Stepping into 2012 in style, remaining WISE and AVID all the while

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New thread.

EMO that is a great dress for you.

Emo, lovely red dress but I fear it may be too plunging at the neckline - you'll have to carry a big stick with you. That speciale is a bit like Bonsoir's Marni puffa cape but a fraction of the cost, well spotted!

Red, so glad that you and your family have had a fab time with your friends, an excellent respite from the renovations I'm sure.

Portia, how's the snow? Hope you are having a lovely holiday. You too Fritzi!

Apuski, you deserve some lovely new stuff for being so successful in work - you got your 4 day week, yay!

amber you really are making me now! Selfridges doesn't even have an online sale; it's discrimination against the non-London lady! If it wasn't for the bump / waddle / general exhaustion then I'd hop on a train! I'm surprised the coloured jeans are so reduced as the fashion press keep indicating they're still on trend for SS12. Love the cobalt blue colour j brands but only on mywardrobe in a 31. Well done you, truly bargainous acquisitions there.

ollie that Zara shopper is stunning and looks very celine, I think. Olivia Palermo often carries one. I've seen a few on eBay if you want to save a bit.

mim I too think things have a way of working themselves out for the best. My friends who have used nannies have been very happy. Definitely think you should take the plunge with something new if at all possible. Good luck!

apuski that is an impressive list! Looking forward to hearing / seeing what you keep.

Excited about anniversary trip away tonight. It will be the last big night out for quite a while I think...

Nice to see wendy in a cold weather outfit today. Love how she's styled the fur gilet!

blue I love the coloured j brands too, but perhaps I've gone overboard with the red, pink and blue! Added to the jodhpurs, Agnes and Earharts my wardrobe is a bit J brand-centric but I do find them flattering!

DS's birthday today, so we're having a little birthday tea for him. He doesn't really have a clue, but he's enjoying the fuss!

Amber, did you notice if Selfridges had the J Brands in bright blue? Happy 2nd birthday to your DS. Red, I will send you a pm. I might go on Thurs, if I can get a babysitter (I seem to have bad luck with babysitters).

Red, I know quite a few hunting types, your description really made me laugh.

MiM, yes, I am sure it will work out. Plenty of time to think it over.

Emo, gorgeous dress.

Apuski, I look forward to seeing your keepers!

Portia, enjoy the rest of your skiing.

I shall have to live vicariously/avoid this thread/cancel magazine subscriptions as I have promised DH to stick to a budget this year (I buy too much for the DDs as well as myself and I'd really rather a nice house in Ireland). This excludes upcoming birthday purchases, of course. :)

I don't think I saw the blue, but there were plenty of red, pink and, I think, green. Loads of coloured CEs too. Also loads of CoH, Seven and Mother. Really fab sale.

Emo that dress will be lovely on you. Everytime I see something red I now think of you for example! - its your signature look!

Apuski I love waiting for packages to arrive, hope there are lots of keepers.
Carciofi don't you dare avoid this thread! Just focus on the wise of the W&A! One of my NY resolutions is to fritter less (and some would say witter....).
Amber you are a sales marvel. Think its easy to regret not buying things like jeans/trousers when you find some that fit so I thing you did the right thing by snapping them up.
MiM I've lined up an HR coaching session in the new year to help me focus a job search.

Think I'll get the Zara bag but in the spirit of keeping to a budget in 2012, Im waiting til my next allowance gets paid!

Whats everyone doing for NYE?
DH and the DH of my lovely neighbour friend went out for a drink last night and came up with a plan for a cocktail party - for just the 4 of us, in black tie . DH loves ANY excuse to wear his tux. I feel such a blob, I cant face squeezing myself into a LBD.

I have the red already (bad Carciofi). Hopefully there will still be some left on Thurs.

Ollie, you don't witter. What kind of role are you looking for? The cocktail party sounds great. We are staying in with a bottle of champagne. Can't rely on the baby to sleep at the moment!

I have eaten with gay abandon for the last few weeks! Cannot get my jeans on. I mean it. Cannot get them on, let alone done up! Need to take myself in hand so have just done 30 day shred. Only 29 days to go!!!!!

Ants I plan to re-start shred on 2nd Jan, nothing like a meet up & holiday to spur me on!
carciofi no idea job wise, Im not looking for a big career, just something part time which gives me some sense of satisfaction/achievement. There are a few companies here which help expats move and settle here which would be great but think you need to have fluent Dutch so will probably focus on the large international organisations. Will do some volunteer work in the meantime.

