Avidly surveying the sales... but already starting Wisely to wonder about A/W Wish Lists.

[blue2711]

New thread!

The fake tan is on (with requisite orange patches, naturally) and hair is done. I'm on countdown to Big Night Out, aware that will have to get ready whilst putting 2 DC to bed.

40bum lady is wearing my black suede Zara sandals today. I heartily recommend. She goes out a lot, doesn't she?! . I have a wardrobe full of going out clothes but not enough occasions to wear them all!

bloss is right: coats and warm jackets are the way forward. I am stupid; I have 20 odd blazers and lightweight jackets perfect for May to September but only 1 jacket and 2 coats I like for September to April. Must rectify.

Fritzi "read the text out loud to practise" is entirely correct

Good morning ladies! Not that it is good here - I'm off to build an ark after finishing this post . This morning (easily offended style mavens look away now) I wore raincoat, running leggings and glittery hunters to school in a completely bonkers look because I intend very shortly to be exercising.

Pickled - thanks so much for that link. I was too slow because I didn't see it until this AM and they had all gone. Nice to be though of though, and anyone else spots anything similar then please post!

Looby - I echo everyone else when I say, firstly, WOW at the 26 inch jeans! Secondly, 6W6P good, also perhaps some pilates or callenetics? You can get a range of stuff from Amazon - I got a used callenetics book for about £1.50- and they are the kind of exercises you can fit in anytime.

Always - I take my trainers and Jillian downloaded onto ipad on holiday too!

My Zara order arrived yesterday. I am keeping:

this plain pencil skirt, as I don't have a black one.

This blue shirt. Like their organic cotton top, this shirt is GREAT quality and excellent for work. Very soft and nicely cut. Worth considering when rebuilding your wrok wardrobe, Amber?

Jumper in green.

These indigo skinnies are lovely! The 10 is perfect and plenty of elestane for the spanx effect .

This dress is a keeper. I ummed and ahhed a bit, but I do love the neckline so much. I tried it with a belt, which I think works better for me. Slightly shorter than my usual. I don't own a single item in red, but actually I think the colour looks OK on me. Now just have to work out when I can wear it! I may try it on over skinnies to see if I could wear it in a slightly less dressy way. Could also be a contender for my girls weekends away later this year to Glasgow, Budapest and Dublin. [excited already emoticon]

These are going back:

Coated trousers are actually olive and a very strange cut.

Dress has the Zara dress curse for me - waistline up under my chest .

Good morning.

Keep missing lots of chat in the evening as I am going to bed early at the moment.

Lovely to hear from you Looby. I am sure your stomach will deflate loads over the coming weeks.

All the school reports are so heartwarming to read - well done to all the mini W&A'ers.

Quick post from me as trying to get lots of boring chores done today, our building work started yesterday, so I am trying to keep on top of things as best I can.

However, as I was cleaning up the kitchen this morning, and mulling things over, I had a massive surge of happiness. I have to say, that so much of that is due to this thread and the wonderful people on it.

You are all helping me become the person I wanted to be for a very long time.

Thanks hopefully! Glass of champagne for you at next meet up.

Even higher typo rate than usual in that post - apologies!

Fritzi - I agree with Hopefully. Sounds fine to me.

Re the storms - they must be all over Europe! Friends in Switzerland said they had a massive one last night. We had a big one here yesterday afternoon. Rain drumming on conservatory roof as I type. Nice.

NSG - sympathy for the lack of sleep. I am using a Clarins eye cream that is quite good at the moment. And touche eclat of course... Nice top!

ny how do you download Gillian onto iPad.....or anything onto iPad like that???? In v simple terms.....

Am looking forward to trying the touché éclat foundation when it is released everywhere. Has anyone tried it yet? I am a bit of a foundation junkie! Best eye cream I have ever used was the elemis one- donated by friend who runs a beauty website- am not sure I will ever be able to bring myself to pay for it myself.

May join in the ark building soon- apparently York is to flood today!

Always - will have to consult DH on that as he did it. Suspect it involved v slightly dodgy software to alow him to rip copies of the DVD onto our PC and then download onto ipad as itunes video (I think.)

awww mim - warm fuzzy feelings here

I rather like this DVF bag - do you guys?

Midnight, that is very sweet. Seems like such a lovely bunch of ladies.

Emo, like the bag a lot. I am a big DVF fan though.

Just in from a run and look delightful. Hah! Planning to head to the tennis later, am not a massive fan but would love to experience the atmosphere.!

Really need a wardrobe shakeup and I think I will be greatly inspired by this thread.

PS Alwaysrunning, I have tried the new YSL foundation. Got samples from two different counters and both gave the same colour which I was impressed with. I like it, not sure if it is as amazing as 'they' say but it blends really nicely and colour is perfect and considering I have umpteen bottles of the wrong shade, from Bobbi Brown to Max Factor, is a big plus for me.

Would love me a good thunderstorm

Emo I've eyed the DvF Harper bag for several months now. I finally decided it's too big and boxy for me because I'm big and boxy. Would love to have a Mini Harper in that exact shade though.

Marsha we do like similar colors and styles! Now with a slight tan I can wear neon orange on my feet and pale yellow without looking like I need a blood transfusion ASAP. White doesn't look good on me in winter but is my best summer neutral (in Brazil, I had nothing in black and everything in white).

Shopping in my wardrobe. Wearing an old pleated rococo print skirt, the new white Marc Jacobs peplum top and neon orange Stylesnob ballerinas. Ladies, a flash of neon and white updates everything! Even archeological finds!

