There’s one thing seeing disposable coffee cups on the ground outside, but abandoned INSIDE shops is this a new trend? Just left there alone dumped either on a clothing or display shelf. Obviously the ‘no food and no drink policy’ isn’t working in some retail establishments. And placed in ‘unexpected’ and ‘hidden’ places, making me Read More
I was cheered in the run-up to Christmas by a fast food chain’s new menu, which was right up my street! Why? Because the theme was the Grinch, and I’m totally with the Grinch in regards to Christmas. There are aspects of it I enjoy, but overall I’m really not that bothered. Rather miserable, yes, Read More
From blingy bags to sparkly displays, all that glitters seems to be ‘de rigueur’ especially in the run-up to Christmas. However, I was pleasantly surprised on a recent visit to Selfridge’s London by this display, with the simple yet effective ruffled pastel (apart from the ‘red’) coloured dresses. Three mannequins on platforms revolved around huge Read More
On my recent photographic travels this month, I encountered bags so blingy that they hurt my eyes. Dazzling, under bright unforgiving shop lights, I stopped in my tracks to capture this delightful burst of sparkle. This glamorous look attracts me, but I won’t wear them, oh no, they’re just a bit OTT for me! From Read More
To stave off total collapse River Island entered a restructuring deal approved by the High Court in early August. This result officially allowed them to take drastic measures in order to prevent complete closure. The plan stated 33 shops would close, and a further 71 shops would be asking for a rent reduction. So I Read More
Hot on the heels of River Island, Claire’s follows. The next high street chain to face going into administration. Wow…another slap in the face for British retail. Spurred by Claire’s US bankruptcy filing, is it any wonder that they’ve got problems here too? The business has even told managers to be on alert, “in case Read More
Sad to see another major fashion retailer in trouble. With 33 stores to close and 71 shops asking for the landlords to reduce the rents, and with an eye watering loss of over 30 million in recent times, is there any wonder they are in this situation? All this is to be set before the Read More
Looking for some fashion inspiration, I spotted a bag that screamed “look at me!” in a local charity shop. It was loud, proud, and drenched in bright bubblegum pink — it just couldn’t be ignored. Now, I’m not a pink fan. Personally, it doesn’t go with my beige ‘greige’ uniform (and I would look rather ridiculous with Read More
A recent news item caught my eye: “Primark’s £16 shell bag is ‘identical’ to the £4,190 Chloe version, and fans are obsessed” (Kent Live). Well, I had to check this out…as what a claim! On reading the article and viewing the photos, I realised that I captured a shot of the Primark shell bag earlier Read More
As per my last post about Scope, visiting a branded high-street charity shop can often disappoint with the inflated prices. Okay, if you argue that they are only trying to raise funds for the charity but that should never be at the expense of the customer ever. Charging more for a secondhand item than what it Read More
When charity shops start charging more than retail… something’s gone off in the donations bin. went in for a bargain and left with sticker shock. #HighStreetWoes Read More
Well, it seems I can‘t stop myself from trying out and buying ‘dodgy’ digital cameras. The latest is an eBay purchase, a ‘new’ Agfaphoto DC8200. Before I saw it on eBay, I was intrigued. It kept popping up on my online searches. And because of the low prices and knowing the Agfa brand I signed up for their newsletters Read More
I’m stressed out. I’m trying to sell my house. I need a coffee. I’m stressed out. I need to sell my house. Like the T-shirt above ‘coffee a.m. coffee p.m.’ that’s definitely me at the moment….it’s a better addiction than other ‘unsuitable’ substances or beverages….and this fact seems to have hit the fashion trend at Read More
“These boots are made for walking, and that‘s just what they‘ll do, one of these days these boots are going to walk all over you“…a song I remember by Nancy Sinatra. Well it‘s not really what I‘ve been doing a lot of recently as I‘ve been housebound for the whole of December. I can‘t go Read More
Post operation it’s early days for me with my left foot operated on. I’m having to take it easy, which means elevating my foot as much as possible. I’m hobbling around on crutches, struggling with stairs, cursing each step, and wishing I lived in a bungalow! It’s given me time for reflection even though I’m Read More
No…not like the song ‘I want my baby back’, this is about tights. Scouring through my tights collection it seems to reveal that just stating ‘black’ isn’t enough, there has to be something else. I mean I’ve heard of ‘barely black’ suggesting a more transparent effect (even though on the actual packet they look decidedly Read More
