I bet Mary Portas doesn't wear Boden

[kitya]

im looking forward to seeing the clothes in her new shops. I love her style and ideas. I think they open this week in House of Frasier. I hope they aren't all for skinny minies though!

[bellaisinHawaii]

I heart Mary Portas.

[kitya]

I have a girl crush on her.

[southeastastra]

she promised alot of good quality basics on her webchat on here so that will be good

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Don't know but she looked dreadful in the photos in this week's grazia when she was discussing her new range.

[kitya]

Ive never seen her look dreadful although I do the shoulder pads and armour like jackets she sometimes wears. Mind you she is that tall she can get away with most things.

[bigkidsdidit]

I saw her in the street outside my work a while ago, she looked fab :) but yes tall and v thin which suits most things I suppose. I love her :)

Speaking f which, very good article and selection of Dresses With Sleeves on the Guardian website now

[AlpinePony]

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2027137/Mary-Portas-launches-new-fashion-40s-House-Fraser-Oxford-Street.html Liz Jones on Pret a Portas.

Not quite 40 yet myself but soon will be. I like some of the pieces, but hate the overall slash neck + over-the-knee. We're not all flat-chested, long-limbed long-in-the-tooths! On the other hand there does seem to be a fair range, the black evening gown plunges and the basic white shirt is "good". Hate the shirt over leggings - so Per Una, so 1986. Good shoes though in each and every picture.

[JemimaMuddledUp]

I've just been emailed by Clarks about their new Mary & Clarks collection.

[madammecholet]

I saw that too jemima - disappointing, a really tamed down version of Marys style...shame

[stressheaderic]

I saw the Clarks collection today too. Must say, I quite like 'em.

[stripeybump]

I met her once and thought she was a snotty bitch I'm afraid. To be fair, it was in a charity shop when she was filming her show. I wandered in as it looked like it had been done up, and then saw the film crew. Grabbed a Gap stripey dress, it didn't have a price on it. Took it to the counter, realised it was her! It didn't have a pricetag on, and she started shouting at the lovely old ladies who work there about professionalism, and occasionally bossing the tv crew on how she should be edited. I was in a bit of a rush tbh so offered a fiver for it, and she didn't even make eye contact with me but waved me away while she worked out a script for us. She then turned on the charm instantly when she asked if I shopped there often. bloody cheek she just seemed very PR-y and false, the shop assistants all looked pretty pissed off.

[polyhymnia]

Hmm, not crazy about the shoes partly because if, like me, you're not primarily looking for heels, you're left with one style in naff gold or in leopard, which lots of other shoe retailers do better!

Read the Liz Jones article and, though I loathe her and like Mary (or did till I read stripey's story), have to say the article does seem to talk some sense. For example, it criticises the limited size range and there is certainly nothing there for those of us who need more than an 18. Disappointing.

The suggestion the range would be better if it was more 'pared down' to fewer items brilliantly executed, and with Per Una type adornments omitted, seems to make sense too.

Anyway, will go to H of F soon to see for myself - though knowing I won't be able to actually buy anything makes me less enthused. Plus I think H of F is one of the drearier places you can shop in London, particularly with Marylebone High St, Regent St, and Brook St etc so close!

[polyhymnia]

PS Oh, and noticed that for her bags she had collaborated with Radley, a brand I really don't like.

[frillyflower]

Hey stripey - MP was an after dinner speaker at my friend's company. Apparently really full of herself and, as you say a right snotty bitch.

[stripeybump]

Her collaborations are really weird actually, given that she has so much experience with high end shops.

Grazia only give her endless space because she's married to one of their senior fash people. They featured it last year, big lesbian do.

I'm sure she was very good at her job, but I think she's a bossy, impatient, stuck-up twat unworthy of Grazia's usual level. I don't respond well to her new wave Trinny and Susannah style of insulting makeovers.

[frillyflower]

Those Clarks shoes are not very nice actually.

[pamplemousserose]

Shes just designed stuff that suits her body shape hasn't she.

[frillyflower]

Yes pamplemousse - and only appealing if you have exactly same taste as her. I don't really like her 'look' to be honest. Those pointy boots are not very fashionable. It all looks a bit dated and eeuw I think.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

Not my cup of tea - actually more likely to buy from boden than her range [contentious]

[polyhymnia]

Agree with you, Mrs CB!

[talkingnonsense]

Well I just turned 40 and the stuff in the liz jones article looks really old to me - mp and lj both seem a generation older than me themselves and I would hate to wear any of those dresses. Also it all looked very american. If I was in house of Fraser I'd rather look at therapy/ untold/ phase 8.

[FunnyLittleFrog]

I would look like a sack of spuds in those dresses.

[levantine]

Oh no not Radley, THE most unstylish bag manufacturer around. I'm 40 this year and I wouldn't wear any of that. I especially wouldn't wear that leather dress

[polyhymnia]

Glad I'm not the only Radley hater around!! I really don't 'get' them. Even when they try to be stylish they fail miserably IMO.

[polyhymnia]

Couldn't resist googling them and they look just as awful as expected to me (except perhaps the Holloway which is merely boring and over-priced for what it is). Don't think the collaboration does much for her cred. :

www.radley.co.uk/Catalogue/Category_1830_Mary_Portas_Bags.aspx