MNV Volume 76 - the blimey it's so cold edition

[shopafrolic]

We're looking forward to Spring when we can finally get our ankles out. Come and join the fun. All styles and all budgets welcome.

I think it can be mixed but I don't think it's a sign of being more stylish. I heard some one say somewhere that they thought the opposite was true, ie you had to mix to make an outfit work (who was that? a sleb) I don't agree with that. People can obvs look great, but it isn't an indication of better.

I have reached a rotation of outfits at work and I should buy some more disposable things to help me out, hence the try on in Zara, but I always think it is expensive for what it is which stops me.

Linus that all sounds fab, personal maintenance does take investment, I often think that when shelling out for hair cuts, expensive make up etc

Everyone hope you feel better soon

QueenC good work, hope it felt de-stressing

I like Paige a lot atm, always been under the radar for me when everyone was raving about Frame

Lib I can see how your NZ pics are keeping your mind focussed on the no spend. Worth waiting for!

Thanks for the new thread Shop

Queen at falling off the wagon. Bet it felt good though. No matter how long I avoid chocolate, it never, ever tastes too sweet and I always want more - high end or high street I'm not fussy!

I've been enjoying your links too Lib, it is such a beautiful country.

Nice to see you back Vegas and like your purchases. I have a gift voucher for JL and was looking at the Zebra print dress so am very that you got it for £50. Not sure I want to pay £110 now

Forgot to mention that I'll hopefully be at the MU in March. Be great to see everyone again.

I was interested to read your mascara recommendations on the last thread - might try the new benefit one. My current mascara is Max factor and the one before was Mac - I noticed no difference.

So now can you recommend a tinted moisturiser please? Usually use clarins, current one is Clinique which I'm not keen on.

Next clearance is always worth a look for Whistles stuff Fedup - and it might come back into stock, stuff often does.

I like Aveda tinted moisturiser btw.

I never do well in Zara either - don't have one nearby and find online shopping from there a faff so avoid it.

I think Happy does well from there though.

Lib good idea about the 10 week no spend. As you all know I am no good at No spends but will semi join you as I have 2 things I have my eye on but don't need anything else for the next 10 weeks. One of the things is the Seasalt coat.

Thanks to Shop for the new thread, hope DH is feeling a bit better today.

QueenC you've done really well with no spend / alcohol / chocolate - tough to do all 3 at once!!

Would love to check out the Hush sale - is anyone going? Too far for me unfortunately.

wardrobe icons often discuss mascara

Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser is the one I go back to time after time. The new Hourglass one is amazing but ££!

I called DH on the way back from the party to see how he was feeling. He told me he was just about to eat a bowl of spicy Moroccan soup. Idiot - all day yesterday throwing up and that's the first thing he thinks to put in his stomach. God it's like looking after a baby.

shop. How annoying.

Bernice I use Laura Mercier too.

I just took a study break to build Lego with DD and saw Trump's press person attacking the US media. Someone needs to do a basic read through with him of the Constitution he swore to uphold and defend just 36 hours ago .

I'm going Bernice, I got quite a few bits last time, although I haven't been that enamoured by their latest collection.

I watched a great NZ film the other night Lib, "the Hunt for the Wilderpeople". Highly recommend it if you haven't seen it, fab shots of the gorgeous countryside.

I loved all the posters from the women's match yesterday. I'm ignoring Trump & his tiny hands and focussing on them instead.

I have Charlotte Tilbury mascara, it's quite light but lengthening I think. Not sure if it's worth more than high street.

No-one's got involved in the bag thread ? It escalated almost instantly to buy a holiday/house/bench.

I started to read the bag thread then stopped as I knew what would get posted from the beginning

Would love to go to the Hush sample sale but too far for me. I haven't bought much this season but just bought this black dress which I've tried on today and it's a keeper.
I also grabbed this grey coat in H & M last week and again tried it today and it's another keeper!

Gosh 2 pages in and so much to comment on.
First off, I am now parent to an adult child bride think I didn't embarrassed DS in front of his friends.

QueenC those red J Choos are beautiful but, having tried similar, I think a shoe/sandal style is better for my short legs.

Fedup I'm loving Bare Minerals Complexion rescue and I think No7 Beautiful Skin BB cream is good for every day.

Re Zara........always looks good in magazines, in window and on others, not great on me......they skimp on the seams and I'm not keen on the mm fibres all of the time. Having said that I have a couple of nice linen bits. Their shoes KILL my feet more than Boden.

The high end v high street debate is interesting. I'm sure if you're clever you could mix stuff, especially handbags and other accessories that can make an outfit look more expensive.
I'm obsessed with quality and natural fibres especially on top and object to seeing mm fibres in expensive shops. I think you can get quality and natural fibres on the high st, you just have to look harder.
I agree with Lara that high st stuff wears out more quickly does it matter at the price? but if you care for your clothes they will look good for longer.

