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.

Have changed name on Pinterest, sorry to confuse anyone. Pretty obvious its still me tho!
Ants am loving your boards and wardrobe. Knew you woould be good at this Pinterest malarky!

NSG, you don't need to link it to Facebook. I signed in using Twitter but didn't link it.

My fitflops are now gone, they remind me too much of being pregnant.

How's the head, MiM?

Oh and am so annoyed. Appears I have lost my grey jersey blazer. No idea where but def not in the house. Wear it loads so need replacement. Any ideas. The Top Shop bf one doesnt really suit me tho.

Pickled I will always love you for comparing Mr Ollie to GC but Im sure that pic was photoshopped. Not complaining mind.

Morning all!
This thread is moving so fast...
Loving all the furious Pinterest activity. Your wardrobes are a true inspiration! Better than any magazine or blog imo - all of you have carefully selected, edited, no curated wardrobes that have stood the test of real life .
MiM loving your late night posts...
Emo, I could hijack your wardrobe! Exquisite!
Anniemac absolutely love your boards!
Hopeful thanks so much for the explanation of dramatic!
Decam the French women approach really works. That plus a 5K jog every night = a midriff that can almost be bared in public (the latter is not the key tho as it burns barely a bowl of yogurt - I eat mine with a drizzle of acacia honey and dried mulberries, yum!)

Bloss I'm pretty sure I'm a dramatic classic. Will take a closer look at what you wear.

I love bold solid color and tailored, sharp cuts. Also love the odd girly piece and some hidden quirk - am seriously considering updating a prim twinset with silver skull buttons. Won't do the following: lace, Liberty prints, stripes of any sort. Oh, and am trying to get out of the rut of monochrome black (lived in NYC for 3 years where it was normative for practical reasons - the city is grimy!) - it's a lazy look, often needlessly ageing. I'm shocked to notice how rarely Italians wear black - they are the world champions of chic neutrals.

Another excerpt from the Buy/Not Buy book: "It is sensible, even as you save, to allocate some money every month to experiences that make your heart sing. Otherwise you'll be prone to serious relapses, wild spending swings that sap your purpose along with your account balance." I would call that the Marshalogy approach and hope to apply that approach come A/W - a few really lovely items and strict no to tat. The clear mis-investments in my wardrobe are items that I've bought mindlessly, in a panic, or repeat bought thinking "oh I should have this item in green as well as red" (I never get as much pleasure from the duplicate or triplicate as from the original).

Hehe I love your posts Dona. Very warm and funny.

I have to come clean and say I don't save for big stuff. At all. I spend like I earn. Sporadically big lots of £ rather than a steady reliable stream. It makes me celebrate with the big stuff.

Gorgeous dress Sao Paolo one. Look at your weather! And environment. Swoon. It's grey here today.

Love your wardrobes Ants and Emo.

Hopefully when does your A McQueen dress arrive?

Noticed that it's sold out already on NaP.

Incidentally, if I was a Winter, this would have been the De Manta for me. No good Autumn ones around at the moment though, boo.

Hopefully.

Exciting! I hope Selfridges do a good line in packaging and ribbons .

I need to become a Marshalogist.

How annoying, Ollie. Where did you buy it, do they still have it in stock?

I'm sure you'll look amazing in the dress, Hopefully.

I have just cracked open the French women book again, Dona. I am a very healthy eater and naturally slim-ish but getting old so better watch it. My portions are too big and I like red wine!

ollie uniqlo do good basic jersey blazer. I have one in grey- have a look on my board. pinterest.com/antpants1/my-wardrobe/

Hi Marsha, one of the big reasons for me to start saving right now is to be able to buy a retirement apartment in Rome (we are renting here / have a family apt back North). I'm from farther north than probably any of you - 60th parallel - their summer started the day before yesterday and is probably over before I get there next Saturday

Hope you don't mind a bit of style w*ing self-analysis.
Ongoing archeological excavations in my wardrobe revealed this jersey dress. Bought it right after the birth of DD1 when I was going to parties a lot and was desperate for something that wasn't a tent-like maternity dress. It would be a right buy for some - but I've worn it a total of three times ever. Wearing & analyzing it right now:
#1. Synthetic jersey, 98% polyamide: sweaty. Don't buy synthetics.
#2. Too clingy. Requires no-VPL knickers which I don't have . This means that the dress forgives nothing - every molecule of fat shows through. Don't buy clothes that are too demanding.
#3. Floral. I'm not really a floral person deep down. Don't buy floral. Even hotels don't do floral bedspreads any more. One exception allowed: Erdem.
#4. It's ivory / cream, warm Spring colors. Worked with my Brazilian tan, sort of works with my pale Italian tan, but I feel a bit washed out and need to apply an extra layer of bright lipstick and blusher. Stick to your color chart - you are a Spring only in your dreams
#5. It has a fiddly belt that accentuates my belly bulge and is difficult to tie gracefully. Do not buy pieces with parts that you don't understand

All that said, I can wear this right now. The bright coral orange is one of my favorite colors. My midriff is improving. It's not too sweaty with A/C. And it looks surprisingly good with a dark green cardigan. All in all, it's a 65% success. Morale: Don't buy things that are 65%. Aim for at least 90%, or it will not get worn.

