Hello – I hope you’re all having a wonderful time. I’m just popping in with a few outfits of the week as promised because by next week, sequins are going to look a bit out of place.
I thought it was going to be a quiet one this year because most of our friends and family are away but actually, when I look back at Christmas 2016, I will remember it as the funny one. The boys have been on top form and I haven’t laughed so much for ages. This is how it’s gone:
Wednesday 21st December
The younger two finally finished school for the holidays and, more importantly, we celebrated the eldest’s 20th birthday. It also felt like a celebration for me – notching up 2 decades of being a mum is no small thing!
We had a lovely lunch on the shore and later headed off to Zeffirelli’s, a small independent cinema in Ambleside, for pizza followed by Star Wars. This year we were joined by his lovely girlfriend so our usual party of five grew to six. Life is moving on.
Jigsaw coat (past season); Hush Christmas Stella jumper (in and out of stock); White Company silver t-shirt (just seen); Hush velour jeans (sold out); Clarks ankle boots (sold out)
Thursday 22nd December
Thursday was cheese day. We headed to Kendal to buy the deli items we needed and rounded the trip off with a hot chocolate pitstop.
Navy leather jacket (currently 25% off and great value for such high quality); Next Christmas jumper (past season); Whistles kick flare jeans (sold out); chocolate crocodile ankle boots; Boden scarf (past season); John Lewis silver leather tote (past season – this year’s version a bargain in the sale here)
Friday 23rd December
When I left you last time, I was about to get changed quickly because we were due at my oldest friend’s engagement party. It was lovely to see her so happy and to peek at the sketches of ‘the dress’ which looks as though it’s going to be fabulous.
Velvet bomber jacket (still available in the sale in plus size and petite); Great Plains sequin top (past season); Hush velour trousers (sold out); Jigsaw ponyskin clutch; Jigsaw ponyskin shoes (past season)
Christmas Eve
We went to the panto…oh yes we did! There’s nowhere quite like Blackpool for panto, it was hilarious. On Christmas Eve they always go ‘off script’ so you never know quite what will happen and we literally laughed until we cried.
Midi skirt: Tippi Jumper; Biker jacket (past season); Clarks ankle boots (past season); Boden clutch (past season)
Christmas Day
I think I was feeling relieved at this stage. Father Christmas had brought all of the right things, the table was set, the games were ready to be played and Christmas Dinner was coming along nicely. I was also on my second glass of champagne and my silk trousers with the elasticated waistband were feeling like the right choice!
Mango sequin top (past season); Silk trousers 20% off; Gold shoes now in the sale
The games and moustache crackers went down particularly well as you can see (and after posting this on Instagram I gained a number of new male followers – all of whom seemed to have big moustaches so it has now been deleted)!
Boxing Day
I stayed in my pyjamas all day. This was me perusing the sales – purely for your benefit of course, so that I could update my post. I spent a lot of time on the John Lewis site and placed a big order only to have the whole thing cancelled because there was a glitch on their website which meant that all of the things that appeared to be in stock actually weren’t. Pretty poor JLP!
You’ll notice that at Christmas I am rarely parted from a box of Bendick’s Bittermints. Sadly they have all gone now and I must not buy any more…
Joules PJ bottoms (past season); J Crew Tippi jumper
Tuesday 27th December
After being lashed firstly by Storm Barbara then by Storm Connor, the winds finally abated so Mr MC and I left the boys with their games consoles and took poor old Gary for a long walk. We also did the ‘New Year Life Audit‘ that I included in one of last year’s posts which was really useful.
Here it is if you fancy doing it with your other half. The idea is to go for a long walk so that it is easy to talk openly and address any issues before starting 2017 afresh.
Hush Nina cardigan (past season); Boden Christmas jumper (past season); Uniqlo Heat Tech jeans (great for dog walking and a bargain in the sale); Boden scarf (past season)
And now, people are gradually returning. We spent today at my sister’s, catching up on their Christmas news. Tomorrow I’ll be back into sequins because we’re starting Christmas all over again with Mr MC’s side of the family. I don’t know whether you’ve seen the film ‘Mickey’s Christmas’ but it’s starting to feel a bit like that!
I’ll be back next week to tell you how it went, along with our New Year’s Celebrations. We’re spending New Year’s Eve with one group of friends and New Year’s Day with another. Hopefully we will be pausing in between! I have lots of ideas taking shape for January and I’m looking forward to sharing them with you. Until then, Happy Twixmas to you all.
New Year Sales – what to buy?
So far, I think some retailers are holding off so that they have more stock to release next week. These are the best offers I’ve seen to date.
Jaeger – especially the coats. Offers updated this morning here. Use code GIFT20 for a further £20 when you spend £100 (closes tonight 28/12). My pick of the Jaeger sale items is here.
Hush – 20% off everything in advance of the sale starting on 4th January. This is a great offer, especially for their knitwear which is some of the best you can buy.
Boden have just moved their sale on to up to 60% off here. Pyjamas and bags are a particularly good buy.
John Lewis womenswear clearance here. They are matching the Hush offer in a microsite here so if items are out of stock on the Hush site, you may find them here. They also have different offers on the Finery sale and there are some bargains on pieces that are still full prince at Finery! John Lewis Finery microsite.
Finery sale page here plus 25% off these 25 non-sale items here – use code FINERY25. This offer is only open for a few days.
Hope – some of their sale items are now 75% off here.
I recapped on the best things I’ve bought this year in my Chic Buys of 2016 post. Here are all of the other outfit posts I’ve done this season – most things I’ve featured are now in the sale so if you click through, you’ll find the latest prices.
Relaxed Christmas outfit ideas
Dressing for a very formal occasion
The process of learning which colours suit you
Using accessories to update your outfits – bags and jewellery
Using accessories to update your outfits – shoes and boots
Dressing in Hush from week to weekend
Reviewing cashmere on the high street
Women over 40 styling Marks & Spencer
Women over 40 styling Winser London
