Primark Sunday Spring / Summer 2014

It's that time of year again when I get a Sunday all to myself to do a big Primark shop for the current season. Today's Primark Sunday is all about shopping for Spring Summer 2014 and it was certainly inspired by a hot, hot summer holiday in Ibiza and surf style.

My obsession of the day was definitely the Maui collaboration with Primark, my husband Phil started off my interest in Maui by asking how Primark were allowed to get away with ripping off Maui, or so he thought, as we drove past the Bristol Primark window display. I had to go and investigate this, so called, Maui ripping off but was pleasantly surprised to find it was indeed a Maui and Primark collaboration! The range is so late 1980s early 1990s beach style, think surf shorts, logos, neon vests and Hawaiian prints mixed with Vision and Stussy retro skate style, I just loved it! I loaded up my Primark bag with everything Maui and tried it all on, managing to cut down the amount of Maui purchases to the ones you will see below. It didn't stop there......I got into the kids dept and there was the coolest range of Maui t-shirts, vest tops and shorts for boys, I had to restrain myself from buying the whole collection so I just got my two sons a Maui top each, we don't want to go around looking like the Maui family. However, I also checked out the mens dept and there were even more Maui items, I have told Phil who is also interested in having a browse, I feel another Maui/ Primark shop coming on.....I have to mention that being a reputable brand you would think that the Maui items would be a bit pricey but I am happy to say it is the opposite. The prices are the same as the usual Primark bargain prices, it really is a brilliant range, go check it out!

I didn't just return home with a bag full of Maui items, I also bought little Sylvie some more of the, cheap as chips, Kawaii print t-shirts, aztec trousers and some flip flops. For myself, as well as the Maui haul, I bought more frilly ankle socks, an aztec bag and two pairs of white shoes. White shoes are everywhere this summer and I thought I'd try out some cheaper versions from Primark. I really love the creeper style high tops, they are so comfy but I am afraid to say the (rather flimsy) white sandals have already become a casualty of the summer and have broken, which was a little disappointing. I really loved the style of the sandals though so it has inspired me to perhaps splash out a little more and get a better quality pair elsewhere! The final garment for myself was a sleeveless monochrome checked shirt. I am loving this shirt and have worn it loads of times already, watch this space for how I wear it! 

In conclusion, I managed to buy all of this for under £100, apart from the broken shoes, it's brilliant value for money! I love Primark!

All clothing from Primark. (above photograph clothing from Primark, H&M and Underground)

Thanks so much for reading and following! 

Don't forget to like my facebook page and follow me on Instagram for daily No Debutante fashion updates!!

ND xx

Sound and Vision

Here's another personal style post from me, No Debutante! There is no link between the outfits in today's post but I think this just shows my random sense of style when each day for me is always another chance to wear another look. Both looks are casual, the first is more modern day vintage in my Freddies of Pinewood 1940s jeans and leopard print Converse, the second 1980s/90s skate inspired in my new favourite Vision Street Wear tee, which I love so much!!! Both myself and my husband love the Vision graphics and the whole brand actually, we have Vision skate decks as wall art and Phil has his original Vision skate tees and shorts. I deffo need to do a post on Vision in the near future!!

 

I have included a an Instagram pic of my daughter Sylvie's beautiful shoes from Little Bird. This is the greatest range of vintage inspired children's wear by Jools Oliver for Mothercare. I cannot buy little Sylvie enough of it!

All clothing from Freddies of Pinewood, H&M, Primark, Converse, Vision Street Wear and Little Bird by Jools Oliver for Mothercare.

 

Catch up with me soon for some more fashion fun, thanks for reading xx

ND xx

No Debutante - Mudhoney

Hello! Today's personal style post is the third and final part to the run of Saint Laurent inspired Winter Grunge outfits that I wore for a week during the latter end of September. Of course, you will definitely see more of this style from me over the coming months but I do get obsessed with certain looks and run with them until I have exhausted my wardrobe or the inspiration runs out and I have my eyes on another look to obsess over (all be it short lived) fashion is fickle and so am I! 

