M N Vogue vol 3

[shopafrolic]

A continuation of style chat for anyone wanting to talk fashion, new purchases etc.....

Hope you find your way back to us Dona!

Snuggly sounds good. Weather so bleak outside and got drowned in rain when I stupidly walked to Waitrose. Now have muddy blotches all over my skirt but it'll just sling in the washing machine.

I wish I'd have those Gap boots in time. They'd be perfect with a different coloured version of the cargo pants. Maybe, they'll arrive tomorrow (V long shot). I do love an Olive coloured garment/shoe. I'd quite like an Olive coloured coat too. Not worn together .

Good to hear you treat your builders well. The stories I hear from tradespeople friends.....

Hi all! Big news! DS is now walking!!! This is big news because he has taken until 22 months to get there!
Mignon I have been thinking of you often and hope you are feeling brighter. Thank you so much for the camel coat inspiration - the weather has been so dire that I haven't dared to wear it yet but I look at it every day!
I make copious amounts of tea for builders and landscape gardeners and offer beer at the end of the day on Fridays! DH says I'm too soft! I used to make our window cleaner bacon butties!
I can't see the GAP links unfortunately as they show as sold out from my iPad. Will try again when on laptop.
I am after some skinny jeans and wanted to pick people's brains. I think MiH are a favourite with you all? I normally buy 7FAM in a 32 waist and wondered if anyone cold give me any tips about best shape, how long they are in the leg and how they compare size wise to 7s? Dona I seem to remember you were a frequent 7FM wearer? Do you have MiH? Or can anyone recommend a dark wash skinny that they love? Softness is key as my Roxannes cut in at the hip. Thanks.

The GAP boots must be OOS, the cargo pants are fab!

I hugely recommend Goldsign Virtual high rise skinnies shop I rarely wear any others these days, but they are mighty pricey. CoH Avedons also good.

Shopafrolic - Levis curve skinnies are lovely, they are soft and keep their shape. Not too expensive either, but you would probably need a 30 if you are a 32 in 7's.

Shop congratulations on ds walking! The thing I like about MiH (I have the Paris ones) is that they are quite high. I can't do low rise anymore, it annoys me too much.

I also have CoH Avedon indigo skinnies which are great. Have some stretch. I have many pairs, but I think those two are my favourites in terms of comfort.

Speaking of builders, looked at a massive house today. Big old thing, loads of rooms downstairs. 5 bedrooms. Ugly! Well you know, needs a lot of work on the decor. No trees really, I love a good garden so would have to do ALL that. It's weird but it made me think oh could I in terms of making it beautiful. But it would be a huge thing.

Higher waisted would definitely be better for me I think. My Roxannes are just so uncomfortable on my hip bones. Are MiH true to size? Does anyone know how they compare to 7FAM? Will look at Goldsigns too Amber but fear they will be too much for my purse....

Have looked at the Goldsigns - happy to pay that amount but the ones I saw online say 27" leg? I usually wear a 33! Am I looking at the right ones?
www.shopbop.com/virtual-high-rise-skinny-jeans/vp/v=1/845524441932393.htm

Shop I wear 7FAM and MiH almost exclusively and MiH are definitely a bit shorter in the leg. My ideal inseam would be 33". 34" can drag a bit and 32" is too short. I only wear MiH skinnies (have 3 pairs - 2 of Vienna and 1 Oslo) and because cropped and rolled-up styles have been trendy I get away with the slightly short feel.

Two smashing Italians spotted today: short sporty mink jacket, skinnies, mid-brown tall waxed riding boots, aviators, long flowy hair.

Astrakhan-tipped longline very tailored and fitted houndstooth wool coat, black sheer tights, skyhigh thin-heeled courts (not stripper shoes).

Did any of you get any MMM @ HM last week?

They are the right ones shop, I like my denim a little cropped, but I am only a 30" leg really. I get mine from Shopbop, in Selfridges they are nearly £300! Probably not for you if you're that tall - shame because they are super soft and comfy!

I've found MiH small to size. CoH avedons quite large to size.

