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!)

great shopping exhausted. And well done on the ebay skirt fleecy. I bought the Halstonesque dress, btw. Will report back.

Roma - am sure world is your oyster. Hope you get it sorted for the best.

Sunday TImes Style supp - eye was drawn to lovely peacock brooch. £3 from Primark!! Not sure I can be bothered to go a-hunting for it, but it's cute.

esher and tracey - what say you to my lurex sweater and leather leggings fancy? Should I could I would I?

Right, basta. Sofa time with dh. Hope everyone enjoys a good start to the week.

Lurex sweater and leather leggings - whats not to love

Roma - lordy you are uber-impressive But horrid to feel nauseous about work.

Give it all up and write a novel

I have a Cameron too - I bought mine in Harrods !!

I'm with Tracey, LTEC
leather leggings - tick
lurex sweater - tick
I'm there

Show me the lurex sweater you have in mind - the sequinny M&S one I linked to yesterday is okay - or at least it would be if it was 2 sizes bigger and I can't get one as they only had size 8 or size 18 in store and it isn't online
I have tried and liked the metallic chainmail sweaters in whistles but they are £££ and not long/slouchy enough. but I do like the yarn. I have also had this in my saved items for a while now. Close, but no cigar.

exhausted that is so kind of you! thank you. Will pm you.

esher and tracey it's this but looks better on the Selfo's site Weirdly, I remembered it as being £190 ... £110, now that I can do.

It looked good I think

What do you reckon?

Right off out with fam and Uncle and Uncle tomorrow which is always fantastic but must get beauty sleep - you know gay men, they'll be looking!! Good night!

Hee hee everything good one. I stll want a Celine leather skirt (or one that looks like it).

Ds like a koala in the night, plus bfding lots which is helping. Didn't give calpol or anything - does any one else not use it much?

Great day here with old school friend. Will be a laugh. Might go for navy V Bruno dress and mj boots. (ds on me asleep, am so awake!)

I never used to use Calpol much - only if really needed. My friend used to give her baby Calpol if she so much as breathed a bit heavily. She developed quite a taste for it and even at age of 8 would ask for some before she went to bed to help her sleep .

Morning.

Exhausted - like the blouses you got on your shopping trip - always a shame to return to real like at home tho esp when it involves ironing!
Romanrama - your job sounds so draining. This may not be your thing (and it looks a bit more formal than the one I go to) but think this networking organisation is similar to the one I have joined and is near you? May just provide some ideas for any future business you set up? Mine has several women that have set up on their own as coaches in various fields - including a sex coach here

Know we've spoken about this before but DH and I have decided I need an allowance! I still have a huge guilt thing about spending his money - even tho he is v good about not being sniffy about the bank statements each month - unless I've gone a bit mad. I just feel I deny myself more expensive things cos I worry about his reaction (he splurges on suits and shoes once a year and the rest of the time his casual clothes just seem to last and last so he doesnt really do shopping!). We figured that if I had an allowance in a seperate account, even tho it comes from his salary, I would feel more ownership of it - does that make sense? I could save up for something big and not feel guilty. Now we have to figure out how much! Those of you with allowances - is it purely for you (clothes, books, lunches out etc)?
BTW - I justfied a second pair of Kew boots by reasoning that I could use the money I'd saved by the cleaner not turning up for 5 weeks out of 6 - where there's a will there's a way and all that!

Morning all. Thanks for the belt link esher. It looks perfect.
fleecy, I got my Barbour from www.barbouronline.com. I like it very much, although I could do with another cm on the sleeve.
ltec, think you will look great in that outfit.

Murky and cold here today. At least we had a gorgeous autumn day yesterday for brisk walk and duck feeding. Unlike London it seems!

fritzi, I am evangelical when I find something that works as you've realised! Shred, colours ..!

ollie, that's what we do and it's a perfect solution. Then he never need know how much you spend on certain items. Great you got the boots.
I feel polished and professional with my nails painted. Why don't I do it more often?
I'm thinking I'd like to start a blog. There's lots I want to write about, ie my sewing and even bereavement and it is unfair to lump it all on you lot all the time!

