Every year, after the sales have kicked off, I generally like to share a little recap of what I bought. I always try and take a considered approach to the sales; drawing on my bookmarked wishlist, and wrapping up any final Christmas gifts I’m still yet to get my hands on.
Before I get started, I have shared a full guide to the Black Friday and Cyber Week sales HERE; a good reference point that I’ve been updating daily as new sales kick off.
And it’s worth mentioning that it’s totally okay to skip these sales. It’s easy enough to get caught up in the frenzy of discounts, especially when they’re happening everywhere. But just remember, there’s always another sale around the corner. And then another. And another. To put it into context; Boxing Day sales are just one month away.
What I bought
Dear Frances Iris Boots | These boots have been on my wishlist for a long time. It’s been years since my last DF purchase, but what I recall is that the shoes were exceptional quality, I just opted for (sky high) heels that weren’t reflective of my lifestyle at the time, so rarely wore them. This time, pragmatism was at the core of my purchase. I’d been wanting a pair of “sock-like” boots with an almond or pointed toe, with a low block heel. Something that had a reasonably high shaft so that I could pair them with cropped straight leg jeans or trousers, too. On paper, these tick all the boxes, though given the price point, understandably I was patiently waiting for the Black Friday sales to spring for them. Can’t wait for them to arrive.
Jenni Kayne Alpaca Cocoon Crewneck | A brand I’ve been wanting to try for a long time, even more so after it was recommended to me. While I know I am flush with knitwear, I don’t really *do* loungewear so find that this is the way I inject a comfortably and “cosy” element into my outfits, particularly over the colder months. I was torn between this alpaca knit and the boyfriend cardigan but ultimately decided to opt for the alpaca crew neck. I love how oversized and slouchy this is, leaning heavily into that more effortless vibe I’ve been opting for with my outfits lately.
The White Company Men’s Cashmere Bed Socks | These are a gift for my husband – and again, another item I’ve been waiting to buy on sale. He’d mentioned back in winter that he would love a pair of cashmere socks, but I couldn’t find any that quite fit the bill of what I was after. I’ve only heard good things about the ones from The White Company so figured it was a safe bet. I bought him one of each in the grey marle and the navy. I also added a few Christmas baubles to my order too – these are something I always try and pick up on sale.
Levis Wedgie Icon Jeans | Like knitwear, denim tends to form a pretty big part of my style uniform. And for that reason, I’m constantly on the hunt for the perfect pair. The Levis Wedgie Icon Jeans caught my eye a few months back. For me it’s all about the wash. I have a thing for ever so slightly faded black denim, as it goes with everything. I also knew that I loved the classic Wedgie style so figured these would be a no brainer.
Rachel Comey Legion Jeans | It’s not unusual for me to have items sitting on my wishlist for years before actually going through with the purchase. So it probably won’t surprise you to know that I’ve coveted the RC Legion Jeans for a good 4-5 years now. I’ve started to find that my attitude towards “hanging on” to items in that way for so long is shifting. I’d rather get a sense of whether it’s right for me… or not. So, with 20% off I decided to include them in my Shopbop order. Based on the reviews it sounds like the sizing can be a little tricky, so crossing fingers that they’re a good fit (and of course, that they look as anticipated on, too!).
Wandler Carly Mini Bag | This is where things get a little silly. It’s absolutely not like me to buy not just one, but two bags during a sale. But the caveat here is that I only plan on keeping one of these bags. I’ve been eyeing up the Wandler Carly Mini Bag in lipstick red since Jan/Feb. My outfits are usually so simplistic and in such neutral colours, that I like the idea of having a bit of a “pop” in my bag. That one statement piece. But this was a style that I wasn’t sure was readily available locally, so the only way to get a sense of whether it was right for me was to go ahead and order it only. I got lucky here as this bag was already on sale, with an additional discount on top (use the code “HOLIDAY”).
Jacquemus Le Grand Bambino Bag | The second bag I bought is what I’d consider more of a wild card of the two. But again, this was a piece that I just couldn’t stop thinking about. Regularly looking online to see if it was available in a colour that I liked. I was especially drawn to this burgundy-based brown; and knowing how quickly the Le Grand Bambino style sells out, thought I should take my chances now and see if it’s right for me. I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be a little on the small side for my needs, but won’t really know for sure until it arrives on my doorstep.
Boys Pyjamas from Cotton On | This was the only in-person purchase I made, but I realised last minute we were in dire need of some new kids pyjamas. Cotton On have some really fun options for kids, so I decided to take advantage of their 30% off offer to pick up a few of the short-sleeved sets.
Sesame Street Soft Toys | Finally, I picked up some soft toys for our boy. I was purchasing a gift for one of his cousins and the second I scrolled past Cookie Monster, he immediately exclaimed “oooh, what’s that?!”. Clearly, it tugged at my heartstrings and I couldn’t resist buying him his own little Cookie when I spied that they were 30% off. I actually ended up placing a second order to buy some of the other Sesame Street Friends to tuck away for his birthday next year. Knowing how much he loves his (three) Elmo’s, I think these will be a smash hit.
Safe to say it’s been a bit of a spendy month; I actually added a couple of additional items to my closet at the start of November during a couple of flash sales, so thought I’d share those here too.
Deiji Studios Two-Piece Lounge Set | If you follow me on Instagram then you probably caught this purchase; one of the few loungewear pieces I actually own. Even with lockdown over, we’ve been spending a lot of time at home, and I thought it might be nice to add an elevated lounge option for when I want to throw on something a bit more comfortable. I purchased this in the size S/M and it’s a great fit. Beautiful, soft linen too.
ASOS Quilted Smocked Cami | I’ve definitely been springing for a few more “wild card” pieces of late, but I think that’s only natural when you’ve already got a solid foundation or wardrobe staples. Inspired wholly by my love of Cecilie Bahnsen. A much more affordable dupe, and I still can’t quite believe that it’s listed at 80% off. All sizes still available, too!
ASOS Smock Top with Blouson Sleeves | Leaning back into my love of neutrals, this exaggerated blouson sleeve top fills a pretty neat gap in my closet. Cute tops – and I mean tops, not knitwear – are an item I’m always struggling to come across, that are to my taste. They’re often too frilly, too printed, or just too basic. This has just the right amount of personality, while still feeling reasonably classic. And it works back with my existing wardrobe colour palette well. Cotton too, and will be perfect for what is set to be a “wet” summer here in Sydney.
What remained in my cart
My approach to Black Friday is to stick to a list, and not mindlessly browse, so there’s little temptation to buy things I don’t really “want” (or need). That said, there was one ritualistic purchase that I decided to give a miss…
A trio of pieces from Missoma | For the past few years, I’ve made it a bit of a tradition to treat myself to a new piece from Missoma. Their sale is always good, and I know I can rely on the quality. Not to mention that their latest collaboration with Harris Reed is exquisite. But after adding the three items I loved to cart, I really couldn’t bring myself to go through with the purchases. It’s probably because I’ve been feeling really content with my current jewellery collection. When the mood strikes – maybe next year – I can add something new.
Check out my Black Friday & Cyber Week Sale Guide HERE
Check out my Christmas Gift Guides HERE
