Mumsnet Talk

With the advent of the picture option on S&B, I thought it was probably about time I started my annual thread begging for help.

You'll all be horrified to know that I've already purchased a dress. I had a baby 11 months ago and have lost a lot of weight due to lugging him around. I'm also an entirely different shape and very little fits. It was necessary that I shop for the first time in two years. The dress is a done deal. I like it.

We have not one, but two weddings to go to. One of them is in the dead of winter, the other at the height of summer (so it'll be the same temperature at both of them and will no doubt rain). Winter wedding is in a medieval castle. I was thrilled when I heard. DH noticed and informed me that "if you wear that godawful velvet cloak, I will divorce you. You are not auditioning for a part in Merlin". Bastard. Anyway...

The summer one's in a church in Ireland, v Catholic, v posh. No doubt I'm not allowed to wear my cloak to that either.

The only shoes I own are Dr Marten's and the clumpier the better really. I don't wear heels. Is there something I can buy that is flat but will go with that dress and I can wear in winter and summer? Can I just wear tights in winter? I quite fancy some tan leather boat shoes. They're not really wedding wear are they? What do you wear at weddings? Do I have to wear a hat to the church (I have hundreds of hats, all ridiculous, one says 'ban the bomb' on it in tie dye, oh yes).

And what do I wear over it? Cardigan? Jacket? Er, my cloak? Money is very tight. I could KNIT something? That's probably a resounding no too, right?

Where's the picture gorn? It was there when I previewed....

OK I'm being dim but where's the dress?

Slightly different view. You can say horrible things about the dress if you want to btw. I have no taste, I am resigned to this fact. I will be wearing it regardless.

I can see the dress! It's lovely.

As for shoes, some smart ballet pumps?

Oh gawd, MrsCB. Tethers will be here next too. No mocking. I know I don't pass muster.

What about a little velvet jacket?

(I have no taste, by the way, and haven't bought clothes for a decade).

But that dress is lovely.

Showy I live for your S&B threads.

Ballet pumps are what the 13yos round here wear with their skinny jeans. Usually glittery and/or dirty. Do grown ups wear them too?

Dress is lovely. If it were me, I'd be wearing heels with it (not too high, or I'd break my neck!) But I guess you could get away with "pumps" I suppose .. I'm sure someone with better knowledge of these things will be along shortly!

I like the dress.

Little velvet jacket and little velvet shoes too?

Think you need a bit of height to show off the lovely dress but if you are not a heel girl, try a wedge shoe - they are comfy, in every shop so can get a cheap pair and are not too girly.

These!

I have THREE velvet jackets. One is bottle green, one purple, one ridiculously multicoloured. I don't know that any of them would go. Wouldn't stop me usually but I'm 31 fgs, I want to look a bit put together just once. I also own no plain tights. I have spotty, patterned, leopard print (only blue leopard print) and various other abominations. They're a no no too I'm guessing.

You can get tights - that's easy

Last year you had a maxi dress thread, didn't you?
Something about "you can tell they have legs"

Ballet pumps are great for all occasions and dress styles. They are my default footwear.

Love the dress, how about a bolero style jacket or a velvet stole?

Whatever you do, look pretty. Don't ask me how.

Ooh Trillsy, I like those shoes. No good for winter I suspect, but I really, really like them.

No heels, no wedges. Flat only. Otherwise I'll be face down in the aisle with a bloody nose and/or walking like a tranny. Neither is what friends and family want on their special day. Although knowing the guests at the winter wedding what they want is a piss up and this time round for the bride not to grope the best man halfway proceedings. I married into this group of people, I am not genetically linked to them sadly.

these

Bugger. cant do the link

www.debenhams.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod_10001_10001_053010725160_-1?breadcrumb=Home~Sale~Women~Shoes+%26amp%3B+bootsthese

Okay, plain tights are like £5, so go buy some. I think the dress background is navy? So navy tights. Unless my monitor is messed and the background is black. Then buy black.