Dona I did not, did you? Only thingsI liked were the sweetie clutch, the mesh bodysuit and the perspex heeled boots. All a bit out there for my life!

Dona which MiH skinnies do you wear? The Ellsworth? Sounds as though we are similar in leg length!

Shop

Lovely news about your little walker! Always a special moment. Don't babies look so proud when they walk for the first time?I watched a repeat of the 'One Born Every' last night which was the 'what happened next' for some of the families. Little Jake who developed Cerebral Palsy at 2 weeks of age as a result of contracting Meningitis is the most winning, heartwarming and engaging little man..Loved watching the babies grow and demonstrate new skills.....

I'm still finding things very very hard and have decided to take sick leave from work. It has all been too much I think. But I will get there. Thank you Shop for your kind thoughts..

I like JBrand skinnies and also their Cigarette/Straight legs. I have the pair that KMiddleton wore in Canada- the dark navy skinny, cropped in at the ankle bone. I can't offer much guidance regarding size other then try, try, try.

I have always loved Levi's and still have a soft spot for the old 'Cowboy' style Wranglers. These are the only jeans I ever wore riding because the denim was not only soft but the seams did not rub on my inner thigh because they were washed in so beautifully. Again, I do not know the name of the ones I still have at the bottom of my wardrobe because they are so ancient, the label has faded to nothing.

Not keen on MM for H&M mainly because I'm not sure about the fabrics. With conceptual design, I think the design, fabric and construction has to be ultra luxe otherwise it can look like a fashion project for GCSE with fabrics bought from Berwick Market (apologies to anyone who has some of it and it is better than I imagined).

Have to drive up to Leeds at 4 a.m tomorrow morning to get there in time for stepD's graduation. Infuriating that the ceremony starts at 10 in the morning-so inconsiderate but suppose the faculty want to maximise the time they have to feast/lunch after the event with the local 'dignitaries' all paid for of course by the exorbitant student tuition fees....(rant!)

Oh Mignonette hope you the time off work helps and you feel much better soon.

4am! A strong coffee and someone to chat to you.

I'd love to buy something, but surely the sales will be soon.

mignonette Hope you feel better soon despite the very early start you had today!

marsha How exciting about the house! Do you think you will do it? We always said we would never take on a renovation project or build our own house and then we did both by buying a derelict old thing and adding an extension. Have never regretted it once but it is a big project.

Fritzi did you how did I miss that! How exciting. How long has/ it is taking you are you finished? Do you love it? (questions, questions).

This one is huge, and has a funny long kitchen with loads of space to the side which is not useful. So it could definitely be extended to be even bigger. Plus there are many, many mid size and small rooms downstairs which are pointless and could do with freeing up.

The big problem is the location, it's on a very busy road with buses etc. And I'm so used to the pretty, gorgeous street we are on it's a tough move. And I am hanging on to our trees, our pavements and other houses.

But there is something about have thousands of square feet that is rather appealing! And also making it look completely different. But as dh says if we can do that, we should probably move to a nicer road.

Anyway how far along are you with everything? Feel free to share your decisions here, love decorating.

Also we are just at the very beginning and not really in the position to do anything concrete, just pondering next steps.

Waves to all, Fritzi in particular! Busy days workwise...

MiH Oslo and Vienna are my faves- I only wear their skinny styles, 7FAM are better for flares (Gingers are my absolute favorites), bootcuts and straight legs as I really need full length.

Amber I loved the perspex heels there too. (But in Italy, wearing crazy shoes carries a stigma. Those would probably be okay, but anything too lucite-y or perspex-ey would probably attract stopping cars and totally unwanted propositions.)

Mig very sorry that you are still feeling weak but hope you will enjoy the time off and get better soon!

I got our Nanny to take DD2 to a birthday party tomorrow. This means, I will get to do something that I enjoy tomorrow afternoon (and will get out to dinner later - and will miss the 2-3 hours of screaming).

Dona sounds fun, will you do something with your dh?

We've got a party this weekend, it looks like it's going to be quite big. What to wear, what to wear.

