Anyone interested in forming a "shop more wisely and less compulsively", "no more expensive mistakes" and "make the most of what you already own" thread?

[LetThemEatCake]

There seems to have been a digression from the original intention of Penth's very worthy thread so, rather than cause anyone any offence or detract from what Penth and others were setting out to achieve, would anyone like to do a thread in a similar vein? Discussing potential purchases (advising each other for/ against in sensible fashion!!) and talking about how we're wearing existing pieces etc

Am off to Sunday lunch with friends but will check back in later.

Wearing purple Tam Tam dress, grey opaques, grey slouch suede boots, charcoal travelwrap for discreet bfing. Pretty exited about the sunshine so nearly cracked out the new OP sunnies but am saving for summer proper

have a good day all

Traceybath - not too old for denim - my sis has the Esprit one and it looks cool with black opaques and boots. I purchased nice dark denim one from Zara but picked up a size 8 - mummy tummy will not fit in that just yet (if ever).

Love the Halston dress

Esher - can I rifle through your bins the next time you have a clear out? Love the necklace - it may be your fourth parcel but it is half price and very versatile - it would be criminal not to.

Am loving the sound of all the outfits which are inspiring me to do better that just jeans everyday. It's also encouraged me to make a list of all the missing links in my wardrobe which could go with loads of things - like some nice wide leg jeans (does and one have the 7fAM Ginger?), a one button waistcoat and some black knee length boots I can actually walk in for more than five minutes. And I definately need more hats.

Thinking of summer I think I fancy a bit of vintage - 50's shape sundresses - they are so flattering whatever shape you are.

Finally, as I have nosed at other people's pics I have posted some of my own.

Hanaflower - thanks[blush). How do you know all this stuff about colours and face shapes? I'm so impressed!

OK - my problem is that I buy something and then I can't think what to wear with it and end up buying more stuff. I bought these boots in the sale: now out of stock and then thought - what will I wear with them? I think i can wear them with my grey Kew popover dress here with black tights but this seemed not enough to justify the outlay! Any other ideas (my regular uniform of boden bootcut jeans and a tee doesnt seem to work) - for work I tend to wear bootcut trews in black or grey with an assortment of tops.

I then bought a pair of black skinny jeans (Roxannes! - luckily marked down) - but they don't really look right with those boots - at least, I don't think so??? What else can I try - trainers? ballet pumps? Then again these might look better with these: purple boots. You can see where I am heading....

Oh and another problem - I have small feet (size 35) and skinny ankles and calves, and find it very difficult to get nice shoes or boots - one lifetime aim is to get a pair made from Selve so I can actually get a pair that fits round the ankles...

that link didn't work

will this?

bodsmum - I am jealous! I was watching that Crumpet dress too. Is it the teal one? I literally had to go downstairs and ask DH to talk to me and not let me go back upstairs until 10 mins had passed so I couldn't be temped to bid on it.

If you change your mind and want to sell...

Porridge - my mum gets all my cast offs - I don't think she has bought anything new for herself for about 3 years!!!

In my defence, I have lost a lot of weight since having dd2 and now am a good size smaller than pre dd's (and no bust to speak of anymore ) so wardrobe basically has been rebuilt from scratch in last 3 years.

Wide leg jeans - I have got some Dietrichs by Goldsign - think I got them on the NAP sale (before Outnet existed lol) but they do pop up from time to time - if you see any, get them they are great - v flattering cut, I get loads of comments everytime I wear them - people always ask me where they are from.

Hana - I have lots of cheaper necklaces (Oasis jewellery is v good btw) but find they always break and I like the weightiness of the more expensive stuff. Having said that my all time fave is a £1.99 plastic and ribbon thing from Primark that is older than my children!!

God, how shallow am I that I can witter so endlessly about clothes

all I want to talk about is clothes. I am actually thinking if culling some RL friends bc they don't talk about them enough.

