So what are this summers essential pieces?

[GDG]

I'd like them under categories:

Tops
Bottoms
Footwear
Accessories

TIA

blimey, you all sound super stylish!! this season I will be mostly wearing anything in my wardrobe I can fit into to after having dd 10 weeks ago!!

mind you, that does include a particularly delightful pair of saggy tracky bums that make my a*se look about 10 feet wide - mmm, lovely!

thanks for the support anniemac. I've been meaning to make it to primark for a few weeks now. Your post has given me the encouragement I need. I plan to head down there tomorrow and treat myself!

You are (apparently) meant to get shorts that stop at the thinnest part of your legs. For me, unfortunately, this isn't my knees!!

mmm, nice theory pollyanna, unfortunately the thinnest part of my legs is the ankles! I've tried shorts in a variety of stlyes/shapes/colours pre-pregnancy, and they looked bad enough then!! I just have to accept that my legs are not my best asset. however, I've found accentuating my huge norks seems to keep everyone's minds off the bottom half of my body!!

I got some cropped jeans from Abercrombie and Fitch while in the US, they are in every style mag over there right now.
Plus my Fly london wedges were goggled and asked about by every bugger I walked past in the street in NYC I kid you not.
In Footlocker I went in to buy some Coverse boots to wear for trekking round...
The girl there raved over my shoes!
So feel that style of shoe is IN!
Strong coloured vest tops (a la Gap) and floaty white brod anglaise or feminine top on top of it.
I do nt care who says wasit belts are in
But the two folks I've seen wearing them Nikki Hambleton Jones and chantelle both look preggers
So I'm avoiding
Dresses...
Hmmmm
Not there yet....

Good point about tomorrow being Saturday - I've totally lost track of the days!! Sunday is dp's birthday. I am already in his bad books cos I forgot and have got an old school friend I haven't seen for two years coming to stay. I can probably persuade friend to come with me on Monday... (brain clicking and whirring) then she can take care of dd while I'm trying on lots of goodies!! Oooh, great idea!

To be honest I should also try on some of pre-pregnancy stuff - I bought loads last year before I disciovered I was pg, and it must be somewhere still in my wardrobe (sounds of rummaging) I'm off to try on my existing stuff - some of it must fit me? [hopeful face icon]

The best fashion advice is to wear what suits you and what you feel comfortable in. Why follow the crowd if what is currently trendy looks ridiculous on you?!It makes me mad when we let celebs etc dictate our lifestyle aspirations, especially when it comes to clothes. I wear simple vintage every day cause it suits me and is timeless. If I want to look "on trend" I'll buy a bag or some jewellery or a scarf with this season's colours in it. Cropped jeans only look good IMHO if you have long legs (or cheat it with heels, although at 5'9 I still hate them with a passion), a straight or bootleg or wide cut is much more flattering (never do tapered if you have chunky thighs). Tops that end at the midriff are for women who are virgins or do crunches, ie. not mere mortals with post baby muffin tops to worry over and high heels are for trannies, women who do not have to run around after a baby or toddler and women who had a misspent youth and can do the chasing whilst wearing heels- this is all tongue in cheek, of course, but advice still stands. If you go to any high street store you will see what is trendy and what has diffused down from the catwalks.Try and mix this with something more individual.And don't forget that wrap dresses are still very fashionable and hide a multitude of sins. They also come in some very pretty short sleeved cotton (as opposed to jersey)fabrics for the summer. Wear them over leggings (if you must!!), jeans or just bare legged with low wedges or Birkies which are still my shoe of choice even if they do look like canoes.My DS will probably cringe when it comes to future parents' evenings but there you go -

Agree about belts on waist piffle - I will look 5 months gone if I try that look!

Great post .... but where do you get tops which are longer than your belly button? Short tops and flabby tummy are not a good look - on me anyway ! Any ideas?

short tops are not in many high street shops atm so not a problem surely?

per una have decent tops, even nice t shirts, so do Monsoon :)

topshop t shirts are very long atm.

Oh good - thanks. Haven't been in a clothes shop in about 3 months so summer stuff wasn't in then! Am going shopping tomorrow .....

saw a woman in a thin red and white striped long t-shirt ( just on bum not below) scooped neckline ..may or may not have had buttons

I WANT IT
Anyone any ideas??

Haven't seen that top, but warehouse maybe a good place to look, as I have a long sleeved red and white top like that from there.

Youare in luck then millie because long tops are in.

Personally, I think Per Una have really revived the fortunes of M and S at the moment and are doing some very wearable dresses and tunic tops and also some fab shapes in jackets. I always like Boden, too, although they are pricey. I just bought about three Boden pieces from eBay along with some Per Una stuff that has sold out of the shops. It seems that eBay seems to run a bit hot and cold on this forum but I think it's great and a real life saver when DS is busy with CBeebies or Baby Einstein for the millionth time in a row. You also get everything delivered! Maybe I'm biased cause I'm in the last throes of writing a book called "How To Have a Baby on eBay" which means I am researching it most nights!
On the High Street, Warehouse and Oasis always do good wearable interpretations and have some lovely vintage style tea dresses in at the moment which will disguise a less than pert behind and stomach. Although I kind of agree on the belt-waist issue I do think the empire line is eminently flattering, especially if you've got a good bosom which we mothers should be acquainted with! The trick is perhaps to wear a shorter (on the hip) length rather than the longer 70's style which CAN make you look like a devotee at the temple of Demis Roussos (or am I just showing my age here?!)Pattern can also be quite flattering, although avoid wide stripes which can make you seem a little bit wide yourself. Polka dots are in and a good distraction as are looser shapes with drop waists. A final tip would be to spend as much as you can afford on fewer pieces as the fabric content will be of better quality meaning that it will retain its shape after washing. The more expensive shops also cut more generously meaning you can wear a size 12 and feel really smug rather than a 16 in New Look (LOL - I've SO been there) Good luck on your shopping trip xx

Not an otter - DP's had one a bit like that