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]

Oooh, Tracey how exciting.

I have to go to a fancy dinner party at the Canadian High Commission so OBVIOUSLY i need a new dress. Right?

I have been eyeing up these two delights from Anthropologie:

teal

and

blue and a bit Joan Holloway

I don't like the first one roary, not form fitting enough. Go for the second (although are you sure those colours suit you ). The idea of a house of colour convention could put me off! Maybe I should be self employed!

How exciting tracey.

I'm sure ltec's red shoes, the suede ones she first linked to are in Style today.

Sorry things are no better everything.

I love the second dress roary!

bloss- I've noticed a few linked-to things have appeared in magazines. Maybe there are lots of lurkers

love Emmeline, bunny

and Livia is lovely (Shakespeare?)

Been away all weekend and only just back so v quick post. Fritzi I have five pairs of nudies . What style do you have your eye on? The Long Johns come up big, the High Kais are on the smaller side. I think you should definitely get your normal, if not one lower, size unless you're going for the high waisted ones.

Til tomorrow when I'll catch up.

Ah roary I yearn for charcoal grey. But have known for years that it does nothing for me . I have now finally found a chocolate brown short cord skirt, though, so will try a kingfisher top with that. And what bloss said about the frocks . I love this orange knitted one on there although am guessing it's not dressy enough. And think this tartan looks scrumptious too.

Very exciting about the house tracey.

Love that tartan dress - very VW! :)

Golly - I really do find having guests hard work - 3 nights is just too long . . . All it feels like I've done is cook and cook and cook.

Oh and classic mil comment overheard by DH yesterday. DS2 who is 2 was screeching/squealing at something and granny says 'stop it, show grandpa some respect of he won't come and visit you again' . I was most unamused.

Am so tired now - just putting washing away and trying to catch-up on links but will be having a very early night.

Not that excited about house as we're pretty sure our offer will be rejected - hey ho.

tracey Very excited for you! Fingers crossed!

mm Thanks for advice on Nudies. Will have to investigate different cuts so I'm prepared for tomorrow.

roary Maybe the McQueen could be good for you? Or is Coast too ubiquitous where you live? Love the Joan Holloway and the tartan abo linked to best.

bloss I can so see you as a colour consultant! The lady who did my colours in Berlin was independent. She called herself "style and colour consultant" iirc. She also gave us great advice on what kind of clothes suit our body shape best.

tracey You never know. Sounds what you need most now is a glass of wine and some rest. 3 nights is really long if you have guests that are demanding.

Evening all!

So much to catch up on! Been busy doing family stuff...thought DH was going to be away all weekend snowed under with work on this really intensive course he is on. HOWEVER...he worked until 2am on Friday night/Sat morning and then got a load done yesterday morning and drove up to surprise us last night! So sweet - DD was over the moon. He got up with her this morning and did all the washing and ironing whilst refereeing a playdate with her best friend whilst I did an hour on the crosstrainer and watched the sainted David Attenborough (my hero!) on the Sky Plus. Well, actually, after this weekend DH is my hero. He has to drive back again tonight though....

ABO and Reine - Great to see you both back and I LOVE the pic of your daughter Reine.

Roary - Much prefer the second of those 2 dresses (but you knew I was going to say that didn't you?!)

Ladies - also thanks for the comments on the 2 dresses I linked to. LTEC - you hit the nail on the head with the 'trapeze' cut thoughts. My waist/tummy is my USP...not really my legs and arms, which are passable but nothing special. I suspect that dress would make me look bigger than I am. I have been Wise!

I have been loving all the names flying around - I wish I had known about mumsnet as a source when we were deciding.

Fritzi - Can quite see why you ordered that McQueen/Coast dress. It looks amazing, however if the cut/fit isn't right then obviosuly it isn't for you.

Zembo - So glad your romantic moment with fireworks letting DH know went well!

Everything - So sorry to hear that things are such hard work at home.

Had a fireworks party to go to last night (and ate far too much.) Wore Gap Long and Lean jeans, Inwear cobalt blue fitted top and large grey snuggly jumper over (local charity shop!)

