Mn Vogue vol. 2

[MarshaBrady]

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

[MarshaBrady]

Oh and sent the Wang back, it just wasn't me in the end. Ok last one!

[Portia4]

Morning all!
Just had a quick look at the AT Somerset collection for John Lewis and rthe 50/50 lovers out there might be interested in these, nothing else really caught my eye.
Today I'm wearing white RL 7/8 chinos, navy heels, navy silk blouse with white dots, Massimo Dutti, navy singlet Berska.

[ujjayi]

All gorgeous sounding outfits today.

I went out last minute school supplies shopping with DCs wearing white skinny ankle grazers, tobacco loose fit tank, chartreuse linen Chanel-esque jacket (has gorgeous frayed edge trim and was a charity shop find - the advantage of living in a village where women replenish their wardrobes more often than the larder), flat gold leather sandals, slouchy tan satchel and Monica Vinader Fiji bracelet. Now at home where the glorious sunshine is beaming down upon us so have changed in to cobalt slouchy shorts playsuit (i loathe that term...i am not 5 years old)to facilitate Lego and playmobil endeavours.

[ujjayi]

Oh and shopafrolic a good yoga class always incorporates lots of breathing instruction. I began by attending classes at the gym but always felt something was missing. We got through a lot of postures but as time went on I felt it lacked a holistic vibe. I then luckily found an excellent yoga & Pilates studio and was astounded at the difference. In the hatha classes I practised far less postures but there was more emphasis on holistic practice which involved more attention to breath and meditation and the reason behind each posture. Ashtanga I love because it is so dynamic, is always the same series of postures practised and find I can just lose myself in the practise and zero out from the rest of life. It is the only yoga class where I am sweating after 5 minutes!

[girlsofsummer]

popcorn split the navy suit up. Nobody wears matching suits at the moment they look dated right now except for certain exceptions which is probably why you feel this way. Wear the skirt with a tweed/boucle blazer and wear the blazer with jeans or over a dress.

I work in very suity environment. I would not wear a suit for a big meeting. I would wear a l/s blouse (classic style colour variable) a blazer and a pencil skirt. Maybe a belt because I love chain belts etc

Havent been on for ages so sorry if behind!

[DonaAna]

Waving to GoS - I always think of you when I pin vintage Dior and Balenciaga pieces! And so true about mixing it up - I have a few suits and cannot remember when I have worn the skirt and the jacket simultaneously - unless it's a super-formal occasion.

Ujjayi your Chanelesque jacket sounds fab. I have several with frayed edges and love the soft/hard contrast. Would love your charity shops too. (Have not identified any in Rome yet.)

Portia love some of the Edwardian pieces in the John Lewis / Temperley collaboration. I had a phase in my early 20s when I wore velvet hats and floaty skirts - miss it but will not attempt to do it this time round (but have to admit that I love the Marc Jacobs hats this AW).

If someone else is working from home and finding it too distracting and struggles with procrastination, I can recommend a few resources that have really helped me to focus. I use Leechblock to block my browser during allotted work times - I also love the Mytomatoes approach (have a tiny tomato timer on my computer - work for 30 mins, then a 5 min break, then back to work). And last, "The Now Habit" is a superb self-help book - compassionate and in-depth and written by a psychologist who knows his stuff. Following the approach explained in the book, I made a time chart of my domestic responsibilities and scheduled time for relaxation (I need to exercise, I need to be there for DC, I can't pull all-nighters) - after all this I have about 20 hours per week left for work, so need to use it as efficiently as possible.

Loving the outfits everyone is wearing today - Marsha I love storm blue and it's my best neutral (I often combine it with coral and vivid greens) but it looks good with camel, white, ivory and navy too. Also love MiH jeans - I'm sure they have scanned my measurements, their skinnies fit like a glove (if I could be bothered, I should alter my black coated Esprit trousers a bit - the thighs are a bit too loose fitting for my taste).

Ooops have used up the 5 min break - back to work!

[Hopefully]

Bloody bloody bloody leather trousers. Why the bloody hell do they have to come with a raw bottom edge? I don't want to find a tailor to take them to the right length, I want them to be the right length! Gaaaahhhh.

[Hopefully]

Also, since when did Joseph vanity size?

[girlsofsummer]

Have been offline for ages Dona having a break from work and being online generally (which to me is a work related activity)...

