Glad you enjoyed Lisbon Shrike - that monochrome skirt is really cool and brings me nicely round to Me and the black turtle neck. It actually works a little too well in that it dresses the flares down so much it looks more like a going-for-a-curry outfit than something celebratory. I should have gone for purple velvet at the time like quirky.

I do like the overall effect though, even if it's not what I was after.

The best turtle top was this one It's actually a funnel neck which works better for me plus it's less asphyxiating. It still does my face no favours whatsoever but I'm curiously unconcerned about that - it's the overall kind of beatniky look that I like. I think we're due a beatnik revival - not the half arsed jeans and a stripy top thing but the whole look. Awful poetry but great style.

I've taken a photo but the light's so bad it just looks like I'm wearing grey jeans. I'm going out shortly so if I find myself in a changing room, I'll take some more.

quirkychick · 13/11/2021 15:26

I hope the last stage of treatment goes well, Xing.

Your outfit sounds very stylish, Shrike. I love the black and white, Joseph skirt. I have a real soft spot for black and white, I'm often drawn to it.

Yes, to Lady Miss Kier! Such a 90s style icon.

I am really enjoying the Netflix Churchill's Secret Agents. It's really fascinating, some of the modern day recruits have interesting family history.

missmoon · 13/11/2021 17:06

I‘m sorry for the multiple +J posts, but I wondered if anyone knows what time they launch in the morning (UK time)?

I have a complicated school drop off, and worried I won‘t get back in time! Thank you!

missmoon · 13/11/2021 17:07

I do quite like a few things this time round

XingMing · 14/11/2021 14:26

Today's Sunday Times Style section has an interview with Jil Sander! The picture shows some of the red items we're all liking too, so who says they don't lurk here.... Thursday morning ladies!

All treatment completed for now, and the side effects are pretty mild, like a bit of sunburn and slightly fatigued late in the day so far. Next week is the first for months without any medical appointments on the calendar. However, the rest of my life now needs some serious attention.

Floisme · 14/11/2021 14:33

missmoon it's normally 8am UK time.

Glad to hear it Xing and we're all here whenever you want to talk about dressing your new body.

I've not forgotten the velvet flares pics but it will have to be tomorrow now. Prepare to be underwhelmed though.

Floisme · 14/11/2021 17:08

And thanks for the Jil Sander interview tip off Xing. Useful to see it confirmed that this is her last collaboration 'for now'. Uniqlo had hinted as much but I'd kind of dismissed it as a marketing gambit. It's making me rethink - if this is my last chance to buy something of hers at a vaguely affordable price then I might go for one big thing instead of 2 or 3 cheaper items.

XingMing · 14/11/2021 18:32

Stupidly, I had no idea of her age. In her 80s, I can totally sympathise with her reluctance to commit long term. But, for me, it does explain why she is keen to embrace all ages, all bodies and make us all into the best versions of us.

ShrikeAttack · 15/11/2021 02:18

I'm very pleased I bought a Jil Sander dress this season.

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botemp · 15/11/2021 09:38

Pleased to hear you're all done with treatment Xing, surely this calls for some celebration clothes

Sorry to hear you've been dealing with crises in tandem, Auld. I hope at least one settles itself soon and allows you a bit of breathing space (and a nice new leather jacket).

I will read Suite Française but I need to mentally work up to it knowing how and when it was written and why it's unfinished. I've read the introduction by the translator, she seems to have made a very conscientious attempt to preserve it as it was written with lots of little notes so I think the translation should be good.

The French denounciations were wild, I think it was in Hadley Freeman's book that she mentioned that the French absolutely went mad with abusing it, so much so that it drove the Germans up the wall because they couldn't administratively handle it all, so much so that the frustration to the process could be argued as an accidental form of resistance. Everyone seemed to jump on it, ancient family feuds, wives and their extramarital affair partners conspiring to get rid of a husband but also a lot of abused women seeking a way out in a society that condemned divorce (and French women didn't have the vote
until after WWII or ability to have a bank account at the time), so not all black and white. But the appetite for it is so French in a way, I think that's what makes it interesting to me, the French resistors remain ever the Parisians even in a concentration camp. Culturally we (in NL) don't clash that much with our neighbours so the war was definitely a different experience here but France has the added layer of culture clash that they treated as a form of resistance and that the Germans treated Paris much like a holiday resort.

Quirky, I really enjoyed the SOE show on Netflix too (we're back in lockdown since this weekend way too much time, still going to the Antwerp sample sales though, it's allowed and I'm not having that taken away from me).