I ordered these and these in a possibly vain attempt to find some cheap and cheerful boots with lower heels to replace ones I have that I just can't walk in as they are so tall. Also ordered some charcoal vero moda leggings and another maxi (in the sale and I suspect there may be a reason...will link if it is any good....!!) Something will have to go back though, as per my tale of financial woe with heating/car crashes etc.

Have just made red pepper and goats cheese risotto with some salad. Went down well.

Off now to catch up with the sunday papers (and some of yesterdays as well!)

fritzi love the Coast dress,I adore that colour...
On subject of wellies and last night's bonfire,I dug out some black fake uggs which I figured would wash!

Also meant to say - WW - that Biba dress you linked to is lovely and I think would look beuatiful with some sky high heels (not that I can wear them!)

notyummy Your DH is a star! While I was in Cos yesterday saw two black knitted maxis and thought of you. Tried one on but it doesn't suit my shape. While I was there also saw some pairs of harem style jersey trousers for monkeysmama .

Oh, everything that sounds wearing and tiring and a bit miserable. TIn of salmon.

Bloss I THINK that blue in the second dress is close enough to a couple of blues in the autumn palette. ALthough I am convinced that I look good in cobalt-y blue colours. I remain slightly unconvinced that I am not half-winter. Are there any colour me beautiful consultants near you? You could do that instead .

ABO can you take a look at the blue in the second dress, my fellow autumn? I love, love ,love that orange dress and it could be totally dressy enough but Anthro sizing is bizarre and I don't hink I'd fit a small. Love the tartan too.

Frtizi I might go try on the Mcqueen.

Oooh, forgot to say, ABO can't you wear charcoal just on the bottom? that allows you to do quite a lot with your autumn colours (orange, the greens, the corally pink all look fab with charcoal)

Also I love this skirt

ooooh ooooh ... is everyone going to have a life or will you be around for a bit?? I have to do some work but have things of an A&W nature to discuss and don't want to talk to myself if I come back later!!

I am here. Eating the most delicious dinner.

yum but with poached egg.

Bonsoir et al - I also love Livia and floated it, but in the Top 200 . Such a lovely sounding name.

Who posted that their friends stole Lavinia? Unbelievable - I would have been so annoyed.

Fleecy - love your DD's name and it would be a contender except one of our best friends has that name. Do you feel my pain yet?!

bunny we had Aurelia stolen, to make it worse we told th efirends that it was the only name we'd agreed on AT ALL in the pregnancy!! They are not very close friends but it did put us off...

I am here. But prob only until 1030 ( middle aged emoticon...)

Sorry to hear that everything had a feeling you had said that on an earlier thread..wish I knew what to say to help.

ABO hope you don't mind I have ordered the tweed asos no.s..they look great and are much more practical at the moment with bending down for baby all the time.you should be able to view my pic. now..sorry for the oversight.also thanks to you, bloss and fleecy for great colour advice for the oatmeal..I love khaki,orange and kingfisher blue so that works well for me.

thank you all for your lovely comments re-DD1..she is a sweetie even in walmart! ensemble.. bloss can you believe my friend made the mary poppins outfit for her daughter from scratch without a pattern.she even did the hat..she is a jewelry designer/maker though so fab at all things creative.by the way I read today Gavin is apparently staying close to where we live(according to local website)

I love the sound of your outfit today fleecy but then I'm a longtime fan

notyummy another yummy sounding recipe fromyour kitchen

roary I love that we can all (sort of) share a meal together now DD2 does food but the mess!

traceyb sounds v exciting about house but sounds like you're exhausted from your guests..hope you feel refreshed again tomorrow.

Am going to watch 2 episodes of 24, eat and return later .

BUt quickly, roary the 2nd dress is gorgeous, but the blue looks brighter than any of my colours, and the velvety part looks black. It looks very much a "winter" dress to me; the whole jewel colour with high contrast.

Notyummy - your DH really is the bees knees, isn't he?!

Tracey - kick in the shins to your MIL, and a lovely glass of wine for you. Good luck re the house!

Roary - really like the 2nd dress, although styled differently. It's glam and I like that.

Went past De Gournay today - oooh decor deluxe - oh how I wish!!

bunny I shoudn't laugh but 'kick in the shins'...you're so funny