Shall we Avidly sprint to the sales for some Wise purchases? Trench coats and cover ups, sadly.....

[notyummy]

There we go!

always tickled by you thinking I was blog lady in shorts: I am very small and very pale so polar opposite! But I am trying to think positive and will whack on some fake tan and work those shorts if it kills me! And I know DH will love them. It's funny how very short shorts can look really stylish and classy while very short skirts tend to look the opposite. Saw a lady in town yesterday wearing very short tailored shorts, heels and a blazer and she looked really sophisticated and no doubt had been at work. The skirt or dress equivalent would have been tart-tastic!

The 8:1 ratio sounds impossible and it feels a bit silly when you start enthusing over tiny things but the response is incredible, honestly. They love it. And it's nice because it reminds you of all the things that they do do well, rather than the opposite!

The j brand heaven florals have arrived and I really like them. Great fit, very skinny indeed. Not quite sure how to style them, except with white though, due to the blue-greyness of them. Any ideas? May have to do some searching for pics to inspire me.

Back from our Primark trip, but no pumps to be had sorry MiM/Ollie/Red what had appeared as "loads" to me the other day was actually zillions of pairs
in size 3. They did have lots of Nude in 5/6 and some black ones, but nothing at all in a 7 grrr.

Will catch up properly now, but just wanted to say my mum used to sing that song too blue/Decameron. Also my ex flatmate used to blast The Winner Takes it All for hours on end when she was heartbroken.

Thanks for the ballet flat pointers! None of my size left in the MD ones do am torn between the butterfly and Clarks ones. Feet are sore after walking round the Westminster areas all day. Wish I had managed to sit in a park....,

Thank you for looking Suburban - I might pop to the big one here tomorrow to see if they've had some deliveries. Can't beat a trip to Primark. Ollie and MiM what should I be looking out for?

Blue I can imagine you will look wonderful in the shorts. I sported a pair of navy shorts today and, although I know I haven't really got the legs for shorts, I felt very happy in them!

Lovely jeans MiM. I've never tried Sevens before, will rectify soon.

Thinking of you Looby.

Have just had an e-mail from the CM with all of her meal plans, activity ideas and so on. She is going to put me to shame!

Sounds like a great CM Red!

Just popping in after a bit of an absence to thank the lovely blue for her wise wise words earlier about praising children and the 8:1 ratio. I also have a spirited 2 year old DS, who is the apple of my eye and great company now but can be difficult and has a fair number of tantrums too. I had a couple of weeks off work recently which were great because I was relaxed but since going back to work I have found bedtime very difficult and frustrating and then I feel guilty because I haven't enjoyed the time I have spent with him...tonight after those tips I was so much calmer and positive with him and it really paid off. I know he responds better to praise but I needed to be reminded so thank you.

Also wanted to say I am a Canary Wharfer as well...a recent move from the City but am liking the shopping proximity even if it is mainly a brisk walk past / window shopping in Whistles (luckily for my finances). Hope your meeting went well fleecy - was vaguely looking out for a stylish woman in a Davina whilst I was out earlier

What wasn't beneficial for my finances was a women's networking event on Monday where the senior women speaking happened to mention that a good tip was to dress like the people in charge and that actually senior women at the firm tend to wear more colour, accessories, skirts etc.....which I took as my cue to buy this skirt and these shoes in the NAP sale...not even sure they are that work appropriate but hey its clearly a career investment!

Loving the Gracie round up too although sadly can't join in on that one but good shopping ladies!

Hi Breton- good to hear from you. Lovely skirt.

I popped into Oliver Bonas at the station this afternoon. Some very pretty dresses in there. I was strong though!

Hi Breton lovely to see you. Love the skirt and the Miu Miu heels. Great shopping!

Have been working my butt off this evening. This whole no-childcare-and-madly-growing-business is becoming a little challenging! Not that i'm complaining, it's nice to have some actual money in our life, but gosh we're all working hard right now.

I would have happily sported shorts today, but the lack of sunshine in previous weeks meant I had rather neglected my depilatory duties, so couldn't. In hindsight, the maxi dress could have had an outing, but I am so mindlessly wearing the same three outfits in rotation at the moment (more or less) that it didn't even occur to me. S&B fail.

Evening Hopefully great that you're so busy at work.

Love your skirt and heels Breton

Bought some White skinny jeans today in a local boutique, which of course is going to sort out all of my wardrobe dilemmas!

Morning all!
Breton I completely agree about good, strategic use of color and seniority. I use a lot of bright red and am trying to incorporate more bright emerald green and bright blue into my work wardrobe - they really make me stand out. I particularly like red when I give a talk or need to meet and greet people.

You might be interested in this Youtube video about use of color and image.

Navy in workwear has always been a weak, fade-in-the-background color for me. The color for good, quiet, patient women who are paid much less than they deserve. I much prefer black in that context even though I'm a Light Summer. A black outfit and red lipstick convey authority - in my case, navy and gray often don't although they go well with my colouring.

Hopefully I worked part time last year without a good childcare solution. Tricky and draining. But so very happy that your business is taking off!

