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

Carciofi - scarf was sale bargain from comptoir.

MM - dress from warehouse.

Trouble - layering is flattering as long as not too bulky but a tin long sleeved top under a 3/4 length cardi looks nice.

I know that may of us like a bit of animal print but really....??

My snakeskin dress has sold out, phew! got in there just in time.

Lots of lovely outfits today - tracey you sound a picture. Me, too unremarkable to warrant typing it out today. Will try harder tomorrow.

bods - yes, in a pillowcase with one end secured by rubber band & knot. I tend to go OTT on securing the end as once my shoddy knot came undone and the laundry was released into the drum. I bought a ton of stuff from John Lewis to protect my things - scented hanging things, cedarwood balls, those bags that dexter uses .. have a look on the website under 'laundry" and then 'clothing care"

brownmia - no such thing as butting in, don't lurk , join us, join us!!! And hello nofashionsense

Thanks also for the Australia Day wishes!!

blossoming - glad the thread is cheering you up It's soul food isn't it?? I can tell that I've had a good today today as I don't have that panicky urge to get online and search for gorgeous bargains...

hello trouble and welcome. A year is a long time. Maybe agree to treat yourself to one thing a month, something that might make some of your existing clothes work better for you?

Hi all,

Hi trouble. What shape are you? That'll make a difference and you could spend wisely with a few accessories like a belt if you're hourglass. I love Gok as he makes every size woman look like a siren so we just need to pinch his tips!!

Happy Australia day LTEC! Any celebrations planned?

Love the skinnies MM and blossoming. Not tried Paige before so always weary with how they fit.

Been on a big online search for jeans since my Gap ones have got too tight. 28s are too tight and 30s too big. I love citizen jeans and they fit me really well but there is a hefty price tag but figure I've spent almost as much on mistake jeans so cost effective to splurge .

Anyway, wondered if anyone had these or had tried them on? Want them to tuck into my Fly Mols, Ugg boots and some LK Bennett tall riding boots which are pretty wide.

www.figleaves.com/uk/product.asp?product=Citizens-of-Humanity-Womenswear-elson-straight-leg-jean&pro duct_id=COH-1279-132&size=&colour=Blues

Best go as soon be bathtime....not for me! Will be back to check up soon if anyone can help with my jeans!

Love that scarf Monkeysmama.
Am considering silver marks ballet pumps and that scarf .

Very excited. I'm seeing the colour lady next Tuesday

I love that M&S animal print scarf too - can someone who has got it tell me what the fabric feels like/how thick it is?
Is M&S doing any free delivery codes at mo?

LTEC - at that green leopard

Hells - have you had your black rats delivered yet? I am itching to hear the lowdown

on the subject thereof, what do we make of these beauties?I had them in my basket last night but they've since sold out - is that a lucky escape

LTEC - thanks for the advice re the whistles jacket last night. I am short, so maybe not so great for me - am going to wait for the toast jacket to arrive before ordering any others.

Today was wearing:
black leggings
this dress but in blue/black stripe
with a short sleeved cowl necked thin sweater in navy blue (H&M) over the top (was cold here today)
brown knee high boots (day birger) - yet another outfit that I think would have been improved by the toast cavalry's

added choc brown shearling knee length coat (maxmara) and charcoal grey oversized cable beanie for school run

Carciofi - my friend had the kurt geiger ash-alikes last year and they seemed to last longer than the real thing although difficult to say as I do seem to wear my shoes down supernaturally quickly, no idea why, it's not as if I'm that heavy. DH says it is because I drag my feet (like a disaffected teen)

Tracey - your outfit sounds fab, I think it is the addition of colour. Am going to wear some colour tomorrow myself. Am soooo bored of black/grey/navy - my winter uniform

MM - I liked the dune flats - although I thought the plain colours better than the animal - I love animal print but think you can really tell quality so the my wardrobe animals = winners for me (and so they should be at what? 4x the price!)

Esher - thank god they'd nap had sold out of those leggings! I looked at that dress in whistles last week but couldn't try on as youngest dc is not a patient shopper - she will learn though .

Loving the sound of maxmara shearling coat - you have some gorgeous clothes.

I'm enjoying wearing more colour - having re-purged wardrobe today - actually only have one black cardigan and a couple of dresses left.

I was singing along to the radio in car on school run today and realised it was because it was sunny - amazing how much more cheerful I feel with a little sun.

Am planning a trip to tiny harvey nichols in bristol on saturday to look at sunglasses and dresses. Not spending though - yeah right!

Have been considering the Ash trainers as a possible trns-season solution to too-hot-for-boots, too-cold-for-sandals days, but also came across these.

PF Flyers

What do you think?

Esher the scarf is very fine but it's big (little pasmina or something it's described as) I think it looks a lot more expensive than £15 & it feels super soft & cuddly. It has a hint if grey in too so I can see it brightening up lots of my outfits.

I agree about animal print shoes. I thnk ballerinas might not fit my foot shape anyway. Am now considering some brogues (my sis has lovely Pied a Terre pair) or loafers maybe?

Went to dry cleaners earlier and had a £137 bill!?!? WTF. I must try the gentle wash on the machine.

I love the Beast S&Bs. Really really nice.

Evening!!

LTEC - love your tinny opening - you are such a fab, witty writer.

Am Reading and clicking away on the links. Reading and learning, Reading and learning.

