SassyMoola
Looking for devilishly clever ways to get more fun and adventure for your moola? Pull up a chair. I'm on a mission to fit more art, travel, style and adventure into my life... without having to clear out my bank account. You don't need fabulous wealth to have a fabulous life -- in fact, I'll prove it!
- My Location: London, UK
- Spent so far: £573.18
- Saved so far: £487.06
- Recent posts
- Comments (15)
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Last year’s clothing, this year’s trends – part 2
Earlier this week I described two easy ways to get an extra season out of boots (toughen them up with boot straps or even skinny belts) and lightweight jackets (stitch in some shoulder pads).
For this post, I’m trying out a third way of extending the wardrobe into Autumn/Winter 09: switch up the buttons on your winter coats.
For my first foray into button swapping, I’m using a grey wool Banana Republic coat. I bought it two seasons ago but have only worn it a dozen or so times, so it’s still in very good condition.
As you can see, it’s a fairly low-key topper: slightly cropped sleeves, hits athe high hip, minimal detailing, and just the four plain dark buttons. This coat needs an update if it’s going to get any wear this season.
Posted in Fashion
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Last year’s clothing, this year’s trends – part 1
Every season, fashion nudges us in new directions – or at least directions slightly different to the ones we were moving in the season before! You can spend a fortune keeping up with trends by replacing your clothing every season, or you can get a little crafty by adapting last year’s clothing to this year’s trends.
Perhaps one of the biggest Autumn/Winter 09 trends is the re-embracing of that old eighties standby, the shoulder pad. What works on the runway isn’t always necessarily meant to work in real life (case in point: huge shoulder pads are toned down to a more high-street friendly detailed shoulder) but something we’re seeing a lot of, and will only see more of in the months to come, is the shoulder pad.
Posted in Fashion
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The Mulberry handbag challenge – job done!
I am pleased to report that the Mulberry handbag challenge is now complete, thanks to a clever little shop called Seconda Mano.
Seconda Mano -- this way for bargains
This past weekend I ambled up to Seconda Mano (no website, but I’m told one is on the way) in Islington to investigate an oft-told tale that until now I had disregarded as the stuff of urban myth.
Posted in Fashion
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Learning to knit – part 1
Confession: I don’t know how to knit
My grandmother was a great knitter, clothing the young Sassy in gorgeous jumpers and jackets, keeping my closets full even as I lost and outgrew her work.
Posted in Crafting
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The Mulberry handbag challenge – part 2
Week two of the handbag hunt and alas I’m no closer…
This is a tricky challenge, finding a Mulberry handbag for £100
This week I looked online and did some research into offline shopping. Specifically, I looked into the places I think we’re most likely to hit paydirt: charity shops.
First I checked eBay
Posted in Fashion
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Sew your own: simple shift dress
I enjoyed an at-home stitch and bitch the other night with a friend who wanted to try out a little sewing project.
She was inspired by the myriad multi-way shift dresses in shops at the moment and thought she would try to make one of her own. I was invited along in official pressing capacity (which was fine with me – if my Mum taught me anything at the sewing machine it is that Ironing Is Critical).
Our goal was to make a simple dress that could be worn multiple ways. We took as inspiration the sack dress, originally developed in the 1950s by Givenchy, and more recently re-thought by American Apparel. In fact, many people are making similar dresses. Lucky for us, the fabulous eHow hosts a helpful little sack dress tutorial which uses an old t-shirt as a pattern.
Posted in Fashion
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Return of the Style Advisor
Back in June I wrote about my excellent Summer 2008 experience with the Style Advisor service from Topshop. I was so pleased with the service that I booked in again for this summer. I am now very happy to report that this year’s Style Advisor experience was even better than the last…
Some of the greatest hits from this year's Style Advisor mission
Here’s how it works, shoppers
For those who haven’t been, Style Advisor is a free personal shopping service offered by Topshop.
Posted in Fashion
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The Mulberry handbag challenge – part 1
Mulberry bags are renowned for their quality and distinctly British style. Mulberry is a designer brand with a designer price tag… and now a reader named Kate has challenged us to find her a large Mulberry handbag for under £100.
A shot from an August 2009 Mulberry fashion show in Copenhagen
Eek! This could be a tricky one! In fact, it might be downright impossible, but hopefully that’s not the case. We’re so determined to deliver on Kate’s challenge that the three of us – StylishMoola, CannyMoola and yours truly – are taking it upon ourselves to turn London upside down until we find that handbag… or something even better, of course.
