HOC Dramatic gamine

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Any others out there? I think I need to model myself on Ruby Wax. Thankfully I already swear a lot.

Hey, thanks all! I'm not actually shopping at the moment...this is all just playing and exploring, really. Someone else complimented me this morning - said I looked really pretty and happy!

My HOC consultant said that I should go for slightly spikier pins - the Celtic pins need to be less rounded, she said. I looked for the squarest ones I could, actually, but will keep looking. She said everything else is in keeping, which is great. I am on the right track.

I'm going to look at leather brooches, and stainless steel accessories as I think both those would suit.

I do not have small boobs - I am going for scoop and crew necklines, nothing too high or tight around the neck. This is a slight issue with a lot of the gamine style dresses, but I think ones in my style can be found. This for instance.

Ooh, and I am also struggling with the coat thing. Was going to buy a down coat a couple of months ago but am glad I didn't.

I think the key to warmth in a non-quilted coat is to buy a wool coat with a very high wool content. Many modern coats have a low wool content, and it is the wool which keeps the cold out. So I have a long coat which is 75% wool and is soooo warm and keeps the wind out too. And water tends to run off it (although I imagine it would be waterlogged eventually). So I thinking that to upgrade my winter coat I should go for a gamine style wool coat that has a massively high wool content.

So, um, I have just accidentally bought this coat from TKMaxx. It was the last one and I got free shipping so I thought I'd get it and try it. Will let you know.

I'm struggling at the moment as have gone up 5 cup sizes because of breastfeeding and a lot of my jumpers, tops and coats don't fit. I have a Barbour parka which isn't quilted but is really warm that I have had for 4 winters and I hardly wear another coat at the moment. I also have a funnel neck coat that is wool and really warm. Because it has a funnel neck I don't tend to wear a scarf which reduces the top heavy look.

My consultant noticed on the day that my bra wasn't fitting properly, so I measured myself at home and I do need a new bra! She says that should help with being able to wear higher necklines. So I'm going to try the twinset look, which I've always liked but thought I couldn't manage.

I am seriously unsure about tapered trousers but will try some on one day.

My consultant said the coat's neck is too open and I suggesed this Lands End one. It might be good - and 100% wool. Quite like it in purple.

The ones you suggest seem very unusual to me! Maybe I need to com out of my comfort zone a bit...

Isn't Gamine a youthful look? Military styles are good as well:Mango.

That last coat was lovely travel. I had a coat like that in olive (I'm a soft autumn). It was from Sisely but I got it for a fiver in a charity shop. I've never grieved for an item of clothing as I did for that coat when it finally died and I've never found anything as flattering since.

The houndstooth one from TKMaxx arrived and it isn't right on me! I probably would have put up with it last year but now I am on the lookout for something more appropriate. I have ordered the LandsEnd one in grey and will see how that it - but it maybe that I should go for the purple to add drama.

In other news, I was brave enough to put blue streaks in my hair today - temporary ones using Loreal HairChalk but brave nevertheless.

Erm, any comments on military style? Mango had lots last time I looked.

I've ordered this in antique gold with the 20% off from Boden. Never ordered anything from them before, but the colour looks perfect for me (reviewers say it comes out a bright olive colour) and hopefully the fact they do a petite size means it won't swamp me.

Are pea coats gamine? I've got one like this from Jack Wills which has been going strong for the last 3 years and gets loads of compliments. It's 80% wool and thick, so very warm. I know JW is mostly a teenagers' shop but I do rate their coats and jumpers! It will most likely end up in the sale or on their outlet website, I got mine for £110.

Travel I have found a few of your comments so helpful - I am really looking for whether I have too much movement in my clothes now. I can get away with a slight cowl neck in a jersey top but if I get one that is really drapey it doesn't quite work and I could not figure out why, since it is apparently the right height neckline!

So, I am a bit confused as to whether gamine means (for me) tailored to fit, or boxy. The coats you linked to are a boxy shape, whereas I thought the gamine look was supposed to be fitted. For me, those two things are quite different? I'm not at all sure a boxy look would flatter me.

My Boden soho coat arrived and, although the fit was quite good, the high snug collar just wasn't flattering and at knee length it was just a little bit too long. I think I'm just too busty to have a coat that does all the way up - I need to have the top of the coat open and cover my decollatage up with a scarf. The hunt for a winter coat that suits a short busty gamine continues!

My lands end swing car coat arrived and wasn't right either. It was a bit too long and made my bum look big sadly!

Hullo all, just bumping for another gamine.

Got one of my nice brooches from my Pinterest board for Christmas, v happy!

Found, thank you Face

Ohh! Breakfast at Tiffany's is on More4+1. I'm sitting soaking up Audrey Herburn's style ... if only I could look so chic.

I found a black fitted shirt in a charity shop and wore it with a pair of straightlegged jeans the other day, and my hematite chip necklace (charity shop) and bracelet (Christmas present). Very plain and very me. My husband kept saying how nice I looked, with a slightly amazed tone to his voice.

He also said that looking back, he thinks my style when we first met was gamine and that that was attracted him. So I am onto a winner with this. Currently looking for more shirts. Feels very me and very nice to not be wondering whether I could get away with that hippie skirt and flowy top.