Valentine's Day is an excuse for many to dress up in a cute outfit and feel generally glamorous.
Although I'm not overly fussed about Valentine's Day, I've always enjoyed wearing a dressy outfit in the past to celebrate the occasion - even if I just end up staying in. My usual Valentine's Day consists of a nice meal in, or out, and a few glasses of wine.
When there's food involved in my plans, I make it my mission to find a comfortable outfit. There really is nothing worse than feeling bloated and uncomfortable in a dress, and as I've got older, I've learnt that comfort takes priority over anything.
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Throughout university I often used to kid myself into thinking I actually felt good in tight bodycon dresses, but I often felt more self conscious than ever. Finding an outfit that's comfortable and looks good these days is extremely tough, especially considering that the cost of everything is rising dramatically.
I took a trip to Primark on Church Street with £25 to see if I could create a cute Valentine's Day outfit on a budget. I for one, am very guilty of purchasing clothes for an occasion, wearing them once, and then never again, so I wanted to find some real bargains during my visit.
First impressions? There wasn't a great deal on offer. In terms of colour schemes there was definitely a theme in Primark - bold pink. After floating around for a good few minutes, I could only really spot either a bodycon mini dress with a giant bow detail, a few different skirts and some basic tops and shirts.
I did spot an absolutely gorgeous blazer that I tried to match an outfit to, but it proved very difficult on my cost limit. Here's what I found.
Primark Houndstooth Red and Pink Blazer
I really wanted to make this blazer the statement for my whole outfit, considering it was so bold and beautiful. The blazer definitely caught my eye as soon as I stepped foot in store, so I attempted to match my accessories to the theme as much as possible.
The cropped hounds tooth blazer was absolutely stunning, and added a real pop of colour to my outfit. Valentine's Day for me personally, is all about dressing bold yet smart, and this blazer offered both.
I was a little unsure about how cropped it was, and tried to find a dress that was plain and not too clingy to wear underneath. Let's just say, that proved a bit of a challenge.
Price: £15
Rating: 5/5
Primark Basic Baby Pink Dress
I really wasn't sure about this dress at first, but I had to go for it because there really wasn't much choice. A lot of the Primark dresses were either bodycon, or way too flowy, which was a bit of an issue for me.
In terms of sizing, I decided to get the large as opposed to a medium because I know how crazy Primark sizes can be. I tried on this dress knowing full well I'd be covering it up with a blazer, so I wasn't too bothered about my lumps and bumps.
For the colour scheme, it worked out perfectly, but I don't really think that the dress did me many favours as such. I've talked about my hatred for bodycon dresses so many times, but at this point, I really did have no choice.
Without moaning too much, the dress itself was pretty soft and stretchy, but I just really wasn't sure about the bodycon fit. It also didn't have sleeves, making it slightly impractical for this time of year.
As a whole, this Primark dress was okay, but I definitely wouldn't have worn it without my comfort blanket of a blazer. Perhaps it was the unflattering Primark changing room lighting, but I wasn't a huge fan of how I looked in it.
Price: £8
Rating: 3/5
Primark Pink Headband
If I'm being totally honest, I haven't worn a headband in years, but I spotted this one in store and just thought it'd finish the outfit off perfectly. The colour matched the vibe of the Valentine's Day outfit and it was a generally cute addition to the outfit.
I would've liked to have added some more accessories like a clutch bag and some jewellery, but my £25 budget just wouldn't allow it. Nevertheless, the headband matched with my outfit pretty well and I was happy with it.
Price: £2.50
Rating: 5/5
The verdict
I've got mixed opinions on the price in terms of my Valentine's Day outfit. Naturally, everything is going up in price, so I can't grumble too much.
I think £8 for the basic dress was a little steep, considering my overall outfit cost was £25.50 - 50p over budget. The £15 blazer was really good value considering the quality was thick and the colours were stunning, and the headband was sturdy.
Finding an outfit on a budget for £25 proved trickier than I thought, which meant I couldn't afford to get shoes, or a bag. Even if I increased my budget to £30, I probably still wouldn't have been able to afford a pair of heels.
Realistically, if you want an outfit with shoes and a bag, you're probably going to look at spending around £35-£40. That's definitely cheaper than some outfits I've bought in the past, though. Find your local Primark store here.
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