And so we Wisely turn away from any summer purchases to Avid thoughts of stylish winter coats. Which means (surely) that the sun will shine, after wool jackets are bought....

[notyummy]

Stamp

Sarah Curran just rang me! Was at a baby massage class with a slippery naked DD while she apologised profusely. I feel quite chuffed, silly really. Anyway have decided to put the credit towards an AW purchase and will probably stick to cheaper ballerinas from now on. To be honest my feet get really cold so by mid September it'll be boots all the way anyway.

Thinking of you and your DH red. You sound like a lovely supportive wife. Hope things start to get better for him very soon.

Off to look at dona's pins now with some trepidation... I like everything you like! Think our colouring must be very similar - if only our lifestyles were! Thanks for good advice about Burberry. The trench is a stone colour, more grey than camel and I think it looks ok but not brilliant. You lot are making me much more exacting about what I want from clothes, which will be good in the long run but means I'm a bit dissatisfied with some of the things I've already got!

Lovely coat Amber.

What's left after we commented Dona?

Can I have a no no on this

bright silk Bruno

Sea NY

Either or none?

(I can't see past the discount and you're being good doing AW)

Blimey Blue that's fabulous!

Thanks all, all comments welcome - very good to get your opinions!
My no-buy July is a joke Shame on me!!!
Finished Overdressed (read it gals!), will start something new - how about To Buy or Not to Buy? (Clearly in need of some anti-retail therapy).
If anyone can recommend more highbrow reading (ideally a really gripping novel), would be happy to get distracted.

DD1 faked fever for 5 mins so that she didn't have to go out to the hot, dusty park with DD2 and Nanny. I think I may have inadvertently passed on some genes - she insists on wearing a deep pink satin H&M party dress to the playground. Today, she ripped it badly (supermarket escalator - don't ask). So maybe I'll be a good mummy, get out the sewing machine and fix it - it is fixable I think. You see, for her it's like having her favorite Blochs/Mulberry bag/Lanvin dress ruined...

Marsha thanks for your help! do you wear rust well (do you have red under/overtones in your hair) - if yes, yes yes. If no, no no. Personally I can't wear that color, but have adored some Sea NY things of late...
I'll let the shopping basket cool off overnight. Sometimes it's worth trying everything on & doing the returns... Sometimes it isn't.

Blue brilliant!

No I probably can't wear rust either. And it's quite busy. Will walk away and ponder. Thanks!

Dona- as recently pinned- would recommend Into Thin Air. DH and u were both utterly gripped, and it's not our usual sort of thing at all.

Blue- well done you on your crusade for better service!

Marsha- agree with Donas points on colour.

DD1's dress fixed - DD v happy! Should do this more often.
Now that the sewing machine is out, I probably should use the momentum to fix a couple of things of my own - including a navy Red Valentino jacket that's a bit too big at side seams (outlet bargain from the US - bought thinking "I can fix this")

Marsha, I wore rust for a season in the late 80s or early 90s when all the stores were full of it. My photos from that era look dreadful (not counting the frizzy perm, blue eyeliner and shoulder pads), rust made my face look gray-green But all you Autumns, go for it! It will be very easy for me to resist the shops in the fall...

Thank you Ladies! I'm embarrassed I didn't see the earlier posts but assumed my end of thread post had gone unnoticed ...

Collonil it is. And gloves. Maybe I'll also clingfilm the kids.

Yes definitely one for autumns ie not summers. (or whatever I am). Like that wine colour last season, makes me look woozy as if I'm slightly tipsy on red wine. Too rich.

red hope things start to improve now

blue well done re achieving better customer service! That's great!

Had large glass of wine with child free lunch in york with DH- yikes v v tipsy on one glass(was lovely)....em so bought this this and this in navy
Must not flex credit card after wine again. Need a lie down now.....

Alwaysrunninginheels where did you have your boozy lunch? I had mine in VJs but had no booze due to DD being in the buggy looking at me balefully throughout! Like your purchases v much, especially the Hobbs belt. I've been unimpressed the last few times I've been in there, I hope their new season stuff is good.

