Avidly plotting to Wisely splurge. Come on the sales!

[blossoming]

Just bought the Me & Em maxi. Well I had a code..

My Castaners are these, in navy leather and with closed toes.

www.yoox.com/item/YOOX/CASTAÑER/dept/women/tskay/6383154F/rr/1/cod10/44382791WT/sts/sr_women80

The sizing is tiny and very narrow - size at least half a size or one full size up.

But how will I ever break them in?

At swimming and have so enjoyed the Matches sale posts. Some lovely buys all round. Visitors here so no chance to have a look myself. Had a lovely day, bike ride, lunch out, potter round nearby town, purchase of a necklace which fits my new HoC profile - long grey beads with a few subtle charm things on it, can wear as single or double. Quite pricey but liked immediately. Brand called Exoal - quite Ibiza/beachy style.

Am totally smitten with my friends DD who is 2 and adorable. Having fun with doing girly things, such a treat.

Right might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. Does anyone know when the mulberry own site is starting its sale???

I have completely crashed - pushing the pram round in the insane wind with DS1 on the buggy board and DS2 in the pram has slightly broken me!

Luckily DH has taken them food shopping so I am slumped in front of the computer browsing online with a giant mug of tea.

Soooo, A/W wishlists. Who's started theirs? I've given up on summer, and I have enough clothes to get through if the weather suddenly improves without warning. Mine includes, but is not limited to (of course ):

• Leather trousers. I have wanted some of these for about 8 years, and seeing Mominatrix rock hers at MU completely persuaded me. I am going to save up for a decent pair as I think I'll wear them for years. Possibly J brand ones, although these are rather fabulous.
• A new pair of jeans, probably brown skinnies, maybe some 811s.
• 5050s in brown (like gold dust in the UK, but tried a friend's black ones in my size, so will risk ordering from the states I think)
• Short biker boots
• New underwear (mine is all too big now, hurrah!)
• Wide leg trousers for work, possibly a suit. I am liking this one, but suspect I should think about a more practical colour
• Winter overcoat. I don't actually own one at all in any colour, even a bad one. I like the old whistles florence, missed one on evilbay the other day, boringly.
• A jumper dress. I am beyond in love with this one
• A sweater like my Inhabit one, as I wear it so much. Preferably slash neck, drop shoulders. this one is nice
• This DVF wrap dress] that I linked a while back
• Pencil skirt. I'll probably make one though, as they're so simple
• Wool blazer
• Shoe boots. I think. Need to try some on and see if they suit
• Pointy flats. I think I will place a pre-order for the bode ones, as they look pretty much spot on
• Another silk shirt - I will order another pure collection one if the discount ever gets bigger than 25%, as I rather love mine
• A fancy schmancy ring. Thought i wanted a YSL arty ring, but am unsure. Need to try some on.
• A watch. Either an [[http://www.shopbop.com/camden-watch-nixon/vp/v=1/845524441940800.htm?fm=search-viewall-shopbysize oversized metal one or a poor man's hermes wrap one

Oh, and a handbag. A really nice, long lasting, decent quality eyewateringly expensive handbag.

This DVF wrap dress dvf dress

Wow to your list hopefully! Some gorgeous things. Mine coming soon although need to do more research. Top of mine are leather trousers too, although thinking leather leggings really; mominatrix's sounded great. Still thinking of 5050s too but need to try them.

Feel virtuous as have resisted a matches purchase. Thought wistfully about Gracie but think I need something a little larger and more casual. Bit over S/S buys although would probably backtrack if the sun came out again. Would like casual and dressy shorts and a maxi but thinking TS or Zara prices only.

Tough week this week: have been supporting my best friend whose mum has been given just 4 weeks left . Visited today. Just awful.

DC in bed. Now to eat pizza, drink prosecco and cuddle up with DH. Hope everyone well and amber recovered. Have an amazing time bloss the outfits sound so stylish. Great sales purchases by all.

Necklace sounds lovely ollie.

Still need help with how to style Zara floral blazer please! I know, should be more like bloss and plan before buying!

