HOC winter thread. The cool and clear chat continues. Part 4.

[QueenCardigan]

Following on from part 3.

If you're a winter then come and join us for chat and links about clothes/bags/make up/hair....

[ThePerfectNegroni]

MrPop Here it is although not 100% sure it is accurate. I am not overly girly either.

[SorrelForbes]

Another lovely bag!

I must be really thick but I've got completely lost with who's who on Pinterest

[QueenCardigan]

Does the romantic bit come from your body shape if you don't feel girly? I would interpret it as needing clothes to drape your curves rather than masculine tailoring type things. My body structure is softly curved so anything mannish or severe looks awful on me eg shirts, pointed shoes. I'm not overly girly but need girly details to look my best eg cute sleeves, little collars, pintucks, detailing etc.

The cardi arrived from next and at the moment I'm not overly convinced but not sure why . I hate the black trim and buttons but they can easily be removed but emerald is one of my best colours yet it seems to do nothing for me.

I'm away for a few days now so look forward to catching up with your purchases on my return

[QueenCardigan]

Btw sorrell I'm bright winter

[carrie74]

Hello All, lovely bag pink, great colour. As for jersey blazer, I lived in my Whistles Lena navy blazer all spring, and am contemplating buying the grey (waiting for the next Grazia code). Is that an option?

Foogle nice biker - looks sufficiently rugged. The only problem I have with bikers is the dumbed down version made so the grannies can wear them, but that doesn't fit that description at all.

I went to a local discount mall yesterday (for Clarks school shoes) and came away with a shell top similar to this for £19 marked down from £125! www.pinterest.com/pin/283023157807540451/ It has some pintucks in the front, like a Boden ravello top. Wearing it to work today, feels great. The pink is a 2* for me, although with my summer lightened (brassy) hair, it doesn't look quite as good as when I'm a proper brunette (I hope).

Also bought this clutch: www.pinterest.com/pin/283023157807540458/ for a wedding at the end of the month to go with this dress: www.pinterest.com/pin/283023157807389301/. It's a bit prettier than I was thinking, but I think it's appropriate for a wedding. Another bargain - £19.

[Stokey]

Foogle I have a red Mac lipstick Ruby Woo. The colour is a great dark bluey red, an exact match for one of ours, but it is extremely matte. I tend to go for Channel number 14 instead.

There is also one of the Maybelline 14 hour reds that is quite good. Good buys Carrie, Jaeger have some great bargains.

And really like the GAP biker. I've been wearing a cream Zara jacket a lot but it is definitely the wrong colour.

[SorrelForbes]

I ordered the jumper from Atterly Road that was linked to on P18 of thread 3. It's lovely and a good match for shade 20 (damson), a ** at 100%. I think it will be very useful for Autumn/Winter.

My Reiss dress arrived today. I'm glad I didn't order the 10 and stuck with the 12 as it's a bit more fitted than other Reiss dresses I've tried. It's close fitting on the hips, bust and boobs so a good shape for the curvy among us. The colour is pretty much an exact match for shade 11 (electric blue) which is a double tick at 100%. It's tight and short but luckily hits just below the point at which my thighs expand into slabs of corned beef! No cleavage so I think I can get away with the length (fingers crossed). All in all a lovely dress.

[carrie74]

Good buys Sorrel. I've got a similar jumper bought from an old Hush sale, and I wear it more than I thought I would (bought pre winter diagnosis). That's such a pretty dress, glad it worked out!

[NigellasGuest]

pinkflamingo Thank you for the Next link - the green shirt looks good. I can't remember when I last bought something from Next but I think I may be buying this!!

I'm a Winter Dramatic Gamine - (HOC diagnosed)
IsItFridayYet thank you for those links upthread.....

[ThePerfectNegroni]

Sorrel Love that jumper- what a beautiful colour. So glad the dress worked out well. When do you get to wear it?

Carrie some lovely purchases there too. I also am having the brassy hair issue too. I need to use my Aveda Black Malva conditioner again.

