MNV Volume 75......the Christmas edition

[Drywhitethanks]

It's time to get out your sparkle. Over here for festive fashion cheer, friendship and anything frivolous.

Big wave back Shopster Merry Christmas kiddo [o]

And yes, lovely necklace Blingy - I showed DH and he told me not to get any ideas

Will go and hit the sales tomorrow. Don't actually need anything but I like to have a browse. Usually have some success in the Selfridges underwear dept if nothing else!

Quick drop in to say good night. I am not sure any of the sales stuff is appealing to me!!

Dh said to get something in the sales with a certain budget. Not sure anything is appealing to me either, browsing through Matches.

Thinking about one thing that is quite nice. But not sure whether to wait for further reductions

Questions to ponder as we head towards the new year....
1. Best Buy this year
2. Mistake buy
3. Any s&b lessons learned
4. S&b resolutions for the new year

My answers...

1. Gap girlfriend jeans. Wore these loads over the summer and love them.
2. Not mistakes as such, but the jumpers I bought only get worn round the house rather than for going out as I feel scruffy in them
3. That jumpers make me feel scruffy but weirdly sweatshirts don't. Go figure. I'm happiest in a blouse
4. Buy what I love. Seems to have worked this year.

1. Best Buy this year - Proenza shirt or shoes
2. Mistake buy - hmm I have been pretty good this year at returning stuff
3. Any s&b lessons learned - I need clothes for work
4. S&b resolutions for the new year - I still need clothes for work. If I can't wear it there don't get it

Oh and the gym. I really should get some more gym clothes.

Hello ladies, hope you are all well. Can I rejoin? I haven't bought anything new in a long, long time as I had to take over the project management of our extension after our main contractor abandoned us in August!
I've a nice new dressing room (although I haven't fitted it out yet) and lots of old clothes, I've put on loads of weight :(
I'm also starting a new job in the new year which has a uniform but for the first week or so I'll have to wear interview style clothes, of which I have none, I had the interview in the summer and wore a summer dress.
I'm also seriously considering going back to black.

Any suggestions for things in can buy for work? but will be wearable out of work when I've got my uniform. Or should I just go mega cheap and throw away when I no longer need it for work..

Have just had day at my Mum's house, roast lamb with all trimmings, yesterday was full turkey dinner at my brothers...Am very well fed and slightly drunk!!!

Welcome back karcheer. Could you do black skinnies, plain sweater with loafers or boots for a week?

QueenC, will think about questions when sober!!!

libertydoddle I think I could do black slim leg trousers, not jeans (it's a Financial institution). I don't have any black trousers. I guess I could wear a sweater or a blouse (don't have).
I've a couple of jumpers from uniqlo that someone on here linked to a while ago, but they've been the only ok thing I've had for a long time so wouldn't do any harm picking up something else or two.

1. I'm pretty sure the only things I purchased this year were 3 uniqlo jumpers in cream, green and camel, and a pair of orange havianas. The jumpers I've worn to death, but I'd wished they'd been v neck rather than round neck.
2. No mistakes - see above.
3. Bizarrely loads, considering I've not bought anything. I need to invest more in my clothes, I don't need a lot, but I do need to buy regularly otherwise I find myself in panic buy situations! Secondly I feel scruffy a lot of the time and this just isn't me. I'm going back to wearing black, it's been two years and I just miss it too much.
4. See above. Spend a monthly budget, no more scruff, back to black...

1.Best buy ....... Forest green Reiss dress for my party....worn once but felt fabulous. Oxblood Office tassel pointy loafers.
2.Mistake am getting better at returning things I don't love. Can only think of one inexpensive shirt.
3.Lessons learnt I suit fitted, tailored clothes. MNV style me better than I do
4.Resolutions listen to MNV. Continue to buy things I love, buy less black, invest in classics.

Think I have sinusitis feel rough.

Welcome back Karcheer extension sounds fab.

And I'm with you Marsha I need new gym tops and bras this year.

drywhitethanks extension is fab, but it's worn me down! And there's still a way to go, but going forward I'm going to control it, rather than it me!

I'm hunting down slim leg black trousers, has anyone bought any recently?

