Mumsnet Vogue Volume 78

[DryWhiteagainW]

We have dusted down our Gigis and boyfriend shirts. We are desperately trying to avoid melting in MMFs. We are planning capsule holiday wardrobes. We are getting ready for summer gorgeousness......come and join us for as we wait for the temperatures to soar.....

Outfit sounds great Everyone I like the idea you only have to go in that many times!

Bloody hell, if it gets much quieter we'll have to blow cobwebs off...

I have 2 questions -

First - has anyone ordered from H&M online recently? Are they still a massive PITA? Couple of things I want that are not in local branches and haven't the energy for the Regent street branch this week (It's PMT time).

Second - what fashion/lifestyle blogs are you reading atm? Just discovered The Spike today and quite enjoyed it. And other recommendations?

Hellooo, I'm here, ( waves to Lib ) but only for a minute as meant to be doing boring jobs, like ironing.

I don't really read blogs of any description - I will follow a link, usually from MN and have a quick look around but that is all. Mostly I'll look at the pictures.

My J Crew bag has landed in the UK and cleared customs apparently and should be delivered tomorrow - the ONLY day I'm working this week

Those platform boots that Queen linked are mad; they look like they be really heavy (they should add the weight like with bags) I'd never manage to walk far in them especially if carrying a heavy bag at the same time!

I'm here! Fedup I'm loving "The Improbability of Love". Between reading I've been cleaning my kitchen cupboards which must be the most mind numbingly tedious job.

Went to mint Velvet, ordered this for work, hopefully a bit longer on me and fits as only had 8

Is it just me or is MV a bit over priced FP? I fell in love with a t shirt but at £59 I thought it was a bit steep. HUsh, Jigsaw etc t shirts aren't that much

Which colour in the J Crew bag did you order fedup? I'm still hankering after the cream version cannot justify

Lovely dress dry. I agree at FP MV is £££.

Fedup, which J Crew bag? I received this www.jcrew.com/au/p/womens_category/handbags/crossbodybags/signet-bag-in-italian-leather/F5231signet in grey last week. I absolutely love it....

Does anyone have an APC half moon bag?

Better link!

signet

I'm here! Dh was away and bedtime for all 3 takes ages on my own!

lib I've read loads of horror stories on here about H&M deliverybsnd for that reason I always pay for next day delivery. I've done about 3 or 4 orders that way and it's been fine.

I don't tend to look at many blogs anymore. I like Susie so so but she hardly ever posts. Occasionally look at all worn out, style guile, frugality and fashion lift. I used to look at my fashionable 40s but got bored and she posts daily on IG so no need to read it all. In fact if you just want pretty pictures you're better off on IG.
Does anyone read wardrobe icons? I can't remember who I was chatting about to this on Saturday but I'm slightly obsessed with Laura and petro even though I find WI full of self love, showing off and ridiculously expensive clothes.

I don't read any blogs religiously but dip in and out of the frugality and WIT. I'm a bit dubious of the frugality as so many of her posts seem sponsored now. I know what you mean queenc about WI. Everything does seem ridiculously expensive and very 'luvvy'. I sometimes read catwalkschoolgates just because her photo face makes me laugh! I like instagram better though as I mainly just like looking at the clothes shallow.

Hopefully the bag will be with you soon fedup.

Glad your bag arrived fairy and you are pleased with it. It is lovely.

Talking of bags, I wonder how happy is? Cone back and update us on any bag purchases! I love a good bag purchase to drool over.

Another trip into the office today. OOTD is a black lace midi skirt, black 3/4 length sleeve boatneck top, black le pillage again and nude ballet flats. Hopefully it won't tip it down again. Didn't have time for ox st yesterday but will definitely make time today

It's that exact same bag Fairy in the grey. Lib J Crew Regent St had the cream (& yellow) on Sat - it is very lovely enables

Queen we were talking about wardrobe icons. It is very stylish, but a bit smug too! I'm with Everyone and just like looking a the pretty pictures.

Lovely MV dress Dry and yes MV is definitely overpriced so I only buy in the sales. Glad you're loving the book.

It's cold and very wet here today - ootd is white boden jeans, MD 3/4 sleeve blue jumper and stans and since I'll be walking to work I'd better also wear the Seasalt coat.

I think I might just list a cream bag as something to get in 6 months or a year. I would love it but really can't justify.

Next day delivery is a good tip thanks QueenC.

OOTD sounds good everyone. I'm wearing a kakhi shirt dress I bought in NZ last year with white loafers and gold skinny belt from Gap.

Ha ha, I can relate to the 'slightly obsessed' Queen. IG seems to have replaced blogs these days. I miss them though (used to love WIT in the early days).

Hope you love the bag as much as I do, Fedup.

Fairy I think justa has the APC bag. The J crew bag is lovely, all the different colours they do are so nice.

I read Wardrobe icons but never in a serious way... if I saw someone wearing one of those massive embroidered dresses on the street I would burst out laughing (internally of course). Plus every 4 weeks or so they talk about red lipstick! And everyone has a beautifully curated dressing room/walk in wardrobe. Me, jel? Of course not!

Hmmmm I am not on IG, maybe need to get into it.

