Mn Vogue vol. 2

[MarshaBrady]

For anyone who likes to talk about style, nice stuff that they've bought and so on.

Ujjayi well done on the clear out. Laura Bailey sounds perfect for that vintage and sleek mix as you say.

Hopefully, quite a few fashion shoots seem to cope with the potential leg shortening issue by using the same color boot and trouser/legging/tight - this creates clean lines.
Would this type of boot work for you or is it too butch? Or this type of mashup of wedge and brogue or the love child of brogues and Acnes?

I have problems with ankle boots too - very skinny ankles.

Ujj and Mignon, for me fashion is all about wearable art. Don't laugh but I think often that I'm making a sculpture or an installation when I'm dressing. And am trying to mean this in a non-pompous and non-pretentious way - just like I think that my DD makes art when she makes a pasta necklace or a finger painting - and I make a lot of really bad art

Of course fashion photography is art - fashion imagery and advertising have been some of the most accessible forms of art in the past decades. Who goes to galleries vs. who is exposed to advertising imagery (for examples supermodels on the back of a bus?

Not sure what to think of dry clean only sweatpants - a Magritte take on consumer culture?

Sheesh, I feel out of my depth on here, sometimes. Spent an afternoon at a festival in a sunfilled, woody park with friends and kids, watching some amazing acts, including this guy www.coulissimmo.fr/. Hysterically funny, so impressive for someone speaking a foreign language, v. talented. Forgot to look at anyone's clothes, I was laughing so much.

The red Hush jacket was in my mailbox at work on Fri. Verdict:
-colour is lovely
-fabric is nice medium-weight jersey type stuff, good for Autumn around here, maybe a bit thin for the UK
-cut is, as usual, oddly boxy and I persist in believing many pins are used to tailor stuff on their photos to fit their waiflike models

In spite of the cut, I'm keeping it. Fills a good workwear niche, and if I wear a fitted top under it the boxiness isn't really unflattering, IYSWIM (i.e. you can tell the jacket is cut straight down, rather than thinking I'm actually fat). And I CBA traipsing back to the Post Office for another international return which will cost a packet.

The red Amy dress fell into the parcel somehow . It's lovely. Really perfect.

Re Kate, I think maybe she was a bit naïve, but then again she's hardly renowned for her razor-sharp mind. Her PR and security folk, OTOH, are paid to be more on the ball and they need their knuckles rapped.
But I basically think it's foul to publish such photos claiming that they show a delightful romantic scene, while blaring "there will be nipples." Stolen photos of women's breasts as money-making commodities...? Takes us back more than just 15 yrs.

My related, feeble claim to fame, far less impressive than Bonsoir's, is that I live in the Luberon, a part of France which is now becoming quite well known...

Marsha I love Currin.
Also Ujj Laura Bailey is überstylish and hope YAWYW wasn't too taxing emotionally. I felt a bit the same - it was painful to realize some things but extremely relieving to let go of stuff. Vacupacking something may be a good idea though - I almost got rid of a black silk Calvin Klein top (almost unworn), from circa 2005 (when cropped tops were mandatory). But now, with the return of high waists, they are wearable again and look just right with my newest purchases.

Test-wore chambray and pearls to the playground (with black cigarette pants). Will try the whole shebang sometime next week.

Auld you live in a wonderful place. (Do you ever get tired of tourists? I avoid the city center these days - Florence was mayhem too - stayed off the tourist track all day but then had a final coffee near the station - onslaught of fanny packs. Did you know they make them from leather here - it's called il marsupio in Italian
Also like your buys. And know what you mean by international returns - It costs an arm and a leg and here one needs to queue for 1.5 hours at the post office to get a package mailed.

I'd like to buy something bluish-winey this fall - just don't know what yet. If anyone sees cool-burgundy jersey blazers, please let me know.

Italian eBay is amazing - got another Missoni scarf there.

Dona me too, I just pinned a Marant red wine t. But realised you are looking for a blazer. The v neck jumper is nicer but can't find it anywhere.

Great dress Auld, fab colour.

Nudged out of my lurking by the lovely Amy dress Auld linked. What is Hush sizing like? I am 10-12 on top and 12-14 bottom half.

I am not supposed to be buying anything this month!!!

Ahhh sigh of relief I have found my home on MN. Pareto principle definitely applies here and I am SOOOOOO in need of a complete wardrobe upheaval purge of what I don't wear as lots of things don't fit now that DD is here and my shape has completely changed... Things that were my staple capsule 'weekend away' wardrobe hand so strangely it's as if I've had a tonne of plastic surgery!!

DH and I have 2 great big cardboard boxes of labels and designers that need e-baying but finding time is a nightmare!!

libertychick, I suppose it depends how clingy you want the dress to be.
I can measure it later this morning if you like. I'm a size 10 (in 1980's/90's sizes, more of a size 8 and sometimes even below in today's odd sizes), and the S/M is just right. Well fitted, but not tight.

