Prada for £9 and Other Bargains

Today's shopping round up is a tale of success.  I did a little January sale shopping to cheer up a gloomy month, and now it's over I can report on my full spend.  The purchases are mainly shoes, and mainly from high street shops too, I didn't find much from vintage repro brands this year.  Did I mention Prada for £9?  Yes.  Read on...

 

First stop was TK Maxx, where I did exceptionally well.  I've wanted a new wallet for ages so was pleased to pick up a Parisian designer one.  Whilst rummaging I also found a Lulu Guinness eye clutch.  I've wanted a LG bag for ages but the lips seemed a little ubiqutous.  This eye one is a bit Egyptian so it's much more me.  I featured it in my outfit post Black leather, Snowy skies.

Irene Van Byr wallet, £15 (was 199 Euros), and Lulu Guinness wristlet/clutch, £17 (was £85), TK Maxx

 

In the shoe section I couldn't resist some fluffy sandals.  Even if I just wear them around the house, I'll get my money's worth.

Truffle Collection fluffy sandals, £6 (was £30ish), TK Maxx

Then I found the Prada shoes.  In my size.  I clutched them to my chest like Gollum and his precious.  I tried them on, flinching if other shoppers came near.  They fit.  I turned them over to see the price.  £9.  I practically ran down the street after paying, full of a giddy glee.

So what's the catch?  They were damaged.  The embellishment is missing from one shoe.  I am confident I can create a new embellishment, splitting the beads from the existing one and adding in beads from my stash, to create two new matching pieces.  I can barely stand in them let alone walk in them but when am I ever going to get the chance again to own a pair of Prada shoes?  They are very sexy, I might add.

Prada bronze flower embellished high heels, £9 (not sure how much these would have been full price at Prada, anything between £450 and £900), TK Maxx.

 

It's addictive, the bargain shopping.  You don't want to stop after one.  So, the day after my Prada strike, I had a hankering for more Italian made leather shoes, and popped to my local Hobbs outlet quickly to see what they had.  I was in luck, another pair of lovely Italian made leather shoes came home with me.
 

'Natalia' silver cross front shoes. £20 (was £149), Hobbs

 

The shoes were priced at just £20 because they apparently weren't perfect.  I had to hunt really hard to find any flaws, honestly they're so tiny.  I've been looking for another pair of pointy shoes for ages, as I only have the red Hobbs ones, and they don't go with everything.  I have also been waiting endlessly for the Vivien of Holloway swing trousers to come back into stock in my size in the elusive longer length as I really want trousers with turn-ups and all my existing pairs (House of Foxy and Heyday) have had those sacrificed for the extra length.  I was delighted then to find just what I was looking for in the Hobbs 'Kiley' trousers (£36, was £119).  They are so long I will have to hem them.  Ha!  They're not as high-waisted as repro brands but I can live with that.  I also bought a cosy wool jumper from Boden, the 'Margot' (£30, down from £99 - but I had vouchers so it only cost me £15).

The final footwear confession then is a pair of space boots.  I liked the Gucci ones but no luck finding those in TK Maxx so I ordered a pair from New Look.  I ordered online, I don't shop in New Look these days.  I was particularly miffed when they changed their shoe sizing meaning that whilst a 7.5 in Clarks and M&S, I have the indignity of being a 9 in New Look.  And a wide fit.  Hurrumph!  The boots fit anyway, that's the main thing.

Metallic cylindrical heel boots, £6 (was £29.99), New Look

I think that was a good sale shop.  It wouldn't be me though without a few disasters, but I'll save those for another time...