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!)

okay, on the commando vibe, What about, not the VPL, but the VPHL????!!!!

I have seen this with my own eyes and it ain't pretty.

Roma - a lurker - similar boat here. Changed boss about 6 months back, gone from loving job to losing sleep, crap parenting - at work its bureaucracy, micro-managed, questioning constantly my competence. I have always been a star at work and this is completely undermining me.. My work is very specialised and limited in terms of where I can work. Husband says he will move to keep me happy - maybe Chester way - but we have a nice house, good friends, kids happy at school - is it worth toying with that ? I end up stuck in the I'm well qualified, competent etc - would go insane out of work but... what to do ? It seems really selfish and almost male to do that to my family.

As an aside, in Gap I got a silky double layered sleeveless top with b&w graphic pattern to go with skirts and trousers at work, with cardigans. Tucked and untucked. For 12 quid it seems really versatile - but no longer on the website.

My other great buy this weekend - a Planet long wool coat in grey wool, with white and pink check and fushia lining. 2nd hand and needs surgery but beautiful... Almost feels like it belongs to a W&A lady - there were 2 travelcards in the pocket for adult and child!

Bloss - no it was a couple of days ago I think. I just remembered as I wore one of the belts today (bought it to replace crappy belt that wouldn't stay done up that came with my new padded trench) and wondered f you had seen.
Will link again if you can't find/can't be arsed to trawl back!

Fleecy - link to skirt? Provided has enough gold to cream ratio am thinking black silky finish opaques would be good.

I have never bought as many shoes/boots as since joining this thread . What did anyone think of the shoeboots I linked to yesterday. I think Cake's Edelmans are nicer and have asked my sister to see if she can get me some as she is visiting from US this weekend. But if she fails in quest I may go for these. Heel height on both appears to be the same.

Cake/Choo - were your Edelmans true to size? Am usually a 37 and have asked sis to buy a US 7.

Roma, I think it's great. There's way too much Methodist heritage in me and am a bit of a prude.

esher, couldn't find your links. Will look on laptop tomorrow. I am copying you today with shiny nails, Saville Riw by nails Inc.

Roma now I remember one of your first posts. Model, Oxbridge, languages - you have amazing credentials and sound wonderful. What would you like to do?

Keep meaning to say hf, well done you, but get some sleep!!!

ltec, what?

Argh VPHL-LTEC- There was exactly such a thing on display at my BILs wedding. Dh's eyes were out on stalks.....(not in a lustful way, more a OMG moment.) Same lady also had clear plastic stripper heels in. In fact that whole wedding was 'interesting'.

Visible. Pubic. Hair. Line.

true to size esher, 41 is just right on me

Bloss

this one

and this one

remember to size up to go over bulk of coat - I didn't!

I have kept the first one as my coat is pale khaki so it looks good. The second one was really lovely but the S was a bit too small to go over my coat! The good thing about both of these is that because of the loop back detail either side of buckle I can attach them to belt loops of my coat so the belt doesn't slip out everytime I take it off/undo it. Cunning huh?

Glad you have lovely nails - I don't think I've has mine done since meet-up and am crap at doing it myself so they are currently bare. You being inspired by me has inspired me to go and get mine done again this week! Off to google Saville Row.....

Now thats a look isn't it

Mentally adds brazilian wax to list of jobs to get done before wearing new frock

A hollywood would do it cake?

Shuddered at VPHL - yuck!

Skirt is here

I'm just worried it might be a bit too cream to look good with black top and tights? But bare (fake) golden legs might be nice - with what colour top?

If I can't get it to work, I'll just sell it again but would like to try!

I really like that Fleecy.

Great shopping exhaustedn!

ltec, did you not read my Methodist post?!

esher, get it free with Glamour. It's like raisin.

Marsha I can speak Mandarin, Russian, French and Italian, and have much nicer clothes than everyone else at work (esp on Fridays ). I do have a degree from Oxford and Masters from SOAS too. Can't really talk about work on here, but if I ever make it to a meet up I'll tell you everything, this thread seems to be full of wise ladies in more ways than one. NY I was thinking coaching actually, which I quite enjoy. My dream job would be novelist: 8-12 writing in my study, then the rest of the day for everything else. I would get another dog and a couple of cats

I want a professional activity which I enjoy and which makes a living wage in not too many hours per day, so I can garden and make things and have fun with the boys etc. I feel nauseous at the idea of work tomorrow

Fleecy- I think you could wear that top with thick black lace tights and black top. Or bare legs and plain fitted white T/top?

See! You are incredible!!

You really, really deserve to do something you love.

I hope your can find time to develop something else. It would be possible as your children are at school.

esher, they're just what I'm looking for only in a different colour. My parka is deepest navy blue so I'm thinking dark grey (how predictable!) or black. I've no belt loops. It's a great coat though. It was in my bag at meet up, rolls really small, doesn't crease. I feel frumpy teacher in it a bit so I was pleased to see parkas on wit, and think belting it is the way forward.

I went to bed last night shuddering at wee holes in spanx and arrive back tonight to read about VPHL and dampness issues while going commando!

Vin have missed your pics!

FUnnily enough I had to give a talk to women in college Friday about Being a Woman and Working and wore Gap Foolihans (or Houlilikes), Jigsaw Breton, Lily and Lionel Red Leopard, denim jacket, and leopard shoes and got lots of compliments from all the students and a whole group of ITalian students staring at my feet. Felt v chuffed.

Must go fold the laundry but MrsJ our freezer up and died in JULY and it was a nightmare, we had all sorts of frozen food I'd cooked for us and DD.

Roma poor, poor you - especially tough as it sounds from your previous posts as though you really need to work outside the home. ALthough saying that you've sounded miserable in your job since you started!

Do we have a post XMas meet up planned? Have I missed the discussion? Can I vote for a midweek one, as our weekends are a bit precious with DH working like a madman at the moment.

I have black lace but never would have thought - will try when it arrives. Also black silky opaques and various silky tees. Fingers crossed!

Glad you have a good day, even if it all went a bit chaotic upon your return exhausted

roma Hope you find a solution soon.

bloss where did you get your Barbour Cameron from? Would you recommend? Was looking at the featherweight Grace here as it's machine washable, waterproof and has a hood. Not too worried about warmth as I tend to layer up and wear a lighter jacket most of the time. Just don't have a hooded waterproof one and our nanny is leaving us next month after two whole years so I will be doing a lot more nursery runs.

vin You are beautiful! And your DCs too.

roary Well done on outfit compliments.

roma I'm impressed by all the languages you speak and your other qualifications too. There surely must be a better job for you.

I seems that it is delurking season: Hello and welcome to all the new girls!

this one looks good Bloss