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

[Russianred]

New thread.

Just for fun..........

My Wise & Avid Year

Best Buys of 2011

• Grey Kew linen scarf (thanks to Bloss)
• Cream blouse with grey bird print on
• Navy poncho jumper - worn loads
• Navy Janice (thanks to the lovely monkeysmama who sent me hers)
• Kew Biker boots in brown and in black, paid for themselves based on cost per wear.

Best Bargain of 2011

• Tan plaited sandals from NL - worn loads and only 7 pounds
• Grey Agnes - 70 pounds in the summer sale

Still Hanging in the Wardrobe With Tags On

• White P8 dress - I'm blaming the weather!
• Cream Karen Millen trench coat, love it but worn it twice.

Best Beauty Discovery of 2011

• Laura Mercier Illuminated Tinted Moisturiser
• Shred (even tho I hate doing it, it works)

Most Embarrassing Fashion Moment Of The Year

• The Kew skirt debacle

The Funniest Moment of 2011 (after the event)

• Seeing Pickled's hair go up in flames at the MU- literally!

2012 Resolutions

• No more navy dresses, 6 in one wardrobe is enough!
• Invest in designer jeans (think I said that last year)
• Learn to walk properly in heels
• Wear more make up during the day

The Nicest Thing About 2011 Was....

• Finally getting to meet most of you W&A ladies - you are ALL lovely and can't wait til the next MU.

Happy New Year!

Aww, ollie, I'm welling up here!

You may have noticed by my lack of sale talk that I don't do sales, apart from the exception that was Agnes back in the summer. Fantastic trousers. Still wearing them, know they're going to hole up at the knee soon. Desperate for an alternative, let's hope for good things next season!
I have worn them so much. They must be my best buy ever. Worn constantly with that White Co square neck top, and now with the white shirt, or with the Whistles burgundy and navy stripe top, or yesterday with the Zoe Karssen top layered under a charcoal polo neck.

Talking of sales, my lovely white shirt from White Co is reduced (I would, only I've got 2 already )

mim, I saw Amor Lux in France this year. Got really excited, but they're really shapeless, unisex things in RL. I think verity got hers altered.
I think I'd like a navy blue one with a white stripe, so a plain navy bit at the top, then, and a longish length , with proper white stripes. Who's listening out there?!

red, I forgot to say before that I think you should move over here and start sheep farming! Not too far from Chester though!

Hi all. I am living vicariously through some of these lovely links. My parka has arrived and is a keeper! No sign of the JL dresses so far. Am really hoping they might arrive tomorrow so I can wear to London but tbh I think I will have to plan wardrobe without them.

Off out to local upmarket Thai place with MIL, DH and DD tonight. Wearing M and S houlilikies, grey leopard heels and navy silk blouse. Been for a long walk in the woods today, a nice lunch out, and a run. A good day.

Most impressed by Ollieslist and am struggling to replicate it.

I would say my best buy/bargain was probably my M and S patent heels (3 pairs in 3 colours!) I also highly rate my TS Jessie flares (after seeing them on Zembo, I was sold!) Another great buy has been my Zara lace skirt and silver knit- and my NL sparkly giant clutch.

Best beauty discovery- Sutherland and Barnett hairdressers in Nottingham. Great blowdry and customer service.

Hugely enjoyed both MUs I have been involved in this year- roll on 2012 and some more .

Your Christmas holidays sound lovely ny. Hope London goes well for you too.

Okay, I lied about sales shopping. this jigsaw top flashed up when I was on the Good Food website, and I remembered I almost bought it before. So I have now. Getting my shopping mojo back today!

Oh oliie what a GREAT post!

My favourite buys this year have been:

Navy skinnies. Until this thred would never have had the courage to try skinnies. Now they a staple.
Zara stars top. Cheap as chips but has hardly been off my back
bloss Pure jacket. My first buy from this thred and a firm favourite
Various crumpet scarves thanks to carciofi
My Ash Boot thanks to Martha
My Boden leopard belt
My nude LK Bennet courts

Now mistakes...! As with the song "I've made a few..."