It's with people I haven't seen for precisely 10 years. Which will be interesting

Ooh Marsha, huge old house and garden needing complete overhaul sounds very exciting! FWIW, I live on a busy road with a bus stop right outside our front door and it isn't such a big deal, IMHO (but we are on the fourth floor). One of the upsides is that the road is much wider than quieter streets, so we have a lot of light (and trees on both pavements).

The weather is frightful here in Paris and I spent most of today preparing for the weekend - cleaning, tidying, cooking, repairing, shopping etc. We have friends round for dinner tomorrow night and I don't want to spend tomorrow working!

Hi Fritzi and everyone else!

I know am itching to undo its ugliness! Am in talks. Dh not keen. Also have to check it's not falling down, looks a bit warped in places and on a hill.

Party tonight too, am relaxing in preparation.

Hello! Just popping in for a quick catch up while I wait for DH to finish swimming with the DSs. So busy at the moment, but loving the style chat.

Have to go to DH's work Christmas do in 3 weeks. There is no dress code and I am melting down. The best DH has managed from the organising person is 'the women normally wear their party dresses'. It is a diner dance, so I am thinking a not-too-formal cocktail dress would work. Naturally I have no such thing. Need something suitably dramatic, not pretty/sparkly/diamanté encrusted/classic shape. Help! Ideal would be a long sleeved, crew necked body con dress of some description I think.

Have a look at reiss they have got lots of crew necked body con party dresses at he moment.

Seeing people after ten years was very funny. Dh and I snuck off for dinner at 11pm (very hungry). It was good, but mostly it just made me realise how pleased I am that I don't still work there!

Hopefully will have a look around.

Hopefully

A dress with an interesting neckline or an accessory such as a dramatic necklace/collar would be good for sit down occasions where you'll be 'on display' from the neck up for a great part of the evening.

What budget do you have? Pending an idea of that, here are few of my finds....

I love this 3:1 Philip Lim but it is quite pricey for such simplicity -
www.mytheresa.com/en-de/draped-shirtdress-with-paneled-lace-trim.html

here is a Rag&Bone Grecian style in black with a higher and interesting neckline

or you could trust Helmut Lang with bodycon here

and here is an Alexander Wang bodycon in purple-

Or Diane Von Furstenburg in deepest pink and long here....

Or go sequinned here with Alice & Olivia

This here is not body con but i like it

and this Karl dress here is super glamourous

www.net-a-porter.com/product/321571

or this coated Michael Kors bandage dress here

This is my party dress -www.net-a-porter.com/product/198718

and I've earmarked this day dress from Theory -www.cocosa.com/Sale/Product/?pid=39064&sid=17051

We spent a few days in Leeds this weekend having decided not to do the drive in one day. We were rather taken aback by the choice of graduation outfits by many of the females. I tend to regard graduations as solemn academic events and never have I seen so many inappropriately dressed people wearing outfits that looked more suited to either a prom, a club or a street corner.

One girl was in a long black strapless evening dress, breasts hoiked up until they were overflowing, with two front splits to the crotch (and we were treated to flashes of her barely-covered-by-her-pants pudenda!), hundreds of them were in stripper shoes that they could barely walk in. There were plenty of evening 'prom' style gowns-strapless etc, sequinned bodycons, evening dresses with fake tanned legs, stripper shoes, trowel loads of make up and 'evening hair'...Words failed me. It was a true cornucopia of very very bad style choices considering what the event was.....

Saw one girl wearing truly cool dark pink punched leather Brogues and another in a Helmut Lang style knotted hem dress but hardly anybody dressed in what I would call 'appropriate' day wear. Spoke to the dean and he said he was considering issuing a guidance sheet regarding the nature of the occasion for next years event considering that knowing how to dress appropriately is a pretty useful life/employment skill.

Otherwise, I love Leeds. It is a seriously beautiful and atmospheric city. We walked around the Victorian Arcades at 11 p.m and because they were deserted, we could properly appreciate the architecture. Stopped off at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park on the way home too.