There are three outfits in today's post to bring this current obsession to a close for a bit. I wore the final two outfits to Brisfest which I was lucky enough to get free passes for through my job. Winter Grunge was the perfect style for an early Autumn festival and the weather was great, so I only had to layer up in the evenings. 

The first outfit was worn to work, I am wearing lots of Primark (dress and cardigan) and all of these outfits have been paired with my Dr Martens and I have worn my hair down for continuity with the grunge styling.

The second outfit was worn to Brisfest, I am wearing my beloved new Primark Tartan shirt and have layered it over the new mock leather pinafore dress also from Primark, this fabric is so soft and is a great mock leather, people can't believe it was only £12 from Primark! I have also worn my lace and denim detail shirt underneath the dress for more grunge layering. 

The last outfit features my peephole skater dress from Topshop, it's a very summery dress but I will find ways to wear it during the winter months!! You can't have grunge layering without a top tied around your waist giving that shirt, or in this case, cardigan worn as a skirt look which has been all over pinterest and in Vogue. 
Overall the looks are a subtle grunge style more influenced by Saint Laurent styling than grunge itself.

The final image has been very popular on Instagram so I thought I would show it to you so you can see my cheeky little Brisfest Boys (and friend) hanging out at the Festival. My youngest son Mika has that cynical Jonny Rotten face going on doesn't he?....The little punk!

 

I shall be back very soon with some more of my current obsessions and fashion moments. I don't understand when other bloggers say they hate it when they run out of content?? I could just go on and on and on....it's probably best I am not able to blog all the time......Thanks for following xx

ND xx

Just another Primark Sunday

 Hello November! How is it November already?? I barely noticed October and now we are on the run towards Christmas, it's only a matter of time before I get the first glimpse of the Christmas Coca-Cola advert (holidays a-coming, holidays a-coming) which for me is confirmation that it is nearly Christmas. So moving on with my next blog post, here is a quick look at what I managed to find on my last Primark Sunday shopping trip back in September. It was a good haul and I can tell you I have worn the tartan shirt to death already, I love it! I really love all of my purchases from the day which include the for mentioned (love it to death) tartan shirt, the denim cut offs with the tartan detail (cute and comfy and very, very tiny) the mock leather pinafore dress (not an obvious choice for me, but I truly love it, it's cute, it's tough, it's punk!) lots of frilly ankle socks (every rockabilly girls friend) and kawaii print tees for little Sylvie Belle,t which I am loving!

I usually go on my Primark shopping trip with an idea of what I am looking for, on this occasion I was thinking of grunge and punk, inspired by the Autumn Winter trends, especially the Saint Laurent AW13 collection  see my post on this amazing collection here and of course I am always rockin' the vintage rockabilly look, so anything 1950s inspired. I didn't find much vintage rockabilly style on this occasion (except perhaps the ankle socks) but the tartan shirt, mock leather pinafore drees and tartan detail denim cut offs were very grunge and punk inspired so I was very please with these finds! You will see from lots of my up-coming personal style posts that I have been wearing these grunge / punk items a fair bit so watch this space for more personal style posts very soon! Primark I Love you!

I have added a couple of images which follow on from my last post about Sylvie's Girl / Hello Kitty skateboard (not bought from Primark obviously-although it's probably only a matter of time until Primark rule the world!). We have hung the deck in her bedroom as wall art and it looks Rad!

I just had major problems trying to upload my images, I think Blogger are having problems today! Anyone else having difficulties?? I have to go now and make my family a big roast dinner! Thanks for following and I'll be back tomorrow with some more personal style pics and perhaps you will actually get to see how I wear my new Primark goodies! Did you like Sylvie's wall art? 

