Just how far does £20 go at Zalando?

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Zalando has featured on a number of fellow mummy blogs over the last year. I first came across them a few months back when searching for summer dresses for our upcoming summer holiday but was yet to roadtest them. They already have a huge presence in Europe (market leader in Germany) and grand ambitions to be the online fashion shop of choice for us Brits. Their brand message is simple, to provide a high quality shopping experience that suits every budget.

Packed with men’s, women’s and children’s fashion, and a home section to boot, they offer a vast array of well-known brands including Warehouse, Vera Wang, UGG Australia, Ted Baker and Superdry. So when they set me a challenge to put them through their paces with a £20 giftcard, I had high hopes I’d find something I’d like.

So just how far did £20 get me?

Well first off, creating an account was easy. Furthermore, if you sign up for the newsletter you get £5 off your next order of £30 or more. With free delivery, and returns there are no hidden costs to hinder your shopping experience.

I decided I wanted a pair of summer pumps to kick off my weight loss campaign. Although I’m desperate to shift the pounds, I haven’t owned a pair of trainers since my teenage years, and not even Wimbledon can persuade me that they can be attractive. I plumped for these Pier One pumps in the sale and bagged them for a tiny £14 (was £25). They’re hugely comfortable and I’ve worn them for a run already (go me!!!)

Not wanting to leave Dexter out, he got these gorgeous little shorts from Name It for just £6. I was impressed to see that they’re fully adjustable as this wasn’t highlighted within the product description. Usually a feature reserved for more expensive children’s clothes, I’d have thought they’d have mentioned this, but not so.

My items arrived via courier 3 days later superbly packaged. So often when I order online I’m disappointed by the condition of the packaging where its been bumped around in transit. This is fine for clothing, but for glassware etc, you want a durable box that can take a bit of a battering.

I must admit, deciding on what to buy took me hours. There is simply so much to choose from that Miss Indecisive here struggled to pick. Although the search function was easy to navigate, I did find the choice overwhelming. It was also slightly confusing that identical items in some colours were cheaper than those in others. If you’re after bargain buys, I’d definitely recommend using the sliding price bar to display only those items within your price range.

All in all, I’d shop here again with no hesitation. For bargain kids clothes from top brands, it’s definitely a great option for busy mums. For offers, discounts and news of brands, you can like Zalando on facebook or follow them on twitter as @zalando_uk.

Disclaimer: I was provided with £20 credit to put Zalando through their paces. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 


Summer Holiday’s and Wedding Venue Hunting!

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c3397a936d8b9e06ac9a82fb19fe3805 Summer Holidays and Wedding Venue Hunting!

I haven’t even got a ring on my finger yet I’m constantly dreaming up places to get married. It’s not that Craig hasn’t proposed (he did this within the first few months of us getting together) - I just haven’t found my dream ring yet. I want something unique, and a bit of history so am holding out for something I’ll truly cherish. I’m not being lazy about it though! It is really important to me though as I hate not having the same surname as Dexter. I already call myself Gemma Mills even though I’m technically still a Chamberlain.

Ring or not, I’m on the wedding venue hunt!

As a girl I dreamt of getting married in a church then celebrating in a beautiful stately home - but given I’m not religious (and Craig has a mortal fear of anything vaguely God-related - long story) Craig and I have often spoken about getting married abroad. I’ve fallen in love with the idea and I’m now border-line obsessive about it.

I’m open to the idea of a beach wedding, or a garden wedding but we want somewhere warm, sunny and beautiful that can double up as a holiday for our friends and family. Problem? We have NO idea where this might be. As we’re not in any great rush (I have to keep reminding myself this) we’ve decided that all our summer holiday’s will be scouting missions to find idyllic places that we can forge an emotional attachment to.

1030 Summer Holidays and Wedding Venue Hunting!

I don’t tend to get as involved as I should do with holiday planning. Craig’s a bit of a research fanatic (he spent months reading reviews of tv’s before we bought ours) and seems to enjoy this side of things. He spends hours trawling websites to find the perfect place and I have to admit he’s pretty amazing at it - so far our holidays have been really epic. He’s currently looking at Lake Como, Puerto Pollensa or one of the Greek Island’s for this years adventure. I have to admit, I can’t wait. We could really use a break after such a disastrous start to the year.

My part in holiday planning is shopping for clothes for the family and all the travel essentials. With my wardrobe looking decidedly tired (and sadly much of it is now too small - but less said about that the better!) I’ve been looking for affordable and pretty dresses for the beach. I could welcome in the sun with a Zalando summer dress! I picked out my favourites below, let me know what you think. There’s a style for every body shape and so many bright and vibrant colours. Let’s face it, I have to look stunning everyday so Craig will get as excited about marrying me as I am him!

hh Summer Holidays and Wedding Venue Hunting!

I must admit it’s hard dressing for my shape at the moment. Since having Dexter I have new lumps and bumps that don’t seem to be in a rush to iron themselves out. According to She Know’s Beauty & Style advice on dressing for your shape, I’m a cross between a pear and an apple - now there’s a sobering thought!

Has anyone else had a wedding abroad? If so, let me know whereabouts - we’ll add it to our never-ending list of places to check out!

pixel Summer Holidays and Wedding Venue Hunting!