Today's outfit was black opaque stockings, black flat knee high boots, grey mini dress w red cardi and red belt and red lipgloss (hiding my chapped lips). Fine. But the shame, the shame - dressed baby DD in red l sleeve top and grey pinafore dress. Only once I dressed myself did I realise had done horrible "matchy matchy" mini me w baby DD. Yuck. But was too late to fix.

Went to M&S today to look at pewter ballet flats of which you speak, but the toe is too squared off at the end for me. Think will revisit Gap and have another butchers at the silver ballet flats they have. Only £25 and seemed nice when I looked yesterday.

Good to see lots of lovely outfits!

Hells? - you didn't sound muttonous today at all - me thinks you are too critical of yourself.

Hi trouble,

Hourglass is a fab shape to be - lucky you! Not sure about size of belts. Not sure it's too important you maybe need to experiment. Think you have it bang on with 50s skirts and retro skirts. Low (ish) cut tops if you got big boobs and fitted jackets.

Know what you mean about skinny jeans. I'm a pear shape and I love skinnies tucked into boots but with flats feel rather self conscious.

Anyone else got any advice to offer?

Bunny that made me laugh. I've done the same but the assistant at Bobbi Brown thought i'd done it intentionally and said she'd done the same with her daughter and still does (aged 7) She didn't believe me when I said I hadn't intended to do it!

LTEC - has that toast top arrived? Still pondering and interested to know what it fits like and quality.

Bought these jeans... www.longtallsally.com/citizens-of-humanity-jeans/elson/dark-paris?category=jeans_trousers Would never have thought to look here for cheaper citizen jeans but struck lucky.

Will you all report back with the M&S Ballet flats?

ltec - Hope you are wearing your hat and drinking one of these

tracey - the whistles drape dress in the cream/black stripe is altogether more spring-like than the darker one I've got. I was v tempted to get it again in the lighter colour as I have had soooo much wear out of it. Is v flattering for the short and petite like us
I also like this one for spring - slightly more breton in feel

the shame of the lurking hotchpotch made me lol - I think I had a touch of the bodens after dd1 myself

the maxmara sheepskin is beautiful but I hardly wear it as the weather needs to be very cold but also dry (like me, it doesn't take kindly to rain ).

trouble - reiss make fab belts and usually heavily discounted in the sales so worth snapping up
re the layering - I think simplest way to start is with a coloured vest or lace trimmed camisole (kew, jigsaw always do good ones) underneath a low v neck long or 3/4 sleeve T in another colour. Add long fine knit scarf , then either long boyfriend cardigan or shorter chunkier knit on top.

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nofashion - I have those trousers - mine were last winter's Betty Jackson Part Two - may be worth checking her current collection as think she makes pretty classic trousers of the sort you are after

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Upon LTEC's recommendation I have joined the thread girls...You see, I'm having a bit of a problem at the moment...I'm sort of stuck in a rut clothes-wise...
Right, I want to look funky, and would love to hear what key pieces you recommend for this season going into spring, including accessories....I am 5'4, slim (size 10) with jelly belly from 16 week old(so disguise) and 40 but a young 40 (in my head anyway)

sort of a pear with no boobs , my waist is very defined though compared to my hips/thighs so trousers can be difficult for me
can't offer any advice re bicycle attire (I spent 3 years at oxford and never once got on a bike!) but would leggings & boots and long tunic/short dresses not work?

P.S. Funkiest thing I have at the moment is a French Connection miliatary coat which I always get complimented on ! Oh and some great Jigsaw boots...I do like boots and skirts but dresses? Oh Lordy Lordy....

quite a good day for me. Have been told by no less than 3 people that I am looking "really skinny" (all people who haven't seen me for a few weeks), have watched the first ep of 24 day 8, gave away 2 dresses to a friend who loves them (part of my cull - would have ended up on ebay but this feels much nicer) and have not bought anything today at all (bloody miracle). And lovely bunny said I was a witty and good writer. Thanks love, that really did make my day (am a writer, of sorts, for work, so it's nice to get some decent feedback!) BTW, I am often guilty of dressing dd and I similarly I don't think I do it intentionally ...

All in all, will go to bed happy.

monkeysmama I seem to have missed the link to your scarf, can you repost it for me? at your drycleaning bill. Get yourself to Sainsbury's and buy some pillowcases woman!!!

mimi I don't have those jeans, nor do I know anyone who does but I think you've answered your own question re: the hefty price tag. I never understand why people will spend ££ on a dress for a summer wedding, for eg, which they might only wear a handful of times, but economise on jeans. The cost per wear argument wins for me every time. I know I;ve said it a gazillion times before, so forgive me if I bore, but my 7s were bought (for a similar price) in 2004 and I am wearing them right now, still going strong. Toast top not here yet ...

great news about the colour lady mrsjuan. I hope she tells you that "your" colours are all the ones in that Tibi dress!!

esher - thank god those leggings sold out. Only question is: who bought them?? You sound divine today. Gorgeous sounding outfit.

trouble - hourglasses are best with wide belts IMO. Skinny belts for snakehips. Think Marilyn, think Moss.

nofashion - I too am a pear. It ain't so bad. I will keep my eyes peeled for said trousers.

HH congrats on 16wo, my dc3 is 17 weeks now so we're in a similar place .. Think fab jeans and a couple of knit dress are the holy grail of SAHMs, both of which would work with Jigsaw boots ... are you bfing and if so, how long do you intend to continue? No worries re Mulberry btw!

right, off to bed. Good night all!

one last thing traceybath - Turn of the Screw - out of stock but so bargainous that might be worth keeping an eye on in case of returns?

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