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Life is busy. So busy. Being a working mum is hard, and lockdown has taught me, being a stay at home mum is hard! Being a mum is just hard, and it is even more hard to try and fit in time for yourself, or a hobby that doesn’t revolve around children playing football, swimming, dancing etc etc! Don’t get me wrong, I ADORE my children, and would not be without them, but I do want to keep my own identity and keep my own interests. For a while, I completely lost myself to being a wife, a mother and having a job. My life simply became working and childcare, I forgot myself, I let myself go and I became unhappy. It took me a while to get out of my funk and try and find myself again, and focus on ‘me’ activities without feeling guilty or selfish. I had to learn to realise it is not selfish to have your own interests, in fact, it makes me a better mum as I am happy and content in myself.  

For me, I have always been interested in fashion, and clothes, and shoes, and handbags, and jewellery and perfume and all things pretty! As my financial position improved, this led to introducing luxury pieces and my love for luxury items developed. This is my hobby, my interest, my passion, and as I found myself again, I started to dabble in IG, I found like minded people who didn’t judge my interest and where I could talk about it openly. The more I posted, and interacted, the more I enjoyed it! Then came the blog, I could write about pretty things! And now along came youtube, where I can talk and make videos about fashion, and handbags, and shoes, and about the things I love. This is my hobby, and my interest that is just for me.

But it is hard, it is hard to find the time and to make the time, and it will get even harder as we roll out of lockdown and real life work becomes busier. I love it though, and I am determined to keep making time for it, for my hobby and my interest, outside of family life. My friends and family don’t know about this new side of me, only my husband, and although he is supportive of me enjoying it, he did wonder how I was going to find the time. I have 2 young children and a pretty intensive full time job. I am in the lucky position, that social media and youtube is fun for me, it is a hobby, I am not trying to make a career out of it and it certainly isn’t about money! I enjoy talking to you about what I have bought, or my favourite things, or even recommending things I think are great, or showing pretty photographs. I get joy out of seeing other people’s happiness in their new items, or hearing their opinions. If this were about money, I would be much better spending the time I use filming, or posting, or writing, working in my own job, and billing out my hourly rate. But it isn’t about that, it is about a release from that, a hobby all of my own.

I posted before about self-care, and this is still just as important, looking after ourselves, taking time to breathe, to light candles, to walk, to take a bath or simply to breathe in the fresh air, all matters.

These are unusual times we are living in, and there isn’t a play book on how it is going to play out, so if we learn one thing, do what makes you smile, and look after yourself, as we certainly do not know what is around the corner.

If you are interested in some of the things I use to save time, or to look after myself, I will link some below.

Thank you for being here, stay safe and look after one another,

Princessluxlove xx

Self care:

Bathbombs: https://amzn.to/2Bj5YZo

Candles: https://amzn.to/3dfYdAw

Bath Oils: https://amzn.to/37PBYAw

Footspa: https://amzn.to/2Bpm9nN

Moisturiser: https://amzn.to/2AWH3uv

Time savers:

Speed of light blow dry spray: https://amzn.to/2Ng0qS7

Baby bottle maker: https://amzn.to/2Yp2Lk5

Dishwasher friendly high chair: https://amzn.to/2YiaFvs

AD: this post is not sponsored in any way, all of the items mentioned I have purchased with my own money and genuinely recommend. I may use affiliate links, these may earn me a small commission, they do not affect your purchase or the purchase price of your item.

Firstly, I am so sorry it has been so long since my last post! After lockdown, I was trying to work from home with two children, and really just needed to fund another escape or distraction from real life, that provided some light entertainment and was, well, fun! So I followed my love for luxury goods further down the rabbit hole, and started a youtube channel, talking all things luxury, unboxings, reviews, hauls, all of that good stuff! I love watching these channels on youtube and find them a great escapism, as well as love seeing all of the new goodies people are adding to their collections and hearing their thoughts and reviews. I have started it, it has been live for 3 weeks and has some unboxings, reviews and my Louis Vuitton collection up on it.

Now, if you have read this blog for a while, you will know it is anonymous and I talk about that in my first ever post. That hasn’t changed, the channel is still anonymous, for all of the same reasons and also not to distract from my 9-5 job in my real life. But I love it, I really enjoy talking more about luxury items, showing you what I have added to my collection, giving reviews, and almost using the camera as that person in my life to talk to about all things luxury who understands and doesn’t judge. This isn’t a change in career – obviously!- and I am not trying to replace my own job. This is my hobby, which I love and any reivews I give, will be genuine. You will not see haul after haul of highstreet fashion, or items I am trying to sell to you, there is of course a place for that and some very successful bloggers who do, but that is not what I am trying to be. The items you will see are bought with my own money, not gifted and not sponsored, if I am ever lucky enough to be gifted something and I talk about it on my channel, I will clearly tell you that. I may use affiliate links, like the ringlight I am about to show you, but if I do it will be because I have bought the item myself and find it useful or recommend it.

I do not have any fancy equipment, I am filming on my iphone 10 and I am using this cheap and cheerful ringlight from amazon:

For someone starting out – like me- and trying not to spend too much money on equipment I personally would not know how to use, this does the job! It holds my phone as I film inside the ringlight to give better lighting in the video. It is not the sturdiest if someone is doing this professionally, but great for a hobby channel or at least to get started.

So there we are, now also on youtube! I can tell you that I NEVER thought I would say those words, ever! I would love it if you would check out my channel, subscribe and if there is anything esle you would like to see, please leave me a comment!

As always, thank you so much for being here, and stay safe!

Princessluxlove xx

So there’s an increase, on an increase, on an increase. Louis Vuitton prices have gone up again, and it really has ruffled a few feathers. Though to be honest, how could it not? Even without what is going in the world, in feels as if LV prices are increasing ALL OF THE TIME! The increases are now coming thick and fast, this being the second time the prices have jumped up from December. I bought a mini pochette at the start of December, and the price was in and around £185. By February this was £220, and now £230. Obviously the higher the price of the item, the bigger the jump. My pochette metis was £1300 in January 2019, this is now £1410.00, my Neverfull, bought in 2011 was 550 euro, now £1090.00. These are steady, significant increases, that are coming about every 2-3 months. Louis Vuitton are not the only fashion house to follow this trend, with the Chanel price increase due any day, again likely to be sizeable increases. The Chanel classic flap bags are pushing towards the heights of the prices of Hermes, with the medium flap pushing £5000.00. This is all leaving very disgruntled consumers, and a feeling afloat that the brand does not value its customer base. Set this against the back drop of the current global crisis, where unemployment is skyrocketing and the economic deficit is likely to reach heights far beyond the 2007/2008 recession. People are understandably worried about mortgage and rent payments, and surviving week to week, with most of us either being directly affected, or knowing someone directly affected, it is easy to see why this is leaving a nasty taste in the mouth.

