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!)

sorry about typos today!

Gosh - the fantasy meet up is going to be the event of the year. I am actually now stressing that I haven't found a fantasy dress to link to (as you've all nabbed the best!) - imagine what I will be like when I have to plan something real to wear . Particular note to yangy's bling tastic outfit

Bunny - sorry you were in pain yesterday - I hope it's eased...and Tracey sorry to about the house but for some reason these things always work out to be for the best in the long run. Esher - house and school woes abound - I hope you get respite soon.

LTEC - enjoy! You deserve this time out so much - I love the Mellon cut and if you do get a chance to get that done - what joy.

Plum - it's so unlike you to be down and I think it is the fault (as Tracey so rightly says) of all that horrid strip lighting and nasty shop changing rooms. In my mental image of you - you are perfect

Yangy - great bargain on the dress. Sorry you are stressing about DH being away. We will all be here to soothe you with A&W retail therapy.

Vino - wow to the compliment (also to LTEC)....and much deserved - that dress is fabulous.

Fritzi - belated happy birthday - what perfect presents you lucky lady.

Choo - snap! I too have the cake inspired Edelmans.

So my avid news. Night out was lovely but oddly tiring...I think it was the very act of going out on a weds after stressful week. Everyone was heavy eyed. But still fun.

A big thank you for the advice on DD's coat. The red one is gorgeous, snuggly and the most divine colour...real ruby red.

Plum - I have to admit to being disappointed with the quality of red direct necklace - I will be interested to hear if you think I'm being fussy or if you agree.

In the search for the perfect black jeans I tried on jbrand, 7 for all mankind and nudie.

the jbrands were fine but very expensive, 7's hideous on me as they are a jegging but the nudie are great and keepers. Good price and great fit.

ollie, are you still around? I need an opinion (anyone else feel free!)
I have finished cutting out my scottie dog aprons and washbags, and have quite a lot of scottie dogs left. I have appliqued one on a handtowel and think it looks good. Could you look on my profile and see whether you like? I can buy handtowels for £1.80 each. So cheap to make really. Thankyou, and sorry for hijacking. Again.

Over 150 posts on the new thread already! How will I ever be able to catch up!? Had a lovely birthday dinner with DD and DH yesterday. The best thing was that I picked up parcel from MW from the post office yesterday and got Gap delivery in the afternoon. This was my birthday outfit (of course with obligatory Falke tights) and I felt great: Ash wedge ankle boots and Gap merino sweater dress in grey. Thanks whoever pointed me in the direction of dress and shoes, both are lovely and so comfortable.

Ugh sorry...what is this gossip?

Missed loads already...what filthy weather.

Babington sounds cool Cake....deffo up for that!

Marsha- I always start out with fab intentions of having people with toddlers round and with a few exceptions, often feel frazzled and territorial after a few hours of their company chez nous...I hope I have good manners enough to conceal this, but am afraid that sometimes the mask slips a little!

For the ultimate christmas party ensemble to wear to our fantasy party it would have to be Chanel couture for me.....

bloss Yesyes to dog towels! I know you asked ollie but I would deffo buy one.

bloss - handtowel looks fab! Also you could do flannels? I know DD would love a flannel like that.

Fritzi - fab outfit. I think Cake found the dress originally (I did link though )

Everything - you get the prize for the most expensive outfit! THough Dolcee will come close if she insists on wearing her Chanel Couture!

I must find something to wear to this glittering party too.

Dolce I admit I am in a rather bizarrely calm stage with chubby 11month and 5.5 year old. But am a bit tired, so was quite unused to the squealing etc! And it was rather a heavy chat which I didn't quite feel up to. Hey ho relaxing now listening to a snoring baby .

And now can indulge in all your lovely links

Everything - you win the prize for the most fantasy cash splashed so far!

Thanks fritzi, it was a general question. I thought ollie would be less likely to roll her eyes and go, that bloss and her stall again though!!
Glad you had a lovely day. You know you have a fantasy outfit to organize for fantasy a&w party don't you?!

Lovely dress vino.

Will look at your links on pc later everything.

Back from the school run - its blowing a gale outside and throwing it down with rain too. Supposed to be going out with DDs for St Martin at 6pm (carrying lanterns, collecting sweets from neighbours) - wonder if I can persuade them to stay home and have fun handing out the sweets to callers instead! Doubt it.

Bloss - those towels are so, so lovely! I would/will buy one. How clever of you to think of it - great profit on them too. Who needs Kirstie Allsop when we have our Bloss! Such great material - if you have any old wooden photo frames knocking about, paint them white and put a square of material with one of the dogs in it and mount on some contrasting card - those sort of things are v popular over here and a good way to use up scraps?

Any views on the MV dress - or am I way off the mark?

Thanks hells, I already have white flannels on order!