Oh yes, The White Company have some of their SS stuff online here - looks good, and a few stripes to keep Bloss and me happy! Like the curved hem sweater, the printed scarf and the knitted biker jacket too.

Good morning.

carciofi no, don't leave. I'll be joining you in a less spendy 2012 and as ollie says we will focus on the wise aspect of shopping.

ollie sounds good that you have some coaching lined up, and volunteering would be a great way to get back into the swing of things. If I had to staying in nursing, my dream job would be something much more patient focused but not back on a ward...(too old for that now ) Your new year plans sound great, very glam.

ants, well done for starting to shred already - very impressed.

We will be in for NYE, DH has requested beef bourguignon. I doubt I'll be awake past 9pm!

Another day, another parcel - Urban Outfitters just arrived. I'm keeping this jumper dress / tunic, I got it in navy but I'm tempted by the red. I also ordered this top and though the fabric is lovely, the shape doesn't work on me, so back it goes.

Best go tidy before my brother arrives!

So my sales stuff has arrived

This stripy top

www.isabellaoliver.com/womens-clothing/uk/600/365-sale/tops/TP502.html

And these Ash boots

www.my-wardrobe.com/ash/eps-mid-wedge-ankle-boot-837996

Really pleased.

Lovely dress apusky

Oh marsha have you seen this lace dress? www.my-wardrobe.com/michael-michael-kors/rouched-sleeve-modern-lace-print-dress-398955

Hi all. Having a quiet time at home or with family. Have succeeded in clearing out my wardrobe of worn, tired clothing though and got rid of my beloved 2 bretons. The white wasn't white any more!

Thanks for reminding me of Farhi carciofi, I just bought this stripe top with asymmetric neckline as an alternative! Will probably get this white co one too, thanks to ollie. I have such a capsule wardrobe right now. I love it.
On a similar theme, I went to S'sburys yesterday for the first time in ages; did a massive shop then came home to find no room in the cupboards. Threw out so much out of date stuff. So now have lovely tidy kitchen cupboards and bedroom wardrobe and drawers!

Am very tempted to order this cardigan and this dress from the Anna sale. Are they too dull or, in fact, excellent basics that I will wear lots? And will the cardigan drown me? Don't feel very discerning today at all but feel like I am not yet done with sales shopping! Any wisdom appreciated!

blue I love both. I think you will be able to dress that dress up or down with belts, tights, boots etc and I love the cardigan. Would look lovely belted ala Wendy....

Love the ash boots and all the stripy tops. Well done on all the streamlining bloss. Oh to have a capsule wardrobe! The closest I have ever got is on holiday when I always get immense joy from looking in the wardrobe at the tiny selection of my most favourite and carefully co-ordinated clothes. One day I will manage this at home; for the moment I have so many stripy tops that they have their own designated drawer!

Thanks ants! That is exactly what I thought about both of them!

Both lovely items blue.

Sounds great to be organised Bloss. Were they your Jigsaw bretons? I intend to do some sorting out next week when DS back at nursery. I also think Nicole Fahri does great spring wear.

Nice top and boots Ants, I get loads of wear from my Jalouse boots, so I am sure they will be a wise buy for you.

DS has started playing with a play-doh set that he got for Xmas. How do you control your inner control freak when they just stick all the lovely colours into one big piece? Oh, and the smell of it makes me so nostalgic.

Blue, I was tempted by that dress too, I also like the burgundy one. Great for us shorties I think. Great basic as Ants says. The only think that is stopping me from buying it is the size of my bum. Dresses without fixed shoulders work better on me due to small top half vs big bottom half.

Ooh Ollie, a cocktail party, what fun. Why don't you wear something v. mini and off the shoulder and don't forget the apple clutch.

Bloss, I need some new bretons too. That NF one is lovely.

I think a Breton should ideally have a yoke like TheWhite Co metallic charcoal stripe which is my ideal. Anyone seen one? Otherwise, aren't they just stripey tops?
I threw out the M&S one that you had too pickled. It had holes . And my lovely Jigsaw slate and white one which I bought almost 2 years ago. Has been worn to death. I am so ruthless when I 'm in this mood.
I hate play-do. Surprise surprise.
I have persuaded DH to light a fire. We have a lovely big Chesneys fireplace in our smart room downstairs. It is pouring with rain and we're going nowhere. The joys of a roaring fire!

bloss have you looked at Amor Lux? They are supposed to be the best Bretons around.

Pouring down here too.