Style Me H

High Street to the danger zone

Jun 12, 2019 style_me_h

It’s happened, they’re here! There’s no escaping them and no matter what you do or who you are, they will find you and stalk you, even haunt you in your dreams. They’ll be there first thing when you wake up and last thing at night, they’ll probably keep some of you awake. They’re a constant drip, a form of water torture, they catch you unawares and lure you in and whatever you do you must not look them directly in the title!

That’s right people it’s the sale emails! The smails! They’re coming at you thick and fast and even Murray couldn’t bat them away quick enough. It starts innocently enough- the first one is exciting – &otherstories you had me at &. You caught me when I had a coffee – you also enticed me with your VIP pre-sale. I mean I like your clothes, I really do – and I can’t bear the thought of there being something I need in my life (that I didn’t even know I needed) and it selling out the next day when you launch the ACTUAL sale. So, yeah I’ll browse your VIP pre sale and stick it on the credit card (making sure I’ve bought enough to get the free p&p because you all know how we feel about paying that extra £4.95) Oh and guess what a full price dress fell into my basket too – how’s that even happen? It’s the curse of the smail that’s what! Somehow all those savings on the sale items add up to the cost of a new dress – hmmm weird.

&Other Stories Coffee Bean Maxi Dress
https://www.stories.com/en_gbp/clothing/dresses/maxi-dresses/product.floral-print-maxi-dress-blue.0493476004.html

HM turned up next, like literally a couple of hours later – another VIP sale and extra discounts for HM members club. I open the smail with my eyes half closed, squinting at the pics, grimacing, almost praying I don’t like anything as the images load. Phew its ok, nothing grabs my attention – apart from the whopping 30p member discount I have accrued! Think of the damage I could do with that!

And now I’m dreading what’s coming next…..I check my emails, shitting myself its going to be Zara or Topshop…I dont think my JL Partnership card can cope with that today. OMG, I cant believe it, its the school uniform shop – smailed to say 10% off everything – I mean come on!

Its ok, I have no need for any more school skirts, my card gets to have a break for the night. But here’s why sales and smails are a problem for many. We get excited at the thought of a bargain, we succumb to fomo, we want to look like that amazing influencer we follow on the gram and we think by grabbing a bargain we will instantly be transformed. But the reality for a lot of us is we panic buy and throw these things in our baskets willy nilly (what a great saying!) and whilst you may think you have a bargain, how many of us truly give any thought as to whether it’s going to work hard in our wardrobe? Do you even know what is in your wardobe? Be honest can you even SEE what is in your wardrobe?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m no saint. I mean I caned some serious money yesterday but I made considered purchases (trousers in a colour that I know will work with a number of tops I own, jeans that are high waisted in white which when summer arrives will also work with the same tops plus I need white bottoms for my daughters carnival and I am NOT donning a pair of white leggings! and a tshirt that I just loved – and I do love a tshirt – I’d say its my signature look. But the full price dress – yeah you got me there – I fell in love with it and couldn’t help myself – the only excuse I have if it does fit, is it’s my birthday next month and I often get clothes and just tell people I’ve already got my pressie and they give me the cash! Cheeky but true.

I don’t know about you but I personally hate trawling the sales in the shops. It’s good to know what suits you and what’s missing in your wardrobe so when the smails arrive you are ready. It’s great if you have had your eye on a piece for a while and unlike me have been saving for it and waiting for it to be reduced – altho this can induce panic trying to find your size! And I would always, always recommend buying staples in the sale – your favourite jeans, a quality blazer, a classic white shirt, a winter coat, decent boots and trainers, a suit. There are some items that are worth investing in and if you get them reduced then lady you are winning!

But beware of the smails. They’re like gremlins – they turn up all sweet and innocent but you start looking at them and feeding them after midnight (late night in-bed shopping is the most dangerous kind there is!) and before you know it your clothes have multiplied, your wardrobe is bursting at the seams, you have buyers remorse, can’t think what you were even thinking and try to fix it by buying more clothes to go with the clothes you bought after looking at the smail – just before you fell into the high street sale danger zone!

