As we AVIDly await the joys of spring and the new fashion finds that it will bring, we WISEly contemplate our winter buys and return all goods that are unkind to the eyes

[macmama]

Couldn't resist!

Happy birthday for tomorrow, Reine.

Bloss, I am going to get that mascara, your eyes always look gorgeous ... but probably because you have beautiful eyes and not the make-up.

Hope you enjoy your nights out (or in).

Like the sound of raspberry, Verity and Fritzi.

Roary, sorry you had a bad week, hope your ds gets well soon.

Emo, not mad about the coat either, sorry.

FauxFox, my favourite belts are from Gap and a designer called Stoned and Waisted.

Sorry Plum, hadn't read your post properly. Peg-legs and Blochs sounds good, guess 7/8 skinnies would do the same kind of thing?

Verity - the vendor of the house we're buying is waiting for probate and her solicitors are being rather slow so I need to do some chasing next week.

Think it'll be a couple of months before we're in but have started looking at carpets and thinking about renovations which is rather exciting. Will definitely start a thread in property once we're in and will pick your brains a lot .

How goes your course and how long is it for?

emo For me that coat is not tailored enough, but maybe you need to try it on to know for sure if it is right for you.

plum Although I don't get lace I like that top. You could wear it with black skinnies and flats?

verity I crave pink clothes too. John Smedley knitwear is lovely and in raspberry, what's not to love. So satisfying to buy great stationary I think!

choo Enjoy your new scarf! DH got a call from LV that they have one on hold for me now but I decided against it as I need to invest in a pair of decent jeans and some other basics before splurging on scarves .

mrsjuan Feel the same about shops, so much winter tat and too early for spring/summer stuff. Got a colourful box of Lego for DD instead .

bloss or should we call you dollymix? Love your purchases. Get home safely!

DD is asleep and DH is out shopping for icecream essentials.

Some wonderful stuff you've all bagged! Plum - I hope you don't mind but I'm very tempted by that top. If I get it I promise to check before any meet ups (you get first dibs on wearing!)

emo - not sure what sort of shape you are? I can't get away with double breasted like that as I have a largish bust...makes me look huge.

I love that top too Plum

Would it be too slutty with a denim mini do you think? [restrains inner Liz Mcdonald]

hells, def. try it. Is very like the one that WIT alleged was Topshop, thought she kept linking to a completely different one. I shall check it out in store next week, as not sure of Reiss sizing.

redllama, I know exactly what you mean about day/evening lace. I think the Reiss top is okay, because it's quite a heavy cottony lace, and also is navy. I wouldn't wear black lace at all, even in evening, as have big boobs and would worry about looking 50-something-divorcee, and creamy/nude shades look shocking on me, and would also be too lingerie-ish-that'll be the boobs again!

On you, TB? Never!

I agree that you could never look slutty TB...

Plum - I did that with the WIT top - I got really annoyed with her!

Poor WIT - she was probably re-arranging her lingerie box and got a tad confused.

MM so sorry to hear your news . Come back soon though.

Emo I quite like that coat but I am a veritable coat fiend and am currently really liking that oversized car coat vibe. I find it really practical for putting on over chunky knits etc.

Verity I didn't buy a puffa in the end. I looked again at my H&M one and it really is quite good in terms of shape/cut so am going to wear it for the rest of this winter and look to get a £££ designer puffa next A/W. I think I will have to bite the bullet and pay full price early in the season as otherwise there is nothing left. I did buy this coat in the sales - is very oversized but not quite warm enough for current weather which is freezing atm.

So, for a very short time last week I was actually in the position of having no orders or parcels either pending/out for delivery or to return . It was a revelation and I actually realised how ever so slightly stressful I find all these online deliveries and take-backs
Obviously, it was only a brief interlude and I have since ordered these shorts (not received yet) and also taken delivery of a My Wardrobe order which was rather disappointing. Am I alone in not really seeing the point of £££ designer sheer and demi-sheer t-shirts. I mean if it's hot enough for a short sleeves I don't really want to wear a vest/camisole underneath too or am I wrong?

