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!)

Vin - I've pm'd you

MrsJ- got your pm and belt packaged up and will be despatched tomorrow with a ridiculous load of returns to do at the Post Office.

Hells - nice jumper! I didn't get the necklace in h&m as couldn't see them annoyingly.

Like the warehouse scarf - may get that for my sister for xmas.

DT - how annoying about the coat.

LTEC - hope you're having fun.

So funny about the near misses of A&W'ers in London.

oh hells please don't say that I post here because we talk about gap, and nap, and janice, it's great- otherwise I'd be on relationships! I don't want people to respond really, it's just nice to have a place to go 'aaargh' sometimes. Thanks for all your patience and wisdom, though.
bloss it's OK he hasn't done that for a long time. But I think that's what's creating this peculiar feeling that he's being nice when he's not because in comparison to how he used to be, he has really changed. That kind of kept me hanging for a total reform which has never come.

Meant to say I'm returning an all saints denim mini that looked perfect on site but honestly barely covered my knickers and I'm short!

Having a quick breather from my noisy DC! DH working again and I am slowly going mad! :)

Hello to all the delurkers! I have only recently joined but this is a fun thread but, as MrsJ says a disaster for your bank balance. MrsJ- it looks as if tracey has been much quicker and more organised than I have with the belt. I have the small two and would say it should be fine for you, especially if you are planning to use it on the waist.

tracey- I dragged DC around the shops yesterday making the most of my Gap voucher too and noticed that my local H&M had several of the bib necklace left in cream and black. If you would like me to I could try to get hold of one this week and mail it to you. Please let me know if you would like me to do this!

Thank you to whoever it was that linked to the red drop waisted dress the other day. I spotted it straight away in Gap (love red) and like it a lot. I also bought the striped merino wool jumper but undecided as to whether keeping or not.

vino and EIE- sorry to hear about your unhappy times :( I won't say any more because I think the others 'know' you better and have given lots of good advice already.

EIE Thank you for posting the colours info'. I hadn't ever considered having mine done before and just relied on instinct but I am curious now. From the descriptions, I would defintely be either a Summer or a Winter. I think Summer may be more likely as I'm not sure that I can carry off really deep/ bright colours. I think my DD may be a Winter though as she has LTEC's colouring and looks lovely in those sort of strong colours and has the strong personality to match! (have just been battling with her to get her homework done to a decent standard (strict mummy):)

marsha and dolcee- I also love old books (actually like a lot of vintage/ antiques in general). They have a wonderful presence and smell. My father is an avid collector of books but sadly does not have his own library and has them all stashed in bookcases in the garage!

bloss- my DH is doing an academic job at present too (as part of his career) and is also dressing badly [sob]

Looby thats very kind of you but have now ordered my sister the warehouse scarf for christmas instead - free delivery from warehouse today.

Interesting re colours - I'd guess I'm a spring or summer but am loathe to actually find out. Imagine if they said I didn't suit navy or the red of my new dress

Hells - it is so funny that we both ordered it - tis nice isn't it and oh yes I'll definitely be wearing spanx under it. Think I'll also go bare legged as not 100% about black opaques with it - will need to try on. Do you think it'll be ok for mum's xmas night out at Jamies or will I look vastly over-dressed??

marsha Have just emailed you.

vin Please get out asap! Probably easier said than done but l'm worried for you. Wish I could do something in RL to support you. Lots of good advice from others.

Sorry about your unhappiness too everything. Must be a really difficult time for you....

cake Love your hair-do! You look very model-like.

Can anyone link to the H&M necklace. Can't find it in their online shop.

apuski Hope you had a great night out!

mm and ollie Cups of hot ginger and lemon for you! Hope you are tucked into bed with laptop and lots of reading material.

Just going to catch up properly whilst chicken, potatoes and parsnips are roasting away (yum) but popped to a local Christmas Bazaar today and brought a lovely painting - a modern take on a Dutch streetscape with bikes, canal, Dutch houses done in bold colours. Haven't showed it to DH yet but as he pointed out, I could find something to buy in the middle of the Sahara! He has a point....

PIL's have just left after just dropping in unexpectedly for the second time in 2 weeks. DH and I were having a pre Xmas clear out of the boys rooms so never got finished. Just frustrating when MIL could easily phone to ask if we are free for a visit. She is one of those MILs who likes to hug/stroke DH and just looks at him with complete awe - really irritates me and I always think I will never be like that with my DSs when they are older - but probably will be!

That's okay than, tracey- I thought you were desperate for one for yourself :)

fritzi- the bib necklace doesn't seem to be online but it is similar to the Adele Marie one on the Red site linked to recently. It was also on WIT recently, I think. It's v nice anyway and an easy way to bring excitement and glamour to a simple outfit!

LTEC- thank you for making it clear that everyone is invited to your meet ups- v sweet of you. Would be nice to come and meet you in the future and have a fun day out!!

Fritzi I got it, thank you SO much. I've sent a response.
You are a star thank you

Vin and eie I'm sorry things are hard. You are both amazing people so hope Vin you can do what you need to do, and eie hugs both.

(I also like that we can help eachother, share our woes but look at links too)

Eww ollie, that's just weird. My mil is very similar though. Embarrassing. I'm sure you won't be the same!

