Cue trumpet fanfare....it's MN VOGUE Vol 50, yes, it's that old. Come and celebrate with us and wave your handbags in support [fgrin]

[Drywhiteplease]

Ok, Voguettes. Gather round. Hands out of pockets. No fiddling. Stand still. Look forward. Loud voices please.

"On the first day of Christmas Santa gave to me an exploding Chanel bag for liberty
On the 2nd day of Chrismas santa gave to me a tin of tuna in spring water for marsha and an exploding Chanel bag for liberty
On the 3rd day of Xmas Santa gave to me a red non Christmassy lipstick for the newly wintered Shop and an exploding Chanel bag for liberty"

sleep face front! One get back in the front row I can't see you. Betty stop using your sleeve! here's a tissue .

"On the 4th day of Xmas Santa gave to me some blue nail varnish for linus to piss her mother up how common and an exploding Chanel bag for liberty
On the 5th day of Xmas Santa gave to me a blingy ring and a security man to make sure she doesn't loose it for Novice and an EX CH bag for Lib
On the 6th day of Xmas Santa gave to me an exercise DVD and an S Club 7 album for Sleep because she's just too cool musically and an EX Ch Bag for liberty"

WILL you PLEASE stand up AWks!!!!

"On the 8th day of Xmas santa gave to me an AW Rocco for Amber to add to the collection and an EXP Ch Bag for liberty
On the 9th day of Xmas Santa gave to me some yellow Boden trousers that are very useful for being spotted by strangers at Kings Cross for FedUp and an Exp CH Bag for liberty
On the 10th day of Xmas Santa gave to me an enormous bag of Dairy Milk for the old times for QueenC and an exp Ch bag for liberty
On the 11th day of Christmas Santa helped me break into mara's house and steal her Hermes black wrap bracelet because they bloody won't answer the sodding phone and let me buy one for myself, and an Exploding Chanel bag for liberty

Altogether now Shop put your crown straight and stop pulling Marsha's hair!!

On the 12th day of Christmas Santa gave to me.......50 bottles of fizz to celebrate Blair's forthcoming nuptials and the fact that our lovely thread has been going for so long............and an Exploding bag for liberty

new people always welcome to this thread where we ramble on about clothes and life generally. We are friendly. Happy Christmas everyone

Stroppy crop top ...strappy!

Welcome Also and QueenQ
Like the Cos dress, let us know how it fits.
Also I wear loads of skirts and dresses but normally with opaques or wool tights. I think this dresses them down a bit so you can make smarter stuff look less formal.

I have also embraced nude tights for work dos, spring weddings etc. And they're OK, not to Grannyish I think.

Liberty Dd1 (5) was scared in Paddington too, although Dd2 (2.8) was transfixed.

If anyone is after checked shirts, Uniqlo has them in loads of patterns for only a tenner, they're decent quality. Although I was slightly put off when I got to the counter, and the bearded, pierced assistant was wearing the one I had chosen ( green & navy).

lib DS is very sensitive and would probably also be upset about Paddington. I can't count the number of Disney films I've had to turn off because he was getting hysterical.

shop I just downloaded the Kindle version of that book. I need it!

Oh Dry that's not good! Maybe you just need a break?

Lovely dress Queenie, maybe 2015 will finally be the year I buy something in Cos.

Welcome Also - have to say I can't get used to the idea of sheer tights, it's opaques all the way for me. Bare if I want to wear sandals.

That's annoying about the shoes Karbea, can you buy them somewhere else?

Hello and welcome Also I did a bit of a wardrobe cull last year but my stuff was decent is high street so I took it to a dress agency who sold some stuff for me, the rest I gave to charity as I cab with eBay for selling high street clothes, other ladies Shop I think does well with eBay selling.

Hello Queenie I like that dress

Justa I bought some NB trainers last year and really like them but am not as keen on them this year, I think I've gone off the colour and need them to be a bit brighter, I might consider buying them again in a different colour.

Liberty aw bless your dd I took dc to see that film and I really enjoyed it.

