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]

So many posts- I can't keep up!

LTEC- thx for linking to your blog. I can see that the shorts look great with the chunky jumper and I do have suitable boots. I guess what I thinking is whether I am going to get enough use out of the shorts this Winter to justify them (have to be careful with the budget)! Had a think about the coat and it couldn't work but perhaps a jacket would...

MM- will let you know if I find suitable jumper.
I can't remember if it was you or ABO last night talking about the FC stripey dress from ASOS- anyway, I tried it on again and I just can't get the asymmetric design working so it's going back.
bloss- I love those dresses, especially the emerald one. You can do my colours if you like :)
vino- I haven't been on this thread long but it sounds as if you have had so much to contend with and you come across as a really amazing, brave person :) Same to bloss as well!

plum- that is a lovely sequined top!

So many lovely links and probably plenty that I haven't had a chance to look at. roary- I love that JCrew jumper, especially that colour!

errrr think I need to apologise for my selfish and shallow rant about the Belstaffs and shoes in general. I have just mentally told myself off.

Am still looking online tonight and will continue (if I may) to seek the wit and wisdom of you all !

get comfortable apuski -there is lots and lots to catch up on! including an A&W pregnancy (I won't spoil the surprise and tell you who) and avidity as normal. Plus a fair sprinkly of wise (not from me).

sprinkly! Sprinkling obviously!

t/m's outfit sort of sorted. 'vintage' (o.k. just a little bit old) joseph grey tweed shift (very fitted) and black tuxedo jacket - not sure about shoes yet - probably edelmans or ash boots.

Carciofi thanks for advice on neck/back problems. Will do some exercises too and see if thst helps.

Hells have you found perfect outfit for dinner tomorrow?

DT can imagine that it must be frustrating to find shoes for you. Good luck with your search!

Can just repeat what others have said and put so much better: thanks for sharing your stories.

Hells crosspost! Outfit sounds great. Bet you'll look fabulous.

Hello apuski and welcome back! Everything ok with you? How is baby-Apuski?

fritzi thanks again and best wishes for a really enjoyable birthday.

I love this thread but try and stick to the fashion as I would hate to cause offence to anyone for coming across as an intrusion to their lives if I commented.

Off to bed now, thank you once again.

ABO thanks for your colours advice - in the end I went with a goldy skirt as the gold is not a wow for me and the others are. Sigh, I miss J.Crew! Am jealous of your trip to outlet.

Bloss I love that peacock dress Cakey linked to.

Bunny appeared this am and then when quiet...after reporting twinges...hmmmmm.....actually what could be worse than a whole thread of imaginary friends wondering about your imminent birthing prospects, so I'll shut up about that one.

Apuski hope the baby is thriving.

hells a colourful shoe perhaps?

Yummy another maxi! I am going to the staff college to lecture in Feb, has just been booked, but not on the advanced course so I won't get to meet Mr Yummy. (or Squadron LEader Yummy?)

And once again ladies I have been focused on frivolity today but of course so many of you are wise in non-fashion ways and avid in your support of each other. Who says imaginary friends aren't great!

My computer ate that last part: scurry away in case of too cheesy!

Also may have demoted Mr Yummy, or worse still placed him in the wrong service, so apologies!

Roary - More men in uniform for you. Enjoy! DH is a whole lofty rank above the one you quoted . Was unexpectedly promoted earlier than expected and then got Staff College after. Is baby faced for the rank and constantly gets people doing a double take when they see his shoulders

Hadn't picked up on your point re Bunny! She commented on something on my fb only a couple of hours ago though, hopefully she is getting a foot massage from her DH or something rather than breathing deeply.....

Aha! Zembo, belated congratulations, that's fab news. I'm so glad for you.

Sorry in advance to only comment on a few things, too much to cover!

Bunny, glad to hear you've got a date booked, and hope the twinges have settled down. I'm no help on girls' names, I found out that I was having boys early both times so never got to the girls' section of the baby names book! Though I was nostalgic about not having a DD hearing you lot talk about your childhood books and reading them with your DDs. Maybe one of my DS's will like the faraway tree?!

ABO and roary (and bloss), I suspect I will be back to discuss autumn shades, I'm having my colours done at the start of December, and suspect I am an autumn, though I'm not sure how 'deep'. Bizarrely I find myself suddenly paralysed with clothes shopping, worried that if I buy something it won't be my colour. So I shall save my pennies for now.

Far too many links to comment on, but I loved the sequin dress hells - I think I am probably most jealous of your wardrobe overall!

And I agree, as ever, the wisdom on here is very moving, all the more so because of where that wisdom has come from.

Oops, forgot to update on baby A. We're not signed off from the paed yet, she wants to keep an eye on him. Just as well, as he has developed a cough which is causing him to vomit up his feeds. So I called the paed today and she is going to prescribe some high cal formula for him. But I'm still expressing as much as I can (and thanks again EIE for the advice).

