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!

Morning!

Just marking my place before I head into town, but will be back later for Gypsy Kitchen Aid chat.

Pip pip!

Gosh, zillions of posts and a new thread since I was last here. Went to London for the day yesterday with DP's cousin's eldest DD for an open day for the Foundation course at Camberwell College of Art - this was an experience depressingly devoid of Style & Beauty (why do British 17/18 year olds look quite so dreadful? and let me not comment on the appearance of the local population...) and I shall need to go shopping today to cheer myself up! Fortunately I have a post-drop off breakfast for mothers from DD's class here at home tomorrow morning which is a good excuse to buy tea at Mariage Frères and lots of nice biscuits!

Followed my own advice and had a slice of cake at St Pancras in lieu of dinner. Fine, but I want a proper meal now - curry and rice or sushi or something!

I am very of glamorous kitchen appliances. I don't have enough kitchen surfaces - this is what comes of squeezing a six-person kitchen table into a kitchen never designed to be eat-in - and have to go easy on the gadgets. Otherwise I'd have a brightly coloured Kitchen Aid on display at all times like a shot .

Roma and all other French speakers - I read Laure Adler's biography of Françoise Giroud on the Eurostar yesterday. Very interesting perspective on French feminism, even though the book was overall far too descriptive (had to skip über-dull chapters on Mitterand era) and insufficiently analytical/insightful.

Good morning ladies.

Early morning yoga vs early morning tea and biscuits at Bonsoir's, I'm torn

tracey, I watched SW on iplayer and quite enjoyed it. Like NY I knew Harry wasn't dead so it wasn't quite so harrowing.

NY your outfit today sounds perfect. Enjoy the 'do' and remember to read an improving book on the train .

Hells, I have to admit to laughing at just how much your day yesterday ran astray . It's not really my fault, it's the 'way you tell 'em'.

Have good days all.

Oh Apuski . I can't look at photos of DS before 4 months as he was born with a huge haemotoma on his face as a result of bad birth. I could never work out at the time why people were staring - I guess you tend not to see it when you're right in the middle of it.

NY you sound to be having a hectic week, hope you enjoy the do this evening, outfit sounds lovely.

Bonsoir, imagine S&B is the very last thing on an applicant to Camberwell's mind. Doing all it takes to stand out from the crowd is the important thing amongst that tribe.

Lol Bonsoir

Camberwell art college is approx 2 mins from the house we lived in for 6 years (and still own) Even now we live about 10mins away and I am in cambers maybe x4 a week.

I am one of one of the well- heeled population of whom you speak!!

A quick post from work to get your views on my new lace top.

The lace is so delicate and I like the fact that it's leafy not floral, but am unsure how to style it. Is it mumsy? Should I take it back?

Photos on profile... I've styled it how I might wear it to work, but what else could I do with it...?

Hope you enjoyed the yoga fritzi. I'm enjoying a change from The Shred with Jillian's boost metabloism and banish fat DVD. The whole workout is over 40 mins (+ warm up and cooldown) so I only do half of it each day, but better than nothing!

apuski. But I hope this means that you are now able to relax and enjoy little A, safe in the knowledge that you made him better.

TANOoooh the leaf lace is lovely, but I'm not sure about the blue underneath it. Could you wear cream/flesh coloured under it? This if it works like that it would look good dressed down with skinnies too.

I didn't see all of the Gypsies programme; was it me, or did the girl with the pink butterfly/lighting up dress look distinctly underwhelmed by it?

I think the top is pretty, but I am not sure about it with that skirt tbh. It looks like it would perhaps work better with a more casual outfit, so it looks slightly edgier...perhaps skinnies, as already suggested?

?17 per cent are hoarding particular styles in the hope of a fashion revival.?

Haha that is so true. ALthough now I tell myself I am saving them for DDs - As I remember being cross with my mum for not foreseeing that all her sixties mini dresses were going to come back in style while I was a teenager...

I have actually just given away 3 pairs of jeans recently so am feeling virtuous.

bonsoir? In Camberwell?

Like LTEC I know Camberwell very well ? my old stomping ground (for LTEC my bar of choice was Funky Munkys in the early noughties ). DH has even more ties particularly to said institution...

Vavavoom Ooh you are a fox!

I am going to go against grain and say I like the outfit but would probably wear a pale coloured vest/camisole underneath rather than black especially with the neutral heels.

Me too mac Am hording lots in the hope of a revival and/or for dressing up purposes

Did sell one of said unworn pairs of shoes on e-bay at the weekend though.

Quick update oncouple of things/ answers to questions:

Red am not going to buy that stripe nap dress, am going to stick to denim mini/ Breton top combo plus wear stripe Janice into the ground.

Choo the Asos Diaz is not bad for the price, fabric certainly heavy enough to drape, hang and skim well. Great colour, sizing good. Would keep if I needed more work clothes but gave decided to return as I have enough given my limited face to face work time

Finally navy lovers: warehouse have a very nice long sleeve top in quite delicate lace, with a button detail to shoulder. Buttons look a bit shiny and cheap, would replace. £35.

Oooh looking forward to seeing your pics later

Op beauty going well, gosh I look about 26!

Does everyone not have a box of beautiful myla lingerie for when one becomes [hushed reverential voice] a wife!

everything agree that comment re the married women underwear particularly nutty and almost enough to put me off the blog altogether !
I actually like the Marni skirt and clearly it is supposed to be frayed but probably nicer if it wasn?t.... I prefer this (not in my size tho!)

pmsl tracey

reverential alright!

and is it just me who would relish a chance to revisit the inner sanctum of her bathroom a couple of kids down the line ... ?

Early morning yoga with about 10 other people who were tying themselves up into pretzels, standing on their heads and so on. In the meantime I did sun salutation after sun salutation and my lack of upper body strength is shocking. I also can't get the breathing thing right, but it still felt good and was a nice way to start the day.

notyummy Busy week for you. Like the sound of your outfit. Have fun tonight!

I'm a bit irritated about WIT's lingerie box. I just can't see what might be the idea behind this bizarre concept .

cake Careful with the beautifying or you might end up looking so young that you won't be allowed a drink at meet-up .

bonsoir So kind of you to support your DH's niece with her application.

ohh I'm not a fan of lace in general but agree with others that your top might benefit from lighter camisole worn underneath. Love your skirt though!

apuski Don't beat yourself up about it. You did everything you could for DS and he is fine now and that is all that counts!

I might even contemplate getting married if if meant a free rein forever in La Perla .

WIT is Italian so I think her thoughts on such things might be culturally a little different to the English.

fritzi - yoga sounds a very good idea. I really should try it. Trouble is, the only yoga places I have found in Paris are really full-on incense clouded Indians in loin cloths sorts of places. I just can't

bonsoir I have heard good things about this yoga place in Paris. Don't know if it is anywhere near where you live but they have early morning classes too where you usually can just drop in whenever it is convenient for you.

fritzi - that place is just round the corner from where I lived for 10 years. I live a very long way from there now, however.

Hmm. Like you, my upper body (shoulders, back, tummy, arms) could do with strengthening...

bonsoir If you don't like the studios in your neighbourhood, maybe you could find a teacher and have some private lessons at home to get started and see if you like it. Then you can practise on your own and just have the occasional lesson.

Fritzi - I agree, I think a personal coach is a really good way to get started. DP has been having some personal coaching recently - it was motivated by him wishing to get his strength/heart condition back up to speed after his Achilles tendon accident last April, and, while he has now regained his former condition, he has decided to carry on and get even fitter. So there is competition and a guilt free excuse to spend money on a coach!