DonaAna, it is indeed beautiful here. Late summer and autumn are really lovely.
I don't mind the tourists much, as I live in a town that doesn't particularly attract them, other than on market day. I avoid the bigger tourist traps in the summer.

Liberty I haven't tried that particular dress but on the whole I find Hush sizing generous.

OMG so much to do today.

Welcome Liberty and Dollface. Congratulations on having purged your closet, D - I tend to put eBaying off too but it is a a good idea sometimes.

Busy day ahead for us too Hopefully. We all have slight colds - would prefer to sleep in...

Dona, just wanted to say thank you for recommending You Are What You Wear. I found it very interesting and used it to purge my wardrobe of work clothes that have not seen the light of day in 5 years! Will get the Nina Garcia book next.

Morning all. A few more colours for the leather legging search (unless it's been abandoned Hopefully?)
www.net-a-porter.com/Shop/List/Leather_Leggings?cm_mmc=Facebook--ProductList--LeatherLeggings-_-StyleParadeVideo

I (like Auld) felt a little out of my depth with the conversation yesterday! Hence the silence. I remember following my mother round London art galleries as a child and her trying to persuade me to like the things she liked (and I never did). She never made me see that it was fine to like something different! It wasn't until I lived with an Art Director years later that he made me realise I was entitled to my own likes and helped me learn to articulate those better. I love fashion photography, but often get confused / overwhelmed in art galleries. I tend to enjoy fashion exhibitions more (there have been some amazing ones at the Design Museum over the years) than walking around galleries looking at paintings. I think I would probably be happier in a library than a gallery!

Anyway - busy day today. Learning to cook new things with an old friend while DS is at nursery and then dinner with a girlfriend this evening.

The new AW wardrobe is starting to get some wear. Particularly loving the A&W chinos and the Reiss jumper so far........

Morning all! I've grown in a home where visual arts were appreciated and have been interested in them since I was a child (probably because I have no talent in music) and still tour museums and galleries on my free time - sometimes I just get carried off. Don't be intimidated, just gently bring the thread back to planet Earth .

Wanted just to say that I am currently reaping the benefits of being a classic dresser. With the addition of a leather pencil skirt, my fall wardrobe is all of a sudden full of possibilities. The skirt updates an old beige safari jacket from Mexx and my old favorite work pumps (Billi Bi, about 10 years old, the comfiest high heels ever and still edgy and visually interesting with their heel that juts out in an unexpected angle!!!) and crop top vests from early 2000s - the combo looks fresh off the runway cool although it is mostly really old items from the back of my wardrobe (all of the items above were almost sent to purgatory cantina in the clearout, but instead, they get to fly to Portugal on Wed!). Tested my travel clothes on the school run - wide-legged floor-sweeping beige poplin Dolce& Gabbana trousers look great with jeweled cream flats, black cropped vest, fluorescent red Maxmara jacket and 2.55. The trousers even survived being attacked by a playful dog when I entered the bar on our street

I an old and overlooked burgundy leather bag (very unique, soft patchwork leather, purchased for a song in Hong Kong many years ago). Saw a stylish Italian wearing basic formulaic neutrals and a stunning wine-colored bag. She inspired me to try the same. Absolutely love having a wardrobe where one new/ refound item can update everything else.

Oh and after a week of touch-ups and retouches, finished changing the color of the hardware of my vintage cognac leather satchel. Bright gold was meh, matte silver is exactly my thing. Can't wait to wear it!

Dec I'm so happy you found YAWYW helpful! I'm not a person who voluntarily does clearouts, but the book really helped me to let go of things that I know are not right for me / that drag me down. Am also happy that I let go of some unworn things: Nanny came to work today wearing one of my cardigans - it looks great on her and I'm so happy it's being used and loved now!

Nina Garcia's 100 may not cause an immediate transformation, but 1) it taught me to appreciate what I already have (lots and lots of true classics!) 2) it encouraged me to start wearing some of the (the safari jacket for example) 3) she gave good recommendations where to shop if/ when I need to replenish my wardrobe and 4)good ideas where to look for some missing pieces (am finding a lot of lovely high-end accessories on eBay.it for very little money - Missoni and Pucci scarves for example).

Currently wearing a watermelon mercerized-supima cotton scoop neck top, black edgy heel courts, MMM leather pencil skirt and my Mikimoto pearls. Très Mad Men .

Have a lovely day all - how's the weather and what are you wearing?

Shop thanks for the link - love the green Cavallis! Not what I need, but how cool. The Victoria Beckham ones are lovely but ££££. Am I the only one perplexed by leather front leggings?

Dona glad the pencil skirt is a success!

