Avidly assessing Autumn buys, whilst Wisely still wearing summer styles...

[notyummy]

Evening all!

Am so pleased you all like the shortbread as much as I do! Its not really my recipe - it was in a Stork margarine recipe book my Mum gave me when I started senior school to help with cookery lessons. Its served me well.
Would be lovely if it had magical powers Red! So pleased about DSs nursery place.

Hi Latherrinserepeat - you are in very safe hands with Cleverything and Bloss around! Im a summer and it sounds as if you are drawn to summeri'sh colours? Agree with Cleverything about maybe focusing on the spring neutrals?
NY welcome back - loved your holiday pics on FB. DD is truely photogenic and I loved your blue maxi dress and the grey one in another pic.

No money required for the meet up as yet - will sort nearer the time when I have to pay the remaining balance.

Todays treat was a trip to A'dam to attend a meeting of expat woman - went with a Mum from school. Really good guest speaker - author of a book about his Aunt and her life before and during WWII - sounded v ahead of her time and he showed loads of photos of her looking so stylish and confident in the 1930s and 1940s. She really suffered during the war though but always showed such spirit and managed to start over again afterwards and lead a fufilling life - all v inspirational.

Was pre-warned about how people tended to dress up at such meetings so threw on Janice and a cropped cardi and v pleased I did. I too need shoes tho NY - mine let me down today!

Welcome back NY sounds like you had an amazing time. Ouch though at the cost's in Switzerland.

Hello and welcome LRR I dont have any advice re: colours, but we have some great experts here, clevery really knows her stuff. However, I am pg with DC2 so understand the limited shopping experiences feeling.

Glad things perked up for you red. Do you know anyone who uses either nursery? It might be that you have to go on gut feeling. DS goes to a Montessori, not that we chose it because of that (it was because they were great about allergies), but he seems to thrive there.

annie lovely Zara bits for DD's. Hope that you get back into the work swing of things ok.

WIT's pictures look amazing. Oh yes, to feel confident jumping around on a beach in a bikini. I rather stick pins in my eyes, as would the fellow beach goers!

How far you from A'dam ollie?

are you from!

45 mins WAN tho I never go there - think it was the 3rd time I've been in 5 years!

Agree with you about WIT! Lovely pics but full of envy at her figure and confidence!

I never realised you were so close to A'dam.

I have only been there once, I spent the whole time telling DH that I couldn't understand how anyone got anything done who lived there, due to the 'liberal' lifestyle.

We were walking through the red light district one night, feeling somewhat giggly due to the ingestion of fungi. We over heard this Dutch guy say, "Some people say No. I always say, 'Why not?'

We fell about laughing, it summed up the whole trip.

Wow thank you for all of your lovely replies -cleverything I think you are right when you say capsules are hard as it's all a bit too much of a statement for me. I love the theory and can see how the colours combine really well but the overall look is just not me . I haven't done the style day but am a def a classic something and love my navy and grey - both of which I have as double star colours and really like but don't fit with the light bright fresh spring manta. I do however have a couple of great lipsticks thanks and a love,y coral scarf courtesan of the spring thread/Facebook group girls.

Ollie you are right - am def drawn to the more muted blended look of summer, looking at my dd's clothes that I buy and the looks I like this is def more my taste. I find the full on clash and the advice of wearing two bright and a further contrasting splash a bit of a leap, although I see how good it can look on others when done well.

Wide awake I know the pg thing is good for the capsule isn't it?! I don't mind not having much to choose from if i like what I have got. As a sahm I don't have too many variables in the occasions I dress for and I tend to dress up rather than down anyway. I have never just gone for jeans and a tee shirt, much prefer drapes or details like zips or other embellishments. Have hardly any florals in my wardrobe, love stripes, like spots and the odd bit of leopard/muted animal print. To give you an idea am currently covering these bits and bobs. . . .

www.net-a-porter.com/product/164392

www.johnlewis.com/286603/Product.aspx?sku=231348132&source=63258

www.whitestuff.com/LARGE-BIRD-PRINT-P340460/

Together with a new cashmere cardi for the autumn and a lovely drape neck navy tee from com tour thar I now can't find on their website .... It's all a bit neutral really isn't it?!

Aha - found it - it's this one www.comptoirdescotonniers.com/fra/eboutique/d1-collection-femme/r19-t-shirt/a1662-t-shirt-col-drape?&collec_Id=25

Lather I really love your style - some great links there esp the top and scarf (how did I miss that - bit similar to my Johnnie B one from last year but love how the WS one has small and large print on it!).

Nothing wrong with having a neutral wardrobe either - my wardrobe is now a sea of grey, navy and taupe but Im not bored of it yet!

I dont wear prints but love them on others etc.

Good A'dam quote WAN!

Saw these on the Zara webste for those of you inclined towards feather prints:
top
and
scarf

Thanks ollie - I like the Zara scarf although is do refuse black so is not for me. I do have to be careful to mix up my navy with something though.

Do any of you w and a ladies have a better priced Barbour alike than the Hobbs? there is a 20% code for them at the moment so am tempted even with a 7 month baby bump! Either that or I wait til the sales in dec .... As am pear shaped I really like the length and higher pocket detail.

shorter, but cheaper!

Took a look at my summer wardrobe today and think I might have too many things as it is a) never warm enough to wear proper summer clothes b) I am doing laundry constantly anyway, so I don't run out of clothes IYSWIM

Need to sit down and plan A/W wardrobe carefully. Think I should invest in more quality stuff that will last longer and that I will be happy wearing every day (like my Goldsign jeans and Belstaffs from last year).

Like ollie my wardrobe is awash with navy, grey, charcoal, white and a little bit of very light pink but I like it that way.