Trills' shoes are cute, but I think they are too much with that dress. That colour without the flower would be fine.

And I say, knit something! Why the hell not?

Oh ... no heels

Look pretty? <snort> There's about as much chance of that as me winning an Olympic gold. The goal is currently set as looking ordinary. I may consider make up for the first time ever once I've attained that.

The maxi dress was 2 years ago. I still wear it. It's a black, jersey, racer back, puddle dress. See these terms I'm familar with? It's not wedding material.

I agree Tee - the dress background appears to be navy.

I think the flower thingy is quite Showy-esque. If she's not allowed a cape she can at least have a flower on her shoe!

What was last year's S&B thread then?

It is navy. I can crochet as well as knit if that helps. I could crochet a navy bolero. I have navy wool with a silver thread through it. Much nicer than it sounds. I am yet to manage knitting shoes. I do have woven hemp slippers. I didn't make them though. A tribe in South America made them.

I have nothing useful to add but I do love your S&B threads SOH

I didn't mean to knit shoes. I meant to knit a bolero jacket or a stole.

Or give your husband one of these and wear your cloak. I think it sounds gorgeous. [cloak envy emoticon]

Oh I loved your maxi dress thread. Was absolute gold.

I like the dress. Would second a velvet jacket (you always need another velvet jacket )

Shoes. Um. I like brogues with dresses, but I don't think they'd work with that particular dress.

I like these but again not sure how they'd go.

Last years was palazzo trousers. I never found what I was looking for though. I'm still searching.

And oooooooooooh, a cape. I could definitely make a cape. It will differ from my cloak in that it won't have a hood. DH can't complain, surely.

What about a pair of low wedges? Much easier to walk in than heels.pick a column from the dress and get them in that.the dress is very nice.

Looking pretty's the Most Important Thing. Bugger your thoughts, ideas, etc.

Tee, my cloak is inspired. I seriously love it.

Those shoes are awesome Edu. The shop down t'road has cherry red patent brogues and I press my nose against the glass and covet them regularly. Dress has red flowers on it. Maybe maybe? Somebody lie to me. Is it an excuse to buy cherry red brogues?

like this.

Cape would be nice too.

<happy sigh>

'Lympics on the telly. Cup of coffee and some biscuits. SoH's annual S&B thread.

Does it get any better? I think not.

I think you should get yourself back to Norwich for a day and go to Head in the Clouds. They will have something for you. It will smell so strongly of incense that you will have to hand it outside, but they will have the very thing.

Another MN friends suggested I try wedged espadrilles once. I still have the scars. I can't wear wedges. Not for long anyway.

*hang it outside.

I think red would be good. A red velvet, cropped jacket and matching ballet shoes.

I meant colour obviously
Not even low wedges?
you poor thing

We're going to Norwich in a fortnight to buy school shoes for dd. I am going to Head In The Clouds one, in order to sniff the air and two, to browse through the patchwork and tie dye offerings. DH thinks that I'm permanently in fancy dress and HITC doesn't help with this. I could go to Feet On The Ground next door if it's still there. They sell velvet shoes by the truckload. Sparkly ones.

Tee that's a picture of my MIL you have right there.

Oh I have red velvet thai ballet shoes. Completely forgot. Really very red ones.

Aah, Showy's annual S & B thread . Yes get thee to head in the clouds and pick up an eighth while you are there

I would say yes to the cherry red brogues.

I am generally not to be listened to in matters of fashion.

Only an eighth? Are we not sharing?

Well, to be honest Showy, that dress.....

I'm kidding I like the dress!

Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak. Wear your cloak.

[enabler emoticon]

I'd be famous MissBee. "Norfolk hippy arrested by own husband". I'd be ready for my photo on the front of the EDP though. Cloak on, hood up.

Cherry red brogues would probably look fine. Red flowers, red shoes. It'll look matchy matchy surely. I could get a red hat too. A trilby. Or a cloche. I really want a cloche.