Style Me NHS

Apr 6, 2020 style_me_h

It’s just over two weeks since I started bank work with the NHS and it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions. It wasn’t my intention to go full time, far from it. I found myself in a baptism of fire in the same week as the schools closed down. Whilst everyone else was told to work from home, socially distance themselves, self isolate and home school their kids, here I was going full time as a key worker in the middle of a pandemic. Funny time to start a new job H. Yes, yes it is.

Day one

The first office, although at the time I thought, the only office I’d be working from. I get settled after a fashion and check my mobile – message from my mate, how’s it going? Honestly? I’ve forgotten all my passwords that I set up in training and it’s taken me an hour to sort them out and I’ve just cut my finger on a staple and I’m too embarrassed to tell anyone!

I’m working in paediatrics and this is all starting to become a bit real. A whirlwind ensues of realising just what this means for people with children who are sick or on medication or are being supported by the NHS and no longer at school. But I’m doing my bit and it feels like I’m making a difference.

I haven’t been there a day and I also feel like I’m settling in ok. There’s not really time to take your time and learn the ropes, it’s full on, learn as you go type stuff. So, when my phone beeps and it’s Bob from round the corner, I initially panic that I haven’t got time for this! Last week I delivered notes and food packages to every household in my street and I’m now the main contact if they need anything. I wasn’t planning on working full time in lockdown when I put the notes through but then I remember with my WhatsApp army of neighbours behind me I can pretty much organise and distribute anything! It’s ok H, you’ve got this.

So back to Bobs text. He needs a few essentials – I reply, of course Bob no problem what do you need? Kiwis, swede, strawberries, romaine lettuce, blueberries, spring onions – so Farnham it hurts! I honestly don’t fancy my chances of getting any of this. Pre lockdown you’ll remember the crazy rush on all food and panic buying – I’m not being funny, Bob might have to go without his kiwis. My colleagues look at me as I verbalise my thoughts across the office – I’m not sure they know what to make of me if I’m honest – but we all fall about laughing – we work opposite Waitrose and of course Bob got his kiwis, his swede, and even his spring onions. Bless Bob.

Ice broken

They get my sense of humour thank God, cos now is not the time to be on your best behaviour H. Now is the time to just get through the day, find the funny side of the situation you find yourself in and just be yourself. If it keeps people laughing and sane then that’s why I’m here.

Day two

…and we’re on lockdown. I get in, everyone is in a quiet panic. We need to work from home, one person per office, we have dozens of staff who are vulnerable – how on earth do we take this service online? This is no laughing matter, it’s all hands on deck and we all muck in. It’s a hard day and by the afternoon I am told I need to be working from a different office with different people. Usually you have a few weeks of settling in and taking your time to get to know people. I’m like a speed dater on the NHS.

I head home to the husband and kids, to make brownies and try and make sense of it all. This new normal where I’m out all day, my kids are being home-schooled by the husband who has also developed a sherry habit by 5pm and I’m Florence nightingale for the cul-de-sac.

Day three

New office, more speed dating. I turn up to tears. It’s really starting to get to people. These NHS workers are human beings with lives just like us. They have elderly parents, small children, partners who are key workers and underlying health conditions. They are torn between doing the right thing for them and their families and doing the job they love.

It’s tough.

I pop myself down at a desk. Offer to make tea – tea makes everything better.

No one wants my tea.

I find a cup – it has Phillip Schofield’s face on. Maybe today won’t be too bad after all. I mean the hubster gets two kids all day whilst trying to work and I have the Schofe!

I sit back down at my desk, think to myself, right, more colleagues I need to speed date with, how shall I do this. Ten minutes in my mobile goes – I figure I need to answer it incase it’s a work related call.

It’s not.

It’s Jean, Bob’s neighbour.

Is that Helen who put the notes through the door? Yes, yes it is. Everything ok Jean? Do you need anything? My colleagues look across, understandably concerned – not that they know who Jean is – come to think of it, neither do I!

