WIT or Wisdom? Who cares... the festive season is nearly upon us and one thing is certain: Avidity is the new black.

[LetThemEatCake]

Trick or treat! [hsmile]

Hello all

feeling a bit glum think it's my job never mind! I absolutely hate my office's thing for dress down Fridays. Hate it hate it hate it! I rocked on up looking super-polished yesterday and there they all were in hoodies with fluffy hoods, baggy jeans, visible pants, faded neon pink cartoon t shirts- and this is just the men. All wrong!

Stripey Janice looks cool but I'd look too burglar in it. I wore H&M black-navy and camel stripe breton today with camel coat and some.. RED SHOES. Looked OK!

Currently eyeing up twill jeans- figure I could get away with them at work as not denim. Also on lookout for sequin scarf following verity's scarf induced compliment!

Hells outfit sounds superb, glam goth is good

ltec I have dress envy

roary you are awfuly pretty I think I probably have similar colouring to you, but I have a slightly ropier face different skin tone so I'm not sure! These colours are a minefield for me I must say- I think I deliberated this a while back, am definitely half winter half autumn

zembo well done on announcing with fireworks- magical!

bunny I LOVE girls names. Lots of fabulous suggestions and sounds like you already have a load to think through- can you tell us what you've picked already?
As an Arabella alternative I love Annabel
I also love Juliana, Giulietta, Carolina, Cosima, Cecilia, Elisabetta et al.
Eheeem I digress

On the subject of names I have sent a card now saying how happy I am she used DD's name, I hope it gets there. I still can't believe it, really weird but nice to think she will be saying the name every day forevermore and will one day maybe tell her DD where her name came from and maybe her DD will call her own DD that as a middle name, blabla

ABO- excellent shopping!

Uff, they've gone. I feel drained.
I like the sound of red patents dt. and good with grey for non camel wearers.
Thanks fritzi, and yeah for stripey Bertha!
Have fun tonight ltec and abo and an early night carciofi.

Oh, I think you did the right thing there vino. I hope you feel better in your job soon. I shudder at the thought of a dressed down Friday!

hey bloss- yes it was UGLY stuff of nightmares. There's lots of pressure to do it ''for charity'' all gets nicked by the girl collecting the money but I'd rather pay to not do that actually- esp as clients still come in on these dressed down days and must really wonder..

well done for surviving lunch though- I bet you're drained it's just so much work (am v lazy, I would hate having people to eat at my place! hate having people for coffee and biscuits!) I'm not exactly a domestic goddess..

Glad you liked the sequins, LTEC - I looked at the blue one today but think I need something more fitted (am an hourglass on a good day) - plus am erm 47 so not sure if my short sequined days are over .

Does anyone think the Biba one might be veering into Frump City Arizona territory?

I love that Biba dress WhatsWrongWithYou- has a kind of 20s vibe.. I really love it it's very very pretty, especially in that colour. Not frumpy at all, it's lovely. Only thing that might make me hesitate is the scalloped hemline but that's just cos of my dodgy legs

Actually I take that hesitation back having clicked the full model picture, it's really nice. Gets my vote anyway

Bloss Glad all went well

I like the blue dress.

This place looks interesting Was in the Telegraph mag today.

Gucci is now doing Children's clothing - £70 leggings. I do rather fancy a headband for dd though.

Vino Chin up girl, if you can. You made me laugh with the men's Friday outfits. Can you imagine what they wear on a Saturday?

Hmmm wondering if I can fit into Gucci kids clothing

Cake hope you're partys going well, you have such a great eye for clothes esp dresses - that Phoenix one is gorgeous. I'm planning to wear Janice as a day dress with opaques, either shoeboots (Bertie from last year) or boots (will try with Belstaffs but not particularly hopeful) and long belted cardigan. I'm actually thinking of an aubergine / plum coloured cardigan to go with the navy - Bloss is that allowed? I don't tend to save clothes for eve wear, as then they'd never get worn. Oh, and why not the stripy Janice too - you totally deserve it.

Also thought of you yesterday as I ordered this star umbrella for my DD

And, how lovely to have an 'anniversary' on bonfire night

Vin sorry to hear re: job, since it sounds as though not working isn't an option at the mo, make sure you continue to treat yourself as compensation (as I do)

A bit random, but I think this would make a good present for an approx 6 year old, looking at Eid presents (again) so having a browse!

Yes I had a stroke of luck with bil bringing an identical wine, a screwtop, fleurie from sainsbo's, so I opened two, by mistake (they're so gullible!) and I can put up with a lot when I'm eating lamb and dauphinoise and gulping sipping beautiful wine from my lovely wedding glasses.

Yes zembo, that's allowed!

House Of Colour wrote back and said they already had consultants in my area. I should have checked. I'll write back and suggest mid/west Wales. It would be discriminatory to leave the whole middle of Wales out now wouldn't it. There's a lot of country between the north coast and Cardiff. And it is not covered. Yet!!

Evening! Waddling in quickly...

Re names - thank you so much for all your suggestions!! Some have failed due to popularity and similarity w DD's name (ie Cecilia, Celia, Cecily) - want different first letter to either her full name or nickname, so that's C and D out. And DH being v fussy - he doesn't like SO many names!! But he agreed I can tell you the name we have picked out: Emmeline. Not popular (though Emily is), old and substantial, good association (Emmeline Pankhurst, the suffragette) and shortens nicely (Emme). That's the criteria - no surprise we only have the one name, is it?! So now that means no C, D or E names. Have been suggesting Aurelia but Dh vetoed. Ditto Arianna. If only he would agree to Leonora!!

