SoFeminine and the Budget Style Challenge

A little while ago I was invited to take part in a budget style challenge with SoFeminine.co.uk to come up with a fabulous fashion buy for £50 or less. I love seeking out good value, wardrobe staples so I gladly accepted.
My first idea was to find a pair of shoes. I've been wanting to add to my collection of smart and elegant shoes that are perfect for workwear. Depending on brand you'd normally expect to pay £20+ on the high street, and up to around £45 depending on store, for a nice pair of basic courts. I headed to New Look which so often comes up with the most gorgeous footwear, but my local store didn't have much variety in stock and nothing quite right for me. Dorothy Perkins shoes are usually more expensive but thanks to sale reductions I found a sophisticated pair of heels for £18. Classic shoes that make the right impression and I can walk in! I hope the colour will prove versatile too.
I hadn't been round my local shops in great depth for a while so I decided to carry on the the spirit of bargain hunting and complete an outfit. I took myself round Stafford's charity shops, which are good places to find some bargains. In the Katharine House Hospice £1 Shop I found this sweet rose print cardigan which is in really good condition. I also recalled a tea dress I'd tried on when I bought my floral top with a Peter Pan collar from Florence + Fred at Clothing at Tesco and couldn't resist going back for another look. Fortune was in my favour as it was in the sale and only £8.

Outfit foundations laid down, it was time to have fun accessorising. I'd spotted the cutest hat in the River Island sale for £3, and with it going so well with the dress it seemed rude to ignore it further. Something about wearing it makes me want to dance Charleston style.
River Island also had a couple of lovely pale pairs of tights, one plain, one floral in the sale but both in a size suitable for ladies 5'5" or less which is a good few inches shorter than myself. There are way too many black styles around for summer in most shops but New Look has some bright and beautiful colours. This red pair was only £1.50 in the sale. Simply bargainous.
I've been eyeing up the belt in Dorothy Perkins at £6 for quite some time and thought it would be sweet with my new dress. I've also gone back for the orange version which I think will go perfectly with my purple gingham Luella dress which has orange trim. How cute are those ditsy little flowers? I returned to Tesco for a heart print scarf for £5 and found a pair of pale flower earrings in Topshop for another £5.
So there you have it, a whole outfit for £47.50. I do love a good bargain.