I've been slightly out of love with Dorothy Perkins recently. It was always my go-to shop in the fat days because of the range of sizes they did but it seems that my losing weight and getting stingier with my cash coincided with them hiking prices up and skimping a bit on the quality of their clothes. And let's face it, I am definitely turning into a grumpy old woman who tuts loudly over price labels and thin material.
I'm sure I'll fall properly back in love with it when I have more disposable cash but in the meantime I'll restrict myself to sale shopping because that never fails to turn up winners. I head to the jewellery and accessories first, have a quick look at the shoes and then rummage through the concession rails. On Monday I scored two gorgeous clutches which are going to be Christmas presents for people - Twitter opinion seemed split as to whether I was being organised or mental with this. (Didn't dare admit I'd started buying Christmas presents in the January sales...) I also bagged myself a nice new ring and an addition to my pretty frock collection.
Good old Uttam London. I liked this dress when it was £32 but I'm just not paying that much for dresses anymore. However, when it's reduced to 7 English pounds then you just know I'm going to snap it up. Pretty, summery and it has pockets. Love it. If you like it as much as I do then give me a shout - they had 3 or 4 Large ones left in store and I'm happy to go and look.
I know I've chopped the top of my head off in this pic but my hair is looking nice...
Frock - Uttam London @ Dorothy Perkins sale
Shoes - Primark
Rings - Dorothy Perkins sale (white) & Next sale (orange)
Cardi - Tesco sale
Bow - silk scarf from 69a in Liverpool. I'm going back for more, it was only £1.20!
I went off DP when they closed the standalone shop and merged it in with the BHS in town, losing the Tall range, the concessions, the lingerie and most of the shoe dept in the process.
ReplyDelete£32 is a bit much for a day dress I think but £7 is a definite bargain. Star of the show is that red bow though, I wish I were brave enough to try something like that! x
Sorry, ORANGE bow - even better!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I might pop into my local one and take a look.
ReplyDeleteI love the little pops of colour,the headscarf is lush!
ReplyDeleteYou suit this style of dresses, perfect for summer (the little glimmers we are getting!!)
xxx
oh i love it, the stripes are fab and it looks gorgeous on you - a perfect fit and very flattering! and i really love the orange bow!! :) xx
ReplyDeleteOoh this could be one of my fave dresses on you! Yeah I kinda went off DPs too, like Lucy said they really scaled back their Tall ranges, only place I know of one is a shopping centre past Glasgow, not exactly close! Altho annoyingly its the one place I'm guaranteed jeans that fit... May pop back in and check out the prettiness! :)
ReplyDeleteThat IS a pretty dress. Looks like you have more luck with sale purchases than I do!
ReplyDeletep.s. not crazy for Christmas shopping in January, I'd love to be that organised (and / or have the cash left after Christmas to start then!)
I do like DPs but only when they have sales on ! Our local shop has merged with Evans but they do still have a good variety of clothes and shoes. I tend to head towards their 'Purple' range first, it's full of flouncy fun and colour. They are a tad expensive at full price but they do knock quite a bit off them in the sale.
ReplyDeleteYou look great in today's outfit Alex, very summery :0) xxx
You've inspired me to try out some hair accessories with that wonderful bow you're wearing !
I only ever shop anywhere in the sales to be honest, but particularly places like DPs! I ordered LOADS from there last week.. including 3 Uttam dresses (all reduced to £7!) Didn't see that one though, because definitely would've snapped that up too. You look lovely & summery. And the dress is a great shape. Actually, I want your one more than the ones I've got now!
ReplyDeleteI'm really tempted to ask you to pick one up for me (we don't have a Dorothy Perkins in town anymore) - but do you find Uttam are funny sizes?
I'm generally a size 12 at present. Sometimes I buy a size 14, depending on shapes/fits of things, because I don't really like clingy things. But on the whole, I'm a size 12. Of the 3 dresses I bought - one they sent the wrong size (S/M instead of M/L - no hope!), so that has to go back. The other two, are both size Large & I can't do 'em up to save my life!
I've bought things from Uttam before - my Uttam chinos are a Medium & fit fine. Tis weird. It really didn't occur to me that I'd be too big for a LARGE. In fact, that's really quite depressing. What's also depressing, is that I just wrote the word 'fat' instead of 'fact'..!
So.. I dunno what to do! That dress looks so lovely though.. & the shape looks much better than the ones I've got.. Help!
www.heart-shaped-bruise.blogspot.com
PS. It's not just that I've put on weight & haven't realised/don't want to admit it/whatever. I bought quite a few things, & all the other brands were fine size-wise. Just Uttam.. What do you think!?
ReplyDeletewww.heart-shaped-bruise.blogspot.com
I was at the DP sale today and found, among some truly heinous printed smock dresses, a fantastic 50s inspired eyelet dress. It's hot pink and I'm considering dyeing it red but I love the cut. I think I'm halfway through a UK 10 and 12 which can get problematic in the bust/armpit area. I've posted my haul on my other blog No Modern Ariadne for fear of flooding my usual with too many A-centric posts. :))
ReplyDeleteBTW I'm re-reading Devil's Cub tonight! I just realised that Mr Fox MUST be Charles James Fox, foe of Pitt the Younger. And this is my THIRD reading. *headsmack*
Arianne from A + B in the Sea
LOVE that bow! I've got to try it!
