Party frocks ahoy! Avidly and wisely dressing ourselves for the party season!

[blossoming]

Sorry to hear about your dd dolcee. Hope things improve soon.
Glad to hear your family were better behaved this time ollie.

I wonder what an avid and wise Christmas party would be like. Where would we have it? What would you wear? (Complete fantasy obviously!)

Tracey Glad the night out was good.

LTEC Hope the hair (and head!) are fab this morning.

Hello exhausted

NB the Outnet sale today. I will have a look for the sake of it. At home with poorly dd.

o.k....so it's stripey Janice's all round at the meet up eh? People will think we belong to some sort of odd (but stylish ) cult.

To be honest - I think the comment was pretty tame (if it's the right one). Nothing too mean. I'm sure we get a lot worse elsewhere.

exhausted nurse welcome - and do stay delurked!

LTEC - can't wait to see mellonhead!

Tracey - hope the evening went well.

MrsJaun -umm tricky one. Have you got any charcoal tights? I want to wear my dress in non goth way too (!) so will watch for styling advice with avidity .

Today I'm hoping the rain will hold off so I can actually take DD out...I go stir crazy otherwise! .

We are actually going out AGAIN tonight (dinner party). Nothing for ages and then twice in a week.

I am managing to time it so that I can put DD to bed each time we go out so she's not bothered. And tonight my brother is babysitting so DS is very excited as it means he gets to play computer games with an expert.

Outfit currently planned - grey jersey short dress (rather like one Tracey linked to a while back from Banana republic), my short tuxedo jacket...and the Cake edelmans.

Sounds boring but I think it's o.k. on and I'm never knowingly colourful

DD's nappy is calling to me in a most unpleasent way and she keeps saying 'poo' so I think it's time to go!

HF - I'm not even going to click on teh outnet site! I think the only success I've had is the jbrand cords...other than that zero (and I've been very persistant!)

ha ha that's funny considering my wardrobe is 70% charity shop, 10% ebay and 20% new.

ah well.

just had a "love' moment. Tried on leopard blouse bought last night tucked into skinny black trousers and the red M&S shoes. Great!!

hells your outfit tonight sounds great, very pared-down and stylish. We have drinks in town tonight but depends on what time dh gets home from shooting (you would all love what he is filming today ) shhhhh... if he's too late I'll doubt we'll venture out.

right got to take the car in and then get the bus back with all 3 dc, marvellous!! don't think I'll be dressing up for this one!!

bloss can't wait for you to get your Phase8 order!! eagerly awaiting full report

Hells I know what you mean. I have some jeans, cords and a great Anna Sui dress from a couple of years ago.

Still going to go out to look at stripey Janice. Can't stand being cooped up in house too long!

I am feeling ill and sorry for myself. Luckily my mum has the day off and is on her way to look after me have fun with dd.

Hells what kind of tux jacket do you have? I have one but it's just not right. Have a fun night out. I always love the sound of your outfits.

Cakey ensemble sounds great.

The Aigle people got back to me to say the coat I wanted was A/W 2009 and sold out everywhere. I don't even have the energy for on line shopping today but will look at all the other suggestions over the weekend. We are going to stay with dp's friends and their 3 kids and farmyard assorted pets .

Right going to look at the red courts too!!

Morning all. Just back from a windswept school run wearing sports kit. It is obviously because I am doing sport and as dedicated as i am to the cause ladies, I couldn't be arsed wearing one outfit to take DD to school...only to change into sports leggings as soon as I got home - and then into ANOTHER outfit afterwards.

LTEC- Love the sound of the evening and the hair. Am also liking the leopard print blouse.

Welcome Exhausted.

Hope you find a great 'going out' ensemble today Apuski

Hope you feel better soon MM.

Bunny - hope the side is getting better. Sounds you have maybe strained an intercostal muscle? Heat pack of some sort will def help.

Hells - Loved the sound of your outfit, and eagerly awaiting the report on Bloss' huge P8 order. I will live vicariously through you as there are loads of dresses I like the look of but trying to be good. (Am saving for the Sass and Bide maxi . Only...errr....£1200.. to go.

Choo - Am amazed you need WW, but interested in your thoughts on how effective it is!

HF - Hope you get the domestics on an even keel soon.

I am sorely tempted to order the Janice - just to say I've tried it as well. (Baaa...!) The problem being that I may not wish to send it back if it works....

Just shopped the Outnet sale - nought!

Have great days ladies!