Tee, you'll be on my divorce papers you know.

Can I have your cloak? So I can present it in court as evidence? I'll give it back. Honest.

Can you stride purposefully? You can only borrow my cloak if you can stride purposefully. Preferably down a medieval corridor.

On a scale of 1 to wrong, how bad are these?

what about red loafer types?

I only stride purposely. ::nods::

Triple wrong, is how bad those are. ::shudder::

Those are awful Showy. Not just for that dress but awful in general.

Showy do you have a blog?

Put the Creepers down and back away.

Ooh those loafers are good. I like red shoes. They are very red. But £35 is steep. Do they contain a portal to Oz?

Creepers, arf. Good name. I really like them. Dancing shoes.

Do I have a blog? Bloody hell NO. Can you imagine? I do write stuff online though <vague>

Can't help with accessories but need want to know how you got an armless, headless mannequin to float in a doorway ?

Love the dress

I put a curse on her.

HTH.

I like the dress. Where's it from?

Thanks talking. My clothes always come from the same places. I'm v resistant to change . It's an Uttam London dress.

I am liking those red loafers more and more. I've shown them to dh and even he approves. I wonder if they'll still be on sale in a fortnight.

I liked the velvet shoes upthread, don't think the loafers would be right with the dress (which is lovely btw) especially not for a wedding.

Wear what you are comfortable in, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks! Stand firm.
Wear the cloak.

I can see that you write stuff online - you are doing it here.

Some slightly cheaper new look options here, here and here

Why the questions Trillsy? I do write some stuff for other people to peruse online. In a place other than here. But it's not a blog and it's not clean very interesting.

I am afraid I still very much like the loafers. The velvet ones Trillsy linked are marvellous but I fear they might not cope with the weather or work with tights.

Edu the ones you linked are all a bit delicate. I need brighter and clumpier.

coco, 99% of the time I wear what I like but at a wedding I fear that there's an etiquette to be observed. People are supposed to gaze in adoration at the bride, not in astonishment at the Morgana Le Fay wannabe in the corner.

I just thought that if you had a blog I would probably like to read it, that's all

What the fuck is that!?

How are there pictures there?

Fucking hell!

Sorry I will reead the thread now

There's a button.

There's a button

What, a big leopard printy velvet button to let everyone know that it's time for Showy's annual thread?

Sorry, will look for something a little less dainty country laydeeeeeee-ish. Not really my style either. Though they might be the sort of thing a normal, rational person unlike me would suggest

There is similar loafers in M&S but I didn't notice the price. wear the cloak

Ps, I'm another in favour of the cloak.

Do it do it do it do it do it do it

These?

A button to add pictures!

They're too ballet like Edu. I'm not remotely ballet like. Unless you saw Dawn French dancing with Darcey Bussell. I'm a bit like that. More my kind of thing. I like these too. Look these are velvet.

I absolutely cannot wear my cloak to somebody else's wedding. You all have NO idea what this cloak looks like.

I'd like to write a blog. I like wittering on but have no idea what I'd witter about. And I'm not entirely sure how people start blogs.

Just pretend that they are slippers, and that you have sneakily persuaded DH to let you go out of the house wearing comfy slippers instead of real shoes.

Ooh how exciting - I love your S&B threads.

The dress is nice. For the Winter wedding, it really would be brilliant with your cloak, you know.

For the summer wedding, little red Chinese velvet slipper things would be fine.

Fgs don't wear boat shoes or your Ban The Bomb hat.

I was going for compromise, half dainty ballet/ half clumpy creepy creeper. Clearly you are what I imagine is called in the business, a tricky customer.

I am getting weirdly determined about finding you some shoes. I looked through 15 pages of 'em on Amazon. I mean why? Why would I do this?

how are you posting these pictures on? I had no idea it was possible...

Will think about shoes. I like the dress

they have a small wedge, but I think you'd cope

These?