Florence - your grey dress would look fabola with those purple boots - maybe a long sleeve purple t underneath too. Am not sure whether you have actually already bought the purple ones or if I am just enabling......

I would wear the ankle boots with the grey dress too but would probably add leggings (maybe even wetlook if you are brave enough) rather than tights. Depending on the drape of the dress I would also try some black jeggings under too. IMO short ankleboots look better with material crinkled/ruched above them at the ankle rather than smooth tights but that's just imo.

Am surprised the ankle boots don't look right with your new skinnies - are you sure it's not just that you are not used to how it looks? Or maybe you need to change the proportions and add a much longer top/tunic ideally a bit a-line to balance it out a bit?

I am sorely tempted by the purple boots but have this skinny ankle thing which makes most boots unflattering so it's risky.

If I don't wear those boots with my skinnies what do I wear them with? I am tempted on my day off to do a bit of dressing up and post the results - I need feedback!

tracey - I've got 2 denim minis - one Uniqlo (faded, frayed summery look) and one Diesel (darker, smarter). And I too am 37 and refuse to believe that I'm too old!!

bodsum - am so excited to have given any decent advice, that crumpet dress was gorgeous. Maybe I should retrain as a personal shopper!

Love the Oasis tee esher and very impressed on your productive day. By the way, too funny that you were a Morgan Davies bride too .. I got married early 2005 but also wore Alan Hannah (pic in my photos). Not sure about the necklace but then, I don't do jewellery - I wear the same Alex Monroe dragonfly 24/7, although am coveting this

Lovely pic Porridge florence I think they are definitely boots to wear with skirts/ dresses, not jeans. Skinnies I think work best tucked into longer boots or worn with flat pumps.

have just been doing Davina workout, now eating steamed veg (v late dinner) so feeling very virtuous and almost okay about having to step on the new scales tomorrow ...

Cake -that seahorse is a bit of a strange shape isn't it?
I can imagine that that style of long drop pendant really suits you though

too hungover to read properly I am so rubbish at going out now. Two glasses of wine and I'm away with the fairies.

But Tracey that haircut is gorgeous and I'm sure will look amazing (it is the sort that suits any face shape I think). And I live in my denim skirt - it's far more flattering than jeans imo.

Bodsmum of new dress and LTEC I love the bag - I am aware that I"m danger of becoming a bit of a clone so trying desperately NOT to buy it as well. Hoping you live far enough away that we are in no danger of bumping into each other with matching jumper dress combos.

Waves to everyone else and hides in a self indulgent corner with head in hands.

Porridge, I have SFAM Ginger (I am the denim queen). They fit nicely. Revolveclothing.com are good for reviews.

If anyone is looking for straight leg jeans, I just got these and they are perfect!

Florence, v. cool boots.

I love denim minis but hate the way they twist around on me!

Hellsbelles, hope your hangover lifts soon.

I am wearing leggings, knee-high boots and a black sweater dress today. A change from jeans, anyway.

Oh dear God the heating is broken.

Am tempted to wear ALL my clothes at once, but in the hope that once I get to the hairdresser I will start to thaw, am wearing

LS grey marl Topshop tee
sleeveless navy Cos smock
Huge funnel neck grey French Connection cardi-coat
GAP Long and Leans
silver Converse

Hair of the dog, Hellsbelles?

Carciofi and Esher - thanks for the jeans advice. (Missed a pair of bnwt Gingers on ebay last night when I was distracted by DH wanting to engage in conversation about work FGS) And Esher, are you sure I can't be your mum?

LTEC - Davina and steamed veg is sooo good. Good luck with the scales!

PC Plum - love the sound of the outfit.

Hells - poor you

Today, I am mostly wearing, white long sleeve tee (Zara), grey/white butterfly printed wrapover dress (H&M) grey opaques (?), grey cable knit cardi (new and v.cheap from Fashion Union) and another pair of black knee length boots I can't bloody well walk in!