Bunny - I did that to my ribs when Bea was tiny - banged down on her cot and lordy I seriously thought it was broken. Actually went to the Dr's as the pain was so bad but it was what NY said and apparently it takes a while to feel better as each time you breathe it hurts so mucho sympathy from here.

Oh I agree the comment was tame its just I'd sort of forgotten the people who tut if you spend more than £1.50 on a whole outfit are reading and metaphorically tutting at us

LTEC - good luck on the bus/car outing.

MM - hope you feel better soon and also HF's daughter.

I look a total mess as overslept so haven't dressed properly yet just yanked on something to drop H at school. Luckily we have a good system where you pull up and drop off and teachers make sure they get into the playground ok.

Had a quick swiss at outnet sale as have credit there after a late return which inevetibly means I'll find nothing I like for the next 12 months. The succeses I've had were the j brand cords and some nice burlington socks and a cashmere jumper. As long as I stick to basics its ok but anything too dramatic always ends up going back which is a faff.

MM - I say tux but it's shorter...more like this

Hope you feel better soon..

Cake - I LOVE the leopard print blouse

NY - I'm about to do the park so will be equally windswept. Very unstylish I am too...still 'rocking' my hideous puffa jacket - it's truly ugly (it actually flares out at the hips in an attempt to be stylish - but now my legs are thinner than when I first got it I resemble some sort of gothic (it's black of course) christmas tree±

With the A&W comments I bother more when the implication is we don't spend time with DC as we are obsessing about clothes. No one here spends more than they can afford do they? I've been at a few rungs of the spending scale from stoney broke to avidity. But never ever would go into to debt for clothes (though I like the mugging idea ).

Think the Boden preview 20% off ends today - has anyone ordered anything for themselves yet?

LTEC - missed the posts from a few days ago - whats a Mellon haircut? Obviously know who she is but has she got new hair/fringe? - linky link please!

Plum inspired by your tale of the 2 pairs of boots, I have just ordered the brown Kew ones and will forthwith ignore the ones I am currently wearing!

Am a bit with DH for not making it back from work in time to go out with the kids last night for St Martin - I went out with them to collect sweets with their lanterns at 6pm (v cute, DS1 sang songs on the doorsteps, DS2 just smiled away) got soaked in a monsoon like downpoor, came back, got me and the kids changed and then went out again. Phoned DH at 7pm to see how close to home he was and he was still in the office - an hours drive away. Seemed like the whole neighbourhood was out (bonfire and hot chocolate laid on at the playground, choir singing etc) so lovely atmosphere - everyone asked where DH was which made it worse!!! Honestly think he lost track of time but had a full on grump with him for the rest of the night which hardly ever happens - bad cold and sore throat didnt help my mood either tho! Back to being darling wife today tho!

After Peacocks was mentioned, I thought I would have a quick squint. Quite like

this but have an innate fear of anything called a playsuit on anyone over 20. Might be ok over thick patterned tights with high boots??

Also think this is nice.

I tried to buy a Marc Jacobs bag in the Outnet sale but it is sold out, booo.

Great blouse, LTEC and I like the sound of your outfit, Hells.

Bunny, I am going to Queen Charlotte too. Didn't have to wait long and midwife was nice and noted that I requested a c section due to previous experience. Nearly fainted as they had trouble drawing blood so they must think I am a total wimp. DH was working from home to look after DD so I had to head straight home with no detours to Westfield!

I saw that comment. I have a few nice things but not Chanel by any means!

Get well soon, MM.

Oh, and this is the dress that was getting a lot of love from purchasers on another thread.

Ollie, I ordered the print sandals in the Boden preview.

Re the amount we spend comment - I think that about 60% of what we buy actually gets returned doesn't it?!

Morning all
Just rushing in to apologise to mrsjuan for my very unhelpful post last night. A few seasons ago I wore steel grey coloured tights from M&S, they came in a three pack with black and brown. They were amazing, and looked great with black, and with denim skirt (knee length, maternity, how mumsy wtf! Since when did the word 'mum' become derogatory anyway?)
I'm not sure they do them this year. They have one called 'carbon' and I found this one in dark grape. Could work with black? Or maybe a textured black tight?
I'll catch up now. Still no knock on the door with my Phase Eight order.

Oh and here is a charcoal mix one. (Don't know what the 'mix' means.) HTH.

Thanks for reminding me about the Boden preview ollie. Will have a look this morning.

bloss they still have those tights on their own. I had the pack you describe and got a 3 pack of the grey this year.

I think people are confusing mumsy with middle aged and frumpy. Some people don't care. We do.