The great pretender

In my very early 20s I often adopted a look that was inspired by Chrissie Hynde. Shirts, jeans, blazers and messy 'self cut' hair.

Recently I find myself leaning back towards that look again. I'm scouring charity shops for blazers and my eBay watch list is filled with shirts. It's not rocking any fashion world, but it's most certainly a look I find comfortable.

After a glorious lunch with friends yesterday (where I wasn't wearing this ensemble) I went to pick my new glasses up. This is their first outing on the blog. I love them, what do you think?

Have a great long weekend.

Brogues - Next
Jeans - Dorothy Perkins
Belt - Hubby's
Shirt - YSL (hubby's)
Blazer - Next (via charity shop)
Brooch - vintage
Glasses - Guess

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Don't forget you can get 20% off all full price items at www.aliyaj.com using code ppru20 until 30th June.

The arrival fallacy

I'm reading a really interesting book at the moment, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

It's not that I'm unhappy, and neither was she when she embarked on her project, but there's always room for a happiness top up, is there not?

Anyway, there's been some useful ideas in the book, some of which I have started to adopt. A theory it has introduced me to though, and which I can relate to in my current circumstance is 'the arrival fallacy'. Essentially this is the belief that happiness will come with the achievement of some major future event; a promotion, a new job, a marriage, or, for me, the sale of a house and move to a new home.

The effect of the arrival fallacy is to prevent your enjoyment of the here and now. Single minded on the achievement of a particular event you become blinkered to the life under your nose.

Last weekend I set out with the aim of enjoying the here and now; I dressed in my brightest vintage dress to defy Saturday's weather, spent an afternoon in the local with hubby, went for a delicious curry at our favourite curry house, admired the colours of my vintage scarf collection as it hung on the washing line and spent time in the sunshine reading and laughing at the dogs.

I greeted Monday feeling energetic, rested and happy. What useful nuggets of happiness advice have you picked up over the years?

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Don't forget, you can get 20% off until the 30th June at www.pursetails.co.uk using the code princessprudence20

Aliya.J London

I always love to come across a new boutique, online or otherwise. I like to think new businesses are bucking the bad economic trend. So, when I was contacted by Aliya.J boutique a boutique launched only last month, my interest was naturally aroused.

Aliya.J have a mission to provide high quality products for women of all shapes and sizes, and sell beautiful clothes from brands I already love such as Fever, Darling and Ruby Belle. Perusing their website,  I found a few brands I didn't know too, like Emmy.

Much of the range has a classy vintage feel, such as these beautiful high waisted trousers, and there really is a lovely selection of clothes and accessories. My personal favourite are these Mirage bags, so unusual and only £24.95.

Aliya.J is definitely worth having on your radar, and what's more, as special treat for readers of the blog Aliya.J are offering you 20% off all full price purchases from their website, until 30th June. Pop on over to www.aliyaj.com and use the code ppru20 at the checkout to redeem your 20% off.

*all images above from www.aliyaj.com and available to purcchase from there.