So the laundry volume has escalated somewhat - and I shrank my favourite cardigan by absent-mindedly putting it into the washing machine after A had vommed on me .

Was someone looking for grey boots? Sorry to butt in but I enjoy the links when I dip in here, so hope it helps that KG have a few in at the mo, although they don't all seem to be on the website.

Carvela have a chunkier, more cowboy-ish version with chains, will try to find a link.

here.

Happy Birthday Fritzi!!! hope you have a wonderful day, lots of back rubs and a fab time out with dh and dd

lovely to see you Apuski

MM are these grey boots any good do you think I might be offered a job with P8 soon?? or lose my job with LA??

wore Janice to pub tonight, with thick opaques and Edelmans, plus camel coat. Think it looked pretty good if somewhat OTT . Good mirror in the bathroom so was able to check for incipient back handles. Think am okay. Bit of VPL though, any suggestions for invisible undies?

DT don't apologise re ranting over boots, wasn't even a rant but so understandable - I hate finding shoes that fit, so difficult. Ash tend to be quite good size-wise, any joy with them? or does something tell me we've had this convo before?

tracey I love the sequin cardi but second Joules link went to home page? outfit sounds perfect, as does yours hells. Love the party photos, you look so fabulous (bro is a hottie too )

night all

navy Janice that is. Am not sure when La Stripe will make her debut.

hf very draining . You always sound so upbeat. Hope it gets sorted without too much upheaval.

Happy birthday Fritzi Enjoy! and thanks Apuskki

Happy Birthday Fritzi!

Hi Apuski - and yes I agree Hells - I covet your wardrobe. And you look amazing on fb - where was that lace dress from?

Morning all!
Happy birthday fritzi!! Hope you find a great outfit!

Happy birthday Fritzi!

It is chilly here today - but at least it is not raining/snowing with a howling gale. Apparently that is back tomorrow

Wearing grey/silver silk top, black trousers, flats and Desigual monochrome coat.

Apuski - great to hear from you! Sounds like baby A is heading in the right direction, although sorry to hear about the horrid cough.

LTEC - Your outfit sounded great. Who cares about OTT....Making An Effort is the new black.

Fritzi, Herzlichen Glückwunsch!

Happy Birthday Fritzi.

Hey Apuski. Glad baby A is doing well.

No joy on the poloneck front yet Cakey. I've tried Uniqlo, Pure Collection, M&S and had a look at the High St (Warehouse etc) ones last week but am so far not impressed enough to buy / keep any of them. Someone suggested Jaeger (spg?) but am a bit tired of trips to the PO to return things & don't have one near. Really like the sound of your outfit.

Thanks for grey boots suggestions. I want more of an ankle boot I think. I am being difficult I know, mainly because I have no idea what I want.

I like this Zara scarf. Any thoughts on that or this?

I had a Bad Fashion Moment yesterday evening while watching tv. Angela Rippon is in an advert wearing my Zara gold chain shirt .

My mum has appropriated my large Max Mara camel coat so I am on the look out for a cheap tailored version for my Christmas outings if anyone sees one.

I am going to order the gold Reiss skirt. I want to try it with my silk black pussy bow (I hate that name!) shirt, opaques and M&S shoeboots. Would wear it with a big gold bib necklace I think though I am a bit matchy matchy .

I have fallen in love with Hells' sequin dress. Those of you who have bought less expensive versions - which one? I clicked on a lot of the links but they were sold out. And lace dresses - does anyone have a long sleeved black one? I'm all confused and think I'd like one. I think I may get one for Christmas Day and NYE.

Can I be a pain and ask again what winter padded coats you have? I need one but the only one I like it over £500 and totally off limits.

Bunny how are the little bunnies?

For my fellow A&W beauty product junkies have any of you tried this? I have been using it for four days and though it does tingle a bit I can really see a difference. It is expensive but you only use a bit and unlike any other eye cream I've tried it is making a difference.

I like some of the Christmas outfits for dds linked to earlier in the thread. My dd always has one very traditional outfit for the Italian family and another fun one for parties and Christmas Day at home. Last year she wore this in grey with big red dots and loved it.

Carciofi & Hells - have either of you washed your dds' coats? I have the same one in red (or dd does!) and it is really grubby already. I would get it dry cleaned but she needs it at the weekend.

Bit of a random post from me. Sorry.

monkeysmama, I have a Hobbs puffa jacket for when it's not raining, the Barbour Cameron, for when it might rain, and the hideous Landsend Stadium Squall for when the weather is extreme, but I still refuse to take the car.

My favourites on the high street, although may not be waterproof would be this one from Phase Eight (surely A/W 10 will go down in history as their 'moment'!) I particularly like the belt in this one. All the Paris ladies had belted puffas at Easter.

And the Zara one, similar, but with a hood.