White Kew dress bought in the sales at the end of last year (snap ollie!). I bought it when still breastfeeding DS. I had seen it in the summer and had been so sick of wearing seperates for easy access and bought it even though I could not fit into it and it is still languishing with tags on in my wardrobe...
Grey cotton trousers from Boden. I never did slim into them!

I have loved being on this thred and am so pleased I have got to meet so many of you and put faces to names.

Great post ollie

Best buys for me this year:

Sharkskin Houlihans - can't wait to wear them again.
Ash Jalouse boots
Russell and Bromley black ballet flats
Banana Rep. trench.

Worst buys:

I'd say most of maternity tops, just because they are functional rather than stylish iykwim.

Resolutions/must haves for 2012:

To lose weight post baby and get fit again
Buy less, buy wisely
Purchase a sequin skirt
Good quality grey skinnies
Track down an elusive black and grey slouchy jumper
Re-vamp wardrobe using outfit planning rather than random buying.

Love this LOVE this.. great idea ollie

BEST BUYS OF 2011
Warehouse navy silk blouse with swallow print - in sale - worn at least once a week
Red wool Joseph dress with side/zip ruffle as modeled at the last meet up. My "pulling" dress in another life!
Gap body slim fit v neck tees to go under wool work dresses has saved a fortune in dry cleaning
Bright pink and sable bloch ballet flats in sales - worn to death, so so comfortable
Boots 17 Poppy King lip glosses

WORST BUYS
Gerard Durel white smock like top for summer hol - very mumsy. Worn once!
Banana Republic beige trench - fab style, colour just doesn't work on me. Anyone want it in large?!
Black wedge comptoir boots - look great but not practical so not worn much. yet.

Chanel lipstick in wrong shade. Panic purchase.
Babyliss Big Hair - massive jump on the bandwagon. ollie can I send it your way - used once for a minute!

RESOLUTIONS
Exercise three times a week
Ebay some things
Do something more interesting with hair/find a hairdresser I trust/try to get it straightened!

Great post, ollie!

Best Buys of 2011

• pre-summer it was my Isabella Oliver wrap dresses, every pregnant woman should own one!
• TS Jamies, great fit!
• Jalouse, very comfy!
• mcQueen scarves, new but I already know they are really going to go the distance!

Best Bargain of 2011

• IO wrap dress, £1 in their Easter flash sale
• cobalt 811s, £23 from eBay
• McQueen scarf £82

Still Hanging in the Wardrobe With Tags On

• VWA dress, will be more useful when I can actually get out!

Best Beauty Discovery of 2011

• LM tinted moisturiser

Most Embarrassing Fashion Moment Of The Year

• The photo in MILs living room of me holding newborn DD with no make up in navy vest top with lacy lilac feeding bra clearly visible. Shocking.

The Funniest Moment of 2011

• reading about ollie's skirt debacle

2012 Resolutions

• Start getting my eyebrows threaded
• Buy a really nice pair of shoes (Choos? Louboutins?)
• make more effort with my hair (BBH?)
• make it to a MU

The Nicest Thing About 2011 Was....

• Joining this thread (and having my beautiful baby girl, of course!)

Party went well, wore slinky whistles top, red J brands and Mulberry fox necklace. DS very happy with his mountains of Thomas wooden railway and Trunki!

Oh emo, I hear you on the lipstick in the wrong shade. Why do I still do it??
Also the photo I have on FB. Pale lipgloss, pale grey Kew scarf..white tee.. It's wrong I think, now.

I liked my Boden pleat neck linen dresses and my linen shorts from Wrap.
Loved the White Co black and white linen scarf, black BR trench, all of LKB for my workwear.
I tell you what I've never worn; the spot top in midnight from Wrap. Also, bad purchases from M&S for workwear. Languishing now.

Ooh am loving this! Well done Ollie.

Best purchases:
Roxy and 50/50s for sure. Love both very much.
Jalouse.
My various coloured skinnies - revelatory. Amber one more bargainous J brand purchase and i may well steal your wardrobe.

Worst purchase:
Joseph oversized silver lurex jumper - am too short for it. In fact, would anyone like it? Free to a good home. Everything else ebayed/returned and forgotten about.

