MN Vogue Vol. 69

[libertydoddle]

Come and chat about fashion, make up and anything glittery and frivolous. We'll take your bad hair day seriously and you never have to apologise for a new bag

And if you happen to know where I can find comfortable but stylish trainers in kakhi or dark brown you are particularly welcome (Blatant abuse of thread setting up privileges)

Continuing from [[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2570047-MNV-Volume-68 here]]

Have just noticed I've been spelling your name incorrectly SoyYo oops.

Hope you love the pettys as much as everyone else Dream.

Did you enjoy the concert Amber? Your hair and outfit sound fab - esp the burgundy biker.

It's a beautiful morning so am just about to do a long dog walk across the fields then am out with a friend. The stans may get their inaugural outing....

About to drag my arse into work. Not sure whether I'll last the whole day as im a snotty mess again and I still get cramps after eating.

My shoes arrived yesterday-will link later. 1 pair has been getting lots of love on IG although I'm still tempted by the other pair. I need to seriously think whether I really need either of them as I have spent a lot of money lately.

Did a try on of outfits yesterday working out what works for work in the spring and any gaps if I have them. Despite initially saying that I wouldn't wear jeans to work I find myself wearing them more and more and I wonder whether it's just going to be easier to continue to do so and just wear the same to work and sahm days rather than having 2 seperate wardrobes. Anyone else work in a really casual environment and not have seperate work clothes?

I did, until I fell down a flight of concrete stairs. Now hobbling on very sore, battered shins. Still, the massive black bruises will look nice with my dress on Friday

Hope you feel better QC - I gave my opinion on IG!

Well done on the weight loss one - jeans can be a right PITA. I find Topshop fit me best so I don't bother with the more expensive brands these days.

On that note can't recommend these enough. They look a bit scary and they are a bit Olivia N-J c. Grease but they're super flattering!

Ouch Amber hope you're not too purple this morning. I quite like a bit of Muse, Matt Bellamy is a bit of alright

Queen hopefully you'll start to feel better as the day wears on. I only work p/t but I do have a separate work/sahm wardrobe, I could wear jeans to work if I wanted to and I have seen others who do the same job as me wearing jeans but I just can't bring myself to do it. I quite like wearing different and slightly smarter clothes to work. I'm probably a bit ott and dress a bit smarter than necessary. I just like the excuse to wear heels.

Soyyo glad you're sticking with the trainers you like best, makes sense. Great PC bag what a find.

I'm a cheap n cheerful jeans person, Next jeans suit me really well along with TS Baxter.

Which Next jeans do you buy Kitty?

Amber I buy their skinny jeans, they hold their shape well and very little lycra in them.

Next jeans I have them in black, rinse and also in a charcoal grey wash. I buy petite and they're the perfect length too.

I really love this dress but that high neck might be a but tricky to pull off.

The rest of that Archive by Alexa collection is a bit of a Miss to say the least apart from the matching blouse to this dress and that green mac.

The shoes especially should have never seen the light of day.

Hello,

Oh no amber, sounds painful.

QueenC how are you managing at work, feeling any better? For mu I thought the place we went too last summer was good, central location, plenty of room and easy to move on to other places afterwards.

I spent all yesterday in bed sleeping and feel a lot better today but not 100%. Have been sitting out on terrace at Tate Modern all afternoon with a friend. It was really warm and sunny but I was bundled up for winter sipping hot ginger tea.

Am a big fan of tophop jeans too, ootd is coated black jamies with black stans and red/navy checked Marant shirt.

Lara I really loved the Stella dress you linked the other day, did you buy?

Dry I cleaned the whites of ds's converse with flash kitchen spray last night and they came up a treat so thanks for the tip! Going to try putting my white stans through the washing machine.

Linus yay that you're coming to the mu! Like the white dress too but so annoying that brands think people will buy anything promoted by the ubiquitous Alexa bloody Chung.

Dream hope the pettys work out for you.

Mara are you sure the leather will be ok

QueenC Imy work/home wardrobe cross over in as much as I'll wear most of my tops with smarter bottoms for work and then jeans for w/e. Love skirts and dresses for work, don't wear them much for casual daytime.

Gosh Amber that sounds awful, isn't there a cream from Boots you can buy for bruising? Herbal I think.

Just catching up, Fedup don't worry about how you call me, or whatever you like it only means "its me" in Spanish so not highly original (my real human name is Diana)

Amber hope your bruises are not too bad
Kitty thanks for Next jeans tip I only have 1 pair of relaxed skinnies from there which I love but now discontinued...
QueenC Mara hope you're both back in fighting form soon! Viruses in spring are the pits.

Linus if I'm honest don't like the high neck Alexa dress, I wore many a similar neck in my teens courtesy of Laura Ashley and they made an 18 year old look frumpy, I realise its an ironic nod to 80's fashions but I reckon still frumpy but do feel free to ignore me
I will keep eye on your news, totally unlike me right now I feel wardrobe is complete but can easily be persuaded otherwise
Like one lost a stone over the last 3 months and back at ideal weight/BMI though never as slim as in my youth, this however means lots of previous seasons favourites fit great again and just contented to be back on form

Eek, bet that hurt Amber. I think Dry means Arnica cream? Maybe worth a try?

