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Beating the January Blues by Following our Wise & Avid (Roxy) Rules

999 replies

OllieinOrange · 09/01/2012 21:32

Best I could come up with......

OP posts:
pickledsiblings · 12/01/2012 17:30

Hello All Smile

I have skim read - I cannot believe you are 350 posts in. Love the title btw Ollie and can't believe you've found a potential MU dress already Envy.

Marsha, great that you got a second interview. I would be inclined to be frank about it and ascertain exactly what they're hoping to achieve from a second interview and how much detail they expect you to go into. Agree with others that ideas are only part of it and no one will be able to execute your ideas like you could. Good luck with it all. Thanks for the bright link.

Amber, glad someone got the spotty jeans. I'm not even going to go there as I wore them first time around and even customised them to make them skin tight, was about 17 I think.

Bloss, could really see you in the DVF, fab!

RG, great to hear from you again.

Annie, outfit sounds lovely today - classy.

I can do the 10th too:

17th

Red
Bloss
Pickled
NY
Marsha
Ants
Ollie
Everything
Fritzi
Amber
Emo
Apuski
Reine
Carciofi (probably)
Verity (maybe)
Hopefully

10th

Red
NY
Reine
Fritzi
Marsha
Ollie
Carciofi (probably)
Annie
Portia
Hopefully
Everything
Amber
Ants
Pickled

Hopefully · 12/01/2012 19:00

Marsha hope you come to a satisfactory conclusion about what to do re the job, sounds like you've had lots of good advice. I can be no help whatsoever as am useless at being employed and having to impress employers/potential employers - was thrilled to leave work after DS1 and become self employed!

Moved up to Level 3 of Shred tonight. Mostly for a bit of variety, rather than any degree of actual fitness. My face looks like this Angry. I think I may actually be getting fitter/slimmer though - new Topshop skinnies are a fractionally better fit than they were when I bought them a week ago, which is a nice confidence boost. Got a handful of compliments at toddler group (yup, that was my social engagement of the day), which was lovely, but more highlighted how scruffy I have been recently rather than how stylish I am now, as I really wasn't wearing anything terribly exciting Blush

HL dress is sounding more fabulous by the day! I am really trying to convince myself that the anglomania dress I linked the other day - here - will look good on me (despite being the wrong colours) and is worth blowing the vast majority of my spring clothing budget on.

blossoming · 12/01/2012 19:15

It's like the Janice we all had last year hopefully!

pickledsiblings · 12/01/2012 19:15

Hopefully, lovely to have you on the thread. Well done on the shredding.

blossoming · 12/01/2012 19:19

On a more helpful note, when I went on my style day, I showed my consultant links of clothes I liked to which she gave thumbs up, thumbs down. Roxy was thumbs up, thankfully. Really useful exercise though.

MarshaBrady · 12/01/2012 19:26

I'm intrigued Hopefully! And excellent news that it is going well.

I must admit freelance is a bit hmmm at this point. I just got a brief for two days work and the rate is good. But I feel 'on call'. There's this other self-employed thing next week that I am hoping eternally that goes very well.

The Anglomania linen dress was also in pink and black last season. I've had a quick look to see if any left in the sales, but the children need attention, and all that.

Hopefully · 12/01/2012 19:31

Marsha It's the black bit which is the problem - the tan would be fine on me. There also appears to be a blue and white version in existence, but both the blue and the white would look awful on me, thus rather defeating the object.

Bloss I've been thinking of doing that, but didn't know if it was too weird. She's asked me to bring examples of clothes I love/hate that are both smart and casual, but I have such a ridiculously small number of clothes (all the clothes I own, including nightwear, sports clothes and formal clothes fit in one drawer in my chest of drawers and four hangers in DP's wardrobe) that I'm not sure I'll be able to bring an example of each thing she's asked for. Hence the lack of guilt about clothes shopping now I have a bit of dosh! The good thing is, as NYE pointed out when I saw her earlier, that when I find something I love, there doesn't have to be any debate about whether I already have it/have another item of clothing that can do the same job.

I anticipate a bit of serious capsule wardrobe shopping starting next week after my style day Grin

blue2711 · 12/01/2012 19:34

I love that anglomania dress too hopefully. I also love the saloni dress verity linked to earlier but it's too pricey for me to even consider. I know if I really cut down on purchases I could probably afford a few fabulous pieces like that but I'm just not quite there yet! Definitely better that I used to be about investing though so I remain hopeful.

marsha nothing helpful to add but hope it works out for the best for you; I feel certain somehow it will.

Hopefully · 12/01/2012 19:52

Ooh, meant to add - has anyone tried both the Jalouse and the Jess Bis boots? Contemplating ordering a pair of Jalouse after reading on the ash site that the Jess Bis are generous. Oasis boot sourcing not going well...

blossoming · 12/01/2012 20:12

I have a capsule wardrobe of sorts. There's some workwear that I don't wear but all in all I wear all of it and love all of it. The gap is for a black going out dress, hence the dvf.

AmberNectarine · 12/01/2012 20:13

hopefully the Jalouse are very generous, though I haven't tried the jessbis

AmberNectarine · 12/01/2012 20:15

I would love a capsule wardrobe, but I don't think I'm capable!

Hopefully · 12/01/2012 20:19

Hmm, maybe Jalouse not going to work if they're generous too. Might see if shop in town has any for me to try.