Dec me too - same specs. I just love good food too much - portion control and cutting out mindless alcohol is the key for me. And I won't be doing any leek soup craziness, ever.

Lol Dona. I do not buy synthetic at all anymore. It's my one steadfast rule. Because even though it might lure me in I end up regretting it.

Paul&Joe red dress. Love the colour, but the polyester (I think?) irritates me.I feel closed in and claustrophobic (princess and pea). I did a try for dh recently, and he loved it. Hence the clinging on madness. Sorry Red! So ambivalent. Am hopeless at ebaying too, haven't got rid of a sausage.

Hehe Decam I sometimes get the fear of redundancy as no guaranteed income. Your wardrobe is fabulous.

I'm afraid Selfridges does a shit line in packaging - ugly dust bags that smell funny, no ribbons or anything IME.

Am having a quiet morning with the baby while DH takes DS swimming. Having a little party for her 1st birthday tomorrow. Am being a rubbish mummy and allowing Waitrose to do the catering. Shouldn't think it will scar her.

Can I ask a probably stupid question? I keep seeing references on here to seasons. How do you know which season you are? I am very, very pale (porcelain or see through depending on how kind you're being!) with a tendency to blush quite pink, have hazel eyes that are slightly more green than brown and medium brown frizzy hair. I always tend to go for black and plum type colours but have noticed in photos recently that I look really washed out so am making an effort to wear slightly brighter colours. except today I'm wearing grey, oops

Went out to the street (took out the trash) and got wolf-whistled (full disclosure: 39, 2 DC, no spring chicken). Guess I will be wearing the clingy floral dress a lot more this summer! Goes perfectly with green Mini Gracie too...

I'm also a pretty die-hard synthetics avoider these days, but it's difficult: even high end items are very rarely 100% silk or cotton. I don't do linen and viscose (too faffy to maintain).

Kaloo, you can get started with color analysis here. I could narrow it down on my own that I was either a Summer or Spring, but had to see a color analyst to get the final verdict (Light Summer: can wear some Spring colors). It sounds like a fad but for me it has been very useful, well worth the time and effort. I'm much more confident with color these days and it really helps with online shopping. Get compliments from strangers all the time too.

If you can get a wolf-whistle with bag of rubbish in hand then you know you've still got it.

Oi Selfridges it's probably about 1% of your sales. But we want ribbons and tissue paper and a nice box.

YY to ribbons and tissue paper!!! I'm a repeat customer at Matches because I love their packaging and can file my credit card statements in their marbled boxes.

DH told that the weather forecast promises a third heat wave directly from Sahara: 40-45C until mid-July. Thank God I'm out of here soon!

Dona I think the Erdem florals are very unique. If I was stupidly rich I would be tempted by this pencil skirt.

I try to avoid synthetics, but it is basically impossible now when shopping high street - cotton is so incredibly expensive now that it simply isn't possible to make cheap clothes from it. I do try to avoid it when buying high-end though, as I think there's just no excuse for it, and it doesn't last as well. Although I make exceptions for the odd bit of elastane etc.

Kaloo getting a proper analysis is how we've all found out our seasons. Several of us are House of Colour clients, with a few of us having done the style analysis too.

Assume Selfridges packaging is shit, as amber says, because you pay extra for a gift box if you want one, and it's pretty cheap delivery (for an expensive shop).

Have had no dispatch notification for Hush order placed four days ago, and they reckon delivery within 4-5 days during sale time [. I might phone and get stroppy on Monday. I need loungewear, dammit!

I have avoided getting dress thus far today because I need to do Insanity, so it seemed pointless to shower and dress twice. But that means I actually have to go and do insanity. I am not feeling it. Need to get back in the zone.

dressed, not dress. I am not intending to wear a dress in the pissing rain today. And definitely not to do Insanity in.

Hopefully, I for one am pleased to note that you can procrastinate like the rest us .

Dona, your dress today would look good with my tomatoey Hasbeens and yes, the green Gracie - that is the image that popped into my head when I clicked on your link.

Good morning!

Feeling fresh as a daisy this morning.

Ants your pins are beautiful.
Shame about the blazer Ollie, hope you track down a new one soon.
What a nightmare Apuski, I do hope that you get something sorted soon. Would a babysitter be any help in the short term? Or even a local nursery that have some space for a few weeks?

DH has gone on a journey to look at a car for me. Eeek!