Wow, I don't know how I'm going to keep up with this thread - you ladies move quickly!

OWW, I've heard great things about the Kindle, but I'm such a book hoarder. I can't help but feel it might be a bit like sacrilege. If you're a late-at-night-by-dim-lights kind of reader, they are meant to be very good at not making your eyes feel rubbish.

Lots of RL shopping going on. We braved Bluewater this morning to get DS a winter coat from GAP and it was horrific. Managed to sneak off and get most of DH's Christmas presents while I had the opportunity. Got some nice bits from GAP, this jumper which is just what I've been looking for (and I see hells has in the grey - was a tough call) and the (well, my) perfect Breton. Nice heavyweight material, bit of button detail on one shoulder. Lovely stuff. Can't see it on the website, but was 9.99 in the sale.

LTEC you've inspired me to give Breton and leopard a go tomorrow.

vin apologies if I'm speaking out of turn, but am thinking of you at what sounds like a really difficult time. On another note, I started shredding last week. OMG. Am going to need some serious motivation from somewhere..!

Thank you for the warm welcome from you all - can see myself getting very comfortable here!

For those enjoying the Warehouse leopard print scarf, Dotty P's have some nice animal prints and 25% off to boot. Code DPVIPH

H&M bib necklace H&M in this section

My DH laughed at it and said that I could have made a better one myself - now there's an idea.

It's not thick exhausted, more floaty, but fitted. It would still be above the knee I'd say, maybe an inch? Buy it from John Lewis, £38, free delivery I think.

OK I've decided I am a winter, not an autumn, definitely winter after roarys orange advice. However I can wear orange when I have a tan I go super-dark (I know that's bad for me) but can pull off colours I normally look awful in

mrsj you can indeed be my exercis buddy. I bhave had the shred since, ooh, May? June? It has remained unwatched. I'm feeling rather rubbish about self so would be a good thing to do

Oh and I love that warehouse leopard scarf!! I have been looking for a leopard scarf like this grey YSL one and I think it's a pretty close version- £630 saved!! wise

disclaimer: I would never spend £650 on a scarf. Not unless it were a magical scarf of many powers that would remain magical forever. I am not that avid.

Meant to say I bought this in the plum colour yesterday and will wear with my boden leopard belt - very nice indeed

Have just sorted my wardrobe out and really am going to have to do some ebaying.

Evening all. Welcome lurkers!

Well what a busy weekend. Fantastic do last night - great venue - The Banqueting House on Whitehall. Bed at 04.00, up at 07.00 and then a Remembrance Parade and Lunch today with dh laying a wreath. Great turn out and we almost missed the rain.

I love Janice. She is a beauty! DH said I looked 'very glamourous'. Made me

So much to catch up - but Vin I won't go on but you sound such a lovely, happy and good natured girl that you musn't waste your life. It really is too short.

Boy I am tired and I have to get up at 05.00 tomorrow! The joys.

Glamorous even!

marsha More pages in your inbox.

vin - that scarf is so so beautiful. I have been coveteing a similar one since I saw a true religion (I think that was the name) one in a boutique. It was £40 which seems like peanuts compared to the YSL one but still a little pricey for the fabric.

Bloss - when I had colours done I went to colour me beautiful rather than HOC. I am apparently warm and soft - what season does that make me?

Tracey - that is nice. And what a bargain - I may order myself one to go with my boden leopard belt

Am fuming with myself as managed to reverse over DD's baby car seat this afternoon(don't ask). Luckily she has just moved into a new one so we don't need it at the moment but was saving it for future DCs. £100 literally down the gutter .

Still ploughing through the defrosted contents of my freezer - so far have 'made' (in the LTEC sense of the word for those who remember) croissants for breakfast, prawn mayo on jacket potatoes for lunch, sausages for dinner, fish pie (with about £20 worth of salmon in it ) for tomorrow and pork casserole and lamb pot roast to go back into freezer, all accompanied by peas .

Hi all. Just a quicky - loved seeing all the links and delighted to have some delurkers.

VIn - Fingers crossed you get where you need to be.

LTEC - Loving the breton and leopard. I caould also try and recreate [shameless fashion follower emoticon] with a breton top and leopard scarf. Will see how it looks...

Exhausted - hope you had a great day. Will look forward to the links later!

We went to our local Rememberance service and parade. I was pleased with DD - she was quiet, took it all in and generally v good. I wore purple fitted winter coat with blue and purple print scarf, worn with black boots and black COH skinnies- courtesy of Vin! There was a poor mum there with a little boy (2 years max) who basically kicked off big style for part of the service, drowning out the vicar, and carried on during the last post/silence. I felt so sorry for her, as she was trying to move away as quick as she could, but some people were giving her daggers....what she is supposed to do - suffocate him?!

HF - am impressed with your stamina and outfit!

Right, those on this thread for a while will have got thoroughly bored of me banging on about the M & S prada/Mad Men skirt I wanted. I have given up - it has been literally MONTHS since it first hit the press. The dress, however has finally arrived online, and I have bought it - here. The reviews are very positive, so I am looking forward to seeing if it lives up to the hype.