This thread is about as French as a Sainsbury's baguette

[AuldAlliance]

But we'll still enjoy it...

There's you looking for fun bits for A/W, XingMing, and me all excited about John Lewis and M&S going back to classics. :)

Hi new people. I started these threads completely clueless, I had just lost a fair bit of weight and chucked out all my frumpy clothes to start from scratch - but thanks to Bo and Floisme and so many others here I feel quite good these days and have begun to develop an actual style, if that makes any sense. Hope you enjoy them too.

Have we ever talked about skirts in detail? I have a gap in my wardrobe for some casual skirts but I can't seem to find any I like or that look good. Pleated skirts that are so in right now are a disaster on me and always have been. A-line makes my hips look huge, and for some reason always feel too stiff and triangular. Pencil shapes usually give me a good shape, but then they feel too formal for everyday. I think I have a mainly hourglass shape with slightly wider hips and still some extra weight on my middle. Does anyone have any recommendations? I'd probably like something I can wear ankle boots with.

Welcome to the delurkers .

I haven't really started thinking about autumn clothes, yet, but as it's rainy today, I might well be out of proper summer stuff!

CatherineMaitland I think we've had some discussion on skirts as they've come up, but perhaps not specifically. Though lol at the skirt with the attachment that bo tried on. I seem to have rediscovered skirts and dresses in the heat, but not sure if the shapes that flatter me would flatter you, I'm quite an inverted triangle, with a not very defined waist and narrow hips. Perhaps you need to wear the opposite of me . Though, I would avoid the pleated skirts too, they seem a bit school uniform to me. Skirts that suit me are a-line or tulip, or slim, longer midi style. If pencil skirts suit you, could you go for a straighter skirt in a more casual fabric, eg. denim, cord or suede?

Xing looking forward to seeing your fun additions to autumn too.

CatherineMaitland thank you and glad you're enjoying clothes again. If you suit a pencil shape have you tried a good quality, double layer tube skirt? Less formal and more ease of movement and with great sucky-in powers? I practically lived in them for a few years although I'm not sure who's doing them at the moment. I love a pleated skirt but the only ones that really work for more are where the pleats are sewn down until past the thigh.

Xing I don't know what's happened to all those cheap and easy touches that instantly updated any look - the statement necklaces and scarves of old. Young people are no help whatsoever, at least not in my experience. My son's female friends are all very low key with their clothing, the only flamboyance seems to be with make up and I don't have the face or the patience for that. But apparently plaid is making a comeback this autumn, although that kind of flummoxed me as I hadn't noticed it had ever been away.

bo great pics as always and lovely trousers of course but what about The Yellow Dress? Don't think I'm going to forget.

Hello and welcome, delurkers! Blanket apology ahead for my mememe-ness, it should probably be my username at this point The the body shape talk started after the red lip talk IIRC, possibly thread 2? There were quick sketches by me attached to some posts so perhaps that helps locate them.

Xing, at the risk of sound like a grumpy old person, today's teenagers are the most dull dressers in history IMO. They're all very scared to step a foot wrong and wear very specific uniforms according to their predetermined social media bandwidth. I think it has to do with the fact that there isn't so much of a single dominant culture that dictates 'good taste' so there isn't a counter culture to it either. Monki is where the somewhat alternative crowd shop, Bershka is more for the glamour aspirants, TRF at Zara is a touch more fashion forward, Divided at H&M is a bit more grungy on one side and very poppy Instagram on the other side. Topshop doesn't seem to be as popular except for the jeans and accessories. I see some teenagers at Weekday now and then but they're a bit more scarce, they're the very serious arty types and probably closer to or in their twenties. Then there's the athleisure lot who are very specific about the brands, and they seem to switch up a lot in terms of desirability. Stradivarius also very popular with the teens, a bit more of a cross section there, it's like their basics store.

Catharine, I think with skirts and hourglasses it kind of depends how you feel about your thighs, although black opaques (I will forever love and recommend the Wolford's Velvet 66 ones) can be very forgiving. Structured A lines do work in a casual setting (think denim or linen, a bit of embellishment even works, like a vertical row of buttons) but they have to sit quite high waist and more of a mini length. I can do midis (but definitely not the traditional pleated) but only if they're on the long side and are quite unfussy around the waist. I tend to wear those low on the hips, you don't need a flat stomach for that but you probably shouldn't be too soft on the sides to get away with that. And as Flo says, those sort of ruched tube skirts work well too. I personally do avoid heavier fabrics with texture like cords as that feels too bulky to me.

Flo, stop channeling my mother, you're scaring me 🙈 I have the yellow dress added to several online wishlists I did try on another fab Jacquemus piece, if I'm brave enough I'll post the pic later but if you're going to insist I get myself the lifestyle to match that one, you're going to have to explain exactly what that lifestyle is because I've only come up with being a walking advertisement for tit tape so far...

Ha! I used to have a wardrobe full of going out clothes and nothing to wear for work so definitely a case of do as I say not as I do bo

I've come to the conclusion that teenagers (as a group) just aren't that interested in fashion at the moment. The advantage is that someone like me, in their 7th decade, can wander round H&M and see things they like. But the downside is that it's all a bit dull. I mean if plaid shirts are seriously going to be touted as a new trend this autumn then we really have hit rock bottom.