Love your pins... need to shop my wardrobe and get back into the swing of things. Still haven?t bought any Dylon ? anyone tried dying silk? Disastrous?

Bought that book the Now Habit but (typically) not sure where I put it ? desperate to read!! Love your book recommendations.

Joseph don?t vanity size IME Hopefully maybe you are just a skinny minny these days?

[Hopefully]

GoS I haven't actually put them on yet . They just look quite generous. Probably they are a normal size and I am misjudging (more likely than me failing to notice I am a skinny minnie!)

[ujjayi]

Really interested in the psychology of time management. Like Fritzi, I am also a procrastinator (and also INFJ). However, things turned around for me in June of this year when I switched my thinking. I wasted so much time thinking "if only I had the time to..." and realised that time management rather than time availability was the pressing issue. I am so much more proactive now. Not in a Structured timetable kind of way but more in the sense that instead of procrastinating and stressing about "how much i have to do" i will set myself a 15 to 30 minute goal to achieve it. As a result, I have more time to indulge in the things I am really interested in and time for me. I am happier, make decisions quicker, exercising and sleeping better. It has had such a positive impact on family life too.

Hopefully I have been coveting leather trousers/leggings for a while now (2 years ago Sept Vogue was awash with them accompanied with slouchy oversized knits and heels and I fell instantly in love and still think it is a gorgeously luxe look). My new approach to shopping will hopefully facilitate a pair this season (or at least persuade DH to buy for Christmas) so please let us know once they are on!

[DonaAna]

Yep Ujjayi you are really describing the same discovery with different words - Mytomatoes are basically 30min tasks and you are cultivating them - it's more a "watch things grow" approach than a "you didn't finish your meal - you won't get dessert now". For a long time, I tried to push myself to doing things I did not like doing (using various forms of lists, rewards, punishments and even peer control). However I find the "pull" approach - "When can I start? What can I accomplish now" - much more helpful and motivating.

My main problem is that I'm already producing a tremendous amount of stuff and could see the logical end result (the more I do, the more others expect = emails at 4 am = all work and no fun makes Jack a very dull boy). So I really need to schedule time for the fun things and to take care of myself.

Hopefully I had the same exact experience with a pair of high end trousers (on Outnet, Matches, somewhere) - know that in theory tailoring to the right length is best but am not motivated enough to find a tailor (and it's too difficult to do on my own). Things off the peg generally fit me really well so I really don't want the extra bother. But c'mon please try them on!

Gos I've lost various books too and even more irritatingly the black neoprene thingy that nestles my iPhone when I jog - I love to listen to NPR while exercising (love the meditative voice of Terry Gross on All Things Considered - she interviews brilliant people).

Sorry if this message is total shorthand and nonsense! Busy but enjoying a legit break - now back to tackling difficult work stuff. Still raining, DC tearing down the house, poor Nanny

[shopafrolic]

Just popping in to say this little bargain arrived today and looks fab. Wore it with Jigsaw navy tee and skinny GAP jeans and pumps. Felt fab and received 3 compliments. This style makeover must be working!
www.aubinandwills.com/en-gb/product/chippenham-blazer-013569061

[MarshaBrady]

Thanks Pop and Dona thanks for good storm colours. A new one for me but really I love it and you are right with those. I agree about the fit of MiH it is excellent for me too. Might be my favourite now.

I am ok when without dc and can concentrate and get lots done. I have to. I have had two days a week 3/4 day to get some serious stuff done.

The harder part is not getting in the grip of I really want to be doing stuff when trying to meander round the park with dc. But this will get easier if I do another day as they get older.

[AuldAlliance]

Dona that mytomatoes approach is just what I need. Do you have the software timer thingy? Am a bit wary of signing up online for random things, but will follow your lead if you recommend it.

Also, I think it was you who wears Pier One wedges - is that right? How wide-fitting are they? I've been contemplating these for work, though not sure how long-lasting suede is. I usually avoid it because it's so dusty here I fear suede shoes will somehow attract it and look shabby.

5 min break over now.

[Dauphin]

Hi. We are back to school already - can't believe the hols are over. I actually missed my little darlings (and lie in), but have had extremely productive day packing/sorting etc...in readiness for the move. Quite excited and have champagne at the ready for our first night.