ND xx

No Debutante - Identity

I have had a lazy Sunday again today,I went for a walk to the park and hung out with my family. Yesterday was a busier day which included family haircuts, a trip to Dean Lane Skate Park here in Bristol to watch bands and skaters, followed by a visit to meet my lovely friends Craig and Zoe's new and very tiny baby Gwen. She was the cutest and I want one!! I then came back to earth as I chatted with Zoe about how you lose your identity and style during pregnancy. Post pregnancy is just as hard as being pregnant, I found out the hard way that it is not possible to wear a dress (unless it unbuttons down the front, which none of my dresses do) when breast feeding. I ended up in a state of half undress in a toilet, that's all I'm goin to say! It was a killer having all of my lovely dresses that I could finally fit into again but couldn't wear for practical reasons, no-one prepares you for these disappointments!! I like to look good whilst showing off my new baby! Identity is a very big thing with me and I really found it hard to adapt to not being able to wear what I wanted, when I wanted. I need to go back to my old pregnancy and post pregnancy posts from last year and see how I coped! Check out my earliest personal style blog posts from 2011 until late 2012 and see how I dressed during pregnancy and post pregnancy.

Back to the here and now, I am glad to say, I am back to my usual size 12 and can pretty much wear what I like. In today's personal style pics I have favoured denim and Converse. The first outfit was worn to work and to a product meeting with two lovely ladies who kindly gave me a goodie bag full of new products including more Dr Hauschka treats to try out and promote on my blog, which is all very exciting, the first of these posts should follow over the next week. I have always been one to dress comfortably and casually to any meetings or interviews, people then get to see the real you. I cannot imagine having to wear suits and office attire to work and find it unlikely that I would even choose a job where this would be necessary. Perhaps I have just been lucky in the jobs I have had that I have not had to wear office attire and I'd have to bloody love that job, if I ever did wear it! On this occasion I wore double denim in Topshop dungarees and my vintage denim jacket and was complimented. I was even complimented on my healthy looking skin, which has never happened, could it be the Ibiza tan or perhaps the use of Dr Hauschka products?? 

My second outfit was also a success, the vintage Americana printed sheer Primark top (Primark's brilliant Prada copy from last summer) is a favourite with me and many of my work friends who always say they love the top. Worn with my Vivien of Holloway 1950s jeans and Converse and hair worn in a twisted quiff with the mandatory head scarf which finished the vintage look off perfectly.

Thanks for following and I hope you liked today's outfits, feel free to leave comments, feedback is always welcome!

ND xx

No Debutante - Work Work Work

We are still playing catch up with my personal style posts, so check out what I wore when I eventually went back to work after that holiday which I can't stop mentioning, did I tell you I went to Ibiza? So the weather was still hot so I could show off my tan in denim cut offs and sleeveless tops.

I love my leopard print Topshop sandals, I have had them for two summers now and they are still going strong. I'm not sure whether they were best sellers at Topshop as they bought them out again this year but I reckon it probably has something to do with the awful weather here in the UK last summer, that nobody was buying summer clothes, I barely got to wear them last summer. 

The first outfit is definitely more Ibiza inspired but the second outfit is a bit smarter and got lots of compliments at the office. The shirt is one of my best bargains of the season and was from Primark. I cannot wait to go on my Primark Sunday trip for the new Autumn Winter ranges (for those of you who didn't know I blitz Primark each season for capsule seasonal pieces and I have never been disappointed) I think I will wait until September before I do this, even though the high street already has it's AW collections in.  I already have two Topshop bomber jackets waiting to be worn and I don't actually want to let Autumn in just yet! Don't leave me summer!!!

Thanks for reading and hope you had a lazy Sunday.

ND xx

No Debutante - Inspired by Ashish

As you have probably seen on my last blog post I have entered the Company Style Blogger Awards 2013. I am, of course, hoping to win with my niche being a fashion blogger over 30s in the Best Personal Style Blog section. My good friend and fellow blogger Dilly Foxtrot facebooked me, telling me I had to enter my blog, which was a great compliment! Thanks Dilly!