I just wondered if you’re going to the shops Helen, only I need some lettuce. I’m not planning on going to the shops Jean but I’m sure I can get some to you (thinking I will text my WhatsApp army and hey presto the lettuce will appear on her doorstep!)

It’s not urgent, it’s just the tortoises have just woken up…….

A bit of a pause, as we both take it in…of all the times the tortoises could have woken up it’s in the middle of a sodding lockdown amongst a global pandemic!

And that’s us gone. In absolute hysterics, me and Jean from number 5.

Now bear in mind my colleagues can ony hear one side of this conversation and have probably gone from concern to confused in a matter of seconds you should have seen their faces when I then said

and do the tortoises like any lettuce in particular?

Cue massive hysteria both on and off the phone and Jean trying to get her words out between laughs saying well they like an iceberg but failing that a Romaine….

Ice broken

I’m there for two days before I’m moved to total isolation in another office.

Day five

On my own

No ice breaking needed. I can’t even describe to you how it feels to work out of a ward that has no staff at reception, no clients waiting to see the Dr, no colleagues, no noise, no life. I only have my own company and that of the local radio – even that is annoying all day long. I’m virtually meeting people over email as time goes on. I have visions of the future when all this goes back to normal and I’ll no longer be working out of a Doctors office, I might not be working there at all and they will all come back to work and wonder who this random woman was who came in for 12 weeks (or whatever it ends up being) and then left.

I have to make my own entertainment. I have a little boogie on the spinny chair, sometimes I sing aloud (sorry to anyone who has witnessed it), sometimes I stand up instead of sitting down! This week I popped onto the scales – the paediatric scales, you know the ones that kids go on with a mini chair! That was a shock and a half I can tell you! We don’t have scales at home so I was quite surprised to find out I weigh as much as the husband. Well, not that surprised if I’m honest with you. I was a little bit miffed when I was told the following day I need to use the loading bay to access work! I’m pretty sure it’s just a coincidence but I am going to check for hidden cameras on the scales on Monday!

So, it’s all been a bit of a rollercoaster. As I write this, the pandemic is ramping up, a testing area is being set up in the car park and I’m washing and sanitising like a mo fo!

I get in, wash my hands, sit down, sanitise the desk and phones, make a tea, wash my hands, finish my tea, sanitise my hands, go to the printer, sanitise the printer, back to my office, sanitise my hands, make a coffee, wash my hands, back to my office, sanitise my hands, go the loo, wash my hands (obvs) use paper to open the door, back to my office, sanitise my hands… this goes on all day. It’s exhausting and I’m not even frontline but there are one or two people that come in now and again so you can’t be complacent.

I leave the office, sanitise my hands, use a wipe to open all the doors on the way out. Get to my car, drive home, wipe my car steering wheel, the radio button, the indicators, the door handle (inside and out) my front door handle and head into the porch. I then refuse to hug anyone until I’ve washed my hands again and make sure my handbag is left in the porch. This pandemic is not to be taken lightly, but I find keeping my sense of humour is getting me through.

I hope it helps to get you through too.

Stay at home, Protect the NHS, Save lives.

H x

It’s Who I Am

Feb 16, 2020Mar 22, 2020 style_me_h

Let’s talk about self love.

I’ve shared my story before, but when Fantasie Lingerie asked if I’d join in with their It’s Who I Am campaign I was right behind it.

You see they’re using real women for their SS20 advertising and whilst I was gifted this underwear set, me and Fantasie actually go a long way back.

Many moons ago, back when I was studying Retail Management, I was a bra fitter. Fantasie was always one of the popular brands we fitted on women and my nan always wore them too. So I learnt the importance of a good fitting bra very early on.

I always wanted to work in fashion but my dreams of becoming a buyer slowly faded away as mortgages, marriage and children came along. I ended up working in finance and social care and I was fortunate to be a stay at home mum for a few years. But, soon came the time to go back to the work place.

