Workwear chatty thread Part 2

[BelindaAllWorkedOut]

Let's talk workwear. Maybe a little bit of non workwear fashion chat, too.

My blog is at theworkwearedit.com but our chat goes above and beyond that.

wonder if my Mango order will arrive today. and the BR shorts?!

I thought the email said the offer was for Thursday? I've never bought Hello, but I will in order to save 30% off 2 pairs of shoes!

oh they tried to deliver the shorts, they use Yodel - nuff said

Is it for Thursday? That's a massive arse. Well the Trafford Centre branch is crap, so it won't be tempting me to buy.

I am waiting for a Phase Eight order- they took 9 days to dispatch, despite them promising to deliver in 3-5 days. They barely even apologised to me when I chased them up about it.

Fingers crossed for your order, Ed!

I know what you mean re the tights - it's funny when you first wear something. Usually feels odd to me. Then I either ditch it or embrace it. Pretty limiting for it to be either opaques or bare legs, though.

Kosher - maybe your email said Tuesday and mine is for Thursday, just like how Gap staggers their offers? You could always buy today in Regent St (which is where most of their shoes are) and then return / rebuy on Thursday w your offer, at Traffird Centre [tight wad].

Yodel? Grimace.

Belinda- Trafford centre are really arsey about doing that. They have a bin behind the tills to put returns in and don't put them back out until the end of the day. They have a policy of no price reductions apparently. If you want to buy it back it has to be on the shop floor!

I have those Zara trousers

Are the trousers good?

Short-waisted people - how do you give yourself an illusion of a longer waist?

I am an hourglass size 12 and 5ft 9. I swear that as soon as my boobs end, my hips begin and can make me look huge all over.

I've got a bit of a kangaroo pouch so don't like anything too tight fitting over my stomach. Any advice?

I wrote a little piece on this, and the main points were:

• simple, monochromatic pieces;
• shallow v neck tops;
• high or big collars or an interesting necklace or scarf;
• belts that fasten at the waist, should do so just above your natural waist (this is the most flattering); and
• any tops or dresses with waist detail should be either above the waist (eg empire) or below the waist (ie low waist), to avoid “cutting” the torso in half.

Anyone else have tips?

Oh for God's sake, I am doing a post on Banana Republic, and realised that I tried on the 5 pocket legging (bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=000555778SP04-13649) and not the slim ankle fit pant (bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/product.do?vid=1&pid=000904793SP04-13649). BR have 34 (!!) Sloan named items (bananarepublic.gap.co.uk/browse/search.do?x=0&y=0&searchText=sloan). Ignore my comments on the earlier thread about the strange details on the Sloan trousers - I tried on the wrong ones (I was looking for the slim ankle fit pant and that level of detail wasn't on the tag). Sorry!

Eduardo - sheer tights?? Get yer legs out.

I did a wardrobe "cleanse" at the weekend, and uncovered a pair of black Mango trousers that I hardly wore because they were too slim-cut (back when I was bootcut-a-gogo). They are perfect now, because my other full-length black work trews (Ralph Lauren) are quite heavyweight. I do like finding stuff I'd forgotten about.

Regarding waistlines, the one type of waist-belt that I think does look OK on me is a tie-belt on a loose-fitting shirt-dress or similar. If there is enough "pouffy-ness" either side of the belt it manages to give the illusion that you do go in and out just a little bit. I have a Zara dress with a draw-string waist and a Monsoon one with a tie.

Or I may just be deluded and look like a sack of spuds in a belt.

Desperately trying to keep up with the thread! Fitting it in between job/ 2 small children/ household shopping etc.

Hopefully going to bluewater in the next few weeks. This thread is giving me good inspiration for what to look out for and what shops to visit, cant wait!

singaporeswing. I'm a short waist, and a short arse too. I find round necks are best - V necks seem to start in my cleavage (not a good look for work), round neck/boat necks make me look longer in the front.

I like sheer tights for work - would only do bare legs at work in the very, very hottest weather, and then only on days when I was only in the classroom and not being all SLT-ish.

I have some really nice M&S ones on today - they just look like my legs, but better.

SnowWhite - sorry but those shoes are horrible, imho, and I'm usually all for a bit of craziness.

Cigarette trousers with a longish chiffony top and a cropped Chanel-esque jacket works quite well for extending my short waist somewhat.

Alos tube skirts and a belly button length top, not tucked in, with a blazer over.

"Belly button length top, not tucked in" - eek, don't you end up flashing your midriff?

Remus, please share what shade of M&S sheer tights you have. I seem to buy loads but they always end up being too orangey when I go out in daylight.

I don't suit long tops at all past about hip bone I find unflattering.

Gosh no to midriff - maybe it's longer than belly button length then! And the skirt covers everything too - quite high waisted.

M&S tights = the illusion ones that are 2 for £4. Surprisingly nice.

I didn't mean to offend anyone with comment about faux suede sorry

No one was offended, were they? I like people to have opinions and I thought we were just explaining what we do and don't buy and why.