Me, me, me - how attractive . Am v tired today so lying on the couch on iPhone patting my tum tum. 'tis enormous.

Before I forget - Zembo - your announcement sounds lovely and glad it was better received than you thought. Re my pregnancy, found out when thought I was 3 weeks but was actually 7 weeks (had mysterious big bleed that thought was period, so that's why 4 week discrepancy - apols fr TMI). So went for 12 week scan thinking was 13 + 5 (NHS busy busy so couldn't get in earlier) but was actually 17 + 5 and that when we found out we were having twins. Sorry for long story, but only way to explain it sensibly.

DT- I love that LK Bennett dress and shoes. Actually, I adore LKB style clothing in general but is is too ££ for me at the moment :(

carciofi- thank you for compliment re DD's name- we love it anyway which is the most important thing! I like Gabriel and have a friend with one. What are your other DC's called (totally understand if you prefer not to post their names on hear)?

LTEC- the striped Janice is really nice- you should try it! hells- well done for finding the link as I couldn't find it on the website yesterday.
vino- it actually doesn't look burglar like on, perhaps because of the draped neck line.
I ordered and tried on full circle striped dresses from asos the other day though (I think linked by bloss)- apologies cannot link on this computer and the cream/black colourway made me look like a zebra!

zembo- please to hear that your DH was happy re your pregnancy. I wear navy with plum/maroon and think it works well :)

bunny- Emmeline is lovely and I love Leonora! I'm also a fan of underused classic but also a fan of exotic/ multicultural names.
What about Adele or Adela (another Pankhurst) or maybe:
Helena
Miranda
Mirabelle
Nancy
Susanna shortened to Suki is sweet
Honor
Penelope
Jessamine
Beatrix
Gwendolen
Eloise (maybe not too Es)
Matilda (maybe too popular for you)

Sorry- I'm not feeling v creative tonight and smell of bonfire smoke so must go take a bath!

Bunny, I would love to find out that I am further along than I actually am!

LTEC, the Phoenix dress is beautiful. Hope the party went well.

Looby, DD is Emilia so Francesca would continue the Italian theme! I lived in Italy for a while and my degree is in Italian hence the fondness for Italian names.

not supposed to be online, so shhh, but look at this jumper. Good with jeans and Ash hightops, yes?

Bunny - hi and sorry for hijacking the A & W thread but another vote here for Matilda. It's my DD's name so am a teensy bit biased , but think it goes well with the other names you already have. Is a strong name, means 'mighty in battle' and was the name of William the Conquerer's wife! Am slightly annoyed it's now in the top 50 tho

Hello Ladies..I am hugely excited to 'see' you all..we had been away for almost 3weeks and I have only just finished catching up on all your posts..

You guys have made me laugh( vin and the trouser incident)cry(the ladies who have lost so much who have such grace and dignity) and sit on my hands to stop myself spending the mortgage payments..you rock.

I had almost 2 threads to catch up on so please forgive me if I overlook anyone.

zembo ..superthrilled for you and glad you shared the news with celebratory fireworks.

vin ..I love reading your posts on life,love and fashion but your DP makes my blood boil..don't let him take your happy!(said in stylee of desperate housewife of atlanta)

blossom and oww am so impressed by your crafts..utterly brilliant.I am going to post a piccie of my friend's(another very 'crafty' person) halloween costume for her daughter totally from scratch..mary poppins..it's amazing(my daughter wearing walmart! blush

fritz hope you are settling nicely into the
new job..sounds like you looked great for your party.

MM glad you got a hot date with DP..you really deserve it.

fleecy love all your brogue outfit ideas especially the florals..am going to have toplay that one carefully as so old may just make me look like an elderly lady wearing comfy shoes!can I pick your brains again please..I bought a cheap oatmeal waterfall cardigan from primark and don't know what colours tocombine ut with( blossom maybe can advise too) and how to style.

everything yes that is sad..it sounds like aa hard way to live.

Finally my good friend roary love your childrens' names.how is the weaning going?what have you been giving?dd2 pretty keen but sleep is haywire at the moment.

Fashion buys..found a cheapie aviator jacket at h and mwhich I rather like and a pleather dress therewhich looks fab(or will when I lose holiday pounds!)..if I'm going to buy non bf friendly dresses better if they are cheap.

hmm..sure there is even more so I will return.

noticed I have used 'love' an awful lot..what can I say,I'm feeling the love!grin

completely forgot to comment on all your purchases..v avid girls!Janice is lovely and the shoes marsha and fleecy linked to..divine!

Think halloween costume should be o n profile now..have made private so let me know if forgotten to add anyone.

Also can I just say am superexcited for you bunny did that thing of starting to tell someone yesterday my imaginary friend about to have twins

Glad meetup went so well..will hopefully make one some time when bf baby slightly less avid!

Reine, I can't see your profile. I saw a photo in Marie-Claire of someone wearing shorts, tights and brogues and I thought it looked good.

Everything, that is sad. Have you gone to counselling?

ThirstyMerc, Matilda is a fab name and I also love the Roald Dahl book.

Zembo, meant to say, glad your dh reacted well, now you can relax and enjoy your pregnancy!

Blossoming, I am jealous of the Fleurie, I really wanted a glass of wine last night!

I like the striped sweater, Plum, I am definitely stripes rather than floral!

I am meeting my cousin in Harrods this afternoon ... probably more the food hall section than clothes but I might have a sneaky peaky at the shoes.

Oops carciofi I had listed you all but had kept my setting on private by mistake..hope it works now..

Last time I was at Harrods food hall got nicely sozzled at champagne bar with good friend and then spent far too much money in the rest of the store

Everything I agree that if you haven't already counselling could be a good course of action.