Except a week after going back to the office my dad died, followed by my father in law 4 months later and my dear nan just weeks after him. Infact in 2017 – 2018 we lost 5 people in the space of 10 months.

And our business.

Life suddenly became very hard. A cliche I know but it all gets put into perspective when you lose someone. I knew I needed to follow my dreams of 20 years ago, I just wasn’t sure what it would look like at age 40. But just weeks after my dear nan died, Fantasie Lingerie got in touch after seeing my Instagram profile. Some may say it’s coincidence, I say it’s my guardian angel showing me the way and dropping a massive hint!.

I knew it was time to step up and I knew I was totally over caring what anyone thought. I’d put on two dress sizes and finally felt happy in my own skin. No more worrying whether I looked fat in this or that or what people might be saying about me. I’ll admit having two children tends to have something to do with getting over yourself as well!.

I got measured at a Fantasie press event and found I’d had a free boob job – me, a bra fitter in the wrong size!.

It was just the beginning. I qualified as a stylist last March and launched Style Me H in April. It rebuilt my confidence, and encouraged me to get out there and use what I’d been through to help other people. A Personal Styling business helping women regain the confidence they had lost.

It’s Who I Am – my real life story and my journey with Fantasie Lingerie. We all have our stories so let’s celebrate being you #loveYOUmore.

#ItsWhoIAm

H x

Kimono Fomo

Sep 6, 2018Sep 6, 2018 style_me_h

This isn’t the first time this has happened. I see something online or in a shop, I decide I don’t want it or need it and then a few days later I have to have it. Except this time it was too late – it’s not like the M&S insta famous dresses that go viral, sell out and come back in a few weeks later – oh no it’s worse than that.

I was scrolling through Insta with my son – we stopped and admired someone sharing the Kimono as their outfit of the day. We said how nice she looked and discussed whether mummy should buy it – we decided I didn’t need it although I’m sure he’s in cahoots with my husband and being paid for each item of clothing he manages to stop me buying!

So we carried on scrolling and no more was said about it. Except he’s 7 – what does he know. He doesn’t spend every waking hour thinking about clothes and whether you should buy it, keep it, return it or sell a kidney for it. And now its out of stock. And I have to have it. It doesn’t matter if I even like it now – I want one and I have to have it. In my head I sound like that irritating little kid Verruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – it goes something like “I want one of those, she can’t have one, who says I cant, I want one, I want a golden goose, (I want a kimono) and I want it now…and if I don’t get the things I am after I’m going to scream….!

Don’t care how, I want it now”

Except now isn’t an option – this Kimono had 20% off so sold out pretty quick. It was also only available in store or on one of two websites – Wallis (defo sold out) and House of Fraser. Yep, I started my search less than 24 hours after it went bust – are you frickin kidding me. Now I’m thinking it could be there somewhere, still in there, just waiting online with no-one to buy it. Maybe they are ALL still there – oh I can’t bear to think of all those lovely Kimonos stuck in a HoF warehouse but with no website to sell them!

And so it began – I trawled the internet, scoured those random sites where they lure you in by showing the Kimono is in stock, you click the link, hold your breath – and get re-directed to the sodding Wallis website – where it’s still sold out! Ebay – nope, Wallis stores nearby – nope, weird little department store in Farnham that has a Wallis concession (and Dash do you remember them?!) Nope. Outnet on the way to work, nope. Contemplate messaging the stylist on Insta to see how much she really likes hers and if she’d like to sell it….give up H it’s not meant to be.

I take respite for a couple of days but damn it everyone now has a Kimono or a duster coat or whatever you want to call it. Will everyone just stop posting pics of Kimonos and post pics of leopard print instead – I don’t need any more of that – said no-one ever! Yes there’s plenty of other Kimonos but they’re not the same and I’ve got the outfit firmly fixed in my head now and I will not give up.

