I agree cherries..knowing you are going to wear something you really love/a new purchase is such a buzz!
I went through a stage of just slobbing about in the same scrappy old clothes for ages..it was a symptom of my depression.
Now I have found my love of clothes again and really enjoy wearing my lovely stuff, even if it's just on the school run!
Talking of the school run, there are two other mums I know there who are big Hush fans! One of them has just got a new job after being out of the workplace for a good few years (has 4 kids) and she went beer and bought tons of Hush stuff recently and has been wearing it to school. It all looks great! We're like walking ads for bloody Hush! 
Oh ella how gutting. There's nothing you can do for bleach either is there?
I've ordered some thread in a green that looks similar to the top, as OH has said he'll have a go at trying to do something with it for me.