Bo i love he pictures of your try-ons there. The slit neck in the jumper there was very nice. Also I love a good salesperson! On unusual shirts: it’s been a thing hasn’t it for maybe 2yrs to make a classic cotton shirt with a twist - shops have been full of pinstripe cotton billowy sleeved wrap shirts here anyway. But unlike with a classic shirt you can only really wear them one way, which makes them less versatile so they end up less popular anyway ... Not that I’m bitter (I’m bitter) but what if some of that design energy had been spent on creating ordinary shirts with bust space.

Skirts: I think a-line skirts are tricky. I liked them a lot when I was younger but now I feel either a bit frumpy and old fashioned or as though I’m under WW2 rationing. Also I think I look fatter/boxier. I love double jersey tube skirts too, like Flo says, but they’re fucking unicorns to find. casual, but show off waist and arsecurve a bit so you don’t look like a block (unless that’s your thing).

Teenagers have never been as unique as anyone seems to remember IMO. They’ve always dressed in packs.

Thanks for the skirt suggestions! I probably just need to order a bunch to try on, I think.

All the teenagers I work with (am in event catering) seem to wear nothing but grey T-shirts and black jeans.

It's the same where I work Catherine. And plaid shirts so at least they should be happy this autumn. Except they won't notice or care - I think they've found newer and better ways to exclude us, especially technology.

Even their jewellery is samey - either delicate silver necklaces or festival bands/beaded bracelets.

Anyway, Xing - I would have a look at Mango accessories for updatey bits and fun stuff, they have some gorgeous things.

Thanks one and all for your input. I have an instinct that the uplift may require lots of time with the trotters on the trottoirs this year!

What are the chances. I did go into labour a few hours after delurking here. Am currently accessorised with a cluster feeding infant attached to my boob.

Congratulations on your new baby Peregrane. Enjoy the moment. Worry about what to wear in a few weeks!

Oh wow, congratulations Peregrane! ❤️

Ah Peregrane, many congratulations! Is this your first?

This is probably not the thread for breastfeeding-friendly clothes chat, but I'll just quickly recommend H&M's 2-packs of 'un-clippy' breastfeeding vests. I wore one as a base layer literally every day for the 18 months ish I breastfed my last baby.

Congratulations Peragrane, lovely news.

Well I am hooked on the Royal Style thread. I am no royalist and I'm not even much into how they dress (although I have a sneaking admiration for the Queen's style). But oh my - the gossip

Congratulations on Petit Peregrane, Peregrane Enjoy your little chouchou(tte)

does this mean we can talk Bonpoint, now? If I can't turn Xing's dog into a French poodle, surely a baby is up for ridiculously overpriced impractical clothing?

Where were we? I've been tackling piles of laundry and it's been that horrible stifling warm weather that's waiting for rain to break it that always gives me headaches. It's always high or low pressure but I always forget which one I think I still owe pics from the other shopping days and answering some questions, will tackle some of it today.

Congratulations Peregrane, my youngest is 8, but I do remember H&M doing jersey breastfeeding tops. My parents live in France and when mine were babies sent over some gorgeous velvet (winter babies) babygros in jewel colours, blues, purples, burgundies. So much nicer than the pale pink or blue options here.

Bo I get those barometric (?), air pressure headaches too - horrible. We've got raging thunder and lightning atm and dd2 has shared her summer cold with me . So, I'm distracting myself with discussions about clothes.

Felicitations!

Congratulations Peregrane !

Awww Peregrane the best accessory! Nothing ever gets more compliments than a baby. They’re pretty high maintenance to keep clean and keep consuming ever increasing amounts of wardrobe space though... Congratulations and enjoy the newborn cuddles! What did you get from Sezane?

Banivani that’s a good point about the unusual shirts. You’ve quelled my hankering for an asymmetrically buttoned one.

Catherine Would a straight-ish skirt in a shorter length be any good? Or maybe this is more A-line, but this kind of shape www.arket.com/en_eur/women/skirts/product.stretch-twill-mini-skirt-black.0518048002.html (Please not with bare legs and knee-high boots!)

peony How are you getting on in the heat? I found Cos good for that inbetween stage, lots of swingy tops with normal trousers.

I like Stories for cheap jewellery, but it’s more on the discreet side, rather than statement banivani Cos and Mango as suggested by others are probably good bets. Zara has fun statement earrings and necklaces.

The Sunday Times Style mag had a lovely main shoot this week. The images reminded me of this thread.

Attached Toteme trousers, which really do look much better in motion. Also outfit from Saturday night.

Lovely skirt from Arket, Elle and gorgeous toteme trousers and Sezane top.

Etsy is good for jewellery, but you have to know what you are looking for, we have a Lovisa here, which has lots of jewellery and is currently having a sale.

delurking to say hello- especially to flo who suggested I come back and see what you were all up to.

Lovely toteme trousers, Elle. When I looked at their section in Stockholm it was all jeans and sad grey sacks.

Have we talked about www.jakshoes.com/ ?

No, but we should because I remember someone was looking for dark trainers with dark sole and all we could come up with was Common Projects. I can't remember who it was though.

I like the look of the Atom nude as a casual pair, but I'm going to stick with my Vejas for the moment. I'm hoping they break in a bit more as the tongue is very high and still rubbing a little.

I see one of the colours is described as "mutton" which feels a little close to the bone!

Haha mutton! I'm going to keep them in mind actually. I've got my white Kavat sneakers now but it's nice to have some more ideas.