Karl, Marc and Oscar might be three WISE men, but if it's AVID women you're after, this is the place

[PlumSykes]

new thread

Oh W & A ladies, I need your assistance please :)

DH and I are finally having a honeymoon ........ we only got married 10 years ago :o

We are off to the Maldives. It has been a seriously long time since I went on a "posh" holiday and I am just looking for some reassurance on my packing.

Evenings I have sorted: I have a variety of jersey dresses (one shouldered/couple of maxis - one strapless/draped, grecian style etc. I was planning on mixing these with simple gold or silver jewellery. Shoe wise I am packing a pair of flip-flops and both silver and gold flat leather sandals.

But day times: apart from bikinis and beach cover ups (white beaded kaftan and a strapless beach dress) am I going to need anything else?

I don't plan on doing much else than sunbathing but it seems like an awfully light packing list! I guess I have got used to packing shorts and skirts for day times when on summer hols with DCs but am thinking they are somewhat superfluous in this instance?

hells Glad to hear that the fake fur is great. Think it is better that it is obvious fake than trying too hard to look real IYSWIM. I'm still waiting for my Asos delivery.

ollie Poor DS! Your boys are so brave though.

tulpe Holiday wardrobe sounds great. I would pack a pair of short and some tanks anyway. Maybe you decide to go on a boat trip or some other activity and dresses seem always a bit difficult for that.

macmama Your holiday break sounds perfect.

Hi Tulpe - wow - lucky you. How wonderful! I think it sounds like you have the packing spot on - love the sound of your eveningwear. I'd throw inone more cover up(or buy at airport!) cos mine always end up covered in sunlotion by the end of the week and look a bit grubby!

Have you got lots of nice beach reading material - on a kindle perhaps?

I have returned the purple Donna. Maybe if it had been black I would have kept but I just found the fabric too thin. I have been spoiled by my thick LK Bennett dresses which sort of hold everything in. Am keeping this (which I got for £50). Its very nicely made.

Have just done an Asos order ? no leather skirt but both boots and some cheeky monkey jeans in 2 sizes ? will see what I think and send back whatever I don?t like.

Must stop spending!!!!

Ollie your poor DS!
Tulpe personally I would take shorts and a tank or two but I love shorts!

Fritzi - good idea about the shorts and tanks. I have some navy ones which sit just above mid-thigh and they would work well.

OWW - yup am the same with lotion etc so will pack another cover up.

Not bought my reading material yet and in fact DH and I had "the kindle conversation" just after christmas......he suggested it would be a great idea for me to have one as I always buy heaps of books at the airport and generally am an avid reader. However, in my heart I feel it is a total travesty to read a book which isn't actually in book form! I am very old fashioned, love my books and love the feel & smell of them. Weird I know!

I am also planning on taking lots of pamper products as I (gulps and whispers) turn 40 whilst we are away......have a fear I am going to wake up on that morning looking suddenly more haggard than usual!! Any favourites that I should take?

Tulpe - I went to the Maldives a few years ago, and would say shorts/tops are handy if you want to go on a boat trip. If you are not diving/snorkelling, there is not that much to do, so a couple of trips can be good. (Not saying this as a criticism of the destination btw - we had a fabulous time!!)

Also, sometimes you have the opprtunity to go on a trip to the local islands. Generally you are asked to dress modestly, so a long skirt/dress, plus a light cover-up to cover shoulders and upper arms (cardie/top that you would probably have with you for the plane anyway?) There were a couple of ladies who wore some pretty inappropriate things to visit places, having been told that 'modest dress' was the code. Made me a bit and I don't think they actually felt that comfortable either tbh.

Maxis and lovely flats sound perfect. Am very

Catching up on the thread - everything - good luck with your new life!
cake - sorry about your hair - I have had alopecia before (lost 2/3rds of my hair) and also get psoriasis...

In my case it was caused by stress - I have eczema now caused by stress. Luckily for me my hair is so crazy thick when I lost all the hair you couldn't really tell unless you knew what it is normally like. Its horrible though.

notyummy - had planned on wearing a maxi with a wrap or cardigan if visiting the local islands. I too have in the past been pretty amazed at others' interpretation of "modest dress"!

