For anyone interested, here’s a part of my holiday haul – the fashion related part. There were no major sales on in London where I spent the most of my time for shopping purposes and although I hit up the usual suspects Topshop, Next, H&M etc I found nothing in there I wanted that I could justify the full prices I was going to have to pay.
It might interest you that due to the lower exchange rate presently (approx RM5 to £1) the price differential in similar stores here in Malaysia isn’t all that high which makes it worth its while to shop here too, especially when sales are on! Besides, what I really wanted was a winter coat and I found nothing that looked good and was remotely affordable :P
So being the boring person I am, I ended up with 2 pairs of shoes from (of all places) Marks & Spenser. Both were £25 each. Not cheap but they were comfy, looked cute and I’ve always worked well with M&S shoes :)
My next big purchase came from La Senza. My favourite store in Whiteleys at Bayswater was on sale and I love La Senza pyjamas so I bought up a whole bunch! Enough for me to revamp my sleepwear wardrobe that’s for sure! :D The prices per set ranged from £8-9. Not too shabby I figured.
From The Gap came a pair of jeans at 30% off which came up to under RM150. I saw the same pair at The Gap here retailing for RM229 so I definitely got a bargain! From H&M instore sale rack came a white summer dress discounted to £5.
I also picked up a couple of items from Petticoat Lane market. A black dress by Topshop and a gold knit top from Jane Norman. Prices were £3 and £5 each. Bargains? Yes indeedy! :D
Oh and for anyone wondering, yes I visited Primark. Clothes were crazy cheap in there (e.g. cotton short trench coat for £17, long sleeve tops for £2) but on both days, I got there half an hour before the store was closing and I did not particularly enjoy being rushed, nor the utter chaos and mess in there. The next time I go, I’ll make sure I get there earlier. It didn’t stop everyone else walking out with giant shopping bags filled to the brim with clothes though! Its a good place to go for cheap trendy clothes or casuals.
And that was the main bulk of my clothes purchases. Well from London anyway ;) Rome brought me nothing but pasta, truffle oil mmm… and this Prada baby that I’d been eyeing before.
Found her at the airport in my exact choice of design and colour minutes before I had to board the plane out of Italy. Took her out for a spin the following day and I must say she performs very well for travel!
From London came a lovely Radley wallet. I looked high and low around the store for a design that did not have the signature scottie on it. I like dogs but I don’t do cute very well, so this much plainer design suited me to a T! Its called Henderson if you’re wondering. (I mean the design is called Henderson – I do not name my bags or wallets :P )
I saw a couple of other items in the Radley store I wanted, primarily a cross body leather bag in the most beautiful shade of green leather but I’d already made a couple of wallet busting purchases so I had to be good and resist.
Thanks for reading this far ;)
Paris B
ahhhh i wanna see the cosmetics part! love the red wallet!
Coming soon! Had to break it up or it would never load on our local connections Hehe… I love the wallet too!
I was in London probably around the same time as you. You’re great at looking for bargains despite there being no real sale on! Those shoes are gorgeous especially the purples ones. I must have been blind. But then again, I honestly didn’t know how I was going to pack shoes into my luggage with the other stuff I had.
I didn’t even step foot into Primark. The sheer number of people on the streets carry the Primark paper bag was enough to scare me away =/
I had a pretty good look at the Radely wallet you got but ended up with one of the Dalloways.
Aww… I saw the Dalloway too! I love the soft colours they come in but that awesomely cute doggie just didn’t do it for me hehe… I went to a smaller M&S which might be why I managed to see the shoes. At the main one on Marble Arch I’m sure I’d have been overwhelmed too. Did you have a good shopping haul? :D
Unfortunately not as good as I’d hoped for but I did get myself a couple of pieces from from M&S (the tailored skirts there fits like a dream!), TK Maxx and Next. My new love is Barry M’s dazzle dust! I’d have bought up all the colours if I could.
ohooo did you manage to get the Barry M at 3 for 2 at Superdrug?! I was tempted but I already have soooo many Dazzle Dusts I hardly use. I gotta agree with you about the skirts at M&S. I find the European designs fitting me better and more comfortably.
Yes! I got the 3 for 2 deal at superdrug!
Hurrah! You scored big time!
Wow, the bag is Gorgeous!
Thank you! :D
Ooh the Prada bag is nice. We always hit Primark too, that’s for Connor’s clothes because they’re so cheap. Toddler’s jeans and cargos for 2 quid each? Yes please. We got him his Thomas pj’s for just 2 quid in the sale bin and Connor is still thrilled to bits each time he gets to wear it to bed.
