Is it time you stopped being a slave to fashion trends?

Is it better to be a Vivienne Westwood or a Ralph Lauren? A trendsetter or a trend follower? Is it actually possible to always be on trend – or should we all embrace the things we like to wear and give trends the sartorial middle finger?

These are the questions that have plagued my mind (and therefore bank account) this week. I’m now at that stage of economic peril where purchasing blow-outs send me on a major guilt trip as I try desperately to justify my buys to anyone who’ll listen (‘Please Officer, I’m just developing a perfect, good quality CAPSULE wardrobe to last forever’). But I think I might have found at least one cause of the problem.

November’s best discount designer sales

Here are a couple of discount designer shopping opps for your diary this month. One is for city dwellers and the other’s for country folk – or daytrippers.

Kilver Court Designer Emporium’s Winter Sale

When: 12-13^th November 2011

Where: Kilver Court, Kilver Street, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4  5NF

What: Make a day of it with a shopping excursion down to place that calls itself the ‘rural home of style.’ The winter sale will feature brands like Myla, Margaret Howell, Duchamp, Joseph and Cacharel, all with sizeable discounts.

More info:  www.kilvercourt.com or try the new Kilver Court phone app.

Trinity Fulham’s Designer Saturday

When: 19^th November 2011, opens at 10am.

Where: Trinity Hospice Shop, 785Fulham Road, London SW6 5HD

What: The West London charity shop will be transformed for one day only into a designer boutique, with high end goods coming from donors as well as designers themselves. Ralph Lauren, Chanel, Armani and Osprey are the sort of brands you can expect. And there’s the added incentive, of course, that all proceeds go to Trinity Hospice.

More info: www.trinityhospice.org.uk or follow twitter.com/trinityhospice