OOTD: Bargain Hunter

Today I had a pretty lazy day. 
All my friends are back in Basingstoke, My Fiancé is at work and my mum has just had an operation on her hand, there was nothing on TV and I can't do much unpacking by myself with a bad back.

So, I was a bit lost for things to do today... until my mum suggested a little trip into the next village to have a look around and I thought 'why not?'.
(the outskirts of Southampton City Centre are actually made up of several small villages that are right on top of each other!)

What I Wore: Black leather jacket - Warehouse, Black Camisole - H&M, Nude Bandage Skirt - By Topshop but it's an eBay Bargain, Shoes and Birdcage necklace - both Primark, Nude Feather Earrings - Matalan, Tan Leather Bowler Bag - Asos

My Dad dropped us up there while he went to the gym and mum and I had a quick look in a couple of the charity shops there...

The first one, I didn't find much in there I was willing to pay for, I know it sounds stingy but in my opinion £5 for a second hand top from Primark is excessive for a charity shop. Especially as the top probably cost less than that brand new!

So we popped into the second one and at first I was a bit disheartened that there really wasn't much in my size but I kept hunting through.

I was really happy when I came across these lovely grey tweed style shorts from H&M that looked almost new in my size! 

I tried them on and it was like they were made for me! - and at a bargain price too!

So I had another look through the rails and found this beautiful light grey blazer with mother of pearl effect buttons also in my size! It really was a lovely jacket!

So I picked it up to check the price - another bargain - but instead i notice the make.

Calvin Klein.

Yup.

Calvin Klein...in a charity shop...for just over a fiver.

So, if you thought charity shops were just a place old ladies donate their flower painted cat ornaments - you're wrong.

I have found: Hollister, Laura Ashley, Fred Perry, Ted Baker, Ralph Lauren,  French Connection, Karen Millen and GUCCI in various charity shops in the last YEAR!

(I once found a brand new French Connection top in a charity shop marked up for ONE POUND!)

And now some advice from me to you:

DON'T BE A SNOB. 

Go in and take a look in every charity shop you see, you may not find anything designer or amazing on your first visit, but the more you look, the more you find! Charity shops are a hidden gold mine for the modern fashionista whose bank balance doesn't quite match their wishlists! You don't have to shop there because you're poor or on benefits either! That's pure rubbish! 

So tell me...What's been your best bargain buy? Was it from a charity shop, thrift store, car boot sale?

Tell us as we're dying to know!

Hailie

xo

You've got mail.

My fiancé said to me earlier:

'...I wouldn't even know how to follow a blog!'

And it got me thinking... I wasn't even 100% sure until I did some research!

Not all of you will know how to follow a blog or even want to get an account just so you can.

So, if you wish to follow my blog and be notified of when I've written a new entry then just scroll all the way to the bottom of this page... 

Type your email into the bar...

Click 'submit'...

and you're all done!

You'll get email updates to your already existing address without having to sign up to anything!

Enjoy!

Hailie

xo

OOTD: All Packed Up...

Hasta la Vista Ba...singstoke!

And that's it, the final weekend living in our own little flat has finally arrived, and it's bitter-sweet.
While I am sad in leaving after only a short time, due to recent health issues interrupting my earnings, I am actually rather excited to be living back with my parents again.

In a last minute mad dash to finalise packing Friday morning, we had managed to finish both rolls of parcel tape, all the newspapers and marker pens at the same time...with a lot still left to pack!

So this morning we took a quick (albeit unsuccessful) trip into town to re-stock on the packing essentials but, just because I'm packing everything I own into boxes, why can't I look cute doing it?

 What I wore: Oversize boyfriend shirt, plain black camisole - both from H&M, Crochet shorts - eBay, Magenta flats - Miss Selfridge.

 I kept this look airy & casual with minimal girly elements. Keep the hair & make-up relaxed and neutral.

 Close up of my gorgeous shoes!

I made these earrings myself - I am very proud of them & they match my shoes perfectly!

I also wore two faux pearl stretchy bracelets on my right wrist but I forgot to take a close up picture...doh!

What's been your best excuse to dress it up on a casual day?

Hailie 

xo

Is it that time already?

Okay, so I literally have the worst wrists and hands ever.

I can never find watches or bracelets to fit me - Bangles? Rings? FORGET IT!

They are always too big, fall off or swamp me so much I look like I'm playing dress up and at my age it's really annoying.

So, I needed an alternative to a wrist watch and took to the wonderful web for some ideas or maybe even a solution, and after a short while I came across this gorgeous watch necklace on eBay! It is perfect! I don't need to worry about it fitting around my wrists and it instantly adds a beautiful vintage flare to any outfit with it's cameo flip lid and old bronze colour.

 The flip lid makes it look like a regular pendant and protects the watch face inside.

 Full view.

A peek inside...

I can't wait to wear it and be on time for once! 

Anything about you that makes shopping difficult or even impossible?

Hailie

xo

In The Beginning...

Hello!
Welcome to Dragons of Moda...
A Place to chat about my day to day looks, outfits, hair - whatever!

I literally have no fashion experience, photography experience, styling or designer's eye at all, so this is not a styling page!
I've never claimed to have a great dress sense and I've never written a blog before...

A learning curve for the everyday girl.

Thank you for stopping by,

Hailie

 xo