Taking a step back though, and taking an objective view, this is a luxury fashion house we are talking about, not a community store that gives back. It is purely a luxury business, aimed at exclusivity, dealing with their own falling profit levels with store closures, outgoings to meet, and taking a black and white, unemotional view of their pricing levels. Photos emerged on social media of one store re-opening, with the queue outside, many, many people deep. Clearly, the luxury fashion industry can withstand the fluctuations of the economy, with their target market, rightly or wrongly, still being able to afford to purchase, and choosing to purchase, their goods. They no doubt have shareholders and board members, whose only concern is the bottom line, and the increase has been applied, universally and dispassionately. I have read some comments online that the person will no longer be shopping at LV, the pieces on their wish list they were yet to buy, will be left unbought. I think if you take this view, and can stand by this view, you are to be applauded for taking a stand, and of course, it is personal choice. Do I think that will be the majority view, and their popularity will fall, no I do not. I personally think that if a person is an LV fan, and wants an LV piece, and has the funds to purchase the piece, that they will continue to buy from LV. Am I happy about the price increase, of course not. I think it is ill-timed and disrespectful to what is being faced by the world, but I think it is the house setting itself above being affected by the peaks and lows of the economy and taking the stance of a luxury house, if you want a luxury, non-essential item, you will pay their price. Will I write off any further LV purchases in future, no I won’t. I am not impressed with their further increase, after such a short time, and at this particular time, but I would be lying to myself if I said I would never purchase from them again.

Whatever our view, whether we are outraged or understanding, the reality is that the fashion house is likely to continue unaffected, weathering the storm of the current crisis and their customer revulsion, and continue to sell out online and report profit levels most can only dream about.

Thank you for reading, I hope you are well and safe, and see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

Is there really such a thing as the perfect number of bags? The number that you are happy with? I have read a few posts lately, and watched a few youtube videos that talk about the perfect number, or a range to be between, or a number past which is too many. Can you have too many bags? Is there a number that once you reach it, you cannot go beyond it, or if you do, the bag will bring some sort of guilt as you now have ‘too many’? Surely the purpose of having these luxury bags is to be bring joy and happiness, not to evoke a feeling of unease or of excess? Is the one in, one out rule, something to live by, meaning every time you add a new beauty, that one has to go, off to the closet beyond your own?

On the other hand, these luxury bags are very expensive bags, they can cost thousands and thousands of pounds, and really how many can we use? There are only 7 days in any one week, how many can we really need, or use enough to justify the expense, or lower the cost per wear to an acceptable standard? There is also a responsibility argument, as consumerism certainly impacts our planet and generates production related pollution. In a ‘what’s next’ society, simply buying to move on to the next can be wasteful, and also dilute the joy that the purchase should bring.

Each side of the argument is valid, or course it is, and ultimately it has to come down to what you are comfortable with, what suits your lifestyle and your financial resources. If the bags you have, make you happy, make your heart sing and spark joy, then why should you feel pressure to get rid of one, to add another. Why should there be strict rules that you have to follow? There shouldn’t be, that is why it has to be a question for you. If you do not feel that your collection is excessive or vulgar in number, why should you feel pressure to limit it. Likewise, if you do feel like your number is too high, or there is a number that you are not comfortable going beyond, or you feel some of your bags have little purpose in your collection, are repetitive, or you just don’t love anymore, then do not keep them just because you feel you should have a certain bag in your collection, or your collection should be a certain size. These have to be personal choices that you make, to suit you, and with your own life and finances in mind.

In the world we live in, with influencers, Instagram, youtube and luxury hauls galore, there can be pressure to keep up, to buy the next big thing, to have a particular bag in your collection. These are only human reactions, but try to remember, that everyone’s situation is different, everyone’s finances are different and we are all at different stages in our lives. Some of the bigger influencers and channels seem to add to their collections all of the time, and it can make the best person envious, but try to think, some of those items may be gifted, they may have sold other items, or general earning power may be very  high. Even a smaller collection like my own, I have worked for many years and work very, very hard, what you see posted does not come easy, and is the result of not only hard work, but also financial planning and investment. Try to take these shots or videos for what they are, inspiration, motivation and entertainment, and adapt it to your own lifestyle and limits. I would love to shop like Jerusha or Mel in Melbourne! But that is outside the scope of where I am comfortable financially. No bag or slg is worth debt, or scrimping on more essential needs or items. Debt is a downward spiral that no luxury item is worth. Without doubt, the anxiety and worry over the debt, will far outweigh the joy of the purchase.

Just like you should not feel pressure to keep up, or to buy, buy, buy, you should also not feel pressure to downsize or to let things go that you love. I like to watch videos on why someone sold a particular item, I recently watched Isabelle Styles video on this, where she explained why she has downsized her collection and is trying to curate her look, and avoid duplicating bags that serve the same purpose. All of this makes perfect sense and is a decision she has come to for herself. I found it informative to listen to why certain pieces went, and completely understand curating your collection to what you actually use and enjoy. On the other hand, I have had conversations that to be honest, made me doubt how many bags I own and feel guilty for the number I have, I almost felt a pressure and judgement coming from the comments made, because I own a certain number of bags. If you decide for yourself that a certain number is your limit, that is wonderful that you have found a peace at where you are, but please do not use this decision you have reached for yourself, to judge or to criticize a person for having more. I personally want to have a curated collection, where every bag has a use, but I don’t have an actaul number to define this. I love watching and considering collections that are far bigger than my own, and also that are smaller. Opinions inform discussion and are always valid, but do not need to be used as an attack on someone who has decided otherwise for themselves. I may decide to let some bags go in the future, and that is completely fine, but if I do, it will be because I have decided that is what is right for me, and not because someone else feels that it is vulgar for me to have gone over their number, or to buy luxury in the first place. I also do not feel that my collection is complete, there are others that I would like to add, and I enjoy considering the new collections as they become available.

At a time when the world is upside down, and life as we know it is very different, let’s try to be kind as well as being safe. Thank you for reading, and hope to see you here again soon,

How do we write about coping with covid-19, and the complete uncertainty, tragedy and fear it has unleashed on the world. Am I coping with it? I have no idea, really, like most of us, I am just trying to get through the day, the week, by doing all that I can, and by staying home. It is a new normal, I have up days and down days, days I worry more, days I worry less. My husband is an essentail worker, he now comes home, strips at the front door, and goes straight to the shower. A new normal. He cannot touch our children until he is clean, his clothes lie in a black bag until he comes back down to wash them, and the worry is written over his face when he goes out through the front door. A new normal. The same for so many people still going about their work and trying to keep society fed, safe and well, as best they can, until this is over. I salute them all.

Some unforseen positives are poking through, we cook more, we actually eat the food we buy, a lot less is wasted, we play together as a family more, have a simpler, quieter way of life. I am not saying when this is over, I will emerge a changed person and forever swear off my favourite restaurant, not at all, but there are some aspects I would like to carry through.

Because we must get through this, and personally, I try to stay as positive as I can and distract myself as much as possible. I still post on instagram, chat with people there and immerse myself in my little IG corner of luxury, handbags and shoes, that may seem superficial and frivilous to the outsider, but is an escape that helps keep me sane.

