Christmas Sparkle with La Redoute

I never need an excuse to swoon over pretty party dresses, so was very excited to pop along to see La Redoute and their festive partywear offerings. Filled with shimmering metallics, cute clutches and foil fabrics perfect for festive mischief, have a look at the video below for some party filled inspiration.

Happy Shopper - Sale Shopping With Bonprix

I'm pretty sure that the old  saying goes "New Year, New Wardrobe" - why else would we be tempted with flashing offers and big discounts from all corners? That said, I like to try and be thrifty when shopping the sales, and try to go in with a clear mind of what I actually need. For instance, if I'm looking for a coat, I try not to stray too far into the shoes or dresses categories, no matter how big a temptation. This time I was looking for a few cute but casual dresses, and with a budget of £50, hit the Bonprix website for some bargains.

Going from a size 6 to a size 32, Bonprix are one of those websites which have something to suit most styles. With a variety of current trends and classic shapes, their sale selection was easily searchable by size and offered up all sorts of beautiful choices.

The first item I picked up was this lovely beaded skater dress in ivory. I was amazed to find that it was lined when it arrived, with the beaded embellishment making what is essentially a comfy dress feel super smart. The only thing I'd say about it is to size up if you have a large bust, as whilst the dress itself is roomy, the lining makes it at least half a size smaller. The ivory colour is currently on sale for just £19.99 on the Bonprix website, with a whole £20 off!

My next sale bargain was the plunge back party dress in black, again half price at just £7.49. Made from a soft, stretchy jersey, this pretty scoop neck design has a plunging V at the back. I picked it up as I knew it'd be a good dress for shooting in as it looked so comfortable, but it's also the perfect item to roll up in the bottom of a suitcase. Being a plain black dress, it's something which you can dress up and down, and the fabric means it can be thrown easily over a swimsuit to walk to the beach, and will dry in no time.

My final sale find was this pretty sweetheart sun dress in red - another easy to wear casual dress, and another perfect pick for your holiday wardrobe. Although this one no longer seems to be on sale, I still can't recommend it enough as something light and floaty to wear. Whilst it's chilly now, in a few months time I can already tell that this will be one of my go to dresses in the warmer months.

You'll have to tell me what your favourite sale bargains have been in the comments below!

Until next time,

Diana xx

* Items brought with a £50 budget from Bonprix. All opinions are my own.

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(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)

So Long, Sweet Summer - Enjoying The Last Rays With House Of Fraser

With our Summer being a complete wash-out at the moment, it's hard to know whether to leave home in sandals, boots or a wet suit! Layers have become my go-to option but it's difficult with temperatures soaring the second the rain stops. Summer is definitely clinging on by a thread, but I'm not quite ready to completely pack away the sandals and shorts  just yet. It's all about those transitional pieces which straddle the seasons with ease, especially those picked up as cut-price bargains.

Department store House of Fraser really know how to put on a sale, with a plus size section filled to bursting with discounted dresses, shoes and more. I was kindly asked if I would like to review some of their items, and quickly found myself swooning over cute prints and pretty shapes. There were so many brilliant options that it was almost impossible to choose!

Dress: Samya Fit & Flare dress, via House of Fraser. Was £40, reduced to £10.

My first pick was this stunning floral print dress from Samya. The two things which struck me were the Autumn colour palette and how the full, vintage styled a-line shape was given a modern update with the gold exposed zip to the front. The material has a lot of stretch, so I was able to buy my usual size to fit my waist and not have to worry about it being too tight along my bust. It was also stiff without being too heavy, and teamed with leggings, boots and a cardigan, was a perfect option for an Autumn day.

 Sandals: Evans Extra Wide Fit Black Sporty Mesh Sandals via House of Fraser. Was £35, reduced to £15.

The other item which caught my eye were these "sporty" sandals from Evans. House of Fraser have a huge selection of wide fit shoes and boots available online, but I loved the versatility of these ones in particular. Extra wide for comfort, they have a padded sole and a zip back fastening but also work with everything from dresses to denim. They are the sort of shoes which you can walk in for hours and feel like you're merely cloud hopping!

I'm off to the Lake District in just under two weeks, and am hoping that the weather dries out a little as these sandals would be perfect for exploring in. I love that they are both pretty and functional, and are the perfect run-around shoe for warm and busy days.

There are lots of plus size bargains to be had on the House of Fraser website, so if you're looking for some new shoes or an outfit, click here!

Until next time,

Diana xx

Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, Bloglovin and Facebook.
www.fashionlovesphotos.com

(All photos (c) Diana Thompson / Fashion Loves Photos unless otherwise stated. Please do not reproduce without written permission.)