Have loved all meet-ups very much and look forward to the next, which we must organise!

For this year i must spend less and be much more wise. I'd also like to lose weight and tone up a little and do more with my hair.

red, the Roxy and 50/50's will still be our best purchases next year!

And I have shopped in LKB, Boden, Whistles, Jigsaw and White Co. And my beloved R&B for shoes: 4 pairs for me, 1 for DH, 6 for DCs.

Know what you mean about the lipstick shade problem emo. I have finally found my winter lipstick via Bloss's recommendation of ballet rouge from Chanel. Do need to use lots of lip balm with it though as it's very drying.

Now need to find a summer alternative.

Oh also I cannot live without my Mac eyeliners after finding them this year too.

Forgot: I have bought 4 pairs of J Brand too.

Blue and Ice I've PM'd you both again re: our mini MU, lets get a date etched into our diaries ladies

Bloss and Annie very impressed by your wardrobe editting. I need to do the same but gave all my winter shoes/boots a proper polish instead today.

Pickled nice bag

Lovely post OWW I'll have to have a proper think about best/worst buys (as so many buys ) but I think my best buys have been the coats I've bought - Fuschia Burberry trench, 3 x Comptoir coats (their coats are cut really well for petites and I can't resist) Burberry down coat and might as well add Roxy as I know I'll wear it loads. Also love the Chloe bag I bought although haven't used it recently as it's more of a summer bag. I bought two pairs of Marni heels from the NAP S/S sale and again I adore them both and reckon I'll get lots of wear out of them over the years. I don't think I've had too many complete disaster purchases.

NY I totally adore the TS Jessies - I now have 3 pairs (two of the 70s blue ones in different lengths so I can wear with different heels) and did you see the pair in a very dark indigo colour? - just lovely, I think they're more flattering than my JBrands (big statement!)

MIM I love Chanel make up, must give that lipstick a go. I was desparate to get my hands on the graphite limited edition nail polish this summer (sold out everywhere)- the fabulous CHOOGIRL came to the rescue and managed to source it from no less than the Champs Elysees Chanel store

Have just met lovely friend for drinks. Have drunk far far too much. Trends to explain why this thred is so special and was unable to do it justice.

How to put in words a thred that helped me get my mojo back...

Hello lovely people. I left on some sort of London whirl yesterday morning and back home tonight.

Thursday; Winter Wonderland, supper and then the ballet at the Royal Opera House.

Today; Magical Night, The Savoy and theatre.

Pickled I loved Magical Night, really gorgeous.

Ants I loved that dress thank you. I tried it before but the smallest size they had left was too baggy unfortunately. Knitting - I did a few scarves. Loop is a great store. Online and in Angel.

Parents have been fabulous, I bought nice presents from Penhaligon's to say thanks. The big shop was very lucky, I think the comfortable chairs and nice surroundings in the Bruton st store helped!

I love these w&a lists. I will catch up properly and make one.

Marsha, sounds lovely.

Bloss, I bought that Nicole Farhi top last summer, it's very nice, thinking of getting it in red this year.

I did a load of shopping (even more than usual) after DD2 was born so have many good buys, really happy with anything I bought from Russell & Bromley, Whistles, Goldsign jeans, AH black bag, Aigle coat, Barbour and Weekend MaxMara light coats. For summer, Me & Em dresses, Agnes and red J Brands were my favourites.

Mistakes:
Pure Collection merino sweater, really shabby after only being worn a couple of times
LKB Anna bag, it's nice but I am too much of a Mulberry/AH fan, sold it and didn't get much for it, very annoyed with myself about that.

2012: Like Red, I also need to spend less (planning to forget this resolution in Feb though), tone up and do more with my hair.

Happy new year!

Am not in a good place! Brain has shrivelled to a walnut...have just done shred and think it may have done for me!!!

Still bath is running and I have tonne to do as having a load of people round tonight. Need to do a ham (and NOT burn my hand this time!) and get stuff done. Have no time for a hangover.....

Awww, Annie, that's lovely!

Ants, hope you feel better soon.