I wasn't aware it was Jil Sander's last Uniqlo collab, she's in her 70s not 80s though, so I'm not prepared to accept this will be the very last we see of her work. There's a load of Asian YouTube videos reviewing the new collection now, haven't watched any. I still just want the red dress, I like the gaucho trousers but their inch sizing just confuses me so I refuse to order those online. I do quite like the wrap coat too but it's an almost identical colour to my own camel coat and I don't like the other colours but if it's her last collection, urgh. I'll see if it's in store.

Also, even though I was left wondering what the purpose of this article on French dressing was, I did really enjoy Jess C-M's snarky tone, she usually tones it down a bit.

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70sduvet · 15/11/2021 12:16

Hooray xing today is your last day of treatment, hope it went smoothly and you don't feel too rough after it all.

Missing in action here. I was in a car crash mid Oct. A hit and run by a lorry on the motorway at 70mph, I was spun across 3 lanes of traffic and then hit again by a van. I was extremely lucky and walked away as did the van driver with only superficial injuries. I've shoulder and hip damage which has left me a bit zonked for the past month due to painkillers.
Just heard yesterday that the lorry driver has been found, so I can stop worrying about having to pay other people's damages from my insurance.

Going to settle in now and catch up with the thread properly as all the indepth discussion went right over my head (painkillers ) but just wanted to pass on my good wishes to Xing and say Hi

And also to try and coax myself back into real clothes again

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botemp · 15/11/2021 12:22

Omg duvet that sounds horrific, I'm glad you're okay now and the perpetrator has been found

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XingMing · 15/11/2021 15:33

Welcome back, Duvet, how dreadful for you, that is a real crisis, and very pleased that you are recovering; hip and should damage is much worse than me!! Delighted to hear that the lorry driver has been fingered and will be facing charges.

quirkychick · 15/11/2021 18:57

duvet, that sounds awful. I hope you feel better soon.

bo, I read Suite Francaise quite a long time ago. But yes, it is emotional. I recently watched The Pianist and it took me quite a while to steel myself for it.

Redandblue11 · 15/11/2021 19:06

Hooray Xing that you had your last treatment. I wonder what would be your ‘first’ clothing temptation?

Omg duvet that sounds absolutely horrible. But so glad that you are well. Very glad that the driver has been found.

shrike I actually tried that Joseph skirt not long ago, I wasn’t in the mood of shopping that day so I left it, but I did like it. Sounds like you had a good trip.

And sorry Bo that you are going into restrictions again over there .

XingMing · 15/11/2021 20:38

My first clothing priority is to replace my favourite but wearing out boots that I wear most days. I have a choice: from my best Andia Foras, this year I can choose a lovely pinky nude version, at full price with a white sole (not really muddy SW ideal) or the last pair of black/black sole which would be serviceable, a half size up at half price. 220 euros, or 104 euros, plus delivery etc. I reckon the right inner sole could do the trick. Opinions?

banivani · 16/11/2021 11:30

Auld, sorry to hear you've had a rough time, hope things are looking up (and you get your jacket). I feel for your hair disaster too! Hennaing hair out of boredom - I think a few of us can relate ;)

I too enjoyed Shrike's monochrome skirt. I'm completely out of wearing skirts these days. It's something to do with finding the right shoes (absolutely NO surprise there for those who know me).

Flo, I know what you mean - if it's your last Jil SAnder chance then the coats are looking pretty good all of a sudden. But I hate this enforced consumerism.

Have watched the Secret Agent's show - I have quibbles about the setup (why were the costumes necessary?), but it was interesting. Our son wandered in at one point and there was a brief male WW2 discussion, but sadly he lost interest. He might have learned something (I'm thinking esp about women in war).

And jaysus Duvet, that's some real drama!!! Glad you're ok, all things considering. OMG this is my nightmare, one of the things keeping me from getting my license...

Xing, I'd need a direct link to have an opinion... but then no-one should trust me with shoes really (see above).

One of my sewing instagrams wrote about this new Finnish sewing magazine www.taukomagazine.com/designs with a very basic silhouette focus - I wasn't that enamoured myself but thought I'd mention it anyway. Worth keeping an eye on.

Redandblue11 · 16/11/2021 12:48

I also need to see the andia foras , are these? Or am I really wrong xing?

Regarding which ones to choose, also I would consider … I assume you already have another pair(s) of practical boots/shoes. Meaning you will not be ‘stuck without shoes in your front porche without being able to leave the house when is muddy … (almost certain that won’t be the case… )

Les Parisiennes des Mamansnet: Do not ask the kock about les préservatifs in the food.

