MN Vogue - volume 21

[shopafrolic]

A happy and safe place to talk fashion (from high end to high street), beauty and the arts. All welcome to bring a positive state of mind, lots of links and an eye for detail.
Continuing on from here

[Annianni]

I was thinking the same thing as QueenC, One.
If I was going to London for the day, I'd bring a small token gift back for the ds's and nobody else as I would have spent the rest of my money on myself

If an adult asked me for a gift, I would assume they were joking.
But I've never been one for bringing everyone a gift from holidays, which I know some people do or maybe it's a northern thing

[Annianni]

I was perving over some VW coats on the outnet too Liberty.
I've got a fabulous completely over the top one from years ago too bloody small now though
Might get it dry cleaned and ebay it.

[foxysocks]

thank you all so much for good wishes. sorry I disappeared, my friend came round and then I went to bed once I found all out all is ok!! must have been the pain from the fall that made his arm go limp but there is no fracture. very late night for both my boys and now DH away till tomorrow night so looooong days coming up for me.

off to do school run but thank you all again. I will come back with frivolity, fashion chat and links later.

[shopafrolic]

Oh Foxy I'm so pleased to hear that. X
One do what makes you happy.She'sold enough to buy her own clothes and treats.
I'm off shopping with DM today to a massive M&S - such fun! [Hmm]
Wearing (from the bottom up) brown pistol-a-like boots, Goldsign Lures and green and neon yellow striped I&I sweater. It's chucking it down here so Muubaa jacket will probably get replaced with North Face taupe waterproof:(

[mignonette]

Foxy I awoke wondering what your news would be so am very glad that nothing was broken.

Good Morning everybody. I was browsing through yesterdays Guardian and noticed a small piece about Primark that I thought interesting because it bucks an oft held trend that the High St is dying. Seems that Primark is ending its trial w/ ASOS where the site sold Primark clothing. Primark is to strengthen its High St position by opening more stores, no longer selling online whilst operating a website as an online 'showcase' for its real life stores. Primark is also expanding in Europe, opening stores in Marseille and then other sites in France.

Wonder if other stores will follow suit?

I buy online from certain stores but they tend to be higher end like Outnet/NAP/MyWardrobe/Cocosa and mid price like Gap/J Crew or from stores not easily accessible like Merci. I shy away from buying some High St stuff online because the fabric and cut quality can vary so much and I hate having to order, wait then send something back that originally cost less than £30 because the fabric is poor. Next would be a good example of this as would Zara/Warehouse as they can have some good stuff but at times, their quality is shocking.

Even if I see something in a magazine and really covet it, If I don't see it in a store close up I usually cannot be bothered to hunt it down online and order it. What do other people do?

[QueenCadbury]

I prefer to buy stuff in person and will usually buy online if I've tried something irl and then am waiting for a discount code. If I buy online something that I haven't tried on before then it's usually from places where I can be sure of my size or that I know that returns are easy. I like mango but I would never order online from them as it takes ages for them to refund but I would order their stuff from John Lewis instead.

I tend to use online to do my browsing and research which makes shopping irl much quicker which is handy if I have dd with me. If I don't see anything online that I fancy in a certain shop then I tend not to go in there. Alternatively I will hunt something down in a shop that I've found online although it's annoying when you can't find it instore. I've noticed lately that gap seem to be doing different things online to instore and a lot of online exclusives.

[QueenCadbury]

susie soso has written a good piece here on quality. Some stuff like the matching up of stripes I would never consider unless it was really obvious.

[mignonette]

I really enjoyed reading that Queen and she is spot on (so to speak) about stripes. I do the neckline/stripe test too as it is a particular bugbear of mine. I'm the person who turns a garment inside out to see what the construction is like! And yes, some really inexpensive High St places sell clothes that last. I have banged on about New Look cotton cardigans before and I will again here for anyone who hasn't read it- they last for years and iron really well. The weave is light so they don't go all sloppy and hang off the bust making you look like a sack of potatoes (which cotton knits can do) and the seams don't twist on the arm when you wear a sleeve under them either. The shoulder seams align well too as another problem w/ knit wear is when the shoulder and back yoke rides up or down especially prevalent in cropped cardigans that are cut to hit the waistline as there is less weight in the garment to pull them into a proper drape.

[carrie74]

I really enjoyed Susie's blog post as well. It goes some way to explain why not all Breton tops are equal .

Foxy so glad to hear all ok, hope you have an uneventful 2 days now.

Mig I've got a black cheapy New Look cardie that my Mum bought me for Xmas at least 10 years ago (if not longer). I don't wear it that often, but it never looks any different. It's amazing.

