MN Vogue - volume 40

[shopafrolic]

40 editions and still going strong! All welcome to talk fashion, beauty and other random things. All tastes and all budgets welcome. Continuing on from here

I've spent my whole life worrying about my figure, hiding parts of my body and not wearing certain items. It's ridiculous, I've never been fat.
The worst thing we do as women is to point out our flaws. Honestly, most people, ESP men, wouldn't even notice them. And we only draw more attention to them by doing so. I try to keep quiet about the less perfect bits now ......and have always been of the opinion that fabulous clothes can disguise most things.

Echoing the views on Amber's post, wise words. (I'm v similar body shape to you and I think you look great, so that helped too!)

Was just browsing M&S shoes as there are occasional gems and found these Missoni-esque flats if anyone likes that sort of thing. Sadly I can't wear slip on shoes :(

I like those Blair. Did you get a bag on your trip?

Can someone link to ambers blog post if that is possible please?

Hi Hampton here is Amber's post. It always annoys me how men don't care and we spend all our lives stressy about our stomachs.

Love your bikini Amber and your words of wisdom

Justa i really like that Massimo look, think with a jacket and courts it would look fine. Or maybe switch the shirt for a patterned one to make ot a bit more wedding?

From my Boden shop, I am sending back red brocade trousers and floral skirt (at £38 I think I can do better) and keeping Sienna dress. Not sure whether to keep this dress. I got it in the red/pink. The colour is great on me but the pattern is a bit uber Boden and it is clevage-tastic!

Morning all. The Outnet order was a bit hit and miss. I think I've lost my fashion judgement (or am getting uber critical and picky to get the perfect items). The James perse dress is just fab. Lovely soft fabric, drapes beautifully. The only criticism being that it is slightly low on the arm holes, so it needs a bandeau top or bikini underneath - but since I was planning on wearing it on holiday, it is definitely a keeper.
The vest top is a little snug but the colour is awesome, I'll try it again this morning but it may have to go back.
The shoes are high but surprisingly comfortable, the only part I'm not sure about is that the cut straight across the foot so look a bit retro to me. I am going out for dinner tonight with DH and friends are joining us so I plan to try them with my Joseph dress. If they work, I'll keep them as I haven't been able to wear that dress yet. If not, they'll go back.
I'm thinking about getting this hush dress as I've just realised it is one of my colours. Linus had you tried this? Did you send it back? I'm sure I recall an issue with it?
Justa I love that outfit but definitely with a heel....
Dry GOOD LUCK!!!! You must be pedalling by now. xx

I think the whole 'men never worry about their bodies' is a less true than it used to be - there's much more pressure and awareness of body image on men and eating disorders etc are on the rise in men. Not a good thing, we need less of it full stop, but we shouldn't regard it just as a female thing. However men more our age, (if aware of their body/fitness) seem to have a fundamentally different approach, I heard a great quote from another man about it recently, saying that every bloke who trains seems to think he's two workouts away from being David Beckham whereas women are just so much more critical and insecure. We have to ask why though...we must learn it, from parents and from society/media. So we need to start doing exactly what Amber is doing, being proud of our bodies, stating why they are amazing and why we like them. Rather than whinging and moaning and criticising them, especially in front of our DC's who absorb it all and emulate it, and so the cycle continues. Have a conversation with your kids about what bits of their bodies are favourite, why they are incredible, make it normal (and shut up about they bits you may not be so keen on). Kate Winslet has this nailed.

Stokey I'm not so sure about the last boden dress either....

Novice RM is to die for, bet you look amazing in it . What shoes?

Dry..thinking of you !

Morning all.
just I love that look for a wedding. I've become a huge fan of trousers rather than dresses. I'm wearing trousers to tonight's and next weeks 40ths but I bet I'll be the only one. Re peppa pig, we paid extra to do an early bird thing so went into the park at 9 to meet peppa and go in the soft play and then we got to go on rides at 9.45 before the gates opened at 10. So we went on about 4 rides with no queues at all. Was fab.

I spend my life worrying about my stomach but have to remind myself that I have 3 beautiful most of the time children and that it's wrinkly and saggy because of that. Huge sweeping generalisation as I realise women without children worry about bodies too but I do think men don't often worry so much as they haven't had their bodies changed by pregnancy.

oh yes - go Dry

Does anyone know when the NaP sale is due to start?