 

I will need to keep the personal style blog up-to-date as much as possible if I am going to get shortlisted for the awards. Wish me luck and nominate me here http://www.company.co.uk/magazine-hq/stylebloggerawards2013

 

During the last week I have been inspired by my Brimful Of Ashish post from last week  check it out here http://no-debutante.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/brimful-of-ashish-ss-2013.html and have recreated the Ashish SS 2013 collection my way, many of the garments from my Primark Sunday post are featured in this weeks outfits.

Side top knot with scarf

 

 

Denim details and white embroderie anglaise

 

Tailored denim with sheer print details worn with oversized jeans and hidden wedge high tops (instead of the Ashish white Reeboks).

Headband worn as a scrunchie

Oversized layering

 

Crop top over denim shirt and tapered jeans worn with tube socks

OK, so I think I managed to cover washed out denims, rolled up tapered jeans, mash up denims, layering, sheer panels, ankle socks, tailored shirts and jackets, I even had my Dierdre Barlow glasses on at work (I forgot to pop them on for the photographs!) and the vital scrunchie topknot! 

Thank you Ashish for the inspiration!!

 

All clothing from Topshop, Primark, Galeries Lafayette in Tokyo, American Apparel and Vivienne of Holloway.

Styling by No Debutante and inspired by Ashish SS2013

 

ND xx

No Debutante - Welcome to my 100th blog post!!

I only just noticed that this is my 100th blog post!!! I am very excited and amazed I actually got here! I wish I could post on my blog every day but I seriously do not have the time! I am writing this post on the evening of Mothers Day after receiving a lay in, breakfast in bed (a Marmite Bagel lovingly prepared by my 8 year old son Lucian), homemade cards, chocolates, spa vouchers and a bottle of Sailor Jerry's rum - I have been totally spoilt, again! We then spent the day at the pub with my family with lots of food and drinks consumed, followed by a freezing cold walk home, more food and here I am sat with a glass of rum about to watch an episode of Mad Men. Life is sweet!

This is a No Debutante personal style post featuring Monochrome, Primark Sunday and other oddities.

Monochrome

 

This is the outfit I wore for Primark Sunday. What is Primark Sunday? As I have mentioned before, twice a year (to meet the change in the fashion season) I plan a big, kids free, day out at Primark for a big shop! I can try everything on and spend ages (4 hours on this occasion - the Primark here in Bristol has 4 floors, don't judge!) browsing and hunting down the best buys for the current season-which clearly hasn't started yet as snow is predicted, again. It's ridiculous, there was a bloody heatwave in the UK this time last year!!?

A Primark shop includes everything you need for the season at a 1/4 of the price, it's disposable, high fashion and I love it!

Beehives, headscarves and flowers in your hair!

 

The below images were not taken on Primark Sunday but I liked them so I thought I'd pop them in for a bit of colour and wish it was actually Spring!!

 

 

 

 Primark Sunday

 

  Last spring I returned home from Primark Sunday with lots of Americana printed garments but this spring it was definitely the season of the shirt! I managed to get a sleeveless shirt, a white broderie anglaise sleeveless smock shirt with denim details, denim shirt with mesh leopard print sleeves, and a khaki army jacket with aztec detail.

I also managed to get hold of some studded denim cut offs, a long black vest with white skull detail (for a mere £3!!) a  long cross detailed necklace and a great crop t-shirt which is the perfect 1980s cut with RAD written on it. It's supposed to be an ironic statement to my husband Phil who skates and this sort of thing annoys him. The irony actually is, that I really like the Rad t-shirt! It's Rad!

One outfit from Primark Sunday.

 

I thought I would give you a glimpse of one my new outfits from Primark Sunday. I had to be quick so I am actually still wearing the monochrome outfit underneath! This is a brave new look for me -the pleated maxi skirt- I have chosen to wear it with the new denim and leopard print shirt and my brothel creepers. I was already wearing the socks but I liked the look and went with it. I chose the skirt in black as pleated, light weight black garments are a big thing for the summer. What do you think? Can I work a pleated maxi skirt?

 

 

Creeper love!

All clothing from H&M, New Look, Underground at Office and not forgetting Primark!

All styling by No Debutante.

 

I love Primark Sundays!

ND xx