There is a lot of discussion about whether people are still shopping during this time, especially in light of the unicorns appearing and many, many sale notifications popping up in our inboxes. Set that against the loss of jobs, furloughs, and immense financial insecurity that currently hangs over us all. Personally, my business, like many, is currently closed, I am responsible for paying many staff wages, and various financial commitments. Very few of us will emerge from this untouched or unaffected on a financial level, before one even considers on a personal level. Of course, this has to have an impact on decision making when it comes to shopping, or making any financial decisions. Whether to contine shopping is a personal decision, only you know your financial position, and only you know if it is appropriate or not. So long as you do carefully consider the purchase and access your finances first, there is nothing wrong with shopping at this time. If there is something you have been looking for, a unicorn that you could not find, or an item made more attainable with a discount code, now may very well be the right time to make the purchase. That purchase should also be made without judgement. Everyone is currently in a different financial position, but if you have assessed your own finances, and are happy to proceed, you should make that purchase with happiness and joy, and not subject to any of the ‘how can you shop right now’, ‘there are more deserving causes in the world’. Yes, of course there are, but we still have our own lives to live, as much as we can at this time, and if you can look at your own set up, and be happy with it, it is the place of no one else to judge you for it or comment upon it.

Myself, I have shopped during this crisis, partly because on-line browsing has become a distraction, partly due to hard to get pieces beoming available, and partly due to seasonal pieces not being guaranteed in the future. I have a separate account for shopping, and I have been more careful than usual in staying well within that and assessing my competing priorities. That being said, I am much more restrictive and cautious than normal, I have passed on certain items I would have jumped on, and I am fairly confident I could get my money out of the pieces I have purchased, if I needed to. Apart from IG, I don’t showcase my purchases in real life very much, and I have done this even less now, actaully not at all, as I am sensitive to the position that people find themselves in. Job insecurity is very real, and the stress it brings is debilitating. Any decisions at present, must therefore be well thought through and you must be comfortable in the position it will leave you in.

Questions are also surfacing on continuing to use your luxury goods at this time, continuing to enjoy them. For me, they still bring me joy and happiness, in the bubble away from reality, and help me think of happier times. I personally feel, that anything that helps you through this, distracts you, makes you smile, is a good thing, and nobody should be shamed for their interests. We are all in this together, and that should be extended to kindness to others, without judgement, or commentary, as we wait for the world to right itself.

Thank you for being here, and I truly wish you and your family safe and well until we are through this,

Princessluxlove xx

When I started to think about what life would look life during the Covid 19 period of social distancing and self isolation, I thought (panicked) about the health of loved ones, the impact on business and finances, trying to work from home with no childcare etc etc, the list goes on and the stress is high. What I did not think about, and what might have come as some light relief in this otherwise dark time, was the impact on my bank balance by the sudden availability of Louis Vuitton unicorn pieces! Hard to get, sold out items, are suddenly popping up on the LV website as ‘place in basket’ at never seen before levels. Lux lovers who have been chasing the coveted nano speedy, mini pochette or palm springs mini, are all of a sudden, being faced with them being available to order, and the sickening fear that if I do not add it to my bag right now and throw my money at the computer, that it all might just be a mirage, and the unicorn may dance away into the distance! It’s a (happy) conundrum, that at a time when we are all worried about the economy or our incomes, we are being offered the opportunity to purchase the pieces we have been dreaming of owning.

I, for one, think this is wonderful ( not how it has come about of course, just that it has come about). I think that it is wonderful that people like me, who are not influencers, or have VIP contacts, or the ability to always pay the premium for the hard to get pieces, are finally getting the opportunity to order this on the LV website, at retail, when let’s be honest, with all of the price increases, the price is already hefty enough.

Accounts I follow on Instagram from the US, started to post about unicorn pieces becoming available online, firstly for a few seconds, and then staying available for a few hours at a time. I have to admit to getting a little excited, was this real!? I am lucky enough to have a nano speedy in my collection, but a friend is desperate for one, and I have been after a palm springs mini with the new zipper for quite some time ( I was after it with the old zipper for years before the new zipper was released!). They were both available on the US site, I have a cousin who lives in the US and regularly flies home, but the rate for sterling to USD has been slashed with the current pandemic. The price was just too high, so I stalked the UK site. Shopviazoe, a new account on IG, kindly offered to help me stalk the website, and after losing one for not entering my card details quickly enough, Luxstina gave me the paypal tip, and the next time it became available, we were a go! To be honest, my fingers worked before my brain even considered the prospect of a recession, and she has joined the collection! I am so happy to finally have this piece, and genuinely think it is so great that many people are getting to add these unicorns without the usual hoops to jump through. I have long needed to replace my trusty, workhorse Neverfull, that is my everyday work bag for files, laptop etc, and I am very tempted to do so while they are available online and before another price increase comes, I just want to take a breath and try to gauge some understanding of how long wok may be standing still for.

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These pieces are likely becoming available due to the boutiques being closed, and with this major loss of revenue, LV are offering them for sale online to ensure some income stream continues. Does it make you question customer services telling you it isn’t available, and they have no idea when it will be? Maybe, but for now, LV lovers, myself included, are going to take advantage of the availability, and enjoy the playing field been evened for a little while.

How the economic crisis will affect brands such as LV long term remains to be seen, but the 2007/2008 recession did little to no damage, and indeed since then, the prices have risen astronomically, with price increases up to 3 per year. My Neverfull GM in 2011 was around 550 euros, this seems unheard of now. So if history teaches us anything, even if the price increase slows down this year, maybe even next, it is sure to catch up in the years to come.

So if you have been looking, I hope you caught your unicorn, or keep stalking that website until you do!

Be safe, be kind and stay in. Thank you for reading, and hope to see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

Am I really posting about luxury handbags and pretty shoes while the country, no, the world, faces a crisis in the form of a pandemic? While people are dying and families are suffering? While financial uncertainty frightens us all? Well, yes I am and I intend to continue doing so. Not because I am heartless, or uncaring, or oblivious to what the world is facing, but rather to just get through. To keep going everyday, while the uncertainty overwhelms us and the figures scare us and the government confounds us. Because the reality, is scary. The possibilities, beyond comprehension and the unknown, well simply, unknown. So while I face all of that and more in my real life, and worry about ill relatives, staff wages and bills to pay, I will escape into the world of Instagram and the blogosphere, to well, escape. To distract from a world I have never before known, I will spend some precious moments, focusing on something else, escaping reality and posting about pretty things, that make me smile, and happy, and break the social media devastating updates, with Chanel quilting and LV monogram, and the anticipation of new arrivals.

So to you, and your family, be safe, be careful and look out for one another. When shelves are bare, resources low and selfishness high, let us remember each other, the elderly, the ill and the vulnerable. Because if we all look out for one another and pull together, we will get through this, and maybe, just maybe, emerge as a global nation, where togetherness works and loving our neighbour extends beyond the times of the Bible.

Be kind, be safe and take precautions, and if a little luxury loving helps you smile through it, come join us and enjoy the escapism!

Thank you for being here,

Princessluxlove xx

In honour of International Woman’s Day, let’s take a moment to shout out to all of those strong women out there, who lift each other up, take pleasure in the success of others, and rejoice at the strength that can be found in women supporting each other, helping each other, and holding us up when we fall. Where it seems all to common for jealousy, nastiness and pettiness to take the place of more admirable qualities, let us be the difference, let us celebrate each other and help each other up, rather than pushing each other down.

There does not seem to have been a time before when mental health was such a prevalent concern, maybe it always was, the struggles people face maybe just weren’t so visible, or the reporting less far reaching before the spread of the internet. But people suffer, and people fall and people face demons that we may never even know about. A recent suicide of a young woman in her 40’s with her whole world ahead of her, and seemingly a life to envy, led to words she had spoken being adopted as a phrase of hope, of warning and almost a plea to mankind, in a world where you can be anything, be kind. Be kind. Could there be a more appropriate catchphrase for what this world needs. Be kind. Do not be the person that has to push another down to climb up, or who takes pleasure, and gossips, in the despair of others. Let the untimely death of that young woman be a reminder to us all, words hurt, bullying hurts, unkindness hurts. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.