Am v excited about my. hypothetical capsule wardrobe. I will be prepared for every imaginable toddler group occasion!

blue2711 · 12/01/2012 20:23

I feel the same amber! Am both Shock and Envy at hopefully's drawer and hanger tally - and the shopping opportunities! I have around 14 drawers, a bulging wardrobe and 4 large ikea boxes with out of season and work clothes currently out of use. And this is with fairly regular clear outs! Feel bit Blush... Would just love someone v stylish and stern to come and scrutinise it all and help me to reduce it....

blue2711 · 12/01/2012 20:25

bloss I aspire to be able to say what you've just said "I wear all of it and love all of it". Have you always been like that or is there still hope for me?!

notyummy · 12/01/2012 20:27

Well the Dotty P coated skinnies have arrived and I think I am going to keep them. I probably wouldn't if they weren't cheap, because they are not as nice as my Gap coated ones tbh. The 10 fits fine (although Dotty ps are pretty generous) but the material isn't as heavy as I think denim should be, and hence the 'spanx for the legs' effect isn't as good as it could be Grin. Will get some wear out of them whilst I continue to look for a better quality pair though.

Re the MU - looks like it's a close run thing between the 10th and 17th. Which shall we go for? I want to make sure I bagsy a bargain hotel room so will need to book soon!

Well done on the shredding Hopefully.

I am still contemplating that dress....

NewYearEverything · 12/01/2012 20:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MarshaBrady · 12/01/2012 20:52

It's difficult isn't it as there a lovely people that can make the 10th and not the 17th and vice versa. Should we do purely numbers otherwise too hard to decide. What do others think?

Sounds very exciting NYE. Well done!

notyummy · 12/01/2012 20:54

I thought the 10th might be easier for the Irish contingent too NYE - but I don't think Verity or Rufus can make it then. NOt sure about Portia.

blossoming · 12/01/2012 21:00

blue, I have always 'loved' my clothes and have always bought quality/expensive stuff. Have never bought fast fashion or shopped in TS/Primark etc. I'm not a snob, I just prefer having less stuff, but wear the stuff I love to death. Pretty characteristic of my clothing personality apparently. Get your colours done, then a style day!!

GeorginaWorsley · 12/01/2012 21:07

NotYummy may try DP coated skinnies as cheap.

anniemac marks courts fab.
I recommend their skinny bootcuts for £19.50 too.very flattering and comfortable.

NewYearEverything · 12/01/2012 21:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blossoming · 12/01/2012 21:15

Thanks nye! I want to come too! No pressure though!

Hopefully · 12/01/2012 21:26

Bloss can I be totally nosy and ask what kind of stuff you have in your wardrobe? Do you have outfits for occasions, or some decent basics, or what? Or do you just buy really nice pieces that you love whenever you see them? I'm always intrigued by people who achieve the mythical capsule wardrobe, and I'm hoping to learn so I can succeed in the coming months!

I have vague recollections that I used to have a nice wardrobe of (mostly) stylish clothes that mix 'n' matched nicely for work, but my entire work wardrobe was really too smart to transition to my SAHM/SE life, so I have no remnants left (apart from some really nice shoes Smile).

loobylu3 · 12/01/2012 21:34

I can't keep up with you lot. This thread is moving like wildfire!

ollie- I'm going to add to the chorus of approval re the HL dress. It looks really flattering and I think grey would suit you too. I love your determination in hunting it down Grin

bloss- definitely prefer the DVF to the other. My only slight concerns would be whether that rushing might add a little bulk to one's middle. You have to try it though!

hopefully- hello if I haven't already said it. So many shopping opportunities for you and all can be justified! I still wear my striped Janice dress (dress from last AW similar to DVF but from Phase 8 instead so minus the price tag). Was i you in the mustard jeans and card? I love mustard. I think it looks nice with navy blue.

verity love the £££ Saloni dress and the cheaper Zara blouse.

red- congratulations on having your name in credits! That must be a fantastic feeling!

marsha- huge congratulations on the second interview. I wouldn't have thought that it was the done thing to request a fee but your line of work is v different to my own. Do you know anyone else in the industry that you could ask? Going back to previous discussion on schools, it does seem that London is quite different to other parts of the country. It seems so competitive. One of my London based friends put her children down for about 5 private schools (paying each time) and said that it is necessary to do this from birth! The only state school she saw that she liked was the one which David C's children attend and even more difficult to get into than the private schools!
Here, you are v likely to get your first choice of state (all well above average here) or private.

annie- loving the sound of your recent outfits. I had my eye on that MD blouse too and the pretty flowery one that ants was bought (I think). Sadly, that one didn't go in the sale.

blue- was it you recommending TS leggings? Are the comfy and stretchy enough for pregnancy? Do you need to size up? I'm thinking of getting a couple of denim ones as the look more stylish than regular black ones but will hopefully be v useful with an expanding tummy!

NY- I like your dress- v nice print.

carciofi- not spoilt at all to have a weekly babysitter and great that your DH is totally in agreement. I remember having three DC at home all the time in the Summer holidays when DD2 was 4/5 months and finding it absolutely relentless. I did pay for someone to take the older ones out for a few hours on a few occasions so that I could get some sleep when the baby did! Roary is dead right. There used to be so much more support from families/ the community and some of us completely miss out on that nowadays so not only having to do everything 24/7 but also not much company. Maybe you should treat yourself to a beauty treatment if you like that kind of thing!

MIM-Great new on baby turning and improved Hb. VBAC has good chance of success particularly if you have laboured previously (i.e. active labour). Are you doing perineal massage? I know it's a bit grim but I think it really helps.

Hello to everyone else too.

I had an email from a friend earlier. She had heard from our other mutual friends re no.4 and said that she nearly entitled the e mail '"Are you stark raving bonkers?" :)

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