It’s a Tuesday night, the kids should be in bed, I’m back on the Wallis website willing it to magically appear. Somehow I bypass the ‘find in store option’ – you can’t search without a size but you can’t add the size you’re looking for when it’s out of stock. First world problems I know. I don’t care how I’ve done it but all of a sudden I can search my local stores – nothing in the radius I’m able to get to. What about Kent – mother and step-mum have access to a lot of shops between them and they are both shopaholics – nope, nothing I Kent, nada. Shit tits.

London – yep just generally London – I know people who work in the city – I’m sure they’ve not got anything better to do than find me a Kimono – I mean how big can London be and how far really would they have to travel? Who cares, let’s search first and worry about the deets later…

Marble Arch – one in stock – Size 10

OH MY GOD

It’s probably a lie

I should probably call them just in case

But it’s 830pm

They’re open til 9…

Course they are – it’s London H not Farnham where Sunday trading and late night opening is actually illegal.

Makes call

Waits while she checks

“Will you two just be quiet and stop trying to kill each other, mummy’s on a very important work call”

“Yes we have one here”

“Any chance you can post and I pay over the phone?” (Worth a try)

“No – we can hold it until tomorrow”

“Yep that’s fine thanks so much. Me or a friend will be in tomorrow – the names Norgate”

Fuck.

Now, fellow shopaholic besties are besties for a reason right? I mean she works in London, (lets brush aside the fact she only started her new job just last week), but she’s Head of HR – surely she can rock up whenever she wants, pop out to say Marble Arch, pick up a Kimono, pop back, no-one need ever know.

Turns out she’s pretty busy – I mean don’t get me wrong she said yes immediately cos she’s a friggin legend, like the Spice Girls. I message her massivefavour.com? and she’s the kinda girl who replies – “tell me what you want what you really really want” – well what I want is for you to go to Marble Arch, like tomorrow and get this (sends pic).

“Yeah sure I can get there Monday”

I’m not sure she realises what I’ve been through.

Back to list of friends who work in London – and the one person who in hindsight I should have asked first, especially as we live near each other.

“Do you work anywhere near Oxford Street?”

“Which end?”

Which end? Whaaat? How long can a street be?! I’m really not very good with London.

It’s a 28 minute walk from her work – that’s quite a long walk for a Kimono. Tomorrow is also supposed to be a heatwave – and she’s ginger. She won’t mind me saying (I checked) plus it’s her thing – like my waist used to be my thing til I had kids.

Anyway, back to the Kimono cos this fomo is getting real – what shall I do – do I pay for a cab for her? Do I pay her full stop? Lend her my parasol? This is ridiculous.

She offers to go, she comes up with all sorts of options to avoid the heat, the tourists, walking, working. Actually love her. I realise I don’t need to pay her – I just need to send her a bottle of rum. Rum is always welcome.

I try to get some sleep. I try not to look at my phone in the morning. It takes all my strength not to text her – don’t wanna seem like some crazy shopaholic.

09.34 – I get a WhatsApp

She got the bus!

She’s my bus wanker of a friend and she has my Kimono.

And I have no more FOMO!

Note from the Editor: No gingers were harmed in the obtaining of the Kimono!

Take a walk on the wild side

Aug 18, 2018 style_me_h

Leopard print is basically a neutral…if you don’t agree then you’re probably not 40 or a shopaholic. Or you have been living in a cave for the last two years – probably with a leopard, in which case, you win – you already have the ultimate accessory and have no need to read this!

It won’t surprise you to hear it started with shoes, well boots to be precise. You’ve got to love a bit of JL online sale browsing – that’s John Lewis btw – and that’s ‘by the way’, btw. I’m the girl no-one wants to buy for anymore – I’ve all the accessories a girl could ever want and pretty much shop ALL the time – so I get vouchers for birthdays and Christmas. Cold hard cash would be preferable but for some reason people don’t trust me to actually buy something rather than it disappearing into my overdraft – I mean it’s not like anyone has ever put money into my account for oh I don’t know, let’s say my husbands birthday, so he can get something he wants and I spent it….