ToEllewithIt · 16/11/2021 12:59

Jeepers 70sduvet I hope that you’re okay. That sounds terrifying. I’m so glad they found the driver too as I’m sure that stress was only adding insult to literal injury.

xing I’m glad that your round of treatment has concluded and that you’re not feeling too bad. I think I’d be sensible and go with the black, but if anyone has earned the right to throw caution to the wet winds and muddy foot paths it’s surely you so maybe get the pink!

bani condolences on the family death

I’m looking forward to your Antwerp report botemp looove the statement trousers

Nice skirt Shriek

I must look out for Churchill’s Secret Agents it wounds right up my street.

Have bought a navy cashmere jumper heavily discounted for Black Friday…

Redandblue11 · 16/11/2021 14:34

*front porch
Not porche or Porsche

XingMing · 16/11/2021 16:11

Those are the boots I like, red, but I found them in black with a black sole at half price, though there was only one pair left in size 39 (38 is perfect). However, I can't find them again on the website, and while they were in my basket, they are not now. I have some similar in grey nubuck, but after three or four years of almost daily winter wear, and resoling, they are looking worn. I like the pink, but the white sole won't stay that colour for longer than going to the mailbox and back, so I'm probably back to watching yoox, which has another style in tan, but it looks like apres-ski and has a shearling cuff so not loving those.

Condolences to bani; hope you've corralled a funeral outfit that won't horrify the congregation.

Original poster

botemp · 17/11/2021 09:33

Well I'm still keeping fingers crossed Antwerp is still happening as they're announcing new restrictions in Belgium today 😬 Usually they lock down quicker and stricter than us and then berate us for not doing the same but they've been procrastinating. I was initially going to go yesterday but had the brilliant idea to make a weekend away of it to Ghent/Bruges 🤦

How is it black Friday promos already, Thanksgiving isn't even until next week. Arket got on my nerves this morning by sending a random discount code 'to renew my rotation' as I haven't shopped with them in a while Top marks on how they can bleat on about being sustainable and even use that language to encourage mindless consumption.

(The Row did send me access to their private sales though and now I'm hankering after a canvas coat, the fact that I think it's quite a good price confirms I've completely lost the plot, thankfully it's sold out now).

I didn't mind the costumes that much in Churchill's Agents, Bani. It seemed essential to the immersive experience of it, wouldn't have been very realistic to be spending the night in that bothy (sp?) in modern outdoor gear. They also didn't cater to diets. The show also allowed me to discover that I own a British military rain cape from that era. I knew it was military duck canvas but thought someone had just made something new with it, but I guess it's actually properly old. Will have to treat it with a bit more care now

What did irrationally annoy me was that all the women had to wear the same red lipstick and it also seemed to get immediately reapplied after crossing a river, going by how perfectly it was applied it wasn't the shivering contestants themselves who made that decision

The Finnish sewing magazine looks interesting but not my thing either. I don't get on with the indie patterns (or commercial for that matter but different issues there), there's always something a bit off about it and everything seems a bit too unfitted if that makes sense, it's not fitted enough to be impeccable or exquisite and not loose enough to be oversized or that elusive 'louche' we go on about here.

Before I forget, again, for the fellow sewers, Linton tweeds are doing a black Friday sale online from Nov 22, from £8 a metre. I'm not really into the Chanel cardigan/jacket aesthetic but maybe at the right price I could make some wide legged trousers out of some lurex free fabric.

Also, not sure if this is the same in all regional markets, but I saw Phantom Thread has recently been released on Netflix. I recommended it some time back and I know a few mentioned wanting to see it.

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Floisme · 17/11/2021 10:09

Yikes 70sduvet I'm glad you're ok and that they've got the driver.

Xing it sounds like I might be too late but, for what it's worth, I'm with Elle - if you've ever had a hankering for pink boots then now is the time.

Ok flared velvet .... to be honest I'm both embarrassed and fascinated at how ordinary it looks in a photo compared to real life. I like them with the black top but not for a work do - it's a bit 'too cool for Christmas' and I don't want to be that person so, if I do wear them, I'll go for full-on sparkly like in the third pic.

It was interesting wearing black again. I've got a couple of things in a faded / washed out shade but I've not worn that uncompromising black next to my face for years. It doesn't suit me and yet I quite like the effect - there's nothing else quite like it. So I'll probably keep the top.

I've missed the Finnish magazine link - was that you bani? I'll go back and check.

Thanks for the Black Friday tip off bo. I might take a look. I picked up a 60s (I think) Chanelesque tweed jacket by Eastex recently and although it looks terribly dated at the moment and I can't figure out how to wear it, I'm sure its time will come again.

Sorry to hear about the lockdowns. I assume we'll do nothing in the UK till Christmas Eve.

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