I love pops of colour too Marsha...something unexpected always good. I wore mustard yellow Farhi top yesterday with indigo skinnies, leopard belt and emerald suede Bally loafers. Really liked the combo.

We have a few evening dinner events coming up so am conjuring up all sorts of images on how I want to look. I am currently imagining a silver grey satin silk dress, long, with draped low back...hmm...

[DonaAna]

Done with work today (very good day - creative stuff, venturing into unchartered territory which always terrifies me) plus found the bits and pieces of DD1's school uniform for tomorrow...

Auld I just use the Tomighty application on my Windows system tray or My Little Pomodoro on my Mac - and have to confess that I also enjoy the stone age approach of drawing red tomatoes into my notebook. (Before discovering the cute tomatoes I used a kitchen timer on my iPhone - and I occasionally use the actual kitchen timer for decluttering). I've already figured out how much time I can dedicate to work and am quite organized (keep a running work diary in a notebook and keep my to do lists there) so the tomatoes are basically just golden stars that I get when I have focused on work. I had to completely rethink how I work and manage my time 4 years ago after returning to work from mat leave #1.

Re: Pier One wedges, I have long and narrow feet and they are normal width or narrowish. Left them at my mother's back North because Rome is full of white limestone dust atm. It ruins all suede shoes, even the taupe ones look dull and grubby.

DH is driving me crazy with his Neil Young CD on repeat. Need to get out...

[LeChatRouge]

Hello all,

Thanks for the comments regarding my post; I will be watching myself with interest as I transistion into my next career path, and see if I become the sort of girl who can rock ice white cropped hair with chin length fringe a la Kate Lanphear.

Interesting topical discussions regarding procrastination, I have been working at home today and spent the morning flitting about on the net, but then suddenly got on a roll and spent four hours working without having to look up such burning questions as what-shall-I-buy-with-the-30%-Oasis-discount-code and what-is-the-latest-post-on-Suri's-Burn-Book?

Had a productive day wearing black Chelsea boots, skinny black jeans, long line dipped hem charcoal grey vest under black dipped hem short sleeve t-shirt, with chunky chain necklace with neon yellow droplets. Popped out to shops with checked shirt on top with sleeves rolled up to elbow.

One thing I like about this thread is the outfit descriptions....but without name dropping the brands, I think this is much better and more inclusive to everyone regardless of budget.

[MarshaBrady]

Dauphin that colour combination is really gorgeous. Love it. And the grey satin silk dress, stunning. Makes me want to go to a black tie do and get something for it.

LeChat both are fine are think, but don't feel excluded! Honestly fine to say just what you are wearing with or without the label. I like it as I can link pretty much everyone with a designer that suits them and makes a nice visual image. But it doesn't matter at all.

[MarshaBrady]

Designer or brand that is.

[MarshaBrady]

Or vintage of course. The ultimate style!

[Hopefully]

I love having brand names as it means I can steal everyone's style more easily

Have achieved lots today, but am having a serious case each day of not-achieving-as-much-as-I-want-to, which is tiresome. Think it's because I'm behind on a few things, so am over-optimistic about how much I can do to catch up, which leads me to be stressed, which makes me less productive...

[blossoming]

Hi everyone, I've been reading through and finding your thoughts very interesting. I am working from home tomorrow and am also terrible at procrastinating. I work really well really early on, but have scheduled 5.45am for excercise, so after breakfast and school run, I will be able to start work at 10 and go on till 3. I like the idea of a timer: that is how I used to study as a student: 25 mins on, 5 mins off. Used to work really well.
Clothes wise, my coated skinnies still haven't arrived! Have been in work in an all black outfit: my favourite. I have been diagnosed 'dramatic classic' so sometimes I just take the easy option and wear classic, but all black!
hopefully, best of luck with your new venture, your studio sounds fabulous.

[SilkInsideAChestnutShell]

hopefully Your studio sounds fab. One thing that made me about my HoC consultant was the small, gloomy and dated room she used. I also expected a style consultant to have more of a thing for interior design, iyswim, and it did make me question her credentials. Also, it should be a treat, so the place needs to be pleasant. Good luck with clients (and leather trouser quest).

Inspired by this thread, I took a drawer full of clothes to the charity shop today. I'd kept them thinking they may come in useful post-natally. Useful perhaps, but hideous nonetheless, and as they won't make me feel good, they've gone. Got a smaller stash for ebay, but I find that such a chore.