New Finds: Vintage sequin top

My favourite past time has got to be vintage shopping (or just shopping?!). I love to go to weekend car boot sales, and scour eBay and Etsy for the most unique items that nobody else will have. Apart from vintage dresses, jackets and 80's tops, I'm also a big fan of heavily sequinned tops.

I found this gorgeous one on Etsy and it was in perfect condition. The seller is called BadBabyVintage and they always seem to have some gorgeous pieces (you may have to pay customers charges in the UK, be warned!) It's a short sleeve top with holes on the sleeves, and lots of sequins and tiny pearls in the design. I'll be wearing it with jeans, shorts or a mini skirt, and some dark purple lippy!

One thing I learned is to always try and remember the old brand names and search them on eBay from time to time, to find more items from that designer. The tops are also much cheaper on eBay than anywhere else, especially on Brick Lane in London.

New Finds: Emotional Baggage

Ever heard of The School of Life? It's a great little company in Soho, London (global, too) with experts and classes devoted to helping people like you and me develop emotional intelligence through the help of culture. They address issues such as fulfilling work, how to master the art of relationships, how to understand one's past and how to achieve calm. I haven't had a chance to attend a class yet but have checked out their little shop and I just couldn't resist buying this bag (£35) when I saw it

Perfect for gym gear, groceries or notebooks, etc. when you are dressed down for work or just going to a cafe...The best thing about it is that it'd pretty amusing...and it's really good quality (it better be for that price!). The tote comes in blue as well.

As told by The School of Life: It’s not possible to go through life without burdens of this kind. But it makes an enormous difference whether we know how to acknowledge them and whether we understand them. When we fail at this, we get defensive and bitter. We claim we're not lacking self-confidence, it's just that other people are full of themselves. We insist we're not envious; it's that other people are greedy. We say we're not rebellious, but the world is too conformist. And we're definitely not hard to live with; it's just our partners who have turned out to be pathetic.

This is emotional baggage badly carried. At The School of Life, we believe in trying to learn ways to be more deft about the damage we are burdened with: how to fathom it, how to set it in context and how to warn others of its existence in good time (when we are still calm).This bag celebrates one of the most glamorous projects any of us can undertake: learning how to carry our emotional baggage well.

Another little gem I found online for just £9 from CafePress...Have fun! :)

Images from respective product websites

New Finds: Coca Cola bag

I have to admit I'm a sucker for Instagram-induced shopping...if we can call it that. I follow a lot of fashionistas on the social media network and have bought things I have seen on there numerous times as it's a great place to find something different or from another country.

One of those things is this super cute Coca Cola bag I recently bought from Patricia Field in New York. It's rather small and can barely fit anything, but this is one of those sacrifices for fashion I'm willing to take...the phone will just have to go into a jacket pocket!!!  was pleasantly surprised at the great quality of this little gem - it's not like a metal can of coke as it has lining and a better quality outer shell and I love it already.

You can also buy a Diet Coke clutch!

Here is Emirates Woman Fashion Features Editor Olivia Philips sporting hers perfectly with a sequin Ashish top

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Supermarket stylin' with my coke can clutch from @patricia_field. Also of note: @ashish_uk top says Same old chic, not Am old chic. Although, tbh, I AM old. And chic. #dubai

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I can't wait to wear mine!

Coke/Diet Coke Bag by Patricia Field (International Shipping available), £22.40 ($36)

New Finds: April

My exciting Cuba holiday is almost here (yay!!!) so I've been on a little shopping spree...I'm pretty sure this is the norm for girls pre-holiday...lots of beauty treatments, new outfits, sunglasses, bikinis and outfit planning! Or maybe this is the shopaholic in me talking...

(click on image to enlarge)

The first bikini is from Triangl...a brand I came across on Instagram that make scuba-like bikinis. Their famous for their neon colours, check them out, they look killer with a tan!

The second one is from Asos and comes in a few more colours...great for a girls holiday!

The white cotton romper is from an Australian brand called Spell & The Gypsy Collective. Their store is AMAZING and full of lots of boho/hippie kimonos, dresses, accessories and all sorts...their shop looks like my dream home, wish I could pay them a visit! I am yet to receive the romper and try it on so have no idea what it will look like...but am hoping it will be comfy and that I won't have to enhance the size as it is always so tricky buying online. They might be sold out everywhere but they usually get them back in stock so just keep checking their website.

