Avidly gazing at spring/summer looks, while Wisely purchasing caghouls......

[notyummy]

Hi all!

Sorry about the rain/hairdo situation Hopefully.

I am eating G and Bs Mint dark choc as I write Verity.

Bloody cold here. And wet.

Really interested that you put Aigle in the same stable as Burberry, Barbour etc. And that you like Moncler but it's too £££! Thank you!

(Aigle is a sister company to my DP's company... DP sometimes has interesting branding conversations with the CEO of Aigle as well as with his shareholders!)

I think Aigle is like Barbour perhaps 10 years ago - Barbour has managed to re-position itself so its not just a country outfitters company but much more fashion forward. Aigle to me is still about practicality in a low-key stylish way but its not as fashiony as many of the Barbour items now on sale.

Whisles have a pretty broderie top in - the Lia I think its called - Dec - your type of thing I think.

Dauphin - lovely purchases!

I'm off to Bicester on Friday to meet sister.

Thank you MrsCampbellBlack - I think that you have put words on my gut feeling ie that Aigle needs to "do a Barbour" and re-position itself as a purveyor of glam school run coats to those who don't want Moncler prices (or even bling) and don't want high street outerwear. I'm sure it has the legitimacy to do so...

Am going to the opening of the new Champs-Elysées Aigle store tomorrow evening, hence arousal of interest!

I'm aware that this is not a conversation about wellies but I am the most stylish gardener on the block in my navy Aigles. Bought them when our house was a building site three years ago.

Yy Fritzi. People love the little yellow Aigle boots for children here.

Have a good time Bonsoir!

bonsoir How exciting! What are you going to wear for the store opening tomorrow?

I'm getting old: who is having an interview tomorrow? Apuski or pickled?

That's funny, MrsCB, I bookmarked that top earlier! If you do pop into the AH shop in Bicester, could you please have a quick look to see if they have any red leather bags?

Have fun, Bonsoir.

Evening all - I can't participate in an Aigle conversation, but was interesting to read!

Ollie I know what your DH means with the ledge - we were looking at having one too from a safety and a hiding things perspective, but when we saw them in reality they were much harder to pull off - the best we saw were really ££££. You can get a floating breakfast bar off of the main Island, but I didn't like the way they looked - from an aesthetic point of view I think a big slab of marble/granite/wood/composite is much nicer. And that's my opinion on islands..!

Bicester sounds like fun Blue and Dauphin. I should really go there at some point.

I love the J Crew grey cashmere sweat-top style jumper that was on WIT recently. Good tip there Suburban.

Second afternoon of tutoring today - went really well. Need more time, but I might be reconsidering my perspective on going back to teaching. Would need to be the right school (this one very much is, but no vacancies) though.

You never know, Red, something may come up in that school but it is great that you are enjoying teaching again. Easier than retraining!

Hopefully, Whistles have the seam back tee in dark green now, a good colour for autumns, I think?

Good luck, Apuski and Pickled.

Barbour is a bit too horsey for me really. If you can get your DP to put a word in bonsoir, I would be more likely to wear a French brand because I have always loved the French style and find the image of it very stylish and chic. I think they did it with the winter coat, so I think they could do it again. Just get a good designer and good consultants. Another reason I would wear it over Barbour, is that Barbour is still a country outfitter, and round here I do look slightly ridiculous especially on market day when all the farmers descend on mass in their pick ups and green barbours!
Glad you're having a good time at school red. Opportunities may well arise, and you never know. I was in the right place at the right time with my job.

Good luck pickled and apuski!
Great discounts on those vests decam.
I have a poorly DS and the week from hell. So typical.

Yes I've also ordered that vest Decameron, too good a deal not to. Really rate the seam back tees, have a couple.

All toucan scarf owners, beware, have caught mine a couple of times on Velcro and the like, is very delicate and pulls easily. So soft though.

blue I went to Matches to check the Raoul out but the didn't have it, will ask them to call it in for me.

