Why I've Been Buying Less... And It's Not Because I'm Sensible.

The last major shopping trip I had was on 30th December. For me, this is incredibly unusual - normally the cravings to buy are kicking in all the time, nearly as much as the cravings that tell me to eat that next chocolate bar... but enough about my issues. The thing is, aside from buying some comedy bunting and a massive skull moneybox, I've been pretty - gulp - restrained. But why?

 [Image via Getty Images].

I'm not one for making New Year's Resolutions; in fact, New Year's Eve normally makes me feel pretty dejected, after realising all of the things I didn't achieve in the last 12 months, but this time it was different. As someone who works in travel and is currently focusing on several different projects, I'm finding that more and more of my time is spent checking out travel bloggers, lusting over photo spreads in Lonely Planet Traveller and getting envious. Things came to a head when I spent the early hours of New Year's Day chatting to several people who were much more travelled than I am - you know, the ones who have actually been to all of those places you see in the pages of Elle; the place behind the US Vogue shoot that made my heart skip a beat (it was a piece called El Dorado, in the September 2012 issue). It was then that I decided that 2013 would be the year I'd travel a hell of a lot more. 

What really sealed the deal was when I began to measure the cost of all the clothing I never get round to wearing, then I put that against the price of travel (after taking the stuff down to the charity shop, obvs). I dread to think how much I waste in a year, but already I've managed to cut down and actually think, then double think, about whether I seriously need what I'm buying or if I just think it's bloody hilarious and might be worth a laugh if I wear it for one night, which probably equates to 2/3 of the contents of my wardrobe. You could say I'm employing the kind of values championed by Mary Portas, to buy less and buy better, but I don't know whether I'll necessarily always make investment buys; the main goal is to just minimise the crap and put it towards experiences. 

I've also recently started a travel blog, so I don't keep bombarding you all with irrelevant content. You're welcome. 

Ready to travel.

[Image my own].

One of the things I did invest in recently was a JW Anderson paisley quilted t-shirt, in the Topshop sale. I'd had my eye on it for a while, but suddenly I had a real reason for buying it: I'm going to Iceland in early May, with one of my best friends, for a girly city break in Reykjavik. Perhaps JW Anderson didn't have whale watching and island hopping in mind when he designed the piece, but I'm sure it will come in handy as a practical layer for Iceland's early summer temperatures. In Reykjavik itself I doubt I'll be doing much shopping at all, as it's pretty expensive, but I'm hoping to treat myself to some more affordable bits and bobs from the city's flea market - as long as they're useful and not just impulse buys. Ditto my forthcoming trip to Rome - I have my eye on a few vintage stores, but fully expect to return empty-handed due to the not-so-pocket-friendly prices, but I've also done my flea market research too. 

I don't honestly know if I can keep up frugal shopping all year round, especially as we're only just ending the first month of the experiment, but hopefully in 12 months' time I'll be telling you about the fashionable destinations I've visited and not the bulging bin bags I've taken to the charity shop. Fingers crossed...

Mary Portas' Magnificent Retail Moment

[All images my own, taken for illustrative purposes. Please ask before reproducing].
If you know a bit about the retail industry, or you enjoy British tv documentaries exploring it, you'll probably be familiar with Mary Portas. If not, where have you been? The woman credited with transforming major department stores in her career history, before publicly reviving small businesses and changing the way we think about charity shops, is back. Her newest venture is a concession inside the Oxford Street branch of House of Fraser, where 'Mary by Mary Portas' has been lovingly created, complete with Mary-style wigs on the mannequins. I couldn't wait to see the full result.

Look who I found! Having just finished filming a segment for her upcoming show, Mary Queen of Frocks (to be seen on Channel 4 this Autumn), Ms. Portas was hanging out with her staff when I arrived with my mum in tow, who promptly asked the First Lady of Retail, "You're not on the till, are you, Mary?!". We had a brief chat with her and she said that her high shoes meant she couldn't do too much floor work, but that it was going well. It was great to see that she is so hands-on with the brand and is not just controlling it from a distance. She also made a point of saying goodbye to her film crew - no luvvie behaviour here. I couldn't resist sneaking a photo of her as she left.

Collaborating with several well-known names in the world of clothing, Mary has used her own ideas and the expertise of people who really know their stuff. Here you can see the array of Charnos tights, displayed simply but effectively on a series of crossed mannequin legs. Prices started at £9.50.

Another mannequin enjoys some acrobatics.

'Armery' is the brainchild of Portas and Charnos, and it aims to do for bingo wings what Spanx has done for thighs and stomachs. These little sleeves are lightweight and not as restrictive as Spanx (which is fortunate, as you probably will need to move your arms at some point), but with enough support to make everything a little more slimline. I really like the lace versions, which make the Armery a feature in itself.

The no-frills layout of much of the store means that everything is accessible and straightforward.

This tunic dress would look fantastic on a curvy girl - it skims over the body but doesn't hide you away. The pattern is fashion-conscious but it's not the kind of piece that would be a one-season affair. You could still be wearing it years later.

All things bright and beautiful... and I love this contrast detail chiffon shirt. You can get similar ones (mainly in black and cream) from Topshop or New Look. As seen here, it looks great next to khaki.

Mary's 'Moan Phone' is fairly self-explanatory. Genuinely concerned about what the customer thinks, she has installed this so that people can leave a message on an answering machine if there's anything they aren't satisfied with. I didn't call, but if I had then my moan would have centred around the footwear (in collaboration with Clarks). I had my eye on a few pairs but couldn't find any prices. I didn't like to ask the shop assistant as she was busy with a customer, but it would have helped to have the price displayed on or near each type of shoe.

This shaggy trimmed coat is a good winter basic. The idea behind each piece on sale is to give people a quality product that means they don't need to keep buying everything new for each season - just a few extras that take your fancy. So this coat will be a darn sight more expensive than H&M, but it should have longevity.

My mum and I fell in love with this winter jacket. In navy wool with leather edges, it's classic but edgy - it ticks the androgynous box for AW/11 but it could easily be used to offset a girly look or to wrap over a shift dress. At £400 it's not cheap, but it's definitely on my lust list.

And finally, my top pick from the collection was this gorgeous asymmetric dress (very Vivienne Westwood Anglomania). It's tailored but forgiving, and it's made from a soft but sturdy black sheath of fabric. You could wear it to the office, to a restaurant or on one of those days where you feel as though you have nothing to wear. Just pop it on with some bright opaque tights and ankle boots, shove a beanie hat on and you're all set.

In conclusion, Mary by Mary Portas is a range that will go down well with the British public, though it's not exactly surprising that the retail guru knew exactly what we wanted - er, it's her job. It was refreshing to see all price ranges reflected, as it can be incredibly irritating to walk into a shop whose aesthetics you love, but not be able to afford a coathanger, let alone the item that's on it. I would have liked to see some cheaper dresses and jackets, but I also understand that you do need to pay for quality and craftsmanship. However, maybe a compromise could be reached with some thin cotton or chiffon, rather than the more expensive fabrics used?

I loved seeing this store, which also houses a select range of food, stationery and homeware to pick up alongside the clothing. It really is a brand to watch, and Mary should be proud of her achievements.