I may be hounded from S&B.

these would look lovely

Edu

those are groovy

Step away from those creepers. I do not think that is a brogues dress particularly not at a wedding. You need to be cool and skiinny and very obviously ironic to pull off brogues and dresses I think.

Those velvety man style slippers are very fashionable at the mo for example

Or these

these might be up your street

This is a fab thread though and I want a cloak now!

Oh my actual God Show, I nearly did something indecent when I saw those velvet DMs!!

They are divine

Get those and get fishnet tights and a funky fascinator style hat and go all Helena Bonham Carter.

from office

sherbert

I think if dm did ballet flats they'd look like this

I'm off to look for jacket shrugs for you.

Are you on ravelry? I can link to patterns to make something!

wi a thin belt this would look great

same idea

crochet

Anything there tickle your fancy?? Do you want a head thing too??

That last lace one is gorgeous Team.

for the winter one

summer one

maybe a bit dramatic

My god, is it that time again?

Am I too late?

I like that big bow thing. I'd wear that with knobs on. And the cloche in a different colour is definitely me. I could make them easily.

Whoever linked the hot pink bow shoes, I likey. I've saved them to my favourites along with the red loafers and the creeper shoes. I like the creeper shoes. I know, I know. I don't like ballet pump type things really.

The velvet DMs make me feel all warm and fuzzy in the way I imagine other more normal people feel when looking at Johnny Depp. David Mitchell gives me the same feeling. I have fishnets of course and I am actually laughed at in my family for exclaiming positively over Helena Bonham C's clothes when the picture of them I'm admiring has been published in order to invite derision.

I don't understand cardies with belts. In fact I don't understand belts which aren't holding up trousers. Or massive oversized sunglasses. Or hats which aren't hats ie fascinators which look like either unfortunate roadkill or an attempt to cover up an unfortunate injury. I like proper hats. Ones where you see the hat coming and then clock the person underneath it as an afterthought.

Right...

"You need to be cool and skiinny and very obviously ironic to pull off brogues and dresses I think". I am the epitome of cool I'll have you know. When OED online adopt this insert a picture malarkey, they've requested a picture of me in my rainbow tie dye ban the bomb hat to post next to the definition of deluded cool. I am pretty skinny though. I tend to wear boots with dresses actually.

Edu, I am loving your dedication. Especially as I think we probably share a mutual lack of understanding of fashion.

I could wear my actual slippers. They have Sigmund Freud on them. They're Freudian slippers. See, cool and ironic.

<waggles Freudian feet>

I so want some Freudian slippers...

OK. Forget pumps

these would look great

or these

Ok, I think tan shoes and clutch and velvet/satin jacket.

shoes

bag

Jacket option 1

Jacket option 2

Jacket option 3

Jacket option 4

If you make the bow, can I have one too! I'll send the wool!! I haven't graduation to things of use yet! Just squares for blankets or scarves, which are really just long squares!!

What about these the epitome of cool

I love the first 3 jackets tethers, particularly the 1st (Amy Pond's had a hard paper round, no?). No 4 screams 80s boardroom and that poor wee lass needs a vest on.

Colour of those teal shoes is beautiful. Not sure about them with navy though. I would but not sure I should iyswim.

GlaikitFizz, I am horrified that you're mocking me. Jester shoes ffs? What do you take me for? Somebody who in all seriousness tried on a pirate jacket today? Okay, yes, I see your point.

Freudian slippers.

Ah Show I was looking for a light-hearted thread to cheer me up, I shall now a-bed chuckling at your Freudian Slippers.

Unfortunately, I have no help to offer with your outfit. The dress is lovely, but I would wear heels and just walk like a tranny. I love the idea of velvet DMs and fishnets with it would go brill with the cloak

P.s why are there no pics of the cloak? You know it's what we all want to see most of all!

Cloak pic
Cloak pic
Cloak pic!

Thank you in advance.