No fashion news here......I'm just getting out of my gym kit ..... Class was this morning

yes stuff like Zara can photograph well but the reality can be pretty shoddy

I have a few pieces from Zara which I love but they are quite old. Definitely in the last couple of years I've not found anything that I like AND it fits properly. the shop always look like a jumble sale with disinterested staff

I'm going to trawl JL for some tinted moisturiser samples - don't necessarily mind paying ££ but want to try it first. Just need to find the time to pop in.

Dry I'm sure you were the model of good behaviour in front of ds & his friends. Hope they all had a fab time. How many sore heads the next day?

Did anyone read Apple Tree Yard? It's been serialised & on bbc1 at 9. I enjoyed the book so hope the drama is as good.

I read it....will have to catch up. thanks Fedup
Just been watching an angsty French film on Amazon.

I know an ex stylist who swears that none of the fashion crowd ever wears zara,inspite of them claiming to be in love with zara, and constantly shop there, when they are interviewd they would say oh! My favourite store is zara, while wearing head to toe fendi.

Boden ,uniqlo, j crew are very popular here where I live and I understand why, affordable good quality clothes are very hard to come by, and these brands and few others produce good quality clothes no matter how questionable the aesthetic may be
I can understand disposable fashion from a teenager or 20 something point of view,not much disposable income, experimenting with clothes, or why we buy cheap stuff for kids, they would grow out of it very quickly ,
But I think as you get older you understand the importance of good quality clothes, how good it looks,how long it lasts , and how very few items are better than a closet full of cheap stuff you keep buying and throwing away, so IMHO I think when you reach this stage you automatically feel uncomfortable in mixing high end/ mid range with low high street chains like topshop and the like,

What is difficult to find is quality washable stuff........

What was the film Dry?

dry unless it states dry clean I hand wash everything, its a freaking torture, but clothes look much better this way,

Interesting Lara love Fendi

Having said all this one of my favourite tops of the last mu up was Kitty's which I believe was Primark - what a find!

Evening all

Lovely weekend - birthday party for DS and a huge family gathering at ours today.

Regrettably our house purchase has fallen through, however we've seen another we love, so I am going to offer on that in the morning

QueenC well done on getting this far!

shop hope DH is on the mend

Blingy hope you're recovering well

one glad the move went well!

omg Shop is dh better now?

Most people swear by the Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser. I use the Nars one though which I think is ace so have never tried LM.

The bag thread. Sigh. I hid it yesterday as I knew how that would go. Then someone started a different thread asking why bag threads always go that way so I let rip about female misogynists that always turn up on these threads. As i had the first thread hidden, I had no idea that some of the questionable comments on the thread I was on were coming from people who had possibly posted on the hidden thread. Anyway, finally decided to unhid the first thread so read the whole thing include the OP update on why she was buying the bag in the first place. Words fail me. Judgy, sanctimonious, misygonistic and lacking the empathy gene. That thread has it all. I just posted some bag links and left because I just had no words. On a fashion note I did enjoy picking the links.

I don't have a section of my wardrobe that's high street and one that's designer as to me, that would be odd. I just put together whatever looks good and suits the occasion, mood etc. To be fair much of what I wear is high end but I certainly don't preclude myself from high street. That wouldn't be as much fun!

Oh Amber, I am so sorry about the house. Fingers crossed for your new offer. x

Evening Voguettes,

Happy birthday to ds Dry.

Thanks for new thread Shop. Am exhausted after a weekend of birthday celebrations for ds including a big party at home . It wasn't as crazy an idea as dh we thought and had a brilliant entertainer who took care of everything the moment the children arrived but still involves tons of prep and tidying up afterwards. Spent all Friday night making superhero-themed gingerbread men and my dc birthday classic, primrose bakery chocolate layer cake with chocolate buttercream icing which luckily didn't end up smeared onto the freshly painted walls or cream carpet!

Wanted to give my opinion on the high st/high end discussion. I think in theory mixing can work very well, for example I love my topshop jeans, think they last well enough and would never question wearing them with more expensive pieces. The older I get the more expensive my wardrobe gets though, most of the high st stuff I have is pretty old. Have a Zara blazer and camel dress both from about 5 years ago that I still wear but haven't really bought anything there recently apart from an embroidered shirt which was a mistake as only wore it once. Uterque seems to be much better quality, more expensive but not the same proliferation of mmf. Fabric content has always been a huge issue for me. Uniqlo does skinny rib 100% merino polo necks for £25 in a really nice colour palette. I love a skinny polo neck and wear uniqlo and Marant ones pretty much interchangeably.

Sorry for jumbled thoughts and lack of a cohesive argument, am falling asleep! To summarise I basically think it's fine to do high low mix but need to choose the lower budget stuff with care and think about cpw.