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

belt? Marsha?

Nice. Very nice, And exactly the budget I have for a new belt. Will order, thanks. First I might peruse to see what else can go in the delivery charge (don't they over package things, my AV tshirt came in a box).

Those S&B leggings look excellent.

They are not in my allowance, but they look very good indeedy.

Did someone mention grey skinnies earlier, hellsbells.. late night perusing led me here grey skinnies on sale

breastfeeding is horrendous for those trying to limit online shopping, isn't it??

Glad the belt fits the bill!

Geneva - your skirt link doesn't work, could you try another?

Hi
Can I join?

those leggings v tempting. but £100 for leggings?? and last time i got something from my wardrobe i had to go to the badlands to collect it from dhl [hmmm].

oh, best purchases recently have been 2 vivienne westwood anglomania dresses (last season so no links) - soooo flattering for those of us with curves.

Am back feeling refreshed. Not so tired and susceptible to links, so it's nice to see other stuff.

I have a mission, summer shoes/boots and bag first. They won't be cheap so I can't spend too much before finding them.

I love Vivienne Westwood Anglomania too, it always looks good and not too expensive.

Lovely belt Marsha.

LTEC - toast top very nice - I too like the aubergine.

Esher - those black rats look very cool but how do you wash them? You can't even wring them dry . . .

Does anyone else struggle with heels and skinnies? I am so used to how heels look with straight leg jeans that when I put heels on with my skinnies it just looks odd in that they sit at the top of the heel if you know what I mean.

Going into Bath this pm as had seen some pretty silver starfish earrings in jigsaw that I want a closer look at.

Oh and showed DH the gorgeous Halston Heritage dress I love and he said I should have ordered it. Oh well too late for that one as out of stock but will be keeping my eye out for others.

Right have just cleaned kitchen and now watching Glee - anyone else liking it?

Thanks Tracey, will have to try it on I think, find it hard to visualise belts with clothes.

Haven't seen Glee, but must admit a very strong liking for Project Runway on Sundays.

Shopping today in Notting Hill, big day out for me...

tracey - some of the HH dresses will surely be returned, it's worth checking back? Your dh is a hero! Earrings sound nice - I tend to like jewellery inspired by nature. Hence the Alex Monroe and Emilie whatsername. I like the heels and skinnies thing - I think I liked that slightly ruched look at the ankle because it lessens that carrot shape ever so slightly - important for the thunderous of thigh like me!

Off to a party this afternoon - a 3 year old's tres glam... brown Tam Tam dress over purple & whie stripe tank top (Brora) and indigo skinnies tucked into dark brown boots. Nowt special. Tomorrow, however, I am hosting an Australia Day lunch at which I will of course be wearing Leona Edmiston.

Have a lovely day all. DH is back tonight so I am hoping to be too busy with the last 2 episodes of 24 to log on!!

Good morning everyone

I really like those S&B leggings but have my eye on so many other things. I am not sure what I need atm but my wardrobe is not making me happy at all. I think I need the following:

• a few nice mid length simple jumpers I can wear with straight leg jeans and hopefully skinnies too
• some flat shoes (perhaps ballet pumps - something smarter than a trainer - what do you all wear?)
• a nice Spring leather jacket

Today I am pottering around doing jobs so wearing black AA leggings, a White Company black vest with a Zara v neck l/sleeve black dress over the top, a black and silver scarf with stars on and black Uggs. I am not a massive Ugg fan but dp bought them for me for Christmas as a surprise. They're identical to my black Emu slippers but serve a purpose.

I really like skinnies with heels but I tried shoeboots with black jeggings (more like treggings maybe) and they looked really wrong.

LTEC I meant to say the other day when you mentioned sushi; have you tried Ginza in Greenwich? We eat there (or have a take out) a few times a week and it's lovely. My sister lived in Japan for years and she rates it as among the best Japanese meals she has had outside Japan. Not quite as good as Zuma but nice.

What don't you like about mini Boden LTEC? I don't like Boden's women's clothes that much but last year we got dd a few mini Boden things and they were brilliant. They did a blue and white smock and blue and yello daisy trousers and she wore them loads and looked as good as new. Having said that I bought a Boden kaftany thing in the spring and wore it as a (very short) dress with wedges and got loads of compliments though that was in Italy where noone knows who Johnny Boden is!

I am waffling. Sorry.

Any jumper suggestions would be appreciated as would any more jacket ideas.

Have a nice weekend everyone.

I am about to buy this and am considering this? Are Princess Tam Tam sizes true to size?

Feeling completely and utterly miserable as I'm menstrual. And as I'm on a diet I can't even resort to biscuits . I've got a recipe for a cake made with aubergine instead of flour (which is sort of allowed on my diet)?! Not sure if it'll work but I'm desperate so will try tonight.

Marsha those jeans were perfect - but alas they have sold out of my lard arse size.

Tracy - I had that HH bag in my basket too and was gutted to see that it had sold out - but then realised that as my big norkage requires a bra - the one shouldered thing was probably a bit of a non-starter. I really want the white one though...I wonder when that will get to the UK.

LTEC - I too really love that top too. Am forcing myself not to buy that as well.

Has anyone seen any nice - not too high wedges? I cannot walk in heels but want the leg enhancing gorgeousness that they bring so wedges are my only option!

I have fed my grumpy soul by ordering those S&B leggings - they look fab and also a few anglomania bits. Probably will end up sending them back but I felt the need to spend to feel better. Very bad.