I don't do much RL shopping these days - when I do I often come home a bit disappointed. I tend to go for High St when out and about, and think I could have just done better by saving it all for one decent online piece. But I do like to feel fabrics and try things on (case in point is this blasted Aigle coat - I don't want to shell out nearly £300 on a coat I've never even tried on, even if I can return it, but I can't find a local supplier for love nor money). And of course another reason I don't do much RL shopping is proximity to shops - it's a good 30-45 min drive to my "local" shops, and I don't often have much time to do that. We sometimes have a mooch at the weekend, but then all the family is there, and it's v v frustrating.

[BrandyAlexander]

Oh my goodness! I am so behind!

QueenC - anything you have both adults and for kids that you wouldn't eBay. Shoes would be great. I can pick those up at MU. If easier?

You asked last week why I don't talk about the charity in rl. I suppose its because we are funding it ourselves to start with and so worried about drawing attention to our income situation. Dh and I are very cagey about what we do in rl because certainly what on average my peers and I earn is easily googable. Without sounding like a knobber, people probably estimate a low 6 figure household income and its more at the other end of that range. We like our friends and don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable around us. Having said all of that, the game will be up anyway because of our new house.

Mig, yes to all those places, except the Milk Bar which must be relatively new. I won't be able to try it out on this trip sadly! I was at the Bryant Park Hotel last night meeting client for pre-dinner drinks and as I walked in the doorman thought I was a fashion person there for an event because its ny fashion week. I am soooooo chuffed! Me! That was a nice end to a sober day for me. I was living in New York on 9/11 and its the first time that I have been here on the anniversary. I flew in on Tuesday night to avoid flying yesterday as I think most of us still traumatised about that. It's one of those things where you kind of had to be here to understand.

Fashion wise, there is a lot of tweed in the shops. Very Channel-esque. I am sure would look crap on me but oooh so tempted! I am supposed to have a couple of hours free to shop but I am trying not to turn up with a shed load of stuff because I am sure dh will get grumpy! I am supposed to be buying an ipad for our nanny and dcs to share so I can face time the dcs when I am away or at work.

Someone was chatting about Paris on last thread, I am supposed to be there this coming Wednesday! Trying to get out of it because will be flying long haul again a few days later. I will be there again in November and looking forward to it. Always love Paris when its slightly cold.

[libertychick]

Everything I have bought online in the last year from Zara, Warehouse, oasis and Topshop in the last year has gone back. I'm not surprised Primark have decided against it - I can't believe they could make money on it. I've gone off buying online - the returns are such a faff and TBH with NAP, MW etc having to stay in all day waiting for a delivery really annoys me. I bought from them when I worked in an office building where the security were happy to accept deliveries but can't now as I work across 3 different places and none of them allow it. John Lewis is the best IMO as I can pick up from Waitrose.

The Susie SoSo article is great, I have become much pickier in the last couple of years too especially on stripes. I returned 4 pairs of the M&S snakeskin flats before I got a pair where I was completely happy with the patterning!!!

Foxy great news that DS is ok

[mignonette]

Novice Do you take melatonin to combat jet lag? I've had great results w/ it and it also worked really well when i was ward based and had drastic shift changes from nights to lates to earlys in three days.

A friend who lives only a few blocks from the TT's sent me a film recorded from her balcony on the day of the event. I have never shown it to anybody other than my children and DH because of its graphic nature. However it is an important part of the archive because it so devastatingly records the noise, the people bravely jumping and her own families terror that their neighbourhood would be next. She works in historical archiving and the historian/documentarian in her recognised the importance of what she saw. She also felt that on a forensic/homeland security level that her film might assist the investigatory teams (and it did).

The Milk Bar is a few years old. I have some pins of their bizarre and amazing stuff on my cake hole board.

Kudos to the NYFW attribution! It must be an interesting time to visit NYC. My stepchildren were there over the New Year and saw JayZ live. Mind you, their Mother said they spent the whole holiday squabbling and fighting (they are all in their early twenties!). I would have banged their heads together, the ungrateful little sods.

Today I am wearing my wool pale blue and black check cigarette pants (from 1997!) with a black sweatshirt from Gap and my ACNE ankle boots. The trousers look new. Not dated at all.

[AmberNectarine]

Agree re your sister one she is MY age fgs! My brothers haven't bought me presents (birthday or xmas) since I turned 21, nor would I expect them too! On holidays the DC chose a magnet for my mum (strange tradition) and sweets for my dad, but they help us out a lot with childcare, and we send my nephews a postcard, but that is it! A day trip anywhere wouldn't warrant anything more than a bit of fudge/stick of rock if appropriate! Seems quite grabby to expect anything - I would not be impressed if my DC were so presumptuous!

You seem very lovely and very kind - how about being kind to yourself and putting that Louboutin fund for your sister towards something lovely for yourself. At 27 she can save up for her own shoes - I do!!

[BrandyAlexander]

Cigarette pants were about in 1997?! Is nothing in fashion new?!