ReplyDeleteOhhh this is so lovely and such a bargain. I love the orange bow too x
ReplyDeleteDearest Alex, I've been so bad at blogging recently. I have no idea where the time's gone. I've missed you again!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love this dress, you look stunning in it. Love the shoes, your toenails and the bow too.
I think you're just bloody organised buying Christmas presents! I'm impressed. Much love, C xx
I love that dress! You are just working it! I adore all the extra touches you add to your outfits that just make them stand out.
ReplyDeleteIn reply to some of your comments:
I forgot to put in the post that I am not planning on having the housekeeper for long. I'll be having her 3 times for 15 US dollars an hour (2 hours a time). I'll be putting in some ridiculously long days by then and find that I just need the help lately.. I am by no means a woman rolling in the dough!
A good friend of mine is coming to visit and we have decided to try a DIY of the city skyline skirt. Hopefully it turns out well. If it does, I'll share the plans with you :)
I love that dress :) Such a fun outfit!
ReplyDeleteI love that dress! And it has pockets! Great outfit :)
ReplyDeleteThat dress looks fabulous on you especially with the peep toes and the hair bow.
ReplyDeleteDP's tights are the best ever, those yellow ones you sent me are still going strong. xxx
OH MY GOD! 7 quid, really?? With a reduction like that, why wouldn't you grab it?! And it's so pretty too. I'm so jealous!
ReplyDeleteLove it! The DP sale was pretty good this time round, though nothing left in store by the time I got there!
ReplyDeleteYou look fantastic hun and your hair looks great!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bargain! Its a very pretty dress and I love the stripes on the bottom.
Your scarf was a good price, I was looking for some for my holiday the other day but refused to pay nearly £10 for one! What a rip off!
I have a load of Christmas presents stashed in the loft (I really need to sort them!) Mind you it means every one gets great gifts even if I say so myself. I have got my eldest Kurt Geiger shoes reduced from £140 to £20!
X x
WOW - £7!! V impressed. The detailing on the bottom of the dress is lovely. xx
ReplyDeleteDP seem more expensive now than perhaps the used to. £7 is fab for such a lovely dress. The bold orange hair scarf is great. I applaud your Christmas shopping starts early approach, wish I was organised enough to do the same!
ReplyDeleteI love the dress on you, and also how you have done your hair. You look gorgeous. I bought a few pressies in the Christmas sales too, it is just sensible forward planning ;) xx
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Uttam and often find something from either TK Maxx or a cherry tree shop. LOVE IT and this outfit is gorge on you.
ReplyDeleteLoving the little lemon shoes too.
Can I have your wardrobe when you get bored please?!! You seem to have oodles of clothes and am tres jealooooose.
Thanks for your comments round at mine. A naked bum in Henley. Ooh the shock!
x
xx
Looking rather lovely. Gorgeous dress, bet you had to contain the shouts of glee when you saw the reduction on it!
ReplyDeleteI begrudge paying as much for dresses, although am in desperate need of something for interview next week and have ordered a couple of £35 dresses from ASOS. The onyl slightly less painful bit was the 20% off code, but still.... I shall be having a good rummage on Saturday and Sunday inm Londres before removing any tags!
Looking wonderfully summery and nice bargain!
What a bargain, and a great shape on you. I absolutely love that it has pockets and the stripe detail is really pretty.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with starting early on Xmas, it saves heaps of money and last-minute panic. Cute dress!
ReplyDeleteYou look soooo preeettty!!! Love the bargains! And don't worry about Christmas, not mental, just economical! I ALWAYS do that! I bought my boyf some clothes in teh sales in December, some of which he got for his birthday and one of which he is getting this Christmas! Er, I think I top your mania!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you in the ranks of being an old granny mumbling about daylight robbery and rubbish fabric... But this dress is lovely! <3
ReplyDeletexo
just-jesss.blogspot.com
Lovely dress! I find Uttam can be hit-and-miss sometimes but that is a sales HIT!
ReplyDeletetoo cute........definately got yourself a bargain.....just remember where you keep the presents!!
ReplyDeletePretty dress! And no you are not mad from buying presents this far in advance - I also start buying in the January sales and have about 10 people ticked off my list already :) I've also handmade two gifts so far which is two up on last year!
ReplyDeleteI guess Dorothy Perkins AND Topshop stores are on sale all over the world! I am insanely jealous of your AMAZING find. Sadly, I have yet to see that dress in the Dorothy Perkins stores here in Manila. At that price, I would not have thought twice about it too. While I am quite happy with their WIDE range of sizes (as opposed to Topshop's) and style, I've always restricted myself to buying during sales. And where I live, towards the end of the sale in July, all sale items are buy-one-get-one-free!
ReplyDeleteI admit to buying Christmas presents all year round- when I see something that's perfect for someone I just buy it and they'll get it for their birthday or Christmas, whichever comes first :)
ReplyDeleteThat dress is absolutely adorable- what a bargain!
Florrie x
I’ve raided Perkins twice in the past week, the sale sure has caught me at my weakest! I saw the Uttam red shoe dress of yours at £7.00, and instantly thought of how well you wore it, I can only presume they’ve knocked a load of the dresses down to £7.00 x
ReplyDeletewow - what a bargain and such a lovely dress too!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore your dress (: ♥
ReplyDelete