Karcheer I know exactly what you're going through. It will end eventually.
My fav slim leg work trousers are Banana Republic Sloane fit.....they suit my shape and are good quality for the price.

1.Best buy ....... Helmut Lang black blazer (thanks Dry)
2.Mistake - giraffe print shirt from Whistles which I haven't worn yet (but will)
3.Lessons learnt - never to get into debt in credit cards again
4.Resolutions - but less and better quality. Invest in skincare - it is proving to be worth it!

Dry so pleased the birthday dress was so good
I got really spoilt by DH this year for Christmas. As well as the IM etoile jacket he got me an adidas training top, some Freya lingerie, the Hourglass make up brushes and blusher I wanted, some night cream from Space NK, a voucher for my local salon, a bottle of Bollinger and some money to spend in the sales. And they were all wrapped

I used to get a lot of my workwear in BR. Think I'll pop to Westfield tomorrow.
I reckon if I get one pair of trousers, I should be ok. I've black patent louboutins 85 which are probably a bit much for work but they are all I have, could do with some plain black leather ones ideally might look in Prada as I find their shoes comfy. And my uniqlo sweaters, might pop in there whilst I'm in Westfield and see if there are some new ones just to refresh my stock ;) will probably grab some pop socks from somewhere. Could do with some new trainers to walk to work in too, and some for actually running in!

1. Meandem black jersey dress. I've worn it loads.
2. Worst mistakes were various skirts. At home I'm a trouser/jeans person.
3. stop buying cheap
4. buy less and think more before buying

The only thing i don't need to think about buying is gin. It's saved my sanity over the holiday period.

YEy for MrShop and his wrapping! Great pressies too.

Oh welcome back karcheer! I ve wondered where you've been ! Love the sound of your new dressing room! You must start filling it with gorgeous new clothes,
Can you wear slacks like marant ones? They are on sale, With a silk blouse, or cashmere sweater? i had to dress casual/smart for a meeting with potential employer recently and I wore a pair of valentino dark grey wool trackies, chloe cashmere grey turtleneck and chloe Lauren burgundy block heels,felt good as its a tricky job to dress for,men are usually very smart but women are casual/luxe/smart ,no jeans for example.

Now my turn,
best buy, its a tie between chloe tie neck blouse in forest green and chloe white trackies, thought I committed a big mistake with this, but it turned out to be so versatile, have worn it loads,even in cooler weather with an oversized sweater,
mistake, not mistake,but too high maintenance , celine blue wraparound cotton blouse, its dry clean only,and I had to take it to a really expensive dry cleaner to get rid of a tea stain, Cost me €€ to have it cleaned
lesson learned have been away so long to observe any ,
resolution to buy less high maintenance clothes, everything I have costs lots to maintain and take care after,

Loved reading about everyone's Xmas presents,

Wondering where you'll be working Karcheer. Will you be front of house?

Hit the sales today. Pretty underwhelmed but did come home with a pair of Joseph leather leggings... in BRIGHT red. Love them. Have 5 pairs of LLs now. Probably enough!

Onto the quiz...

1. Best Buy this year - ooh, tough one. I have worn my leopard SE boots LOADS. Also my Lowlands, the SL bag and a frill collar chambray shirt from &OS which I always put on when I don't know what to wear.

1. Mistake buy - a pair of faux suede leggings from River Island which ripped at the seams on both knees. Couldn't be arsed returning as they were so cheap but they were shit. Real deal only now!

1. Any s&b lessons learned - I like to buy multiples of things!

1. S&b resolutions for the new year - buy much less and get rid of some stuff. Even though I'll have a dressing room in the new house, I still think I need to streamline!

Oh yes, another mistake was falling over pissed and ripping my HL leather leggings. Will get repaired - should be an easy fix, but £££ mistake!

i can't realyl answer the best/worst buy part as i havent really bought anything this year. Lesson learnt is that i should always go with what suits MY shape not always what's in fashion or even just because i like the look of something, if it's not right, put it back/get rid of it/don't wear it! Resolutions are to wear more make up because i do look much nicer and fresher with even just a little on, carry on trying to find the right skin care to suit me, buy better quality make up because the results are better and if i love something clothes wise and it;s out of my price range, SAVE FOR IT because cheaper copies just won't cut it and i'll always be hankering for the one i saw first