£250 Selfridges gift card. Anyone want to help me spend it?

[herbaceous]

I know. A rather fabulous problem to have.

A very generous birthday present from DP means I have all this wedge to spend in Selfridges. So, I'm wondering whether to spend it all on one 'investment piece', on a couple of wardrobe staples, or go mental in the cheap bit on necklaces and fripperies.

I'm (just) 48, size 12-14, hour-glassy, with grim legs. Spend most of my time working at home, doing minor community good works or going out on the lash locally. Wardrobe currently comprises mainly bits of tat from Sainsbury's, one decent pair of jeans, heat tech tops, cardies, jumper dresses, all the usual.

The occasional posh do, with aforementioned generous DP, sometimes throws me for a loop.

I'm tempted by a Vivienne Westwood Anglomania dress. Would it be the wardrobe staple, useful for parties, interviews, yadda yadda, for years to come? Or would it sit there, making me feel guilty?

you know it's all 20% off this weekend? do you have the voucher? (bitter voice of one who bought a £400 dress there on wednesday, only to get the voucher later that evening...)

Ooh, I do envy you, herbaceous!

I had a similar amount on a Selfridges voucher a few years back, and spent it at the one in Birmingham. I got new boots from Dune, a coat from Coast and a Lonchamp Le Pliage bag. The coat was on sale.

Tbh, I would so go for an Anglomania dress. They are beautiful, and so well made. When I worked in a designer shop years ago, I had uniform from Anglomania and I loved it - it tends to be cut very well for an hourglass figure (like mine).

Have a look at diane von Furstenberg as well, and Paul Smith?

Chanel costume jewellry
Smythson diary
Posh underwear set

I'm not sure I'd get a D von F dress for £250... Are there any other brands there cut like VW but would allow an additional purchase?

The sensible part of me thinks I should wait until the sales, but then I'd miss the chance to wear my lovely frock to any festive events!

YOU MISSED THE 20% OFF! yes you'd get DVF at 20% off...

I really want the Markus Lupfer sweater in black with the big red lips! I think it's about £270. Festive and very stylish. I imagine I would feel made up even in jeans and that sweater...

Wait to the sales and get 2 or 3 good quality things....
Oooh...what a treat :) lovely dp!

Or... I could buy one thing now, and save a bit for the sales...

Re the 20% off at the weekend, part of the pleasure (for me) is actually going to the shop, browsing about, having lunch, just being ON MY OWN for ages, looking at lovely stuff. It's worth the extra 20%...

My guilty pleasure would be a Mulberry purse, so I'd get that, or the Anglo dress in your case. Would definitely get a one-off gorgeous thing rather than lots of bits, personally.

For anyone simply AGOG to know what I bought, it was this very lovely Anglomania dress . It makes me look half a stone lighter, and shit hot. And it was the cheapest dress they had. AND it's a size 10 when I usually take a 12 or 14.

I'm going to wear it to DP's boss's party on Friday, which I suspect is full of rich people who'll know a VW dress when they see it.

In case of chill, I found a faintly edge fabric biker jacket in Dotty Ps reduced to £20 to go with it.

And I have £45 left on the card to spend in Selfridges sale!

So, wins all round I'd say.