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Comfort shopping

I have managed to break my comfort-Etsy-shopping habit. This is a good thing. I haven't completely broken my comfort-shopping habit, but I've been spending on things like cheapo earrings and perfume samples, which are more affordable and take up less space.

Let's start with something pretty: Cate sent me this beautiful diamante brooch as part of her thank-you for the tank top I made her, so when I spotted these studs in Accessorize I had to get them. They nearly match the brooch - the colours are a little less bright, but I don't think most people will notice that when the brooch is on my lapel and the earrings in my earlobes. They came on a card with five other pairs of earrings, and I don't like a couple of pairs, but for a tenner, it doesn't matter.


Do you remember Mr Robot bought me a sample set of 4160 Tuesdays' most challenging perfumes for my birthday? I wasn't completely convinced by some of them at first, but I've been wearing them recently and have been very much enjoying them. Perhaps they suit the current weather, or my current mood, better. I'd no more wear the same perfume every day than the same outfit, after all. Anyway, they're nothing like current mass-market scents, which I really appreciate. They're woodier, darker... Today I've been wearing Evil Max, though I don't get either almonds or black cherry from it; all the leather and woods come out on my skin.
4160 Tuesdays often launch new fragrances via Indiegogo, and this week I signed up for their latest one, The Mystery of the Materials. Four new scents, inspired by 1930s crime novels, using 1930s ingredients? COUNT ME IN. While my taste in clothes may have broadened in recent years to include 60s styles, when it comes to perfume I still don't believe there's an era to match the Jazz Age. Mitsouko, Shalimar, Chanel No. 5, Joy - some of the greatest perfumes were formulated between the wars. I'm personally a sucker for Caron scents of that era, En Avion and French Can Can in particular. I really hope perfumer Sarah McCartney comes up with something as wonderful.
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Comments

  1. Porcelina14 April 2016 at 20:33

    Oh wow, those perfumes sound amazing! I've sent the link to my husband (birthday next month!). Good find on those earrings, the set will be lovely on. x

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    1. Mim15 April 2016 at 09:52

      They also do a set themed around cities in different decades, which I need to get round to buying at some point. However, with the 30s set, and the Ormonde Jayne spring sampler set I just bought (http://www.ormondejayne.com/spring-sample-set.html for my holidays - minis make great travel 'fumes) I'd better not get any more Stinks for a while. Perfume is such a neglected accessory!

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  2. Witchcrafted Life14 April 2016 at 20:34

    Ooohh, those fragrances look amazing. I utterly adore artisan/indie perfumes and will definitely be looking into this brand. Thanks so much for the scent-ational introduction! :)

    ♥ Jessica

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    1. Mim15 April 2016 at 09:53

      No probs! I love finding interesting new perfumes. Or interesting old ones. It's something so many people overlook.

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  3. Goody15 April 2016 at 01:39

    I have to say this like an American teenager circa 1980:
    "Duuuuuuude! Those earrings like really match, duuuuuude." I revert to teenage speak when I'm so impressed proper words fail me. That is incredibly lucky.

    Keep us updated on the fumes-I'm intrigued.

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    1. Mim15 April 2016 at 09:54

      Yeah, I kept thinking "I don't need more earrings." "But they match." "I don't need more earrings." "But they match." In the end, it was worth a tenner to stop me arguing with myself!

      I also ordered an Ormonde Jayne spring starter set - I know most of their perfumes, but they're £££ and the little sample vials are perfect for packing in a travel bag.

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  4. Melanie15 April 2016 at 07:11

    Ooh, I thought the earrings were actually part of the brooch at first glance! I recently treated myself to some earring sets from Accessorize but don't believe I saw the set which included these. One of my pairs is similar but blue xx

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    1. Mim15 April 2016 at 09:55

      Accessorize is like a big sweetie shop. I always have to resist the urge to go mad in there.

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  5. Vix15 April 2016 at 09:40

    Fabulous bling! The brooch Cate sent you is lovely and the earrings were a fantastic bargain.
    My Mum loved Shalimar and Joy. She loved heady scents. xxx
    PS The TV critic on The Wright Stuff is reviewing 11.22.63 this morning.

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    1. Mim15 April 2016 at 09:56

      I wonder if (s)he likes it?

      I only wear Shalimar in winter, she's a fulsome, furry girl and can go a bit crazy in summer heat.