Marsha I have no idea what to go for as ankle boot alternative. I have my suede marant-alikes, but need something more robust for winter weather. Maybe some kind of ankle biker, but I'm never quite sure about them - they are very unpredictable, need to be tried on. I quite like the Marc Jacobs ones Dona linked, might hunt down a budget option to try. I think it doesn't help that I am mid wardrobe overhaul atm - I'm not sure what clothes I will have, so struggling to visualise footwear.

Sunny but cooler here now. A minor win for me today - I am wearing my jeans and boots in a new way courtesy of one of your pins I think Dona. Double roll up with my tan Hudson boots. It is a different look for me (old me would have tucked jeans into boots) but I got complimented at nursery drop off so it must work! Cream vest and my tan Zara linen top.

'tis a great look shop and one that OllieinOrange rocks with boyfriend jeans

Hopefully, you've got the Ash Jalouse haven't you? Don't they work?

Auld, glad you like the Hush jacket - boxy absolutely no good for me.

Sunny autumn day here too: Wearing red skinnies, white shirt, silver belt and silver Bloch ballet flats. And sunglasses of course! Hope everyone has a great day. I am still de-cluttering and the window cleaners are here too. Getting ready for winter!

I am delurking to ask for help, specifically from DonaAna.

I'm going to Rome in early November to visit family (newborn niece! squee!). We're going for a long weekend - DP and baby coming with me - baby will be 9mo and I'll still be breastfeeding. It won't be leisurely, we'll be doing lots of jumping on trains and taking the metro (is it called the metro in Rome? Can't remember). Hoping to get in at least a little wandering time, though. Do you have any thoughts on what might be appropriate to pack so that I don't look like a flustered tourist? I don't have much to spend, and am fairly happy with my wardrobe at the moment, but always end up feeling shabby in Rome! Thanks for any thoughts.

Popcornia - love your description of the stylish woman! I would have stared at her all night!

And in the interests of contributing, I'll share my latest purchases. They're humble enough, but will slide into my wardrobe perfectly.

Zara puff sleeve dress

Zara Vamp shoe - possibly stolen from a link I saw here, can't remember!

Lamé moccasins - adore how slim these are and the finish, but fear I have made a mistake - left it too long and the size I ended up ordering might be too small!

Right, time for a coffee refill and head down for some serious work.

I haven't pickled - they were too wide . I have reasonably skinny ankle too, and I think sometimes that excacerbates the problem - things often look a bit gapey and loose, and make my ankles look gawky and gangly rather than terribly elegant.

Just done my second Insanity fit test, way better, although not lost a huge amount in weight or measurements yet. hopefully it will come soon. Almost back to pre-August weight though, so can't complain.

Popcornia - I love ankle straps and legs are my best feature anyway, but the problem is that shafts of boots are always too big at ankle and calf. I wear 40.5/41 on shoes, my calf measurement is 34/35 cm and the standard calf width for my size seems to be about 40-44cm -that is a lot of extra leather flopping about, and not easy to alter. May eventually give up and order Duo Boots. Would have done so but faffy/potentially expensive returns have scared me off... My favorite supermodel ever is Nadja Auermann (some legs)

Oh and Pop I love snakeskin - amazing shoes!

Hopefully I really liked the MJ boots, they are really cool, hope you find a good budget alternative! If you want really edgy/dramatic, Google Camilla Skovgaard. I tried these and they are built like Maseratis - incredible comfort inside. The problem is she only does black and sometimes nude.
Shop well done! Isn't it wonderful how tiny tweaks can revive your outfits!

Oh and finally - I rescued an Alberta Ferretti jacket (impulse bargain from US outlets) from the "Do not love/ rarely wear" part of my rack. It's a slightly impractical long blazer in watermelon waffle weave with hidden closure and it always looked somehow off worn with jeans. But it is perfect with the black leather pencil skirt, scoop neck top and pearls looks like Chanel actually.

Morning all,

Wearing properly autumnal outfit today of M&S burgundy leopard print skinnies, grape vest, red Rag&Bone loose-fit sweater and plum American Vintage oversized scarf. Am deliberating over footwear - either my Ash Bowies or Pistols. Definite nip in the air now.

Am considering an American Vintage jersey blazer as I need a few cardigan substitutes - they make me look like anyone's mother-in-law. Would like a nice boucle jacket, have seen a lovely IRO version, but is £££ and I also need a coat. Hmmm.

Dona similar calf issues here - I have size 42 feet and 37cm calves. I like. Duo boots are reasonable quality for the price I think, and it is so nice to have calves that fit for once. I have had a few pairs in the past. Camilla Skovgaard shoes (very my style), but, as you say, colour choice limited. Will keep an eye out for nice nude ones though.

Amber, they have 2 nice boucle jackets in Next of all places, Blue has seen them too and liked the look of them.

ISPMC, love the colour of that Zara puff sleeve dress.

And Fritzi, I'm liking your silver accents.