Mumsnet Vogue vol 80

[shopafrolic]

80 editions in and still going strong. Join us as thoughts turn to wintry wonders - coats, boots, knitwear and party wear. If you love fashion come and join the chat. All welcome.

Love that Red Valentino top for you Dry

Agree Blingy but someone will pay that for the name

Dry! Watching tv with the kids and mumsnetting in the breaks. I love these Miu Miu ballet flats. I could see these on my feet in springtime.

Very Blingy

Right, this is a question I have pondered for ages (along with what would be your last ever 3 course meal if you were on I'm a Celeb) .....

When choosing clothes what is more important....flattering or fashionable?

Obv flattering and fashionable is the aim.

For me if I went only for flattering I'd be wearing a line skirts and boot cut trousers with heels all the time and look like a frump.

Today I wore an outfit....black TS skinnies, tucked into R and B Chelsea boots, uniqlo grey merino over long sleeved white t shirt from Gap, Wallis grey pleather biker (I know you all hate it) withMulberry plaid grey cashmere scarf......not my normal look, way out of my bottom covering, waist emphasising comfort zone, but I felt good because I felt current...ish ........

Am I talking jibberish or do you kwim?

Totally get what you mean dry. Flattering nearly always means slimming too and worrying about whether items are flattering or not is why so many women end up with wardrobes that are 80 per cent black!

I'll come back to this as I'm in a rush!!!

Am back!

On the fashionable v's flattering theme... I think age and body shape comes into it too. I am size 12-14 and shape is definitely changing - thicker waist, flabbier arms etc. It's tempting to go down the classic route ie wearing a loose fitting plain silk blouse with something like boot cut jeans but really I am better off going for the same blouse but with a print in a colour that suits me even if I look my full 12/14 as it looks more modern / edgy.

A friend of mine comes to mind - she is 60, quite overweight and looks her age. But she always wears great colours, trendy boots and jackets, great earrings, has short spiky bleach blonde hair, always lippy and eyeliner and she looks so cool and confident and 'with it'. She doesn't disguise her size or age - she owns them and looks fantastic as a result.

So my priority order is (1) comfort (2) fashion and (3) flattering although obvs the holy grail is all 3 elements at once!

Just running on to link skirt fordry is this the type of skirt you are you looking for??

Great question re flattering or fashionable will have a think and respond
Later

Have been reading but not had to contribute as zero fashion inspiration here.

Great suggestions dream, hope you find something nice for your DSIS.

Family night out sounds lovely blingy. Great outfits as always.

Thinking about dry’s question : fashionable v flattering. I think I’m a bit like lib in that comfort also plays a part in my choices too. I don’t even think I’m very fashionable any more either . My clothes choices are based very much on what i like, will it suit me and does it fit my lifestyle. Thouh I suppose I haven’t worn my knee boots for the last 2winters as they didn’t feel very current, instead I’ve been wearing my ankle boots with skirts and dresses more, so I suppose that is a ‘fashion’ decision.

Hello,

Dry I think I am about two thirds flattering versus one third fashionable but this could be disingenuous as often the two overlap eg it is not coincidence that I am so into midi skirts and bold pattern (high fives lib), there is a lot of it about! I would also expand the definition of flattering beyond figure flattering as don’t think many of my choices are particularly slimming, I favour loose shapes rather than fitted, am short waisted and broad shouldered but don’t consciously dress to correct this such as avoiding high waists as love a high waist and plan to carry on enjoying them for as long as my boobs stay high! Lots of my coats are oversized styles but I think being relatively tall helps to balance this. Everyone am with you on comfort for everyday too but feeling just a bit too attached to my loungewear atm.

Blingy love your sparkly shoes. Am so with you on the Gucci hair comb but beg to differ on the sock boots, don’t like the Fendi ones at all but love my Kirkwoods with the metallic sock and ‘floating’ pearl. They are otm rather than classic so £££ in terms of cpw and probably a bit out of my comfort zone but am enjoying them lots dh detests them.

Dream, Amber is right, I got the Gaia’s ark bag in the natural bamboo last summer. In my opinion would be a lovely gift for a fashionable lady living in the tropics. I use mine with an old Vuitton pouch inside as don’t like my stuff being on display plus keys and small items would fall through the gaps. For size I think small is best, the large looks huge and the mini impractical. Saw these kayu pouches on NAP sale at £40, if they have her initial you could get the ark and one of these and still be well under £200.

