MN Vogue - vol 34

[shopafrolic]

It's been a while since I set one up so thought I'd do the honours.
For glass half full fashion fanatics. Bring a positive attitude, a love of clothes and lots of lovely links. All welcome, from high street to high end.

Meant to ask Marsha is the work thing finished or are you back there again now you're back in the UK?

Good morning! I did my yoga very early this morning and am now pottering around the house getting ready to go to work (I start work at 12).

Morning!

The deed is done. To be delivered by express tomorrow pre-1pm. I did a thread a year ago about a new one, finally got it! The other one gave up the ghost. I really hope it's good. I used to work in Illy coffee places in Melbourne as a student, the idea of the perfect espresso hasn't left me.

Shop they asked for my return dates for more work, so possibly yes. I can never predict when or how much, so I just blank it out until the brief!

ps better be good!

Hello all- Apologies- my paragraph spacer has broken so my posts are going to look a bit cramped! I agree that KM's style is looking a little raddled these days. There is a cigarette paper's difference between having a classic style or looking a bit dated; clinging to the image you have of yourself.

Morning. The sun is shining, I was in short sleeves at outdoor circuits and the frogs are shagging in the pond . Spring is here!

shop I'm about to join you in the chores.

No fashion news here as I'm covered in mud after doing sit ups and planks.

Morning! I'm in the office feeling chilly on this lovely day - heating isn't on over the weekend, brrr. Wearing wide leg trousers which are about 4 years old, after I saw lots of wide legs in Porter :)

Marsha hope the machine lives up to expectations when it arrives!

Just wanted to say what on earth is this Celine? Looks like it should be hanging off the end of a broomstick.

And speaking of street style blogs, I realised yesterday they were making me feel inadequate because I had started to imagine that lots of people can afford to dress in all the high end stuff they show. But at the event yesterday, a lot of people were wearing normal clothes and I saw quite a few fake bags too. It made me realise what a tiny minority it is and I felt better.

Morning all

blair your day yesterday and outfit choice sound great. Hope we can get to see you on the blog soon.

marsha coffee machine looks good, hope it lives up to your expectations. A good espresso should help with the jet lag in any case.

linus yellow nano, wow. Cobalt blue would look great against it. Am still drooling over celine's cobalt this season, lovely trio bag and pouches. I need to buy casual/smart casual clothes though instead of getting distracted by the temptation of yet more bags.

mig in answer to yesterday's question I'd restyle Catherine zeta jones to look more natural, effortless and age-appropriate. Think she is beautiful but over made up and too park avenue princess. Regarding wardrobe I would indulge in some bespoke tailoring if money was no object, dh gets shirts hand made on business trips and the difference a perfect fit makes is remarkable. Am a fairly standard size 12 but long limbed with short body so often struggle with sleeve and trouser length.

Morning!

The sun is shining here as well but I am struggling to breathe through a very blocked nose.

mara I haven't seen it IRL but I have been drooling over the cobalt hobo bag that Céline has done this season.

Looks like a cool coffee machine marsha! I am not a big coffee drinker,
I usually only drink it when I need a pick-me-up (which is most days nowadays with two DC)

But I LOVE the coffee in Australia and in Italy, the taste is just so smooth and not bitter at all.

It sounds like DS is doing well with potty training shop! Well done!

Blair I completely get what you mean about blogs making you feel inadequate. I've limited the number I read now and don't spend as much time browsing pics as they were starting to make me feel as though my life / wardrobe wasn't good enough. Hard to keep perspective sometimes.
Marsha good stuff on the coffee machine - and on the work. I was thinking yesterday (as I walked past a very funky glasses shop) what frames did you choose in the end?
You know how I raved about the New Balance website? Well their returns process is shite. Sent 2 pairs back on the 6th - still nothing.
Off to walk the dog - back later.

blair re your post about money/fakes etc i think style is something that can't be bought. Just throwing money at your wardrobe doesn't work as evidenced by some of the wags. What I like about this thread is its focus is on styling & the mix of high street and high end. Personally I like to spend more on bags/shoes/accessories than clothes & have neither the budget nor the desire to dress 100% in designer labels. Amazingly I recently discovered that a friend's birkin is fake, she has the means to buy a real one but decided that the price & waiting list were ridiculous. We compared her fake with my real one and couldn't find much discernible difference, it is really well made but did cost over £300 which I would rather have spent on a different non-fake bag from somewhere else but each to their own.

Blair I imagine very few people buy enough each week to do enough only high end posts on a blog. It's also probably freebies etc

Shop I got the cheapo Glasses Direct in the end, will link the frames. They're ok but I need some time before forking out £600 on C&G.

Thanks re coffee machine. I was a fairly rubbish waitress (weak wrists, not enough plates) but I remember some Italian guy saying I was good at making espresso . I wonder if he added for a girl in his mind .

About to go swimming, glorious isn't it. Daffodils and sunshine glad I'm back for that.

Has anyone ditched the coat? I am wondering if I can get away with Yohji jacket and scarf.

That bag is nuts Blair.

Good guess Shop that is usually what I would be doing when I post early. But no, today was working from home for the morning so was in my bed at the time with laptop and BB!