Yellow has always been a difficult color for me as I have pale skin and blonde hair. I took a look at the Summer color palettes and discovered a very pale lemony green (the color of a yellow post-it more or less) and am experimenting with it today (this dress, although I may add a burgundy sash. Cate Blanchett has worn the yellow-burgundy combination very well).

Morning all! Will check out your link later donaAna. Sounds really interesting.

Morning! It's the longest day of the year, and there are flood warnings! So it looks like the White skinnies will be left in the bag for a while! What to wear? I am going to the theatre after work today with some girl friends so I want to look smart but not too smart! Off to checkout the wardrobe!

Hope you find something great portia. What are you going to see? It always makes me a little sad that the theatre isn't the place of dressed up glamour that I believed it to be as a little girl.

Lovely dress dona. Completely agree about colour in workplace. Shows such confidence too. I think I may be a Light Summer too - am also pale and blonde and the colours you mention do suit me I think.

Hello breton! I am far from wise but glad the praise thing helped. I needed to remind myself too. Just tone of voice makes such a difference with my DS.

Steady rain here and my iPhone shows nothing but rain for the next 6 days!

That sounds interesting dona will check out that video tonight. Lovely dress too. I definitely think I need to finally organise to get my colours done so I have a better idea of the brighter colours I can incorporate....pretty sure am some sort of Summer too.

Has been raining here today although there seems to be a brief respite so going to make a dash for it to work

Thank you for looking Suburban for me. Red, size 5 blue ones if they have them - thank you for offering.

Shame you can't wear the white jeans today Portia, hopefully soon.

Good to hear from you Breton, beautiful shoes.

Toddler group this morning, at which DS always plays up. All very stressful to manage with DD in the carrier at the same time. Then we have an appointment for DD at the hospital, due to her birthweight she needs to have a scan on her hips.

So not a very glamourous day today here, and a very grey and damp looking morning too. Wearing beige skinny chinos with the lovely navy swallow print silk MD blouse I bought when I was heavily pg. So glad I did, its such a good cut and has some lovely details.

leopard wrap dvf for those who can wear browns!

Am.Up.To.HERE with this weather. Absolutely throwing down here. DD!s Key Stage 1 Sports Day has been cancelled, which she was really looking forward to. Havi managed to arrange this afternoon off to attend, I am scrambling round trying to rearrange meeting next week because it is now being held on Tuesday. Not the schools fault obviously. Just so annoying. And I wanted to go running.....

Grr. Rant over- apologies.

Good luck with toddler group MIM!

NY, what a pain. DD had hers yesterday and got sunburnt. Good luck rearranging.

MiM, try a different toddler group maybe? They do vary, with some having more 'active' toys than others. Are there any others near you?

Definitely not a white skinnies day today Portia. Speaking of white skinnies, where is Fritzi?

Housework beckons...

Sorry for being AWOL. Only a week left until school holidays and I am frantically trying to get as much done as I can on my project. Hope I'll be able to catch up soon and post again properly

Smart thinking Fritzi . Best of luck with it.

Fritzi! Fabulous to see you. Good luck with the work.

NY what bad luck re weather. Btw do you listen to music when you run and do you have a favourite song /singer etc? (mine are well worn now might need more).

Oh how I love Thursdays.

Good to hear from you Fritzi!

Marsha - yes, I can't run without music. I have a real mixture, including current upbeat chart stuff that I download from itunes (Example; Nicki Minaj; David Guetta) and older stuff from my collection of CDs, all of which I have uploaded on to my itunes library. So that might be ACDC; Metallica; The Prodigy; Faithless; The Killers. It's got to have a reasonably fast beat though.

Can I recommend this gorgeous collection of images with commentary from the BBC news site? Hugely evocative. Think I might try and catch the exhibition - admission free!

Need to update my dress for work / Sandy Dumont Youtube link - she touts her e-books (which you shouldn't buy). She is a bit of a scary witch, but I think what she says makes sense. One of her books used to be free, and I had it somewhere, but can't find it any more.
Her basic messages:

• dress for success, the position where you want to be rather than where you are now
• don't use the earthier and gentler range of your colors. Look for colors that match your skin tone but convey authority and make a bold contrast - reds, blacks, fuchsias, royal blues for example, but never pastel colors or colors that closely match your skin. In general, shades of brown should be avoided.
• solids and monochromes are more powerful than patterns
• use one or two powerful accessories
• don't be afraid of black; black is a power color and blondes can use it too

So, pretty basic stuff. But I've tested it and at least for me, jewel brights and black really work in work context, although my own coloring is pale and my natural color scale includes lots of "weak" pastels, greys and camels.

• green Mini Gracie arrived! Lovely grass color!

Survived! To be honest pickled, DS is generally hard work, wherever he is. . Its a nice group though, and two very good friends also go so its good to see them.

Good to see you fritzi, hope work eases up soon for you.

I hear you NY re the weather, rant away. I changed my clothes earlier as even chino's felt to summery. Back in black skinnies...practically winter wear.