Hands up if you loved Claudia Winkleman's considered silky shirt on the Strictly results show last night! I was more than intrigued by the split bell sleeve and and dropped back hem details and wondered what design house it was from. It wasn't long before I came upon the answer of Galvan London.

Currently exclusive to Net-A-Porter this blush number is made from satin backed crepe and will set you back £495. Galvan London, a London based luxury brand was founded in 2014 by four international women, from London, LA and Dusseldorf, who wanted to create a modern, clean and cool evening wear range of dresses and separates. Whilst I love the aesthetic I'm not sold on the price tags, although I'm sure if I had the disposable income I would splurge, so I've tried to find some more affordable alternatives.

See below for my top five tops that have a silky look without a hefty price tag. Surprisingly the nearest design wise was the M&S Collection shirt with the flared sleeve and at £29.50 was the cheapest of my picks. My favourite however is the Reiss "Elif' draped detail top, below, made from 100% polyester. It's the final day of 'Second Hand September' and so I'll resist purchasing new. However it is my birthday in October and so it's going straight on my birthday wish list!

Have a happy Monday and thanks for stopping by.

So it's the last day of Summer and I'm still wearing sandals, although the jeans have become a staple over the last week. I'm pleased to report that I've stuck to the 'Second hand September' pledge and have not bought 'new' or indeed anything second hand or preloved since the beginning of the month.

I've been too busy to search my favourite online stores and as I haven't posted for a while I haven't had an excuse to virtual shop either, which means I just haven't been tempted; and as the weather has been kind I haven't had a need to update my Autumn/Winter wardrobe yet!

I have been wearing my Jane Carr scarf a lot, see above, to inject some interest and colour into my late summer outfits. I purchased it at LFW static show in February last year because I loved the split design and colour combinations. I also purchased a darker tonal scarf which I posted about along with my other purchases at the time. Click on the link to see more.

Here I'm wearing it with a Massimo Dutti jacket, which is a large, and maybe a medium size would have been better in this style; as I've said before my past Massimo Dutti purchases have been hit and miss on sizing and not always consistent which has led to returns.

I'm also wearing a linen T-shirt by Massimo Dutti and my Lee jeans, which are a Scarlett fit, with a Zara woven belt, all old. My sandals are also from Zara and I've had them over 2 years, if not longer. They add  a bit of subtle sparkle and are a great 'go to' evening flat, especially on holiday. I'm always on the lookout for a great statement flat as I get so much wear from them, however I'm yet to find a good replacement for these! 

​No outfit builder today as I've shown all these items previously and I'm not searching for equivalent 'new' items so you aren't tempted to buy 'new' either. Instead do shop your own wardrobe, especially accessories and see if you can breathe new life into a scarf you haven't worn for ages!! I love these videos and tips from Nordstrom and YouTube video from Dominique Sachse (I've got hair envy!) 

​Or be inspired by this article from Harpers on 'How to be more stylish'.

Thanks for stopping by and bye bye Summer!

Hope you've had a good Summer and are gearing up for back to school this week or have already started the Autumn term like mine have! So back to blogging and first on the agenda was to sign up for Oxfams  'Second hand September' campaign and pledge to say no to new for 30 days.

Since starting 'mumsweardaily' I've actually purchased less clothing and accessories; choosing instead to really consider any purchases and use my tried and tested method of asking these three questions before each transaction. 
1) Do I really need it? (or does it do the same job as something I already own)
2) Does it replace something that I have worn a lot and is now a casualty of wear and tear?
3) Can I visualise it used in 3 different outfits?

If I answer yes to the above and it's affordable then I tend to buy. I also believe that if you think about an item long after you've walked away from the till point it's often the case that it's a keeper; almost love at first sight, and you should buy things you love, that will make you feel great! So next time you're tempted wait a week or two and see if it's still on your mind.

The other tip to not buying is trying. Taking an item into the changing room sorts the sheep from the goats as it proves you've got the time and energy for it; also whilst it may look great on the hanger it may be a different story when you try it on! Its saves you money in the long run as most of the items that come into our preloved consignment store, Willow & Eve, with tags on have never been worn and stay in the wardrobe forgotten about until way past the returns date.

If you buy and don't wear something within the first week or don't have a specific occasion or outfit in mind then keep it out of the wardrobe, where you can see it, until you do wear it. Otherwise take it back asap. Set a reminder on your phone 3 days before the returns policy runs out so you stand a chance of getting a full refund.

If you do need a fashion fix or an AW update consider buying preloved or second hand. I didn't realise Oxfam has an online store, which makes it a lot easier to shop category and sizes and consignment stores ( or dress agencies ) gives you a percentage of the sale of your nearly new clothes, which is a win win scenario. Our consignment store, Willow & Eve, offers a boutique feel with quality brands at affordable prices. The feedback has been so positive and shows that consumers are rejecting the high streets fast fashion offer in favour of more sustainable options.

So the gauntlet has been thrown and I'm going to resist buying new for this month. I hope you feel inspired to do the same. Visit Oxfam for more details on the impact the fashion industry is having on our planet and the carbon footprint of buying new. As I've said before 'don't feast on fast fashion, savour slow style instead!' Of course I still may be tempted by a preloved garment in our shop.....so don't buy new buy new to you!.

​Thanks for stopping by.