Goodness I'm a misery guts...better go before I moan any more

Feel really bad that we haven't said hello to sciennesmum and belledechocolate - hello, all are welcome . It does tend to get a bit frantic on here when we have all got our buying heads on (so, like, all the time).

I GOT THE TOAST CAVALRY BOOTS!!!!! Just popped on to look at knotted striped tshirt that LTEC was ssessing over and idly clicked on the boots thinking it would say "37 OUT OF STOCK" like it has done for the past 3 weeks and ....bingo.....they'll prob email me later to say they are refunding me as it is all a technical error though won't they?

Makes up for losing out on the £19.99 uniqlo puffa last night, in fact might go back over to uniqlo site and see if I can magic the same trick over there too!

Black Rats - a couple more Q's for you LTEC if you don't mind

1. How thin are they? are they transparentish like tights or do they offer full coverage?
2. are they very delicate? Do they snag easily? Will I wreck them in minutes?
3. How do you wash them? (GOOD question, Traceybath) (actually, don't tell me, I already know, it's in a pillowcase isn't it
4. Do you wear them daytime or are they more of a going out item?
5. Finally (phew), if you do wear them daytime - what shoes?

Today am just hanging out at home. DD2 not well and currently snoozing on sofa, big leg of lamb slow cooking in oven, DH back soon with the accompaniments, yum.
Am a bit of a symphony of grey today:

mid grey marl leggings (uniqlo)
light grey jersey roll neck (next - very old)
dark grey topshop jumper dress with zip detail across one hip (bargain in sale)
gold cowskin ugg-alikes from ruby&ed (don't wear outside, inside wear only as slippers, bought last jan in sale and still going strong)

Am absurdly chuffed about the toast boots as was upstairs earlier getting dressed and thinking that my current outfit is one that would be lifted completely by flat knee boots and I only have brown which don't work with grey.

Forgot - Traceybath - what is glee?
You are probably out on your shopping trip now, enjoy

esher - how lovely! They are obviously meant to be yours - your outfit

Glee - is a US tv show on E4 about a sort of music club....I have taped it but haven't watched it yet. Supposed to be brilliant.

My misery outfit. Denim mini (again), brown top, brown woolly tights (all old gap stuff)....slightly redeemed by philip lim shearling gillet (yes yes I know they are probably very out of date but it's so snuggly)

hells - your gilet sounds lovely. I have a knee length shearling coat that I don't wear as much as I should and I always think it would have been so much more practical as a gilet.

You must report back on the black rats the minute you get them!
Link to anglomania items?

If I disappear it's coz dh has come back. Where IS that man?

I LOVE Glee!!!
it's a must watch for me as well as modern family ...
and thanx for the HI eshermummy, no need to feel miserable
I've been trying to read through this thread... have bookmarked a few pages... phase eight is deffinetly my style and also Toast... although I have never ever had the courage to buy clothes and shoes for myself online, every thing else I've bought online

this one (planning on wearing with layers till it's actually summer)

this which I suspect may be a bit formal for me to get much use out of so may go straight back! It's just that I love red and drapey is appealing right now because of fat gut current size issues.

I promise to report back on black rats

Not gone into town yet - DH working so waiting for him to finish.

Hells - I think I want the white HH dress too althoug slightly worried that I'll look like I'm trying to be SJP but I figure I'd get a lot more wear out of that one.

Hello to new ladies - we do chat a lot on here as all seem to be ever so slightly obsessed .

Am currently obsessing over Current Elliott skinny jeans - does anyone have any?

Have just realised that Harvey Nichols in Bristol does Halston Heritage so may pop over there next week and try some stuff on - because that'll be so much fun with youngest 2 dc .

Today am wearing skinnies, cream top shop vest top under long sleeved whistles scoop neck top in nude with a long antique gold looking pendant. OK but hating my hair at the moment and can't wait till I get it cut.

I really need a shopping trip to london to try on many pairs of jeans - may book one in for the summer when I've stopped bf.

oh sciennesmum - it's a dangerous addiction. Once you start buying online it all becomes too easy. And it's all a lot more virtual so doesn't feel like you are actually spending! I'm speaking as one who is deep into my addiction with no visible way out.

What's modern family?

Yes, hello to the newbies.

I have just bought all this. Not very in the spirit of the initial intentions I joined this thread with buy hey ho. I too need cheering up today.

I've never owned a pea coat so thought I'd try this on thinking it might smarten up my day to day wardrobe.

This in sale for wearing as advertised with white tee underneath

This dress though I think I will send the dress or tshirt back.

This which I almost bought full price and will go with everything.

This in the brown which looks really soft and I hope will look nice with jeans.

Then bought a few bits in Uniqlo - their Heattech tops are really good and in the sale.

Now off to collect the new pram and dp has just ordered us a new kitchen so feeling much better .

They're fab Monkey - I've got the cashmere wrap in plum and it's gorgeous, it does indeed go with everything.

This thread is so bad for you - loving the bretton top from toast LTEC.

Hells - amazing dresses!

Does anyone else find that they keep filling their own baskets with everyone elses stuff?

mimi - yes! this thread should come with a health/wealth warning.

MM - lots of lovely stuff. Well you tell us what it looks like when you get it.

Hi, can I join? Love this thread. I too would love to have nice dinky feet and wear ballet flats. I've just seen that my favourite flat shoes from last year are back If they can make my feet look decent...