I've been drunk shopping again... want to see what I bought?
Why have I suddenly found so many LOVELY things I want to buy - is it the sunshine? Is it the meander into a new season / the prospect of summer? Or, is it the wine?
Hello sunny Londoners, and anyone else experiencing a sudden heatwave this week!
Let me begin by just clarifying this was actually more hungover shopping, than drunk shopping (although something I’ve also been known to do, fecking Apple Pay makes it all too easy, it’s just the slip of the hand!).
After what always feels like a lacklustre spring (in terms of clothing / new collections) I always love the trickles of delightful newness we start to see coming through around May time… especially when I decide to browse the day after consuming copious amounts of alcohol 😂
I don’t know what comes over me with some hangovers (the immense need for a dopamine hit to feel better?) but my brain just has no side of reason and adopts a very strong ‘fuck it’ attitude (I’ll usually also declare at some point in my frangile state that I want us to move to Formentera immediately).
Sorry, let me just finish what I was saying about spring collections… even when I worked in fashion for years, and ran Studio B as my own online store (for 6 years, until spring ‘23, before starting this Substack that December) I always *strongly disliked* buying pre-spring collections. They usually hit stores before Christmas, around November time, and again with another drop end of Jan/Feb - yes, that’s pre SPRING collections - in the darkest depths of winter.
Who wants that? And, if I’m honest I’ve always generally found pre-spring launches weak, confused, a poor representation of the DNA of a brand / designer / store, and, well, just a bit crap.
It’s always BAFFLED me how fashion hasn’t yet changed their production cycles, or switched up the seasons, or really got on board with a ‘see now buy now’ model, or adopted more of the *pre-order trunk show model (I love this).
*You see something in a fashion week show, you know you 1000% want it and at all costs have to get your mitts on it, you can pre-order it and pay a deposit, it arrives to you first when the collections launch (like how Moda Operandi operate).
I guess nowadays I shop less seasonal and make pieces work throughout the whole year (if I can), that said, I do love proper high summer clothes, hello holidays! On summer holidays I feel I really come into my own, styling all my best looks (so many of my pieces I’ve had for years and still love rewearing ‘em every year).
My favourite seasonal drops have always been pre (and main) fall, with pre-collections starting to drop now at end of April / throughout May - yes, that’s pre AUTUMN/WINTER - at the start of summer.
The juicy drops start NOW!
And, that my friends explains why what feels like a hiatus in my obsessive shopping habits (my bank balance thanks me) seems to have come to an abrupt end and I suddenly want EVERYTHING!
Bad for the bank, beautiful for the wardrobe. C’est la vie!
So! What have I been buying / adding to my mental wishlist…
Mr Larkin | Gabrielle Top | €171 - Yes, yes YES! That dress also comes in a top. I think this is my favourite top THIS YEAR. I love the dress but realistically I’d wear the top so much more with jeans for a London eve out.
I mean, I would love the dress too - Mr Larkin | Gabby Dress | €236.
And this! Mr Larkin | Mondo Mondo Diva Ring | €349 - Green glass cabochon. I had to google what that means, but who cares, look at that shade of green! Brand is Mondo Mondo (LA based) at Mr Larkin (Copenhagen).
Loeffler Randall | Landon Mesh Ballet Flats Red | £138 (were £228) - I’d wanted these since last summer and to my delight just found them in sale at Revolve (still full price a Loeffler Randall direct).
And the award for best summer campaign image (so far) goes to…
And the award for the best (under £130) dress I’ve seen in a while…
She comes in a buttery zesty yellow too (lemon buttercream if you will), which I am rather fancying to team with those above red mesh shoes - trust me it’s a colour combo that works!
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