I dont take melatonin as I don't like taking things (scared!) but on average I am doing one long haul trip a month for the next 6 months so i might change my mind as this is ridiculous! Although better today. At least I slept a few hours.

The sense of fear on that day is something that I will never forget. Just really simple things like in the few hours following my big decision as i watched the towers burning and then falling was should I stay in the big tall building where I worked and might be next target or should I go to home to the big tall building which was near Times Square so might also be next target. The radio and tv were stoking it up and we were all convinced there were more planes coming. Thankfully I spoke to mum before the phones went down so she didn't at least think I was at the WTC.

[BrandyAlexander]

One, I very much agree with QueenC and Amber. I am glad that they said it first because I have certainly been thinking it. I actually thought she was a teenager like Liberty's dsis (who seems lovely btw!), I didn't realise she's a grown up.

[carrie74]

[hugs] novice Just remembering where I was when I saw it happening (worked in TV company, so had TVs on in office all the time - saw the second plane live) gives me the shivers, let alone being in NY.

mig loving the sound of your trousers. Right up my street.

[mignonette]

Having the same footage played over and over in the early stages of the attack made it all the more confusing because showing footage from different angles made it hard to figure out just how many places were being attacked.

Some of the buildings in central London were evacuated too because of fears of a worldwide onslaught. Having been caught up in two IRA bombings/evacuations and living in London during the 80's gives some idea of what it is like to be targeted by terrorists although the attacks were on a smaller scale (albeit cumulatively pretty deadly). Certainly I can understand Novice why it remains such a traumatic memory.

I can't recalll how prevalent cig pants were in the late 90's but I wore these on the wards to some snarky comments by several straight laced old boots who deserved the Meryl Streep 'Devil Wears Prada' speech about how fashion impacts upon us all.

Nothing in fashion is without inspiration from the past. I think the newness comes from technology in materials, cutting and construction techniques. Oh, and how we put stuff together and make multiple references.

[QueenCadbury]

novice I can vaguely imagine how scary it was for you. I was in London when 7/7 happened and although not near it I had friends who took transport through that area and was worried about them. Travelling home that day was surreal too with all the security at the stations. We were also in a Malaysian island when the tsunami hit and although no one was hurt in our area it was a sobering experience.

I have just bought a top from my fave local boutique. Will try and find and link.

[QueenCadbury]

Oh and novice, really sorry, totally forgot to get the shoes out of the recycling box and they've been collected this morning. Will think of you in future!

[BrandyAlexander]

Damn lost my long post and got to run!

[santamarianovella]

oh novice that is a bit extreme,dh goes on a long haul flight every month too,but the time difference is not like the states but it does affect him,


carrie like you most of my shopping is made online,but some items i do need to hit the stores to check, as returns can be insane,and i need to try them on first , but i cant do it for long,get bored with it,and it feels more like a chore than something pleasurable,would rather sit in a cafe and enjoy a light lunch or a coffee with a friend,

one why do you feel you need to buy your sister a gift? you have been through a tough time,think of this as your me time,come to london,enjoy it,and any shopping you do should be for you only,get her a chocolate from the station if you feel you have to!

[QueenCadbury]

Can't find a link to the top I bought. Think of a black vero moda blouse and you have it!

Just washed some black trousers and now they're covered in tissue. Must remember to check pockets next time!

[mignonette]

You know when you've eaten something that really disagrees w/ you and you know you'll feel better once it's come back up?

Well watch this GOOP film of Gwyneth's garden party w/ Stella McC and it'll do the job for you. You'll need to scroll down a bit to get to the VT.

Here.

I like the way that GP gets Stella to do a mini collab for her GOOP site and all of a sudden GP is describing herself as a designer ("we designed") and in the mini photo's, only two are of Stella and the rest of her 'designing'.

Yes, I know I sound bitchy but the woman is insufferable. And all that money for a plastic bag!

[Decameron]

Shop, I am in matching Goldsigns today!

Glad your DS is ok, Foxy.

Novice, I know how you feel, we lived there at the time too, our neighbour was badly injured when the towers collapsed (he was a cop) but thankfully survived, my friend's husband was killed, he worked for Cantor. Terrible, terrible day.

One, I agree your sister is being cheeky!

I buy quite a bit online from My-Wardrobe, Matches during sales, Boden for the kids. It's easier with a toddler, you can often get a discount code, and I am around for returns. Very happy with my new pistols and got them at a discount so that was worth staying in for. I know the DHL guy pretty well at this point, we have great chats now!

I've ordered a navy cashmere J Crew Tippi, my friend is bringing it over next month. It worked out £80 cheaper than having it delivered to the UK. Slowly working my way through my AW list now. :)

[QueenCadbury]

Ugh, can't bear GP and her website!