So this is a shout out to all of those strong women out there, doing it for their families, for their friends, and for themselves. Be the best that you can be and I will dance in your light and sing to your success. I promise to pray that you reach your goals, to celebrate when you reach new heights, to be inspired by your good and to never put you down. I promise to be that woman who is proud of others and to simply be kind.

To all those strong women, may we know them, may we be them, may we raise them. When we band together, when we don’t stand in each other’s way, when we lift each other up, let’s just see what we can achieve.

In a world when you can be anything, be kind.

To the warriors, the single parents, the bread winners, the home makers, the CEO’s, the fashionistas, the superheros, to us all, happy international woman’s day, I am proud to know you, and i hope to be you.

Princessluxlove xx

Today’s world is so busy, with so many competing pulls for our time and attention, that self-care is so important. I, for one, am absolutely guilty of getting so caught up in everything that I have to do, work commitments, drop offs, pick ups, what everyone else needs, that I quite often forget that I exist, that I am a person as myself and not just the provider for all other needs and attentions. I will often put off doctor and dentist appointments, check ups, because I am busy in work, or a case needs my attention, but in the end this can only lead to burn out, to collapse, and to feelings of resentment, like we just don’t matter.

I won’t call it a New Year’s resolution, more of a promise I made to myself going forward. I have promised myself to make a little time for me, to look after myself better, that it is ok to be a little selfish sometimes. After all, what use will I be to everyone else, if I am constantly dancing on the edge of breakdown.

Of course I would love to have the time, and money, to take off to a spa retreat every month, and zone out from the world, but I think finding the time for that would just stress me out more! I have therefore come up with 8 tips, that are the 8 things I have promised to do for myself, to build self-care into my routine. Some of these are so very simple, but remembering to build them into my day or week has made them actually happen and happen in a way that brings some benefit. Hopefully these can give you some inspiration!

1. Breathe! That sounds ridiculous, but just taking 10 minutes to yourself, no emails, no work calls, no children’s needs, just to sit down for 10 minutes, with a cup of tea, of hot chocolate, or latte, or whatever is your thing. For me, I put on a record, make a cup of tea, and sit down by myself, just to decompress, and stop go, go, going for that little part of the day. I am guilty of eating at my desk, on the go, or simply not stopping, a practice that can steamroll over even the strongest of us.

• 2. Walking, moving, dancing, the gym, whatever may be your thing, but just getting some active time to clear your head and blow away the cobwebs. For me, it is walking with headphones in, normally either with the dogs, or pushing the pram, but I find this as good for my mental health as it is for my physical health.

• 3. Sleep! Busy lives, busy people, busy mums, I am sure we are all guilty of this, when there is so much to be squeezed into a day, something has to give, and normally it’s pushing the boundaries of the time you go to sleep or wake in the morning. I fully appreciate this can be difficult, my youngest is 4 months and he definitely impacts the amount of sleep that is attainable, but I am at least now trying to be sensible. Rather than watching that extra episode, reading that extra chapter, or putting my phone down, I am trying to go to bed at a better time to give my body the time it needs to recover in sleep.

• 4. Relax – once a week I have promised to build in something for myself, for me that will be a bubble bath with candles lit, and a good book, or a massage with reflexology. I am going to try to do this once per month, that is more realistic both for time and money. It doesn’t have to be a fancy spa, I have found a great local beautician where the treatments are fantastic, but don’t come with the prices of the fancier salons. Of course I still love a treat to a spa, but I couldn’t justify the cost on a very regular basis.

During this hour or so, I have told my husband that him and the boys are banned, this is mummy me time, and I have been guarding it with my life!

• 5. Moisturise, again this sounds so simple, but I use to jump in and out of the shower, and get ready to go, in as quick a time as possible, with no thought to looking after my skin or body. I now take the time to moisturise my whole body after the shower, this adds about 5 minutes, but at least I feel as if my skin is getting some kind of care and attention, and that I am looking after me.

• 6. Friends and family, time to sit down over lunch or coffee, and actually talk to each other, laugh, put our phones away and catch up. This is so good for the soul and lifts my day right up.

• 7. Eating better and drinking water, I was terrible for not planning meals and rushing in late from work, drinking fizzy drinks to keep me going through the day, and eating, well basically, rubbish. I have been trying to drink more water, which is helping with headaches, and planning better food, making fresh soups and meals at the weekend and trying to step away from the take away!

• 8. Digital detox, my work emails come to my phone, and anytime it beeps, I was reading it and acting on it right away, basically working every waking moment, taking me away from family time, downtime, every type of time that wasn’t work. I am still battling with myself in my promise to set it down, turn the notifications off and get some head space. I do think this is vitally important, I work a lot already,  but was constantly having some aspect of work running about my head, with no downtime or escape from it, this cannot be healthy for any of us.

So these are my tips and my promises to myself, I am trying very hard to stick to these. Whether these tips resonate with you or not, we all do need to find something or somethings, to do to look after ourselves, and prioritise self care.

Good luck, and I hope these help! Thanks for reading, and hope to see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

Buying a luxury item for most of us, is always a big deal, the financial cost is generally significant and the piece we pick, is quite often chosen at the expense of a number of other pieces, that we cannot add to our collections at that stage. Picking the right piece, at the right price, comes with an investment of both time and money,  and when it arrives, should bring joy and happiness to us handbag addicts!

One question to consider, and it’s something people would ask me about in everyday life, is whether to buy brand new from the boutique, or to buy pre-loved. Personally, I have done both. I have bought a number of pieces from the boutique, all of my Louis Vuitton pieces are from the boutique, with the exception of my round coin purse and my zippy wallet. My Chanel boy and classic flap are also new from the boutique, but my two rectangle mini’s were bought pre-loved, the raspberry from Fashionphile, and teal from the Instagram seller, @luxxlover.

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For me, we don’t have a lot of luxury boutiques in Ireland, really just in Dublin, and even then, the LV and Chanel are on the small side. This seriously impacts availability, and I have bought a number of pieces when travelling. I do however, personally love the boutique experience. I love to go in, look at the goods, touch them, try them on, feel the quality and the material, and walk out with the beautifully packaged item, in its rather fabulous cardboard carrier bag. But this comes at a price, and with the constant price increases, quite often a hefty one.

I do therefore feel, that there is also a place for buying pre-loved. I have only bought pre-loved in very good to excellent condition, I still want to feel what I am buying is worth it, and has a lot of use left in it. There are great deals to be had on the pre-loved market, and one of the times I will look pre-loved, is a piece I have researched and doesn’t really hold its re-sale value that well, isn’t a classic, or that I don’t feel is a piece I see being in my collection for the longer term. An example of this for me is my Gucci marmont velvet bag. I fell in love with the colour and material of this bag, the colour is so striking and I just love the luxuriousness of velvet. That being said, they don’t really hold their re-sale value that well, and I don’t think of it as classic bag. I therefore didn’t want to spend the full retail of £1330.00 on this bag, and looked pre-loved on Vestiaire collective. Some of the prices on there were unrealistic, but I did end up saving quite a bit of money against the retail price, and the bag I bought is in like new condition.