Blue how awful. You must be feeling emotionally drained. Have a big cuddle with your family tonight to recoup a bit.

FWIW, I would style the floral blazer with battered pale denim jeans and some casual footwear like suede ankle boots or possibly even sneakers. And swap casual shoes for nude heels or something for evening. But I am a scruff bag quite casual, on the whole.

I am also thinking high street only prices for any more summer stuff I want, unless it's something really timeless. Since we are effectively in winter (in wardrobe terms) from about September till May, it seems pointless to splurge on much summer stuff. I'm thinking things like the DVF dress will be good for cooler summer days anyway, as it's a nice bright colour, but still a sensible fabric for winter wear with opaques.

Very impressed with all the sales buys.
You have inspired me Hopefully with this little gem of a watch What do you think Bloss colour wise?
I am totally over SS and will not buy anything unless it will transition to AW.
That is so tough Blue, lots of cuddles all around tonight for all.

Thats a great list Hopefully - I need to write one too. Agree about inesting in AW stuff given that we seem to be wearing it for most of the year anyway. Just checked the forecast for the week ahead - it doesnt go above 19c here.

Blue thats terrible about your friends DM, how very sad. Sure you are helping her through your support.
Bloss have a lovely time away. Outfits all sound great and loved your new boots.
Fritzi fab sale purchases, especially liked the slouchy cardi. Having a bit of a wobble with my HoC CP but think I need to clear my head and absorb it properly.

Dull and damp day here today. Taking guests to the local market and bike ride later if rain holds off. Its so lovely how they are up for trying Dutch lifestyle - friend says she feels really at home here. Its funny how you just click with some locations.
(hmm thats a bit deep and meaningful for 8am on a Saturday morning?)

dauphin Thanks for info re colours. Have made notes and will get painting in the summer holidays.

mim Thanks for info too. Can't count how many great tips I got from this thread. Love the fact that it is so much more than just S&B.

blue So sad about your Mum's friend. I'm sure your visit helped a lot.

ollie I totally get the feeling at home in certain locations. Have fun with your friends and enjoy the girly toddler . Your new necklace sounds fab! Hope you are not stressing about the whole CP thing too much. I had a moment last week when I was totally unable to choose something to wear in the morning because I was over-analyzing every top/dress/pair if trousers in my wardrobe. I let DD choose something for me and felt great

Morning all! You must all be excitedly awaiting your sale purchases!

Blue- so sorry to hear about your mum's friend. I hope you were able to draw some comfort from your family last night.
Bloss- hope you had a great time last night.
Ollie- sounds like you are really enjoying having your friends over.

Hopefully- I am amazed and impressed by your a/w list and I may steal some ideas. I do need some good quality knitwear. Like the idea of a pencil skirt. And am still thinking about a handbag- maybe actually a portmanteau style thing like the nice one Annie linked to recently. And talking about Annie....

I can report a lovely mini MU yesterday in a blustery but dry Hyde Park. It was great to meet her gorgeous girls who are two outgoing delights, and her elder dd quickly became a partner in crime with mine (albeit mine was slightly subdued as she was exhausted after 3 nights at MILs where it would appear she was having too much fun to sleep...) Annie brought some lovely chicken and cake which we tucked into and was rocking a fab leopard scarf that I meant to ask after as I really liked the look of it!

Right, lots of housework today and still got to decide upon a dress (now only three options though) for tonight.

The whole clothing personality thing can be a bit difficult to get your head round, can't it? My top tips, from the huge wisdom gained by having had style analysis done a whole 6 months ago are:

• Don't stress too much about what you already own
• Go through your wardrobe and pick out the garments that really seem to fit in with your CP
• Try, where possible, to base outfits around your CP garments - wearing a few things with the right 'look' for you will bring the rest of your outfit more in line, if you know what I mean
• Whenever you buy new clothes/accessories, ask yourself it will match one of the 'correct' (i.e. your CP) items already in your wardrobe - I find this a much easier way of checking whether things fit within my CP than obsessively examining my workbook.

