This post was a lot of fun! It’s my entry into MoneySupermarket’s Passion for Fashion competition, where there are exciting monetary prizes and an iPad 3 up for grabs (wow). Prizes aside though, I’ve totally enjoyed compiling these 5 themed outfits for Autumn/Winter. The themes/occasions are party, outdoor, office, first date and casual and the budget for each is £200. I love my virtual shopping…
Casual
Slouchy deco jumper, £37 from Miss Selfridge
Oversized stud collar blouse, £19.99 from Missguided.co.uk
Studded canvas pumps, £14 from Matalan
Typewriter key ring, £5 from Rock n Rose
Skinny jeans, £7.99 from H&M
Bag, £42 from Miss Selfridge
Total: £125.98
To me, casual means comfy, and comfy means oversized, so I have chosen an oversized shirt to wear under a cozy deco print jumper (which would see me through the colder months), and the bag is oversized too. I’ve featured studs twice, as they are a key trend to include in your winter wardrobe.
With value in mind, I found fantastic prices on a quirky ring (reduced from £10), the jeans (£7.99!!) and the stud pumps, which are from Matalan who have a great collection for Autumn/Winter at really good prices. Value is also about pence-per-wear though, so this outfit (and my others too) feature versatile separates which I could mix and match. This shirt could be dressed up for a night out, for example, and the bag would definitely be practical enough for work.
Date
Floral tapestry dress, £22 from River Island
Blazer, £30 from River Island
Cowboy boots, £22 from Matalan
Kiss Me necklace, £10 from Fairytales and Hidden Notes
Cuff bangle, £10 from Chelsea Doll
Clutch bag, £22 from Fashion Union
Total: £116
Not a bad price for a date outfit! I went for a pretty and relaxed look, with a printed dress in autumnal florals (again, a big trend for the season), and a slouchy boyfriend blazer and ankle boots. Both ankle boots and blazers are key wardrobe items for Autumn/Winter, so I’d definitely get my money’s worth out of those items.
I’ve also added a very cute “kiss me” necklace, which I thought would be very apt for a date. All the accessories I picked were great prices, and the dress itself is fab value at £22!
Outdoor
Oversized Boyfriend Coat, £89 from Topshop
Tote Bag, £5 from Matalan
Jumper, £18.75 from Forever21
Cowboy boots, £24.99 from New Look
Coloured skinny jeans, £16 from Matalan
Mustard snood scarf, £11 from Chelsea Doll
Total: £164.74
The key item for an outdoor outfit is of course a coat, and a decent winter coat is a wardrobe essential worth investing in. As such, I spent quite a chunk of the outfit budget on this oversized coat from Topshop. Oversized coats were seen all over the catwalks – they are a key silhouette for the season and, practically speaking, they are very warm and cozy too, so a coat just like this is my ideal choice!
I’ve added some fantastically-priced items from Matalan, including the bag, which is reduced to just £5 now, and is available in various colours. Wine-coloured jeans are also a great investment for the season, continuing the coloured jean trend in more autumnal colours. Actually, an autumnal palette was what I was going for, particularly with the mustard snood (for warmth in case it snows!)
Party
Disco pants, £29.99 from Glamorous
Sequin blazer, £35 from Boohoo
Scalloped vest, £16 from ASOS
Toe-cap court shoe, £16 from Matalan
Electric blue clutch bag, £18 from ASOS
No7 lipstick (gay geranium), £10 from Boots
Total: £124.99
I preferred separates for this party outfit, as it works out as better value when I have the chance to wear the items in different combos. The key item is disco pants, which I love and I reckon would see me through a range of autumn, winter (and Christmas) parties. I’ve added a sequin jacket for added glitz, as well as some toe-capped courts which are an amazing £16!
The neutral colour scheme means that every item could be re-worn in a different outfit, and I’ve added an electric blue clutch and my favourite ultra-bright lipstick for a pop of colour.
Office
Leather-look pencil skirt, £17 from La Redoute
Horse skinny belt, £3 from Matalan
Dogtooth print jumper, £25 from River Island
Ankle boots, £30 from Boohoo
Bag, £65 from Next
Black tights, £5 from Dorothy Perkins
Model’s Own nail polish (Prussian Blue), £5 (potentially £2.50 with offer)
Watch, £28 from River Island
Total: £178
Surprisingly my office outfit was the most expensive of the five, mainly due to the investment in a practical leather work bag and other accessories that can be worn over and over again to earn their value points (the watch and ankle boots).
Leather is massive for the season, and this flattering leather-look pencil skirt is a nice way to wear the trend. I thought wearing it with a slouchy print jumper (houndstooth another key trend) and quirky waist belt (irresistable value at £3!) over the top would make a very stylish winter office outfit.
I also added some colour with a nail polish. Models Own is my favourite nail polish brand, and a bottle costs just £5. However, for an even cheaper price, if Models Own reach 100,000 likes on Facebook by 30th September, every fan will get 50% off in their sale! That would be just £2.50 a bottle, and you can’t say fairer than that!
So to summarize, I’ve tried to put together outfits full of fantastically-priced items, as well as focussing on separates that can be mixed and matched with other outfits, and picking key items that will be investments for the season, and will be more than worth their price tag.
English Rose from Manchester's Blog 