I do love the annual pilgrimage to Showy's Shrine of Fashion Wonderfulness. Where else do you find cloaks, jester shoes and pirate jackets on the same thread

The first thing I said when I saw magic appearing dress picture was "Pillar Box Red Shoes!", so am glad you have worked it out for yourself.
I think you should get the red Schue broguey-loafery things, they are good quality and you will wear them for ever, as opposed to spending a tenner less on something from New Look which will hurt your feet and you'll never wear again.

I am a total convert to the cause of red shoes, having given in to what I thought was a ludicrous urge to get some in the sales. Turns out they're incredibly versatile.

Great slippers.

There's nowt wrong with pirate jackets btw. I say that as somebody who yearns for one of these to wear to work.

Crazy red flat shoes

Nice jacket Remus. I absolutely do not have a purple version of one of those. Nope. I last wore it to my niece's christening. My sil was Not Impressed. I like the colour of the crazy shoes but I don't like the ballet style tbh. They're honestly what all the tweens and teens wear here. With jeggings and silly tiny bags which are too tiny to contain anything.

Today I want this in teal. Cheaper alternative here but still ££ and probably not weddingy enough. The namaste site is my happy place. I need to win the lottery.

Dilys, red shoes are awesome. I have a lot of DM shoes and at least 3 of them are bright red. They're a bit ban the bomb protest march for a wedding though.

I think the loafers are still your best bet. You used to be able to get DM loafers, can you still?

On the James and James website there are tan DM mary janes, called Ina, £55. Sorry can't link on phone.

you could wear either of those c oats to a wedding imo.
if you do id match shoes to that rather than the dress.

I like your style. quirky and kookie!

Ina DMs link for you coco. They're nice. I have some chestnut coloured DM mary janes which are sort of similar. And you can indeed still get loafers.

Thanks Glaikit. It's not style tbh, though I like your description of quirky and kookie. My brother says my style is 'special' with a certain look. Sarcasm and mild revulsion usually. I am not as mismatched as I pretend to be. I just have a predilection for patchwork, velvet and patchouli.

My cloak btw is v much like Arwen's silver cloak if that means anything to anyone.

Are you any further forward Showy?

Okay, now I really want your cloak.....

For the non-geeks in the audience.

Do you have a cloak pin?

A cloak pin? No, I have several. I use them as skirt/wrap pins too and a couple of them work as brooches.

I'm watching a couple of pairs of (new) shoes and a (new) jacket on ebay, all based on suggestions from this thread. Both due to finish in the next 24hrs. If I get them, I'll post pics of them. I'm going to crochet something for my head too and am working on making some jewellery to match. I think I'm going with the cloak for the winter wedding. I'll stride and swoosh a lot. Probably take out a few fellow guests and come home with a couple of extra children hiding/trapped within it.

You're divorcing your husband, then?

And are any of your cloak pins made from Mithril? [geek emoticon]

Dh suggested Arwen as a possible name for ds if he had been a dd! He would dig me I that cloak!!

Seeing a solicitor tomorrow. He can have half my cloak.

You are such a geek. DH is more of a geek though. He wanted to name DS Sinister after the postapocalyptic gunshark in 200AD. He's lucky I didn't divorce him. Of course we named ds after a ninja turtle instead...

DS...

There was some discussion of the names Riley, Willow and Tara in this house....

You gave birth to a turle?!?!

Ok Michelangelo was the orange turtle, Donatello was purple, so that means ds is either a da Vinci or a Nadal! Blue and red, which one is which?

Well, not many S&B threads descend in TMNT.

Are we still looking for shoes? If so, I like these also these would be good for the summer wedding...

Not sure about jackets...

That's Raphael, Glaikit...assuming original turtles...

"Original turtles"?! That is some impressive geekdom.

Are there new turtles??? I only remember because my dbro was obsessed by them back in the day

Well, the turtles didn't change, but their clothes did...............

::goes to the total geek corner::

Your dress is beautiful, go and have fun in it