Thanks Dexter. Dh was keen I wasn't sure, then didn't. But lots of cuddles and bf'ding seem to have helped loads . He is playing happily.

Ollie sounds good, we don't do an allowance as we are more ad-hoc than that. ie dh covers everything and splurges on me sometimes, and I have my own bank account for income. But feeling happy with finances is important imo.

What a good idea OWW, thanks! That would be a good way of making some contacts outside my field, and possibly finding something else to do. Truth be told a big issue is that I want to work part time - it's not exactly easy to find an employer who wants to hire someone part time! If I was confident I was good enough then I'd quit and write instead, but there's a bit step to take before I get there.

Well done with the boots OWW. I always feel stingily pleased when the cleaner doesn't show these days too! How daft. I realise that I spend close to 1500 euros per month between cleaner/au pair/school bus that I wouldn't need to spend if I didn't have a job. I'd still have cleaner/babysitter, but since our occasional babysitter used to do the cleaning and ironing while we were out in the evening, I reckon I could do the lot for 500 euros per month easily.

One of my friends has just become a painter! She hadn't painted a thing since she was a teenager, but she just started for fun a couple of months ago, and she's got 2 commissions! How nice, right?

I'm not sure about the allowance thing - why don't you just do all the household budgeting, then you know what's left over? We just have joint a/c's and both cry over our tax bills etc together. But we don't have any notion of separate things (though I can't stand it when dh borrows my toothbrush/bathrobe - that's about it!). I know some people keep all assets separate.

Oh and I have access to dh's acc. But he doesn't to mine.

Oh you lot have had me in stitches! The 'damp' question, and what was it Cake, VPHL...? Neither a problem in my case but depends on the individual I suppose.

Tracey the idea of someone sellotaping their nipples is hilarious...

Now, have night out coming up...thinking black short tux, drapey sequin top, grey super skintight skinnies and black high ankle boots...? Thoughts....

Oh Tracey- did love the I love Gorgeous dress you linked to...

OWW - I have an allowance and it is just for me, as I have access to dh's account for shopping etc. Bloss is right, you can then spread costs as you see fit and have ownership of 'your' money.

Bloss - You never dump on us...it's great to share your thoughts/feelings if you feel the need....

Bloss a blog full of your pretty craft would be lovely to look at, but I agree with Dolce you are not dumping at all. Please don't feel you are

Why thank you dolcee. Your outfit sounds gorgeous, as usual. Post a photo why don't you then we can dissect?
I am eating soup already. Why am I so hungry on Mondays?

And that outfit sounds ace Dolce!

Thanks marsha.

Redllama, congrats on your dd.

Vino, you and your ds are gorgeous and your little dd was a beauty.

I have to admit to having an Orla Kiely bag but only as a swimming bag so please don't kick me off the thread!

Yes, Bloss, please feel free to write whatever you want.

Ollie, when I gave up work, DH set up a weekly allowance for me, he buys me the odd big thing but the allowance is for tops/makeup or whatever. He pays for everything else and I use the credit card for food/stuff for dd.

LTEC, leather leggings and lurex is a yes from me. And leopard print and stripes. :)

Do you think the Anya Hindmarch red bag is nicer than this Mulberry messenger?

carciofi, I much prefer the Anya. I love the colour, the slightly different cross body strap, and the pockets. It would be very useful indeed I think. The mulberry, is not for me. It looks like a duffel bag, and the colour is difficult to match. Hope that's the right answer!

Bloss, thanks, that's the right answer! I already have an small oak Bayswater which is similar in colour.

Definitely the Anya.

Quick question of you very stylish ladies - what is the verdict on shirt dresses like this?

I am desperate to get dresses into my life but I'm struggling as so many make me look pg - so I'm thinking looser fit dress but cinched in with a belt might be an option?

No idea really what I am doing so any help appreciated !