So, I “spotted” these boots (see what I did there) – I mean technically they’re Cheetah but other than speed they’re basically the same animal as a Leopard right?

2464b11c98dd3ceb58d3b5574ed9edc9-boots-beige-senso — Senso ‘Cheetah’ print boots – AW16

They were the only ones left in my size and I took that as a sign – altho I do that a lot, even when all the other sizes are available, but they genuinely were the last pair. And that’s when FOMO set in – the fear of missing out. I need them even though they scare the hell out of me and not quite sure how I will style them but I have a feeling I’ll figure it out! And to me at least – if I use my vouchers they’re free!

They arrive, I love them, its easy to style them – they go with everything. BUT…man they are a statement and way out of my comfort zone. Am I seriously going to wear these on the school run? I call it a big pants moment – you know they look fine, but you’re shitting yourself as all you can think about as you walk the 20 metres from the car to the school gate is that they are so ‘out there’ you pretty much look like you are taking a leopard for a walk.

And for those who know me, just incase you’re thinking – she drives to school? Yes I am the mum who lives closest to the school, as in a 15 minute walk, and if you have a problem with it I am more than happy for you to try and get my daughter dressed and out the door in anything less than two hours – which granted you can probably do because you’re not shopping online at the same time (and then signing your kids in late and writing that in the late register as the exact reason for their tardiness – ooh good word H!) BUT and this is the truth – you’d then have to ask her to walk there – good luck with that!

So, back to me walking a leopard to school – you seriously won’t believe what happened – absolutely frigging nothing! You see, turns out not everyone is looking at your feet nor you as a matter of fact H. You’re not that important and neither are your leopard print boots.

Except they are…

They’ve started something…and the more I wear them the more they just blend into the background. People start commenting OMG I love your boots where did you get them? And it gives you a boost – especially when you’ve been stuck in maternity clothes for what feels like forever. And before you know it I have a leopard print bag, belt, ballet shoes, jumper, shirt, trainers, skirt – make that two skirts, but not a dress…

H&M Sale Top SS18

Until now.

I picked up my &otherstories dress from the Pharmacy – yep the actual Pharmacy – no joke. Nowhere near as funny as picking up my leopard mules from Alligator storage – surf and turf shopping anyone?!

&otherStories

And it’s this that led me to the coat…I swear on my big pants I only went onto Google to get the picture of my mules ready to show you on Insta in the morning – mainly because they were still sat in the boot of my car and I didn’t want to go out in my nightie to get them (even tho the husband was asleep and I could have got away with it had my son not been building Lego in the front room – and there was a 100% chance he’d have shouted “stop buying clothes mum” and that would have woken the beast – and by beast I mean my daughter – the one that doesn’t do walking – yeah she doesn’t do mornings full stop.

So there I am at midnight or thereabouts – I am a secret midnight shopper – I need quiet time to shop. I can’t find the shoes – they don’t come up if you search leopard mules – wtf? So I search leopard print – and up it comes – the Ganni coat – for £98. I already know leopard is a neutral, I already know how I’ll wear it, I already know it’s a wardrobe staple and it’s a great price and I’ll wear it forever and who are you actually trying to convince H – its midnight and everyone is asleep and you’re talking to yourself.

What I didn’t know is everyone else is thinking that too (at midnight, talking to themselves, secretly shopping whilst everyone is asleep) – and there are only size 8’s and 10’s left – you SEE – do you SEE how it happens?! Its a bloody sign I should have it – its my size and I don’t have to decide if I need a 12 or a 10 or worry about buying both and the faff of sending one back and its my size and they’re selling out fast and I NEED one and why was I even on here in the first place?

screenshot_20180817-223858_samsung-internet — GANNI

It’ll be here next week – I’ll probably miss the delivery and have to pick it up from Alligator storage again – and just for a laugh I’m gonna wear ALL my leopard print clothes.

You can NEVER have too much…and if you do…there’s always Zebra…

Or snake…

Or Alligator!

Here’s some links for you to take your own Walk on the Wild Side

Mwah x