I was fat in my teens and twenties so TBH I think I am holding up better than I thought I would . Love the Kate Winslet approach, I do that type of thing all the time with DD. Being a 'big, strong lady' is the aspiration in this house.

No idea Shop

Stratch that, NaP sale started Monday 17th June last year so possibly Mon 16th June this year...

Amber I love your post. You are absolutely right, the way we talk is crucial. If we want the dc to be happier we need to be better at it. And break that downward spiral.

I was too skinny, no boobs etc for most of teens, I think it was the 80s that made it that way too. But I remember lots of diet chat by adult women and finding it off. Even then I wanted people to think about how amazing it was that we could do stuff like ballet, en pointe for hours, rather than stress about food/ diet/ shape.

Really like that K Winslet quote too.

Dry do it! You'll be great.

Have ordered a couple of things, will link.

I've just ordered this James Perse. It is £££ but if it fits I think I'll wear it loads and can dress up or down. There was only 1 left so I didn't dare wait for the sales..... I've got the post purchase guilts though. Anyone else get that?
Lib I'm impressed you have that date logged

Bit of a wild card. Etre Cecile dress. Could be too Sesame Street. But like the length and shape.

Sport Max skirt. Grabbed the last one, before it sold out.

Not sure re dress, but thought I'd order both. Have paid extra for Monday delivery, it starts to get tricky when you have as hoc meetings through the week. Work messing with my shopping ease, although it's paying for it so that's good

Good luck today Dry

Amber, great blog and so true. I am very self conscious of my body and always have been. I remember being called fatty at school when I was 5/6 but looking back at photos, I wasn't, I was obviously an easy target. I have given up 'dieting' and comfortable (ish) with my weight even though am a little overweight. I found that thinking about food, diet and weight all the time just screwed with my mind.

Love your outfit for tonight Shop so hope those fabulous shoes work.

I love blue nail varnish. I have navy and turquoise OPI but wear navy the most. Today though, am wearing nude on fingers and dark lilac on toes. The latter is vinylux but not too impressed with the staying power.

Was interested in the SPF chat last night and will check out the links properly later.

Such wise words Amberand Sleep love your bikini Amber. Since joining this thread I'm thinking about bikinis instead of all in one. Saw an elderly woman at the gym last year in a bikini and I don't want to go into detail about what she looked like but at the end of the day good for her and why shouldn't be proud to show off her body. Before dc my stomach was my best part of my body after dc probably my worst but hey ho as QueenC said I have beautiful dc now and I would choose saggy tummy and dc over no dc and flat tummy any day.

Now for fashion, lovely purchases Shop was looking at that Hush dress myself in the catalogue but don't want black and coral is not my colour.

Fab dress Novice and wow to your lovely dh

Marsha love the skirt

Hello back Justa

Am considering these shorts colourful for me a departure from what I'd normally go for but would wear them with a white and yellow wedge sandals to give me some height.

Oh and lots of thoughts to Dry

shop I have that dress. Bought in the Selfridges sale at Christmas - I won't tell you what I paid for it because you might feel a bit sick but it is a brilliant, brilliant dress.

Morning all. Still in pjs here, oh the glamour! am considering wearing grey acid wash skinnies and a beatles sweatshirt.

Good luck Dry

sleep I love that David Beckham thing - that is so my DH, hasn't been to the gym for 3 months but still reckons he'll be 'ripped' if he puts a bit of effort in. Agree entirely about the positive enforcement. I've had an ED for 17 years now, and my weight has fluctuated by 5st in that time. I can't say that my mother's attitude toward food has helped. She eats very sporadically, is very critical of the overweight and is naturally a great deal smaller than me so her comparisons were always unfair. Recently I've just decided to break the chain - I want to be fit and strong, not thin.

Hope it's going well dry!

Hi justa welcome back :) I got the Reed Krakoff Boxer in the US and love it so far. Hope your holiday was good too!

shop I think you are just getting more picky, definitely a good thing though. Also I think the outnet can be a bit hit and miss by definition! Your last linked JP dress looks so versatile, great for layering.

Marsha I love the skirt. And betty those shorts look so comfy (in a good way!)

Thunderstorms here, think I will be staying inside all day at this rate.

Blair ah you got the R K excellent! I love it.

Novice love the RM dress, what a knock out.

Shop fab dress, Amber looks incredible in it sure you will too.

The Etre dress is too much isn't it, too play school. Damn! Wondering if I should cancel or try it on?