[pinkflaming0]

Glad the M&S bag is receiving approval. Need to see it IRL and would prefer something without black on purely as I think it would go better with navy if it was just the blackberry colour. At least it has silver hardware - many of the burgundy bags I've seen have gold

carrie the Whistles blazer looks perfect (provided long enough as I'm quite tall) but is out of stock even in the sizes it says are low stock

Too many faces starting this day!

On a good point ordered some burgundy undies from M&S last night.

That's better - provided they fit!

[Stokey]

Love that Reiss dress Sorrel am wondering if I need it as we sounds like we're similar shapes. But am hanging out for Roland Mouret at BR so will see how that goes first!

I spoke to my hairdresser about having red tones and was told they had been adding extra red to my hair colour! They have now put some red lessening in instead and it's definitely better. And am using the black malva.

[pinkflaming0]

Ooh - have found Whistles 'Ella' jersey blazer in their sale in 'blue' size 10 not sure it's a winter colour but the black isn't in the sale.

Or, found the 'Lena' blazer in black size 8 on ebay for the same price.

Anyone know what Whistles sizing is like? I can be an 8 or 10 depensing on brand/fit etc.

[NigellasGuest]

My green perfect shirt from Next is arriving today!

BTW I also use the blue malva conditioner - although I was told that it's the shampoo that makes the difference and the conditioner a sort of "extra".

The shampoo was very pricey BUT it smells very nice - kind of reminds me of the Vidal Sassoon almondy smelling one from years back in my youth - AND it is such a big bottle it is lasting and lasting so I'm getting my money's worth. and because it's a bit different I can tell my teen DD's that if they use it they will go prematurely grey so that's an added bonus as they ALWAYS pinch my stuff and anything new I buy lasts all of 10 seconds RANT OVER

[carrie74]

I must buy some of the black malva conditioner..next time I'm in town I'll get some. Pricey though isn't it?

pink I've got a 10 in the Lena blazer and it fits well, but I'd say is ever so slightly big - for me that means I can get a jumper under it comfortably. If you can get into a store to try on, that would be best. They're very stretchy, so an 8 could probably be fine. I've seen new stock in store, so you should be able to find one there .

I was less keen on the Ella blazer, but again a try on is best. I seemt o recall the blue being quite bright, so may work colours-wise?

[Stokey]

I think the conditoner and the shampoo are around £20 each Carrie IIRC so yes pricey but the shampoo does last for ages.

I've just been into & Other Stories where I saw this burgundy shirt. I think it is nicer in real life. This dress is a lovely pine green while this is a pretty emerald one. And I adore these blue boots.

[carrie74]

Lovely spots Stokey, particularly like the pine green dress. Why don't we have & Other Stories (or Cos) here in Bristol/Bath?!?

[SorrelForbes]

Try living in Plymouth, we haven't even got a Zara!

[pinkflaming0]

Thanks carrie. Sounds like the 8 would be best for me - I like things to fit 'neatly'.

Nearest store is concession in John Lewis - could ring them to find out if they have it I suppose.

[SorrelForbes]

ThePerfectNegroni I'll be wearing it this Saturday for my farewell drinks with girls from the hobby I take part in. Cocktails galore.

Now, silver shoes/clutch or black heels/clutch (or mix and match)?

[standingonlego]

Loving the other stories pine dress, what is the sizing like?

[didireallysaythat]

Any recommendations on clinique chubby lipstick colours ? I'm rubbish at lipstick colours. I have a coward HoC lip gloss (crystal pink perhaps - I've mislaid it at the moment) so I'm looking for the less adventurous end of the winter spectrum..

Thanks !

[SorrelForbes]

Try Pudgy Peony.

[didireallysaythat]

Thanks Sorrel - shows you how off target I am as I'd looked at strawberry or blush and not noticed the purple-pinks at all !

[fooogle]

Strawberry is quite good too didIreally. I got a free one from glamour magazine, you may be lucky if you check, not sure if a new issue is out yet...