Blair I don't believe that any of the perfect wardrobe people really live like that. I bet when the WI people arrive for the photo shoot they find most of their subjects weeping with the stress of trying to be ready on time and that there is a big tangled mess of clothes on the spare room bed hidden out of sight of camera

Fairylane delurking to say I have the APC half moon bag in black and also brown, oops

What did you want to know? My unsolicited review is that overall I love it; it's a sturdy bag with thick leather, good strap and zip and it looks really good with any outfit. But there are downsides. I wear the black one loads and the leather has marked and creased. Not necessarily a bad thing but it definitely doesn't stay smooth and shiny. Also, it is really hard to get things in and out, because its a rigid bag there isn't much give and the 'half moon' shape of the zip means it doesn't open as much as you'd think. I can get my iphone, purse, sunglasses case and keys in it but struggle to get each item out separately when I need them.

I got both with the NAP pre-sale discount which I think makes them more palatable, not sure I'd pay full price?

i don't bother with blogs at all, they just don't interest me. No one seems to dress just the way i do, even the 'vintage' blogs aren't right for me as they go the whole hog with vintage hairstyles and accessories which i just don't do even if i'm wearing vintage style clothes. Maybe i'm just too picky

it's my niece's birthday coming up int he next few months and she's just getting into make up, so plenty of options to buy for her. Don't want to spend too much though as she'll only be just 11 so no need for anything too pricey as yet, looking for more fun things really i think. Reckon a trip to superdrug is in order as they tend to stock more 'fun' beauty items than boots say

I had a lovely mooch around ox st / regent st earlier. Had a look in H&M. I had seen this white dress online but IRL it was a weird length for me and too much material around the waist. I was also a bit at the £70 price tag. They also had loads of this red skirt that the frugality has been touting. I did deliberate for a couple of minutes as thought it might be a useful all year round skirt but again £80 just seemed excessive.

I liked this print in warehouse but have accepted that just don't need another summer dress.

They had some nice new stuff in &OS. I always thought the pictures on the website are a bit meh, but there was some nice stuff in store.

I tried a nice black strapping sundress on in j crew (they haven't got it online) but the uk10 was massive and they didn't have an 8.

So I have decided that my summer spending is over. I'm going to save my budget for A/W now as I just do not need any more summer clothes. Please remind me of this the next time I get tempted

Thanks Mrsmildred - I think I will hold on for a discount.

What do you all think of this Sophie Hulme bag? Would it be better in black?

I love the Spike blog lib. Especially this paragraph : "Stop buying fucking bags! Just stop it. You don't need another one. YOU"VE GOT TOO MANY FUCKING MANY"

fairylane what would you use the Sophie Hulme bag for? Work? It's very structured so depends if it would suit your style and how much you need to carry around. Would be fine for laptop, phone and wallet but if you are the type who needs to jam in a water bottle, lunch and spare shoes you would just end up with a second bag in tow all the time.

And do you have TOO MANY FUCKING BAGS already???

I really like SH bags, but not sure if that one looks too deep. You couldn't carry loads in it or it would get too difficult to find anything.

We have just organised to pop over to France for a week, in 10 days time. Cue panic about needing new sandals, bag, swimwear, everything... except I know I really need nothing

Can anyone recommend a good gradual tan lotion? I'm literally as pale as a ghost and don't want to frighten anyone.

Exciting Blair I need swimwear too, so if you see any good, discounted ones will be interested

lol at Lib and Fairy and the yelling re bags. I quite like the SH but I'm not sure I could use it as so structured and straight, but I think if that's your style it could be good

Every I really like that print, good idea on saving for A&W, love the start of it

Excellent bag review from mrsmildred - please feel free to review more clothes/shoes/bags

Blair holiday to France sounds great and I'm pretty sure you'll have all you need - have you checked your spreadsheet lately?! No recs from me re fake tan as I always, always end up with stripes/blotches/white bits/orange hands, so this year, I've given up.

£80 for an H&M skirt

The bag NO I DO NOT HAVE TOO MANY FUCKING BAGS did not arrive today

fairy I have the apc half moon bag and totally agree with mrsmildred's excellent review. Despite the problems with it I still love it and don't regret buying it at all.

I love the jcrew bag Fedup it looks a good size too i.e not teeny tiny. The cream one looks so lovely lib sorry not helping!

I popped into Next to pick up a swimsuit for dd yesterday and bought these for myself pointed flats An impulse buy to cheer myself up after a crappy couple of days .I usually avoid Next shoes as find them uncomfortable but I wore them today and can report that they are super comfortable.

lib I have never had a problem with HM deliveries. They always deliver really quickly and returns are always quick too.
everyone love those HM links but agree re the prices!

aaah, glad my review was useful, thanks! I have popped up here before but I name change quite often, and try to limit my time on MN as I work from home and could easily be on here all day if I didn't practice some self restraint!

fairy keep an eye on the Coggles site too, they do fairly regular discounts and usually include APC in them. Lots of sites don't, for example the bags are never included in the Matches offer, which is why I was surprised they did on NAP and snapped them up (same offer but different times I should say, bought the black on first).

I hear you mrsmildred. MN is my downfall when I am working from home.

I have a working lunch today in a rather grand location!! OOTD is LK Bennet rust dress, forest green French Connection cropped jacket, green, mustard and cream silk scarf, taupe Gabor wedge suede shoes. Feeling very proper!!