Welcome lather!

red Glad the day took such a positive turn for you!

bloss What an unnecessary thing for your sister to say.

yay!for ollie's magic shortbread..we are all big fans in our house

apuski sorry you are feeling so dreary..hope you feel much better soon and childcare gets resolved.

wan glad scan went well,sorry DS is poorly though.

ants westfield sounds like a great pick me up.

bloss I aspire to be pared down in the wardrobe department like you..a few things I love wearing rather than a giant jumbled mishmash.

Hi and welcome LRR I will check your links later

NY sounds like an amazing trip and your commitment to glamour is to be commended!

thanks for all your kind words re the last couple of weeks..I even developed a nervous twitch last night so know I am stressing a bit..DD1 starts school soon so nervous about that too..

am silly excited about seeing everyone on the 8th..am keeping my fingers crossed you can stay on in the evening too apuski

Is Fleecy still about?

have lovely evenings everyone

Lather, Jackets&icCategory=cat20021&bfhso=-bestSellerScore&bfhps=20 New Look have several quilted efforts this season.

Hi LRR! particularly like the Comptoir top; sleeve detail is lovely.

WAN I've gone with gut - plus our neighbour works at one and loves it and I was chatting with a local mum on our doorstep this afternoon who was raving about the same one. We have a home visit tomorrow and DS starts settling in next week! I am going to plan things for DD that I can't seem to do when it's the 3 of us; swimming (she's never been ), Gymboree etc.

Sounds like a lovely day Ollie. My Grandma is Dutch and we have been to A'dam with her a few times reliving her youth; both lovely and heartbreakingly sad. Also had an interesting trip there whilst at University, none of which I can remember...

Am packing to head off to my best friend's wedding tomorrow and seem to be taking the entire contents of our house...

Marsha/Emo could you keep me in the loop on the evening bits - I am toying with staying with my sister for the weekend.

Finally, I have pm'ed link to Emo's great suggestion.

I know some of you are not coming (Carciofi I have left you one the list, Fritzi and Apuski I know you may not make it), but I have kept you on the list just in case .

Please let me know if you have not received a pm, I am feeling foggy atm. And may be a spelling issue - they don't get through.

Red that's fab, hope you can. Welcome LRR!

Hi everyone. Thanks for joining lather and bringing your lovely links with you. I always think it best to buy things for certain occasions ie park in rain; playdate; child free coffee with friends; shopping day out with drinks; chapel; lunch at mil's where it is freezing etc etc.. We managed a great list on here once!
Happy to have you back notyummy. I thought France was expensive! Will look up your photos when I can.
Glad you had a better day red. Hope you're feeling better apuski. Did your lessons turn out okay icey?
How are you and dh wan?
Thanks for the comment reine. Are you sure you can't make tea on the 8th? Sorry to hear of the funeral.
Great that janice is still out having fun ollie. I just had a look at the P8 website and nothing is taking my fancy this year.
Which reminds me, what are you buying from Pure with the 25% off carciofi? The merino polo necks have extra ribbing detail this year. May have to get some more.
How is your dd settling in this week fritzi? I am surprised that you are having such bad weather, but glad you have your Uggs. I have my Celtic sheepskins on too. Lovely.
clevery, I wore my cigarette leg trousers today, although mine are black and from Zara. They work very well for work with flats I think.
I wore them with a grey/plum animal print top from M&S and the lkb cardigan. I dithered about which coat to wear because it wass a humdinger here today. Lashing down and horizontally! Nothing was right, until I tried on the Barbour Cameron, and eureka! Sleek, pulled together, warm and dry. Although I left the hood at home. Too geeky for my first week at school!
Hi to marsha, annie (good shopping!) and amber, and everyone else I've missed.

Don't you think it's because we dress differently clevery? Your outfit today sounds amazing to me, although it is not something that I would be able to pull off. I am going for a classic French look, if there is such a thing!
I can't see me every wearing heels for work. I must have walked miles in the last few days, and the ladies toilets are up a steep staircase. I have had to stand around on duty in the canteen today too. Tomorrow though I am wearing tweed Davina (coat tbc) as I am in the college. Sitting behind a desk. Could wear heels actually..!

Thank you for being so kind am feeling a bit like a fourth former who has been noticed by a cool group from the upper sixth! Am def going to get the comptoir top for post baby as think it will be quite forgiving on the tum if left untucked, will wait for sale on the shoes.

Thanks for the links to toppers and new look wan and plum - will def check out new look; sadly the Top shop one is out for me as is black.

Am wavering on the White stuff bird scarf even though is least spendy thing on my list and I could wear with bump because I feel I should get spring colours next to my face and it's easier to contemplate a bright scarf than a bright coat! It nice nice and wool too not synthetic which is nice at that price.

Has anyone else seen any good brighter scarves? Can't help thinking the quilted coat might be a bit too classic without a stylish scarf to style it up a bit?

Meant to add blossoming that list sounds like a great idea - I might look back over my diary and see what occasions I have - and which ones I found hard to dress for! I love the idea of a classic French style - I dream of a channel bag one day!!

Gah - flippin iPhone - channel should of course read Chanel!!

Good Morning.

My Dm is coming over for the day today, will be good to have some help with DS, who has made a good recovery from his bug.

DH and I are better bloss, but still argue/bicker at the drop of the hat. I've just got off the phone to him in a huff about speaking the the estate agent today. I'm hoping it's a symptom of the lack of sleep and rest that young DC's bring. Now no.2 is on the way, I realise more than ever how much easier life and our relationship would be with family close by.

lather this one is navy.

Marsha I don't have a PM, was hoping to come for some of the evening and am intrigued by the venue.

I am bored with mat clothes already! Indigo skinnies and a plum and grey striped top today..all very nice, but just a bit 'meh'.