I'll be writing about my holiday beauty essentials next week, too!

Images from the respective brand websites

New Finds: March

OK we're in April...this one's a wee bit late...check out what I bought last month!

I finally had an eye test done, at new brand KITE's Westfield Stratford store, and got these gorgeous 60's inspired cat eye glasses called Broadway in Marrakesh Diva (RRP £145). Surprisingly, they go with everything! They feel amazing, and look fab.

Pairing my new comfy shoes with Balenciaga, All Saints, Isabel Marant and Topshop (see similar items below)

I love the packaging! KITE optical glasses and sunglasses are available at their Westfield Stratford store or online on www.kitegb.com

New Finds: February

I saw this orange Topshop coat last month and instantly fell in love. It's the perfect transitional piece of clothing from winter to spring, especially if you don't have a lot to spend as you can wear this every day, with everything.

I get a lot of compliments on it already and it definitely makes me smile on a grey, rainy London day! I hear Zara also have some cool colours at the moment...I dare you to be brave and get a yellow, red, green, or white coat! And I guarantee it will brighten up your day :)

New Finds: December

December has been kind to me...and Santa, too. For Christmas I got a Michael Kors (MK5055) gold watch that I've wanted for years, some beautiful leather gloves with studs, and an Estella Bartlett wishbone gold necklace.

I also bought myself these super comfy over-the-knee Dune boots on a sale (not currently on sale), and a T shirt from Asos.  I really needed some flat boots and these are perfect for casual outfits. Earlier in the winter I also bought a Balenciaga bag from a brilliant website that sells pre-loved items called Covetique - check it out!

You can click through to buy all the items below.

New Finds: Zara kitty cat hat

I just bought this cute hat, it looks so much more chic on then when you first see it! Love the little cat ears!!

Leather skirt H&M (£59.99)

Shirt vintage from eBay

Zara, £15.99

New Finds: Alexander McQueen scarf & Zara leggings

I always feel lucky when I find a good sample sale...and get access to it! The best ones are notoriously difficult to get into, and for example the Christian Louboutin one is almost impossible to get into and if you do...you only get 20 minutes inside. At £80 for a pair of Loubs, I can imagine what a crazy rummage it turns into!

I managed to get this beautiful red leopard and skull print 100% silk Alexander McQueen scarf recently and for just £120. For some reason, it's still on sale everywhere and is priced at £325 at Liberty! At the sale, they had every style and every colour so it's a must if you manage to get yourself an invite (unlike most other sample sales which are not great).

I also recently bought some leather biker leggings from Zara with padding on the knees. I had a pair from H&M that I ended up wearing all the time, and these look great with a denim shirt, or long chunky knitwear when it gets colder here in London (you can never prepare too early!). They were just £25.99 and I know I will get a lot of wear out of them.

Alexander McQueen Red Leopard Skull Silk Scarf, £325 (ouch!!!)

Zara Motorbike Leggings, £25.99

New finds: Holiday buys

I'm off on holiday to Croatia in about a week to my cousin's house and have found a few great bits to take with me! When working in PR you feel like you need a holiday or rehab every other week, so I'm counting down the daysssss!!

1. The Body Shop bronzing kabuki brush, £16. I've heard great things about Bobbi Brown and Real Techniques brushes but if you don't want to spend too much money or can't find Real Techniques anywhere like me, the Body Shop has really good make up brushes.

2. Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Bronzer in number 2, £23. This new bronzer was recommended to me by two friends, and it's so popular that Liberty have run out of stock for weeks and have a waiting list! It's really great, stays on all day (bingo!) and blends perfectly with the bronzer brush. Well worth the money.

3. Rihanna for River Island black crochet midi skirt, £15 on sale. I've wanted this 90's style skirt since I saw it on Rihanna months ago, but the £40 price tag shocked me at the time!! Finally the sale came and I can't wait to wear it to the beach!

4. Topshop premium fringe kimono, £50. Another item back by popular demand, this fringe kimono is also sold out all over the UK. I've bought a size 10 as I wanted it so badly!! Great item for winter as well....I love anything with hints of 70's.

Images from respective websites