Another reason to look on the pre-loved market, is when you miss out on the piece you want. I have done this with my teal mini, and do look on the pre-loved market for hard to find, sold out pieces. The downside of this though, is that demand can be high, and this will push the price way above retail for ‘unicorn’ or hard to find pieces. I really want to add the rose gold Chanel mini to my collection, but the one available on Fashionphile is currently sitting at over £5000, plus shipping and customs fees. There is a feeling that shopping pre-loved should bring savings, when it comes down to these hard to find pieces though, it’s really if you feel you can justify that amount of money for a piece you really want, even if it is well above retail.

Another option for pre-loved is ebay. I am not so good with ebay. I just am not confident that I will know an item is authentic. That being said, I have sold on ebay and the items have been 100% genuine and authentic, so I am sure there are many, many more people doing the same, I am just not confident about it. I recently bought the LV round coin purse, and the lovely @my_things_888 on Instagram helped me with the purchase. She has a great vintage and pre-loved LV collection, and shops ebay quite a bit, so it can provide some real gems, so long as you are confident you can confirm an original. Ebay will protect against fakes if a purchase goes wrong.

Another vintage collector on Instagram whose collection is amazing, is @thelouisvuittonprincess. Her vintage pieces are fabulous, and I understand from her stories, that she has had some ebay transactions, often also gaining a profit as well as a piece.

I was recently asked by a colleague if their first piece should be new or pre-loved. Of course, this is completely a personal choice, My own first piece was my much loved, much used, Neverfull. I bought this new from the boutique in Rome, when I was there for a special occasion with my now husband. There was something very special about being in Rome, and buying this piece, and it will always hold those memories for me. I recently came across the receipt though and when I bought this, it was 550 euro, quite a lot less than today’s retail price of £1010.00 sterling! I had done a lot of research though to spend this money for the first time, I knew this was the bag I wanted and I knew I would get a lot of use out of it. If you were maybe less sure, and wanted to test out a brand, or were looking for a vintage piece, you could look pre-loved. My advice would be to do your research. Research the piece you want, be sure as you can’t try it on in the boutique, research the seller or site to make sure they are reputable and have good policies on authenticity and condition, check their feedback for accuracy of description and service. My own personal opinion on a first piece, is I wouldn’t want to pay above retail. I think for a first piece, if going pre-loved, it should bring a saving, and not the opposite. Also, don’t be afraid to ask for advice. I have personally purchased quite a few luxury items, but I still took comfort in @my_things_888’s opinion on my recent pre-loved purchase.

These are just my opinions, and are by no means set guidelines! I do hope this has helped, thank you for reading, and I hope to see you here again soon!

Princessluxlove xx

What is it about these Chanel mini bags that drive most of us luxury lovers crazy? Personally, they are one of my favourite bags, I adore them, there are 3 currently sitting at the very top of my wish list, and even then, I still find myself tempted by other versions that come up online. It’s almost as if all reason goes out the window for me, when it comes to these little colourful gems.

If you want to add a pop of colour to your outfit or collection, in my opinion, the mini is a great way to do it. I am personally a colour lover, and my collection probably lacks neutrals, but that is purely down to my personal preference towards colour. There are a few things to be aware of though with adding colour, one being the resale value. If looking to sell on a handbag, if it is a coloured version, you may have to wait for the right buyer looking for that exact colour, and the re-sale may be lower than with a neutral. Going with a mini bag, with the lesser expenditure, can be a safer way to do this. Also, often the small pop of colour is enough to add to your outfit or collection what it needs.

The mini from Chanel also offer the opportunity to add most of the elements of the Chanel classic flap, at a lower cost. The mini is designed effectively like a small classic flap, but is not described as a classic flap as it does not have the double flap like the classic. The inside is also different, having one large compartment and one zip pocket. The mini also has the mademoiselle pocket on the back exterior of the bag, and the same turn lock closure as the classic.

The price of these bags is both a pro and a con, it is a more affordable level than the classic flap, and is an entry level price by way of Chanel pricing, but it is by no means a cheap bag. The mini comes in both a square and rectangular version. The rectangular mini in leather retails at £2730.00 in the UK, with the square being slightly cheaper at £2400.00. That is however, if you are lucky enough to find these in the boutique. The mini bags sell very quickly, sometimes the only way to purchase them can be through a re-seller, where the price will range from slightly higher, to significantly higher, depending on how sought after the bag you want is. I have a rose gold mini ‘unicorn’ on my wish list, and I fully anticipate a very high price once I find it from a reputable seller.

Moving on to re-sellers, and pre-loved sites, I have purchased all of my mini’s this way. Given the limited availability of Chanel boutiques in Ireland, it is something I find I often have to rely on. It also opens up the opportunity of colours and fabrics that may not have been otherwise available to you. I recently added a turquoise rectangular mini to my collection in the light gold hard ware, I bought this from the Instagram seller, @luxxlover, (self paid). Luxxlover is one of the reputable Instagram sellers that I would recommend, her inventory is fabulous, she can source some of the most sought after pieces and her page is often filled with the most tempting pieces that send my bank balance into a frenzy. The bag arrived in fabulous condition, and was exactly as pictured. The shipping was quick, and the communication kept me updated. It is worth noting Luxxlover is based in the US, and the process of sending the bag to Ireland was quick and painless. (This is not sponsored, simply an honest review). I have also purchased from Fashionphile (my raspberry mini), and again the quality of the bag was perfect. They also have a great inventory, offer a layaway service and a buy back option, making them a great site to shop from in my opinion. The only downside I did find however, is the high customs charges from the US to the UK/Ireland with my purchase from their site. Another seller I love is @designerwishbags, again the service and product was excellent, and I have recently purchased from @mireyna_fashionlover, so far a seamless process.

I am lucky enough to own a mini in both the square and rectangle. My own personal preference is for the rectangular mini, simply because I prefer the strap drop on this version. The strap drop on the rectangular mini is longer than the square, and I find this suits my lifestyle and frame better, although for many people it will be the other way round. The rectangle I also find a little easier to place my items inside. I also  love both the traditional quilting and the chevron, I find the chevron perhaps a little more modern, and I am loving the light gold hardware.

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All 3 of my mini’s are in caviar leather. I love the look of the caviar with the colour, and also the added durability of the leather. Chanel haven’t produced caviar mini’s in a little while, although there may have been some showing on the catwalk. This has made these even more desirable and has driven the price a little higher. For me, if a colour I loved was in lambskin ( the purple on my wish list), it wouldn’t put me off. I believe the lambskin is more durable than we can fear, and certainly in places such as France, it is the preferred leather. Caviar used to be the cheaper option to lambskin, although Chanel raised the price so they are now priced the same.

Are they worth it? For me, yes. I think they are a great way to enter the Chanel market, and hold their re-sale value well. I personally love a cross-body bag, and love smaller bags, I love the various colours, and fabrics available, and that you can add variety to your collection without reaching the price of the medium classic. If they are worth it though, has to be a personal question, where you reach the answer by looking at your own finances and financial needs, as well as your priorities for that money. For someone wanting to start their collection I would recommend them, if you buy wisely with your colour, as they are both a beautiful bag, that is small but packs a punch, but also holds a decent re-sale value should you need it.