OOoh yes to flannels too - good idea Hells.

yes Marsha, I think when you are tired it can amplify things somewhat! Our house is quite noisy now...well, very actually...completely normal as we have 4 yo, 3yo and 13 month old! But I am used to it! We used to have a very calm, boring zen-like life before....!

It is bizarre for me looking at my baby to think that when my eldest was her age I had a 4 week old too!!! Now that seems crazy....

Bloss - towels look fab - you are very clever indeed.

EIE - loving that outfit

Once when sat in the endless bf a newborn stage with DD - I sat on nap and just added everything I liked to my virtual basket - lordy it adds up quickly. Obviously I didn't buy any of it though she adds for lurkers who seem to think we're all spending all our money on shoes whilst neglecting to feed our children

It is such horrid weather here that the idea of going out tonight is so not appealing but will force myself.

With that must go and google face-painting since I have never done it and will be doing it at the xmas fayre - any of you done it before and got any tips? Am guessing that 5 year olds are going to want to look like a butterfly rather than have a good smokey eye

OWW I like MV dress as I like those sludgey colours but have never seen any of their stuff in RL so have no idea as to fit/quality.

Wow. Yes the squealing. It even reduced the baby to tears in shock. and the mine, mine, snatch.

Actually I can handle all that I just wasn't prepared for the heavy chat! I am so used to oh hi laugh yes you look great flighty chat am out of here etc on school run I got dumped on a bit. Children, they are not a problem really.

It can be noisy as long as it's light and airy. Just like this thread.

Lol at a good smokey eye

bunny Hope your back doesn't hurt too much. Not long now! Rest!

yangy Well done on ebay leopard dress. Sorry you are stressed!

Sorry no time to indulge in dresses for imaginary party. You lot can dress me. Failing that I would steal cake's swan dress (I wouldn't dare really...).

tracey House hunting is such an emotional rollercoaster. You'll find your house soon I hope.

esher Hope it will be warm again in your house again soon. What happened to your roof? I can't bear the cold. Sorry to hear about worries with DD's school.

plum I have often had shopping trips like you described. You look so forward to RL shopping and then nothing fits, is not in stock etc etc. Well done on the Christmas shopping though! Give yourself a pat on the back. It's only November! Lovely shops with children's clothes and little boutiques in Berlin. Tell me next time DH is in Berlin I'll mail you a list . Unless you're a fan of flashing pens too. Love WIT too but I can't believe that she really goes out barefoot while she is wearing a coat on top. Looks great but I would freeze to death.

DT I have Trialmasters and they're great. Fingers crossed they fit!

cake What did you decide to wear for your afternoon of freedom?

apuski I'm sure you'll look fabulous at meet-up. You are tall and thin! Just hide the lumpy bits (if there are any which I doubt).

vin Send P to get coat for DS! Is the Tiffany shop in the rotunda building in Canary Wharf/ground floor? Feel a bit nostalgic that they closed the Gap kids. Used to live on Isle of Dogs when we first came to London and there were not that many shops in Canary Wharf. I bought a lot of stuff for my nephew who was a baby.

marsha Hope you have recovered from visiting toddler.

carciofi Hope everything is ok at hospital appointment.

Can someone please enlighten me about the gossip?

Just back from succesful trip to Gap with voucher (sorry yours wasn't vin ). I think others have this red dress and Apuski wondered whether it might be a cheap and cheerful option for you too? Will be good layered I think. This in navajo red will work well with shorts and opaques. This top in mistletoe was nice but too thin for winter so stayed in the shop .

bloss think the towels are cute. Good work!

Looks like the rain has eased so may not have go get all wellied up for school run, yay!

aaaagh ok- to deliver documents do I spend a fortune on a courier or jump on train (only 30 mins away?) hmmm

HAve just been out and back again- what is it with this weather? I am having a skin disaster I have never had before. was doing work when suddenly my lip started bleeding yuuuck! And my eyelids are painful and have started peeling how gross is that? Is that central heating? stress? any miracle cures? eugh it's horrid

(sorry tmi!)

Fritzi have pm'ed you (it is pretty grubby gossip and not that interesting at all, but the pm'ing facility is a fab thing!)

I just tried to find who else wanted to be pm'ed but can't see it... let me know and will do it.

oh ABO - I must try and go this afternoon to give me energy for mammoth school run. Good haul.

Fritzi - have PM'd you.

Tracey - oh dear - who's been a'lurking now? Good look with faceapaints. DD's waking so I better go.

Sorry, slow reponse, baby sicked up again [sigh].

NY, thank you - I think a little too demure. My problem is I'm not sure what exactly I'm looking for.

So after much trawling I have concluded that I am too out of the loop of what will look good on me to shop online, so I will venture into town tomorrow to do lots of trying on. Bloss I will go to Phase 8 to try on the feathers dress, and the janice dress while I'm there!

Fritzi, I'm tempted by those boots!