H&M-Weekday-wool-scarf

I’m back! And this time with 4 great alternatives for the uber expensive Acne Canada scarf. Yes, I do own one, but I got lucky a few years back and found mine on sale over at the mens department on Matches Fashion. Anyway, in case you’re looking to invest in a similar wool scarf that’s a little more affordable, check out the ones below. Most of them are 100% wool, except the one from COS that contains 10% cashmere (how awful, right?). But the very best part? They’re all under €60.

Left: H&M (€39,99), Right: Weekday (€45,00), Other options: COS (€39,00), & Other Stories (€55,00) 

margiela-beachwalk

Yes, a list of three things I totally didn’t need but bought anyway this year. One turned out to be a winner, the others not so much. Because even when you carefully plan your purchases, a mistake every now and then remains hard to avoid. Sometimes you’re convinced you bought the item that was missing all along, only to come to the conclusion several months later that it’s still hanging in your closet, brand new and unworn.

Margiela Beach Walk
When I bought this, I totally believed I would wear this all throughout summer, but I didn’t. It’s a lovely scent that reminds you of the beach (well, duh!). But after wearing Molecule 01 for several years, which is really subtle, this fragrance was just too present. I could smell it all day around me (maybe that’s a plus though, great lasting power) and in the end it gave me a headache. I could have avoided this if I had taken a sample home. You know, try before you buy. Lesson learned.

Zara loafers
The perfect example of the description above; still brand new in a shoebox. Do I like ’em? Yes definitely, but they hurt my feet. Are you familiar with a hallux valgus better known as a bunion? Because that’s where I’m heading, with both feet. I’ve never worn high heels, or at least no higher than 8 cm. And I don’t wear those on a daily basis. It’s heredity, lucky me. Since they’re made out of real leather, I might try stretching them a little to see if that helps. That last sentence pretty much describes the problem by the way. I try to find excuses or solutions for something that shouldn’t be a problem to begin with. Raise your hand if you ever bought a pair of shoes that felt too small, big or tight and you thought to yourself: it’ll be okay if I wear them a couple of times / buy a pair of insoles/ stretch them and the whole thing turned out to be one big dissapointment. From now on I’m only going to buy shoes that are comfortable from the first time I try them on.

Acne Pop jeans
These jeans fall in the category ‘winner’. I was a bit skeptical about the fit at first but after I tried them on, I was sold. However, I didn’t want to buy them for a whopping €210, so I decided to wait until the sales started. Maybe I would get lucky, and I did! My skinny jeans are still my everyday go-to jeans and I don’t wear them as often as I should, but they are definitely a great addition to my wardrobe and I can’t wait to wear them again when it’s spring.

acne-pop-celine-details

Fall is here people! And I couldn’t be more excited. Now I finally get to wear my H&M Trend cardigan that I bought two months ago and which hasn’t seen the light of day until now. It’s much more fun for me to get dressed in the morning when it’s fall or winter. Probably because my summer uniform consists out of a pair of jeans and a simple t-shirt. Being able to wear different layers definitely makes getting dressed more exciting.

Cardigan H&M, T-shirt H&M, jeans Acne Studios, bag Céline

acne-cardigan

I apologize if you just had a traumatic flashback to your teenage years when you read the word acne in that title. But let’s talk about the brand. I’m a huge Acne fan when it comes to their knitwear. I bought my first cardigan several years ago on sale in Antwerp. I couldn’t believe I bought something so expensive, even though I got it at 30% off. But 4 years later and it still looks like new, so needless to say it was a good investment. Over the years I bought a couple of wool sweaters and a cardigan, but I never managed to get my hands on the Raya cardigan.

I was determined to buy a grey version this year. At least, until I ran into a similar knit by H&M Trend (see detail above). Although the H&M version feels a bit thicker and heavier, the fit is almost identical (you probably can’t tell from the product pictures, but I tried them both) and if you’re careful enough, it will surely last you a couple of winters. Not to mention I saved €230, hello! I recommend washing it by hand or using the wool program on your machine, both with a laundry detergent for delicate garments and clothes. Always dry it flat, no hangers or clothes pegs because it will loose it’s shape.

Edit: Oops, it’s sold out already. But knowing H&M, they’ll probably re-stock soon.