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.

These are the trainers I ordered. Absolutely love the bow and thought they might look a bit more feminine. But no, they look like slippers and white trainers are not me!

Opinions needed about the boots. I really like them, they look good but do I need them? They're good with a bit of a bare ankle but I have the brogues. But I have a feeling if I send them back I may regret it....

queenC alas not, dental issues. Still the offending tooth is being removed this afternoon, after which I hope to be a normal human rather than a snarling ball of agony once more.

ouch Amber once it's been removed, i hope the pain subisdes quickly and you're back to your usual self asap. tooth pain is awful and there's so little that really helps it i've found

I really like the boots QueenC and if you think you'll regret sending them back, i would keep them. I'm not sure we are going to be fully out of boot wearing weather for a while yet!

i haven't ventured out so far at all today and i don't think i'm going to tbh. the weather is awful it's been pretty much non stop rain since late last night and i absolutely hate my face being wet so avoid going out int he rain if i can usually anyway.

OOTD is pretty dull today, mid blue distressed skinnies (meant to be ankle grazers but full length on me) grey batman vs superman tee and a grey cardigan with little sailboats printed all over it.

Going up north this coming weekend to see Ds which will be lovely as always. HE's doing so well, he's joined the teen gym and is enjoying the exercising and the routine of going, still riding horses and going to scouts, the boy's got a more active social life than i have!!! i'm so pleased and so proud of how well he's doing

Good to hear DS is getting on so well One.

Ouch Amber, hope you feel better soon.

I think keep the boots QueenC. They look really versatile and great colour. My only request on the MU venue is that they serve prosecco!

In other news, DH's plaster cast is off and he is ambulant. It's good news all round as my patience was wearing very, very thin and he was starting to fear for his life .

glad to hear Dh's cast is off lib being in cast is such a ballache, the first time i broke my wrist, i spent 18 weeks in cast and i was about ready to rip it off with my teeth by the end! hope his recovery continues to go well

i'm going to have to buy some scarves, apart from a few which we found in the bottom of a bag they shouldn't have been in, all my scarves are missing, they haven't made the trip and neither of us are sure whether they are in the garage up north or not but i will need some lighter ones in the coming months so will have to buy some as we won't be able to get in and search in the garage until the summer at the earliest. bit of a PITA but not the worst thing in the world really

TKMaxx had some lovely Becksondergaard silk and wool mix star print scarves for £15 this weekend one. Worth checking out if you are near one.

thanks for the tip lib i will go on a hunt and see what i can find tbh, a lot of my scarves were starting to look a little tired so this is as good an excuse as any to replace them really

i am happy to report though that my shoe options have opened up considerably since i was put on all those vitamins. one or more of them brought the hideous swelling i had in my feet right down and they are now back to normal size so i can actually wear ALL my shoes and boots, not just the few that would fit my poor swollen hooves!

God Lib I am so envious of your TK Maxx. Any Winter colours?

Phew, that's a relief Lib, for all concerned. You're almost back to normal now.

Love the boots Queen, definitely keep, will be awful if you send back and then regret it especially at such a bargainous price

Has anyone had a chance to look at the Oscars fashion?

Viola Davis looks fab - definitely my favourite - she always seems to look lovely on the red carpet. Also loved Jessica Biel and Sofia Boutella (no idea who she is but love the frock.)

Amber by now the offending tooth should have been extracted so you can return to us with your gap toothed smile outfit choices for your upcoming tv appearance.

Am pleased with the Asos order so keeping both breton and leather skirt - the skirt looks great with the Karen Millen top I wore over christmas so will probably wear them for a party next week - just need to decide on footwear.

I picked up the grazia fashion edition and another one and not had a chance to read them yet.

Netflix series recommendation- the kindness diaries had me in tears in parts (I cry very easily can't watch diy sos, lassie etc)

Today's outfit black and white geometric print with burgundy wool jumper opaques and my black suede dune loafers good job as lots of walking today

For some reason it missed out the word skirt!

Everyone I loved it but just felt I wouldn't wear it enough to justify the price. It was also a bit short to wear with anything other than black opaques so I felt that would be a bit limiting. Still tempted to get one of the many, cheaper pleather versions I've seen to give it a go. Not sure.

Stokey I bought the Grazia fashion edition and found it v good for ideas. Still plenty of narrow legs around. There is a lot of volume around which makes me look huge, gathered midi skirts, frills etc, some tricky silhouettes as you say.

Marsha great news, congrats to your DH.

Just a beige one and an orange one shop. If I'm in there again this week I'll see if any winter colours and text you. I felt like a hero walking away from them.

Taking a shopping break is helping me think about what I need / want. On my list for end maybe mid March are grey jeans, dark blue denim shirt, mustard fitted top, olive or kakhi shirt, denim dress. The elusive cardigan. I'm debating a camel coat - would like one and have spotted a potential candidate but it's expensive and given that I am moving to NZ it will potentially go for a year without being worn... Actually just writing that down has made me realise I should spend the money on a bag instead!!!