Took the baby for her first swim today, and surprisingly, in light of her staunch opposition to baths, she loved it. Will buy her a cozzie now, as she was wearing one of DS's cast offs today (blue stripes with a crab on the chest) and I had a lot of 'oh, is it a girl?' comments!

Wish I had a sister so I could meet her at Bicester. My two brothers aren't that into outlet shopping...

You're right ladies, shall keep my ear to the ground and so on. I've also just taken on Parent Governor at the pre-school to try and build things up a bit more.

Big good luck to Apuski and Pickled

That is typical Bloss - hope he's better soon. You must be looking forward to your exam classes heading off and things getting a little more relaxed. Always my favourite time of the teaching year. Know what you mean about Barbours - I was discussing the Arctic Parka (which I still think is gorgeous) with the Farmer's Wife and she gave me a very long lecture about why it was out of e question for me to wear Barbour. Was hilarious. Must wear Barbour next time I see her, just to rile her further!

Yes bonsoir, I live in my Barbour, but the gold hardware annoys me, as does the big shouty 'Barbour' badge. A chic French alternative would be super.

Yes, Red, please do wear it to annoy her! I've worn Barbour jackets since I was a teenage equestrian, I like them for that reason.

And Bonsoir, can we get an Aigle discount please?

Thank you for all the feedback on Aigle .

DP, DD and I went to the new store (which has already opened - just not "officially") a few days ago and there were boots everywhere and especially in the window. Aigle thinks its big ticket item is its boots... but I am not so sure! DD was wearing her pink Hunters (entirely by coincidence) and so I was able to compare the design of the Aigle boots and the Hunter boots and I was not convinced that Aigle were doing such a great job (though I love their classic yellow or navy or green wellies). There are some new boots co-branded with Liberty in Liberty print that I thought were very unstylish...

Fritzi - DD has a new Papillon by Bonton Liberty print dress and a very dark green cotton Bonton cardigan to wear, and I think I might wear my yellow Marni. But I might wear the Marni @ H&M brocade trousers... really depends on the weather!

Decameron - I would love to! We have an Aigle discount, and a Lacoste and a Gant discount, as well as discounts on all the French pharmacy cosmetics brands. I think that Aigle needs to do a focus group with all of you and give you a discount as a reward

That sounds good, Bonsoir!

I shall lobby DP on your behalf

bonsoir Your outfits sound lovely!

I love my arctic parka and couldn't have survived the winter without it and I purchased it via my-wardrobe which again speaks to the difference with Aigle.

DH also has a barbour - its the black one that Harry wears in Silent Witness if anyone watches He wouldn't wear a quilted one as apparently they're worn solely by creatives clutching their iphones [techie so staunchly anti-apple] And his had to have no discernible branding at all or he wouldn't have worn it.

Have dyed my blue bonnets 'ocean blue' today so now they're a gorgeous cobalt colour which is more wearable for me.

Have just fake tanned and now have new vogue to peruse.

My children are all still wide awake and playing in their rooms

Am amazed at Aigle being chic - always used to wear Aigle rubber riding boots and jackets and never gave the brand a thought.

Dec ooh, that's a lovely colour (the seam back tee). Am going to John Lewis next week which has a good Whistles outlet, hopefully they'll have it - haven't seen the seam back tee in real life yet.

DH has just had a random rush of freelance work for a friend, and my business has been chugging along nicely, so am optimistic that I might have some money to buy clothes soon.

Any others with Abney & Teal fanatics - new series started this week. We are recording it .

Hopefully - its Tree Fu Tom here - 2 smallest ones do all the routines with him - makes eldest and I smile And then horrible histories for the eldest which I love too.

I think Aigle need to stop advertising in the back of the sunday magazines too and Homes & Gardens - takes away from the 'style' of the brand.

Dh is out. I have sunk to a new low and am watching Alien Tornadoes on Syfy.

I know...

But I AM reading Grazia at the same time. And there is a nice print dress from Isme in the Fashion Chart for £32.

DS loves Tree Fu Tom MrsCB - he's trying to teach DD the moves and is getting very frustrated that she just says 'funny' and laughs at him.