Mara and Queen - get well soon. Did you manage to stay at work all day Queen?

I did have a very definite separate work/home wardrobe but now I'm temping as and when required I tend to wear my everyday clothes (except jeans) and the aim is to look smart casual.

Linus I am not too keen on that dress - I seem to remember dm having a long nightdress with that neckline!

I didn't get to wear the stans today as decided I should probably protect them first - and read somewhere to not put leather trainers in the washing machine - looking at you Mara! Also read that those magic sponges are good to get marks out so will give that a go on my dune flatforms.

My Stans went in the machine and came out absolutely perfect!

Yes I should try something like that. I am black and blue. Sigh.

Ouch! Could arnica work amber?

Poor Amber! If its also swollen put an ice pack, frozen peas, or even steak on the sore bits really helps...

QueenC your workwear question got me thinking...where I work (global headquartered in Paris) the dress code is smart casual so I keep separate wardrobe for work, lots of smart trousers, jackets, dresses, tops and even shoes I wouldn't wear in my down time. Like dry some tops I could mix for both, and also my leather jackets. My Parisian colleagues wear lots of leather jackets but with as little hardware as possible, and coloured ones are also fine if matched well, plus nice cashmere tops/cardigans, silk scarves (plenty of Hermes around) and pretty high heels or flats.
The men sometimes wear a suit, sometimes different jacket/trousers and always a shirt (tie optional, sometimes replaced with scarves)
Its very funny though when we have global meetings. The American women seem incapable of doing casual smart and always wear matchy matchy dress or "pants" suits with black heels, perfectly groomed and tan tights whatever the weather and look a bit uncomfortable next to the freer less perfectly turned out Parisians who nevertheless are always chic, no obvious coiffure a relief for me as I blend in nicely with my slightly wild curly hair
The Indian ladies often wear their traditional long tops,trousers and scarfs during the day and always look lovely in saris for our global dinners.
As Americans cannot figure it out they go from super formal to faded jeans, frumpy sweatshirts or casual t shirts for evening dinners.

Usual code for global dinners is "casual chic" , which confused even my unflappable and super efficient German boss, she asked me to interpret it! Must have given right advice as I'm still there!
Italians and Spanish very similar to French. Eastern Europeans usually get it right but wear too much makeup.
The Scandinavian colleagues very simple high quality, streamlined darker or black clothes with the odd leather skirt thrown in and look fabulous with their tall willowy frames.
I keep a couple of "formal suits" for the odd occasion when the smart casual code doesn't cut it but I would bore you if I explain how I figure out which to wear.
Hope I haven't bored you with this in any case but it got me thinking...

That's really interesting SoyYo hearing how colleagues from different countries interpret the dress code - unless the code is mega strict, it's such a minefield!

Dream did you get your petty's?

Ok - need to book MU venue so doing a headcount...lunchtime, central London, May 14th...

Me, Marsha, Shop, Betty, Linus, QueenC, Dry, Justa, Mara, Blingy all coming I think

Blair and Amber are maybes???

Fedup, can't remember if you are coming? Also Stokey are you in? And Topaz?

Vegas, Dream, SoyYo - would be great to meet you...

One - are you able to make it?

If I have left anyone out many apologies but as always everyone is very, very welcome.

Lara - any chance you can come????

Evening all. Feeling much better thanks. Drugged myself up at work so survived (su dated that is, not anything illegal )!

Intetesting chats about work-especially those from different countries. My work doesn't really have a dress code at all so most are casual with some looking like overgrown students.

Sudafed!

You're a star Lib

Work is really casual for me. Not as much as the last place where some seemed to turn up in see-through very short dresses . Although they were really young and it was advertising / social media - so anything goes.

This place is more skinnies and a jumper for me - I wear this all the time, maybe a shirt.

For clients I'll wear the Marant / Burberry uniform

Where is MU please?
Would live to come but depends on where. Thanks

It's in the diary Lib so am planning on coming unless last minute childcare emergency happens.

I haven't managed to make it in time for lunch yet so will try harder this time!

It's in central London Dream (and anyone else interested).

No fashion news here. I need to sort out my wardrobe but have put on weight over the last few months so need to do some exercise before I buy anything.

Yes I'm in Lib! I'm really looking forward to it.
Thats really interesting soyYo.
I have more or less the same work and casual wardrobe as I only work for df but I usually wear skinnies and jumper dresses/long jumper with ankle boots in winter with coat over that I leave on as it is a very cold office and I am in and out on errands (thats my excuse for having so many coats) In the summer I wear skinnies with a shirtdress or chinos/slim trousers with shirt or thin jumper and loafers, brogues or ballet flats. I don't usually wear trainers to work though. At the weekend and fridays I wear bf jeans and shirt or jumper mostly.
Speaking of footwear I am desperate for some loafers.Its too cold for ballet flats and I'm not feeling it with my grey brogues from last year. Hope I can get to the shops this Friday to try on some in Russell and Bromley.

They make crystal meth out of Sudafed QC

Not much overlap for me - my work clothes are pretty staid!

I will really try and make the MU, even if it's later in the day.