TBH, the not having much to do is the thing I am looking forward to most :) DH and I really need some couple time. He has one of those jobs where he is never really off duty (I'd like to meet the inventor of the BlackBerry and smack them repeatedly over the head with it )

tulpe-wardrobe for Maldives sounds fab....lucky you! Agree tanks and shorts good too...

40's nothing... I'm 41

I recommend Aveda hair and body products, especially in the sun, and I always use Clarins SPF30 on my face. (It smells gorgeous and is very creamy)...

Yes, afraid the Blackberry inventor is not a popular bloke...got to be a bloke!

Oh, ouch OWW....hope he's okay.....

Hi dolce, great that you are back on the thread!

bonsoir Your holiday organisation sounds really complicated. I admire how generous and graceful you handle the whole thing. Love your DD's glasses!

tulpe I could never replace my books with an electronic reading device. Hope your DH's blackberry falls into the pool as soon as you arrive .

abo Hope you get everything sorted soon!

Oh oww how horrid for you. Lovely to see a photo of you btw

Thanks re my card. The woman at the bank said I should use a credit not a debit card for online purchases so that if this kind of thing happens it affects only your one card, not access to your current account. Is that what others on here do? I don't use a credit card because I return lots and it never seems to work with timings - I end up having to pay off the credit card, then getting a refund onto a card I then don't use for ages.

And on the subject of buying online... any thoughts about this dress please ladies?

I know what you mean about wanting to feel "held in" mac - I can't wear my anglomania dress without serious reinforcing underwear. I wonder if it's the thinness of the material that makes the draping so good?

oww, those boys sure put you through the mill don't they?
tulpe, I agree with dolcee, 40's nothing. At least you'll have a great bikini bod. How's the tum looking these days? (Very envious. On day 4 of 'six pack' and said six pack still missing in action).

I think you need more form fitting dresses abo. Do you like that dress just cos its reduced??
I use my credit card always when buying online.

ABO - Love that dress.

OWW - Ouch! Hope is her is OK.

tulpe - would this be of use??

DH surprised me with a Kindle for Christmas - I never would have bought one but I love it already and it will certainly be handing for holiday packing

handy

Hope He is ok!!

OWW poor DS! I loved the pics of you and your boys.

tulpe can I join you in beating up the blackberry inventor? DH is self employed and is literally never separated from his and never turns it off which drives me mad. Your holiday sounds wonderful, have a lovely time.

notyummy how's DD doing? Just reading about her injury made me wince. Can you add me to the list for the meet up please? I don't need accommodation.

tracey lovely LV scarves, I'm v tempted but might go for a lily and lionel one instead. They've got some lovely leopard colour variations here

Is anyone else really bored of wrapping up in winter clothes?

lol bloss! It does look pretty clingy to me, and it's a good autumn colour... but I suspect there is an element of me-wanting-to-look-like-the-model which deep down I know an hourglass is never going to do!

Hi all.

Right - hotels again. Clear feedback is that location wise people are pretty keen for Marylebone/Mayfair area. Radisson Blu - great location, but one of the worst customer ratings for similar standard hotels in that area on a number of sites. Could be dodgy?

Alternatives then, in the same area, but with better ratings (and similar facilities)All (roughly!) within original stated budget:

The Landmark.

Melia House.

Thistle.

Hilton Metropole.

As before - PM me with any thoughts!

Fritzi - will be sending DH's blackberry out for a swim in the Indian Ocean on arrival

Blossoming - what's the "6 pack" regime then? bless you for remembering my tum :) It is in great shape thank you. It took a while to settle down - swelling and fluid retention - but the surgeon did a brilliant job and my tummy button now feels like it belongs to me again (v weird to suddenly be presented with a totally different belly button to the one you were born with!). It really is fab to finally feel proud in a bikini - I have 6 of them in my case. And I daren't total up my lingerie spend for the last few months

AllBuggiedOut and mac - if you are both Anglomania fans it might be worth your while having a quick look around Anthropologie. DH bought me two gorgeous dresses in the sale which are very Vivienne Westwood - lots of draping and twisted bits (so technical!)

OWW Sorry to hear about you DS - blood is always disconcerting with the little ones.

I bought this coat today in marle grey, what do you ladies think?

Am going to london for a days shopping on the 15th so I now need to sit on my hands and stop shopping until then!

kildare, I really like that coat.
tulpe, I'm doing this dvd.