New Parents' Lunch!

[NotQuiteCockney]

It's today. I have no idea what to wear.

I am almost tempted to wear a skirt, only the only one I have that fits, I think, is a knee-length kicky one, which is very sweet. Only ... shoes? I think I have a pair of dressy wedding sandals. I mostly live in trainers. I could wear the skirt with DMs, but I'm thinking that's probably the look I really want.

I guess I'm stuck with trousers or cropped trousers. But are there comfy flat sensible shoes that look ok with skirts?

I think ballet flats are fairly sensible, and certainly comfy and flat. Do you ever wear Birkies or similar?

I am sure you will look nice in trousers or whatever as well

I used to wear Birkenstocks, but they get so manky and smelly, and I couldn't cope. (Does one wash them? Or what?)

Ballet flats might work.

It probably doesn't help that I have size 9 feet, so the shoe shopping experience is a bit fraught ...

It will have to be trousers, anyway. I do live next to a weird glut of shoe shops, but they don't seem to ever do practical stuff. (Annoyingly, actually, a newer trendier shop often has really really funky women's trainers in the window. Beading and stuff! But they never go over an 8.)

I am a bit tempted to wear a skirt and DMs (I have purple boots), but the DMs aren't that comfortable, actually, and I'd feel I was trying to look edgy or something. (But I don't want to feel I'm going in disguise, either, obviously.)

Nice top and a pair of trousers, and some trainers, sounds like.

How about a cheapo pair of flip flops? You could more or less just wear them once, if you get a cheap pair, and they can look very smart / pretty.

Hmmm, I tried thongs a while back, but didn't take to them. (foot thongs, not bits thongs) Might try flip flops, if I can find nice ones in my size.

I'm afraid my feet are generally very spoiled, used to good support etc etc (no wonder, with all the biking, running + walking). I get a bit depressed at the thought of anything other than shoes with good arch support. Sad, eh?

No, you're very wise. My feet are complete softies in that I can't wear heels, sandals or anything that rubs. They bleed and I get the most impressive blisters.

But I tend to ignore the fact I shouldn't be wearing complete flatties, especially not flip flops, instead of something more supportive (although it gets harder to ignore as I get older and my feet get crappier)

I ended up wearing linen cropped trousers, an empire-cut top (weird, I know, but it works on me), and some dreaded trainer socks and some puma trainers.

The other mums were a mix of basic sporty and quite posh. Oh, and one woman wearing a sweater with a lot of intarsia, who turned out to be a knitter (shocker). So I did get to know people, a bit.

Oh, I was thinking about you this afternoon. I think an empire line top with cropped trousers sounds nice, I sometimes wear that myself. Don't let cod see you in the trainer socks though

Yeah, well, cod's just going to have to avoid me. I live in trainer socks. I don't think they're invisible! I wouldn't want people to think I was wearing trainers without socks, that's gross. I just hate having ankles on socks, they annoy me, particularly in hot weather.

I really do need to go clothes shopping, but am avoiding it for the forseeable future.

shall I come and help you? I like shopping for clothes and I like trainer socks too

That could be fun, I've not tried shopping with anyone for ages. I'm theoretically waiting until I know what size I am, though. (Oh, might do a bit of a binge at Bicester Village, though ... as much to avoid inlaws as to buy strange clothes at risibly low prices.)