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  6. Unknown15 April 2016 at 10:15

    Oh those earrings look so good with the brooch! What a fantastic find. I'm intrigued by those perfumes and may have to sign up for them myself. Which option did you go for? And I just have to say, I looooove my Joy perfume. I feel so luxurious when I wear it, although I haven't worn it all that often since Christmas as it's such a tiny bottle. xx

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    1. Mim15 April 2016 at 14:04

      I went with 9ml plus book. I thought I could get plenty of wear out of them and give them a really good testing that way.

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  7. Polyester Princess15 April 2016 at 16:48

    Those earrings are a great find. Like Melanie, I thought the brooch and earrings were a set! My comfort shopping usually takes place at my favourite vintage shop near work. Lucky for me their prices are very affordable. xxx

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    1. Mim19 April 2016 at 14:18

      I suppose comfort shopping is marginally better for me than comfort eating :-) There doesn't seem to be a good and affordable vintage shop anywhere near my workplace. Bath is pretty disappointing in that regard.

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  8. Unknown16 April 2016 at 10:48

    Hey Mim.
    Do not regret getting those earrings for a second, since they are absolutely SMASHING, such an ensemble is "to fall off the chair" kind of good. :)
    AS for perfumes:
    Back when I was a teen, deciding "who" I want to be, there was a wide array of smells coming from my room: from musk, to roses. :) Once I've realized the "car drive" test, and the fact that some perfumes DO NOT pass a 30 minute car ride without making me ill, I've narrowed it down to more "spring" like essence. Less perfume, more "eau de toilette" kind of person, that is me.
    Like yourself, I like chaining my perfume, since I'm not one of those persistent one-perfume-for-life gals (bless them, they KNOW their "signature") :)

    Over here, Saturday is great. Alas, I'm much overdo with weeding in front of my house - so, that's my plan.
    M.

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    1. Mim19 April 2016 at 14:20

      Weeding is a pain, but it'll look great when it's done.

      The only perfumes I really can't abide are Giorgio (anywhere) and Angel (on myself, though it's nice on other people). I reckon I'm lucky like that! I'm not fond of low-quality artificial scents, though; I'd rather have a bunch of flowers than an air-freshener.

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  9. Miss Magpie16 April 2016 at 11:13

    WAAAAH I wish I could wear perfume, I always think that after reading one of your perfume posts, to the point where I wonder if some of these artisan ones might work where mass market ones don't? I don't know if it is the case that ALL perfumes turn sour on my skin. Hmm maybe a few mini samples are the way forward.......

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    1. Mim19 April 2016 at 14:23

      Weird, my friend Andrea has had the same issue with perfume. Most use the same sorts of ingredients, niche or mass-market, though the quantities of specific ones might vary. Might be worth trying various scents to see if one 'turns' more than another, to see if you can identify the specific thing that's not working well on your skin.

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  10. Vronni's Style Meanderings16 April 2016 at 15:02

    Lovely brooch and hurray for the great match! Those perfumes all sound so intriguing; I'm a bit of a stick in a mud with perfume and stick to same 6 - 9 favourites. I'm always up for a cheapish new sample though - if I knew where to find them!

    I once bought for 50p at a car boot sale a largish perfume sample. I liked it very much but it had no name or identifier on it. Some years later I realised it was 'Angel' by Thierry Muegler. I wore this perfume for a while but went off it about two years ago. Currently I'm very fond of the Guerlain Aqua Allegoria frgrances especially Mandarin and Basil and Flora Rosa.

    Have a great week

    Veronica

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    1. Mim19 April 2016 at 14:26

      I love Angel on other people, but she's too much for me to wear. The Aqua Allegorias are great.

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  11. Wendy Bayford17 April 2016 at 11:38

    What a great pairing those earrings and brooch are, I have to avoid going near an accessorise as I get far to carried away with all the pretties!Love the sound of those 4160Tuesday perfumes, and what a fantastic idea to base them around 30's styled crime novels that really is unique!

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    1. Mim19 April 2016 at 14:28

      Yes, I like 4160 Tuesdays' approach to fragrance. One of the great things about niche firms is that they can make what they like, rather than being beholden to shareholders and having to sell a billion bottles on the mass market, so they're freer to be unique. Ormonde Jayne perfumes smell very different to 4160 Tuesdays (luxe rather than boho) yet you can still tell they're designed by someone who absolutely adores fragrance and wants to create something beautiful.

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  12. tubby3pug19 April 2016 at 15:52

    Those perfumes look great,I love the idea of film inspired fragrance

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