Stokey I'm super impressed you haven't succumbed to the jeans trap, I'm guilty of wearing jeans every day, would like to change that.

I knew I was out there with the sheer love. I do put them on the delicate cycle though, eek perhaps I shouldn't.

Nice dress Queenie

Just ordered that book on my kindle, Shopaholic. Need it in a big way.

blair we looked in Browns and liberty phoned Harrods but no joy. They'll be back in stock in feb.

Marsha you're not out there with the sheers, I wear them- they are back in a big way, all the young bloggers are doing them.

Hello all, especially newbies, over my hangover now. Have done very little, DH out for the evening so I am in onesie, furry slippers, have fizz chilling and the SATC box set to get started on. What has happened to me? Don't worry, normal service resumes next week!

Amber

Waves to Amber I am in onesie and firry slippers too. my slippers are basically fleecy flamingos

Online scouting for the birthday treats I shall be having next week, nothing outrageous, I am after all but a poor student but there shall be shopping, oh yes, there shall be shopping. After that it's nothing til I go to Florida in a few months

I forgot to say happy birthday for your DS Amber, any chance you were in UCH too?

I am One's birthday twin so have some celebrations coming up, hence no declarations of abstinence, though I will certainly be having a quiet month booze wise! I am skipping a big present in the hope that DH pulls off a big deal work wise which may then lead to a very nice handbag...fingers crossed.

I'm with you on the sheers Marsha - I still wear them. Just won't do shiny tights......
EBay selling has worked for me. Lots of pictures, wooden hangers, good descriptions and pics of bloggers / celebs wearing what you're selling help. But it depends what brands you're selling.

My wardrobe used to be full to bursting, I would store out of season stuff in the loft in suitcases and then switch things round twice a year. When the stylist came and did my wardrobe edit I sent loads of bags to charity (6 I think) - couldn't believe it when they emailed to say it sold for over £600
I made another £300 or so on EBay. As I mentioned I got rid of workwear that wasn't classic, lots of club wear (I used to be v into the club scene and danced on stage so had lots of bizarre outfits), anything that no longer fitted, was damaged beyond repair. Then I sent shoes I wanted to keep to the repairers, coats to cleaners, washed the hand wash items in the bottom of the laundry basket.
The shoe collection diminished massively, but loads were rarely worn. Pointless keeping party shoes with infrequent parties to go to (to which I always wore the same shoes!).
Now everything fits in one double wardrobe and a chest of drawers - other than winter coats and a couple of evening dresses. There is one plastic crate with workwear in the loft. Everything in my wardrobe gets worn. And when I buy new, I get rid of old. I threw out an old pair of knee high boots when I bought the new LKB ones for example.
Anyway, epic post. Happy to talk more on PM if anyone wants more info. One final tip. Hang all your clothes one way round in your wardrobe, when you wear them, put them back hanging the other way round, after 6mths to a year, anything that is still facing the original way should be reviewed and probably got rid of.....

Omg shop you are my hero.
I have 2 double wardrobes of stuff in our spare you, a wardrobe in our room, 3 drawer unit I think it's eleven large drawers plus stuff in plastic under bed storage, a bin bag full of things to take to charity that's been in the spare room for over a year. I seriously have very few things I actually wear.
I'd love to do what you did. After this hoc session I'm going to be brutal!

You can do it Karbea it feels so much better. You can see everything you own, and then it all gets worn and loved. :)
There are lots of tips on Pin, and that book is great too.

Sleep I forgot I had a birthday twin!!

I have now become so cold that I have added my Star Wars Chewbacca dressing gown to the mix. Ds very kindly bought me this for christmas even though he didn't know he was buying it for me I am now very warm and snuggly

Have been perusing my wardrobe wondering if there's anything I can get rid of any time soon but nothing is jumping out at me as not being a keeper. I did thin things out considerably not long ago anyway so think I'm good for now

Hi Also and Queenie. I think having a good wardrobe cull is the way to go - Shop's post is really helpful. Definitely sell good quality/good condition clothes on ebay - to put towards your next 'considered' purchase.

