So if you unexpectedly had a windfall of around £500.00 and were a generous size 14 who hasn't bought anything for ages, what would you buy ?

[rookiemum]

Ok its me, its me.

DH has just bought a ridiculously expensive lap top out of the joint account because its a necessity donchaknow and I was grumbling about it as our sole accounts means that the only items of clothing I have bought for the past 18 mths are on special offer from Sainsburys ( not that I am knocking them at all) and i can't wait to get pregnant again because at least my maternity clothes were bought in the last 3 years.

In a hard won victory I have wrangled out a £500 spend hurrah! However I don't know what to buy, my work clothes ( casual smart) are shoddy and my casual clothes are probably a bit too casual oh and most of them are somewhat tight.

Mumsnet style jury what would you recommend for a woman in my position ??

yes that is a (horribly) sensible way to proceed. you'd better think about what you actually wear, have you got shoes to go with trousers etc.

or else you could branch out into makeup.....?

If you're in Edinburgh and wanted something away from Princes Street, you could try :

• Sam Thomas in Stafford Street in the west end
• Helen Bateman Shoes (just round the corner from Sam Thomas)
• Ness at the top of the high street - slanted towards tourists but lovely jumpers, coats, scarves, bags....

A wee jaunt down George street, taking in Hobbs, Whistles, FCUK, Jigsaw, White Stuff, Jones, Coast....

I am a generous size 14 too (although depending on fit anything from a 12 to a 18) and would love to be able to fit in to / afford anything from Harvey Nics, but even if the clothes don't work you could always finish off with a wee cocktail on the 4th Floor.

Glasgow fab for shopping too - probably more than Edinburgh - Fraser's shoe department is one of my fave's

Roll on the sales

a nice new coat, smart trousers,some lovely boots and some nice snuggly longer length jumpers. oo and some new underwear to go underneath

get some boots from duo and a good quality coat.

Cashmere jumper from Tescos are really nice, really good fit. And they're on offer now as well!

here

jumpers

Message withdrawn

im here

oh god that helen bateman shoe shop is FAINT INDUCING

i love it

hobbs and karen millen on george st
that walkway bit behind harvey nicks
(whats it called?)
has reiss etc

While you're at Helen Bateman and Sam Thomas go to Arkangel (opposite Sam Thomas shoes bit). They have very lovely things which, although pricey, are mainly French and don't follow British high street style and therefore not of the this-will-be-noticeably-unfashionable-by-March variety. Be warned, I'm a similar size to you by the sounds of things and I am too big for loads of their designers but the things I can fit, I just love. Oh, and the assistants in there can seem a bit scary! But it is definitely worth a look. Gorgeous accessories.

Tesco aren't really trying to sell these are they?

Ooh I do like those tesco jumpers. thanks for the edinburgh tips too Fio FIo if you know anywhere that does lipo for £500 then I'd be first in line (once I had got over the tricky ethical questions involved)