These are just my opinions, but I hope it helps, thank you for reading, and hope to see you here again soon!

Princessluxlove xx

My first luxury love when it comes to handbags was without doubt, Louis Vuitton, blossoming a good few years before I could afford Chanel. These two houses have my heart, and while I can appreciate other brands, these are generally where my purchases will lie. I am a bit more varied when it comes to shoes, but I was slow to branch out with other luxury  handbags.

Towards the end of 2019 however, I found myself constantly coming back to the Gucci Marmont bag. I have a pair of the shoes from this range, and intend to add another pair with a lower heel, but I have never really been a lover of Gucci bags. There just hasn’t been any that made me want to pull the trigger and buy them, until the release of the beautiful, sumptuous velvet bags. I first saw the deep fuschia velvet marmont flap bag on Shea Whitney’s youtube channel, then on the Instagram pages of a couple of the lovely ladies I would chat to. The colour looked fabulous, so deep and rich, and I already loved the luxuriousness of velvet.

I started to read reviews, and watch videos, and couldn’t get the colour of the fuschia velvet out of my mind, and the velvet itself, is just divine. I decided to add this bag to my collection. The small velvet Marmont flap bag retails in the UK at £1330.00, although the turquoise version is on sale in my local store for £970.00 I believe.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure how much wear I would get out of the velvet bag, and did wonder if I was buying it more because I am so attracted to the colour and the fabric, rather than for use of the bag. I therefore decided to go down the pre-loved route, and started to look on vestiaire collective, where I have purchased items pre-loved previously. I had also done some research on the pre-loved market, and the bag doesn’t hold its value that well, there are some good deals out there, in excellent condition.

The bag I went for is the small, there is also a mini which I would also have been happy with. The small is around the same size as a medium Chanel classic flap and holds roughly the same items. It does however have the longer strap which allows it to be worn cross body, which is perfect for me. It can also be worn on the shoulder, or the strap can be doubled up and either worn on the shoulder, carried, or in the crook of your arm.

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My first impressions of the bag are very good. It is not the same quality as a Chanel leather bag, but then the price point is so much cheaper, and the velvet is a much softer material. It does have a zipped inside pocket, and a lovely lighter pink, satin feel material as lining. The bag itself is soft and malleable, and big enough to carry my daily essentials. The aged gold hardwear is a lovely addition to the bag, and the leather insert to the strap makes it very comfortable to wear. I do not think it is a classic bag, and may not stand the test of time, but certainly for the price, especially mine being pre-loved, and the beauty of the fabric, I feel that it is a good purchase, and one that I am happy to have made.

I hope this was helpful, and thank you for reading! I hope to see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

My lovely friend Fritzie asked me if I have a wish list for this year, when I posted my top 5 for 2019, and do I ever! My only problem with my wish list is narrowing it down to what goes onto it, and the fact it’s ever changing with what I add to it! I do feel social media is bad for me in this regard, sometimes my self-control is more than a little lacking! I have a few items that are on my kind of, I’d love one of those, lists, but are probably a longer term goal, rather than in the near future, like a Cartier love bracelet. My wish list is also a bit longer this year as there are a few items carried over, that I either couldn’t find, still haven’t found, or found at the end of 2019. Two of these should hopefully be arriving fairly soon.

I also probably have a more abstract list of things I’d like to add to my collection generally, for eg, I’d like to add more slg’s, and some more jewellery pieces to give me some more variety, I spoke in my last post about adding some more brooches, maybe a more classic style than those I currently have. But on to the wish list! I would probably actually be embarrassed to admit how much thought I’ve given this, and also by how much is on it, but I’ll continue in the spirit of no judgement!!

The first item is without doubt, a Chanel mini rectangle in the purple chevron, with the light gold hardware. This one was easy, I have wanted to add this bag to my collection for the longest time, but cannot find it. I have a few personal shoppers trying to source it, but also without any joy. I actually had this bag when it first came out in the medium classic flap, although I prefer the mini, and it was transferred from a store in London to Dublin. My SA there had to phone me up and tell me she couldn’t sell it to me, as it was damaged. I was devastated! I have been trying to find it ever since. No joy as of yet, but hopefully one day!

Sticking with Chanel, I have been in love with the graffiti mini reissue ever since I watched the unboxing on fashionably Amy’s channel. I love this bag, I think it is amazing, and striking and such a statement piece. I personally prefer the iridescent version to the gold, but nevertheless, have been hooked ever since.

The last Chanel mini on my wish list ( at the moment!) is the rose gold unicorn that is just beautiful. The love for this grew from seeing it on Instagram, and it just keeps growing!

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( Do I expect to get all of these mini’s this year, no, but a girl can wish!).

The final Chanel bag I am hooked on, is the trendy cc in a cream/beige neutral colour. I think this is stunning, and would add a different silhouette to my collection. I would also love to add a tweed mini at some stage, but that is probably more of a distant wish, although you never know as I can be so impulsive! I really need to try and get a handle on how impulsive I can be when it comes to buying luxury items, I think I need therapy!

Sticking with handbags, but moving on to my other favourite house, Louis Vuitton. Aahhh, Louis Vuitton, the first luxury love of my life. I love the monogram print of this house, I know there are very differing views on this, and its fabulousness is attacked by the cheap fakes that flood the market, but oh how I love it. My first luxury handbag was my LV Neverfull in the GM, in the monogram canvas. I will always be a Neverfull girl, and the first LV purchase on my wish list is a new Neverfull, same size and same canvas. I adore this bag and will always have it my collection, but I have learnt a lot since buying this first one, and will look after the new purchase (when it comes!) much better than the first.

The other LV item which I am sure is on many wish lists, is the LV mini palm springs backpack. I’m not much of a backpack girl, and would envisage using this as a cross body bag more than a backpack. I love the design, and feel it would be a great addition, though I am seriously considering the world tour version. I always liked the patches version of the pochette metis, but ended up going for the classic monogram, but buying a bag charm with the LV heart. I still haven’t gotten over adding a different version of a classic though, and keep being drawn back to the world tour. I appreciate it isn’t a great option if re-sale is a consideration, but it is very attractive to me.

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Beyond bags, I have a few specific items I would like to add to my collection and have made the wish list. I am in love with the CHA NEL logo drop earrings, and have those on my list. I also want to add a pair of designer trainers, and am fairly certain these will be the Gucci ace version.

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I feel like this is such a lot to be lusting after! It is however a wish list, and we are allowed to dream and obsess over our dream purchases! So those are the items that most run riot around my brain when I think over my next purchase, or spend time on Instagram drooling over the prettiness!

Thank you very much for being here and reading, and I hope to see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

I never thought of myself as a brooch person, mistakenly having a very old fashioned view of how they could be worn, and this never really being challenged until I fell in love with Chanel. I was then in Chanel in Dublin, buying a brooch for a friend, when the love affair stretched out beyond the the rest of the boutique, and landed on the brooches! It was when picking a brooch for my friend, a classic version, that the SA ( the assistant manager in Dublin, who is so lovely), started chatting about different ways to wear them, the different styles and opened my eyes to what I had been missing! ( This was of course before I found instagram, and its endless inspiration. ) I now add these to a simple tee and jeans, or a more classic look, or one of my favourite ways to wear my crystal version, is added on to a long chain, the pin being added through the chain links. My collection is still small, but I definitely intend to add to it, and with some more classic versions.

