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....

The DP looks perfect for posh tea and a show and definitely not too short.

Sorrell I went to the Selfridge's denim studio earlier this year and would definitely recommend it. I was wearing the wrong size and ended up with some high rise jeans when I thought I wanted mid rise. I didn't buy there but got the name of the pair and got them £75 cheaper on line.

Stokey That sounds encouraging. I'm a nightmare with jeans, I'm never happy! I find a pair that I think are perfect but after a few wears I'm on the look out for a better pair. My biggest issue is that I have a small waist, ample hips, straight outer thighs but really wide inner thighs. I can't wear skinnies without heels or I look like a parsnip.

I was considering the Levis store for the same reason... Anyone been there?

Sorrel this leather skirt was linked on another thread.

smile my uniform consists jeans/blouse/cardi. I find that blouses skim my mum tum rather than a tee that clings. Also I feel too scruffy in just in a plain tee but that's because I need girly details eg like the lace fronted tee I mentioned earlier from fatface.

Hmmm, not sure about the wool bits! Good price but it's sold out in a 12 and I'm not sure my hips will squeeze into a 10 at the moment.

queen what kind of blouses and are they crew or V cardis?

this kind cardigal and always a crew neck for me!

Oh I didn't notice the wool bits - seems a bit random.

Smile about the chinos, I think you could wear them with a smart shoe like brogues or loafers or ankle boots (ash jalouse or similar) but also with trainers like converse or superga. So pretty versatile I would think.

sorrell I linked that skirt to drywhite and she's ordered it.

Morning all! Thought I'd link to the bits and pieces I bought on my shopping trip the other day.
Scarf
Top looks great with this.
Top goes brilliantly with plum trousers I linked to from Wallis the other day - any ideas what to wear over it for warmth?
Ice pink jumper

Queencardigan thank you for the link to the esprit top. Have found a few tops on there that I quite like the look of, in the deep red colour. I also like that it suggests items to go with what you're looking at - useful for beginners like me

I really must start looking at clothes again and not default to buying scarves or pyjamas.

Well, my Kettlewell catalogue arrived in this morning's post. What we all think about their autumn / winter range? Can't say I'm itching to order anything from first glance at it over breakfast.

Yes, mine arrived today too. I'm not that keen on Kettlewell but think it is okay for getting some of the more unusual colours. having said that, they seem to be using more natural fibres now than before - merino and cashmere in particular. I am thinking I might get this top in mosaic blue as I don't have that colour or similar at the moment.

As we haven't done this recently, today I wore animal print harems, lilac jumper, lilac superga, navy zatchels saddle bag and one of my rediscovered HOC lipsticks - a burgundy one.

Today I wore black and white stripped Reiss dress, silver Nine West sandals, my pink Coach bag and Pudgy Peony Clinique Chubby Stick lipstick.

Today I was a bit dark and wore navy straight jeans, cos grey boat neck sweatshirt, black t and navy saltwaters and my tan leather rucksack bought earlier this summer.
Bought a charcoal uniqlo merino crew neck in charity for 3.99 and a purple boat neck topshop top (bit vintagey) too. Like stuff in zara but begrudged full prices stingey as heck.

Well I did the style day. Struggling slightly to see how a natural romantic can change from cons or pumps, t shirt and jeans which is what I live in (work and home) but hey. Can't see jaegar trousers being in my future somehow but maybe I'll surprise myself.

DidI what kind of things is a natural romantic supposed to wear? Is that what Sorrel is as well? The HOC classifications don't seem to lend themselves so much to casual dressing, just from what I've read on here.

Do you think the look 'natural romantic' feels like you?

Thanks Queen :)

I ask because I live in tees and cardis but the tees aren't working with my classic persona and I want to find something else. The mandarin collar doesn't work for me under a crew so I'm experimenting with V's.

Any other suggestions for tops/blouses Ladies? I need fitted I think.

Did I think jeans and converse work well with natural!

Jaeger trousers would fit the 'classic' bracket imho. Romantic - is that all waterfalls and ruffles and a whiff of cleavage?

Been without internet at home for over a week and had a rubbish phone so been out of touch. Just caught up on what I've missed of this thread.

Went through my cooler/cold weather clothes last weekend. I was diagnosed winter in March so this will be my first winter as a winter!

All OK colours but grey, grey, grey, black, navy and more grey. I need to inject some brightness I think.

I picked up a damson long sleeved t-shirt and dark piney green short jumper in Next on Friday - both colours I would not have looked at before. Just been on Gap and hoovered up anything vaguely right in 6/8 Tall - much will be going back as have to order multiple sizes due to bonkers/inconsistent sizing. Also, as I'm still on a blazer hunt, and they're definitely going out of fashion, I ordered every one they had - won't keep them all, promise. I may not end up keeping any actually as they look like they may be a bit short and boxy for me.

Still all navy/black/grey apart from some cranberry trousers (which may be too browny from the photo) but they're cropped so not really an autumn/winter purchase.

Looked at the Ella Whistles blazer but didn't like that it was unlined, it was a bit too textured and I was in between sizes. Wish I'd found out about the Lena before it went out of stock - sounds like that style would've been better.

Pink there is a blazer in the new Ines De La Fressange collection for uniqlo.

here

Selling out fast! yesterday there was a tweed on in navy on there too.

I like the look of this shirt from gap - especially the 'frothy aqua' shade.

h and m though more grey!

I'm a Romantic/Classic/ Luckily for me the Classic bit means I can't do waterfalls and ruffles and a whiff of cleavage .

didireallysaythat I struggled with the casual part too because Romantic/Classic can't really do the laid back white t-shirt, jeans, tan bag sort of look. However, I've realised that if I do a smart casual, I look so much better and now that I'm used to it, I don't feel dressed up at all. I too love Converse but have compromised and bought Converse Dance which (IMO) look smarter and less boyish.

MrPop That GAP shirt is lovely. I'mk not meant to wear shirts with collars (too harsh a line and high in the neck) but I'm tempted to get one for work. If you order one can you let me know how roomy it is in the bust? I hate gaping.