Has anyone got/tried this dress. Am not sure it can really be described as a dress - is demi sheer very thin and very short, definitely a top in my book . I like the bum covering shape but am not sure the elasticated waist sits right, was going to size up but is now sold out so not sure whether to keep .
Am keeping this which is a bit worky but I like how it is styled with boyf jeans and thought I could do similar come spring with leopard plimsolls/ballerinas?

Took the dds to the Natural History Museum yesterday. Was a v cold day and saw lots of faux fur jackets and coats in South Ken being worn very well with skinny black jeans/leggings and ankle boots. Now, I realise that I am coming to this look very late in the day, but have ordered this I think it will be all wrong, the plushness of the pile looks good but the colour looks all wrong - too light and therefore tacky but I think I just need to get it out of my system. Ridiculous really that I have ordered in the full knowledge that I will be carting it back to the post office the same day

Haven't been out to rl shops yet. Have an urge to try colour blocking for spring - although am struggling to see how this can work with winter boots/black so not yet. There is another thread on S&B re red cardigans which has made me desirous of one as would look good with breton stripes and thus bridge the winter/spring gap nicely no?

Plum - i like that lace tee. i would wear with either gold or silver jewelllery but the addition of grey patent shoes would push me towards silver iyswim.

mm am so sorry to hear of your loss

bloss you sound like you've had a marvellous day.

esher I have a very similar AV dress - you probably don't remember but I wore it to the Selfridges meet-up with a black cami and black leggings underneath. I do treat it as a tunic to be honest as it's just too sheer. Mine is linen cotton, beautifully light and skims everything nicely without adding bulk. So if your one does the same I'd say go for it! I also have a red cardi, a shortish fitted one. Good for adding a splash of colour to jeans/tee combo.

Oh yes, plum agree silver with that top. Like the sound of charcoal pegs too.

Esher - I feel the same about sheer tee-shirts...I still haven't worked out how best to wear them.

I agree - am also with Bloss in thinking there's really only so much I'm prepared to spend on a thin t-shirt.

Yes Tracey it's cotton but v good quality (needs to be for almost £300). Also slightly pleated so you need to roll it in a special LV way to store it. Are you tempted yet?

That's a lovely thing to say, thanks carciofi.
I've been home about an hour. Dh had missed me at least! He is now plying me with wine - probably excited at the prospect of black skinnies! A reminder of our indie youth! (Grunge not Goth here traceyb)!

Roll up in a special LV way - right thats done it - will be calling them on monday - its feb then isn't it?

[traceybath - a marketer's dream]

So sorry MM , I have also been thinking of you a lot. Un abbraccione.

I hate the delivery/returns thing, I'm not sure I'd shop ol for me at all if I was nearer London shops. Here I miss the 2 or 3 boutiques I relied on in Rome, and the massive Maxmara in via Condotti. But then when I was there I missed H&M, so the grass is always greener I suppose.

Fleecy you might have swayed me in favour of the AV tunic . You're right, it is lovely and fine and no bulk.

Hells - and when you wash them they turn into little scrunched up rags too! I only paid £15 each for them with the CLEAR20 code but I think I will return as will be another £30 to put towards D&G skirt f loveliness.

Tracey I saw that navy chiffon pleated skirt online but it's not a patch on the D&G one is it?

Forgot to say, was out with very old friends last week and we were discussing outfits/personal style etc (in context of buying birthday presents for eachother and having to assume the recipient's style personality in order to choose something appropriate bla bla bla) and oldest friend described my look as "Russian oligarch's girlfriend" - she assured me it was because I am alwaystrowelled in slap v glammed up when we go out. All I could think of was the fact that she said girlfriend read hooker rather than wife!

I do find RL shopping quite hard now. But think its because the better shops in Bath are tiny and the assistants are often just too helpful/pushy and I then feel pressurised.

So prefer to do it online and then deal with the hassle of returns.

And Esher I am so with you on the stress of having a pile to return.

In March I shall be looking for a grey t shirt to go with my new skinnies. But not one with a pocket. Velvet was so overpriced today.

Oh Esher that is priceless and presumably she meant that as a compliment

And yes the warehouse skirt was a touch flammable looking.

Bloss - I liked Hells' j crew t-shirt

Esher - your make was gorgeous in a 'beautiful but natural' sort of way when I saw you....so was that specially for us? And do you normally slap on the fake tan and pale lipstick when you are out and about with your girlfriends