My brooch collection has been described as ‘fun’! I do love the colours and the slightly different versions, and I love the resin brooches that just add that pop of colour and interest to an outfit. As all Chanel lovers dread, there can be problems with the crystal pieces, despite the hefty price tag. One of the crystals did fall out of mine, Chanel did fix it, but it is a worry.

I very recently added my third brooch, the amazing CC with the glitter and stars. I absolutely love it. It is so vibrant and different, and the colours are wonderful. If you have read my blog before, you know I live in Ireland, and the luxury shopping is limited. I therefore, at times, rely on re-sellers. I saw this fantastic brooch on the Designer Wishbags intagram page, and purchased it from there. The communication and service was flawless, I definitely recommend their business and will shop with them again without hesitation. The package arrived beautifully packaged, with a lovely personalised thank you card, discount code and bag hook. (This is not a sponsored post, the brooch was self paid, simply a genuine review).

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Thank you for reading and enjoying this crazy luxury obsession with me! I hope to see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

Happy New Year everyone! At the end of the year, and end of the decade, it’s hard not to reflect back on the year that has past. Beyond the shiny cc studs, and luxury of the padded quilting, can often lie much more difficult times, and personal sufferings that often go unspoken. I suppose that is one of the reasons I love engaging with the fashion/luxury community on instagram, and writing this blog, it is an escape from real life and a chance to live in the bubble and happiness of this crazy (expensive!) hobby we all love so much. I’m sure I am not the only one to have heard it called shallow, but is it really? I am sure we all still love our families, work hard at our lives and deal with the hardships life can throw, whatever it might appear to the outside world, so is it really shallow to have an escape, an enjoyment and another small area of our lives to raise a smile and offer affection, encouragement and love? I chose to think not, and I am really working on not thinking about the judgement at all.

On a much lighter note, I have also looked back at my luxury purchases of 2019, and came up with my top 5. For once, there are no shoes in this group! I put that down to being pregnant and huge for much of the year, so dressing up really wasn’t on my mind much, and most of the pretty shoes sat in the cupboard unworn. So here goes, my top 5 luxury purchases of 2019….

The top spot has to go to my LV pochette metis. I love this bag. I bought it as a complete impulse (i’m working on that!), I can remember lying in the bath scrolling the LV website, before I really knew about or used instagram, and thinking, ‘oohh that’s nice’. I didn’t really know about the hype or the glazing problems, but I phoned them up, got on the waiting list, and it arrived a couple of weeks later. This bag started my instagram addiction and my page, though I still didn’t know much about it, and really didn’t use it properly until the last few months. I have loved this bag since, I have gotten so much wear out of this bag, and it can be a real go to for me. Luckily no problems yet, although I probably don’t inspect it as much as I should.

Next has to be the Chanel medium flap in caviar leather, in the silver hardwear. If you have read my blog before, you will know this was my holy grail. I bought it so recently I haven’t used it much, but it had to make the top 5 simply for what it is, the story behind it ( earlier blog post explaining that!) and for how long I waited to get it.

The last bag is the 18B Chanel mini in the caviar leather, in the raspberry colour, that is so hard to photograph! This was an ‘instagram made me do it’ post. Once I saw it, I was obsessed, and had to track it down (there is abother Chanel mini I am equally as obsessed with but can’t find anywhere!). I love it, I love the mini bags. They suit my lifestyle so well with the 2 boys and carrying all their stuff and baby bag, this can go crossbody and still gives that pop of colour and luxury without taking one of the hands I desperately need for mum duties!

Next comes the LV agenda in the GM in the monogram canvas. I have wanted this for so long, and was on the waiting list for 3 months before it arrived. I run my own business, have 2 children, and what seems like a million things to juggle, so this has become an essential to helping me try to keep on top of things, while adding a little bit of monogram style.

Finally, the LV ‘V’ stud earrings in gold. These are recent but I love them. I think the reason they have made the top 5, and why i get so much wear out of them, is my baby is only 3 months old. He is at the stage of grabbing things, and flinging his head off my shoulder and face when I am carrying him. That quickly brought an end to bigger, more detailed earrings. Even my Chanel studs, with the crystals, haven’t been worn too much, I don’t want to test out who would win between baby soft skin and a CC crystal! These have therefore been great, an alternative everyday, discreet earring which still add a little something.

So that’s my top 5! I hope you enjoyed reading, I wish everyone a happy new year filled with health and happiness, and look forward to filling up the pages of 2020, one day at a time. Thanks for visiting, and hope to see you here again soon!

Again, a happy new year,

princessluxlove xx

The shiny red sole of Christian Louboutin started my love affair with luxury goods long before i fell head over heels for the world of luxury handbags. Shoes were without doubt my first love, although not a sound investment for those mindful of the re-sale market. Although i may invest heavier in handbags now, i still carry a flame for designer shoes, and will continue to add to my collection. With two young children, my opportunity to wear designer heels is now more limited, and i am slightly more sensible now when purchasing.

One pair of red soles in my collection is the Bella Zeppa, in the most beautiful soft dove grey suede. These wedge boots are stunning and as Louboutin goes, comfortable. I fell so hard for these boots that i bought them in a size Uk 4, eu 37, even though i wear a Uk 5 (eu38). Louboutin sizing can be tricky, and some styles do require the wearer to downsize a full size, but these are true to size. I couldn’t find them anywhere in a size 5, and bought the 4, which i squeeze my feet into for the love of fashion! I do continue to search the pre-loved market for a size 5, and if i find them, will snap them up and sell my size 4 on, but until then, i will suffer in silence!

These Bella Zeppa were no doubt in the back of my mind when i saw the Turela 55 veau velours boots, in the colour fume, the same beautiful soft dove grey suede. Living in Ireland, boutiques selling luxury goods are limited. Brown Thomas in Dublin and Galway, and Harper in Belfast sell Louboutin’s, but styles can be limited, and reliance is required on on-line boutiques and re-sellers. I find it helpful when others review their experience of re-sellers or online purchases, so will give my experiences in case it may help someone. These boots i bought from net-a-porter, where i have shopped before, and have always found their service flawless. Their inventory is excellent, product has never disappointed, and would be a go to site for me if i am looking for high end shoes. (Not paid, nor sponsored post, just hoping to help with a genuine review!).

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These are fresh in the box, so i can’t review wearing them just yet, but am hopeful the smaller heel and beautfiul fabric, will make them the perfect boot for spring and summer ( weather permitting!), from denim to dresses, making the shiny red sole more wearable than the towering heels that now decorate my dressing room!

Thank you for reading, and hope to see you here again soon,

Princessluxlove xx

There is something about the holiday season that let’s us shake off our inhibitions, step out from behind the shadows and sparkle in the light, just as we should. I personally love an outfit with a bit of personality. Fashion_unfolded_by_mandy recently posted a photograph on her Instagram of the most amazing trousers, and my feed has been full of colour, and shine, and outfits that have left me more than a little, well ok then, hugely jealous!