-Before doing an online shop or going shopping, have a quick flick through your workbook to remind yourself of the best shapes for you

• Accept that sometimes it is almost impossible to dress completely in your CP
• for instance, my CP (dramatic natural) has almost no scope, really, for shorts or cropped trousers, which makes summer wear a bit impossible if I were to stick to it religiously! So I buy shorts and cropped trousers in really neutral colours that don't make them the focus of the outfit, and wear with blazers, tops and shoes that are really 'me' to bring them in line with my CP
• Decide that it's ok if you want to buy something that totally isn't in your CP, but be aware that it probably won't work desperately well with the rest of your wardrobe. This is absolutely fine if you can afford to have bits that don't work with everything else, but for me one of the joys of the style analysis is that literally everything in my wardrobe goes with everything else. The 'being able to get dressed in the dark' thing really is true.

Wow Hopefully, you really know your stuff. I thought what Everything said the other day about getting compliments on her 'look' rather than individual items of clothing was insightful too. I am listening to all this style analysis chatter and do try to apply the principles when shopping .

DH back today with lots of gifts for the kiddies (baseball stuff) but none for me. The only thing I really wanted was more J Brands but as I have 4 pairs already I decided not to be greedy .

Blue, so lovely of you to be there for your friend, sending you strength to help her through.

Dauphin, glad to hear that your DF is making progress and is over the worst. I am loving all the chat about painting furniture. When we came back from Italy last year we revitalised a few items by painting them a F&B pale grey (can't remember which) but couldn't quite recreate the look of our holiday villa - I am sure it is something to do with the light, much 'warmer' in Italy.

Hello all, I've been enjoying the sales chat - I am not really partaking as I am now furiously saving pennies - we've had an offer accepted on a house that needs an extension and complete redecoration, plus whatever turns up on the survey. So my browsing has switched from Shopstyle to Houzz!

Assuming it all goes through ok, it'll be the final piece in the 'moving' project - both with new jobs, ds1 in local school, new place to live. Then I'll have to start thinking about something else!

Hopefully, that style summary was very useful, thank you!

NY and Annie, glad you had a good day yesterday, sounds lovely. It was windy yesterday, our metal bike shed got blown over!

Blue, so sorry about your friend's mum, it sounds like you're doing a great job of helping her through it, so sad.

I will need to think about AW needs, invariably work wear will be on the list. Can I ask for your views on this? Colours are good, and they have it in a 6.

Morning.

Exciting news about the house Apuski, how long do you think it will take to go through?

Meant to also thank Dauphin for the paint advice, I am starting to think of colours for our new bedroom/bathroom. DH is also still at the stage of getting excited about soil pipes. Also need to start thinking about DS's new bedroom - he'll move into our current bedroom, and so I need to start thinking about how to decorate it for him.

Very sad about your friends Mum Blue, I am sure she appreciated your visit and kindness.

Glad you had a good time despite the grey weather NY and annie.

We are going to friends for lunch today - I am wearing my petrol blue Paige Skinnies with the white Gap embroidered top that Red and Amber also have. Slight nod to summer in my outfit, although big scarf and blazer too!

Have good saturdays everyone!

Hi MiM, hoping it'll go through quickly, end of July or into August, as there are no chains involved. We're sending a surveyor round this week. The likely hold up will be the small matter of me not having actually started my new job yet! Just waiting for confirmed start date.

Sounds good yesterday. It was less the wind for me, but more the big expense of having free time. I need to use it to work.

Feel annoyed about my clash however.

Oh well will make up with night in London, Red, Ants, Emo it's a date. Hopefully not on hols, let us know which final date it is Red. Perhaps Momin will come too and other Londoners.

Apuski great news on the house. I think the same too, it might get a bit much after a while for you. Quite clashy.

I don't mind floating through the seasons, actually I find limiting to a few online stores and Liberty (although haven't been there for ages) they do a lot of the buying selection already. Probably because it is easy.

Yes do come. Yes to different venue too. Somewhere a bit more low key and um trying to find the word. A bit less noisy. What do others think?

Am going out soon in same area will check it out as a possibility for us.

Or I can twist dh's arm, he needs to let us in however, not sure he will be up for that