LMAO One of our best pals is called Scott Henderson! Oh gosh I gotta tell Scottie he’s got a bag named after him. So funny.
Hope there’s a Part II coming up!
Primark is perfect for kids! They grow out of their clothes so quickly anyway. So ironic that you would say “Scottie” when Radley’s logo is a … er… scottie! :P
GAH!!! I want that BAG!!! So… pretty! And the shoes as well. HAIH. Roma Victor, eh! ^.^
Can’t wait to see your cosmetics haul!
Coming soon and I’m really loving the shoes too! :D
Ohhh lovely bargain.. The top and jeans look great too =D
Thanks! No tops, just dresses :)
That haul looks fun! Love the purple shoes, btw.
Faster show us the next part of your haul so we can live vicariously through you… :P
Me too! I loved that it was purple so I got it instead of black :D
Wahhh I like your Prada bag, Radley wallet and the purple shoes the most! :D
Thanks ! :D
I literally had to wipe the drool off the side of my mouth because I just couldn’t get over how totally, freaking AWESOME the stuff you got were. Love the shoes (especially the black booties), love the bag, love the wallet.
Good job on the haul!
Haha Thanks Tine! Its the first time I’m trying to wear booties – I just hope I don’t look too much like a dork doing it :D
Awesome shopping! Good job on the Prada–very very nice!
;) thanks!
radley wallet is beautiful! you sure have gotten yourself a good bargain tis time round, with the really nice steals :P
tee hee! and the exchange rate is super helpful too tis time! :P
Oh yeah! I love the exchange rate! Better still if it was lower! Haha… Thanks!
I love your hauls, you purchased mostly simple yet elegant pieces, love the purple shoes! and yay for new bag! :)
Thanks Nikki! Yay indeed!
The tax in Malaysia is too high so the same things which we always see in branded outlet are more expensive than Europe.Like Mango,Topshop,Gap,Dorothy Perkins,all can buy very cheap in Europe countries.I like your M&S black shoes and the Radley wallet.
Actually its not just taxes but also shipping costs and other considerations. Within the EU they have exemptions so prices are quite standard across the board. I do like that some of the high street brands have actually dropped their prices here so sometimes (like for certain M&S items) its actually cheaper to buy it here! :D Thanks Melisa!
Lucky you, I’m so jealous!!! I’ve been wanting the same Prada bag for ages, here in Aus selling AUD1860. I went back to the boutique a week after checking the price and it’s gone! No more stock in Aus…sad! Is it cheaper to buy in Europe???
This is one of the Prada classics. I think you’ll be seeing more stock enter Australia when they re-order. You could make a reservation perhaps? And yes its much cheaper in Europe. I saved nearly 1/3 of the price buying it there instead of here in Malaysia :)
I love love love your shoes! ?
Thanks! :D They were a last minute surprise find :)
OMG. I love your shoes. I want them! lol.
And your Prada is gorgeous. :D
Thank you Lola! The shoes might be available locally too – look in M&S the next time you are there :)
Awesome purchases! I was in London the first week of Aug. Great sales. Bought a bunch of clothes from H&M, New Look, Zara etc and accessories from TopShop and Accessorize! I went into Primark. The queue for fitting rooms were so long and I didn’t find anything I fancy. Just a floral scarf for 2 pounds that I like.
I didn’t find anything in Rome too. And I don’t fancy and can’t afford the branded bags at the moment. :P
Ooh lucky you to hit the sale period! I’m sure you must have picked up loads of gems :D I saw stuff I liked but wasn’t prepared to pay full price for them.
How envious!! :D :D I LOVE your purple shoes!! And your red wallet is just gorgeous!! :D
Thank you Jenn! I seriously think the shoes are available here too at M&S :D
sigh if i’d gone to London i’d pick up the mulberry alexa for sure!!! in malaysia the price is RIDICULOUSLY higher than london.
but i gotta LURVE thy prada, and thy purple M&S shoes! cant wait to see the rest of ur haul!
I saw that one at the airport! But already pokai :P
wow~~ Nice haul~~ Cheap clothes too!! Too bad I wasn’t really into fashion the last time I was in London… school days… haaha… I love the SHOES!! So pretty^^ The wallet too~~ I really like Radley too!! Haha… Only thing is that it’s too expensive here in Malaysia… almost the same price as Coach bags…
Thanks! When I was living there I wasn’t into anything too haha! Now I’m making up for it :P Gotta admit that Radley here is overpriced. The people bringing it in should realize that they would sell better if it wasn’t THAT expensive!