One of my most sparkly possessions are my wedding shoes. I got married in 2014, and fell IN LOVE with the Christian Louboutin Swarovski stressed heels. I sooo wanted to get married in them. At the time, I had only dipped my toe in luxury goods, I had my Neverfull, a Louis Vuitton scarf and some other Louboutin’s. These particular Louboutin shoes retailed somewhere in and around £2200.00, and I just couldn’t justify it. I must have ran the numbers 100 times but it just wasn’t doable. It was around this time I came across strassing services, and after some research, I thought this might be a way to get my dream shoes but at a more affordable price. Minks4all, one of my favourite youtube channels, recently showcased a card holder on her channel that she had strassed in the most amazing red crystals. This is not a sponsored post in any way, and is not a paid advert. I paid for the strassing in full at the time, but thought it might benefit someone else to hear of my experience.

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I found a pair of the Louboutin style shoes that I was after – the Fifi 100 ( very comfortable style, I wore these all day and night with no difficulties), on the pre-loved market, in new condition. After a little research online, I contacted Crystal at @redsolesreborn, and shipped the shoes off to her in Brooklyn. I had viewed her work online but was a little nervous, but when the shoes came back, I was blown away. They were just beautiful, a work of art, and her craftsmanship was exquisite. Her service throughout was flawless, and she kept me fully up to date. She sent the shoes back with a thoughtful thank you card, and some little merchandise goodies. Even with the cost of the shoes pre loved, the cost to strass, and shipping and customs to Ireland, these still cost less than half the price of the pre-strassed version. I do think this is a great option for anyone looking to add a bit of bling to an item.

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I still love the Fifi, and although not worn all the time, I have worn these shoes after the wedding, normally to add a little interest to a plainer outfit. Shea Whitney recently said in her video about designer items that are going out of style, that this included round toed shoes. Although I probably do have more pointed toe shoes in my collection, I still love the Fifi style, and see myself continuing to wear them regardless, especially my pink leopard print sequin pair that I have worn to death!

Thanks for reading, I hope to see you back soon, and Happy holidays everyone, and a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Princessluxlove xx

Every lux lover has a holy grail bag and this was mine. I have wanted this bag for sooo long, long before I could afford luxury anything and definitely long before Chanel was even a consideration. To me, it screamed classic, elegance and beauty, and became almost like a height to be reached. Did I put it on a pedestal? Absolutely, but it gave me a goal, and something to aspire to and work towards.

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Growing up, my mum was a single parent, and money was limited, but she instilled a work ethic in me like no other. I set myself a work goal many years ago, and promised myself that if I reached this goal, I would buy myself the Chanel classic flap. I probably didn’t even know what a classic flap was back then, let alone any consideration to caviar vs lambskin, or of the colour of hardware, but I had seen the bag, and if I reached this point, I would have it.

Since then, I have been lucky enough to have a number of career highs, and things to celebrate by a ‘me to me’ present, but not this particular achievement. Once the financial reward started to come, I have often considered buying this bag, but I just couldn’t do it! I have bought other pieces from Chanel, but the idea of what this bag symbolised had become so strongly ingrained in my mind, that it almost felt like I would be giving up by going ahead and buying it.

Finally, it happened! It actually happened. Goal achieved, taxi to Chanel please! And she is a beauty, simply stunning. Was I concerned about the price increases? Of course, they are crazy! The jumbo was a little too big for my frame ( I felt), but the medium was still around £4,600.00! That is just a huge amount of money for a bag, so obviously I sensibly put her back on the shelf and walked out……

Anyway! So here she is, this practical, useable work of art that is quite simply stunning. From the puffy, quilted, caviar leather, to the shiny silver hardware, to the luxurious burgundy interior, I just adore her. I see this bag being in my collection for years to come, and when I look at her, I see hard work and achievement. I can’t wait to start wearing her, and ignoring any judgement that may come my way!

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Thanks for reading, and hopefully I will see you back here soon,

Princessluxlove xx

I love London! Let me just start with that, I think it’s a great city, so much to do, vibrant and exciting. I was there very recently for work, something of a career high so far. Of course, no trip to London would be complete without fitting in some shopping time, which led to something of a mini luxury haul being squeezed onto the plane home! The air hostess was not so understanding, with my cries of, be careful with the holiday packaging! But come on, that Chanel camellia and the LV, so pretty this year.

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London was as ever, bustling and busy, with the holiday season in full flow and dazzling with the Christmas lights. A senior colleague who had worked in London previously, also arranged for us to have drinks in the Ivy private members club, where the champagne was flowing. For a city so busy, and always on the go, it was lovely to have somewhere so private, and relaxing, to enjoy. The decor was rich, dark wood and sumptuous leather, the piano player a delight, and the atmosphere screamed indulgence. Dinner followed in the Ivy restaurant and did not disappoint, from the beautiful decorations to the first class food.

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School night drinking is very limited for this new mum, the morning after definitely not so fun! The call of Louis Vuitton and Chanel forced me through the pain though, with retail therapy the best cure. The pain was duly passed to my bank balance, but there was a tweed Chanel mini rectangle that keeps calling my name, I think I’m going to live to regret not bringing her home 🤦🏻‍♀️

Living in Ireland, our luxury shopping is limited, so i never like to pass up the opportunity to window shop…….

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Both pairs of earrings i thought were very classic and perfect for daily use, although i am obsessing on the Chanel logo earrings, i think they are so beautiful. The mini pochette, i have wanted to add to my collection for the longest time, but it is always sold out online. I asked on the off chance and this was the last one in the store (do they always say that??), i couldn’t pass it up. I currently also only have the monogram canvas in my collection and have wanted to add a damier ebene piece for quite some time. I forsee mostly using this as a catchall, but time will tell!

There is one left to unbox, but it is quite a special piece to me, and has a story all to itself. It is the biggest piece from my trip, and i am VERY excited about it. There is also a smaller LV box hiding in the main picture, it is a present for my best friend though, so i won’t be unboxing it. He deserves it, he makes my life better simply by being in it.

London, you did not disappoint!

Thanks for reading, and hope to see you back here soon,

Princessluxlove xx

Well hello there!

Welcome to my blog! I can’t quite actually believe I am doing this!

I have a VERY small Instagram page, princessluxlove, where I share my love of fashion, luxury goods, interiors, and occasionally, my two dogs! It’s my safe space, where I can be myself, and talk to like minded people, without fear of judgement, or criticism. I have had it for a little while, but only recently started to engage with it properly. That’s when I realised how much I love it. The people who comment, are genuinely lovely and happy for others to do well or succeed, that’s not something I find all too often in real life.

Here, as on Instagram, I hide behind an anonymous username. Why? Well, for a couple of reasons I guess. Firstly, confidence! I would NEVER have the confidence to do this in my own name. I’m sure I’m not the only one of us to struggle with confidence, but I would love the opportunity to engage beyond the photograph and comment section, to talk about fashion, lifestyle and luxury goods.

Secondly, fear of judgement. Liking, and owning, luxury goods, somehow seems to attract a level of judgement and criticism that is uncalled for. I work very hard, I pay for everything that I own myself, and still, I sometimes feel ashamed to have a Chanel bag over my shoulder, or that I should explain it, justify it, pretend I found it for £10 in a charity shop! Maybe that says more about me, and my feelings of self worth (I’m sure there’s quite a fortune to be spent on therapy there!), but by being anonymous, I can enjoy it.

So thank you for visiting and for reading, I can’t wait to get started, and I hope to see you here again soon!