(soon to be) In My Wardrobe: What I bought in the January sales

2012 is going to be quite a frugal year for me financially (I’m saving for more important things than shoes for once!) so spending my Christmas money in the January sales is basically my last hurrah. After these purchases, I’m battening down the hatches and sticking to an ‘only what’s necessary’ approach to spending. I’m not saying I won’t buy anything this year, but I’ll definitely be reviving Frugal February and after that I’ll be sticking to those good habits at least 80% of the time, putting as much as I possibly can in the bank at the end of each month. Even with the sales I’ve tried to stear clear of the shops and only buy a few things online. Of those, I’m sure at least one or two will get returned. But while I wait for them all to arrive…here’s a look at what I bought!

Label Love: Closet at Dorothy Perkins & Oli

A chat the other day with Amber reminded me that though I’d tweeted about them, I’d yet to write about my latest dress discovery – a gorgeous brand called Closet that’s stocked in some larger Dorothy Perkins stores, as well as on their website and Oli.co.uk. As a rule their dresses tend to be quite structured and fitted, with more than a little inspiration coming from a certain Mrs Beckham. And they give you a waist like you wouldn’t believe!

Though I’d never really considered myself a fan of Posh’s style, she does know how to make dresses that flatter curves (ironic, considering her severe lack of them), and Closet have taken a few of her more iconic designs, along with plenty of generic but very pretty nipped-waist, tulip skirted shapes, and whacked them out in everything from heart print to classic black. It’s not exactly envelope-pushing fashion ingenuity, but it is really easy to wear and universally flattering.

Fall in love with Dorothy Perkins ‘Luxe’ footwear

Shoes are the Big Girl’s secret weapon! No matter how much your weight fluctuates they’ll always fit, and an amazing pair of heels can add inches, make legs look slimmer and – most importantly – make you feel like you rule the world. High Street retailers know this all too well, which is why they’re continually upping the ante each season with more ostentatious offerings. Dorothy Perkins have just announced ‘Luxe’, a collection of premium styles named after some of the world’s top jet-set destination. I’m in love, and I bet you will be too!