Feel very smug. Cooked for lunch baked ziti. Everyone in this house loves them. What they do not know is that it is a sneaky ?clean the fridge casserole? ? in goes meat from the chicken carcass that?s been lingering for a while, the chicken cutlet nobody ate, the left over mashed potatoes... Plus 3 carrots and half a bulb of fennel and a fistful of parsley and a couple of tablespoons of tomato paste and a few cloves of garlic ? all pureed up in the food processor so the picky eater won?t notice. I flash fry everything in olive oil for a few minutes to sterilize the leftovers to avoid imminent food poisoning (TMI, no?), then add a bit salt and soy sauce. Boil a boxful of pasta until al dente, mix with the fried leftovers in a casserole pan. Beat 2 eggs with 700 ml of milk, pour onto the ziti, top with parmesan or grana padana, add milk if needed. Forget in the 200 C oven for half-an hour and MN a bit and come and bow to the applause. Clearing out the fridge is much easier than clearing out the wardrobe for sure .

Amber how is your shopping ban going? I had a slight relapse yesterday - ordered some underwear and a few Bodas cami-short pyjama sets and some socks because I need them (have big feet, so my socks keep mystically disappearing - into DHs drawers I fear). But shopping for no-VPL undies or trainer socks is not fun, so not counting that < halo emoticon>

Fritzi you could say 'read aloud to practise' if you feel it flows better, but perfectly fine as it is!

MiM that's lovely. I completely concur. So much change in the last year and you've all been a constant support. Lovely ladies.

I love storms - sounds like a romantic moment in the rain there Ollie!

DS whinging a lot today - a very kind elderly lady took him under her wing at Sainsburys and I had a really easy shop! Friends here this weekend so lots of tidying/food preparation and so on to get done.

Am having updates from lovely friend who has been in labour for two days now. So excited for her, but hoping things get a move on asap!

MiM how lovely. Yes to little surges of happiness. It's nice.

Dona I know! I'm so glad you have joined this thread. Love Bodas too. Agree about flash of neon, love the outfit.

Emo yes I do like it. And with a print dress. I love this look with print dress.

Hope you get good news soon Red. Exciting.

Feeling very pleased as sports day is cancelled. Which means I can keep working and ds2 gets to do the sibling race. Really cute.

MiM, RR and Others also need to join in and give a group hug to everyone.
Y'all know what the turmoil and upheaval of having children is like. It's easy to lose oneself there. Over the past 1.5 years, post DD2, there have been really rocky moments, but I've also updated and rebuilt my confidence, look, style and wardrobe (some of it as a lurker here!) and am quite happy with the results Keep up the good work ladies and do join in Manga!

Two days, Red, poor woman!

Right back atcha, MiM!

Always, I have diagnosed myself as a summer, I have dark hair, similar colouring to Kate Middleton (but that's as far as it goes) now I have taken the red out of my hair, and she apparently is a summer.

Nice top, NSG. I couldn't get a babysitter until the 14th but thanks for the reminder as I must book the restaurant. I'm copying you and have already put in an order for black Maria jeans when my friend goes to the US.

My friend has me worried as she told me that the Mirena made her put on loads of weight, I have been googling and that's all I come across. I have never had a weight problem in my life so I'd better not start now.

NY, I like the Zara stuff you are keeping. I often have the same problem with dresses and waistlines. The curse of being tall.

Oooo one more thing - the doorman just rang the bell and brought me this - a watermelon / fluoro pink tote bag that goes perfectly with the outfit I'm wearing right now. (Official reason for buying it last month : prefer tiny cross-body bags but need a huge sack to lug DC's junk things). Hand made in Poland by Rib & Hull, lovely artisans with a real eye. Do give a look - they might have a stylish solution for you too. (Will need this next week when the entire family takes off for summer hols.)

Marsha thanks for the kind words, you are a huge inspiration - love your style!

That was me this time a year ago red, induction started Tues PM, DD arrived Friday AM. Hope your friend gets a baby soon!

Love this thread, you are all wonderful. Except fritzi, who dissed my fitflops.

It's going ok Dona. Am a bit bored already though. Am awaiting one parcel and then nothing. Will be a bit bleak, but must keep focus. I am finding my Vanessa Bruno cabas great for DC crap, while allowing me the freedom of a tiny bag!

Emo, forgot to say, I like that DvF bag a lot.

Hi everyone, mind if I join you? I'm coming to the end of my maternity leave and am utterly skint, but have also lost a load of weight (almost 5 stone, woo!) so have nothing to wear at all. I'm fine around the house but going back to work in September is going to be a nightmare. I'm trying to pick up some pieces in the sales, so have got a pair of cropped black trousers from Gap, a black tuxedo style jacket, a long sleeved red dress and a polka dot blouse from Monsoon and a few pairs of jeans from Topshop for casual. I'm now a size 6/8, 25/26 in jeans depending on the shop. I keep trying to find chinos but nothing I can find is very flattering-they all seem to give the appearance of a camel toe even if they're not at all tight?!

Pre pregnancy when I was a size 16 I used to wear quite ladylike stuff, 50s style etc. I'm still an hourglass so I think I can still do that but I don't want to look like I'm 'dressing up' if you see what I mean?

The other difficulty is that I'm a 30G bra size so shirts and blouses have to be loose and billowing as otherwise they fit my waist and back but gape over my boobs.

Does anyone know where I should start or have any ideas about things to suit me? I'm a teacher so need to be smart but don't have to wear suits every day.

I'm now going to go back and read the whole thread to pick up ideas!

(Forgot to say, when I'm not totally skint my preferred shops are things like Whistles, DVF, Theory, Topshop when they're not in an 80s teenager phase, GAP occasionally, Reiss occasionally.)