Now off to hop in the shower, grab some lunch and then head out for a meeting. Outfit is black Boden wool smithfield skirt, dark blue Gap merino drop sleeve sweater, silver jewellery, black opaques, black loafers, CdC coat, blue and navy scarf and my new Modalu tote is getting it's first outing.

Good one on the coffee machine Marsha
Blair I agree about blogs, mags etc giving a false sense of perspective. It's only a tiny minority who can afford to dress like that all the time.

I always know that Spring is springing when Marsha wants to ditch the coat. Too cold here for that today.....

The things you never hear a toddler say thread is making me LOL

Am envious of you all with Yoga routines in the morning. I ve been thinking of adding Pilates/ yoga into my daily routine, but unsure if I will have the dedication to leave my cosy divan - especially not after nights like last night with sick dc. I would love to develop it as a habit though, I used to practice it religiously - but then fell away from it for a while, have a qualification to teach it at a basic level even that I got but haven't kept up so can't at the moment.
Also since before Christmas, when I was stressed out with organising everything I ve followed mindfulness when I found the headspace app one night I couldn't sleep- i like it! Did the trial and signed up for 3 months free - will subscribe again when that s up it s great. Anyone tried it?
Blair- I agree - I don't subscribe to some blogs either as they re too out f my reach and I can't relate to them. And you re right constantly looking at those blogs if you compare can lead to personal dissatisfaction I have to remind myself to be happy with my lot sometimes and to appreciate the little things too- like health, fresh air, sunshine. I know that sounds corny but it s important too. The blogs I subscribe to now are ones I relate to with a mix of lifestyle fashion and other stuff and usually with brands or looks I can reach. And that s what I love about here - a good mix of both, amazing style inspiration and designer too, plus no one has scoffed openly at any of my choices or suggestions yet! I must say too I love your pins Blair!

I have really found that I m putting my outfits together differently and shopping differently since coming on here.

Afternoon all yup spring is here, crocii (?) and some drops all over the place!

Balir that bag looks like Batman!
Marsha I love a decent espresso. Will be interested to see what you think of that machine....let me know but I'd be permanently hyper if I had one!
Mara I've had a couple of dresses (one over a corset) made to measure and a jacket and the fit is amazing, they fit so well and are so flattering. It would be lovely to be able to have all tailoring bespoke

Liz Hurley needs a make over desperately.

Re blogs..... Blogs, magazines, other people, shops.....there's top end stuff all over the place, I like looking at it, doesn't make me feel bad because I just copy a look and when would I wear it anyway? Some blogs (Pink P and Wendy) look permanently over dressed but I love having a nosey.

Non fashion question (think I'll start a thread in DIY) but has anyone redone a bathroom? I need tips if you have any. What did you spend/save on? Thanks

Shop I know, I'm always very keen to ditch the coat. I didn't in the end, probably a good thing as it was cloudy and a bit chillier when we finished.

Like Dry I like high end blogs, the same way I like Vogue. It doesn't make me feel bad. Just more nice stuff to look at. Well when the images end up on pin. I haven't looked at Wendy's blog for ages, but still see the odd image.

Also it looks tiring, all that photo shooting for the freebies. I'd rather just buy stuff and link on here. With ones like Wendy's - that much work, I'd want the freebies too.

Why why why did Me+Em send me their new brochure? Some lovely,v useful stuff in there (sob)

And btw....can't tell you how much I love my little Disco, makes me smile every time I go in my wardrobe

yes please
one of these thanks
useful basic
one of these
nice style! hate the colour

New Balance have sent me a great email telling me nothing at all.....

Thank you for contacting New Balance.

I am truly sorry about the delay. Our returns team in the warehouse is working hard to make sure all returns are processed timely.

We received your shoes; the refund will be processed as soon as possible.

I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

Please let me know if you have additional questions.

Customer Care
New Balance UK

Dry remind me when I get a mo and I'll email you about bathrooms. In a nutshell. Walk in Matki shower is the best thing we ever bought for the house, and their aftercare is fab. Heritage bathroom suites are ok, but do not buy the plugs that push closed and open. They are rubbish and don't ever seal properly so our bath tends to have a habit of emptying itself slowly. Floortiles are cold - don't consider without underfloor heating. Oh, and move out unless you have a downstairs loo otherwise you'll find yourself weeing in a bucket and showering at work (I was pregnant when we did ours - no fun).

marsha now I'm having second thoughts about the nespresso lattissima, very nice looking!

mara I'm with you on fakes,I could never understand it,if i cant afford ortry to save for it then icant, and thats the end of it.
my mum saved for over a year to buy a Kelly,she always wanted one,its her most expensive bag,and she adores it,s i can understand why hermes bags are very expensive,and Imo they are worth it,the leather( togo) is scratch resistance, l love that their bags come with rain cover,she is glad to have bought the bag a while ago as their prices have increased since then.

blair I kinda like that bag,I saw it IRL, and its not different from the one I have,the straps which you can keep them loose or tie for a more structured look,seems to be more stiff,

dry how far would you want to renovate? Total? Are you going to keep something? We did ours,kept the tub,and vanity unit,but changed everything else, and unfortunately,you can't save when it comes to bathrooms,just like kitchens they need to be durable.