January Lust Haves

It’s a drab old month, isn’t it, January? It seems to stretch endlessly before you, a never ending, grey, wet slog between Christmas and that point when you’re allowed to eat, drink and spend money again. I can’t wait for Feb to start and I can stop pretending I had any intentions of following through on any of my ‘get healthy, save money, be a better person’ promises. It’s nearly over though, thank God. I don’t know if it’s just because I’ve been trying to be good, but I seem to have added more ‘must have’ items to my wish list than usual this month. Rewind a couple of months and I genuinely struggled when people did that whole ‘So, what do you want for Christmas??’ thing. (While we’re on the subject, am I the only one who finds that really annoying? Just buy me a goddam present, do I really have to do all he work for you??) Now pretty much every time I accidentally find myself in a department store I’m mentally creating a list of excuses for why I desperately need something. Here is what I’ve been creatively justifying this month….

I don’t know if any of the rest of you have Beagles, but something happens to you when you get one. You become an absolute loser. It’s bad enough that you excitedly yell ‘BEAGLE!!!’ at poor unsuspecting dog walkers from a car window as you hurtle past, but you also have an inexplicable urge to consume every last bit of tat because OMG IT’S GOT A BEAGLY ON IT! WANT IT WANT IT WANT IT!!!! That’s what happened with this jumper, which actually in fairness isn’t a bit of tat but a pretty cute piece of knitwear, Beagle or not, but as soon as I saw that cute little puppy face I was obsessed. Stupidly I didn’t buy it because I was convinced someone would see it and get it me for Christmas, which they didn’t because they’re rubbish (NB. They aren’t rubbish. I got three Audrey’s. I’m an awful person) and now it’s rapidly selling out everywhere, so I’m pretty sure I’m going to cave soon, or you will possibly be hearing about my eBay search for it forevermore.

Moving on to something similarly strange and obsessive, I’ve been over at Lindy Bop again! This ‘Tiffany’ frock isn’t actually a new obsession (oh don’t worry, I am lusting over plenty of the New In section too – Dolce, Tabby, Marnie, I’m talking about you!) but one I’ve been harbouring for quite some time now. I’m not really sure why this is. It almost looks to grown up for me, but it’s just so classy, I’ve been doing a little dance between thinking I’ll die without it to thinking I’ll look like I’m dressing up as Jackie O (not necessarily a bad thing!). January has been a die without it kind of month…

Next up, these flared jeans from Zara. The 70’s vibe that kicked off last summer doesn’t appear to be going anywhere, and flared jeans are everywhere at the moment which makes quite a refreshing change from the skinnies I basically live in. (Don’t worry skinnies, I will always have a spot in my dresser for you, you’ll never go out of style!) I actually already have a perfectly lovely pair of flared jeans by Gap, which I’m mentally planning into an outfit post as I write now, but I spotted these when I was in Zara this week totally not buying one of those pairs of yellow trousers from a few posts ago, and immediately declared them superior. They probably aren’t, but I will think they are until the day I splurge on them and then realise there are equal amounts of things wrong with them as there are the old pair, because that’s just how it works.

Onto one of the more legitimate desires on my list then, and these ‘On Top’ court shoes from Office. I genuinely have a pony skin leopard print shaped gap in my shoe collection and it’s a gap I’ve been wanting to close for ages – I actually find leopard print very easy to style as I consider it somewhat a neutral, and it adds a bit of character to what might otherwise be a little dull an outfit. Only problem is, Office have brought out multiple variations of the On Top over the years and they almost always end up dramatically reduced in the Christmas sales, this particular version, along with the nude and red patent versions which I deem equally legitimate investments, has been around for a good while with not even a penny knocked off. For good reason I’d imagine – they’re definite classics and will probably remain a top seller for quite some time, so it’s understandable, however the pure injustice of the fact that I know for a fact I can get the exact same shoe in a different colour for half the price keeps me from actually buying them. For now….

I also recently identified a serious lack of bardot tops in my wardrobe, which is simply unacceptable and must be rectified as soon as possible. It’s a flattering style that looks fantastic with full skirts and a nice way to stop them looking a little dowdy by showing off some flesh, particularly if you’re wearing flats. I’ve been shopping around and this one seems to be the best so far. It’s a little more than I’d normally spend on a ‘basic’ top, but what you can’t tell from the pics is that it’s made from a lovely, heavy, ribbed fabric which I feel confident won’t stretch out of shape after a couple of washes like a lot of H&M’s more cheap and cheerful items tend to do. Anyone own this beauty already who wants to confirm or deny my suspicions? Let me know!

Lastly, this skirt from Chicwish, which is strikingly similar to an Anthropologie skirt I’d pinned on Pinterest a couple of times, imagining it destined to be a fantasy purchase rather than a real one. I have no actual need for this skirt, so I’m not going to waste your time and mine by penning a list of reasons why it’s necessary. You already know why. It’s pouffy. It’s stripey. It’s shiny. It’s pretty. Enough said.

And if that isn’t a good enough reason to end up on a wish list, I don’t know what is?!

Happy Weekend everyone!

Love,