Blinners and her workwear blog chatty thread

[Legologgo]

oi blinners -the Mango tabbed pencil skirt how stretchy is it? I like it TIGHT as have thin legs and otherwise look like I am wearing a lampshade

www.johnlewis.com/mango-tabbed-waist-pencil-skirt-natural-white/p1265275?imageCount=2

Belinda your blog is absolutely fantastic! Thank you for a fab and detailed blog, it's so useful and I've opened so many links to peruse from it - have ordered this Cos top to try.

Viscose is my hated material, it just always seems to shrink and deform upon washing. I have a lovely loose stretch coral vest dress which I assumed was cotton but shrunk away to nothing last summer - of course I was viscose. And those cheap tops and dresses that crease like buggery too. But the Monsoon top I bought is so pretty I am willing to risk it - the sheer floaty yet weighty fabric is lovely. It was £35 and I'm quite skint atm so it had better be ok - I will return if it washes badly the first time.

That's lovely, TheJumped, thank you. It's my aim for the blog (and, soon, the rest of the website) to be useful.

I would return something, too, if it didn't wash properly. £35 cost per wear is pretty high, otherwise. On the other hand, I wore a Banana Republic viscose crepe blouse yesterday. It does crease, but not badly (although wouldn't buy it again) and washes well. It is fairly thick, but I do wonder if it will just wear away to a thin rag over time. It feels fine on, though, so no problems re wearability (unlike poly).

I was thing that, ideally, manufacturers would do better composite fabrics. So, silk w some cotton and a little poly, for instance, so that it's slinky but durable?

I don't mind polyester on principle the way most people on here seem to hate it - I don't notice being especially more sweaty in it and if I'm looking to buy something and see it's 100% polyester I just think 'yay it won't shrink / deform / crease'. I don't like the sheer patterned polyester, but thicker drapey polyester is a great looking, non iron and better wearing alternative to DvF style silk for dresses.

Interesting re composite fabrics - I have no idea of the science of it but sounds sensible.

I've wanted a floaty cream silk shirt for ages and have settled for a gorgeous cream poly one from Tesco, intentionally not silk - I can bung it in a whites wash and it's fine and doesn't need ironing. It looks good IMO although maybe to some people it looks like a cheapo imitation of silk.

Great blog

at MissBeehiving, thank you.

Re fabrics, maybe it's a good idea to have a couple of well priced polyester tops for when you just need something easy care that's indestructible? There are a few thick-ish polyester crepe shell tops with sleeves that are around that look good. I do, literally, feel hot / uncomfortable in polyester, but that won't apply to everyone, maybe a couple of tops are a good idea?

I've bought a couple of polyester tops from M&S recently, for what of finding anything silk that I could actually afford. I find that they are about okay for one wear, provided I make sure I have a little can of deodorant with me to freshen up during the day. I don't mind polyester skirts, but prefer silk or cotton.

What I miss most is Warehouse silk - they used to do lovely designs at sensible prices, but don't seem to have any now. :(

aha!! www.marksandspencer.com/column-pencil-skirt/p/p60059716?colour=WhiteMix

Great shape and length, Lego

and I wasnt even looking. Reviews say its stretchy, which might be had for them but is perfecto pour moi

Nice. Watch the sizing. I bought a dress in M&S today and needed a size 8 (I am NOT a size 8!). This is why I won't buy online - I bought a size 8 dress and a size 14 top in the same shop, on the same day - and both fit.

oh i just order masses and send it back. THink it might be too long

M&S often do different lengths in their skirts.

I'm getting this one in the short length.

Nice

Again, size down.

That M&S skirt looks great. WIT has a similar one, but it's peplum. I love the shape of peplum and flippy skirts - slimming like a pencil, but a bit more fun. As opposed to full and skater skirts, which I look huge in.

Yup. Ditto

So pleased I've found your blog. We dress so similar and I can take genuine inspiration from you.

And to add to the mid heel roll call, these are an amazing shape, a great price and come in lots of lovely colours.

m.topshop.com/mt/www.topshop.com/en/tsuk/product/shoes-430/heels-458/low-mid-heels-698/golden-mid-heel-court-shoes-2860457?refinements=category~%5b209961%7c208542%5d&bi=1&ps=24

That's really nice to hear, Foxy, thank you! Re those TopShop heels. They are on my Pinterest workwear shoe board, but they really pinched my toes when I tried them on. Which is v annoying as they do look really good (NOT always a given w mid heels). Are they comfy for you?

I love both pencil and full skirts and (think) I can get away with both but there's no way I'd be able to wear a peplum top. I remember having some wonderful fishtail pencil skirts in the 80s - I wish they'd make those again.

Re shoes - does anybody have these from Clarks?

Oh I didn't see them on your board - must have missed them. Another good nude pair at the budget end of the market is this pair from Tesco. Tried them on yesterday and they were lovely. Could easily pass for much more expensive www.clothingattesco.com/shoes+boots/f+f-patent-pointed-court-shoes/invt/bk412206

Peplum tops = instant weight gain, IMO. I look so awful in them. The peplum hem skirts seem to be today's equivalent to the fishtail skirts?

I've not seen those Clark's shoes.

I can't tell you how disappointed I was at the TopShop shoes feeling so pinchy on me - the pink is that good greigy pink.

The Tesco shoes are a lovely colour and shape - good find.

Yes re the peplum hems - but proper fishtail skirts were amazing. Now, only goth places seem to do them - usually with a corset waist! I liked goth stuff in my 'youth' but have no desire at all to be a fat, aged goth now.

If anybody sees a cotton rather than tube fuchsia pink pencil skirt, please give me a shout btw.

Your blog is terrific Belinda! A brilliant resource, thank you for doing the hard work in scouring the high street for me! ;)