Am craving warmth, sunshine and holidays which has got me thinking about summer wardrobe. Staud does nice summer bags too, love this basket tote that is a nice alternative to the ubiquitous birkin-style ones. Reminds me of the goyard aligre panier which I love but wouldn’t fork out for.

Went to Bicester yesterday, load of (still expensive) rubbish. Dh and ds did well at Hackett and bonpoint respectively but absolutely nada for me. Probably for the best.

i don't think i'm int he least bit fashionable, comfort is always king for me and ease of dressing as I have difficulties with that. I do try to go for what i know is flattering but comfort overrules even that for me. I don't think i have ever been fashionable at any point in my life and never really think about it.

Need to think about holiday clothes, ideally looking for cotton and long sleeved so i'm not overly exposed tot he sun, as we'll be driving through the desert a lot of the time, i really need to think about whats going to keep me covered and i absolutely need a hat of some sort otherwise i'll come back lobster coloured, i am also prone to heat/sun stroke so i do really need to be careful. Just wary of buying too early int he year as I'm off the medicine that made me gain weight so i'm hoping i might lose a little of the excess now but will take sometime to see whats happening with that, i was on the medicine for over six years so its going to take time for my body to adjust to being without it

Everyone love the skirt, hope it’s the one....took me exactly 3mins to order (impulsive moi? ). I’m hoping I’ll look all French swishing around in it with ballet pumpsthese are on my wishlist stripy tops and crisp white shirts.
Interesting answers re flattering v fashionable.

My order is 1) fashionable 2)flattering 3)comfortable

Good question

Comfort first but luckily I find it matches my style to be comfortable. So never stuff that is tight or too high (unless taxi heels) or makes me feel self conscious.

So block heels Mansur, Marant trainers or Sorel boots in winter all really easy

On flattering I guess it is better for my shape but I’d never go for what people call flattering as it doesn’t suit me eg will always wear skinnies over another style

On fashionable sort of, so not every trend but that’s probably more due to not buying all the tine rather than a big no no

Ok back later to catch up

I also feel more at ease with what I wear than I did when I was younger, I was more all over the place with where to shop back then

That Reiss skirt looks perfect dry. Great find everyone.

Actually perhaps my order most of the time is 1) flattering 2) fashionable 3) comfortable

interested in some non style opinions here...

job hunting is throwing up some potential interesting dilemmas...

First off, salary is about the same in both these situations....

Ideal job, excellent schools, small city/large town, average weather, could buy a great house outright in best area with money left over for investment, buying second property etc

versus

OK job (but possible potential for better long term), excellent schools, Auckland, great weather, would need a fairly substantial mortgage to live in best area, no savings left over...

Basically I love Auckland (so far) but would potentially be much better off financially elsewhere...

Interested in opinions!

Having lived in NZ for a few years (about 10 years ago) delinking to say get out of AUK option 1 - you won't regret it and Modt places in N z are so accessible you ll find your weekends and holidays full with trips everywhere and hiking/ trips to vineyards - there s so much to discover in the country - gonfor option one and love life to the fullest !!

(

Obv delurking to jump in with that - used to be an avid follower of this tread - don't get time nowadays- just awake early and browsing m n for style inspiration this morning and couldn't resist jumping in to say good luck with move and new life :)

What a great delurk baubles . It is very tempting. Am looking seriously into the option 1 - the job I am looking at looks great and am trying to set up an informal chat about it. I do love the idea of the outdoor lifestyle you describe!!

BTW if there are any NZ based lurkers do delurk / pm me! I need a little shadow MNV crew for down under MUs

Great idea Lib

That’s a tough one isn’t it. Initially I’d say the first, not Auckland, but then I read the weather wasn’t as good and that might swing it for me. How far are you in the process? I’d look into both jobs and see if that helps steer you

Very early days in process Marsha. Just doing applications ATM and the job in option 1 was only advertised yesterday so I am jumping way ahead! But I don't want to apply unless I am sure I would take it if offered as it's a senior role and I don't want to mess anyone around. The weather is a factor. I am loving the sun.

Thank you Mara for bag info. Still deciding between that nad the earrings.

Tough choice lib, but definitely worth thinking about before applying. Option 1 (not Auckland) does sound good and you could easily head to better climates at the weekend and have the resources to stay over places. I always believe in keeping my options open, apply for both and see what happens. As the process develops and as you live there longer, you might find you have a clear preference for one option.

Am off out tonight for dinner with a friend. Was just going to wear my Staple winter going out outfit of leather skirt and jumper, but mindful of our comments about not saving things for best am wearing my stripey DVF dress instead. Though classic example of me putting comfort before fashion, I am also wearing my regatta parka .