I love my denim skirts..quite short..one diesel,one levi and feels bit more exciting than jeans,jeans,jeans..just always conscious of difficulty of crawling after dcs without revealing all and do hate seeing mums who won't get down and dirty because of short skirts(or high heels for that matter)

so personally would save for pub lunches,school runs etc rather than park play.also i only do with opaques unless on hols and avoid being around 20 year old girls with coltish limbs!

also have couple of nice cord ones..one marc jacobs and a ralph lauen(4 quid!) and little less indecent and still don't feel too dressed up but another good alternative to jeans.

today trying to do more colour..
long red puff sleevered t-s with white polka dots(new look)
over white l/s uniqlo
blue 7 jeans(my only pair that still fit..thank goodness for lowrise

fleecy i debated for ages on whether to bid..did so at last min and then had to go out and told myself would let fate take over...am so impressed you resisted completely..

hellsbelleshope hangover shifts soon.

tracey style really cool

pcplum poor you with no heat..looking forward to your piccies post hairdo

I don't deserve sympathy (but am enjoying it ) thanks for the hair of the dog & Grazia! - actually have more drinking ahead tonight as I have to go out again.

PCplus - brrrrr to no heat - you poor thing. Have fun at the (heated) hairdressers!

Carcio - thanks for the link - I have had Ernest Sewn before and loved them so I'm very tempted at the great reduction.

Sounds like everyone is looking gorgeous and colourful - I am not . Denim mini, black Kain top, woolly tights (hangover comfort clothes)

Have to go get grumpy poorly DD now from her nap. urghhhhhh

Thanks for definitive reply from LTEC! I obviously need more dresses to wear with the boots (goes shopping...).

oh i have to post now that i've been name checked . i am trying hard not to buy too much stuff, but the sales are tempting me. got some amazing teal very fitted arche ankle boots at the weekend, £50 reduced from £200. and this dress, which is making me shiver but will be great in the summer: farhi www.nicolefarhi.com/product/womens+Dresses/D1AA3/SCRIBBLED+BALL+DRESS.htm. oh, i remember, a fantastic silk tunic from les petites which had been marked down wrong in john lewis so i paid £14 not £104 .

mostly i wear dresses. wool ones atm. with leggings/tights and ballet flats or boots. i'm an apple shaped size 16 with great boobs & legs & the less said about the tummy the better!

I love the dress - was it in a sale at all???

Good morning everyone! i hope it is ok for me to join this thread. I love looking at others potential purchases so think I could enjoy this. I have decided that this year i will buy fewer peices and i will think through my new clothes a little more thoroughly than I have done in the past.

So far this year, I have made but one purchase. I got an iphone for Christmas and I love it so much that I can't bear to leave it in my baby change bag whilst out and about. So, I needed a diddy bag to keep it in and this new season Mulberry is perfect. It has arrived and is beautiful. Fits iphone and bank cards perfectly. Very pleased with it. www.mulberry.com/?gclid=CPTekcSwtZ8CFR9o4woduGC3zg#/storefront/c5687/4367/searchresults/

sadly not florence, new season (my dd is florence, have we had this conversation before?)

Any chance I can join this thread in desperation?

My wardrobe is so depressing. It is literally just black, grey and brown. I'm stuck in my student uniform of jeans and a hoodie most of the time with a concession to black trousers and a v neck top for looking 'smart'.

I never look exciting, my outfit never consists of more than 3 items of clothing.

I've had some good suggestions of what to try on a few other threads but still don't feel happy buying anything out of my comfort zone!

My husband has even offered to give me £1000 to spend on clothes now that DD is 8 months old and I'm pretty much back to my normal shape and size (5'3", 10-12, small boobs, no waist, chunky legs) brown hair, blue eyes, pale-ish) but there's no way I can trust myself to spend it wisely on clothes that suit me and don't make me look stupid.

Help help help!