Posted in Fashion
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Visit to the Covent Garden Real Food Market
The Covent Garden Real Food Market is in full swing. If you haven’t yet stopped by the West End’s answer to Borough Market or Broadway Market, get thee to the east side of the piazza, and soon.
The Real Food Market at Covent Garden
I wandered over to the Real Food Market last Thursday at about one-thirty. I planned to grade it on three criteria: selection, quality, and price of food. Here’s the breakdown and a few individual recommendations… Read full post
Posted in Bargains & Markets, Food, Uncategorized
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London spa break — part 2
One very relaxed spa-goer... alas not me! Photo credit: Thomas Wanhoff
Yesterday evening I went to the Purity Spa at London’s Park Lane Hilton for my £10 mini facial pampering treat, as it was billed on the voucher. And the verdict? Well, the facial was pleasant, but on the whole… you get what you pay for.
Posted in Beauty
Hi Viviana, Pleased you like the post -- thank you. Alas I cannot offer any personal recommendations, as I've just done the day trip, but I have done a little research for you. I'm not sure whether a bed and breakfast always offers better value than a hotel, but I know there are deals to be had. Check out this list of B and B options. If you two want to stick to hotels, the Hotel Continental charges £85/night for a standard double in high season, although the site cautions that charges are subject to change. Finally, you may find something on the Whitstable Accommodation site. Good luck, enjoy your trip, and let us know how you fare! SassyMoola
ok, my crafty friend, I'll give you that. But surely every once in a while you glance round the zen-soaked, arboreal idyll that is your Jersey home and think, "Zounds, what I wouldn't give for a big East London night out, with loud music and overpriced (but not too overpriced) beer!" And now you know where to go: Matter :-)
Burberry on the left does it for me. Love the hat and the line of the trousers. Also, a necklace like that presents an interesting accessorising challenge. Go Stylie...
Hurrah, a satisfied customer! I'm so pleased you like it, Rachelle. Do keep us posted on how you fare with your headpiece...
Hmm... think I could be convinced to loan 'er out... :-)
Oh, something I should note: my plants have now been in the ground for two weeks and they are thriving. Each is of the high quality you would expect from the RHS -- even the strawberry plant, which is now laden with gorgeous (and rather delish) berries.
Update: As of 7am on Thursday 30 July (fewer than four days post-planting) I've got green mini-shoots showing in both lettuce pots and one radish pot. That's the first hurdle cleared, then!
Thanks Aveen! I just checked out your blog and I'm suitably impressed by your craftiness. If two-step jewellery like this isn't embarassingly easy for you, give it a go! The shop I went to offered tons of glass beads in all sorts of colours.
Hi Tony. My mum bought some at a big grocery store (alas not in the UK), got some from her sisters (serious preservers, those women) and had some left over from previous preserving operations. If you want to buy jars, I would suggest you check larger grocery stores or amazon.co.uk. If those options are no good, you can try this site, but they look a bit pricey: http://www.cookability.biz/home-discovery-preserving-jars/b_697.htm Finally, here's some information on all the equipment you need to do this yourself, as well as links to help you get it: http://www.pickyourownfarms.org.uk/preserving_supplies.php Good luck!
Oh fantastic -- I am in! This is a brilliant offer, I'll be sure to take some friends.
Hey all, I'm so pleased to see Seconda Mano is turning out to be a fashion find for so many. Lovely! Kate, you are SO welcome -- I'm thrilled this worked out for you and I hope you get plenty of love from your Mulberry handbag. Leila, I went on a Sunday, so I expect the shop is indeed open seven days a week... but best call to be sure (the number is at the foot of my post). cheers all! x Sassy
Thanks fabhat. I'm not blown away by the results, but oddly, a friend complimented me on the buttons... alas not on my very seasonal military look, ha ha! Your suggestion is a good one, I'll see what I can do.
Hello Deadly Knitshade... brilliant moniker! I'm getting rather excited about my S&B debut. I'll be coming along to the learner-friendly session on the 15th -- looking forward to meeting you too!
What a sweet comment, LU -- thank you! Perhaps I shall take the amoeba out for a spin one of these days...
Yes, the coat is wool. I bought it in the US for about $75, on sale.