Blue that's great news!

Marsha those dresses are both really you style-wise, but I'd be amazed if they were good colours. Maybe the brighter one.

Carole cling filming the kids sounds like the solution

Have spent the day fulfilling a daft promise I made to another blogger a while back, so have achieved no work at all. Bah.

kaloobear was in the pitcher and piano beside the cinema. Very relaxing......I love the belt with my jeans! Some stuff in Hobbs was dreadful though and the lighting made it feel really dark and dull! Fingers crossed for next season. They have a event night next week to show the new season stuff but I will have headed home by then....sob....I love York!!!

I've only read the first part of the thread but wanted to send Red a huge virtual hug and to suggest that your DH contacts this service am I right that you're in Bristol? If you click on "getting referred" it does say that you can self refer and don't have to go via your GP. Hope that's useful.

On a far shallower note, I have a sartorial challenge I need help with. DH has been invited to the Farnborough airshow, invite includes me and the dress code is 'business attire'. I haven't worn anything except jeans for a year and have no idea what to wear-help please!

Hi all, been at work all day. Better for my bank balance! Am currently on a rugby field in indigo 910s, hunters and the SB parka. Appropriate!
Had a quick changeover and ate a load of crap as my dinner wasn't ready. Must be more prepared.
Enjoyed doing a handbag board this morning. Must say I'm veering towards the merlot Paraty. Enjoying my non black annina very much.

Grumpy, do not know what exactly that means but I sometimes go to DH's functions where that is the de facto dress code and everyone seems to wear what they would wear on a normal day at office (the idea is that the reception is during or right after a day at the office, without a chance for a change of clothes). No jeans, but dresses, jackets, slacks, skirt suits and pantsuits; not really cocktail wear, not as glitzy. Do you have anything approximating straight trousers (black? navy?) and a jacket? Or a nice dress? And that is never a style extravaganza: strings of pearls, brooches, silk scarves, conservative handbags: an ocean of monotonous navy, black and gray. But perhaps NY or someone can help?

Be sure to check out my Speziale pins

Ooh, I might see if I can get an invite always, I used to be on their mailing list but took myself off it when I got fed up with it being so samey. I really need some new work dresses though so now might be a good time to give it another go...

I love York too, it's pretty much the only place in the country I am happy to live in if I can't live in London! I wouldn't mind Bath either, but that's basically York in the South isn't it...!

NSG - dress, jacket and heels I would say. Cardigan would work as well. Think somewhere between 'boring office' and 'registry office wedding' and you will probably in the territory. Smart trousers and blouse would also be fine.

marsha I think the Bruno would be lovely on you.

Go blue!!

always love your buys today

Bloss I'd really vouch for a non black handbag - it brightens up any outfit. Can you pin your colorwheel sometime? 50 shades of gray + merlot?

I'm asking because I've been dying to wear true Winter colors all my life. Winters were so top of the line when colors were dealt out and Summers only got the leftovers nobody else wanted .

I have a non-serious crush on the watermelon Paraty. But have had a small style revelation: I cannot afford to dress continuosly high end AND on trend AND accumulate significant savings (this is what most Italians seem to do instinctively - their tastes in clothes are very conservative and trend-averse, but the quality of fabrics is out of this world). Thus it bags are probably not going to make it to my Buy list (does anybody wear their Fendi baguettes any more? or black nylon Pradas?). Paraty is very pretty though...

Fendi baguettes are back Dona, believe they are celebrating an anniversary...

I'd read that too amber. Hmm, normally agree with everything you say dona but I'm sure I've read a hundred versions of the 'It bags are dead' article over the last few years and I'm never quite convinced. I think past so called it bags such as the Balenciagia Lariat or the Mulberry Roxanne and yes the Fendi baguette still look classic and luxe and lovely, well to me anyway. I'd rather carry an ex-it bag than a current high street I must admit, but maybe that's just me (owner of several 'ex-its' so maybe I'm just deluded). I don't own one but I'd certainly be happy to use a Prada nylon in the right context, nowhere glam admittedly...