I also want new shoes but really can't decide what I want. Like idea of bronze, red and leopard (not all on the same shoe!!!) But struggling with what style to do. Also it's probably worth spending on sandals this year...

I can't really do frills/volume either and midi skirts and flared crops are a no go too. I tried a couple of flared sleeve tops in Zara last week - loved the sleeves but not the rest of the garment. Ho hum.

I think I'll try to wear more dresses this summer. Really need to dig out the ankle grazers now, totally over skinnies and boots.

Did no one like any of the Oscar's dresses? I just found another photo of Viola Davis in her after party outfit - check out the shoes

And lastly, how lovely is Kate Bosworth's dress?

Oh Kate Bosworth looks proper old style Hollywood glamorous in that! I haven't had time today to look at Oscar links fedup

Fedup but some frills do work....as long as the fabric is more draped, it's stiff cotton tops with frills that just look big on me.....

Must look at Oscar dresses

And it's gone. What a blessed relief!

Will henceforth be a contributor once more!

Not much to report - haven't bought anything really. Might pop into the Mulberry sample sale tomorrow though and off to Bicester on Friday, so I'm sure that status quo will change! I did pick up a pale pink merino crew neck from uniqlo, which I've enjoyed wearing with my paler wash jeans and silver trainers. Feels good to be out of the dark winter stuff. Shame that jumper is now spattered with blood!

Sorry Lib, forgot most of you have ft jobs and young children so time to browse oscars dresses is at a premium

Have fun in Bicester

Lots of building work going on looking forward to seeing what new shops appear I think some signs said coming soon in May.

Meh.....nothing really stood out did it?

Amber where is the mulberry sample sale? dangerous question

Glad you are feeling better amber, tooth ache is terrible. Have fun at bicester!

I agree fedup and lib that Kate bosworths dress was very old skool glam but her arms . There were quite a lot of black sheer patterns (Jennifer A, Kate B, Lily Collins). I thought Rosie W-H looked beautiful.

Glad your DH is on the mend lib. My sympathy only lasts a certain amount of time too. Good list for SS. Did you manage to try on the grey cardigan you had seen? Have you looked at men's cardigans? I know boyfriend style is meant to emulate the male cut but maybe a mans one would more what you are looking for?

Shame about the boots littlered but glad you got a refund. your outfit sounded nice.

That was a shame dry but better to return it if you weren't sure.

I saw this jersey dress in the new boden catalogue which I might try for summer, though am waiting for a 20% discount code, I never buy anything in boden without 20% off anymore.
Does any one else find summer clothes easier to shop for than winter stuff? I don't know why, but in summer I just find loads of skirts and dresses that I like that are all different from each other, whereas I really struggle in winter to find stuff that isn't just more of the same. In summer I also seem to wear a much more varied colour pallet than In winter. I'll just have to move somewhere hot .

Good afternoon Voguettes - I'm just back from a St Albans shopping trip - some of it successful, some not so much......

First up Sweaty Betty for a looser fitting workout top as the tight fitting vests aren't that flattering when you're bent double on a reformer pilates machine this one is looser at the front and fits well - also bought some socks with sticky soles to stop me slipping so much.

Next up my favourite....... can you guess? Space NK
Whilst I love the Hourglass tinted moisturiser it is quite heavy coverage so I tend to wear it when I am going out instead of a foundation. So I have reverted back to my good old Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser in Nude (it also costs way less £££!)
I also picked up an Hourglass brush for my Hourglass powders as my face powder brush broke on me today (it is over 15 years old to be fair).

Then.... Whistles. Whoever was asking about discounts (sorry, memory fails me......) they currently have 20% off in store (online too until 5th March). I was on the hunt for trousers. First up were these wide legged crop trousers - total style departure for me and they didn't work. The SA was trying to convince me but when I sent a pic to some of the Voguettes it was a definite no!
I then tried a pair of navy trousers with a side stripe - much better but still not perfect - can't find a pic online to link for you.
And then the Elyse crepe trouser. These were probably the best, I had to size down to a 10 in them. But still not idea so for now I have walked away.
I hate buying trousers!! I really want to stop wearing jeans but am struggling to find what I want which I think is a slim, tailored crop trouser that I can wear with trainers. Any ideas?

Phew! Epic post. Apologies.

Just looking at the Oscar links Fedup. I love Emma Stone's dress but the colour is a bit of a washout - likewise Nicole Kidman.

Scarlett Johansson was rather odd with weird miniskirt under flouncy number, I did weirdly like Meryl Streep's drousers though.
Viola Davis was fab & how great is Isabelle Huppert ? She also rocked it at the Baftas.

It's the last day of Brora clearance. I've just bought some cashmere wristwarmers - I wear these while I type all the time - and a tapestry snood.