I did a massive cull last Jan and then again in the summer and felt so much better about it. I decided there was no point being sentimental over clothes so that made it a bit easier to get rid. (I have kept my wedding dress though as dm made it).

I did intend to replace a lot of the clothes but actually am now a lot more fussy considered so haven't bought much but what I do have, I wear (mostly!)

Muddling I can highly recommend YSL touché éclat foundation. It's not heavy at all and there are a lot of shades. The assistant will match your shade and give you a decent size sample to try. I love Essie nail varnish and have a nude but can't remember the exact shade.

Am not too keen on sheer tights but will wear them if there is no other option - I am not as hard core as Dry to go bare legged in winter

Sorry Muddling meant to say I swear by Bare Minerals foundation now. So much quicker to apply. A quick swirl of the brush and you're good to go.

Karbea - sounds like you and I have a major job on our hands for the New Year…. My situation is v. similar. Shop you are my hero and inspiration too. Would rather get someone to ebay the lot for me and take their cut or, realistically, won't happen. Anyone have any tips for people who are good/bad at that? Not sure where to source such a person. And then I guess there is the whole - can I do the edit or should I pay a stylist to come round - question. Sort of annoying if I end up paying the stylist whatever I make flogging the excess stuff….

Mudding, does it have to be foundation or can it be a BB/CC cream? I think they are often more flattering especially on more - ahem - mature skin

Woah, so much to catch up on.
lib so sweet of your dd. my eldest two loved it so did i. I also loved Mrs Browns outfits especially the shoes.
Welcome to the newbies. I'll try and answer questions...
Nude nail polish- have a look at essie as they have lots of neutral shades
Can't help with exercise gear as I get everything from our local running shop so I have lots of different brands.
Wrt wardrobe culling I do a review twice a year when I swap over summer and winter stuff. I'm quite good at culling stuff now although over the past two years I have less and less need to cull stuff. My mums gutted as she enjoyed a few of my cast offs! Theres a couple of dresses that I don't wear regularly in my wardrobe-a vivien Westwood which will deginitely be worn whenever I have a black tie do to go to (annoyingly we were busy on all the potential black tie events dh got invited to last year) and an lk Bennett dress. I've considered getting rid but I love and it fits well so I'll keep it as if I ever need a dress for a formal event then I would probably wear it.

Shop I have heard good things about bare minerals and love the idea of a quick swoosh and you're done. Unfortunately they don't do samples so haven't tried it.

As I have ageing fairly dry skin, I worry that it may accentuate any lines and wrinkles I may or may not have.

Bb/cc/foundation as long as it is quick to apply in the morning (need to get a better foundation brush as well) and covers a multitude of sins if it can help with redness thats a bonus too as my office is a little warm at times with no decent temperature controls and im looking a little flushed at times! Will look at essie polish as well.
Thanks for the help so far

muddling my make up discovery this year has been primer. I use the Laura Mercier one. It's almost gone so I have bought Smashbox to replace. It really makes foundation/tinted moisturiser look better and last longer.

Welcome queenie. Great Cos dress. It is great to have lots of new people!

dry I get gastritis from time to time and too much white wine / fizz definitely triggers it.

sleep I didnt sign up to Fabletics in the end because of their payment system. I just know I wouldn't remember to opt out each month.

I feeling terrible about taking DD to Paddington. She is still and awake and asking why some people are so mean and why his mummy and daddy died :(

QueenCardigan, am worried I am stepping on your toes a little on this thread with my rather similar name...!
Perhaps I might suggest "QQ" for me, which I am sometimes called elsewhere on MN?

Oh Lib what a shame :( DS enjoyed it (not sure he really understood that mum and dad had died TBH). Can you tell her how lucky Paddington was to have lots of family to look after him, and that although some people are mean, the Brown's were lovely to Paddington and loved him enough to keep him living with them? Poor thing. Give her a hug from DS and I.