixties style accessories.

Outfit 3: Ballon Bleu de Cartier

Watch: Cartier Ballon Bleu de Cartier, £3,500 at The Watch Gallery

Dress: Warehouse at Selfridges, £50

Shoes: Nine West at Selfridges, £29

Bag: Dune at Selfridges, £34

Total: £113

OK, yes, it's another hot pink/duck egg blue sixties-inspired look... but the watch demanded it! White accessories are still white hot right now, and feel so fresh teamed with block brights and graphic cuts... who wouldn't want this Cartier watch?

Outfit 4: Chanel Premiere

Watch: Chanel Premiere at The Watch Gallery, £12,500

Dress: Warehouse at Selfridges, £75

Belt: Warehouse at Selfridges, £22

Shoes: Kurt Geiger at Selfridges, £39

Total: £136

This watch is so understatedly sophisticated, but yet so unmistakably, heart-stoppingly Chanel! It has a dark, sensuous kind of femininity about it which I think would work best after dark, preferably with winter florals and berries... well, a girl can dream! On a side note, the sale shoes at Selfridges are pretty damn amazing, right? What a fab selection of go-all-night midi heels and flats!

What's your watch style? Would you like to find any of these under the Christmas tree?

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Sporty Lady

I fell in love with the sports luxe trend the second it bounded, wedge trainer clad, onto the scene in 2012, so it felt like high time to try a 2013-style update... Now that the world and her dog are dressing down formalwear with trainers, the more fashion forward are scaling the slightly less practical fashion high ground of dressing up trackie bottoms, yoga pants etc... and, for a while now, there's been a huge buzz around the "hi-low" ensemble, for which the failsafe formula appears to be trackies and/or a casual tee topped off with a shoulder-robed blazer, heels, and (optional) ladylike statement jewellery. So I finally had to pull on some tracksuit bottoms for the first time this decade... and yes, it's oddly satisfying, in a subversive-yet-conformist kinda way. Bonus points for the white heels and unerring devotion to monochrome?

Trousers (Current), Shirt and Necklace: All Primark, Shoes: Boohoo

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I Heart...

... £8 dresses... shameless designer dupes... Yep, I'm finally hopping on board the heart print bandwagon with change from a tenner, in one of Primark's best offerings of the year so far - worth. the. wait. Now I just need to get my hands on the button-back cropped blouse and my life will be truly complete...

Dress: Primark, Socks: New Look (Past Season), Shoes: Peacocks (Past Season)

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Cobalt Print Midi: 2 Ways

AW13 is shaping up to be the season of the midi, so when Daxon offered to send me an item of my choice from their current collection, this skirt caught my attention immediately, especially since it served the additional purpose of filling the sad cobalt deficit in my wardrobe. Everyone who has reviewed it on the Daxon website so far is around 3 times my age, but, what with its funky animal/camo print mash-up thrown into the bargain, it couldn't really be much more on-trend if it tried! Anyway, I've never been averse to stealing septuagenarian style - Nana Muses and I own more than one piece of identical clothing!

Although I'm usually a size 8 around the waist, and sizes for this piece start at 10/12, I decided to risk it and pray that the elastic would keep it from falling down around my ankles! It sits just below my natural waistline with no stress on the elastic at all, but would certainly stretch to fit size 10/12 comfortably too (the elastic is flat, so no need to worry about unsightly "corrugation"!). It's incredibly comfortable, finished to a very high level, and swishes rather pleasingly too. And it's just been reduced to a measly £12!

Mummy Muses decided that a few more cobalt co-ordinates were in order if its full potential was to be realised, so a £20 Primark trolley dash furnished me with two blue tops and a pair of shoes to play with (the skirt does have a matching blouse, but sadly I couldn't be supplied with the full outfit)... good excuse, anyway. I decided to style it up two ways, contrasting a classic '50s vintage-inspired look with a more edgy contemporary take. Now I'm envisioning it with a fluffy (cobalt?) knit, long boots and a fedora for deepest winter... ooh, and a crop top and wedges for SS14!

Bolt from the Blue

Skirt c/o Daxon (Available Here), Blouse and Shoes: Both Primark (Current)

Black and Blue All Over

Skirt c/o Daxon; Top, Hat, Boots and Belt: All Primark

Have you gone crazy for cobalt yet? How do you max your midi?

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